EVER SO HUMBLE

Author: Fran Shaff ISBN: 0803496850 12/2004 INSPIRATIONAL Publisher: AVALON BOOKS

Trapped in an elevator together in their dilapidated apartment building, Marisa Orlando and Lee Ramon find solace in each other and much more. Marisa is attracted to Lee. She finds herself caught up in his charms and falling for him by the time the elevator begins to move again. Then she learns he is the hated new landlord who plans to turn her beloved building into expensive condos which would force her and her neighbors out of their homes. If only she’d known about his intentions before he’d touched her heart. Lee vows not to become personally involved in the lives of his tenants, but, when Marisa claims his heart, it is impossible to keep his promise. His renovation project is no longer just business, it’s personal, especially where Marisa is concerned. But will Lee give up everything for the woman he finds he can’t live without?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

What a nice surprise this story was. An inspirational piece, it focuses on drawing strength and finding inspiration from inside oneself, as well as from those around you. Of helping your fellow man and, at the same time, learning that there is much more to life and relationships than what you think you know. EVER SO HUMBLE proves to be an inspirational learning experience, not just for its characters, but for we readers, as well.

Marisa and Lee, the main romantic couple in this book, initially take on separate challenges of helping the tenets to keep their homes, many times not seeing eye-to-eye in the process. Their initial attraction to each other is instantaneous, though Marisa fights the pull a bit more than Lee does, but as their romance evolves, their goals become more unified. Marisa soon teaches Lee to see more than what's on the surface and that there's more to business than just the bottom line or mighty dollar. Marisa, in turn, learns through Lee to see a bigger, more complete picture, to learn the full story before jumping to conclusions. Their evolving love story is sweet and realistic, and somehow you know that, through it all, no matter what happens, their love will persevere.

What impressed me most about EVER SO HUMBLE, though, are the tenets own stories and their reactions that follow, when the possibility of being evicted looms over their heads. While hope at first seems slight, with Marisa's urging and Lee's cooperation each soon finds their own inner strengths and abilities. They approach their problem head-on and band together, becoming stronger and tightening the bond that already exists within this close-knit, diverse community. They find the way, the means, and the inspiration from within themselves and from each other, and I found this aspect to be a most uplifting and moving experience.

EVER SO HUMBLE is not preachy in any sense of the word, which makes it more enjoyable, I think, and will appeal to a much broader audience. A heartwarming, moving story that hits on the modern day, EVER SO HUMBLE leaves us with lessons that we all can incorporate into each of our daily lives.

Nancy Davis