My Greek Books
Welcome back! This month, I’ll tell you all about three novels written by Greek-American women authors. Let’s go!
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The Senator’s Wife: A Novel by Liv Constantine
Bantam Books (March 5, 2024)
About the author
Liv Constantine is the pen name of Greek-American sisters Lynne Constantine (she also publishes under the name L.C. Shaw) and Valerie Constantine. They had been writing individually for years, but the magic they create together has made them international bestselling authors.
Their books have been translated into 29 languages and are available in 34 countries. Some are in development for both TV and film. They’ve sold more than 2 million books worldwide. Their next psychological thriller, Don’t Open Your Eyes (Bantam), will be out in June 2025. It’s available for pre-order here.
About the book
D.C. Philanthropist Sloane Chase and Senator Whit Montgomery marry following the tragic deaths of their spouses. Their lives had been intertwined for years, and the loss brought them together. Sloane’s first husband was also a senator and marrying Whit, not only led to combined lives and homes, but also brought her back to the world of White House dinners and all things political.
Sloane has suffered with lupus for years, and the latest casualty is her hip. As she prepares for a hip replacement, her husband hires a home health aide to help Sloane while she recovers. Enter Athena Karras, who will assist with Sloane’s recovery, and at Sloane’s charitable foundation.
Athena appears to be a big help. Then when Sloanes’ health deteriorates, Athena blames it on the progression of lupus. While Athena gets more involved in Sloane’s life—including meals with Whit—Sloane gets sicker and she’s further isolated from family and friends. She becomes paranoid. Is she going to die? Is Athena trying to take over her life? You’ll have to read it to find out!
My Greek Books review
Liv Constantine has done it again! The sisters have crafted yet another page-turning psychological thriller. They’ve mastered this genre and are so skilled at hooking the reader right on the first page and bringing in plenty of twists to throw you off. I couldn’t put it down. I’m looking forward to their forthcoming novel.
Buy it on Amazon
Circle of Peace: A Greek Tale of Perse’s Great Hall by Sophia Kouidou-Giles
She Writes Press (March 11, 2025)
About the Author
Sophia Kouidou-Giles was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece. She attended university in the US, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in social work. She settled in the Pacific Northwest and is now retired after a 30+ year career in child welfare. Sophia has published articles in both Greek and English, regarding service for abused and neglected children. She’s also a poet and previously published a poetry chapbook, called Transitions and Passages. Her essays and poetry have been published in several anthologies.
She is the author of a memoir published in Greek as Return to Thessaloniki (Tyrfi Press), and in English translation as Sophia’s Return: Uncovering My Mother’s Past (She Writes Press, 2021).The story delves into the secrets that veiled her childhood, but ultimately led her on her career path. The book was a Silver Seal Finalist of the American Writing Awards. Read more about it here. Sophia is also the author of An Unexpected Ally: A Greek Tale of Love, Revenge, and Redemption (She Writes Press, 2023). Read more about it here.
About the book
A sequel to An Unexpected Ally, but easily a standalone, Circle of Peace is a story inspired by Greek mythology. Here, we return to the world of Circe. Her father Helios asks her mother Perse to help his troubled sister Selene, who’s angered Zeus by her affair with a mortal. In exchange, Perse demands the construction of a grand hall in her honor. She gets her wish, but her plans take a back seat when Clymene and Helios’ son Phaeton dies, plunging the entire House of Helios into mourning.
While the family deals with their grief, war erupts outside the palace walls. But Perse rises up in the face of tragedy. While the House of Helios works to turn tragedy into a movement for peace, others prefer to sow the seeds of war and unrest, leading to a battle of wills of mythic proportions. Who will prevail? You’ll have to read it to find out!
My Greek Books review*
Circle of Peace returns us to the world of Greek myth for a mission for peace that becomes an epic battle of wills. Sophia Kouidou-Giles crafted an imaginative tale you won’t soon forget.
*I read an advance review copy
Website
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Unlucky Mel by Aggeliki Pelekidis
Three Hills (September 15, 2024)
About the author
Aggeliki Pelekidis was born in Brooklyn, NY, but thanks to her “nomadic Greek parents”, she moved around a lot. She previously worked in PR and was once the Manager of Communications for the New York Aquarium and the Director of Public Affairs for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. She earned an MA and Ph.D in English with a creative writing emphasis from Binghamton University (BU). She’s currently the Associate Director of First-Year Writing at BU.
Angie’s collection of short stories, Patrimonium, won the Distinguished Dissertation Award in Creative Writing. One of her stories was the first-prize winner of the New Ohio Review’s fiction contest. Her writing has appeared in The Michigan Quarterly Review, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Confrontation, and many other literary journals.
About the book
Melody Hollings, aka Mel, is a PhD candidate in a creative writing program in upstate New York. Now in her final year, she dreams of landing a great academic job far away from her hometown—and her father. To fulfill this dream, including publishing her first novel, she must graduate. And finish the book. She relies on her friend Ben to help with both. She’s helped him so much over the years, and he agrees to reciprocate. But he’s full of excuses. He’s too caught up in his own goals. And, as she racks up rejections, he gloats about his successes.
Meanwhile, Mel’s father does strange things, which she believes are an attempt to get her to move back home. After a series of events, she realizes he suffers from dementia. She now must juggle her plans and her father’s care. With her dreams falling out of reach, her best hope is to win a local postgraduate fellowship.
Ben is supposed to be helping her, but he seems to be working against her. One betrayal after another, along with dealing with her father, leads her to set out to get revenge on Ben. How dare he use her? But she could become her own worst enemy, as her quest for retribution could cost her everything. How far will she go? Will she graduate? You’ll have to read it to find out!
My Greek Books review
Unlucky Mel is a story of a young woman with a bright future, who’s light is dimmed by the people around her who pledge to care for her the most. It’s about how far someone will go to get revenge in the wake of betrayal. Aggeliki Pelekidis’ funny, yet poignant debut novel is one you won’t want to miss.
Buy it on Amazon
My Greek Books—February 2025
Well, that’s it for this month. Hope you enjoyed learning about these three novels written by Greek-American women! Check back next month for more My Greek Books. Til then, Happy Reading!
Read more:
My Greek Books—February 2024 Reads
My Greek Books—February 2023 Reads
