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Follow the Dove
Fifteen year old Isa Muirison loves her life working for the floating shops of Orkney at the turn of the 20th century. But her happy family life is thrown into turmoil by her father's decision to emigrate to Canada, her sister's illness, and her own love for Davie, a penniless whisky runner. Despite her family's opposition, she follows Davie to his tiny island home where she is met by the fierce hostility of his mother and his childhood sweetheart, Chrissie.
Alone among strangers, Isa's unrelenting determination gains acceptance and popularity in the close-knit community. But no one could have foreseen the tragedy that rips the heart out of that community and shatters Isa's security... Meanwhile, Chrissie has found solace in the arms of Davie's violent brother Jack, only to discover a darkness in his soul she could never have imagined. Events are set in motion over which the two women have no control...
Will either of them ever find peace - and in whose arms will Davie find solace? Set in the Northern isles of Scotland, amid the treacherous waters of the Pentland Firth, Follow the Dove shows how love can conquer all, and how, even in the most diverse of conditions, a community can pull together to protect its own. It describes a way of life that is authentic but gone forever. Inspired by Catherine Cookson, Jessica Stirling and Evelyn Hood, the book will appeal to women interested in historical fiction. Follow the Dove won the second prize in the novel category of the Scottish Association of Writers.
Alone among strangers, Isa's unrelenting determination gains acceptance and popularity in the close-knit community. But no one could have foreseen the tragedy that rips the heart out of that community and shatters Isa's security... Meanwhile, Chrissie has found solace in the arms of Davie's violent brother Jack, only to discover a darkness in his soul she could never have imagined. Events are set in motion over which the two women have no control...
Will either of them ever find peace - and in whose arms will Davie find solace? Set in the Northern isles of Scotland, amid the treacherous waters of the Pentland Firth, Follow the Dove shows how love can conquer all, and how, even in the most diverse of conditions, a community can pull together to protect its own. It describes a way of life that is authentic but gone forever. Inspired by Catherine Cookson, Jessica Stirling and Evelyn Hood, the book will appeal to women interested in historical fiction. Follow the Dove won the second prize in the novel category of the Scottish Association of Writers.
- GenresHistorical Romance
288 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2011
49 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Catherine M. Byrne
13 books26 followersCatherine Byrne always wanted to be a writer. She began at the age of eight by drawing comic strips with added dialogue and later, as a teenager, graduated to poetry. Her professional life, however, took a very different path. She first studied glass engraving with Caithness Glass where she worked for fourteen years. During that time, she also worked as a foster parent. After the birth of her youngest child, she changed direction, studying and becoming a chiropodist with her private practice. At the same time, she did all the administration work for her husband's two businesses, and this continued until the death of her husband in 2005. However, she still maintained her love of writing and has had several short stories published in women's magazines. Her main ambition was to write novels and she has now retired to write full time.
Born and brought up until the age of nine on the Island of Stroma, she heard many stories from her grandparents about the island life of a different generation. Her family moved to the mainland at a time when the island was being depopulated, although it took another ten years before the last family left.
An interest in geology, history and her strong ties to island life have influenced her choice of genre for her novels.
Since first attending the AGM of the Scottish Association of Writers in 1999, she has won several prizes, and commendations and has been short-listed both for short stories and chapters of her novel. In 2009, she won second prize in the general novel category for ‘Follow The Dove’ and has since written four more novels in the series, The Broken Horizon, The Road to Nowhere, Isa’s Daughter, Mary Rosie’s War and, finally, Shadows of Scartongarth. She has attended an Arvon Foundation course and a Hi-Arts writing program, receiving positive feedback on her work from both.
Her Mother's family tree inspired her first series, and her father's family inspired her second, which starts in Ireland during the Great Famine.
Catherine Byrne lives in Wick, Caithness.
Born and brought up until the age of nine on the Island of Stroma, she heard many stories from her grandparents about the island life of a different generation. Her family moved to the mainland at a time when the island was being depopulated, although it took another ten years before the last family left.
An interest in geology, history and her strong ties to island life have influenced her choice of genre for her novels.
Since first attending the AGM of the Scottish Association of Writers in 1999, she has won several prizes, and commendations and has been short-listed both for short stories and chapters of her novel. In 2009, she won second prize in the general novel category for ‘Follow The Dove’ and has since written four more novels in the series, The Broken Horizon, The Road to Nowhere, Isa’s Daughter, Mary Rosie’s War and, finally, Shadows of Scartongarth. She has attended an Arvon Foundation course and a Hi-Arts writing program, receiving positive feedback on her work from both.
Her Mother's family tree inspired her first series, and her father's family inspired her second, which starts in Ireland during the Great Famine.
Catherine Byrne lives in Wick, Caithness.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 5, 2017
Wonderful tale of old Scotland.
April 3, 2013
"Often in the still of the night, she would sit on the stone bench outside Jessie's cottage and talk to them with her heart".
