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.

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.

I discovered LaVryle Spencer when I was at the tender age of fifteen, and my grandmother gave me her copy of Home Song. Well, I devoured it in about two days and never went back to Young Adult books. Since then I own everything that LaVryle has written, and I've read each book at least twice. She is literally on the top shelf of my bookcase, and I don't think that anyone is going to bump her from that position.

Seperate Beds was a wonderful book. I just could not stop reading it. The characters were just so wonderfully developed. Even Catherine was so loveable by the end, even if she was a little bristly and prickly to start with. I just identified with her so much. Granted, I didn't come from an abusive household, but I had struggled with feelings of inadequacy, and even worthlessness for most of my life. I could completely understood how she felt. Her love for her unborn child was so touching, considering how much her life was being derailed because of it.

The scene when Clay comes to her bed when she's crying and holds her and tells her that she's not worthless . . . (sigh) I was crying so hard that I could hardly see the page enough to read. I must have gone through half a box of tissues that day. It still brings me to tears every time I read that scene, even if I don't share Catherine's feelings any more.

Granted, this book is a little dated with its fashions, etc, but keep in mind when it was written. As a child of the 80's, I cringe at the memory of how we used to dress, but the reminder doesn't at all detract from the book.

I highly recommend all of LaVryle Spencer's books (except maybe The Fullfillment), especially Years, Forgiving, Morning Glory, The Endearment and Vows.