Deer in headlights is as it sounds the feeling of be caught so off guard you freeze like a deer in headlights. I started reading this book with no expectations. But as I read I was caught off guard by how good it was, refreshing and well written in my opinion such a it is. Writer Hart infuses the gods with humanity that makes them real. There are a lot of pop culture references that give DIH authenticity. I chuckled a little to hear Aphrodite use modern day language e.g “You’re not going to ruin this for me. Suck it, son!” She crotch chopped WWE style, slamming her arms across her waist in an x formation (It was moments like this that made me giggle). As she gloated to Apollo  god of the sun apparently having the upper hand at the moment in their friendly competition. A practice the gods indulged when they are bored which was all the time.

Pitting humans against each other in competition to past the time to the victor goes the spoils. The prize a token (a favor from loser ). That was an interesting concept one have seen before, but in this case it’s forming a love match. The unwitting players two damaged souls–one afraid to commit while the other has abandonment issues (which are kinda Dita’s fault). Who couldn’t understand damages goods better than someone was just as damaged, right at least that’s what Dita is counting on? That made the insta-attraction somehow more plausible even believable. The romance is corny and beautifully written. I got the impression of  sweet innocence but fragile and just like glass it could shatter easily. Their first date was spent tip toe-ing around all this potential of real love and feelings that just seemed to real. But  I kept having that “waiting for the other shoe to drop” feeling. You could tell the characters were too but  they were so busy being distracted by the pull of their attraction they were ignoring it.

Emotions aren’t running high just amongst the humans (Lex and Dean) but the gods had their own drama, a complicated mess. Deceit, a star-crossed love story, a murder and revenge. But when you have forever what does that all mean? Does time heal all wounds, and how much time is long enough a thousand or three? Will Aphrodite figure out who really murdered her love Adonis? Will Apollo be reunited with his lost love Daphne? The competition hinges on Apollo being the victor to ensure the return of his love. I love the fact that the gods have their own back story and its juicer than the humans, tee hee.

Some of the dialogue  is a little “trying to hard” I don’t know if that’s the right word. I could tell this wasn’t a young person but a  grown woman writing the dialogue, with the suck it son etc but at the same time I liked it. I know bipolar I use quotations because some people may not agree and may think I’m just knit picking. I only mention this as a critique because it bothered me it doesn’t affect the story. Its just down to individual personality. I feel like i’m reaching for things to say I don’t like that’s a good sign bookies when you have to reach. But the one thing I was kinda bummed about was Ares wasn’t found  out. Other than that I enjoyed my ride in DIH. The ending was bitter sweet the lovers were happy everyone is happy except Dita. That might be a karmic sucker punch Adonis’s reaction but she’d built up enough bad karma since her existence maybe a time out is not so bad. Can’t wait to read book 2.

I would recommend this book if you love Greek mythology  character stories, paranormal romances or reading in general. I gave Deer In Headlights a four out five. However for its occasional f-bombs, hot steamy sex scenes puts a  no kiddies band sorry strictly 18 and older need come to this tea party.

 4/5

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