It wasn't my intention to read Follow the Dove the night I did. I only wanted a sneak preview to see what it was like and ended up completely captured from first sentence. I was seduced by the romance of the highlands and islands and instantly regressed to an era I knew little about. Despite this I could visualise and relate to the characters with ease. I'm a lover of short and concise chapters which this novel delivers. With regards to the story it made me laugh, cry and so frustrated I had to keep reading! Which I did and finished in under 22 hours.
Looking forward to the sequel.
It wasn't my intention to read Follow the Dove the night I did. I only wanted a sneak preview to see what it was like and ended up completely captured from first sentence. I was seduced by the romance of the highlands and islands and instantly regressed to an era I knew little about. Despite this I could visualise and relate to the characters with ease. I'm a lover of short and concise chapters which this novel delivers. With regards to the story it made me laugh, cry and so frustrated I had to keep reading! Which I did and finished in under 22 hours.
Looking forward to the sequel.
February 23, 2017
This was an interesting book. The characters are three-dimensional and come alive on the page. I found the depiction of life in northern Scotland, the careful use of dialect, and the careful descriptions to be quite effective in transporting the reader to another time and place.
Very worthwhile read.
Very worthwhile read.
April 20, 2016
Excellent enticing read. Not the type of book I normally read but it was so well written and described that it drew me in and I needed to know what happened to everyone. I will be buying the next two books right away!
January 25, 2023
Really cute book. It kind of drags a bit so I recommend doing audio. Other than that I recommend this book.
February 23, 2017
Follow the Dove is a remarkable tale that transports the reader back a century or more to the islands of northern Scotland. The main character is a young girl named Isa Muirison, who was raised in Kirkwell, in hard times. Tragedy strikes the family in many ways,
but most tragically in the loss of her sweet sister, Annie. While Isa's father impulsively decides to emigrate to Canada, Isa falls in love with Davie Reid, who survives by smuggling illegal whiskey. Despite misgivings on the part of both families, Isa marries Davie and moves to Raumsey Island, which soon proves to be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.
Author Catherine Byrne has created a complex tale with interesting characters that seem like real people, with conflicting desires and emotions. Davie is no storybook hero. He is deeply flawed, but proves to have redeeming qualities. I had a bit more problem relating to Chrissie, an early girlfriend of Davie, and his brother Jack. Still, they add richness to the narrative. This is a romance novel, but a bit more gritty than typical chick-lit. It has a richness that reminds me of classic novels that we consider great literature.
Catherine Byrne has managed the Scottish dialogue very well. I have no doubt that it is authentic, since she is from Scotland and knows the island culture very well. It is easy to overdo dialect, so as to slow the reader and make the narrative hard to follow. Catherine has managed to avoid this. The dialogue sets the scene without being intrusive or harming the reader's ability to comprehend.
I enjoyed the story very much. Isa is a memorable character that hooked me from the start. I look forward to reading more about her adventures.
but most tragically in the loss of her sweet sister, Annie. While Isa's father impulsively decides to emigrate to Canada, Isa falls in love with Davie Reid, who survives by smuggling illegal whiskey. Despite misgivings on the part of both families, Isa marries Davie and moves to Raumsey Island, which soon proves to be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.
Author Catherine Byrne has created a complex tale with interesting characters that seem like real people, with conflicting desires and emotions. Davie is no storybook hero. He is deeply flawed, but proves to have redeeming qualities. I had a bit more problem relating to Chrissie, an early girlfriend of Davie, and his brother Jack. Still, they add richness to the narrative. This is a romance novel, but a bit more gritty than typical chick-lit. It has a richness that reminds me of classic novels that we consider great literature.
Catherine Byrne has managed the Scottish dialogue very well. I have no doubt that it is authentic, since she is from Scotland and knows the island culture very well. It is easy to overdo dialect, so as to slow the reader and make the narrative hard to follow. Catherine has managed to avoid this. The dialogue sets the scene without being intrusive or harming the reader's ability to comprehend.
I enjoyed the story very much. Isa is a memorable character that hooked me from the start. I look forward to reading more about her adventures.
June 14, 2016
This isn't typically the type of book that I would read but after a recommendation from somebody and the knowledge that it is set in my homeland Scotland, it seemed quite apt that I give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised because it had a little bit more to it than I would have assumed. Those of you who think it's a straight forward romance, think again. It is mired in tragedy and great characters.
My favourite characters were Jack Reid and Chrissie. Their relationship was so complex and they said the most disgusting things to each other. I don't think there was an offensive name that she wasn't called. Yet, they still seemed to long for each other. At least that's how it seemed. Isa and Davie were the main characters who ran to his home to be together, only for her to meet hostility from his family and the locals. I'll admit I found them less interesting, but not because they aren't good characters in their own right. I guess we all enjoy those bad characters better.
