Customer Reviews

Separate Beds

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Separate Beds is without a doubt one of the best books I've ever read. It is a wonderfully written book about two people and how their lives change when their actions on a blind date result in an unexpected and unwanted pregnancy.

Catherine Anderson is a college student who comes from a poor family. Her father is an abusive alcoholic and her mother is a frail creature who doesn't stand up for herself. Catherine's life is a struggle and she isn't shown any love by her family. Clay Forrester, however, is the guy who has it all--money, great looks, a fast car, a family who loves him and everything he wants at his fingertips. These two are set up on a blind date and when Catherine shows up at Clay's house with her father Clay doesn't even remember her. Clay's pressured by his family to do the right thing and give the baby a name. Clay and Catherine agree to a marriage that will keep Clay's name reputable and will give the baby a name. Catherine will get a college education and financial support for the baby. They agree to divorce after the baby is born. Their marriage though must look legitimate and not like the business deal that it is. However, they begin to have feelings for each other but their pride stands in the way. Will the marriage work or will they go their separate ways?

This book is just incredible. It is written with such feeling that the reader forgets these are fictional characters and begins to care about what happens to them. I found myself cheering Clay on when he tries to help Catherine understand her feelings. The reader can really see how much Clay cares for Catherine and how much she cares for him, even though she won't admit it.

This is a wonderful story. I was sad to finish this story as I wanted it to go on. The characters were all well developed and the story was great. This book is a guaranteed page turner as you just have to keep reading to see if these two can put pride aside and let their love for each other show. A book to put on the keeper shelf and read again. I highly recommend this book.

I would rate this book really 3.5 stars. The novel is appreciably realistic and this author really uses the plot well and expands on it (i.e girl gets pregnant, couple struggle to realise their feelings). This is definitely better crafted for a so-used plot that Mills & Boon novels use rather shallowly. The characters however, could use a little work. Clay comes across as rather shallow, materialistic and immature though his compassionate nature and obvious caring (this develops) for Catherine helps balance this out. It doesn't reflect too well on him that he slept with Catherine just because he had an argument with his then-girlfriend, Jill Magnusson but I guess he was drunk and did make an attempt to stop somewhat counts. Readers can really feel for Catherine and her emotional problems (her barriers) but it can be really frustrating as her attitude drags down the novel at times, particularly when Clay is trying to be understanding. You can understand her dilemma - her inability to trust and love Clay because she fears being hurt and she's never really had that. Also her feelings that she wasn't the one he was supposed to marry and the fact they planned to divorce makes her unable to take a risk with her heart. It is a really sad in the story to see how she goaded and pushed Clay out - for him you can understand that a man only takes so much rejection before he turns to someone else. You can understand that she needed total reassurance from Clay (he wasn't able to give her this and admit his love), before she was ready to commit her love. One thing I didn't like in the novel was how Clay returned to his old girlfriend, Jill Magnusson. Firstly it was distasteful for her to be invited to the wedding and doubly so for him to actually kiss her there. Secondly, after her spiteful hurtful remarks to Catherine which really was the last straw that broke Clay & Catherine apart, it really is awful that he could go back to such a spiteful, shallow woman, knowing Jill's behaviour (her lies to Catherine). It was also wrong of him to confide his marriage troubles to her. Granted, they needed a separation, and it suited Clay to turn to another woman but not Jill. Six months or so to realise what she is OTT. However, on a better note it is their separation that help Clay and Catherine grow up. Clay realises his priorities have changed and finally wakes up to Jill's self-absorption. Having a baby and receiving unconditional love from her daughter, brought Catherine out of her shell to realise that she had to give love in order to receive it. Thus, LaVyrle Spencer really shows her talent for creating realistic and emotionally-wrangling plots for her romance novels. It is a great book and has grown on me.

