This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
REVIEWED BY KIRA SLAUGHTER
When Darcy McCall loses her beloved Aunt Molly, she doesn’t expect any sort of inheritance- let alone a small island! Located off the west coast of Ireland, Tara hasn’t been lived on for years, but according to Molly’s will Darcy must stay there for twelve months in order to fully inherit. It’s a big shock. And she’s even more shocked to hear she needs to persuade a village full of people to settle there too.
Darcy must leave behind her independent city life and swap stylish heels for muddy wellies. Between sorting everything from the plumbing to the pub, she meets confident, charming Conor and sensible, stubborn Dermot- but who will make her feel really at home?
Ali McNamara’s debut novel From Notting Hill with Love… Actually was one of my favourite books of last year, as it combined two of my favourite things – Chick Lit and Chick Flicks. I couldn’t think of anything better than combining the two into a neatly packed novel. So when I heard that there was to be a new book released this year, I knew I had to review it for Novelicious.
The book opens at the main character Darcy’s aunt’s funeral in Ireland. Whilst paying her respects, she is approached by her aunt’s solicitor who says that he needs to meet with her to discuss the will. Darcy is intrigued.
After hearing the will, Darcy travels back to London with a huge decision to make. She loves her life in London and her job, but feels that she’d be letting her aunt down if she didn’t follow through with her final wish. Thanks to a minor confrontation with a work colleague at a party, Darcy’s decision becomes easier to make and she finds herself travelling over to the island of Tara to carry out her aunt’s request- to live on the island for a year and to build a community of fifteen people to live there with her. At first she’s completely clueless as to how she’s going to manage it, but as time goes on she finds herself enjoying life on the island, and it also helps that she has charming Conor and moody Dermot to keep her occupied.nitially I wasn't quite sure about the two main male characters, yet as I approached the end of the book, I was shocked at the outcome; Conor and Dermot are not at all what they first seem.
The twisting, turning plot in Breakfast at Darcy's is more than enough to keep you hooked, as well as the traditional Irish folklore that is weaved throughout the various sub-plots. Being part Irish myself I was particularly interested in these parts! As well as this, there is the mysterious character of Eamon who we meet at various points in the story and who I couldn't help but be drawn to. He has a connection to Darcy that I never would have expected!
Ali McNamara’s second novel is an impressive follow up to From Notting Hill with Love…Actually and I thoroughly enjoyed getting caught up with the characters and the history behind the island of Tara.
8/10