The Amulet

by Effrosyni Moschoudi

When Katie loses her Athens office job, a gypsy woman hands her an amulet for good luck. Next, she gets hired as hotel receptionist on the Greek island of Sifnos and everything seems perfect, except for the overbearing hotel owner, Mrs. Matina. One of the guests, heart-stoppingly handsome Aggelos, keeps saving the day whenever Katie needs help. As she falls in love, she grows all the more intrigued by him and his quirky friends, including a little girl who keeps turning up on her own. Add a psychic, half-mad elderly woman into the mix and you're in for a few laughs. Things are not what they seem in this small, family hotel and get even more complicated when the gypsy woman shows up again. Will Katie ever work out that Aggelos is a guardian angel that came with the amulet? And if she does, will she be able to keep him? It may take a miracle. But on an island as magical as Sifnos, anything is possible!

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2016

About the author

Effrosyni Moschoudi was born and raised in Athens, Greece. She writes books for the romantic at heart, and for all readers around the world, who love her country, its people and vast culture.

Her stories are set in alluring locations around Greece and tend to feature supernatural creatures such as angels, ghosts or witches, as she believes our world is magical and not as mundane as we think.

She writes clean and sweet romances that are peppered with humour and a touch of family drama, offering the reader an emotional rollercoaster ride with perfect happily-ever-after endings.

During her twenty years of work experience in large corporations in both Greece and the United Kingdom, Effrosyni has met some of the most problematic and unbalanced people one can ever have the misfortune of sharing an office space with. Still, it has not been for nothing, but has provided a wealth of material for creating the most hilarious among her villains.

Effrosyni lives in a quaint seaside town near Athens with a British husband, two naughty cats, and a vast collection of books and DVDs. Her little town is heavenly enough, yet her mind forever drifts to her beloved island of Corfu.

The Ebb, her new adult romance that was inspired from her summers in Corfu in the 1980s, was a Q-Finalist for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards in 2014. Her debut novel, The Necklace of Goddess Athena, won a silver medal in the 2017 book awards of Readers’ Favorite. Her ghost romance novella, The Boy on the Bridge, was a Top 10 winner of the “50 Best Indie Books” awards of Readfree.ly in 2021.

Effrosyni’s books are clean and sweet romances. All of them are Amazon bestsellers, having hit #1 several times, and are available mainly in kindle and paperback format.

The paperbacks, other than Amazon, can also be ordered at any library or physical bookstore worldwide.

What others say about Effrosyni's books:

"Effrosyni layers her words on the page like music."
~USA Today bestselling author Jackie Weger

"Very few writers have such a gift for realism."
~Kelly Smith Reviews

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Reviews

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a few of Effrosyni's books before this one and have always enjoyed them. This was no exception.
It strikes me as strange that I should really enjoy books with a romance element, as my genres of choice have always been mystery, detectives, Chinese classics, travelogues and sci-fi/fantasy, but enjoy it I did. I suppose because I am a real Hellenophile, and this has a big fantasy element that the "Lingering looks" and "Fluttering hearts" sort of pass me by (well mostly, I am happy when people are happy).
It is a well written, easy-to-read fantasy novel, based in Greece with a slight romance (people happiness) element, so really, if you enjoy anything to do with Greece or fantasy or just a real feel good story, this is worth reading.
I don't know when, but I shall certainly be reading more by Effrosyni in the next few months.

[Flamingcrystal Flamingcrystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC and voluntarily review this book* I've had the joy to read all of Effrosyni's books, and her words speak to me, and would sure speak to anyone who is romantic at heart.This book also let me think a lot about the phrase that the author used in his book:" it is the most difficult person that suffered the most" How often do we judge people on their behaviour but never stop for one moment to think what is driving them to be like that? I do believe in angels. I wish I could still see them, like when I was a toddler... I would gladly recommend that you too would read this paranormal/romance book

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a sweet and delightful story. I love the Greek island setting. The angels were an entertaining little group. I found them to be fun and very amusing. The little girl, Chloe, was my favorite. She had such an impish way about her. The ending was perfect for this sweet book. I would read more by this author.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Amulet by Effrosyni Moschoudi

Katie loses her job in Athens and meets a Gypsy woman who gives her an amulet for good luck. Then she gets a job at a Hotel on the Island of Sifnos. Everything seems to be going well for Katie, she meets a good looking young man Aggelos. He is a guest at the Hotel and always seems to be there when she needs help.

