Since childhood, Daphne has loved spending summers on the Greek island of Erikousa with her grandmother. Gentle and wise, Yia-yia has always nourished Daphne's body and soul with her simple, hearty food and her retellings of the ancient Greek myths. When Daphne, now a young widow struggling to raise a daughter alone and run a successful Greek restaurant in New York, returns to Erikousa, she expects to revel in the same simple pleasures the island has always offered her. But as Daphne prepares to marry again, Yia-yia and the island have a few new secrets to tell--secrets that will force Daphne to rethink the path her life has taken.
Yvette Manessis Corporon's debut novel, When the Cypress Whispers, deftly evokes the delectable sights, sounds and smells of the Greek heritage she shares with her characters. While the romantic plotline feels predictable, even routine, the supporting cast (including the literal, loud Greek chorus of Daphne's friends and family) is fresh and entertaining. Yia-yia's renditions of several Greek myths, all involving women faced with life-altering choices, are both charming and germane to the story. But the heart of the novel lies in Yia-yia's own experience of love, loyalty and sacrifice during the dark days of World War II.
Sun-drenched, evocative and a wee bit magical, When the Cypress Whispers is both a perfect beach read and a compelling portrait of a family of strong women. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams