Reading Romances G!veaway – Aphrodite Calling is my favorite book

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sharing my favorite book giveaway hop

Sharing My Favorite Read Giveaway Hop is being hosted by Reading Romances!

Ask any avid reader to name their favorite romance and I doubt you’ll get a simple answer! That is especially so when the avid reader is also an author trying to pick one of her own books to discuss. Quite a few book babies in my growing family and I get to pick only one?

Putting aside for a moment the feeling that I am being disloyal to my other little “babies”, I’ve picked Aphrodite Calling (Gods of Love #2) to showcase because it is special to me for a range of reasons. Released only yesterday, my latest story hopefully demonstrates a maturing of my craft as a writer. We are always honing our skills, right?

But this story is special to me for much more than being a new release. This is the first time I’ve attempted to write an erotic romance from the viewpoint of a post-surgery, male-to-female transsexual heroine, and it has proven the most challenging of anything I’ve written thus far.

I really wanted to get this one right. To make sure I didn’t end up with a stereotyped transgender character, but rather to show, through Gina’s story, how difficult it can be to fight for your very identity in a world that doesn’t accept anyone outside the so-called “norm”.

I rewrote Aphrodite Calling three times, and as I started the final rewrite I began to tweet about it. Around that time I had some heartfelt responses from people on the transgender journey themselves, and I felt some of their pain and isolation.

It made me think about all the people out there – transgendered or otherwise – who have to fight harder than others for what they believe in. I wanted to do justice to what they might be going through, and to applaud their strength, while at the same time I needed to stay within the confines of a short erotic romance novella featuring a Greek god of desire – my original premise for the story.

I don’t know if I have achieved the right balance with Aphrodite Calling, but I certainly hope so. If you read it I’d love to hear what you think. I know this story will remain special to me for these reasons, even as I move on to #3 in the series, Sex Club Secrets.

Here’s a short 18+ excerpt from Aphrodite Calling (Gods of Love #2) and yes, it is available now from All Romance ebooks, Smashwords and Amazon:

Without sight she could only imagine what he would look like, the tip of his tongue sliding along her flesh that was already swollen with need, that wayward hair flopping down over his brow, his gaze intense, probably flecked with the shade of green that for some reason reminded her of the sea, looking back up her body as he teased around and over her mound. When the graze of something hard—presumably his teeth—nipped at her clitoris through the material she yelped, then pressed upward to enhance that exquisite pressure. Hot lips met her thrust and played with her, moistening the material. Lips, tongue, and teeth worked in unison to torment her core while his fingers slipped beneath her G and went exploring along her slit.

A gasp escaped as she felt one of his digits slide into her. The first person other than her surgeon or herself ever to breach her pussy. She didn’t have the creamy moistness of a biological woman, but somehow, with Himeros, it didn’t seem to matter. She rocked back and forth against his face, adjusting to the feel of having someone inside her, even if it was only his finger.

“Yes,” she managed on a shaky exhale of breath. “That feels fucking fantastic.”

He chuckled against her clit. “So tight, Gina. I look forward to entering you properly.”

She felt the words and the laugh as a welcome vibration and it escalated her senses into overdrive. She moaned. Having her cock sucked in the past had never felt like this. The intensity of what she was feeling now was more—so much more—than she was used to. Even through her underwear.

The pressure suddenly disappeared and so too did the scrap of material covering her pussy. She couldn’t see his reaction to her full-on nakedness and a flare of panic had her reaching up to rip off her mask, but found her hands imprisoned beneath larger ones. “No. Leave it on, Gina. Go with your gut, and feel. Feel your need. Feel mine.”

She whimpered, wanting to do as he asked. “Okay,” she whispered. “I can do this.”

“Of course you can. And for the record, you are beautiful.” That last word came out husky, and she felt tears prick at her eyes at the genuine tone of his voice.

But still she hesitated. “Normal?” she asked at last.

“Yes, darling. Perfectly normal.”

What you can win here:  A lucky four leaf clover 18K gold plated bookmark, plus any one of my back list ebooks, including Platinum Passion (Gods of Love #1) – a Best Book of 2011 nominee in GLBT Fantasy Romance at TRR, Educating Ethan, Pandora’s Gift or Secrets Volume 28 Sensual Cravings.

Open to (INT, US or US/CAN):  INTERNATIONAL

How to enter: Either leave a comment on this post, or “like” my FB Author Page HERE. Or do both for two entries in the draw. :) It’s that easy! There’s also an extra entry in the draw for anyone who follows @readingromances on Twitter during this Blog Hop!

Hop for more favorite book recommendations and to enter the other giveaways HERE, or click the button at the top of this post.

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39 thoughts on “Reading Romances G!veaway – Aphrodite Calling is my favorite book”

  3. gaele

    I don’t much find myself as drawn to romance or erotic romance unless it has some underlying plot that draws interest and makes me wonder – the old boy meets girl, boy loves girl is so trite and overplayed. That is what makes the Aphrodite series, drawing in a facet of history that brings a series of dimensions to deepen the plot. Thank you

  5. Denise Z

    Thank you for participating in this fun hop and congratulations on the new release! I liked on facebook (Denise Zaky) and also follow @readingromances on Twitter (@ZDz59001).
    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

  8. Jennifer Lynne

    Thanks everyone for your comments thus far! This Hop is a good idea, isn’t it – and a fun way for all of us, whether reader or writer, to find some great new reads :)

  10. Cathy M

    Such a fun way to check out some new stories.