She starts to fall in love with Aggelos and his "unique friends". She even meets a mysterious cheerful little girl that shows up at any time. Then the Gypsy shows up again and Katie's life is about to change. Soon she will discover the truth about Aggelos and his friends.

Fast paced with an original plot, lovable characters and the exotic Greek Island. Katie is very likable, I wanted her to achieve true happiness. Aggelos the lovable Angel was probably my favorite (person/Angel) . Beautifully written this wonderfully sweet love story left an impression in my heart. I highly recommend The Amulet to all.

*I received a free copy of this book and chose voluntarily to review it

[Tripfiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance novel set on SIFNOS

This review originally appeared on our blog, where the author also talks about her love of Sifnos, plus top tips for a visit: http://www.tripfiction.com/romance-no...



“…the most difficult people are the ones who suffer the most”

Sifnos is a charming island in the Cyclades, fringed by beautiful white beaches. Why not set a bit of romance and intrigue in such beautiful surroundings?

Katie Pavlides has had enough of her haranguing boss Roula, in a pipe factory on mainland Greece. Frustrated and thwarted she is at her wit’s end. She happens to bump into a gypsy woman (or did the gypsy woman bump into her..?), to whom she generously gives her cardigan. Much to her surprise the cardigan is returned. The gypsy’s name is Esmera and she presses a gorgeous amulet into Katie’s palm, which she wears with absolute delight.

Finding the courage to leave her draining job, she is taken on by Mrs Matina and her husband Spyros, who need help running their guesthouse. Sifnos is Katie’s dream destination and she is beyond happy to have the opportunity to be ensconced on this beautiful island. But Mrs Matina is clearly not a happy woman. No matter, Katie goes about her work welcoming guests and being a delight.

Her eye is soon caught by the handsome Aggelos, who has mysteriously moved into Room 27, yet no-one seems to have checked him in. He is on hand when crises erupt, for example, he has about his person a piece of cheese to lure a pet rodent back to its cage; he rescues a lady in distress in the water; and even guides Spyros back to land from a rather dangerous fishing trip. He is like a real guardian angel! And one Greek word you will learn when reading this sweet novel is that Aggelos is Greek for angel.

Katie soon falls for his handsome ways, and meets his friends Babis and Elise, but there are clear warnings that Aggelos is on a secret mission and will not be around for ever. His “army” duties may well require him to disappear at the drop of a hat! Can Katie keep her guardian angel?

This is a light and very readable book that will transport you this tiny part of Greece. You could search out the windmill described at the end of book perhaps, or take a trip to Asimi, join the locals for a real party, and sample the delicious bougatsa sprinkled with icing sugar washed down with a glass of tsipouro. And if you visit the island I guarantee you will be looking up at the clouds to see if you can spot your very own guardian angel. Enjoy, it’s a heart-warming and feel good read, with lots of angels and love! “There’s no such thing as magic or miracles. These things only happen when you have faith”

[Brigid Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie Pavlides is unhappy working in an Athens office with an overbearing boss Roula, when Esmera a gypsy with mystical powers, gifts Katie an amulet which sets her on a new path as a hotel receptionist on the idyllic island of Sifnos.
Aggelos, Greek for angel, travels on the ferry as Katie makes her way to her post on the Cyclades. However, she soon realises that her new boss Mrs Matina is unhappy, and takes her sadness out on both her staff and her husband Spyros.
However, the amulet begins to work its magic on Mrs Matina and Spyros, and Katie falls in love with the island, its people and Aggelos...
The Amulet is a charming story for lovers of romantic comedy, angels and the supernatural. A perfect summer holiday read.

[Nicholas Rossis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of Moschoudi's works, and am impressed by her ability to write in diverse genres, from urban fantasy to romance, and never miss the mark. The Amulet is a light-hearted romance with some serious undertones and a strong paranormal element.

Without revealing much, one of the things I love about Moschoudi's works is her endings; full of hope and salvation even in the direst of circumstances. This is true here as well, somehow managing to offer the kind of closure I'd think impossible.

Another thing that is typically Moschoudi is the Greekness of her stories. Again, this is true here as well, and the brightness of a Greek island summer fills the Amulet's pages. I can't think of a better summer read, especially if you happen to be on one of the aforementioned islands.

