Lipsi's Daughter

Rating:
Summary: A Modern Greek Cinderella Story
Review: A beautiful young greek orphan girl named Ipatia, grows up in a isolated village on an island raised by her loving grandfather. She is brought up with old fashioned customs of earlier times. However, this is modern Greece and she moves to the big city to live with her Aunt to continue her education.

Ipatia has to cope with modern life in Greece while retaining her traditional old fashioned values that she learned from her grandfather. This conflict of these old fashioned values, in modern Greece continues through her daily life , while continuing her education, in her work, and her relations with other people.

The author clearly explains Greek Culture as the story continues through modern Greece and Greek-American life in Chicago.

A chance meeting with a handsome young greek man visiting the island continues as a possible romance with many obstacles in the way.

Great romantic story with a Greek theme.

Rating:
Summary: A Modern Greek Cinderella Story
Review: A beautiful young greek orphan girl named Ipatia, grows up in a isolated village on an island raised by her loving grandfather. She is brought up with old fashioned customs of earlier times. However, this is modern Greece and she moves to the big city to live with her Aunt to continue her education.

Ipatia has to cope with modern life in Greece while retaining her traditional old fashioned values that she learned from her grandfather. This conflict of these old fashioned values, in modern Greece continues through her daily life , while continuing her education, in her work, and her relations with other people.

The author clearly explains Greek Culture as the story continues through modern Greece and Greek-American life in Chicago.

A chance meeting with a handsome young greek man visiting the island continues as a possible romance with many obstacles in the way.

Great romantic story with a Greek theme.

Rating:
Summary: Review from Stella in Alexandria, VA
Review: A charmingly simple and simply charming story. As a reader, you find yourself cheering Ipatia all the way as she battles tried and true traditions against the temptations life and love beyond her village upbringing. You cross your fingers hoping it will turn out just the way you want it to, as you turn page by page to the final conclusion. You are transported to a simpler time and place and immersed in a way of life when simple things brought simple joys and all was possible through faith and love. A good read...you'll enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: A true love story with family values
Review: Lipsi's daughter is a wonderful book for everyone to enjoy. It is a book which builds a strong foundation on family morals and values. As you read about the main character Ipatia, the family values spring into life. The author brings out respect and caring for the elderly, proper behavior towards the opposite sex(courting the old fashion way)with a focus on what is true love, a strong foundation of faith, helping your neighbors and your community out of your own will,valuing the importance of education and showing the closeness of a family with relatives helping one another. Ipatia, an orphan who lives with her grandfather on Lipsi island is raised with old family traditions and values. She shows respect towards her grandfather and she cherishes and exercises the values that her grandfather has instilled in her. When she goes off to Pireus to be educated, thousands of miles away from her home, she does not forget her grandfather. She stays in contact at all times because she cares for her grandfather and asks for his advice in critical actions she is about to take in life. Her strong solid foundation of values make her succeed in pursuing her dream to be educated. When she encounters her true love, she presents herself in a respectable way which is very much being admired. She goes off and helps her neighbors when they are injured, and helps relatives when in need as in the time when she stays with her aunt. She helps her aunt around the house and watches her baby without being asked. The author brings out the basic family values that todays society is loosing especially in the young generation. Not only that these values come into life, but they are described clearly through the Greek culture which brings nostalgia to those readers of Greek descent. For the non greek reader who is not familiar with Greek culture, the author describes, explains and teaches such traditions and culture very well.
Not only does the author brings out the important things in life, she makes it enjoyable and adds suspense to the main two characters of Ipatia and Tony keeping the reader alert and wondering. Will they have a happy ending? Will they find each other or will Michael the doctor separate them because of his interest in Ipatia? Will faith bring Ipatia and Tony together after a long separation due to a tragic accident? I began reading the book on my vacation to Greece this summer of 2004 and I couldn't put it down. It is well written and very enjoyable! I recommended it to the young and old!!!

Rating:
Summary: A formal, prim and honest love story.
Review: The lovers hide their feelings; overcome many obstacles, finally (after four years of separation) find one another and express their true feelings. The reader comes to only one conclusion: they live happily everafter.

Rating:
Summary: A formal, prim and honest love story.
Review: The lovers hide their feelings; overcome many obstacles, finally (after four years of separation) find one another and express their true feelings. The reader comes to only one conclusion: they live happily everafter.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful Cinderella tale, told Grecian-style. ..
Review: Young Ipatia Kouris has lived with her grandfather since her parents' death. He raised her in the traditional Greek style, intending that she marry and have children. But Ipatia wants to further her education and have a career before she makes the ultimate commitment and settles down. When a chance circumstance brings Tony Plakis into her life, his dark good looks and friendly charm sway her thoughts for the first time toward romance - that is, until she learns he is already engaged.

Tony Plakis earned a professor's degree, preferring to work in a field different from that of his wealthy shipping magnet father - a father ignored him most of his life. But the elderly Plakis has other plans for his only son: Tony is to marry a wealthy heiress and take over the family business. His father's desires weigh heavily on Tony's mind as his father's ship visits the Dodecanese island of Lipsi. During a stroll on the island, Tony rescues Ipatia, a beautiful young woman whose innocence and traditional ways he finds refreshing. She is a complete change from the usual females he meets; those who desire him only for his wealth. After they part, Ipatia's shy smile and easy laughter continue to invade his mind.

Tony learns that Ipatia is to travel to Piraeus -- the location of her future college and his father's business offices. When Tony's father becomes ill, out of family duty, Tony takes over the shipping business. Then Tony's engagement dissolves and he resolves to sway Ipatia's thoughts away from education and into his arms.

Tony convinces Ipatia to work in the office to translate documents into English until her classes start. She is thrilled to work in Tony's office. After all, it affords her the opportunity to see him daily. Her only other male acquaintance is Michael Hatzis, a doctor who treated her swollen ankle and who, learning of her interest in the field of medicine, lets her borrow his medical journals. Michael admires the young woman, but it's obvious to him that Ipatia is in love with his best friend, Tony. When Tony learns that Ipatia and become friends with Michael, he cautiously withdraws his attention, confusing Ipatia. More obstacles stand in their path until one day, Tony convinces her to go on a picnic. During a drive to the mountaintop, they have a car accident.

Ipatia recovers from her broken ribs and, wondering why she hasn't heard from Tony, visits his office, only to be told that Tony is on Crete. Discouraged and confused over his lack of attention, she departs, certain that Tony was only toying with her affections.

Unknown to her is that the accident left Tony comatose for months. When he finally awakens, Tony has no memory of his past - let alone of Ipatia.

Ipatia flies to Chicago to join her aunt, who has recently married and is expecting a baby. There, Ipatia starts a new life, one involving education at an American college. There she meets other men, and ignores them. Her thoughts remain on the love she lost.

Will Tony ever regain his memory of the beautiful young woman who touched his heart? Will the miles that separate Ipatia from her home - and her one true love - prevent a happy ending? You'll have to read the book to find out.

Patty Apostolides is a fresh new author whose first romance novel is enchanting and wonderful. Lipsi's Daughter is filled with a sprinkling of music, a dash of love poems, and a hearty scoop of tender moments that tug at your heart. Her vivid descriptions will have you feeling as though you're in Greece, savoring the scenery, the people and, most of all, a story of love that will leave you longing for more.

Reviewed by Linda Morelli, Author of FIERY SURRENDER and the award-winning SHADOW OF DOUBT, www.lindamorelli.us