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

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.

So worth it!

Any additional comments?

I was hooked on this book from the very beginning. The narrator instantly brought the story to life. Which was very easy to do considering how well crafted this book was. The characters are vivid enough to picture each of them in my mind. Whether the reader has Greek heritage or not, everyone will be able to relate to the family drama. However, the author did a nice job of sharing about the Greek culture without sounding like a travel brochure or a lecture. At times, I found myself talking to the characters in my head even when I wasn’t listening to the book. In looking at the book, I think the different character voices made it a little easier to understand the multiple POVs. I really didn’t want this one to end.

The narration felt perfect for this story. The narrator did a good job a varying the voices enough to keep everyone separate.

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.

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🎧

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.

Loved it ♥️

Evanthia’s Gift is a wonderful story spanning 3 generations and following two families. It tells of the hardships of love, family, following your dreams and trying to stay true to their Greek culture. It’s a story about finding yourself, whether it through true love or a rebellious teenager. It’s a long listen, but a good one. It definitely kept my interest and it was interesting to learn about the Greek culture. There are some really good recipes at the beginning of several chapters. Emily Lawrence did a fabulous job with the narration! Especially with all the different characters and the accents!

#audiobookobession 🎧

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!

Evanthia’s Gift

I have just finished listening to Evanthia’s Gift by Effie Kammenou, and I’m sad... sad that I came to the end of the first book in the series. I’m just grateful that the next book is available!

This is a beautiful story that spans over 50 years and multiple generations. I loved getting to know the characters and following their lives. I really feel like I know these characters and I truly care about them, having experienced their joys and sorrows, through the good times and the bad.

Emily Lawrence delivered a stellar performance. She handled all the different characters wonderfully, with the wide range of emotions and the accents. The book truly came to life.

I listen to many different audiobooks and I have to say this has been one of my favorites.

An Exceptional & Heartfelt Story! Great Listen🎧

I love books, I enjoy reading them and listening to audiobooks, sometimes separately, sometimes together. I did both with this book and it blew me away, the story and narration is beyond exceptional. It should be called Effie Kammenou’s gift because that is what it is. You can feel the love she put into this story flowing off the pages. It is well written and well told. The character development is beyond amazing. This multigenerational story begins with Anastasia in NYC it follows her throughout her life and meet her family and friends along the way. Actually you more than meet them you get to know them. I loved the bonds and friendship she shared with Soula and Stravos and how supportive they were from the start, also loved how protective her Uncle was too. I adored Alex, he was so loving and understanding. I was happy for Ana and Alex. The 2nd part of the book brings you to Sophia’s story, it includes all the people in her life, some you were introduced in the 1st part, others are the new people she meets in her life. You learn more of Dino & Demi, Soula and Stravos’ son and daughters and Sophie’s best friends and side kicks growing up. You are given views into their angsty teenage years and as they mature to adults, the paths they chose in life and lessons they learn. It is amazing how Effie Kammenou manages to bring the reader and/or listener into her story, places you right along side the characters, allowing you feel what they feel. I cried when they cried, felt their emotions and yes, I even got mad at some of their actions, mainly Dean’s and then Sophie’s. I can say so much more about this book, it is an original, heartfelt story, an exceptional one from start to end and I highly recommend it. I am looking forward to reading & listening to more of Effie Kammenou’s work. Thank you so much for this great & enjoyable story and for the for the great recipes too!

I listened to the Audible edition, Emily Lawrence is a wonderful narrator and voice performer. She performed the voices for all the characters, she brings them to life gives each their own unique sound and personality. She does an amazing job with the accents too. She is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to!

Didn't like the second generation as much

I got hooked on this story very early! I enjoyed Anastacia and Alex’s story. They were two very interesting characters who have lived through a terrible time of WWII in Greece. They are telling the younger generation their struggles and their heartbreaks. It got me very emotionally invested. Their love was very beautiful and I was happy to hear about how they overcame such trials.

Then it moved onto Sophia, their daughter, and her love interest Dean. Sophia is just blah. She is whiny and totally dependent on Dean, who is a jerk waffle and doesn’t deserve her. I hated their relationship, I wanted to punch something every time Sophia cried over Dean and every time she accepted him back…..I don’t understand how it went from such a beautiful and touching story to something just angsty and annoying. This is my opinion, you may perhaps enjoy angsty books and girls who super pine after dudes that are not good enough for them. For that reason I give the story a 3.5/5.

The narration was beautiful! Lawrence has an amazing accent for the first generation characters and I am in love with it!!! I think she had a great tone and pacing throughout the story. Even if I was extremely mad at certain parts, I cannot fault her voice as it was steady and clear, and had great emotion throughout. Her audio I give 4.5/5 stars!