Lizzie and Dante

Courage , determination and Hope are just three reasons that Lizzie took her journey to Elba with her best friend and his movie star boyfriend. A magnificent view from a luxurious resort major decisions are on her mind as she must embrace the time she has left hoping to find someone and something special to hang on to for as long as she can. As a Shakespeare Scholar she is there to advise and help with a production of Romeo. Romeo and Juliet two star crossed lovers with a tragic ending. What will she find as her own journey begins?

A chef named Dante is her inspiration and they find love along with his 12-year-old daughter Etta and a battered dog. Etta just wants a mother and Lizzie must decide if she should pursue the idea as her time on earth might be ending.

Etta is outspoken, precocious and delightful. Meeting Lizzie and Rohan and the others made her day, but you can tell she has an exceptional quality with people. Romeo and Juliet are at the heart of this novel as the script must be made , actors in place.

Do you search your soul and look deep inside yourself when you are unsure of the right path to take and knowing your time is limited is it right to connect with Dante and Etta?

Author Mary Bly brings us a multiple plot from two distinct voices: Lizzie’s and Etta’s which focuses on love, acceptance, survival and Hope. Etta created her own world and perception of her mother who left her and her father right after she was born. Dante allows readers to learn the truth. Lizzie just wants to be part of their lives and embraced the chance to help with the play. Will she take the chance on love and accept it even for a fleeting time?

References to other tragedies and Etta’s quotes set the tone in two different directions.

Her life is her own yet why is Grey angry with her and a friendship lasting over time, placed in the same foster homes and a relationship that changed its her life why is she giving up?

Expressing that she matters to him and means the world even though she found Dante and he Rohan, c you click to the past, can you give it both ways? The play brings it into perspective in a sense and the various tragedies mesh.

Death was a topic of conversation. Lizzie, Grey said was the bravest person he knew.

Decide on life, hoping for happiness and using her kindness, wisdom and voice that in bringing music to others when she sang, Lizzie was there to engulf the world with her love.

Added in we feel her struggles, fears, anger and her bonding with Etta and her impact on Ruby helping her find a direction that would change her life band become part of the friendship family of Lizzie, Dante, Grey, Rohan and Etta.

The epilogue will bring it all full circle but the love that Lizzie brought and how she became part of Dante’s and Etta’s life as her mother and his partner will bring tears to your eyes.

From :Etta’s Room: I show not your face but your heart’s desire.” Listen carefully and you will see her dance, hear her singing and know that she is always there. Life takes us in different directions, and it is up to us to choose our own paths and never give up on live now matter how much time we have.

As Dante says: Lizzie of my heart. There is some Lizzie in everyone. Hope, love, friendships, memories and a college professor who taught Shakespeare and the themes of tragedy and death filled the pages of this poignant and inspirational novel with much more. Did the play finally happen and did the messages come through? Elba provided the magic for Lizzie and Dante and memories that will never fade. Lizzie was sweet, good and she was as Dante says more than a nightingale. He learned so much from her and she had wanted to let go when she first came to Elba, but she fell in love with him, Etta Ruby Rohan and Gray and you knew how much she loved them. She worked so hard to survive and she did for as long as she good. Lizzie in her voice, her soul projected her love. Author Mary Bly lets us know how precious life is and how friendships never end and one young girl that made it all happen and would always have her time with Lizzie forever. For those that struggle with Hope, sickness and fear never give up there’s a powerful light to shine on you : never give up on you!

Fran Lewis just reviews