Review: The Right Time by Dianne Blacklock

Product Information:
ISBN: 9781405040044
Imprint: Pan Macmillan
Pub. Date: 1/10/2010
Category: Modern & Contemporary Fiction
Book Depository

The Beckett sisters - Ellen, Emma, Elizabeth and Evie - all need to shake things up.

Emma has been planning her dream wedding even since she was a little girl, and as soon as her boyfriend Blake finally proposes, she presumes that it can only be smooth sailing from then on.

Liz is a well respected and successful doctor and she expects her affair with a married colleague to turn into something more serious as soon as her partner can leave his wife. But that does seem to be taking a long time...

Evie and Craig are married with three children, but have lost their way. When Craig suggests a way to spice up their relationship, Evie is horrified - must she go through with Craig's plans in order to save her marriage?

And Ellen, the eldest sister and the anchor of the family, is dealing with a marriage breakdown and getting back into the dating game. But she wonders if she'll ever be able to let go and open her heart to love again.

There's never a perfect time for life-changing decisions - just the right time.

*****

I received this book from Pan Macmillan. I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I didn't start The Right Time thinking I wouldn't like it, but I don't read many books in this genre. The Right Time is about the four Beckett sisters and the changes in their lives. 

Ellen is the eldest, the one who supposedly had the model life. Loving husband, perfect children and a home. Now they're separated, and Ellen feels like the whole world is against her. Things are going wrong with the house, and now her car has broken down. Her car gets towed to a mechanic, and she makes an unlikely friend in Finn. It was interesting reading how she coped with her new life. I did enjoy her character, but her complaining did start to irritate me a little, and I knew where she was coming from so I could understand it more.

Emma is the second eldest. She seems a little selfish and shallow, and always has something to say about her sisters short comings. Everything of Emma's seems perfect. Except she's been with her partner, Blake for a long time and yet he hasn't proposed. She feels a little misguided resentment towards her family. Blake finally proposes in an off-hand sort of way, and she goes a little crazy. Emma has wanted the perfect marriage since she was six.Then she gets a major warning about her health and doesn't really listen. I did end up liking her. She realizes that material things are not as important as she thought.

Liz is the middle child. She's the family genius, a doctor who specializes in dermatology. For the last ten years she's been seeing a married colleague, and has been waiting for him to leave his wife. She feels her role in his life is for his escapism. She's there for him when he needs a break from his family, but is starting to wonder what she's getting out of the relationship. I kept wondering, even though I knew she loved him, why she stayed with him. Not many men with another woman, ever leave their wives, and knowing she was the smart one it annoyed me. Why should she waste her life waiting for something thats not going to happen.

Evie is the youngest sister who thinks she has everything and is the most normal of them all. A husband who loves her, three wonderful children and a perfect house. With her sisters separation, she begins to wonder if everything is as good as it seems. When she asks her husband if there's anything they can do to spice up their love lives, she shocked at his confession. This sets off a chain of events that has Evie coming out stronger than ever, and realizing life a doormat is no life at all. Evie is more on the emotional side, but I liked how she becomes a stronger person, and really takes charge of her whole life. 

Their whole family comes together with Emma's health scare. They have a wonderful family and I really enjoyed reading their story. Families are never easy, but when you have unconditional love and support  it makes it so much better. The Right Time is a story about family, love, loss and moving on. I give it 4/5.