Deer in Headlights (Good Gods #1) by Staci Hart
Publication Date: February 14th 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Pages: 326
Format: Kindle
Source: Author
Read: August 21 to 25, 2014
~Summary~
**18+**
Aphrodite never loses, not when it comes to love.
Immortality has its perks and its downsides. Boredom, for one, is unavoidable, but instead of playing Backgammon, the Greek gods devised a game using humans as pawns. Remember Shakespeare? That was Apollo. Bonnie and Clyde? Aphrodite versus Ares.
Aphrodite is on deck, and she’ll defend her domain of love by using her magic to get the two human players together. Time is not on her side, and she’ll have her work cut out for her as her opponent does everything in his power to keep the players apart.
Game one is against Apollo, who chooses the loner Dean, a rock star who takes dark and brooding to the next level. His band has finally gotten a break, and he can’t screw it up, not for another one night stand, and especially not with his new drummer’s girlfriend. He swore to the band that he’d keep it together, but from the minute he first sees Lex, it takes every bit of willpower he has to stay away. But Dean’s will is nothing for the Goddess of Love, who’s certain she has a fighting chance to win with Lex as her player. The artist and poet is perfect for Dean, if only she can open her heart and find a way to love for the first time.
There’s always more at stake than winning the game when you’ve lived for thousands of years. The Olympians are the original dysfunctional family, surviving eons of love and lust, betrayal and lies, as friends and enemies, through feuds and wars. From the douchebag Ares, who’s forever trying get Aphrodite into bed, to her best friend Persephone, who she can always count on for a hearty helping of bacon on a bad day, the gods will take you on a lighthearted trip as they toy with humans, laugh and fight, lose love and gain power
Aphrodite never loses, not when it comes to love.
Immortality has its perks and its downsides. Boredom, for one, is unavoidable, but instead of playing Backgammon, the Greek gods devised a game using humans as pawns. Remember Shakespeare? That was Apollo. Bonnie and Clyde? Aphrodite versus Ares.
Aphrodite is on deck, and she’ll defend her domain of love by using her magic to get the two human players together. Time is not on her side, and she’ll have her work cut out for her as her opponent does everything in his power to keep the players apart.
Game one is against Apollo, who chooses the loner Dean, a rock star who takes dark and brooding to the next level. His band has finally gotten a break, and he can’t screw it up, not for another one night stand, and especially not with his new drummer’s girlfriend. He swore to the band that he’d keep it together, but from the minute he first sees Lex, it takes every bit of willpower he has to stay away. But Dean’s will is nothing for the Goddess of Love, who’s certain she has a fighting chance to win with Lex as her player. The artist and poet is perfect for Dean, if only she can open her heart and find a way to love for the first time.
There’s always more at stake than winning the game when you’ve lived for thousands of years. The Olympians are the original dysfunctional family, surviving eons of love and lust, betrayal and lies, as friends and enemies, through feuds and wars. From the douchebag Ares, who’s forever trying get Aphrodite into bed, to her best friend Persephone, who she can always count on for a hearty helping of bacon on a bad day, the gods will take you on a lighthearted trip as they toy with humans, laugh and fight, lose love and gain power
~My Thoughts~
I read the first edition earlier this year and it was only 100 something pages, compared to this being 326. I liked it but something was missing, details and depth. Mrs. Hart contacted me after I posted my torn review and gave me a copy of the latest edition (including the sequel, Snake in the Grass). I was excited to see the changes because I believe she really had something here.
I would have started reading this when she gave me a copy back in March, but with going to school full time, I was just too tired to. I'm glad I just got to it, because if I got to it then then I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much and wouldn't have devoured it like I did this week. I was so consumed by it, I was turning page after page! I loved seeing scenes from the first edition and then seeing them being extended. Truly beautiful!
In the first edition, I didn't believe Aphrodite truly loved Adonis but in this one, I saw it and felt that she did. Even though she has her share of a couple lovers (what do you expect, she's the goddess of Love) but her heart only beat for one. I was glad to see this and when she had a realization about him, I felt her hurt. With the details and depth I was able to feel and connect to the multiple characters, a whole lot better than the first edition. I applaud you Mrs. Hart!
Lex and Dean are both broken and the lucky ones to be chosen to be apart of the Gods games. Lex is in an relationship but one she knows it isn't going to go anywhere, she's one that likes to run. She's been running her whole life that when something unexpected comes her way she doesn't know if she wants to bolt or not. A part of her actually wants to take a chance and this scares her.
Dean has had his fair share of women, a total man whore and it's because of his past. His never had a true relationship before but something inside him wants to finally try with Lex. He's used to women throwing themselves at him, you get to see this in the beginning, but Lex is different. Instead she pushes back and is sarcastic towards him, showing him that not all girls want him (even though she's hiding how much she's attracted to him). But Lex knows she can't act on it because she's in a relationship, even if it is doom. Total respect to her and this attracts Dean to her even more.
I was happy with how Lex and Dean's relationship bloomed! In the first edition, it felt like it just happened. But here, it's slow and steady. And along the way we got to go deeper into Dean's past and I was so excited to see it, more than we got in the first one. And when something got in between them, I truly felt the hurt. After all they learned about each other, and still wanted to be with each other, it killed me when Apollo made that move. Lex finally wanted to stay and not run, but something superstitious came along and spooked her.
Apollo is one determined player. Aphrodite is a undefeated champion when it comes to the game of love but Apollo believes it'll be different this time because he's seen the future of his love being back in his arms again. That was such a devastating scene of him losing his love, Daphne. And with the hope of her coming home he fights the hardest he's ever fought and you can't help but hope a little that he might win, even though you're rooting for Lex and Dean to get together.
Overall this was such a beautiful tale and one series I can't wait to get back to! I knew Mrs. Hart had a story here and I'm so glad she went back and added to it! Gave it a whole new life and I'm truly grateful Mrs. Hart sent me a copy of the latest edition! I'm sad to have to say good-bye to Lex and Dean but their story has ended, in such a romantic way ever too, and I'm excited to dive into the next competition of Love.
Sweet Readings Everybody!
No comments:
Post a Comment