Why a Booktrail?
2000s: A property owner finds an abandoned house – and no one seems to know who owns it…
The Summer of Serendipity
What you need to know before your trail
Serendipity Parker seeks out beatiful homes for people and her latest search sees her on the beautiful west coast of Ireland, hunting for a home for a wealthy Irish client. In the small town of Ballykiltara, she finds it, but there’s a problem; nobody seems to know who owns it.
‘The Welcome House’ is a local legend. Its front door is always open for those in need of shelter, and there’s always a plentiful supply of food in the cupboards for the hungry or poor.
While she desperately tries to find the owner to see if she can negotiate a sale, she begins to delve deeper into the history and legends that surround the old house and the town. But for a woman who has always been focussed on her work, she’s remarkably distracted by Finn, the attractive manager of the local hotel.
But will she ever discover the real truth behind the mysterious ‘Welcome House’? Or will the house cast Serendipity over Serendipity?
Locations
Reset- North East England/Northumberland
- A: Bamburgh - Castle
- B: Holy Island - Lindisfarne Castle
Travel Guide
Visit Northumberland
The place with more history than most – magical and mythical Holy Island with its fascinating past. Just across on the mainland stands the very regal Bamburgh Castle – Ren grew up in the shadow of this place so she starts from a place with history and secrets to another – across the water. There is a lot of soul searching as well as star gazing and Serendipity is very fond of discovering what the sky and her surroundings tell us, reveal to us and the whispers of history she can hear on the wind…
Ireland – Co Kerry – Killarney
The fictional town of Ballykiltara is inspired by the town of Killarney. Killarney National Park is the place to go and spot stags and deer like Ren does in the novel. And imagine the sights and sounds of Ballykiltara. Or you could always visit the lakes and take a very mystical tour like in the story. Find your own WelcomeHouse?
To really get inside the novel, you should take this book and read it in the comfort of the Stagg hotel which is in reality the Killarney Park hotel.
Rafferty Castle, Sheehy Abbey and Rafferty Island were all inspired by Ross Castle so this is a must see on any literary tour!
Oh and you need to spend as much time as possible on Innifallen island with its mysterious monastery and the lake of learning….this is the real yet imagined setting of the book and will transport you to a magical place and to the Welcome House if you’re lucky…
Streetview Maps
C) Ireland - Co Kerry - Killarney
G) Ireland - Co Kerry - Killarney - Innisfallen island
Booktrailer Review
Susan: @thebooktrailer
Aaah this is a really heartwarming novel – and the plot when it all came together made me smile. As soon as I read the blurb about a local legend my ears pricked up as they always do, but this is a legend with a difference. I really enjoyed the setting of Ireland – with all the mythical and folkloric links to the emerald isle, there really is no better place to have it. And the name Serendipity? Well let’s just say it’s very fitting. I just found the whole reading experience delightful as I was swept away in the fun of it all despite really getting into the skin of Ballykintara. It’s fictional but inspired by Killarney and I can only imagined the fun the author had exploring this place and discovering its secrets.
I think that was the magic for me – set in a fictional place but very much inspired by a real one and the fine line of mythical mist between them was fun to go through. A bit like Narnia in a way. I soon found myself googling white stags, the local legends and more and wanting to go on a pony trek.
The setting is king here – magical and mythical and as you fall deeply into the story, the crown on the top of everything is the fun Ali has clearly had with this story. The Welcome House with its mystery and legends weaves its magic over the characters and the readers of this book. It brings out the Irish magic and more and there is a lovely story to enjoy with magical threads woven through it.
The colour washed cover with its pastel tones is just the perfect door to the journey inside.
Booktrail Boarding Pass: The Summer of Serendipity
Author/Guide: Ali McNamara Destination: Killarney, Co Kerry, Bamburgh Departure Time: 2000s
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