Evanthia’s
Gift Blog Tour
About the
Book:
Title:
Evanthia’s Gift
Author: Effie Kammenou
Pages: 548
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Contemporary Romance
Author: Effie Kammenou
Pages: 548
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Contemporary Romance
A LOVE STORY SPANNING DECADES -
DEEPENED BY TRADITION, HERITAGE, LOSS, STRUGGLE, PERSEVERANCE AND
LOYALTY.
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.
Praise for
EVANTHIA’S GIFT:
Magnificent 5 Stars
Exceptional, outstanding and award
worthy were the first words that popped into my mind after I finished
reading this book. A surface description of this story could be
easily stated by saying; it’s a 50 year generational Greek family
saga that’s filled with multiple love stories, devastating
betrayals and heart breaking secrets. That depiction alone would be
enough for anyone to be drawn to this book. But the essence of
“Evanthia’s Gift” is held within each character created in this
masterpiece; that is the true heart and soul of this book. I could
feel the struggles within each to come to terms with their past
mistakes, recognizing their self-worth, all the while staying
steadfast to their beliefs and for some, finding inner peace. I
started reading this book late one evening with the intent of reading
a few chapters and then going to bed. I found myself incapable of
putting the book down… several hours later I was wiping away the
tears to get through the last chapter.
This superbly written emotional story
comes full circle in the end, which reminds us all just how precious
love and family really is.
--Stephanie Lasley, from The Kindle
Book Review
For More Information
- Evanthia’s Gift is available at Amazon.
- Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
- Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
Book Excerpt:
The air was unusually chilled for early
November in NYC, but despite the dropping temperature, sweat trickled
down the back of Anastacia’s neck. Unable to wish away the nausea
that was taking hold of her and too ill to sit through her last
class, she’d left the NYU campus, hopping on an uptown subway to
return home for the day. She’d been lightheaded and queasy the past
few days, but nothing as violent as what she was currently feeling.
Waiting at the crosswalk, the aroma of garlic and cheese permeating
from a nearby café antagonized the volcano that was about to erupt
in her belly, and she prayed she would get home without incident.
At last, Anastacia ducked into her
apartment building, closing her eyes, and offering a silent thank you
to the heavens for the safety and comfort of her home. Once inside
her foyer, she removed her coat, hung it in the closet and glimpsed
herself in the mirror hanging over the Bombay Chest. Pale skin and
sunken eyes replaced her usual olive complexion and healthy glow.
I just need to sleep off whatever this
is.
Her husband, Jimmy, was not expected
home from work for several hours, and she hoped to be feeling better
by then.
Suddenly, the sound of voices startled
her. She walked through the living room, following the noise. She
almost forgot the motion sickness that forced her home earlier than
usual as the guttural sound of rhythmic moans grew louder,
interrupted only by a woman’s shrill laughter. Anastacia forced her
legs to follow the cacophony and found herself at the doorway of her
bedroom. She stood there frozen. Seeing, but not believing. Tears
sprang to her eyes and dripped down her cheeks, and she began to
shake uncontrollably. Anastacia attempted to speak, but bile rose to
her throat, rendering her incapable of uttering a word. Then, a cry
that seemed to escape from her very soul, revealed her presence.
In that second, they knew she’d
witnessed their betrayal. Anastacia was taken aback by the look of
pure satisfaction that flashed across the naked woman’s face. A
face that held not even a hint of guilt or remorse.
Her husband’s face told a different
story. Shock, fear, maybe regret. For getting caught. It couldn’t
have been more than a few seconds, but so many thoughts bombarded her
mind that it was as though she were moving in slow motion. But then,
the impact of it all slammed into her, and she ran.
Jimmy jumped up, wrapping himself in a
bed sheet.
“Ana! Wait!” He pushed the woman
off him. “Get off me! Move! Get out of here.”
Barely making it to the bathroom,
Anastacia leaned over the toilet, expelling the contents of her
stomach.
“Ana,” Jimmy pleaded, coming up
beside her.
“Get away from me.” She wiped her
mouth with a towel, straightened up and gathered all her strength to
push past him.
Jimmy blocked the doorway.
“Ana mou, I’m sorry. Please. Let me
explain. Sagapo. I love-”
“Don’t touch me or ever say that to
me. You’re disgusting. You both are.” She ducked under his arm,
but he grabbed her wrist.
His touch seared her to the bone and
she pulled away. She was shamed, shaken—broken, but there was no
way she was going to let him see it.
“I said don’t touch me. Never come
near me again.”
“It’s not what it looks like. She…
it was all her. I never meant to… Ana, please.”
“It looked like it was both of you.
Now let me pass,” she spat. He lifted his hands in surrender and
stepped aside as she pushed her way past him through the narrow
bathroom doorway.
In the hallway, the woman stood,
watching, gloating. Although she and Anastacia both had dark brown
hair and similar Mediterranean features, she lacked the poise and
grace that Anastacia exuded.
“Get out of my home,” Ana ordered
her. “I never want to see you again.” Anastacia stormed out her
front door, slamming it behind her. Doubling over, she thought she
might heave again, but she drew in a deep breath and continued down
the hall to Soula’s apartment. She frantically knocked on the door.
When she opened it, Soula took one look at her best friend and she
hugged her.
“Ana mou, what is it?
Between gasps and cries, Anastacia
relayed the entire humiliating scene, as well as Jimmy’s despicable
attempt to explain the unforgivable.
“What do I do now?”
“We go upstairs and talk to your
uncle,” Soula said. “He will know how to handle this.”
“How can I tell him? What will my
parents say? How could I be so stupid? What will Uncle Tasso think?”
“Of you? Nothing different than
before. Of them? They will get what they deserve. Come.
We will go together. I will tell your uncle if you cannot.”
About the
Author
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,
Contact Effie at
effiekammenou@gmail.com
For More
Information
- Find out more about Effie at Goodreads.
"Evanthia's Gift" by is Book One in the Gift Saga by author Effie Kammenou is a fantastic story of a family with many secrets. The secrets that they kept from each other for many years were because of the love they have for each other. Ana is a woman who is betrayed but, can find love again if she could learn to trust again. I loved this book and I loved the characters. I cannot wait to read Book Two. I was given this book for the purpose of a review and all opinions are my own. I happily give this book a 5/5.
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