Love Eternally

Deborah Wright

Ever since he quit his law office job and started working in the Greasy Spoon cafe, Steve has been in love with Dina. She is an American who moved to London a couple years earlier and hasn't been able to find her niche yet. They work at restaurant with horrid food but a good atmosphere. For his 30th birthday, Steve takes Dina out on a date. He confesses his love. But Dina considers him her best friend and lets him know that. Steve takes a lonely walk along the Thames, accidentally slips in and drowns. The next thing Steve knows, he's a ghost. He makes new ghost friends and learns about the invisible community.

Dina mourns the loss of her best friend. She spends the next few months in a gray depression. One morning when everything goes wrong, a gorgeous man walks into the Greasy Spoon. She stumbles all over herself to serve him, making her day worse. Yet she makes an impression. Archie is one of London's most eligible bachelors and constantly found on the society pages. He comes back and asks her out. Soon Dina is Archie's new girlfriend.

Steve has been following Dina. In fact, it's partially his fault she fumbles when she first serves Archie. He doesn't believe Archie is good for Dina, but can't make her realize that he's there, let alone warn her about Archie. Archie is overwhelming and good at getting his way. Dina adores him. Eventually she moves in with Archie. Then she finally becomes aware of Steve.

Love Eternally is chick lit with a paranormal twist. I was talking with an acquaintance a little while back and discovered she is a reader. We ignored my coworker (she was with him) and started into a great discussion. She recommended Deborah Wright's work, especially Love Eternally. I picked up a copy.

Wright's Love Eternally is cute and sweet. The reader gets caught up in Steve's troubles immediately because he dies at the beginning of the book. He doesn't like Archie, but then he wouldn't like any man Dina might meet. He's in love with her. So what if he's bodily challenged???

But Love Eternally also has strength in it. Dina has to overcome her own physical problem, dyslexia, as well as her emotional ones. She doesn't feel she is right for Archie because his status is much higher than hers. She is not one of the beautiful people like he or his ex-girlfriend. She allows herself to become dependent on him, sacrificing some of herself. She and Steve are able to work together to make both of them stronger people...ghosts...whatever.

Deborah Wright gives the reader a fun escape. Take Love Eternally along for the afternoon escape to the beach or to ignore a gray, rainy day.

Notice:  Suggestive dialogue or situations