Book Tour: Review for DEER IN HEADLIGHTS by Staci Hart

3 out of 5 hearts

Here's the official synopsis: 

What do the Greek gods do when they're bored? Because they're always bored, so humans are the perfect players in their games.

Aphrodite owns love; she hasn't lost a competition on her turf in over three millennia. Apollo is on a mission to win. He's counting on it to finally get the one woman he's never been able to have. The two gods will choose their human players, and if Aphrodite can't get them together before the clock runs out, Apollo will get his way. And Aphrodite couldn't have that.

Lex and Dean are perfect for each other, they just don't know it yet. Dean is a perpetual bachelor, and a brooding, beautiful rock star. Lex is always with a man, but she'll never fully give herself up. Aphrodite has her work cut out for her, but if she can't make it work, no one can.

The gods have their own drama. Apollo killed Aprhodite's mortal love - they've got beef that's been dragging on for thousands of years. Ares, the douchebag, is forever trying to pick a fight, and trying to get Aphrodite into bed. And Persephone, Aphrodite's best friend, is the one person who Aphrodite shares everything with.

Follow the gods as they fight, laugh, cry, lose love, gain power, and make a mess with humans.

My review:

For some reason or another, I was thinking this was going to be YA (maybe it was the cover), but it is Adult.

There are two stories in this book as one.  One is the story of the feud between Aphrodite and Apollo.  Eros (commonly known as Cupid) shot the water nymph Daphne, Apollo's love interest, with an arrow to make her detest Apollo, even though Apollo and Daphne were in love.  After trying to run away from Apollo, Daphne's father turned her into a laurel tree so Apollo would leave her alone.  To get his revenge, Apollo sought out Ares' (Aphrodite's former lover and father of Eros) help and Adonis, Aphrodite's love, was killed.  Thousands and thousands of years have passed, but they are still incapable of letting go of the past.  In the midst of their boredom, the gods have challenges against each other, but Aphrodite and Apollo have ulterior motives between theirs.

Aphrodite, referred to as Dita in this book, is against Apollo in a challenge of love.  Both have a human subject that they will use during this challenge:  Dita's is Lex and Apollo's is Dean.  Dita's feat is to make Dean and Lex fall in love while Apollo's is the opposite.  The second story follows Dean and Lex.  Dean is the lead singer and guitar player of a rock band that recruited Travis, Lex's boyfriend, as the drummer. Dean has a lot of baggage and has never allowed himself to have a steady relationship, choosing a very promiscuous lifestyle.  However, when he meets Lex, they have an instant attraction that feels like something other than physical.  Lex vowed herself to never fall in love and is content with her relationship with Travis, but Dean sparks something within her that is making her think otherwise.  Thanks to Aphrodite and Apollo, they have quite a number of moments between each other and the challenge is on.

For me, this would definitely fall under chic-lit.  I will give you a warning that there are a few graphic scenes that made me blush, especially because I wasn't expecting them.  Honestly, I believe the story could do without them.  There is a different way of suggesting intimacy rather that full-out explaining it.  Anywho, I am a big fan of Greek mythology so I was interested to see the way Hart used it and made it her own.  I will say that although this book contained actual references to Greek mythology (Aphrodite vs. Apollo), Hart made it her own by modernizing the setting to present day and incorporating the love battle of Dean and Lex.  There is nothing wrong with a little fantasy.

About the Author:

Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life -- a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can't forget that. She's also been a mom; she has three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She's been a wife; even though she's certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She's also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she's been drinking whiskey. Her favorite word starts with f, ends with k, and there a uc in there. Just saying. From roots in Houston, to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's sleeping, cleaning, or designing graphics. But let's be honest, she's mostly writing.

-Mariela

Deer in Headlights by Staci Hart

Paperback, 164 pages
Published February 13th 2013 by Promise Socks Publishing (first published February 12th 2012)
ISBN 9781482539
edition languageEnglish