Series: Time of Your Life | Publication Date: April 2001
Back Cover Copy:
She could see right through him ... Zoe Smith was far from normal. Crazy as it sounded, on her twenty-fifth birthday she had the chance to become a superhero. But x-ray vision and the ability to fly were only two things to consider. There were other factors, too…. There was her newfound heightened sensitivity. She could hardly eat a chocolate bar without writhing in ecstasy; how was she to give herself the birthday gift she'd really set her heart on -- George Taylor?
The handsome P.I.'s dark exterior hid a truly sweet center, and Zoe felt certain that his mere touch would send her spiraling into oblivion. But the man was looking for an average Jane -- no matter what he claimed. He could never love a superhero-to-be, especially one with an overprotective stallion of a brother and a creepy cousin who seemed to be lurking in all the wrong places. Could he? Zoe had to know. With her super powers, Zoe could only see through his clothing -- to strip bare the workings of his heart, she'd have to rely on something a little more potent.
"Julie Kenner just might well be the most enchanting author in today's market." -- The Romance Reader's Connection
"What fun! The characters were well-developed, sympathetic and lovable, while the supporting cast was fabulous. ... [A] wonderful read..." (5 Stars) -- ScribesWorld, scribesworld.com
"With her characteristic flair, Kenner will have the reader laughing till tears come at the marvelous antics and sparkling dialogue." -- Wordweaving
APHRODITE'S KISS is an exceptional book! ... Julie Kenner's imagination is to be applauded. -- Road to Romance
From the Author
I hope you enjoy! I had such fun with these characters (if you enjoyed The Cat's Fancy, you'll be happy to know Deena and Hoop make an appearance in Aphrodite's Kiss), and I'm thrilled that I will be revisiting their world in 2002 with an anthology installment and a sequel featuring Zoe's brother! For more info, visit my website. . . And happy reading! Julie
Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 392 pages
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing Company (April 2001)
When Julie was knee-high to a grasshopper (an expression that she would like it known she has never, ever used in real life) she informed her parents that she was going to be a novelist, and proceeded to write Kitty Claws, a bestselling book about a cat as Santa. (The book sold out its entire print-run of one, so lets not split hairs about that "best-selling" thing, okay?)
After that stellar start, Julie continued to dabble in the literary arts, writing short stories on yellow pads that she forced her mother to type, scribbling poems on ruled notebook paper that she forced her mother to type, making up skits and songs that she forced her mother to watch and listen to, and diving head-first into high school journalism, at which point, mom finally got a break.
In college, she continued with the journalism thing, picking that as her major and working at The Daily Texan, the student newspaper for the University of Texas. The idea that she could actually write novels and, oh, buy food too, completely eluded her.
The journalism thing cranked along nicely for about one semester. Then Julie got a job as a production assistant on a movie originally called Splatter, but which was released as Future Kill (and can still be found in Blockbuster and through Netflix), with really great Giger poster art. Julie worked her tail off, appeared as an extra, had a great time, and promptly switched her major to film.
Graduating at the ripe old age of 19, Julie chickened out and didn't move to Los Angeles to become the next Steven Spielberg. Instead, she stayed in Austin and worked as a media assistant until she decided that perhaps law school was the better way to go because, hey, a degree in film slides so seamlessly into law. (Or, more likely, grad school was inevitable and the LSAT seemed doable.) Not one to waste time, Julie took the LSAT in December, and was admitted to Baylor Law School on a full scholarship the following February. Law school and Julie got along great, and after graduation, Julie went to work as a law clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, where she had a fabulous time drafting legal opinions, preparing the judge for court, and taking regular trips to New Orleans on a government per diem. During her two year stint as a clerk, the writing bug bit again, and Julie wrote a stage play that will never, ever see the light of day. Really. So don't even ask.
After her clerkship, Julie decided she could handle moving to the Big City, and she took a job with Skadden, Arps in L.A., where she worked on a variety of cases with some very smart lawyers. After a year, she moved on to smaller and smaller firms (and had a short stint as a production exec at a small film company, thus justifying all those credit hours in college). She continued to work with very smart lawyers, one of whom introduced Julie to Julie Garwood (her books, not the woman herself), and the writing bug bit again.