I loved the setting. It sounds beautiful, which Scotland is anyway. Not that I'm biased. I also loved the dialogue because I recognised some of it. It was unpretentious, Scottish dialogue. It put me right in the mood for "tattie soup". A good old fashioned read that turned out to be a whole lot different to what I expected. I don't think I'd read more in this genre, but I wouldn't be adverse to reading more by this author should the occasion arise.
My favourite characters were Jack Reid and Chrissie. Their relationship was so complex and they said the most disgusting things to each other. I don't think there was an offensive name that she wasn't called. Yet, they still seemed to long for each other. At least that's how it seemed. Isa and Davie were the main characters who ran to his home to be together, only for her to meet hostility from his family and the locals. I'll admit I found them less interesting, but not because they aren't good characters in their own right. I guess we all enjoy those bad characters better.
I loved the setting. It sounds beautiful, which Scotland is anyway. Not that I'm biased. I also loved the dialogue because I recognised some of it. It was unpretentious, Scottish dialogue. It put me right in the mood for "tattie soup". A good old fashioned read that turned out to be a whole lot different to what I expected. I don't think I'd read more in this genre, but I wouldn't be adverse to reading more by this author should the occasion arise.
October 9, 2013
Isa is a young 15 year old girl, growing up in Kirkwell, Scotland, in the shadow of her beloved, but very ill sister. Too many losses made her mother very cynical, and her father is dreaming of emigrating to Canada to escape the harsh life they live.
She meets a young whiskey runner, Davie, falls in love, and makes a fateful choice to go with him to his home on Raumsey Island. There, she discovers that she doesn't fit in with the close knit community. Her mother-in-law prefers Davie's childhood sweetheart, Chrissie.
Follow the Dove has several intertwining plot threads. There is Jack, the angry brother who covets Chrissie, but never gets over the fact that she was with Davie first. His hatred threatens to consume everything in its path.
Chrissie is jealous of Isa for stealing her intended, but the two are forced to come together because of their circumstances.
Isa has lost her faith, but finds solace in the local minister, Donald Charleston. They both have very difficult choices to make.
Davie has very different dreams than his young wife. He is called to the sea, and guilt is a demon that follows him.
This book was a wonderful page turner. I read it in one afternoon, and then ordered the sequel.
Highly recommended for those that love stories about families and overcoming hard times. If you enjoy Maeve Binchy's books, you'll like this novel.
She meets a young whiskey runner, Davie, falls in love, and makes a fateful choice to go with him to his home on Raumsey Island. There, she discovers that she doesn't fit in with the close knit community. Her mother-in-law prefers Davie's childhood sweetheart, Chrissie.
Follow the Dove has several intertwining plot threads. There is Jack, the angry brother who covets Chrissie, but never gets over the fact that she was with Davie first. His hatred threatens to consume everything in its path.
Chrissie is jealous of Isa for stealing her intended, but the two are forced to come together because of their circumstances.
Isa has lost her faith, but finds solace in the local minister, Donald Charleston. They both have very difficult choices to make.
Davie has very different dreams than his young wife. He is called to the sea, and guilt is a demon that follows him.
This book was a wonderful page turner. I read it in one afternoon, and then ordered the sequel.
Highly recommended for those that love stories about families and overcoming hard times. If you enjoy Maeve Binchy's books, you'll like this novel.
July 7, 2012
A wonderful heartwarming tale.
I read the majority of this in one sitting, quite unable to put it aside, which gives you an idea of how good it is. It's a beautiful tale set in Orkney at the end of the 1800's-beginning of 1900's and follows the story of Isa a young girl whose parents emigrate to Canada leaving her with Island folk...I'll not spoil the story by saying anymore, but suffice to say...it's a tear jerker.The characters are very believable and the setting beautifully depicted. I soon got caught up in Isa's life, and the way this is cleverly written, leaves you in suspense till the very end.
A wonderful tale which I'd certainly recommend. I'll be looking out for more by this author.
I read the majority of this in one sitting, quite unable to put it aside, which gives you an idea of how good it is. It's a beautiful tale set in Orkney at the end of the 1800's-beginning of 1900's and follows the story of Isa a young girl whose parents emigrate to Canada leaving her with Island folk...I'll not spoil the story by saying anymore, but suffice to say...it's a tear jerker.The characters are very believable and the setting beautifully depicted. I soon got caught up in Isa's life, and the way this is cleverly written, leaves you in suspense till the very end.
A wonderful tale which I'd certainly recommend. I'll be looking out for more by this author.
March 23, 2017
A novel set in northern Scotland, I found myself transported to another time and place. I was caught up in the life of Isa Muirison, who lives in Orkney. The life there is hard, and the cold waves of the sea form a backdrop to the struggles she and her family face as they eke out an existence. She faces tragedy and personal conflict, but shows her grit and bravery as she overcomes them all, but not without a cost.
This is the first in a series, and I look forward to reading them all.
This is the first in a series, and I look forward to reading them all.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews