Aug 1, 2012

VBT Review: Aphrodite Calling

Aphrodite Calling by Jennifer Lynne
Pages: 53 
Genre: Erotica, GLBT
Reading Level: 18+
Source: Received from Goddess Fish as part of a blog tour in exchange for my honest review 
Reviewer: Viari Rose
Blurb: A woman with a secret past

Gina Deveraux is forced to confront her painful past when she attends a high school reunion. Born with male genitalia, she spent her childhood and teen years living as a boy, and has only now returned in an effort to put the past behind her so she can begin to live life without the continuing fear of loneliness and rejection.

A god of sexual desire on the edge of burnout: Himeros is one of the erotes, an aspect of Eros, and as such it is his duty to answer the call of sexual desire whenever a human needs him. But he has been living among mortals too long and his interest has waned. When he decides to accept one last call he finds a woman who is unique. A woman who encapsulates the whole human experience in her body, and her soul. Has he finally found the one with whom even a god of desire could find fulfillment?

After all, forever is such a long time to be alone.


Aphrodite Calling is the second in a series of stand alone novellas called Gods of Love.

Aphrodite Calling starts with Himeros, a god of desire, having been called, the one calling out in need is Gina Deveraux. Born as a male, eight years ago she went through reassignment surgery to finally physically become a woman, to match what she knew she was inside. For eight long years she has been afraid of the reject from males, so she has not put herself out there. To say that she is lonely would be a huge understatement. 

Himeros steals her away from her class reunion and takes her upstairs to his room, and the sparks fly. The desire that flows between them thickening with each moment that passes. The build up is slow and perfect. It was easy to see Gina in my mind as I read. 

It is a short novella, and easily read in one sitting. 

I have only recently started to delve into GLBT stories, I honestly wish I had found this one first. It is just simply awe-inspiring. The story line, the characters, their development through the novella. Everything was perfect. 

Jennifer Lynne is one author that I will be keeping on eye on. 

5 stars out of 5



When had he moved closer? Why was he now standing directly in front of her, his arms raised to press a hand against the elevator wall each side of her head? Had he answered her question? She couldn't remember. Aphrodite…

"We will wake you up, together."

Her breath caught. He was now leaning forward, almost touching her, his face so close to hers she could see the flecks of green in the blue of his irises. So close that if she raised her hand, she'd be able to brush the delicate end of his long eyelashes, or trace the angled shadows cast by those gorgeous cheekbones.

"We're here." His words whispered in a puff of warmth across her lips and she parted them involuntarily.

"Are we?" How she was managing to keep talking was beyond her. She wanted to close the few centimeters of distance between them and explore that mouth again, to feel the firmness of his body up against hers, to enjoy the heat of a hard cock that wasn't her own pressing against the soft curve of her stomach.

"You have a choice, now, Gina," he said. "Join me here, tonight, and I promise you will not regret your decision. But if you don't want that, tell me now, before we step over the threshold..."

"Himeros," she whispered, not sure what she was asking, and at the same time knowing what she needed to say. "I want to, so much, but there are things about me you don't know."

"I know everything, Gina. I told you, I heard your call and I am here to answer it, if you wish."

She shook her head. "I'm afraid." She closed her eyes to avoid seeing the revulsion and started when she felt the touch of his fingertips on her cheek. A touch that sent shockwaves right through her body—unfamiliar shockwaves in places that had been numb for too long. She'd been wrong. She wasn't strong enough to handle everything. She wasn't strong enough to handle this.

"Himeros." She took a deep breath and pressed back as far as she could against the wall. "I'm not, well, I wasn't…" Just say the damn words. Get it over with. "I wasn't always like I am now. I used to be—"

"You were born with male genitalia, and you lived as a man for the first twenty-four years of your life. You were Gerry, and now you are Gina. I know, gorgeous woman. I told you, I already know. Open your eyes and see how much I want you right now."


Jennifer will award a $10 Amazon Gift Card and a gold-plated metal bookmark to a randomly drawn commenter. For extra chances to win follow the tour here and comment on all the stops. 


Jennifer Lynne writes sensual and erotic romance from her home in Melbourne, Australia. She is the author of paranormal erotic romance Pandora's Gift, contemporary romance Seducing Serena in Secrets Volume 28 Sensual Cravings, both published by Red Sage, and Educating Ethan from Breathless Press. The first novella in her Gods of Love series, Platinum Passion, (released December 2011) was a Best Book of 2011 nominee in GLBT Fantasy Romance at The Romance Reviews.

Jen loves her family, good coffee, red wine, and sitting by a cozy log fire watching the misty rain outside turn everything fresh and green. She hopes her tales of love and lust continue to excite readers, and her dream is to one day be able to write full-time.

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11 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for having me to visit, today! I've actually been ill with flu the past week and your lovely review made me feel so much better :) Really glad you enjoyed it - Gina is one of my favorite characters.

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  2. This sounds interesting. I've never read a trans-gender book before.

    riverinaromantic AT aol DOT com

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  3. Hi Megan
    Thank you for stopping by! This was my first time either reading or writing a transsexual romance, so it was a big learning curve. I've had positive feedback so far from those living with transgender issues, so that has been great.

    Hi Norah
    Thanks for your comment, and for stopping in to say hi!

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  4. It sounds like a great story...I love the gender fluidity and mythology combination.

    vitajex(at)aol(Dot)com

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  5. Wow, this sounds amazing! I've never heard of a romance quite like it. Original is always a bonus in my book :-) Great review!

    justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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  6. Thanks for commenting, "Vitajex"! Greek mythology was actually much more open minded than we are today when it comes to gender and sexuality, so it seemed like a good match :)

    Hi Chelsea
    Thanks for stopping by! I've had one person with a transgender child say it is almost impossible to find good transsexual romances, and she was thrilled to have found this one. I hope it also has a wider appeal - for anyone who has ever felt outside the "mainstream". I think that's possibly most of us at one point or another, isn't it?

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  7. Nice review and excerpt.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  8. Hi bn, lovely to see you here! Thanks for commenting today :)

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  9. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who participated in this week's review tour for Aphrodite Calling - the organiser, Goddess Fish, all of my lovely hosts, and of course, everyone who commented. I’ve had a wonderful time meeting and chatting with fellow book lovers. I hope we can keep in touch via Twitter, Facebook or at my own blog.

    The giveaway draw is now closed and I’ll be announcing the WINNERS on my blog in a couple of hours’ time: http://jenniferlynne.com.au/blog/

    You can also find me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/JenniLynnAuthor or FB at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Lynne-Romance-Author/297504180262670

    Once again, thank you everyone!

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