Review: Appealing Heroes In Another Satisfying Installment to the Gods of Love Series
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 21, 2013
Jennifer Lynne's Gods of Love series continues with mom, the goddess Aphrodite, feeling as if she's lost that loving feeling after the death of her love long ago.  Her sons have found happiness and love in the mortal world and after much searching have found just the man to make her feel powerful again....if only he weren't so grief stricken and sworn off sex in honor of the one he lost.  Aphrodite will have to use any means necessary to help him heal and bring him back to the lovers still here.  Along the way she learns surprising things about humans, and herself, and the difference between lust and love in a super steamy story ranging from m/f, m/m, and ménage couplings.Ashur has always been the responsibility one even as a child.  People have looked up to him and tried to emulate him has he's a formidable presence.  Young firefighter Aiden in fact chose his career because of his adoration for Ashur and it's his death that drives Ashur to a low point of darkness and inner turmoil.  Ashur hates himself for his one moment of perceived irresponsibility and tortures himself by shutting himself off from happiness.  Even his fellow firefighters, and lovers, are unable to help him as they're dealing with their own grief.  Hugh has always been the calming influence but is left frustrated by constantly being turned away while Kieran has sought refuge in a bottle and willing bedmates.  Their once tight and loving group has been torn asunder.  Aphrodite uses her mythical abilities to remind Ash that happiness still exists and that in the arms of loved ones he can honor what Aiden and they all once had and can still have.  They finally accept their grief and are much stronger because of Aphrodite's embrace.Ms. Lynne nicely combines magical abilities with reality in a story where the men easily accept the special nature and abilities of Aphrodite unquestioningly.  The sexual interludes morph from sensual to intense in a fast build-up that surprisingly allows the hidden grief to come through.  The male characters were appealing but I would've loved to have a more in-depth view of them as these strong yet silent types, with scars both inside and out, are a particular favorite of mine.  Aphrodite on the other hand, with her mythical nature, was hard to relate to.  The issues she was going through paled in comparison to that of Ashur and the boys after all.  Though the ending felt rushed with only a hint of future happiness I still found this another satisfying installment in Ms. Lynne's mythological series and look forward to the next story in this unique series.