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A Similar Devotion
In the North East of England at the dawn of the eighteenth and twenty-first centuries, two women face tragedy and challenges.
Set within the compelling political landscape of the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, and the complications and frustrations of the digital age, this dual romantic narrative shows that upheaval and revolution are no match for the constancies of love.
Alternately tense, dramatic and joyful, A Similar Devotion follows two women separated in time, but united in their determination to overcome the obstacles they face throughout the events and relationships that colour their lives.
The intertwining stories reveal that despite the contrasting worlds in which they live, love has a power to heal and bring happiness that neither woman expected.
Susan Bell encapsulates the romantic past with the same vigour as the vibrant present.
Set within the compelling political landscape of the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, and the complications and frustrations of the digital age, this dual romantic narrative shows that upheaval and revolution are no match for the constancies of love.
Alternately tense, dramatic and joyful, A Similar Devotion follows two women separated in time, but united in their determination to overcome the obstacles they face throughout the events and relationships that colour their lives.
The intertwining stories reveal that despite the contrasting worlds in which they live, love has a power to heal and bring happiness that neither woman expected.
Susan Bell encapsulates the romantic past with the same vigour as the vibrant present.
310 pages, Paperback
First published December 22, 2013
343 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 9, 2016
Well researched and interesting novel.
Want to read
August 10, 2014I want this so bad. Look at Bambrugh Castle sitting there all pretty on the cover. I need this.
May 31, 2015
Set in Northern England at the turn of the eighteenth and twenty-first centuries, A Similar Devotion traces the compelling stories of two women separated by time, but brought together through commitment and devotion. The reader is introduced firstly to Dorothy Forster, a high-born lady living in constant fear for the safety of her brother during the Jacobite revolution of 1715. Fast forward three hundred years and we meet Cathy, a travel agent struggling to recover mentally from a tragedy. Bell’s romantic tale takes the reader on a dual journey through the frustrations and complications of the two time periods, introducing two strong heroines, helped through their journeys by unlikely friendships and, ultimately, love.
The first thing that struck me about Bell’s writing style was her ability to convey surroundings so simply. Effective description is crucial: nothing is more powerful than being able to transport the reader to a different place, where they can feel, smell and see the surrounding as the author envisaged them
Upon opening A Similar Devotion, I immediately knew I was going to get along with the writing style. The prologue sets the scene perfectly for the rest of the book:
“I am young again, remembering the pleasures of bare feet on dewy grass, the salty scent of the sea, thundering waves dissolving into lacy foam that fans across the wide sands, the plaintive cries of gulls and the moan of the wind in my ears.”
This demonstrates completely that descriptions needn’t be overly detailed. Bell appeals to the senses: initially, the feel of dewy grass and the smell of the sea, before unleashing taste, sight, and sounds to completely encapsulate the view. The transformative aspect of Bell’s writing transcends far beyond this opening paragraph and into the entire North of England; Bell’s familiarity with the region is evident and flows freely through the text.
The book itself is split into two separate sections, interlaced with one another so that the reader is simultaneously following both the story of Cathy and Dorothy Forster. I liked the effect that this had, offering the reader a break from each story for just long enough to make them wonder what is happening back in the present day, or vice versa. Bell succeeds in keeping the setting of each story separate without making the text awkward. The present day is expressed through a contemporary style, while the Jacobite revolution necessitates the use of more archaic language. The effect of this is not as jarring as one might imagine and allows the reader to move seamlessly between the two worlds rather than being dragged from one century to the other.
The two stories initially link to one another when Cathy, befriended by a kindly doctor, Jack, begins researching Dorothy Forster and the Jacobite revolution as a therapeutic means of dealing with her feelings. Research becomes a method of escapism, giving her something new to focus on, and her sensitive mind clings to Dorothy’s story, beginning to imagine a happy ending for the eighteenth-century heroine.
After doing a little bit of research into the Jacobite revolution myself, I was delighted to find that Dorothy Forster was a real person. I find something very rewarding in historical fiction. My research didn’t go as deep as Cathy’s, of course, but I can relate somewhat to her frustrations as much of what is immediately available on the Forsters is shrouded in suppositions. I found that Dorothy was described as the ‘darling’ of the Jacobite uprising of 1715, and is today rumoured to haunt the hotel in which Jack and Cathy stayed, the Lord Crewe Arms, apparently waiting for the return of her brother.
