The Road To Rowanbrae

A tender, uplifting family story set in Aberdeenshire, sweeping from the early years of this century to the present day. Mysie Lonie was only sixteen when her drunken father sold her for thirty pounds as wife to ugly, middle aged Jeems Duncan. Taken to live on his croft, Rowanbrae, she tried hard to make the best of her lot and, in time, bore Jeems two sons - Jamie, the light of her life, and unhappy, difficult Sandy. In 1913, as the storm clouds of war gather, love comes with unexpected force and brightness into Mysie's life. But the conflict of loyalties it brings sets off a chain of terrible events that eventually leaves her bereaved, homeless and marked by a secret she can never betray. Nearly destitute, Mysie is forced out into the world to scrape a living for herself and Sandy. Her path will bring her further trials - also many joys - but finally she is given the chance to leave her tragic past behind and enjoy true happiness ...

Doris Davidson was born in Aberdeen in 1922, the daughter of a master butcher and country lass. In 1967 she became a primary school teacher, and subsequently taught in schools in Aberdeen until she retired in 1982 to become a writer, publishing her first work in 1990. Thirteen novels, one collection of short stories and an acclaimed autobiography - A Gift from the Gallowgate - later she was firmly established as one of the country's best-loved romantic novelists. Doris died in June 2012.