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The Gift Saga Book 2
In 1961, five little girls moved into a suburban neighborhood and became inseparable, lifelong friends. They called themselves the ‘Honey Hill Girls,’ named after the street on which they lived. As teenagers they shared one another’s ambitions and dreams, secrets and heartaches. Now, more than thirty years later, they remain devoted and loyal, supporting each other through triumphs and sorrows.
Evanthia’s Gift follows the life of Sophia Giannakos. In Waiting for Aegina the saga continues from the perspectives of Sophia and her friends as the story drifts back and forth in time, filling in the gaps as the women grow to adulthood.
Naive teenage ideals are later challenged by harsh realities, as each of their lives takes unexpected turns. Now nearing their fiftieth year, Sophia, Demi, Amy, Mindy and Donna stand together through life-altering obstacles while they try to regain the lighthearted optimism of their youth.
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Extract
Sophia propped herself up on her pillow and leaned in closer to Dean. “Are you happy, Dino?”
she asked.
Dean raised his eyebrows and with an impish grin he asked, “Didn’t I spend the better part of last
night showing you how happy I am?”
“I’m being serious. The last few months couldn’t have been a piece of cake for you.”
“I’ve never been happier.” He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. “Do we need to work
out the kinks? Sure. But give it time. And Evvie will come around. The kids have had a lot of
changes. Don’t worry about me. I can handle it.”
Sophia rolled onto her back and rubbed her eyes with her fingertips. “I worry about you, the kids,
my dad. Then I think about what I’ll do with the dance studio while I’m out on maternity leave.
And your commute to Jamesport has got to be brutal in this weather. And—”
“Stop!” Dean rolled on top of her, boring his eyes into hers. “You are going to drive yourself
crazy. One thing at a time. Isn’t that what you tell everyone when they get overwhelmed? Just
deal with one thing at a time. Take your own advice and let me worry about a few things.”
Sophia nodded. “You’re right. I’ll pull a Scarlett and think about it tomorrow,” she said in a poor
attempt at a Southern drawl.
Later that afternoon, Dean and Sophia turned onto the gravel driveway of the Angelidis
Vineyard. Slowly, they passed the rows and rows of grapevines, the twisted branches now
plundered of their fruit stood stiffly, waiting for the rebirth of spring. Only three months before,
the oak trees surrounding the tasting room and the Carriage House were alive with brilliant
shades of gold and orange, the sun forcing its way between the leaves and casting a heavenly
glow.
Dean and Sophia were the first couple to celebrate their union on this breathtaking piece of
property, riding by horse and carriage from the church down the long path to the beautifully
decorated tent adorned with crystals and tulle. Forever, the memory of this place, on that long
awaited day where their life together began, would be embedded in their hearts. And knowing
this was the place where Dean felt pride in his accomplishments along with a sense of peace and
contentment made Sophia treasure this land all the more. Dean drove his Range Rover past the
building that housed the oak barrels and steel tanks, then continued through gates that read,
‘Private Property.’ From the outside view, Demi and Michael’s home looked unoccupied. No
movement or sound seemed to be coming from the house—until they opened the door that led to
the mudroom. Evvie could be heard calling out for Nicky and Paul to shut up, the boys were
screaming over a video game, and Stella was looking for her mother, complaining that the boys
weren’t letting her play with them.
Sophia and Dean looked at each other and they simultaneously had the idea to get out while they
could.
Thank you, Effie Kammenou and Love Books Group
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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
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Author Links
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Book Link
B for Bookreview 