Love on a Train by Colleen L. Donnelly (Book Review)


The moment Martha noticed Raymond on the train, everything her mother warned against erupted – romantic notions, palpitating heart, the desire to write it all in a novel and tell the world. Martha lived and wrote that love story until the day Raymond handed her a sketch. “Want to see a picture of the girl I plan to marry?” The penciled profile resembled Martha… But when Raymond went away, she knew. She wasn’t the girl he planned to marry.

David was her father’s apprentice, everything Martha’s mother said made a good husband – hardworking, no romantic nonsense, no tolerance for writing about it. Martha added a fictional happy ending to her and Raymond’s story and published it. Cleansed herself of romantic love, and prepared to marry David. Until a copy of her book appeared. Full of sketches – Raymond’s version of their love story, drawings that enticed her heart to beat once again – for the wrong man.

PURCHASE LINKS: 
 
 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
You know the saying, “If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they’re yours; if they don’t they never were.” (Richard Bach)
 
The quote summarizes Love on a Train beautifully.
 
As with any true love story, this one had a happy ending. 
 
Maybe not for their Martha and Raymond’s respected fiancés. 
 
As much as I enjoyed the near misses between Martha and Raymond, the love story within a love story (<— confused? It’ll make sense after you start reading the book), I empathized with the hurt the fiancé’s suffered. 
 
Martha didn’t handle the situation with David very well. She knew her heart belonged to another, went about finding him, and that speaks volumes to a marriage that’s slated for doom before it even gets started. And Raymond, he didn’t handle things any better. 
 
With that said, Colleen hammered home an important point. In life, we should never settle. Marriage is a serious commitment so before you say, “I do,” be certain. Make sure you are on the right path for you. For your fiancé. 
 
 Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5
(highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤1/2
 
PURCHASE LINKS:  PAPERBACK / KINDLE

 

 



Colleen L. Donnelly has her roots in the rural Midwest of the US, but moved around and explored other cultures as an adult. Those other areas were fun and they were exciting, but…there’s no place like home, so she’s back in the Midwest.

Colleen works as a laboratory technician by day, but spends her evenings writing, poised in front of her laptop until she can’t think any more. Her story ideas come from observing people, pondering their dilemmas, and adding a twist of her own.

Other interests are/have been bicycling, antiquing, anything outdoors, furniture refinishing, and raising pets or small barnyard types of animals. Last thing in the world she would be caught doing – “vegging” in front of a television. She loves a good movie on occasion, but most of the time, the TV is off.

 

3 Comments

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3 Responses to Love on a Train by Colleen L. Donnelly (Book Review)

  1. Ken

    It’s on my desk to read.

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