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Separate Beds
They became husband and wife…in name only
The wedding of Clay Forrester and Catherine Anderson was the social event of the season. It seemed like a page out of a fairy tale. But everything about it -- from the formal vows to the magnificent reception -- was a lie, Catherine had reluctantly agreed to Clay's "marriage of convenience"...and the only thing that could threaten their arrangement was the unexpected arrival of love.
The wedding of Clay Forrester and Catherine Anderson was the social event of the season. It seemed like a page out of a fairy tale. But everything about it -- from the formal vows to the magnificent reception -- was a lie, Catherine had reluctantly agreed to Clay's "marriage of convenience"...and the only thing that could threaten their arrangement was the unexpected arrival of love.
392 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
338 people are currently reading
3207 people want to read
About the author
LaVyrle Spencer
105 books1,586 followersLaVyrle Spencer is an American best-selling author of contemporary and historical romance novels. She has successfully published a number of books, with several of them made into movies. Twelve of her books have been New York Times bestsellers, and Spencer was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame in 1988.
Spencer is known for creating realistic characters and stories that focus on families rather than only the relationship between a man and woman. These "ordinary" men and women are warm and vulnerable and are always portrayed sympathetically.[1] Her heroines tend to be a mix of fire and warmth, strength, savvy and soft–heartedness who must overcome some sort of adversity, such as pregnancy, divorce, a lengthy separation, the loss of a loved one, and then undergo a catharsis. The stories center on themes of abiding love, family ties and strength in difficult times.
In the 1980s and 1990s Spencer wrote 12 New York Times Bestsellers. Her books have been sold to book clubs worldwide, and have been published around the world. Condensed versions of many of her novels have appeared in Reader's Digest and Good Housekeeping.
She retired from writing in 1997.
Spencer is known for creating realistic characters and stories that focus on families rather than only the relationship between a man and woman. These "ordinary" men and women are warm and vulnerable and are always portrayed sympathetically.[1] Her heroines tend to be a mix of fire and warmth, strength, savvy and soft–heartedness who must overcome some sort of adversity, such as pregnancy, divorce, a lengthy separation, the loss of a loved one, and then undergo a catharsis. The stories center on themes of abiding love, family ties and strength in difficult times.
In the 1980s and 1990s Spencer wrote 12 New York Times Bestsellers. Her books have been sold to book clubs worldwide, and have been published around the world. Condensed versions of many of her novels have appeared in Reader's Digest and Good Housekeeping.
She retired from writing in 1997.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 525 reviews
April 8, 2011
This was one of the two books I read last night. Two very emotional books that just ripped me apart.
For me, Separate beds did not have a happy ending.
I hated Clay.I never ever ever wanted him to be happy.
I do not care if he realized he loved Cat in the end. He was pure and simple-a very selfish monster.
All of the people that read my rews already know how strongly I feel about my heroines. I am not really a feminist. I am not really so much for girl power. I really believe we do need man and I like my men macho, willing, ready and capable of defending and maybe even fending for women. So the only little part of me that is a feminist gets her high from being emotionally involved when it comes to the fates of the heroines in the books I read. Sometimes I am the silent friend of the heroine. Sometimes I am the heroine.
In this case?
I wanted to be the hellhound that ripped Clay the shreds.
He was an egocentric narcissistic bastard that had it all. He was in a relationship with the same kind of woman-power crazy chick that wanted a future full of money and success.
He fought with her, because really, even then they did not want the same things.
So he goes out with a sweet girl and has sex with her.
The sex results in a pregnancy.
Up to this point I understand that he did not want to marry her and I understand him asking his girlfriend to marry him instead. Still, even then I think they did not love one another. He asks her and she told him no. He tells her she is beautiful. Well, my fiances best friend is too. That does not mean I’m in love with him. That only means he is a fu.king Adonis. Lucky him! Arm candy? Sure! Love? God, no! So why des our ‘hero’ want this girl? And right there the ‘’ I am making with my fingers are very very very sarcastic. Because let me repeat myself .He.Is.A.JERK!!!!
So aside the fact that, no, he does not love this woman and yes his mother was right-if he wanted to marry her he would have asked before all of this, we move on and start with the actual plot-him and the heroine.
The hero and heroine are now married.
He really has no patience for her.
Sure, she is not full of confidence. She is not miss Perfect but she is sweet ,darling and really lovable. When they fight it is because he makes bold moves. And even thou it is very clear he did not want to marry her and has weird moments with his ex he just gets after her. Wants sex, a relationship, what ever…And he is mad. He is ever so mad when she shrinks form him. I am sorry, would you not? You are married to a dude that is almost about to get a t shirt that goes I DID NOT WANT YOU!! Would you give up your body? And lets face it, what women rally can give any part of herself without emotions getting attached?
So, after this one big fight that begins because his ex told her that on the day she had their baby he had sex WITH THE EX and stuff, he leaves. Why? Because he can not believe that she has taken those lies for granted.
But even thou he left his wife and KIIIIIIIIDDDDD because she did not believe him he goes to live with the eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeexxxxxxxxxxx that lied about those things!!
WTF?!!
At this point I was ripping chunks of my hair out. I wanted to make my dog eat this book. I wanted to scream! My fiancé was thinking about leaving our bed because every once in a while I just had the urge to kick his book from his hands and rant about MEN! Those ,those those…. RATS!! (the poor thing. He knows I love him. Kiss kiss)
And so we move on (after we make a mental note to buy a wig to conceal the parts of missing hair) with the story.
Blah blah Cat lives with her baby, studies, overcomes her problems blah blah.
To be hones the blah blah is just to speed this rew up. It really was a fab read. Cats struggles and her very achievement, every little joy she felt made me want to clap my hands and do a happy dance. This woman was strong. She was a fighter. I wanted so much for he. So so much!
But alas, Clay and her have a few run ins. He likes he. He likes her subtle changes. He likes it all. Still, he tells her how he and Jill do not figt. The are so super! And why not? I mean really. They do not spend time together. They eat only in restaurants over meaningless conversation. They have sex here and there. She ask him about fancy clothes. He does not talk about how to be with her he does not work or even talk with his own father. Nice! Nice and ever so meaningless. It’s written all over this relationship that they, and again I repeat myself, do not care for each other. And you know what? In my book they should just have one another! Clay would be miserable and Jill…well. Jill really would not. She has her work and fancy clothes and stuff. Talk about shallow. I can just shake my head at any man that would want a girl like this. Any way, our main actors meet again. The hero is panting over the heroine. So he goes out of his flat with his giiiiiiiiiiirlfriend and wants sex with the heroine. Atta boy! (God how I hate this guy!) She tells him-no can do mister, until you know what you want. And you know what? He can not tell her he loves her or that he wants her!!! WHAT? I mean W-H-A-T????
But he can go ‘home’ and fell guilty for not wanting to have sex with his snotty girlfriend. Well booohooo for them!!! (I just know I am going to burst a blood vessel here).
So time passes. And finally X days after he has a chat with his dear dear Jill and realizes that she wanted him and he her just because they were unavailable. How utterly nice! In all of this, the Jill woman drove me crazy also. Sure, my pride would be hurt if this were me. But MAN! Leave the people alone! She stalked the dude outside the hospital where his wife gave birth! Arrrrgggghhhh! Why do you even want him, you crazy bitch????! And when he tells her he is leaving she goes ‘My bead will not be empty for long!’ How….adorable.
So ya all know the drill. The hero goes to the heroine in some way or the other and they get back together. Happy happy the end.
