Review: A Superb Sequel. Dark, Twisted, and So Sexy.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 30, 2013
I love this series. Absolutely love it. The mythology. The creativity. The humor. The fashion. The opulence. The romance. The steamy sex. Even the darkness. SNAKE in the GRASS is Ares' story. It is a tale of human nature at its worst and passion at its most powerful. And it's HOT!It's Ares' turn to play with, ahem... I mean against our sweet, irresistible, and unbeatable Aphrodite. Is he up for the challenge? Can Dita continue to resist the pull to be near him, or will she give in to her own desires?Can either of them stay focused on the game? And what of our players, Kat and Dillon? Holy moly.Make sure you're buckled in, SitG is one intense, twisted, volatile, sexy ride. Unlike our sweet, artistic Lexi and rocker heartthrob Dean's love affair in Deer in the Headlights, this one is a real hot mess. Dita's got her work cut out for her when Ares uses all his dirty little tricks to win the competition and her love. Of course she won't go down without a fight- and maybe a little... ah yeah, anyway...Like Deer in the Headlights, this tale is wildly fun and sexy. But it is most definitely a darker telling. After all Ares is the god of war. He enjoys mayhem, a good fight, and thinks nothing of his manipulations. It's all simply a means to an end. It certainly makes for a complicated and exciting game. But what I found most interesting about this installment was how closely the four resembled each other. Now it's hard for me to explain that statement without giving too much away, but let me continue by saying each of them are not afraid of risk or danger- unless we're talking about their hearts. They've sacrificed much. And punish themselves needlessly. Well, not necessarily our gods. There you'll find plenty of guilt, blame and suspicion. Suffice to say, Kat and Dillon have chosen to live dark, painful, and unfulfilling lives. They want and need nothing more than to find true love but they're far too afraid to reach for it. With their combined track records it seems near impossible to achieve.Never fear though, Dita is the goddess of love for goodness sakes. She's yet to lose, and she's got a few tricks of her own.Her first and likely most effective play? Enter Kiki and Owen. Kat's sister and Dillon's brother. Mix a little romance of their own and some sibling intervention and you've got...well you've got manipulation on another level- and at it's best. Both Kat and Dillon are fiercely protective of their younger sibs and will do anything to ensure their safety and happiness, so of course their paths must cross. Perfect setup right?Perfect on paper, but Kat and Dillon's first meeting doesn't go so well. Or the second. Or... you get the idea. These two hotheads have an obvious attraction but they can't take down their walls long enough to have a simple conversation. Tempers flair, insults fly, apologies go awry. It looks like they may never come together. It's frustrating for all involved.This is all just one layer of Staci's second masterpiece. The back stories for these characters add so much. Learning where they come from, what they've been through, who they really are brings a level of empathy, understanding, and hope.We see the results of abuse and family expectations. That you can't run away from your past. That every action has a consequence. That putting up walls doesn't protect anyone. I'm not sure it was Staci's intention here, but she teaches you life lessons amidst all the muck.Beyond that... the characters are as vibrant and likeable as ever. Each set of siblings are amazing together. So much love and respect- even though they harbor secrets. Kiki and Owen are delightful and freaking adorable. Kat and Dillon- strong, determined, and so completely right for each other you want to jump in and smack their heads together, and say, OPEN YOUR FREAKING EYES and get over it all!!!So who wins? Does love prevail? Do Dita and Ares find common ground and rekindle their affair? Can anyone truly leave the past behind? There are several twists,jaw dropping surprises, and harsh revelations to keep you guessing and glued to the page. And with TWO swoon-worthy hotties- who couldn't be more opposite, you can't go wrong. If you're not drooling over both (seriously!) you'll most definitely be panting for one of these beautiful boys.My conclusion? Like I really need to add more???? Fine, I'll indulge you... Snake in the Grass is another brilliant, touching, thought provoking, frenzied thrill ride. I. Ate. It. Up. So, if you like your romance original, SMEXY, twisted, torn, AND mixed with Greek mythology, I'm pretty sure you will too. This series is off the charts kick ass fun. And, YES (!!!), I'm already stalking Staci for the next book.