The lovely thing about really successful historical fiction such as this is being able to take away a newfound knowledge of a snippet of history. Before reading A Similar Devotion I was completely unfamiliar with the Jacobite revolution; reading about it in this way was enjoyable and interesting. Bell also slips the odd interesting fact into the story – I was particularly pleased to take away the knowledge that people from Newcastle are often referred to as Geordies due to their allegiance with King George during the Jacobite revolution.
As the book progresses the reader learns that it is in fact Cathy who is writing Dorothy’s story. Which, looking back on the text, seems almost obvious. The beginning of Dorothy’s tale is morose and filled with anxiety. As the story progresses you begin to learn more of Dorothy’s feelings, particularly with regards to her friend, John Armstrong. These feelings are themselves an indication of the feelings Cathy is having, reflecting her confused emotional attachment towards Jack:
“I climbed into bed and thought about John in the room below me, a great relief slowing over me that he had seen fit to join me in my quest. Despite feeling a mixture of excitement and apprehension, I slept better than I had done for some time.”
Towards the end of the novel, Cathy discovers the extent of the relationship between Dorothy and John and realises within herself that love is the most important thing, and that if two people love each other they will make it work. The parallels drawn between the two couples in the final sections of the novel are incredibly striking, with the words spoken by Cathy and Jack, about compromise and going against the wishes of their families, more or less repeated in the exchange between Dorothy and John:
“John Armstrong, if you think I’m going to wait that long, you are sadly mistaken. Whether my family disowns me or not, I mean to spend my life with you and I’m not one to be dissuaded from something once my mind is made up.”
Cathy wishes for a happy ending for Dorothy, because she wants it for herself, and, in the same way, she finds her own happy ending by discovering Dorothy’s.
Overall, I found A Similar Devotion to be a very satisfying read. Its slightly niche style and blend of modern romance and historical fiction is really fantastic. The story itself, while idealistic in some respects, feels believable. In both stories, loyalty to one man leads to the love of another, and both love stories require compromise on the part of both partners. Despite all that separates Dorothy and Cathy from one another, they share a similar devotion to a loved one and learn a similar lesson: that love has a power to heal wounds and draw happiness from the most devastating situations.
Originally posted on Jade the Obscure
The first thing that struck me about Bell’s writing style was her ability to convey surroundings so simply. Effective description is crucial: nothing is more powerful than being able to transport the reader to a different place, where they can feel, smell and see the surrounding as the author envisaged them
Upon opening A Similar Devotion, I immediately knew I was going to get along with the writing style. The prologue sets the scene perfectly for the rest of the book:
“I am young again, remembering the pleasures of bare feet on dewy grass, the salty scent of the sea, thundering waves dissolving into lacy foam that fans across the wide sands, the plaintive cries of gulls and the moan of the wind in my ears.”
This demonstrates completely that descriptions needn’t be overly detailed. Bell appeals to the senses: initially, the feel of dewy grass and the smell of the sea, before unleashing taste, sight, and sounds to completely encapsulate the view. The transformative aspect of Bell’s writing transcends far beyond this opening paragraph and into the entire North of England; Bell’s familiarity with the region is evident and flows freely through the text.
The book itself is split into two separate sections, interlaced with one another so that the reader is simultaneously following both the story of Cathy and Dorothy Forster. I liked the effect that this had, offering the reader a break from each story for just long enough to make them wonder what is happening back in the present day, or vice versa. Bell succeeds in keeping the setting of each story separate without making the text awkward. The present day is expressed through a contemporary style, while the Jacobite revolution necessitates the use of more archaic language. The effect of this is not as jarring as one might imagine and allows the reader to move seamlessly between the two worlds rather than being dragged from one century to the other.
The two stories initially link to one another when Cathy, befriended by a kindly doctor, Jack, begins researching Dorothy Forster and the Jacobite revolution as a therapeutic means of dealing with her feelings. Research becomes a method of escapism, giving her something new to focus on, and her sensitive mind clings to Dorothy’s story, beginning to imagine a happy ending for the eighteenth-century heroine.
After doing a little bit of research into the Jacobite revolution myself, I was delighted to find that Dorothy Forster was a real person. I find something very rewarding in historical fiction. My research didn’t go as deep as Cathy’s, of course, but I can relate somewhat to her frustrations as much of what is immediately available on the Forsters is shrouded in suppositions. I found that Dorothy was described as the ‘darling’ of the Jacobite uprising of 1715, and is today rumoured to haunt the hotel in which Jack and Cathy stayed, the Lord Crewe Arms, apparently waiting for the return of her brother.