NOT!NOTNOTNOT!!!!!!If this was a happy end book the heroine would have found a man that would have understood her, loved her from the start,or at least realized to love her. And he would have time for her. It would not all be about him. And the ‘hero’ would get fat, he would brake his perfect nose and he would wallow in misery because his prettiness loving princess would have dumped him if he was one bit less of what he was. Then, and just then, he would realize his love for the heroine, and he would see it was too late. And if I was really lucky he would shoot himself in the head.
The end!
Let me make this clear. This book is a treasure. It was written perfectly and it was very real. Some say that it was out dated because of their whole marriage of convenience in this day and age. Sorry, but why not? She was pregnant. She was going to have his child. If he was my son I would have wanted him to marry her too! Still the injustice ,the egocentric JERK (JERK-JERK-JEEEEEERK!!!!!!!!)? Ever so no my thing. That’s where the 5th star went.
For me, Separate beds did not have a happy ending.
I hated Clay.I never ever ever wanted him to be happy.
I do not care if he realized he loved Cat in the end. He was pure and simple-a very selfish monster.
All of the people that read my rews already know how strongly I feel about my heroines. I am not really a feminist. I am not really so much for girl power. I really believe we do need man and I like my men macho, willing, ready and capable of defending and maybe even fending for women. So the only little part of me that is a feminist gets her high from being emotionally involved when it comes to the fates of the heroines in the books I read. Sometimes I am the silent friend of the heroine. Sometimes I am the heroine.
In this case?
I wanted to be the hellhound that ripped Clay the shreds.
He was an egocentric narcissistic bastard that had it all. He was in a relationship with the same kind of woman-power crazy chick that wanted a future full of money and success.
He fought with her, because really, even then they did not want the same things.
So he goes out with a sweet girl and has sex with her.
The sex results in a pregnancy.
Up to this point I understand that he did not want to marry her and I understand him asking his girlfriend to marry him instead. Still, even then I think they did not love one another. He asks her and she told him no. He tells her she is beautiful. Well, my fiances best friend is too. That does not mean I’m in love with him. That only means he is a fu.king Adonis. Lucky him! Arm candy? Sure! Love? God, no! So why des our ‘hero’ want this girl? And right there the ‘’ I am making with my fingers are very very very sarcastic. Because let me repeat myself .He.Is.A.JERK!!!!
So aside the fact that, no, he does not love this woman and yes his mother was right-if he wanted to marry her he would have asked before all of this, we move on and start with the actual plot-him and the heroine.
The hero and heroine are now married.
He really has no patience for her.
Sure, she is not full of confidence. She is not miss Perfect but she is sweet ,darling and really lovable. When they fight it is because he makes bold moves. And even thou it is very clear he did not want to marry her and has weird moments with his ex he just gets after her. Wants sex, a relationship, what ever…And he is mad. He is ever so mad when she shrinks form him. I am sorry, would you not? You are married to a dude that is almost about to get a t shirt that goes I DID NOT WANT YOU!! Would you give up your body? And lets face it, what women rally can give any part of herself without emotions getting attached?
So, after this one big fight that begins because his ex told her that on the day she had their baby he had sex WITH THE EX and stuff, he leaves. Why? Because he can not believe that she has taken those lies for granted.
But even thou he left his wife and KIIIIIIIIDDDDD because she did not believe him he goes to live with the eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeexxxxxxxxxxx that lied about those things!!
WTF?!!
At this point I was ripping chunks of my hair out. I wanted to make my dog eat this book. I wanted to scream! My fiancé was thinking about leaving our bed because every once in a while I just had the urge to kick his book from his hands and rant about MEN! Those ,those those…. RATS!! (the poor thing. He knows I love him. Kiss kiss)
And so we move on (after we make a mental note to buy a wig to conceal the parts of missing hair) with the story.
Blah blah Cat lives with her baby, studies, overcomes her problems blah blah.
To be hones the blah blah is just to speed this rew up. It really was a fab read. Cats struggles and her very achievement, every little joy she felt made me want to clap my hands and do a happy dance. This woman was strong. She was a fighter. I wanted so much for he. So so much!
But alas, Clay and her have a few run ins. He likes he. He likes her subtle changes. He likes it all. Still, he tells her how he and Jill do not figt. The are so super! And why not? I mean really. They do not spend time together. They eat only in restaurants over meaningless conversation. They have sex here and there. She ask him about fancy clothes. He does not talk about how to be with her he does not work or even talk with his own father. Nice! Nice and ever so meaningless. It’s written all over this relationship that they, and again I repeat myself, do not care for each other. And you know what? In my book they should just have one another! Clay would be miserable and Jill…well. Jill really would not. She has her work and fancy clothes and stuff. Talk about shallow. I can just shake my head at any man that would want a girl like this. Any way, our main actors meet again. The hero is panting over the heroine. So he goes out of his flat with his giiiiiiiiiiirlfriend and wants sex with the heroine. Atta boy! (God how I hate this guy!) She tells him-no can do mister, until you know what you want. And you know what? He can not tell her he loves her or that he wants her!!! WHAT? I mean W-H-A-T????
But he can go ‘home’ and fell guilty for not wanting to have sex with his snotty girlfriend. Well booohooo for them!!! (I just know I am going to burst a blood vessel here).
So time passes. And finally X days after he has a chat with his dear dear Jill and realizes that she wanted him and he her just because they were unavailable. How utterly nice! In all of this, the Jill woman drove me crazy also. Sure, my pride would be hurt if this were me. But MAN! Leave the people alone! She stalked the dude outside the hospital where his wife gave birth! Arrrrgggghhhh! Why do you even want him, you crazy bitch????! And when he tells her he is leaving she goes ‘My bead will not be empty for long!’ How….adorable.
So ya all know the drill. The hero goes to the heroine in some way or the other and they get back together. Happy happy the end.
NOT!NOTNOTNOT!!!!!!If this was a happy end book the heroine would have found a man that would have understood her, loved her from the start,or at least realized to love her. And he would have time for her. It would not all be about him. And the ‘hero’ would get fat, he would brake his perfect nose and he would wallow in misery because his prettiness loving princess would have dumped him if he was one bit less of what he was. Then, and just then, he would realize his love for the heroine, and he would see it was too late. And if I was really lucky he would shoot himself in the head.
The end!
Let me make this clear. This book is a treasure. It was written perfectly and it was very real. Some say that it was out dated because of their whole marriage of convenience in this day and age. Sorry, but why not? She was pregnant. She was going to have his child. If he was my son I would have wanted him to marry her too! Still the injustice ,the egocentric JERK (JERK-JERK-JEEEEEERK!!!!!!!!)? Ever so no my thing. That’s where the 5th star went.
February 10, 2015
5+++ STARS
"He was sitting on a swivel stool this time, with his coat still on. He had one foot propped on a rung of the opposite stool, an elbow leaning nonchalantly on the edge of the counter.
Her eyes were were drawn to his, to the level, unsmiling study in gray. The silence hummed, enveloping her momentarily. Then without moving a muscle, he said, "You know what I want, Catherine."
For an oldie, this is a fantastic book that pulls the feels right out of you! I know I sound like a broken record, but I love stories about unrequited love that gets, well....requited. The 80's are the backdrop here, things like gathered shoulders on dresses with the infamous shoulder pads underneath, Charlie perfume, turned up collars...the list goes on and on and I loved every single thing because even if I don't remember actually doing those things or wearing those things myself, I remember growing up and seeing it.
Catherine and Clay were quite fantastic for each other but never really figured it out till much later. A marriage of convenience solves the problem of an unplanned pregnancy, the result of a heated one-night stand. Clay's trying to do the right thing and keep his future untarnished, Catherine is trying to do what's best under the most dire of circumstances. Throw in an unstable and mean father in-law, a vindictive ex-girlfriend and stubbornness to last for days, and you have the colorful background for this story.
The last 30% had me frustrated with Clay and Catherine, but mainly Catherine because of all the back and forth. I completely understood her fears and doubts but I truly believe she played a large part in shutting out the potential for love between her and Clay. Did Clay redeem himself? I think so. He was a little detached and selfish in the beginning but I felt his change in feeling, saw how being with Catherine was positively affecting him. And as apposed to other books with these themes, I think Catherine was the colder and more remote one. Thank goodness they both came to see the light!
Of course I cried, when do I not with this trope?! But I was also touched and had a silly smile on my face towards the end. Loved this and even with its dated feel, it was still a wonderful and emotionally satisfying read that was incredibly well written.
"He was sitting on a swivel stool this time, with his coat still on. He had one foot propped on a rung of the opposite stool, an elbow leaning nonchalantly on the edge of the counter.
Her eyes were were drawn to his, to the level, unsmiling study in gray. The silence hummed, enveloping her momentarily. Then without moving a muscle, he said, "You know what I want, Catherine."
For an oldie, this is a fantastic book that pulls the feels right out of you! I know I sound like a broken record, but I love stories about unrequited love that gets, well....requited. The 80's are the backdrop here, things like gathered shoulders on dresses with the infamous shoulder pads underneath, Charlie perfume, turned up collars...the list goes on and on and I loved every single thing because even if I don't remember actually doing those things or wearing those things myself, I remember growing up and seeing it.
Catherine and Clay were quite fantastic for each other but never really figured it out till much later. A marriage of convenience solves the problem of an unplanned pregnancy, the result of a heated one-night stand. Clay's trying to do the right thing and keep his future untarnished, Catherine is trying to do what's best under the most dire of circumstances. Throw in an unstable and mean father in-law, a vindictive ex-girlfriend and stubbornness to last for days, and you have the colorful background for this story.
The last 30% had me frustrated with Clay and Catherine, but mainly Catherine because of all the back and forth. I completely understood her fears and doubts but I truly believe she played a large part in shutting out the potential for love between her and Clay. Did Clay redeem himself? I think so. He was a little detached and selfish in the beginning but I felt his change in feeling, saw how being with Catherine was positively affecting him. And as apposed to other books with these themes, I think Catherine was the colder and more remote one. Thank goodness they both came to see the light!
Of course I cried, when do I not with this trope?! But I was also touched and had a silly smile on my face towards the end. Loved this and even with its dated feel, it was still a wonderful and emotionally satisfying read that was incredibly well written.
October 19, 2025
1985 Publication
3.7 stars
First came the baby...Then came marriage...And then came love.
Clay Forrester was a handsome young lawyer from a wealthy, caring and reputable family.
He had a girlfriend, Jill, who was beautiful but spoiled. She came from a high society family as well.
Catherine was from the wrong side of the tracks, daughter of working class parents, beautiful and a college student.
Her father was a reprehensible person who was physically abusing her mother who was a doormat, and who was emotionally abusing Catherine.
SEMI SPOILERS
One day Clay had a quarrel with his girlfriend Jill. That same day he happened to meet Catherine at an event and the attraction was palpable. Even though Catherine was a virgin, they had a one night stand.
Six weeks later Catherine knew that she was pregnant.
Her father read her diary and demanded to know who the baby daddy was. When he found out that the baby's father was from a well to do family, he dragged Catherine to the Forrester house.
He wanted to blackmail them to extract money from the family.
Catherine felt humiliated by her father's behaviour and ran away from the Forrester home to a shelter for unwed pregnant girls.
After several weeks Clay found her and felt pressured to propose a marriage of convenience so that his reputation as a lawyer will not be sullied. He felt resentful and trapped by the situation.
He did not want to marry Catherine, he wanted to be with Jill.
At the wedding Catherine found out about Jill as Clay was dancing with her and they even shared a kiss.
Catherine and Clay settled at a nice big house that his parents provided for them.
Catherine knowing that he only married her for the baby's sake, and that at some point after the birth he would probably go back to his girlfriend and divorce her, tried to protect herself and was keeping her distance. She was aloof and guarded and she would constantly push him away.
Catherine and Clay weren't sleeping together (the book's title) because Catherine wanted it that way.
There was a lot of push and pull. Clay tried multiple times to approach her but she would always reject him even though she was secretly in love with him.
She told him that a marriage needed to be based on love.
He told her: "To be loved you have to be lovable, Catherine. Don't you understand that? You never try in the least. You carry yourself like you are wearing armour. You are emotionally crippled."
Catherine was damaged by her dysfunctional family, the abuse she had witnessed and also received herself all her life.
Clay would spend time with Jill from time to time and Catherine suspected it.
Catherine gave birth to a baby girl and one day Jill approached her at a party and told her that she and Clay never stopped been lovers (she lied).
Catherine confronted Clay and told him to go back to his girlfriend, and one day he had enough and did just that.
He moved in with Jill, to his parents displeasure and disapproval.
Six months went by. Catherine continued to live at the house, attended college and was raising her daughter. In those six months Catherine underwent a major character development.
She enjoyed a peaceful and contented life for the first time in her life and had started to heal.
Both main characters needed to do some growing up.
Should I be mad at Clay? He kept trying to make the marriage work, but Catherine was so emotionally damaged that had erected barriers around her that Clay could not break.
There is so much drama in this book, it's so full of emotions, but again this author, Lavyrle Spencer, loves drama!
3.7 stars
First came the baby...Then came marriage...And then came love.
Clay Forrester was a handsome young lawyer from a wealthy, caring and reputable family.
He had a girlfriend, Jill, who was beautiful but spoiled. She came from a high society family as well.
Catherine was from the wrong side of the tracks, daughter of working class parents, beautiful and a college student.
Her father was a reprehensible person who was physically abusing her mother who was a doormat, and who was emotionally abusing Catherine.
SEMI SPOILERS
One day Clay had a quarrel with his girlfriend Jill. That same day he happened to meet Catherine at an event and the attraction was palpable. Even though Catherine was a virgin, they had a one night stand.
Six weeks later Catherine knew that she was pregnant.
Her father read her diary and demanded to know who the baby daddy was. When he found out that the baby's father was from a well to do family, he dragged Catherine to the Forrester house.
He wanted to blackmail them to extract money from the family.
Catherine felt humiliated by her father's behaviour and ran away from the Forrester home to a shelter for unwed pregnant girls.
After several weeks Clay found her and felt pressured to propose a marriage of convenience so that his reputation as a lawyer will not be sullied. He felt resentful and trapped by the situation.
He did not want to marry Catherine, he wanted to be with Jill.
At the wedding Catherine found out about Jill as Clay was dancing with her and they even shared a kiss.
Catherine and Clay settled at a nice big house that his parents provided for them.
Catherine knowing that he only married her for the baby's sake, and that at some point after the birth he would probably go back to his girlfriend and divorce her, tried to protect herself and was keeping her distance. She was aloof and guarded and she would constantly push him away.
Catherine and Clay weren't sleeping together (the book's title) because Catherine wanted it that way.
There was a lot of push and pull. Clay tried multiple times to approach her but she would always reject him even though she was secretly in love with him.
She told him that a marriage needed to be based on love.
He told her: "To be loved you have to be lovable, Catherine. Don't you understand that? You never try in the least. You carry yourself like you are wearing armour. You are emotionally crippled."
Catherine was damaged by her dysfunctional family, the abuse she had witnessed and also received herself all her life.
Clay would spend time with Jill from time to time and Catherine suspected it.
Catherine gave birth to a baby girl and one day Jill approached her at a party and told her that she and Clay never stopped been lovers (she lied).
Catherine confronted Clay and told him to go back to his girlfriend, and one day he had enough and did just that.
He moved in with Jill, to his parents displeasure and disapproval.
Six months went by. Catherine continued to live at the house, attended college and was raising her daughter. In those six months Catherine underwent a major character development.
She enjoyed a peaceful and contented life for the first time in her life and had started to heal.
Both main characters needed to do some growing up.
Should I be mad at Clay? He kept trying to make the marriage work, but Catherine was so emotionally damaged that had erected barriers around her that Clay could not break.
There is so much drama in this book, it's so full of emotions, but again this author, Lavyrle Spencer, loves drama!
January 15, 2015
Of course it was dated. It is 30 years old. Panty hose, ruffled shirts for men, cinnamon tuxedos, Charlie perfume ... LOL, but I did enjoy it. Catherine annoyed me a bit but I suppose she had to stand her ground. Clay. Usually love an Ass but he was nice enough. Loved his family.
Towards the end of the book I just wanted them to get over themselves and sort it all out.
Things have a way of becoming clearer with time.
It lends perspective.
"Up yours, Clay Forrester!"
Towards the end of the book I just wanted them to get over themselves and sort it all out.
"Hearts and flowers."
"You're just too good to be true ...."
July 4, 2015
What a horrible story. Sheesh. The guy keeps telling her she's acting like a child, but it was 'the pot calling the kettle black'. And don't even get me started on Jill. Gonna go brush my teeth and gargle after reading this one...
November 21, 2018
Foolish foolish people!
They both made their share of mistakes.
They both made their share of mistakes.
September 27, 2013
3 ½ stars. Good womens fiction story, a bit of a downer. Unlikeable heroine. Ending was happy but should have been better.
STORY BRIEF:
Catherine’s father was an abusive drunk. Her mother was weak. Clay’s parents were wealthy and loving. Clay and Catherine had a blind date. They saw each other only one night and she got pregnant. For interesting reasons, they agree on a marriage of convenience and to divorce after the baby is born.
OPINION:
Most of the book was not fun. But at the end I thought ok, I can see why she did what she did. She wouldn’t have sex with him unless he truly loved her. But I wanted her to have sex with him because she loved him. I wanted her to be kind and pleasant to him, but she was not. For most of the book she was cold, distant, mean, remote, and stubborn, always saying stay away from me. She never smiled. How could anyone grow to love someone who acted like that - for months. What was missing was seeing them fall in love, seeing a relationship develop. Then all of a sudden someone changes their mind at the end and everyone is happy together. I didn’t see the couple resolve their issues or spend enjoyable time together.
One thing I liked about Catherine. She never wanted money from Clay for herself. She only wanted enough to care for the baby. When he spent lavishly on something, she always resisted saying they didn’t need so much.
I was disappointed with a question that was not answered about someone’s biological father. I was also unhappy that Catherine drank wine several times while pregnant. It was common knowledge in 1985 that pregnant women should avoid alcohol. Catherine wanted the best for her baby so this didn’t fit.
Some reviewers did not like Clay’s actions. I wasn’t bothered. He had flaws, but it made a good story. He also did some neat things.
NARRATOR:
The narrator Liz Dykhouse was pretty good, but I wish she would have used a more normal voice for Clay. She sounded weird doing his voice - kind of nasal or stressed.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 13 hrs and 37 mins. Swearing language: mild including religious swear words but rarely used. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: 3, briefly described not a lot of detail. Setting: around 1985 Minneapolis, Minnesota. Book copyright: 1985. Genre: womens fiction and romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Catherine’s father was an abusive drunk. Her mother was weak. Clay’s parents were wealthy and loving. Clay and Catherine had a blind date. They saw each other only one night and she got pregnant. For interesting reasons, they agree on a marriage of convenience and to divorce after the baby is born.
OPINION:
Most of the book was not fun. But at the end I thought ok, I can see why she did what she did. She wouldn’t have sex with him unless he truly loved her. But I wanted her to have sex with him because she loved him. I wanted her to be kind and pleasant to him, but she was not. For most of the book she was cold, distant, mean, remote, and stubborn, always saying stay away from me. She never smiled. How could anyone grow to love someone who acted like that - for months. What was missing was seeing them fall in love, seeing a relationship develop. Then all of a sudden someone changes their mind at the end and everyone is happy together. I didn’t see the couple resolve their issues or spend enjoyable time together.
One thing I liked about Catherine. She never wanted money from Clay for herself. She only wanted enough to care for the baby. When he spent lavishly on something, she always resisted saying they didn’t need so much.
I was disappointed with a question that was not answered about someone’s biological father. I was also unhappy that Catherine drank wine several times while pregnant. It was common knowledge in 1985 that pregnant women should avoid alcohol. Catherine wanted the best for her baby so this didn’t fit.
Some reviewers did not like Clay’s actions. I wasn’t bothered. He had flaws, but it made a good story. He also did some neat things.
NARRATOR:
The narrator Liz Dykhouse was pretty good, but I wish she would have used a more normal voice for Clay. She sounded weird doing his voice - kind of nasal or stressed.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 13 hrs and 37 mins. Swearing language: mild including religious swear words but rarely used. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: 3, briefly described not a lot of detail. Setting: around 1985 Minneapolis, Minnesota. Book copyright: 1985. Genre: womens fiction and romance.
February 13, 2015
I read this book when I was a teen and fell in love with the marriage of convenience trope. A one night stand results in an unplanned pregnancy and Clay wants to do the right thing by marrying Catherine, even though really, they don't want to get married. They hardly like each other. But of course they grow closer and fall in love, etc.
So yeah. Marriage of convenience, one night stand, oops a baby, we must live together and pretend to be in love, oops we're falling in love, yikes I don't wanna fall in love...plus an evil ex-girlfriend and a rotten father -- this book has everything I love to read AND write about. Just thinking about the book I can see how it influenced my writing over the years and it's been forever since I've read it!
Warning - it's totally immersed in the 80s with the fashion, lingo, etc. But at its core is an amazing love story. Lavyrle is one of my old time favorites.
So yeah. Marriage of convenience, one night stand, oops a baby, we must live together and pretend to be in love, oops we're falling in love, yikes I don't wanna fall in love...plus an evil ex-girlfriend and a rotten father -- this book has everything I love to read AND write about. Just thinking about the book I can see how it influenced my writing over the years and it's been forever since I've read it!
Warning - it's totally immersed in the 80s with the fashion, lingo, etc. But at its core is an amazing love story. Lavyrle is one of my old time favorites.
Read
October 24, 2023I don’t even know where to begin. I only want to hope that nowadays women have become a little more self confident and they have acquired a little more dignity and pride not to enjoy this kind of bs. A woman who marries a man who’s in love with another woman and as soon as they have issues, and with a newborn in the middle, he leaves and go back to ow, while the heroine stays in love with him. This things don’t exist, and if there are such kind of women, please, no I can’t respect them at all and they deserve to be cuckolded and treated like shit.
They do deserve this treatment.
The book is a mountain of craps, I hated it, I hated the so called hero, the ow, and more than anyone else, the doormat, worthless heroine who couldn’t even have sex with another man while her hubby screwed and live happily with another woman.
I’m ashamed of being a woman if this is what women write and like. And sorry if I’m a bitch.
They do deserve this treatment.
The book is a mountain of craps, I hated it, I hated the so called hero, the ow, and more than anyone else, the doormat, worthless heroine who couldn’t even have sex with another man while her hubby screwed and live happily with another woman.
I’m ashamed of being a woman if this is what women write and like. And sorry if I’m a bitch.
September 23, 2021
2.5 unpopular opinion Stars
*Most everyone I know loves this book, so don't let this review sway you... I'm an impatient reader & I could be in a mood:-)*
Clay and Catherine have a one night stand that ends in pregnancy. He’s being pushed/threatened by her family to marry her. Neither wants that, but they decide for a marriage of convenience for a year. I thought this book was pretty painful to read, and not because of the subject matter. We know based on the summary that that she gets knocked up and they get married, but it takes 50% of the book to get to that point. I was so damn bored with the constant hamster wheel of them.
I didn’t find any of the characters likeable. Clay is an arrogant ass. Catherine is whiny and difficult. Her dad is an abusive drunk; her mom is a doormat.
So much of the book was Catherine pushing Clay away, and Clay acting like a pouty baby. She’s jealous of Jill, the bitchy ex, the entire book, but doesn’t once even attempt to have a real marriage. She just pushed him away and then gets sour that they have no relationship. At the very least she could have tried to be friendly... personally I think he’s an ass and would give him the boot, but she keeps wanting him... well then do something about it beside whine and sulk.
“To be loved you have to be lovable, Catherine. Don’t you understand that? You never try in the least. You carry yourself like you’re wearing armor”
She’s constantly like that, when she’s in labor she tells him to drop her off and that she’d drive herself in the dr said it was ok...
Then she allows things Jill says to kick Clay out and demand a divorce...then cries about how much she loved him. I thought it was a total dick move that Honestly I felt nothing between them at all, and by the end I gave zero fucks if they got together or not.
*Most everyone I know loves this book, so don't let this review sway you... I'm an impatient reader & I could be in a mood:-)*
Clay and Catherine have a one night stand that ends in pregnancy. He’s being pushed/threatened by her family to marry her. Neither wants that, but they decide for a marriage of convenience for a year. I thought this book was pretty painful to read, and not because of the subject matter. We know based on the summary that that she gets knocked up and they get married, but it takes 50% of the book to get to that point. I was so damn bored with the constant hamster wheel of them.
I didn’t find any of the characters likeable. Clay is an arrogant ass. Catherine is whiny and difficult. Her dad is an abusive drunk; her mom is a doormat.
So much of the book was Catherine pushing Clay away, and Clay acting like a pouty baby. She’s jealous of Jill, the bitchy ex, the entire book, but doesn’t once even attempt to have a real marriage. She just pushed him away and then gets sour that they have no relationship. At the very least she could have tried to be friendly... personally I think he’s an ass and would give him the boot, but she keeps wanting him... well then do something about it beside whine and sulk.
“To be loved you have to be lovable, Catherine. Don’t you understand that? You never try in the least. You carry yourself like you’re wearing armor”
She’s constantly like that, when she’s in labor she tells him to drop her off and that she’d drive herself in the dr said it was ok...
Then she allows things Jill says to kick Clay out and demand a divorce...then cries about how much she loved him. I thought it was a total dick move that Honestly I felt nothing between them at all, and by the end I gave zero fucks if they got together or not.
August 16, 2012
Darn I do remember this book, as soon as I began to read it. I set it down and amended the earlier five stars to one.
I'll be perfectly clear I love LS's novels, not everyone of course but the majority of them but this one is definitely way down there.
Ugh I could spit on these themes.
I'll be perfectly clear I love LS's novels, not everyone of course but the majority of them but this one is definitely way down there.
Ugh I could spit on these themes.
October 16, 2013
This was so boring I nearly died. I got to the last chapter and I just couldn't go on anymore. What a waste of time!
Read
April 7, 2013Oldie but goodie! Excited to see if I love this as much the second time around...
April 17, 2013
Once upon a time my former roommate and I were roadtripping together. This could have been a bit of a problem, because while she likes to listen to books on tape, I usually can't stand listening to someone talk at me for multiple hours at a time. This time, however, we discovered a genius compromise due to a truly appalling 80s romance novel - Separate Beds, a free gem we discovered over the course of our adventures procuring "hard-burld" eggs in Algiers Point. I could read to her, because I like reading aloud and can feel more free to comment that way, and she could have a book read to her, which helps the drive go faster. Fabulous.
What helped even more, however, was that this had to be one of the crappiest books I have ever laid eyes on. Ever. Terrible fashion and decor choices described in loving, obsessive detail? Check. Totally hegemonic in regards to gender and class? Check. Creepy daddy issues? Double check. Seemingly gross inaccuracies regarding the law, ragingly anti-choice, incredibly improbable plotting that lead to insanely illogical decision-making on the part of the characters, odd grammatical errors and odder word choices? Checkity-check-check. And to top it all off, pretty much no sex 'til page 300+, and even that was a day-after diary flashback - it was a really long flashback, so props to our previously virginal heroine for apparently having an eidetic memory while drunk and horny - and happened with a "jug" of wine, which to me positively screams rotgut Carlo Rossi. Boo. (Hells yes, I'm judging - I'm a Charles Shaw girl, when it comes down to the bargain bin.) But seriously, evidence:
"She summoned up anger as an antidote to the tears which Catherine Anderson never allowed herself to shed. To feel them threatening--and here, of all places!--was unspeakable. Weaklings cried! Weaklings and fools!"
Page 5, for fuck's sake, out of 392. And we finished that sucker with hardly any skimming. So bad it was hilarious? Without question. But it was still really, really bad. Really.
What helped even more, however, was that this had to be one of the crappiest books I have ever laid eyes on. Ever. Terrible fashion and decor choices described in loving, obsessive detail? Check. Totally hegemonic in regards to gender and class? Check. Creepy daddy issues? Double check. Seemingly gross inaccuracies regarding the law, ragingly anti-choice, incredibly improbable plotting that lead to insanely illogical decision-making on the part of the characters, odd grammatical errors and odder word choices? Checkity-check-check. And to top it all off, pretty much no sex 'til page 300+, and even that was a day-after diary flashback - it was a really long flashback, so props to our previously virginal heroine for apparently having an eidetic memory while drunk and horny - and happened with a "jug" of wine, which to me positively screams rotgut Carlo Rossi. Boo. (Hells yes, I'm judging - I'm a Charles Shaw girl, when it comes down to the bargain bin.) But seriously, evidence:
"She summoned up anger as an antidote to the tears which Catherine Anderson never allowed herself to shed. To feel them threatening--and here, of all places!--was unspeakable. Weaklings cried! Weaklings and fools!"
Page 5, for fuck's sake, out of 392. And we finished that sucker with hardly any skimming. So bad it was hilarious? Without question. But it was still really, really bad. Really.
June 17, 2021
Catherine and Clay.. had a one-night stand and 6 weeks later, she found out that she is pregnant. Her alcoholic and violent father wanted money from Clay's family, knowing that they are rich, her mother was a doormat, ok with all the violence and beatings, and Catherine wanted only to get out. She said to Clay that she doesn't want his money, she will have her baby and she will be happy. She runs away from home, to a house for unwed pregnant girls, but Clay finds her and proposes because he wants to be a lawyer and a bastard child will not help him pass the ethics exam. She agrees, knowing that it will be hard to stay in college without his financial help.
At their wedding, his ex comes and the heroine understands that he will always want the OW, so she tried to protect herself, keeping her distance. Also, she doesn't want how to love or how to act with people because her father never loved her and her mother never hugged her, so she acts coldly with her husband, pushes him away even though he wants to make their marriage real. She is always pushing him and after some time, the hero decides that he can't take it so he kisses the OW in front of the heroine, spends some time with her and after the baby is born, before the divorce, he moves with OW.
After 6 months or so, he sees that Catherine is sweet, she acts with a lot of love for their baby and she is now a happy person so he tries again land they both have their HEA.
I could say that I hated him for the betrayal, for the fact that he went with the OW but he did try to get to her, and the heroine pushed him every time. He could not love her because ...what was there to love..she was always drawn to herself, always bitter and cold, so I will say that e did not cheat because they did not have a real relationship, to begin with
Why not 5 * The push and pull was repetitive and unnecessarily long
At their wedding, his ex comes and the heroine understands that he will always want the OW, so she tried to protect herself, keeping her distance. Also, she doesn't want how to love or how to act with people because her father never loved her and her mother never hugged her, so she acts coldly with her husband, pushes him away even though he wants to make their marriage real. She is always pushing him and after some time, the hero decides that he can't take it so he kisses the OW in front of the heroine, spends some time with her and after the baby is born, before the divorce, he moves with OW.
After 6 months or so, he sees that Catherine is sweet, she acts with a lot of love for their baby and she is now a happy person so he tries again land they both have their HEA.
I could say that I hated him for the betrayal, for the fact that he went with the OW but he did try to get to her, and the heroine pushed him every time. He could not love her because ...what was there to love..she was always drawn to herself, always bitter and cold, so I will say that e did not cheat because they did not have a real relationship, to begin with
Why not 5 * The push and pull was repetitive and unnecessarily long
February 24, 2020
I don't know what to say.
Dated romance.
Hero goes back to ex that was a non ex in-between being with heroine.
Heroine confronts Hero about what ex has told her, she says
'You've been sleeping with her all the time you lied to me and said you weren't, so why not move in with her permanently? Do you think everybody doesn't know what's been going on between you when you stood at your own wedding reception and French-kissed her in front of everybody there? Did you tell your mother you'd stepped out for air when you disappeared with Jill on New Year's Eve? How dumb do you think I am, Clay? And why are you hanging around here like a stray dog? I'm not going to take you in and feed you and ask you if you'd like to live with me, because I want this farce to be over. I don't want your phony condescension or your two-bit psychoanalysis about my being emotionally crippled! I don't want you coming in here fawning over my daughter—the one I had while you were staying nights at Jill's house. All I want is what you agreed to give me. Child support for Melissa and my college education paid for. And I want you out of here—out!—so I can get on with my life!”'
He denies cheating.
But when she asks him to leave he goes back to the ex, nonex.
HEA if you believe it.
Dated romance.
Hero goes back to ex that was a non ex in-between being with heroine.
Heroine confronts Hero about what ex has told her, she says
'You've been sleeping with her all the time you lied to me and said you weren't, so why not move in with her permanently? Do you think everybody doesn't know what's been going on between you when you stood at your own wedding reception and French-kissed her in front of everybody there? Did you tell your mother you'd stepped out for air when you disappeared with Jill on New Year's Eve? How dumb do you think I am, Clay? And why are you hanging around here like a stray dog? I'm not going to take you in and feed you and ask you if you'd like to live with me, because I want this farce to be over. I don't want your phony condescension or your two-bit psychoanalysis about my being emotionally crippled! I don't want you coming in here fawning over my daughter—the one I had while you were staying nights at Jill's house. All I want is what you agreed to give me. Child support for Melissa and my college education paid for. And I want you out of here—out!—so I can get on with my life!”'
He denies cheating.
But when she asks him to leave he goes back to the ex, nonex.
HEA if you believe it.
January 12, 2020
Hmm. Not my fav of Ms Spencer's books, although as always, her characters and descriptions are well-drawn. Her historical romances still work well in 2020, but her 'contemporaries' now feel very dated. This one is no exception.
Published in 1985, it feels very 'eighties'. The descriptions of clothing and decor. Everything brown and rust coloured. etc. LOL. There is a well-described wedding which gives a real flavour of the times.
But it's not just the awkward fashion and interior decor. The attitudes and other aspects give it away as well. The home for pregnant single girls and the shame with which they are treated by the world. The horrible physical and verbal abuse of Catherine's mother (by her spouse). Yes, he does eventually go to jail, but Ada puts up with a lot more than (I hope) she would have to today. The riding in a car with a baby held in your lap. etc.
But you can get into 'the zone' and imagine you're in the eighties, I guess. That wasn't really my problem with this book. It was a basically bit too angsty for me, and very slow-moving. (So slow I took a break of several months before going back and finishing it.) Catherine has been emotionally damaged by her awful childhood, and she pushes the lovely Clay away instead of giving him a chance. (Yes, his name is Clay. LOL). This happens too many times and drags on for too long IMO. I got a bit sick of it. Alright, already. We know you're scared of love, Catherine, but give the poor dude a chance.
They finally do kiss and make-up in a sweet scene at Christmas, so even though it's quite a long book, it almost fits into a Christmas trope as well.
I did like Clay's wider family - his parents and grandparents were prepared to give Catherine a chance, and grew to love her. They saw through the shallow Jill, Catherine's rival. I liked them for that. Catherine's mother Ada was harder for readers to love, but as her story was revealed, you could see more of the real Ada she must have been once, before circumstances beat her down.
So overall, I would have liked a faster moving story with less angst and heartbreak. I just got a little tired of Catherine wallowing in her fears and insecurities, even though it was understandable.
Published in 1985, it feels very 'eighties'. The descriptions of clothing and decor. Everything brown and rust coloured. etc. LOL. There is a well-described wedding which gives a real flavour of the times.
But it's not just the awkward fashion and interior decor. The attitudes and other aspects give it away as well. The home for pregnant single girls and the shame with which they are treated by the world. The horrible physical and verbal abuse of Catherine's mother (by her spouse). Yes, he does eventually go to jail, but Ada puts up with a lot more than (I hope) she would have to today. The riding in a car with a baby held in your lap. etc.
But you can get into 'the zone' and imagine you're in the eighties, I guess. That wasn't really my problem with this book. It was a basically bit too angsty for me, and very slow-moving. (So slow I took a break of several months before going back and finishing it.) Catherine has been emotionally damaged by her awful childhood, and she pushes the lovely Clay away instead of giving him a chance. (Yes, his name is Clay. LOL). This happens too many times and drags on for too long IMO. I got a bit sick of it. Alright, already. We know you're scared of love, Catherine, but give the poor dude a chance.
They finally do kiss and make-up in a sweet scene at Christmas, so even though it's quite a long book, it almost fits into a Christmas trope as well.
I did like Clay's wider family - his parents and grandparents were prepared to give Catherine a chance, and grew to love her. They saw through the shallow Jill, Catherine's rival. I liked them for that. Catherine's mother Ada was harder for readers to love, but as her story was revealed, you could see more of the real Ada she must have been once, before circumstances beat her down.
So overall, I would have liked a faster moving story with less angst and heartbreak. I just got a little tired of Catherine wallowing in her fears and insecurities, even though it was understandable.
May 20, 2010
This is a story about a couple who marry temporarily for all the wrong reasons because of a pregnancy that developed from a one night stand. Claire never grew up with love or affection but instead had a father who belittled her and called her horrible names. Clay, on the other hand,not only grew up wealthy but with the most loving parents.
During their marriage Catherine has such a low self esteem because of the damage her father caused by his mistreatment. Clay tries desperately to help her, show her affection and get affection in return but gets frustrated that Catherine keeps everything bottled inside. What he doesn't know is that Catherine loves Clay but she can't give herself to him when Clay doesn't love her in return. Unlike Clay, it's not easy for her to show affection.
I really wanted to give this book 5 stars but halfway through the book Clay made a few bad decisions that made me dislike him. The way he handled things with his ex-girlfriend, Jill, really upset me. He pretty much left Catherine to go live with Jill then when he finally realized he loved Catherine he went back to her and she took him back with open arms! That totally threw me off! This book was written in the 80's so maybe that kind of thing was OK back then? Nonetheless, I still enjoyed the story and I do plan to read more books by Spencer.
During their marriage Catherine has such a low self esteem because of the damage her father caused by his mistreatment. Clay tries desperately to help her, show her affection and get affection in return but gets frustrated that Catherine keeps everything bottled inside. What he doesn't know is that Catherine loves Clay but she can't give herself to him when Clay doesn't love her in return. Unlike Clay, it's not easy for her to show affection.
I really wanted to give this book 5 stars but halfway through the book Clay made a few bad decisions that made me dislike him. The way he handled things with his ex-girlfriend, Jill, really upset me. He pretty much left Catherine to go live with Jill then when he finally realized he loved Catherine he went back to her and she took him back with open arms! That totally threw me off! This book was written in the 80's so maybe that kind of thing was OK back then? Nonetheless, I still enjoyed the story and I do plan to read more books by Spencer.
October 21, 2011
I really enjoyed this book up until the last few chapters. Just a bit too much back and forth with the Catherine and her indecisiveness on her feelings for Clay. I hated Clay in the beginning and then he just overwhelmed with his change of heart. They both frustrated me at times, but when their emotions were raw and they just let themselves feel, it was awesome! A strong, well-written, lovely romance with a sweet HEA.
August 28, 2016
You know, I really like LaVayrle Spencer's writing, but this one was just way too draining. Not to mention the heroine is a real bitch, maturing and redeeming herself much too far into the tale for me to give a damn.
February 8, 2015
This was a great read. All the characters were likable and real. My only complaint is the ending was a bit too rushed. I would've like to see more happiness between the H/h. Overall a sweet read from back in the day.
October 25, 2012
Jujur aja nih gw malas banget review buku ini.
Sebenarnya sederhana aja sih ceritanya, Catherine Anderson (19 tahun), dengan latar belakang keluarga miskin, masih virgin melakukan ONS dengan Clay Forrester (25 tahun) mahasiswa sarjana hukum yg orangtuanya notabene kaya raya. Ketika mengetahui anaknya hamil, Herb Anderson, ayah Cat yang bajingan dan pemabuk langsung berusaha “memeras” orangtua Clay.
Nah Cat malam itu juga “diinterogasi” oleh Clay yang merasa diperas oleh mereka berdua. Namun Cat tanpa gentar dan berani mengakui dan bilang bahwa dia tidak butuh uang keluarga Forrester. Namun sebaliknya orangtua Clay menginginkan Clay untuk melakukan tindakan yang benar.
Ya ternyata Clay masih punya nurani dan tanggung jawab, dia mau menikahi Cat dan perjanjian diantara mereka berdua, pernikahan itu hanya hingga anak mereka lahir dan Clay lulus kuliah. Setelah itu Clay bisa lega kembali ke sisi Jill Magnusson, pacarnya selama ini.
Namun seiring waktu pernikahan mereka, ternyata Cat membangun tembok yang amat sangat tinggi terhadap Clay, terutama dikarenakan Cat itu merasa minder, terlalu mandiri, curigaan dan karena latar belakang mereka yang berbeda bumi dan langit dimana Cat tidak pernah mendapatkan kasih sayang dari ortu nya, sedangkan Clay selalu berkelimpahan curahan kasih sayang dari keluarganya. Di satu pihak, lama kelamaan Clay juga bosan dengan sikap dingin Cat, yang mengakibatkan Clay juga mulai merasa sensitif terutama ketika ibunya dan Cat sudah mempersiapkan pesta kelulusan Clay tanpa sepengetahuan Clay.
Puncaknya, pada pesta itu, Jill (mantan pacar Clay) menyatakan terang-terangan untuk meminta Clay kembali. Cat yang termakan provokasi dari Jill, akhirnya bertengkar paling hebat (sebelum2nya mereka juga sering bertengkar dan saling mendiamkan), yang berakhir dengan keluarnya Clay dari rumah mereka. Dan Clay pun mengurus surat perceraian mereka dan Clay cepat-cepat balik ke pelukan Jill.
Dalam waktu 6 bulan, Cat berinstrospeksi dan menyadari keangkuhan dirinya dan ternyata dirinya masih mencintai Clay. Di sisi Clay, dia mulai kangen pada anak mereka dan waktu menengok mereka berdua, Clay menyadari bahwa dia melihat banyak perubahan pada diri Cat dan masih menginginkan Cat. Tapi Cat dengan tegas menyatakan bahwa dia mencintai Clay tapi tidak akan bisa menerima Clay jika Clay tidak mencintai Cat. Dan menjelang Natal, Clay baru sadar Jill dan dirinya tidak cocok karena Jill kelewat ambisius dan tidak menginginkan memiliki anak mereka. Tampaknya perpisahan mereka juga dipaksakan di buku ini supaya terlihat happy ending buat Clay dan Cat di hari Natal.
Yang jadi pertanyaan diri gw: Layakkah kita menerima kembali pria seperti Clay? Bagi gw, Clay itu pria yang agak “kurang usaha” untuk menghancurkan tembok penghalang Cat. Bagaimana kalau diterima kembali, tetapi di kemudian hari, Clay kembali bosan dan pindah ke pelukan wanita lain yang langsung bisa menerimanya? Aku memaklumi usia Clay yang termasuk masih muda hingga gejolak emosinya belum stabil, tapi tetep aja gw “mangkel” ama sikap Clay ini.
Sebenarnya sederhana aja sih ceritanya, Catherine Anderson (19 tahun), dengan latar belakang keluarga miskin, masih virgin melakukan ONS dengan Clay Forrester (25 tahun) mahasiswa sarjana hukum yg orangtuanya notabene kaya raya. Ketika mengetahui anaknya hamil, Herb Anderson, ayah Cat yang bajingan dan pemabuk langsung berusaha “memeras” orangtua Clay.
Nah Cat malam itu juga “diinterogasi” oleh Clay yang merasa diperas oleh mereka berdua. Namun Cat tanpa gentar dan berani mengakui dan bilang bahwa dia tidak butuh uang keluarga Forrester. Namun sebaliknya orangtua Clay menginginkan Clay untuk melakukan tindakan yang benar.
Ya ternyata Clay masih punya nurani dan tanggung jawab, dia mau menikahi Cat dan perjanjian diantara mereka berdua, pernikahan itu hanya hingga anak mereka lahir dan Clay lulus kuliah. Setelah itu Clay bisa lega kembali ke sisi Jill Magnusson, pacarnya selama ini.
Namun seiring waktu pernikahan mereka, ternyata Cat membangun tembok yang amat sangat tinggi terhadap Clay, terutama dikarenakan Cat itu merasa minder, terlalu mandiri, curigaan dan karena latar belakang mereka yang berbeda bumi dan langit dimana Cat tidak pernah mendapatkan kasih sayang dari ortu nya, sedangkan Clay selalu berkelimpahan curahan kasih sayang dari keluarganya. Di satu pihak, lama kelamaan Clay juga bosan dengan sikap dingin Cat, yang mengakibatkan Clay juga mulai merasa sensitif terutama ketika ibunya dan Cat sudah mempersiapkan pesta kelulusan Clay tanpa sepengetahuan Clay.
Puncaknya, pada pesta itu, Jill (mantan pacar Clay) menyatakan terang-terangan untuk meminta Clay kembali. Cat yang termakan provokasi dari Jill, akhirnya bertengkar paling hebat (sebelum2nya mereka juga sering bertengkar dan saling mendiamkan), yang berakhir dengan keluarnya Clay dari rumah mereka. Dan Clay pun mengurus surat perceraian mereka dan Clay cepat-cepat balik ke pelukan Jill.
Dalam waktu 6 bulan, Cat berinstrospeksi dan menyadari keangkuhan dirinya dan ternyata dirinya masih mencintai Clay. Di sisi Clay, dia mulai kangen pada anak mereka dan waktu menengok mereka berdua, Clay menyadari bahwa dia melihat banyak perubahan pada diri Cat dan masih menginginkan Cat. Tapi Cat dengan tegas menyatakan bahwa dia mencintai Clay tapi tidak akan bisa menerima Clay jika Clay tidak mencintai Cat. Dan menjelang Natal, Clay baru sadar Jill dan dirinya tidak cocok karena Jill kelewat ambisius dan tidak menginginkan memiliki anak mereka. Tampaknya perpisahan mereka juga dipaksakan di buku ini supaya terlihat happy ending buat Clay dan Cat di hari Natal.
Yang jadi pertanyaan diri gw: Layakkah kita menerima kembali pria seperti Clay? Bagi gw, Clay itu pria yang agak “kurang usaha” untuk menghancurkan tembok penghalang Cat. Bagaimana kalau diterima kembali, tetapi di kemudian hari, Clay kembali bosan dan pindah ke pelukan wanita lain yang langsung bisa menerimanya? Aku memaklumi usia Clay yang termasuk masih muda hingga gejolak emosinya belum stabil, tapi tetep aja gw “mangkel” ama sikap Clay ini.
October 7, 2011
LOVE IT!! It was my favorite of all her books. So well written, I felt like I was apart of the story.
I just love this one. Just reread it again and again I found myself so drawn into the story that I didn't want to do anything else until I finished it. It makes me laugh and cry at all the right spots. I just hate putting it down.
I just love this one. Just reread it again and again I found myself so drawn into the story that I didn't want to do anything else until I finished it. It makes me laugh and cry at all the right spots. I just hate putting it down.
December 19, 2024
Miscommunication trope is strong with this one. I enjoyed it, but really could’ve seen much more of the romance bloom between them rather than all the bickering. Cute that the baby was named Melissa 🥰
February 24, 2012
I've read this one a few times... one of my all-time faves. Thought I'd read it again. Lovin' it!!!
December 23, 2025
˗ˏˋ ✸ ˎˊ˗ [-𝟷 ʜᴘ]...˗ˏˋ ✸ ˎˊ˗ [-𝟷 ʜᴘ]...˗ˏˋ ✸ ˎˊ˗ [-𝟷 ʜᴘ]...˗ˏˋ ✸ ˎˊ˗ [-𝟷 ʜᴘ]...
Thoughts unable to process, danger of things bursting.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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Thoughts unable to process, danger of things bursting.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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January 15, 2015
Not my favorite by this author, because the main couple were estranged too much. Still good, though. It's set about 30 years ago, so it's dated -- but it's interesting, recalling how things were in times of recent past. See Mo's review for images of Charlie perfume commercial, etc.
October 25, 2015
Hearts and flowers. Tasty and compulsive hearts and flowers.
I was awake until 2 am last night because I had to know how it ended, couldn't stop reading!
The plot: Clay (drooling) and Catherine have a one night stand, and she gets pregnant. They come from different backgrounds, Clay is sophisticated, he comes from a wealthy family and he's got a model steady girlfriend.
Cathy is a hardened person because of the circumstances, her drunken father beats her and her mom continually, while she struggles to keep emotionally safe from all the mess she sees at home. She becomes a cold and unemotional person, she doesn't trust anybody.
Until she meets Clay and his family, who give her reasons to start believing that life might be worth it after all.
The only thing that bothered me about the story is that Clay and Cat took sooo long to talk straight to each other. At the beginning, Clay seemed to go for it, he tried to make the best of their situation, while Cat was so unsure and afraid, keeping him at arm's length until it was frustrating.
And then, all of a sudden, it was the other way around. Cathy was centred, self sobered and he became a bunch of nerves, unsure of his feelings when it had been obvious throughout all the book that he felt something for Cat.
It kept me hanging until the very end!
Anyway, maybe it took too long, but I was so hooked I couldn't stop reading, and that only means the book is engaging.
Well done Mrs. Spencer, maybe the best I've read by you so far!
I was awake until 2 am last night because I had to know how it ended, couldn't stop reading!
The plot: Clay (drooling) and Catherine have a one night stand, and she gets pregnant. They come from different backgrounds, Clay is sophisticated, he comes from a wealthy family and he's got a model steady girlfriend.
Cathy is a hardened person because of the circumstances, her drunken father beats her and her mom continually, while she struggles to keep emotionally safe from all the mess she sees at home. She becomes a cold and unemotional person, she doesn't trust anybody.
Until she meets Clay and his family, who give her reasons to start believing that life might be worth it after all.
The only thing that bothered me about the story is that Clay and Cat took sooo long to talk straight to each other. At the beginning, Clay seemed to go for it, he tried to make the best of their situation, while Cat was so unsure and afraid, keeping him at arm's length until it was frustrating.
And then, all of a sudden, it was the other way around. Cathy was centred, self sobered and he became a bunch of nerves, unsure of his feelings when it had been obvious throughout all the book that he felt something for Cat.
It kept me hanging until the very end!
Anyway, maybe it took too long, but I was so hooked I couldn't stop reading, and that only means the book is engaging.
Well done Mrs. Spencer, maybe the best I've read by you so far!
June 9, 2018
A drunken one-night-stand leaves Catherine Anderson pregnant. But when she tells Clay Forrester that he is going to be a father, he barely remembers her. Catherine agrees to his offer of a marriage of convenience. They will stay married until the baby is born and he is done with law school. As the weeks go by and they settle into their new home, Clay tries to make the best of their marriage. But Catherine won't let go of the past and refuses to give her heart to her husband.
I usually love LaVyrle Spencer's stories, but this one wasn't a favorite. It was written in the 1980's and it feels very dated. There are a lot of references to 80's pop culture. There are also pages of descriptions of clothing, homes, etc., that were not needed.
Clay tries to make the best of their situation, but Catherine continually pushing him away really frustrated me. Finally, the hero makes a really bad move that made me want to smack him. I didn't buy that the heroine would want him back after that situation. My rating: 2.5 Stars.
I usually love LaVyrle Spencer's stories, but this one wasn't a favorite. It was written in the 1980's and it feels very dated. There are a lot of references to 80's pop culture. There are also pages of descriptions of clothing, homes, etc., that were not needed.
Clay tries to make the best of their situation, but Catherine continually pushing him away really frustrated me. Finally, the hero makes a really bad move that made me want to smack him. I didn't buy that the heroine would want him back after that situation. My rating: 2.5 Stars.
August 23, 2024
2.5⭐
I could not stop reading this. At the beginning, I thought that this would at least be a 4-star read. However, this ended up being meh.. They both had a lot of issues, and while the heroine at least had some character growth and redeemed herself, I felt like the hero did not. They never had a lengthy conversation about their issues or what they wanted from each other. Catharine just wanted to be loved and for Clay to read her mind. Clay thought Catherine was a cold fish, and was more preoccupied by his own needs and wants, than try to get to know her at all.
And I also assume that this is set far-back enough in time that drinking while pregnant is a non-issue, among other things.😅
I could not stop reading this. At the beginning, I thought that this would at least be a 4-star read. However, this ended up being meh.. They both had a lot of issues, and while the heroine at least had some character growth and redeemed herself, I felt like the hero did not. They never had a lengthy conversation about their issues or what they wanted from each other. Catharine just wanted to be loved and for Clay to read her mind. Clay thought Catherine was a cold fish, and was more preoccupied by his own needs and wants, than try to get to know her at all.
And I also assume that this is set far-back enough in time that drinking while pregnant is a non-issue, among other things.😅
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