[Janice Spina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Cute and Angelic Love Story!

The Amulet is an enjoyable and magical read based on the lovely Greek Isles. Angels and spirits doing good abound here as they meet to train for their future jobs as guardian angels on this island paradise.

The main character, Katie, is unhappy in her job with a cantankerous boss. An amulet comes to play in her future and brings surprising changes and developments beyond her wildest dreams. Little does Katie know that her guardian angel will play an important part in her happiness.

A light-hearted romance that leaves you with a warmth and lovely feeling that all is right with the world. I look forward to more books from this creative author.

[Georgiann Hennelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Katie loses her job in Athens she meets a Gypsy Woman who gives her an Amulet for good luck. Katie gets a job at a Hotel on the Island of Sifnos. Things seem to be going well for her, she meets Aggelos a good looking young man, He is a Hotel guest .He always seems to be there when she needs help. Katie begins to fall in love with him and his unique friends. She even meets a mysterious cheerful little girl that shows up at anytime. The Gypsy shows up and Katie's life is about to change again. She soon will discover the truth about Aggelos and his friends. A fast paced story with an original plot. A sweet love story.

[Stephanie Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not my usual genre so, for me, it is a unique tale of dreams, decisions and destiny. I love books which are set in Greece and the author’s writing style truly brings to life the sights and sounds of the country, painting a perfect picture of the island of Sifnos and its traditional villages. A delightful summer read.

[Lynette Sofras · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet story that offers readers a few hours of delightful escapism. In fact you’ll very likely want to physically escape to the island of Sifnos long before you’ve finished reading. Having lived in Greece for some years myself, the enchanting atmosphere evoked by Effrosyni Moschoudi had me feeling quite homesick, and longing to return for a visit.

‘The Amulet’ is peopled with colourful, fascinating characters, every one of whom you feel could be the centre of his or her own story. Katie, the centre of this one, is such a nice, kind-hearted person that it’s hardly surprising she’s surrounded by guardian angels. However, it seems even the pure of heart have lessons to learn about themselves and for Katie, life on Sifnos becomes a surprising journey of self-discovery and personal growth. When she falls deeply in love with Aggelos, you worry for her future happiness, since there seems to be no possible happy resolution to the romance.

The writing is generally clear and simplistic, though in some places it waxes poetic, while in others it has a quaintness that I found refreshingly different. It made me want to read more from this author – and not just to immerse myself in the Greek life and culture once again.

You don’t have to believe in angels and miracles to enjoy this charming romantic fantasy. Just read it – you won’t be sorry.

[M.M. Jaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart-warming and infused with optimism and Greece

Two things make this talented author stand out from the throngs of ambitious indie writers: her deep-seated belief in the healing power of love and her palpable love for her Greek heritage. Just like all of Effrosyni Moschoudi’s books, The Amulet is infused with love, magic, beauty and Greece. But, this time, she also added a healthy dose of humor and quirk to make for an even better read. Although the characters’ road to happiness is not strewn with petal roses, quite the contrary, they are guided by powers unseen to find their inner peace and see their hardships under a different light.

And all that happens on an enchanting Greek island where all senses are equally engaged, not least the characters’ taste.

The Amulet is the story of a young, down-on-her luck girl who finds the perfect love in a too-perfect man who happens to be an angel on earth. How will the angel in his inexperienced human form remain on Earth to give Katie her happily ever after? The answer comes in a heart-rending, wonderful twist that made this book even more special to me.

Highly recommended.

[Aizlynne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story had a lot of potential. It was a very cute premise. There was just one problem and it was a plot point that I felt was unnecessary. Early in their interaction, it is explained that Aggelos died when he was a little boy but asked for his angel body to look like what it would have if he were in his late twenties. What we are left with is a child in a man's body. He even feels scared when he gets an erection as they're making out. This is the same problem I have with the movie Big. I have to liken it to an adult with a mental disability. If you have an adult that is mentally a child and another adult pursues a sexual relationship with them, it would be morally wrong. I know Aggelos does not have a disability and can grow into being an adult, but the creep factor that this plot point brought stayed with me and colored the rest of the story. What I was looking for was a light, sweet romance but what I was left with was a story that made me uneasy and, frankly, upset.

[Leonide Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

To enjoy this delightful story, readers must suspend belief and imagine angelic and earthly realms in close interaction. It's a romance between an angel in training and a youthful Greek girl who escapes a dreary life in Athens to work on the beautiful island Sifnos, sprinkled with magical gypsies, crusty inn-owners and guests with secrets, ghosts, and lots of uplifting philosophy. With humor and compassion, a nice story unfolds in which everyone finds ways to heal their past wounds and attain their heart's desires. Characters are likable though not complex, dialogue seems clumsy at times, and inner ruminations become repetitious. The "rules" of angelic interactions get confusing and inconsistent, but this is a fun read with a sweet resolution.

[Sandy Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heaven Sent

If you’re you’re looking for a light, fun beach read, here’s your book. Katie, a dissatisfied office worker in Athens, Greece, meets a mysterious Gypsy woman on her way home. With the Gypsy’s encouragement, she leaves her job in the city to work in a small hotel on a lovely Greek Island. Katie’s new home is filled with colorfully eccentric characters, odd happenings, and a mysterious heartthrob named Aggelos (Greek for angel). The story is funny and heartwarming with a few touches of sadness to keep things balanced. The sweetness and joy of Greek life shines throughout the book and will have you ready to book your next vacation by the time you finish reading. Enjoy!

[Marina Costa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writer Effrosyni Moschoudi lives in a town near Athens, but she grew up in Corfu and she brings that specific Greek athmosphere in all her books, written in a fluent English, which reveals that she studied in UK. Her stories are always delicate, hopeful, with encouraging endings and without explicit scenes, sprinkling Greek culture among the rows – be it ancient or contemporary Greek culture. This is why she is one of my favourite writers!

In her novels and short stories, she writes in different genres, the scale tipping sometimes towards romantic supernatural. "The Amulet" is no exception, since we have nice #ghosts and #angels.
The romantic story is easy to read, nice for holidays or when dreaming about sunny Greece in a totally different place and season. It starts in Athens and it continues in Sifnos Island, reflecting, in its way, the contemporary life in a beautiful country, but which passed through a thorough economic crisis, from which it recovered only partly, and it relies too much on international tourism, which cannot solve all its structural problems.

[Lorraine Anton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great

Angelic Love Story.
Katie loses her job in Athens. She meets Esmeralda a gypsy, who gives her a Amulet for luck. She starts a new job in a hotel on the hotel of Sifnos.
There she meets Aggelos, Elise, Babis, and Chloe.
The people she worked with in the hotel, Matina, Spyros, Eva and Eddie.
All the characters in the book are necessary and make the book.
This is a book about having a good Heart and believing in Angels." Guardian Angels".
# 32 BNB Challenge

[Sharon M. Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miracles do happen!

Katie loses her job, but runs into a mysterious gypsy who just turns out to be the guardian angel that every girl dreams about. Suddenly, everything is wonderful, a new job, a handsome young stranger, everything you could wish for. Then things get strange. This is a good clean story fit for all ages.

[Marilyn Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happily ever after wasn’t happening to her T all. She was kind, sweet, patient, loyal and dependable. But after years of working with her terrible boss, she was fired. When leaving the office, she met a woman who was cold, hungry and lonely. She used her gifts to make life better for her new friend. And that’s where this wonderful story began

[Sandra DiMaio-Leach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just not my type

The book is well written, just too much schmaltz for me. For this that enjoy a sweet sort of fairy tale romance, I think you will like it.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super Cute!

Super Cute book! It was an easy read! I'm sitting here in quarantine and I was able to live on a beach in Greece for a couple of days! Great descriptions!

[Linda Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

I had a hard time getting into this story for the first couple chapters after that it was hard to put it down.

[Cecilia Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Kate shows kindness towards a mysterious old woman, she is given an amulet as a thank you.
Set on Sifnos a Greek island, Moscoudi's romantic fantasy is light and charming.

[Shelley]

Author's guest post at my blog:
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2022/04...

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. Cute story.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story. I do sometimes wonder if Guardian Angels do look after us.

[Effie Kammenou · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Amulet is a lighthearted rom-com, a fun escape from the realities of every day life. With the series of mix-ups and confusions the characters had to endure, at times, it reminded me of a modern day Shakespearean comedy.
Although Moschoudi’s Lady of The Pier trilogy was more the genre I usually prefer, as I continued to read The Amulet I became more and more captivated by it. This simple and entertaining love story was so much more. It was a lesson in humanity, love and compassion. The subtitle of the book says it’s an angel magic romantic comedy. If this is a hint that there will be more to come, I will be waiting to read the next one.

[Olga Miret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good food, a magical place, and a sweet and enchanting romance I obtained a free ARC copy of the novel and I voluntarily decided to review it. I had read great reviews of Effrosyni Moschoudi’s novels but hadn’t read any yet and couldn’t resist when I had the chance to grab this novel, as I am interested in books featuring angels, and must confess that the cover caught my attention. This light romantic comedy introduces us not only to nice characters, like Katie, and all the staff and guests at Sifnos but also to quite a few supernatural beings and to Sifnos, a wonderful Greek island. Katie is a young woman who despite her studies and interest in tourism, ends up working at a pipes’ factory due to the economic crisis in Greece. She is kind and generous, but she is not happy due to her job situation. Her boss is a terrible woman (although Katie learns through the novel that we should not be too quick to judge others), and she ends up getting sacked. Her kindness is recompensed by Esmera, a gipsy woman who holds a few secrets and more than a bit of magic up her sleeve. She gives Katie an amulet, an angel pendant that changes her life. She gets a new job working in a small hotel at Sifnos, and her own personal angel, gorgeous Aggelos. This is a gentle comedy, where all the characters are memorable people we’d like to meet in real life, where there is some drama and minor crises, but never taken to extremes, and where the love story is gentle, fumbling, but never heats up to adult level. It is family-friendly, although it touches sad subjects too, but always in a sensitive way. Although readers might think they are on familiar ground (and in some ways, that is the case), there are surprises and a great twist at the end that makes the ending more joyful. The writing is fluid, easy to read, and although it shares the story from several points of view (always in the third person), it does not result confusing. The way the story is told might make us think we’re ahead of the main character, but it never reveals all its secrets and manages to make us keep reading. Without making use of heavy descriptions, the author manages to create an enchanting image of Sifnos, with its beautiful villages, beaches, tavernas and traditions. I must warn readers that it’s best not to indulge in this novel when they’re feeling hungry because the descriptions of Greek food might result in slobbering all over their Kindle. In sum, a thoroughly enjoyable light read, full of magic, that will make you want to travel to Greece and will leave you with a smile on your face, planning your next holidays (and setting off for the nearest Greek restaurant!).

[Olga Miret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I obtained a free ARC copy of the novel and I voluntarily decided to review it.
I had read great reviews of Effrosyni Moschoudi’s novels but hadn’t read any yet and couldn’t resist when I had the chance to grab this novel, as I am interested in books featuring angels, and must confess that the cover caught my attention.
This light romantic comedy introduces us not only to nice characters, like Katie, and all the staff and guests at Sifnos but also to quite a few supernatural beings and to Sifnos, a wonderful Greek island.
Katie is a young woman who despite her studies and interest in tourism, ends up working at a pipes’ factory due to the economic crisis in Greece. She is kind and generous, but she is not happy due to her job situation. Her boss is a terrible woman (although Katie learns through the novel that we should not be too quick to judge others), and she ends up getting sacked. Her kindness is recompensed by Esmera, a gipsy woman who holds a few secrets and more than a bit of magic up her sleeve. She gives Katie an amulet, an angel pendant that changes her life. She gets a new job working in a small hotel at Sifnos, and her own personal angel, gorgeous Aggelos.
This is a gentle comedy, where all the characters are memorable people we’d like to meet in real life, where there is some drama and minor crises, but never taken to extremes, and where the love story is gentle, fumbling, but never heats up to adult level. It is family-friendly, although it touches sad subjects too, but always in a sensitive way.
Although readers might think they are on familiar ground (and in some ways, that is the case), there are surprises and a great twist at the end that makes the ending more joyful.
The writing is fluid, easy to read, and although it shares the story from several points of view (always in the third person), it does not result confusing. The way the story is told might make us think we’re ahead of the main character, but it never reveals all its secrets and manages to make us keep reading.
Without making use of heavy descriptions, the author manages to create an enchanting image of Sifnos, with its beautiful villages, beaches, tavernas and traditions. I must warn readers that it’s best not to indulge in this novel when they’re feeling hungry because the descriptions of Greek food might result in slobbering all over their Kindle.
In sum, a thoroughly enjoyable light read, full of magic, that will make you want to travel to Greece and will leave you with a smile on your face, planning your next holidays (and setting off for the nearest Greek restaurant!).