#BookReview: Evanthia’s Gift by Effie Kammenou

Reviewer: Samantha

I received a review copy

Summary:

In the year 1956, Anastacia Fotopoulos finds herself pregnant and betrayed, fleeing from a bad marriage. With the love and support of her dear friends Stavros and Soula Papadakis, Ana is able to face the challenges of single motherhood. Left with emotional wounds, she resists her growing affection for Alexandros Giannakos, an old acquaintance. But his persistence and unconditional love for Ana and her child is eventually rewarded and his love is returned. In a misguided, but well-intentioned effort to protect the ones they love, both Ana and Alex keep secrets – ones that could threaten the delicate balance of their family.

The story continues in the 1970’s as Dean and Demi Papadakis, and Sophia Giannakos attempt to negotiate between two cultures. Now Greek-American teenagers, Sophia and Dean,
who have shared a special connection since childhood, become lovers. Sophia is shattered when Dean rebels against the pressure his father places on him to uphold his Greek heritage and hides his feelings for her. When he pulls away from his family, culture and ultimately his love for her, Sophia is left with no choice but to find a life different from the one she’d hoped for.

EVANTHIA’S GIFT is a multigenerational love story spanning fifty years and crossing two continents, chronicling the lives that unify two families.

Review:

Wow. So I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I started reading. A little different from what I normally gravitate toward when it comes to reading, but the lure of Greece really cemented this for me. And I wasn’t disappointed. A beautiful, flowing story told over decades of time yet easy to move from year to year and scene to scene, it was simply a lovely story to watch unfold. Very strong writing, the scenery was well depicted and brought to life, and with plenty of romance, drama and love, this was a terrific story that I really enjoyed.

4 stars

Author Bio

Effie Kammenou is a believer that it is never too late to chase your dreams, follow your heart or change your career. She is proof of that. At one time, long ago, she’d thought that, by her age, she would have had an Oscar in her hand after a successful career as an actress. Instead, she’s worked in the optical field for 40 years and has been the proud mother of two accomplished young women.

Effie Kammenou is a first generation Greek-American who lives on Long Island with her husband and two daughters. When she’s not writing, or posting recipes on her food blog, cheffieskitchen.wordpress.com, you can find her cooking for her family and friends.

Her debut novel, EVANTHIA’S GIFT, is a women’s fiction multigenerational love story and family saga, influenced by her Greek heritage, and the many real life accounts that have been passed down. She continues to pick her father’s brain for stories of his family’s life in Lesvos, Greece, and their journey to America. Her recent interview with him was published in a nationally circulated magazine.

As an avid cook and baker, a skill she learned from watching her Athenian mother, she incorporated traditional Greek family recipes throughout the book.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater Arts from Hofstra University.

For updates on the release of Book Two of The Gift Saga

Follow Effie on Twitter @EffieKammenou,

www.facebook.com/EffieKammenou.

Contact Effie at effiekammenou@gmail.com

Links

Amazon buy link

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692471839/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_1ncmwb0D60GPS

Short url- goo.gl/iPo1pa

Amazon author page

http://www.amazon.com/Effie-Kammenou/e/B013NZRWLI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

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