Evanthia's Gift

The Gift Saga, Book 1

By: Effie Kammenou

Narrated by: Emily Lawrence

Length: 17 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's 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 50 years and crossing two continents, chronicling the lives that unify two families.

©2015 Effie Kammenou (P)2017 Effie Kammenou

A Wonderful narration and story!

 Evanthia's Gift written by Effie Kammenou is an interesting novel based on its structure alone. The storyline begins in Greece in the year 1955 with a pregnant mother by the name of Anastacia. The book opens with betrayal and as Anastacia endures the troubles of her situation with the lasting effects of WW2, she finds she needs to make important decisions for both herself and her daughter (Sophia). Anastacia develops beautiful and engaging relationships and love interests that are excitingly passionate and at times heartbreaking. 

This is currently Effie Kammenous only audiobook available at audible.com

This audiobook enters a second part which feels almost like the start of a new book all together. It jumps a generation and follows Sophia and Dean, a love interest since of Sophia since age of 12, as Greek- American teenagers. 

The characters battle romantically and culturally as a storyline unfolds that spans 50 years and two continents. 

The book is narrated by Emily Lawrence who is an accomplished narrator. She sounds comfortable behind the mic and has a dynamic range of narration tone and character accents that are especially enjoyable to the ear. Emily Lawrence currently has 35 audiobook narrations available at audible.com. The audio, simply put, is top quality. The storyline flows smoothly and effortlessly and the characters are easily distinguishable. The background is free of any extraneous sounds that may distract from the listening experience.

This audiobook came in at a lengthy 17 hours and 22 minutes in the contemporary fiction genre. The audiobook inevitably had slower parts, but Emily's voice acting ability even makes a sluggish part mentally stimulating. 

This audiobook is almost 2 books for the price of 1 with the storyline and length. In the genre of contemporary fiction Audiobook Haven would conclude that this book is worth a listen!

Audio Quality: 10/10
Narration Performance 9/10
Storyline 7/10

Listen to Evanthia's Gift, Book one in the Gift Saga, written by Effie Kammenous - Narrated by Emily Lawrence


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A Must Read Trilogy of Love & the Human Experience

I find Ms. Kammenou's work not only captivating but it completely drew me into the story so I am fully invested in the characters and unfolding storylines. I love the way she weave the beautiful quotes, Greek history & traditions, cuisine, recipes and religious beliefs into the beautiful tapestry of this trilogy. Book One introduces you to the key characters in the story of an immigrant Greek family and their friends as they navigate their lives through the full complement of human experiences and emotions anchored by love. The story engages your heart to invest yourself into the lives of the original immigrant members of this Greek family and their first generation of Greek American children as they journey through the full complement of life's experiences, challenges and loss. It also shares details about Greek history, traditions and cuisine including the receipes to some of the dishes prepared by this family. I keep drooling when reading about the cuisine and its delights. Book One is brilliant....moving onto to Book Two.....can't wait to see what unfolds next! Thank, Effie Kammenou for the beautiful story spanning muliple generations.

Two bodies with one soul

Evanthia’s gift is more than a multigenerational love story. It’s a heart-warming and unforgettable journey that you take in the late fifties with two charming families. Since the beginning, the story captures your attention with plot twists, gripping romances and the incredible bond among its characters.

The storytelling goes from one family to another for almost a half-century in NYC and some parts of Greece. The author beautifully manages how the events occur with all the elements from Greek and American culture. This is an incredible introduction to the broad Greek culture; it gives us traditions, cuisine, celebrations, and a little bit of faith -in the Orthodox Church-.

Every chapter captured my attention in an unbelievable way. I need to know more and more about its characters and their lives. Evanthia’s gift is all I could ask for a family/romance/friendship novel. Love, death, loss, companionship, friendship, and faith of that kind is what I would like to live one day.

One of the most important things addressed was the fact that all the female characters are strong, independent, and empowered woman, who faced adversity with confidence and courage. A huge message to young women.
Now that I read it and listened to the audiobook, I highly recommend it to all kind of audience out there. Even though you are not a lover of romance, this one will bewitch you.

As once I thought: This could be real, these families could have existed at some point…
Well done, Dear Effie.

romance and family

loved the multigenerational aspect. shows you that true love stays with you always and forever

Loved, loved, loved!

This wonderfully written, multi generational, exceptionally performed family tale completely captured my heart. No one loves family history, tradition and legacy more than myself. Didn’t want it to end......so grateful for the next book.

Good read

This was a good read. Evanthia goes through a lot in her life. I liked this book because it tells much about Greek culture and how some cultures still wanted the children to marry within that culture. They sometimes were unhappy when they did not. Dino loved her with all his heart but both were to young and immature to realize the love they had. There familly pushed them from a young age to marry. Children do not always do what we want them to. This story tells about both of their paths in life. Woth the credit.

This book
was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

LOVED IT!

I absolutely loved it! This book caught my attention from the very beginning and held it throughout the entire book. The narration was superb and gave the story that extra flair! The author did an excellent job with the character builds and plot. This was my first book by this author but definitely not my last! I look forward to reading the next book in this series! I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Not related to Mamma Mia! :)

I had a good start to this beautifuly narrated greek saga!

Anastacia and Alex’s story was very enjoyable. Interesting characters who survived the WWII time in Greece.

Anyone would relate to the family drama, translating to the next generation, their struggles and heartbreaks.
Second generation of the family was getting on my nerves, so I didn't like it as much... but such is life.

When it moved to Sophia, their daughter, and her love, annoying dependence of Dean, who doesn’t deserve her. What a jerk... the book felt like two separated stories.

However, amazing accent for the first generation of characters, the narrator did a good job with the variety of voices from the multiple pov's.

A long book, but nice and enjoyable!

Amazing greek saga

I'm hooked and I think I was from the moment I sampled this audiobook. The narrator is that good--it's like she was born for the role. The story-line is phenomenal. I haven't read a saga in a long time and this is the first time I have read one with Greek characters and culture. I became immersed in the multi-generational characters--the love, the drama, the passions. The love and heartache the characters experienced was palpable. I loved learning about the Greek traditions and the recipes were an interesting touch. I'm moving on to the next in this series ASAP.

Inspiring story of true love and fate

I absolutely loved learning about all these characters. I loved how the author incorporated the use of Greeks recipe and traditions in this book.
This is a story of true love destined to be together from childhood. The trials and tribulations of your first love in childhood to your forever love in adulthood is expressed all through this book.
The narrator did an amazing job! I felt her joy, her pain, her sorrow, and her love for the characters.

Wonderful audiobook - well written story

~I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review~

This audiobook really amazed me. I rarely gives a book five stars, but this time I did!!
It’s the first book of three in “The Gift Saga”. It’s a heart-warming family saga about a Greek-American family and their life in Greece and NY (America).

The book starts with the story of Anastacia, as she returns home and finds her husband betraying her with another woman. She leaves him, and she doesn’t tell him she’s pregnant. She stays as a single mother for several years, not trusting her heart to another man. Not until ……… I think you should listen to the audiobook and experience the very well written Saga of Anastacia’s life with her Greek family and best friends, her daughter Sophia, the love of her life - and as times goes by Sophia grows up and we starts to follow her life too.

It’s a heartwarming story, and I had to listen to all of the audiobook without stopping. I just fell in love with this lovely family and their friends, with their stubbornness, their difficult life situations, their heartaches, the wonderful Greek recipes (included in the book) and most of all their unconditional love and support for each other.

Effie Kammenou has done an amazing job writing this book. And I can’t wait to start the next audiobook in this series - but I think I better wait until the morning, because I already know I will have a hard time stopping listening, but unfortunately I need some sleep before work tomorrow ;)

I listened to the Audible edition narrated by Emily Lawrence. The Saga and her voice is the perfect match. She did an excellent job and I really enjoyed her voice. Sometimes a book and a narrator is the perfect match - for me this was one of the perfect matches!

Packed full of emotion

This book is not for emotionally shy people! I cried pretty much all the way through!! LOL. It’s a heartfelt book. Emily is brilliant, so many accents, and a beautiful tone to her voice.

The Right Gift

The gift of the right person is a wonderful gift. When the right comes along and shows you what intimacy is really like. Having that person know your truth and accepting of your truth and being happy loving you for living your truth. I understand how people think that hiding a part of themselves is ok, but when you finally open up is amazing. I am so glad there is a book two of this book. I am a huge fan of stories that has a location of Greece. I love hearing about the culture. This book had love, loss, love and happily ever after. Best book I read in a while.

This audio is a gift

Book 1 in the series. I totally understand how the author feels and writes the story. Being Greek myself I felt this story and understood what Effie wrote about . How the characters were torn between the cultures of both countries. Even though they were Greek and was born in Greece they now live in NYC .
Heroine is Anastacia.
Anastacia had a hard time in the USA . Betrayed by her husband, with her sister no less . Caught them doing the act . Pregnant and having the baby alone .
Anastacia has a change at a new life , new carrier, new love if she grabs the opportunity. The first part tells everything Anastacia went through while having Sophie. It tells of a love story that is pure of heart between Anastacia and Alexis . How Alexis held back at the beginning when he first meet Anastacia. It was love at first site for Alex , Alex was waiting in the wings .
Also the story tells what Sophie went through being an American Greek , the pull and Push of both cultures. Sophie keeping things from Anastacia trying to protect her . Sophie falls for Dean . Sophie had fells for Dean , Kostadino , but Dino thought of Sophie as a sister , they grew up together .
Grab it and see if Sophie father finds out about her , does Dino grab a hold of the love that is right in front of him

Emily Lawrence performance was fantastic. Her Greek was great , her tone for the story was great .

I am reviewing this story for Audiobook Obsession and the views are my own

Evanthia's Gift

The narration by Emily Lawrence was amazing. The accenting, and voices were very well done.

Overall I really enjoyed the book, it was well written and I loved the pieces of real Greek history and traditions, but I had two big issues with it. My first issue was that Ana & Alex's story should have been a prequel or book 1 and separated from Sophie & Dean's story. I also felt the amount of time that it took for the couple to get back together (20 years) seems a bit too much, too unrealistic for each to wait and still have feelings.

Overall I enjoyed Ana & Alex's story way more than Sophie & Dean's but I was sucked into the drama of it all till the very end.

#AudiobookObsession
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sweet!

Evanthia's Gift was such a wonderfully sweet love story! I Effie told this multigenerational love story in such a beautiful way. I was touched and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Emily did a fantastic job with the narration. She truly brought the characters to life in an amazing way. Great job!

🎧AudiobookObsession🎧

Touchingly Beautiful

I have never read a book that I have been so moved by as I was this book. It's a story about family, relationships, love, second chances, life, death. I felt like I was a part of the story. I learned a lot about Greek culture because of this book. It's authentic and beautiful. It's touching. I had to fight not to cry several times. The narrator did a fantastic job. She made an already beautiful story even more amazing. This is a new to me narrator, but I'm glad I listened to this. I would love to listen to the rest of this series. I'm fully invested in this. It's like I'm reading about my own family!

Two Amazing Stories in One

There are two parts to this book. We first have Anastacia and Alexandro's story in part one and then we have Sophie and Dean's story in part two. Both parts in this generational set are very well written and the chemistry between both couples is evident throughout. I definitely got a book hangover because I didn't want to turn it off. Each story is similar in that it centers around Greek culture and very heavily emphasizes the importance of family; they are also both second chance romances. However, the style of second chance is different for each couple.

I loved each story and they were both masterfully written and evoked plenty of emotion and feelings throughout. I love a good second chance love story and these are both heartwarming in their own way. Anastacia and Alexandro's story was beautifully written in that he heals her and she learns how to love again. I think Sophie and Dean's story is more tragic and sad due to other family events that occurred throughout their lives that brought them back together. It does make me sad that it took them so long to find their way back to each other. This author did an amazing job incorporating familial ties and events throughout each. Amazing.

This narration did an absolutely phenomenal job captivating the authors words and bringing the love between all these characters throughout the book to life. She exhibited amazing accents when needed and gave the perfect amount of emotion in her voice as the character's lives progressed. Beautiful performance!

I received a review copy at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.

An engaging story with excellent narration

I really enjoyed listening to Evanthia’s Gift. Emily Lawrence does an excellent job narrating this story and I felt she brought extra depth and emotion to an already engaging story.

The story captured my attention on so many levels; it’s an absorbing family saga with great insight into traditions and the role tradition plays in decision making. I learned about some historical events that I was not previously aware of. And it was a trip down memory lane recalling the fashions and music of the 70s.

Some chapter ends feature Greek recipes. This was an unexpected treat but they’re somewhat superfluous to an audio book as the times I listen to audio books, I am not in a position to transcribe the recipes to paper.

Effie Kammenou’s writing is tight and the story is well plotted. I look forward to listening to more of her stories.