Evanthia's Gift
by Effie Kammenou
Meet Effie
Effie Kammenou believes it’s 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 dreamed that by now, she would have had an Oscar in her hand after a successful career as an actor. Instead, she worked in the optical field for over forty years while raising her two daughters.
In 2015, three years after her mother died from pancreatic cancer, she published her debut novel, Evanthia’s Gift, the first book in a women’s fiction, multigenerational love story and family saga inspired by her mother and her Greek heritage. Kammenou continued to pick her father’s brain for stories of his family’s life in Lesvos, Greece, and their journey to America until his recent death in November 2022 at 100. Her interview with him was published in the nationally circulated magazine Reminisce.
Evanthia’s Gift: Book One in The Gift Saga was a 2016 finalist in the Readers Favorite Book Awards. Book two, Waiting for Aegina, was awarded finalist status in the 2019 International Book Awards. Chasing Petalouthes, the last book in the trilogy, also placed in the Readers Favorite Book Awards for the 2018 contest.
Love is Worth Fighting For won silver, second place for contemporary romance in The Readers Favorite Book Awards, and most recently won first place in the BookFest Awards.
Kammenou’s latest series is The Meraki Series. Love is What You Bake of it, Love by Design, and Love is Worth Fighting For are available in print and Kindle. Book four, Love in Plain Sight, will finish the series. Each book focuses on a sibling and their quest for love and professional success despite a sometimes stifling and meddling family. A mystery shadowed by a historical event in recent Greek history is slowly uncovered throughout the series.
As a bonus, each book contains the traditional Greek recipes featured throughout the novels, many of which were passed down from her Athenian mother.
Effie Kammenou is a first-generation Greek-American who lives on Long Island. When she’s not writing or posting recipes on her food blog, you can find her entertaining family and friends or traveling for ‘research.’ She recently returned to her theatrical roots by occasionally working as a background actor in film and television productions.
She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Women Fiction Writers Association and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater Arts from Hofstra University.
About the book: "Evanthia's Gift : The Gift Saga."
Sophia Giannakos will settle for nothing less than the rare love her parents share. At a tender and impressionable age, she has found her soul mate in Dean, the boy she has known her whole life — until secrets and deceptions pull them apart. No stranger to heartache, Anastacia, Sophia’s mother, attempts to comfort her without revealing ugly family truths that could haunt her daughter’s future.
In the year 1956, Anastacia, a former NYU student, finds herself in the challenging role of a single parent. Left with emotional wounds from a bad marriage, she is reluctant to trust and resists her growing feelings for Alexandros, 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 1970s, as their daughter attempts to negotiate between two cultures. Greek-American teenagers, Sophia and Dean, have shared a special connection since childhood. Although their desire for one another is undeniable, Dean resists her, rebelling against the pressure his father places on him to uphold his Greek heritage. When he can no longer fight his feelings, Dean asks Sophia to conceal their love. She hesitantly complies until it becomes too much for her. Like her mother, Sophia loves with every fiber of her soul, leaving her shattered when Dean pulls away from his family, culture, and ultimately his love for her, leaving her no choice but to find a life different than the one she’d hoped for. Evanthia’s Gift is a multigenerational love story spanning fifty years and across two continents, chronicling the lives that unify two families.
What readers are saying
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Bookaddict, “An authentic Greek Story…”
Complete with recipies for famous well-loved special Greek dishes.
It is said, “be true to yourself.”
I found this story to be a delightfully charming real Greek story, spanning four generations, as written by Effie Kammenou. I am not Greek but went to school with a Greek girl who shared something of her culture with us. At reunions we revel in her gastronomic creations. I adore Greek dishes like buttery feather-light biscuits, bulging with almonds and rolled in icing sugar, although I would be the size of a house if I indulged in honey, nuts and cinnamon infused phyllo pastry more often. I drool at spinach and feta cheese dishes and would happily eat a huge one single-handedly. I copied a recipe or two to try later.
However it was the Greek tragic emotions, raging passions, and vibrant colourful love of life which is portrayed so clearly in this story which appealled so strongly to me. What a stunning read! This author was indeed true to herself, honouring her Greek / American culture equally.
In fact, I shared it with a Greek friend who is recovering from her own tragedy and know it is exactly what she needs right now. Thank you!
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Katherine Tillchock, “My favorite read of the summer!”
ROMANCE, HISTORY, FAMILY, FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, LOYALTY, BETRAYAL, RELIGION, CULTURE, MORAL CONFLICT, PAIN, JOY, SUFFERING, SHOCKING REVELATIONS!
Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a woman’s book. There is something for everyone. I was drawn into this story within the first few pages. Each character was so articulately developed from visual appearance to personality.
The author’s wonderful use of language and imagery gave such clarity to each character that it is as if a movie was playing in my head. This story invoked various emotions. I caught myself gasping, crying, laughing, and screaming out loud at one particular character. Not only does this story tug at your head strings but it was enriching and educating.
Many times while reading a novel you need to be a patient reader. At points a book can drag a bit until you have your answers satisfied. This book never drags, you are immediately satisfied. I became so vested in these character that when this story ended I felt as if I had lost my friends.
The epilogue made me so happy and anxious to reunite with my “friends” in the next book!
BRAVO Effie Kammenou
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