Dianne Blacklock

The ninth book by Australian author Dianne Blacklock, The Best Man is an appealing story that asks the question, is the best man always the right man?

When book publicist and party girl, Madeleine Pepper, met reserved American children’s author, Henry Darrow, it was a case of ‘opposites attract’. Now it is just weeks until their wedding and Madeleine is excited to be welcoming Henry’s best man, Aiden Carmichael, for a month long visit. Aiden is charismatic, outgoing and impulsive, in effect, everything solemn and staid Henry is not, and Madeleine starts to wonder if Henry is the best man for her after all.

‘Cold feet’ in the lead up to marriage is not an uncommon phenomena, doubts can be magnified by the stress of such a significant event. In The Best Man, Blacklock explores the themes of love, friendship and commitment as Madeleine and Henry’s relationship is rocked by secrets and betrayal.

Madeleine, warm and bubbly, is a likeable protagonist but not uncomplicated, she has issues with grief, denial and with alcohol. She feels she owes Henry, who not only saved her from herself but also picked up and moved halfway around the world to be with her. It is astonishingly easy for Aiden to subtly encourage Maddie’s doubts about her relationship with Henry, mostly because Madeleine isn’t willing to confront or admit to her own failings.

The Best Man is light and entertaining, spiked with humour and wit but it is not without depth. Alcoholism is one of the more serious issues explored in the novel, Madeleine may not embody the classic stereotype of an alcoholic but she has trouble stopping at just one drink and her consumption interferes both her relationship and her work. Henry’s disappointment with Madeleine’s binge drinking makes much more sense when we learn of his family history, and when we are witness to just badly it affects Madeleine’s judgement.

A secondary subplot in The Best Man involves Liv, Madeleine’s boss at Amblin Press. The mother of teenage twin boys, Liz has been happily single since her divorce from her philandering husband. But with her ex on the verge of another break up with his latest fling and hinting about ‘coming home’, a conversation with a handsome man on a plane offers up new possibilities. I really liked Liv, and loved how she refused to put up with her ex husband’s bullsh*t, while he is busy rewriting their past, she is finally motivated to consider her future. I could identify with her reticence about beginning a new relationship and I also sympathised with Liv regarding her relationship with her hypercritical mother.

I really enjoyed The Best Man, it is a well written and engaging read about the relationship we have with ourselves, and how that affects the relationships we have with others. A wonderful story about love, marriage, family and friendship, you’d best pick it up.… (mehr)

The Secret Ingredient in an engaging contemporary novel that tells the story of thirty something Andrea who is crushed when she discovers her husbands infidelity but seizes the opportunity to rekindle her dream of becoming a chef. I have had the book on my TBR list for quite some time, having enjoyed previous titles by Dianne Blacklock so I was grateful the author’s impending visit to my local library finally gave me the excuse I needed to pick this novel up.

Blacklock writes believable fiction that women are able to relate to and in The Secret Ingredient she explores marriage breakdown, complex family dynamics and the need for self fulfillment. The protagonist, Andie, confronts self doubt and setbacks to recover and develop a healthy sense of self and independence.
I have to admit I wasn’t sure if I would be able to warm to, or sympathise with, Andie when I learned she was involved with her husband while he was still married to his first wife. My initial reaction to Andie’s discovery of his infidelity was something along the lines of ‘Karma is a b*tch’, so it is to the author’s credit that I came to like her anyway. The affair forces Andie to confront her own role as the ‘other woman’ and take responsibility for the circumstances she has found herself in. Admirably, Andie decides to take back the control she relinquished in the name of love, despite the obstacles, and finds the strength to rebuild her life on her own terms.
The Secret Ingredient does play a little to Australia’s current ‘foodie’ craze, giving us descriptions of carefully prepared meals and a handsome chef, Dominic Gerou, who becomes Andie’s love interest. Gerou contrasts sharply with the narcissistic cheating husband, Ross, and is an ideal partner for Andie. The relationship that develops between the two is nice, and though necessarily complicated, eventually resolves satisfactorily.
Of the other characters in The Secret Ingredient, I particularly liked Joanna, the first wife, who provides a sort of role model for Andie. Its a complicated dynamic between the women, which also includes Joanna’s grown children, but Blacklock makes it believable.

I’m happy to recommend The Secret Ingredient, it is an entertaining read with satisfying depth that it is as easy to consume as a fine meal.… (mehr)

The Right Time is Dianne Blacklock’s 7th novel. Once again set in Sydney, this novel deals with the lives of the four Beckett sisters. Ellen, the eldest, a teacher, surviving her marriage breakdown from husband, Tim and wary about dating again; Emma, an event planner, waiting for boyfriend Blake to propose so she can have the dream wedding she has spent her life planning; Elizabeth (Liz), a successful dermatologist, conducting a long-term affair with Andrew, a married surgeon, is having doubts about her career and her relationship; and Evie, married to Craig and mother of three, feels her marriage needs saving but wonders whether Craig’s solution is really the answer. All are facing life-changing decisions: is it the right time to make them? As always, Blacklock touches on many issues: divorce, pornography and swinging clubs, being the “other woman”, cosmetic dermatology, teachers and public schools, over-the-top weddings and letting go of the childhood family home. This novel asks the question: how far will you go to save your marriage and when is a marriage broken beyond repair. Blacklock’s characters are all people you will be familiar with from the café or the school P&C meeting. The dialogue is easily recognisable for anyone who has brothers, sisters or parents. There are many laugh-out-loud moments and a few lump-in-the-throat ones. I loved the dad, Edward, and I thought the idea of the fixed-term marriage contract with the option to renew could be further explored. A heart-warming read.… (mehr)