The lovely thing about really successful historical fiction such as this is being able to take away a newfound knowledge of a snippet of history. Before reading A Similar Devotion I was completely unfamiliar with the Jacobite revolution; reading about it in this way was enjoyable and interesting. Bell also slips the odd interesting fact into the story – I was particularly pleased to take away the knowledge that people from Newcastle are often referred to as Geordies due to their allegiance with King George during the Jacobite revolution.
As the book progresses the reader learns that it is in fact Cathy who is writing Dorothy’s story. Which, looking back on the text, seems almost obvious. The beginning of Dorothy’s tale is morose and filled with anxiety. As the story progresses you begin to learn more of Dorothy’s feelings, particularly with regards to her friend, John Armstrong. These feelings are themselves an indication of the feelings Cathy is having, reflecting her confused emotional attachment towards Jack:
“I climbed into bed and thought about John in the room below me, a great relief slowing over me that he had seen fit to join me in my quest. Despite feeling a mixture of excitement and apprehension, I slept better than I had done for some time.”
Towards the end of the novel, Cathy discovers the extent of the relationship between Dorothy and John and realises within herself that love is the most important thing, and that if two people love each other they will make it work. The parallels drawn between the two couples in the final sections of the novel are incredibly striking, with the words spoken by Cathy and Jack, about compromise and going against the wishes of their families, more or less repeated in the exchange between Dorothy and John:
“John Armstrong, if you think I’m going to wait that long, you are sadly mistaken. Whether my family disowns me or not, I mean to spend my life with you and I’m not one to be dissuaded from something once my mind is made up.”
Cathy wishes for a happy ending for Dorothy, because she wants it for herself, and, in the same way, she finds her own happy ending by discovering Dorothy’s.
Overall, I found A Similar Devotion to be a very satisfying read. Its slightly niche style and blend of modern romance and historical fiction is really fantastic. The story itself, while idealistic in some respects, feels believable. In both stories, loyalty to one man leads to the love of another, and both love stories require compromise on the part of both partners. Despite all that separates Dorothy and Cathy from one another, they share a similar devotion to a loved one and learn a similar lesson: that love has a power to heal wounds and draw happiness from the most devastating situations.
Originally posted on Jade the Obscure
July 28, 2019
A Similar Devotion is set in Northern England and follows the lives of two women separated by time. Dorothy who lives in 1715 during the Jacobite Rebellion and Cathy who lives in Harrogate in 2005.
After a family tragedy, Cathy feels the need to escape and travels in her car not knowing where she is heading. After getting flashbacks and pulling into a lay-by, a stranger called Jack comes to her help and takes her to a nearby hotel called The Lord Crewe Arms. After hearing about the history of a woman called Dorothy and her brother, Cathy decides to find out more about them. Cathy soon sees connections between her own story and Dorothy’s. As Cathy and Jack research into Dorothy’s history, her and Jack grow closer.
This book is about one woman’s history and another women’s journey. A great book for any reader who enjoys historical fiction.
After a family tragedy, Cathy feels the need to escape and travels in her car not knowing where she is heading. After getting flashbacks and pulling into a lay-by, a stranger called Jack comes to her help and takes her to a nearby hotel called The Lord Crewe Arms. After hearing about the history of a woman called Dorothy and her brother, Cathy decides to find out more about them. Cathy soon sees connections between her own story and Dorothy’s. As Cathy and Jack research into Dorothy’s history, her and Jack grow closer.
This book is about one woman’s history and another women’s journey. A great book for any reader who enjoys historical fiction.
May 3, 2016
I really wanted to like this more than I did. The story is of one of my ancestors, Dorothy Forster. I know the tale well. The author does a good job with the tale and even switching back and forth between centuries. But the modern day story is too weak and not believable. The main characters, Cathy and Jack, are not believable. Jack alternates between treating Cathy with tender care to outright abuse. He's awful and Cathy should run. But she's kind of a doormat. She gets angry at him over perceived notions and he gets very angry at her. Then she doesn't know what's gotten into her. She loves him but she won't leave her parents? What kind of nonsense is that? People grow up and move away. She can always go back to visit. Honestly!
The castle is on the front, yes, but it is hardly mentioned. They must have visited but say nothing about it - this splendid, beautiful castle. They search for records, but they never mention Dorothy's dress on display and her tiny shoes. There's no mention of the portraits that hang in the castle of Dorothy, Thomas, and Dorothy and Lord Crewe. They visit the church but fail to mention all the records on display there - the marble engravings on the wall - several feet high that memorialize members of Dorothy Crew's family. The armor in the chancel of Sir Ferdinando Forster, and the Forster Family crypt where Dorothy Forster Armstrong is buried by her brother, Thomas and others.
St. Aidan's has booklets on sale in the church regarding the Forster Family as well as the charted Forster Family tree.
I found all this online before I visited the castle, church, crypt, and stayed in Tom and Dorothy's home, Bamburgh Hall, next to the church. The owner knows their story well.
I do thank Susan Bell for writing a more modern version of the story. It took me back to that windswept massive rock of a castle and quaint, welcoming village. I hope to return one day again.
The Forster Family history is fascinating all by itself. I am thankful for keeping these memories alive. The tales of the hundreds of years of Forster Knights would be fascinating to try to tell!
Oh and I so did want Dorothy's ghost to tap Cathy on her shoulder at some point!
I guess I just would have written the story differently. Maybe I'll write it myself one day.
The castle is on the front, yes, but it is hardly mentioned. They must have visited but say nothing about it - this splendid, beautiful castle. They search for records, but they never mention Dorothy's dress on display and her tiny shoes. There's no mention of the portraits that hang in the castle of Dorothy, Thomas, and Dorothy and Lord Crewe. They visit the church but fail to mention all the records on display there - the marble engravings on the wall - several feet high that memorialize members of Dorothy Crew's family. The armor in the chancel of Sir Ferdinando Forster, and the Forster Family crypt where Dorothy Forster Armstrong is buried by her brother, Thomas and others.
St. Aidan's has booklets on sale in the church regarding the Forster Family as well as the charted Forster Family tree.
I found all this online before I visited the castle, church, crypt, and stayed in Tom and Dorothy's home, Bamburgh Hall, next to the church. The owner knows their story well.
I do thank Susan Bell for writing a more modern version of the story. It took me back to that windswept massive rock of a castle and quaint, welcoming village. I hope to return one day again.
The Forster Family history is fascinating all by itself. I am thankful for keeping these memories alive. The tales of the hundreds of years of Forster Knights would be fascinating to try to tell!
Oh and I so did want Dorothy's ghost to tap Cathy on her shoulder at some point!
I guess I just would have written the story differently. Maybe I'll write it myself one day.
February 28, 2014
Overall A Similar Devotion is a very satisfying read. There are two stories; one set in the eighteenth century at the time of the 1715 Jacobite rising and the other in the present day. The link between the two is that the heroine of present day tale spends time researching the 18th. century tale while recovering from a family tragedy and taking tentative steps in a relationship with a young doctor.
The novel moves seamlessly between the past and present tales and it is a test of this type of book that the reader is always looking forward to updates on one story while reading the other. That works really well here. In fact, the present day relationship becomes so rocky at times that a break from it is most welcome yet, having slipped back in time, I became anxious to know how the twentieth century would resolve their problems.
The language is refreshingly simple and the eighteenth century sections sound as if they were written in that time, but without the usual padding that frequently characterised novels of that era. The characters are interesting, convincing and well-drawn. The locations, most of which were familiar to me, have been chosen carefully, particularly in the eighteenth century sections to give maximum impact to the action. The end is both exciting and very satisfactory.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil (thebluepencil.co.uk)
davidlowtherblog.wordpress.com
The novel moves seamlessly between the past and present tales and it is a test of this type of book that the reader is always looking forward to updates on one story while reading the other. That works really well here. In fact, the present day relationship becomes so rocky at times that a break from it is most welcome yet, having slipped back in time, I became anxious to know how the twentieth century would resolve their problems.
The language is refreshingly simple and the eighteenth century sections sound as if they were written in that time, but without the usual padding that frequently characterised novels of that era. The characters are interesting, convincing and well-drawn. The locations, most of which were familiar to me, have been chosen carefully, particularly in the eighteenth century sections to give maximum impact to the action. The end is both exciting and very satisfactory.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil (thebluepencil.co.uk)
davidlowtherblog.wordpress.com
September 11, 2014
I liked the historical part of this book and wish that was all it was.
Dorothy`s story around the Jacobite Rebellion in 1745 was fascinating, but I just didn`t buy in to the parallel story line running in present time. It felt weak and forced... like there needed to be a tie-in to current day and the increasing obsession with technology, in order to attract the younger readers. I never really bought into Cathy and Jacks relationship and felt there was an attempt to create conflict because it was needed... not because it was natural character progression.
Dorothy`s story around the Jacobite Rebellion in 1745 was fascinating, but I just didn`t buy in to the parallel story line running in present time. It felt weak and forced... like there needed to be a tie-in to current day and the increasing obsession with technology, in order to attract the younger readers. I never really bought into Cathy and Jacks relationship and felt there was an attempt to create conflict because it was needed... not because it was natural character progression.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews