I picked this out of a Little Free Library near my house because I liked the cover (I know, I know...) but gave up on it after about a hundred pages. It was decidedly Not my cup of tea. I couldn't put my finger on it but something about the writing style was really putting me off. The dialogue was very distinct, but every character sounded distinct in exactly the same way... I don't know. It gets decent reviews, so I think I'm in the minority on this one!

So, I brought it to last weekend's meetup, and rumor has it that its next reader is vastly more appreciative. Huzzah! I also lazily forgot to register or label it, so JudySlump is kindly stepping in for me.

Graciously shared by Flewry at the Twin Cities meetup. We all liked the cover, and this volume will probably make another appearance within the TC group soon.

I probably liked this better than flewry, but that's not saying much, is it? I had no trouble finishing it, although it went on a little too long. The older husband, Ralph Truitt, was the most likeable character - he deserved better companions than the other two.

On reflection, I'm not sure that the cover previously mentioned isn't just about the best part of the book. In the 'Questions for Discussion' at the end, there's mention of the bird imagery throughout the book, but it seems to me that Catherine's dress is used even more often, to show her state of mind or intentions. In fact, almost as soon as we meet her, she changes her clothes completely, and dramatically. On a train, naturally, so the cover picture is doubly evocative. More even, because of all the foreboding grey. Despite the title, nobody is going to pick this up thinking they're getting a Harlequin romance.

But that's just one person's opinion. Future readers, what do YOU think of this book?

On ledge to left of entrance