Call Waiting

by Dianne Blacklock

Ally Tasker is trapped in a dead-end teaching job and a relationship that's going nowhere. Her dreams of a fulfilling life after art college didn't include cleaning up after bored school children and being a doormat for her yuppie boyfriend. What she really wants is to be more like her friend Meg - at least she has turned her art training into a lucrative job in computer design, not to mention having a doting husband and a gorgeous baby son to complete the package.

But when Ally's grandfather and sole relative dies, she returns to the Southern Highland home of her childhood where she must confront painful issues from her past that her safe life in the city has allowed her to ignore. Meanwhile, Meg is not as happy as Ally imagines. Dissatisfied with her picture-perfect life, a restless Meg longs to inject more passion and spontaneity into her days - but at what cost to her family's happiness?

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Dianne Blacklock is the author of Call Waiting, Wife for Hire, Almost Perfect, False Advertising, Crossing Paths, Three’s a Crowd, The Right Time, and in November 2011, The Secret Ingredient.

When she's not writing she goes on rampages through the house, cleaning and emptying out cupboards and making everyone do extra chores. Needless to say, the family prefers it when she's writing.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute!

[Corinne Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read this old favourite; written in 2003 there are a few technological changes and improvements since then (though lack of mobile coverage in the southern highlands can still be an issue!) Our fragilities are timeless however.

[Deidre Le Maistre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who needs 50 shades of grey? I really enjoyed this book

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit slow and a predictable ending but a nice enjoyable chick lit

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining read. Although I couldn't engage with either of the MCs much, Alaska "Ally" Tasker & Meg(an) Lynch were normal women trying to live their best lives, making plenty of mistakes along the way & reaching some satisfying resolutions in the end. I didn't feel the chemistry between Ally & Matt, she's such a pain that I couldn't work out why he'd want to be more than friends, but he was lovely. Some of the secondary characters were much more likeable, particularly Nic - I can see why she left her family on the other side of the world. Easy & fun.

http://bookcrossing.com/journal/12048...

[LilBib’Phile · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was good, but much too long. It also drove me crazy that the author always used "alright" instead of "all right" - maybe that's how they do it in Australia!
I also thought that Ally's main issue of being abandoned was not really brought to the fore until very far along in the book. I felt it should have been a little more prominent and woven throughout the story.
I would be interested in reading more by this author.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read again unaware I had read before, Until something seemed vaguely familiar.
Sadly it is not a memorable book, The characters lack depth - and the predictable story line is dragged out.
I would read the author again as this book had potential - but was not a winner for me.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good.

[Toni Umar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light and fluffy but some very good 'feeling' descriptions. Nice the setting in NSW too, a good read

[Siegrist · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been my favourite Blacklock so far. Who can resist an escape to the country and a hunky carpenter?

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read. A bit slow to start and no surprise at the end. However, good insight into how people feel and how they appear to others.

[Michelle Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

First half of the book was extremely slow. Felt disappointed every time the story went back to Meg and her friendships. Second half of the story was a lot more enjoyable.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely story about a young woman who has reached a point in life when she's ready for change but resisting it at the same time.

[Serap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great! I really enjoyed this - kept me enthralled from the first page!