    Facebook as cathy macdonald
    twitter as caitymack56

    caity_mack at yahoo dot com

  13. Anne

    This is the first transgender romance I’ve read about. I’ve read a couple where a transgender character had a small secondary role.

    FB fan Anne M.

    acm05atjuno.com

  14. Jennifer Lynne

    Hi Anne – yes, that was one of the reasons I decided to make Gina a transsexual heroine – because I realized after Platinum Passion was nominated in the GLBT category at The Romance Reviews that there isn’t much “T” around in the erotic romance genre. Lots of G, L and B! So I decided to make the next one in the Gods of Love series a transsexual romance – and I hope anyone who reads and likes Aphrodite Calling will spread the word!

  15. Catherine

    I love the cover for Aphrodite Calling. Thanks for the giveaway.

    I follow Reading Romances on Twitter
    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

  18. Donna

    I loved Kresley Cole book Lothaire from her Immortals After Dark series. Wonderful story telling ability. She was able to take a character that’s “evil” and give him a story where you are rooting for him! Great series!!!

    Thanks for the contest.

    liked facebook page

    donnasing777@yahoo.com

  21. dian aesha

    thanks for the giveaway and the chance..wish i win..
    iam following :
    - Twitter : @d14n_74
    - Facebook : Annisa belikov casillas
    - Networked blog : annisa belikov casillas

    ^^

  22. Astri Nasthasia Videlia

    Thank’s for the giveaway.. Wish I could win it.. ^^

    Following You at..

    Twitter as @Videliciouze
    Facebook as Videlia Hastings
    NB as Videlia Hastings

    … ^^

  23. senita srirahayuningsih

    thanks for the giveaway..
    + FB liked as Senita Srirahayuningsih
    + Twitter followed @sadsaf_corner

    pick me to be the winner XD

    my fav paranorm series are Night Huntress (Jeaniene Frost) followed close by Guild Hunter (Nalini Singh). I’m in love at the 1st read to Bones and Raphael.. They’re awesome man.. Have u read that series..??

  24. Natalie Lee

    Liked facebook as Natalie Lee
    and twitter followed as @Novasilence

    I always am on the look out for more books to add to my never ending collection!

  25. Jennifer Lynne

    Hi Jess, Dian and Astri, thanks for the follows!

    Hi Senita, yes, I just love Bones, too! Haven’t read the Nalini Singh series yet but its on my definite TBR list.

    Hi Natalie, thanks! My TBR list is getting bigger by the day :)

  26. eli yanti

    thanks for the giveaway, love the cover book :)

    fb follower : eli yanti
    twitter follower : eli_yanti

  27. books4me

    Wow, Jennifer, what a unique story idea and one that I’m curious to read! I’ve heard of people that are born with both genitalia but never read a romance about it! How did you come up with the idea?

    FB follower: wendy dee
    Twitter follower: books4me2

    books4me67 at ymail dot com

  28. Jennifer Lynne

    Thanks Eli!

    Hi Books4me, I came up with the idea when Platinum Passion (the first in the series) was nominated for Best Book of 2011 at The Romance Reviews. It was in the GLBT Fantasy Romance category and I suddenly realized I hadn’t seen any “T” romance books in the GLBT category, just lots of G, L, and B! So I decided to rewrite Aphrodite Calling to include a transsexual heroine. It was a difficult one to write as I wanted to get it right and at the same time deliver a romance that fit into the Gods of Love erotic series. Hope I succeeded! Thanks for stopping by today :)

  29. Pam

    Thank you so much for this giveaway opportunity.

    Facebook LIKE: Pam Rosensteel
    Twitter Follow: @VanillaOrchids

  30. Melissa Stoneback-Tuttle

    Liked! Thanks for the giveaway and good luck everyone.

    FireFlyPixie24(at)yahoo(dot)com

  32. Darlene

    You’re a new-to-me author, and the idea of a transgender heroine is so unlike anything that I have ever heard of before! Thanks for the giveaway!

    darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

    +1 liked you on Facebook (Darlene’s Book Nook)
    +1 following @readingromances on Twitter (@DarleneBookNook)

  33. June M.

    Thanks so much for the giveaway. Your books look really good.
    +1 Comment
    +1 FB like: June Manning
    +1 following @readingromances: @juneannm

    manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

  34. Jennifer Lynne

    Hi Darlene, thanks for stopping by! It was very hard to find much transsexual romance out there when I looked into it, so that was one of the reasons I decided to write one.

    Hi June, thanks for stopping by, and for the follows!

  36. Kristiana S

    Hi!
    I haven’t read your books, yet, you’re new author for me.. And the idea of your story, really make me intriguing to read it.
    I hope this book will have more success for you :)

    I already follow @readingromance on twitter (@lizserenity)
    Liked you page in FB (‘Liz Freya Kris’)

    And, thank you so much for your post and for the excerpts, and of course making this giveaway open internationaly ^^

    Have a great saturday night! :)

  38. Jennifer Lynne

    Hi Gale, Kristiana and bn, thanks so much for stopping by and being part of the Hop!

    It’s already the 1st July here in Melbourne, but I suspect there’s a few hours left in the US before midnight strikes, so the Hop continues for now :)

  39. Jennifer Lynne

    Time to pick a winner! Thank you to everyone who participated in the Reading Romances “Sharing My Favorite Book Giveaway Hop”. I thoroughly enjoyed this Hop and I hope – like me – that you all found lots of new book suggestions for your TBR pile. My own reading list is now enormous :)

    The winner of my giveaway including the bookmark and one of my ebooks is… Darlene!

    Congratulations Darlene! I will be in contact soon regarding your prize.

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