HI all you readers! I must confess that i do not read lavyrle books that often. I only read about 5 of them and I sometimes find her books a little cheezy and unreal. But not this very ONE. This book reflects on a pregnant girls life and her path in trying to hold on to the love of her baby and it's father . I usually don't find a good enough story behind romance novels and nothing that makes the story romantic enough. The books usually come out unreal and you cant respond to any lame thing in the book. Seperate beds went way past that obsicle and really caught my interest. This is not just a book to read if you are in for romance. It's also an intruiging story about the ups and downs of being a single mother trying to struggle with your own emotions and everything else that comes along with pregnancy. Not only do you feel so much for the characters, you wanna get to know them cuz spencer really succeeded in making them truly lovable people. 5 stars for a book like this anyday!

I have read this book over and over again! If you are looking for a book that you cant put down, look no further! The story puts you on a rollercoaster of emotions, from joy to outrage and everything in between! I have now read several of her books and this one still remains my favorite. Catherine and Clay make you feel as though you know them persoanlly and make you feel you have a stake in what is happening. Superbly written so that you will not be able to put it down!

Someone recommended "Separate Beds" to me as a truly great romance novel. She said it was one of her favorites and that she had read it time and again. After reading it, I'm afraid I didn't see what the fuss was all about. I found it to be not so much a romance novel but rather a novel where two people grow up along with their child. There wasn't a lot of romance here.

First of all, let me preface my review by saying that I found it difficult to get past Catherine drinking while pregnant and not using a car seat for her infant daughter. My older sister had two children in the early to mid 1980's and I'm pretty sure she knew enough not to drink while pregnant and understood the wisdom of using a car seat. Despite those detractors (or the fact that the young characters didn't speak the way most of their contemporaries would have), they weren't the things I was most bothered by. I wasn't even bothered by the dated feel of the novel, either. In fact, I found some of it amusing and absurd (Clay and Catherine listening to The Lettermen in 1985? Puleeze.).

This was a promising tale of a young girl from the wrong side of the tracks who came from an abusive home and married a wealthy, handsome man whose life experiences couldn't have been any more different from her own. The plight of the couple (who had only dated once) and their feelings at the prospect of becoming parents were very relatable and the book kept me quite interested for at least the first half. At that point, Catherine's continued placing of barriers between herself and Clay was understandable but it got old, quickly. Catherine couldn't allow herself to get close to Clay without a commitment so she created all sorts of obstacles to prevent that. For his part, Clay was attracted to Catherine but couldn't feel any strong emotional connection toward her because she never demonstrated any affection whatsoever toward him. I have to say, most of the book was pretty depressing.

Also, I just didn't love the two main characters. Clay showed responsibility at first and he was basically a good person, however, some of his actions were reprehensible, imo. First of all, he slept with Catherine while on a blind date after having a fight with his girlfriend, Jill. He invited that girlfriend to his farce of a wedding and kissed her. He made out with her in front of God and the entire country club on New Year's Eve. He went to live with said ex-girlfriend after he left Catherine and after he knew the ex was a complete and utter liar. Finally, this man from a loving, touching family never held his daughter until the end of the story when she was around eight months old. I found that truly bizarre! I understood why Clay left to begin with. Basically, Catherine had frozen him out to the point where they needed to separate and reevaluate their lives. She overcame much, but she was certainly a trying character at times. As an aside, I found it odd that Catherine didn't seem to care much about who her real father was. I know I'd at least be curious.

The story ended happily, but I still felt somewhat unsatisfied. For one thing, the sudden, sweet ending just wasn't enough, for Clay and Catherine had been combative for most of the novel. I would have liked a little more, an epilogue or something to convince me they were truly a happy couple at last. This was my main problem with the book. The happily ever after didn't feel totally genuine.

Positives: LaVyrle Spencer created a believable story with believable situations and consequences. Her book was rich in detail and made me want to continue reading to see what would happen next. Most impressive was Catherine's emotional journey which showed real growth. Not only did she mature but she learned how to love and be lovable and vulnerable in return. I also really liked Clay's parents for the most part. They admitted they were wrong at first, trying to force Clay's hand. Then again, they were far from perfect, for I surely didn't get why they avoided their granddaughter just because her parents had split up. Still, the connection between them and Catherine was real. You could feel the love and respect there on both sides. In fact, I felt it more strongly than I did the connection between Clay and Catherine!

I give "Separate Beds" 3.5 stars because it was engaging and it did make me think of the story for several days after I finished it. Obviously, I'm not in the camp who adores it, but it's an okay read -- just not an overly romantic one.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I know it is a favorite of many. I read it a couple decades too late and some circumstances and the reactions to those circumstances are a bit out of date now. This book started out with a good plot and realistic reactions to the unexpectant pregnancy. Due to my age, I could actually relate to the time-frame. Initially, I liked both the hero and the heroine and was looking forward to learning how they fell in love.

As the story progressed I became weary of the mind games that Catherine kept playing with Clay. I understand that she was emotionally damaged because of her abusive and alcoholic father and her spineless mother. I think Clay deserved a gold star for sticking with her as long as he did and trying to help her with her problems. She really needed some professional therapy or intervention! Then, toward the end of the book; Catherine suddenly becomes the mature and rational one and Clay becomes the flake. This story had a little too much drama and emotional baggage for me to enjoy.

A modern day fairy tale - Everything doesn't fall nicely into place just because Cinderella meets Prince Charming. The real world intrudes again and again as two flawed human beings have to face heart-breaking obstacles, and their own insecurities and fears, in the course of following their hearts. But there's happily-ever-after in the end - as only LaVyrle Spencer can provide.

I first read this book when I was Cathy and Clay's age and I appreciated the uncondescending portrayal of life at that stage - when youre 18-19-20 years old - on the verge of adulthood, but still finding your feet. In this case, the characters are doing it under extraordinary circumstances, but thanks to Spencer's honest portrayal I could easily identify with these two people and I lost myself in their story again and again.

Reading it now, years later, I've discovered the story is timeless - despite the now dated clothes and cars and other cultural references (ah, the early 80s!). It still makes me laugh and cry just like it did the first time I read it.

I was gripped by the first sentence. although the book is dated, the situation between catherine and clay is modern. the story is so real i have come back to read it at least 5 times. and the ending could not have been more perfect. i was able to finish the book in one weekend and highly reccomend it to anyone who is in to romance.

As my first Lavyrle Spencer book, I found Separate Beds a very worthwhile read despite its predictable storyline.

Catherine and Clay are complete opposites; from personality to family background and social status. Finding themselves plunged into a marriage of convenience (or inconvenience due to an unexpected pregnancy), they try to make the best of their differences. Obvious troubles occur as well as some unexpected ones.

This is a sweet story that I finished in only 3-days. Spencer's writing style is pretty simple to fly through, giving you enough detail and description to keep you interested without boring you with too much of it. Recommended for those who want a good story but a book they don't have to concentrate on too hard.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

A solid story composed of very real, complex and interesting characters, but Clay getting a pass for cheating on wife Catherine with old girlfriend, Jill Magnusson (and moving in with her!), just didn't set well with me. Be a man and get a divorce first. I started out having an enormous amount of respect for Clay for manning up and taking responsibility for his child (despite the absence of DNA as proof back then), but he lost me when he went back to Jill because Catherine didn't know how to love (like Jill did?). I did find it curious that Catherine wasn't at all curious about her real father, who might have wanted to get to know his daughter. Fathers seem to be ignored in most books written by women. Though Catherine was strong, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing. This was a depressing book, the ending bittersweet. I was never fully convinced that Catherine and Clay were in love with each other, but rather they had simply grown together because of their baby. They are the type of couple I can see being relatively happy for a number of years, but ultimately, end up divorcing and finding a greater second love. I thought it would've been more interesting had their baby died and then see if they ended up staying together, for even Jill says something along the lines that it's no so much Catherine she cannot be, but Melissa, his little daughter. I recommend this book only because it is a good read, but falling in love with the characters? Not quite.