Though Julie had been dabbling with writing in her limited spare time, she'd lacked focus. Now, she'd found it, and she was determined to write an historical romance. You may, after reviewing Julie's book list, note that there are no historical romances on there. Let's just say that she didn't succeed at that task. Julie did, however, discover that while she has a head for contemporary nuances, the ins-and-outs of historical detail are enough to make her head explode.
The in-progress historical was promptly shelved, and Julie turned her attention to fleshing out a contemporary romance, having decided that category romance was the way to go, since with the demands of a legal job, she'd be much more likely to finish 240 manuscript pages than 400.
Finish them she did, and though she got nice feedback on the voice, the novel didn't sell. One editor, Harlequin's Brenda Chin, returned a rejection letter with a note that the hook wasn't enough of a "sexy premise."
Always up for a challenge, Julie came up with the opening line, "You need a man," which she thought had oodles of sexy premise potential. She just had to find a story to go with the line. Eventually, she did, and Nobody Does It Better, Julie's first published novel, was born. She entered the first few chapters in contests, finaled, and was ultimately judged by that same Brenda Chin, who ended up buying the manuscript. (Which is not the reason Julie thinks Brenda is a really cool person. Truly.)
By that time, Julie had realized that 400 pages were manageable after all, and she'd almost completed a paranormal romance along the lines of The Little Mermaid about a cat who is in love with her master. The Cat's Fancy sold just a few months after the original sale. Both books came out in 2000, along with a second Temptation, and Julie has had at least 3 books hit the shelves annually every since, and now has well over twenty books to her credit, crossing over a multitude of genres, most of which are represented in some way by the clever pictures in the collage at the top of this page.
Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a "flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations," Julie's books have hit lists as varied as USA Today, Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and Locus Magazine, all of which has made Julie a happy camper. Julie is also a two-time RITA finalist, both times for books about strong women (a superhero and a demon-hunter). There's probably some deep meaning there, and if you know what it is, feel free to drop Julie a line.
Julie was also the winner of Romantic Times' Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Contemporary Paranormal of 2001, the winner of the Reviewers International Organization's award for best romantic suspense of 2004 and best paranormal of 2005, and the winner of the National Readers' Choice Award for best mainstream book of 2005. Not that she's keeping track or anything.
Julie writes a range of stories including quirky romances, sexy contemporaries, young adult novels, suspense, paranormal mommy lit, and (soon!) darker urban fantasy.
Her initial foray into the urban fantasy mommy lit genre--Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom--proved especially successful, resulting in a Booksense pick, a Target break-out book, other accolades and honors, and a movie deal. Specifically, Carpe Demon, is in development as a feature film with Warner Brothers and 1492 Pictures. Julie frequently pounds on her battered wooden desk (Salvation Army, $25, gotta love it) in order to urge the project from development to screen. (In Hollywood, these things are never certain until you're watching the movie and eating popcorn.)
Julie and her husband moved from Southern California back to Texas in 1995, and Julie quit the practice of law to write full time in 2004. Now, she lives and writes in central Texas with her husband, two daughters, and several cats. She is an active supporter of Love Without Boundaries. Click here to learn more about the charities Julie supports.
This review is from: Aphrodite's Kiss (Time of Your Life) (Mass Market Paperback)
A heroine whose senses are so ultra-sensitive, she's almost orgasmic just eating a chocolate bar........she's also got x-ray vision and can see thru things, including men's pants! A heroine who has a very important decision to make before her 25th birthday.....you see, Zoe Smith is a halfling.......her mother is a mortal, her dad a Protector (from Greek and Roman mythology) and that makes Zoe a "goddess"....If she decides to become a complete mortal, she'll lose all memory and association with her dad and half-brother, Hale..... If she decides to become a Protector (rescuing mortals from various perils, such as fires, car crashes and the likes) she must pass various tests without any advanced notice...AND she must tell her mortal mom, who, years ago, left her husband when she found out he was a Protector! As if Zoe didn't have enough problems, enter George Bailey Taylor, ex-cop, now turned PI...........as soon as Zoe saw him, her insides were turned all around.....she knew she wanted him, but how could she possibly make love to a man, especially a mortal, when she practically burns at the slightest touch! Imagine the heat emanating when making love! Besides having to make these difficult decisions, Zoe had another job...........unbeknownst to her, the fate of the entire human population was in her hands! Could she save the world?? Could she get her man?? Could she learn how to levitate objects properly?? This book had everything...zaniness, romance, tenderness, unique plot, laughter on every page, best group of characters (including Deena and Hoop from The Cat's Fancy) who could play off each other, thrills,plenty of action, and villains!! ........It reminds me of the great screwball comedies of the 30's....only better (and funnier!) It's the work of a genius (or, at least, of an author who must have been a great stand-up comedienne in another life) This author hasn't disappointed me yet....for some reason, even though she writes romantic comedies, her characters not only keep me having to cross my legs from laughing so hard, but they also warm the cockles of my heart......I find them unforgettable, likeable and certainly not the run-of-the-mill type of heroes/heroines!! I do believe that the author, herself, is not an ordinary author...she, too, is exceptional! Julie Kenner is one extremely talented woman, whose books I just can't get enough of....I truly and highly recommend this book to one and all! If we had a 10-star rating, I'd want to give it at least a 15!!
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This review is from: Aphrodite's Kiss (Time of Your Life) (Mass Market Paperback)
Fans of THE CAT'S FANCY will love the return of Julie Kenner's zany characters in her latest release, APHRODITE'S KISS. Irrepressible as ever, Ms Kenner has outdone herself in this outrageous, sexy, savvy love story of superhero proportions.
Controlling superhero powers is like living an episode of The Twilight Zone for Zoë Smith. The taste of chocolate bring about uncontrollable responses. X-ray vision can be controlled by glasses, but other senses register with fearsome clarity. Yet Zoë has yet to levitate or steer a propulsion cloak with any degree of control. Considered a halfing, because she's half mortal and half Protector, Zoë has to pass her twenty-fifth birthday tests to become a member of the Counsel. In her case, the test includes saving the world.
George Bailey Taylor isn't the typical hero. His endearing qualities make George remarkably human, such as when he meets assistant librarian Zoë, and he finds himself turning into a "tongue-tied idiot." Undeniably sexy, George also has money trouble, seeking lost change in his car to buy a soda and hotdog for supper. So when a man promises $10,000 for the recovery a family heirloom, with a worthwhile deposit, George leaps at the opportunity. Little does he realize how his quest for the family heirloom will dovetail with his new romantic interest.
With her characteristic flair, Kenner will have the reader laughing till tears come at the marvelous antics and sparkling dialogue. Richly created characters, an outrageous plot, and a loveable ferret make APHRODITE'S KISS is a keeper. Do I see another promise of a story line from Zoë's overly protective brother? Very highly recommended.
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This review is from: Aphrodite's Kiss (Time of Your Life) (Mass Market Paperback)
George Bailey Taylor, " was having a rotten day. The police department wanted to put him behind a desk just because he had a bullet in his leg; his private investigator job was going nowhere, and his love life sucked.. His foster sister, Lane, kept trying to play matchmaker with all her weirdo friends, but when he finally met "The One," he managed to anger her with his questions about her co-worker The first time Zoe Smith saw Taylor her highly tuned senses went into overdrive. He was gorgeous, exuded masculinity and had that protective air about him that made her feel all safe and loved when around him. He also made her want to look over her glasses and see what he looked like under his clothes. But until she had her super powers under control, the Council would not let her use them. She was a halfling, descendent of the goddess Aphrodite, and a mortal. This rollicking tale of supernatural powers, saving the world and falling in love all at the same time is nothing short of hilarious. And when the two of them finally start concentrating on each other, the fireworks literally explode! A wonderful tale of true love conquering all, in both worlds!
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First Sentence:
Zoë Smith stared at the chocolate bar, wondering if it was going to attack. Read the first pageKey Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Julie Kenner, Aphrodite's Kiss, Los Angeles, Francis Capra, Zoë Smith, Buster Taylor, George Bailey Taylor, Emily Parker, Zoe Smith, Harold Parker, Tripoli Tower, Hopping Hades, Affidavit of Mortal Disclosure, Miss Smith, Griffith Observatory
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