Dogs and Goddesses [Mass Market Paperback]

Jennifer Crusie (Author), Anne Stuart (Author), Lucy March (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 3, 2009

Abby has just arrived in Summerville, Ohio, with her placid Newfoundland, Bowser. She’s reluctantly inherited her grandmother’s coffee shop, but it’s not long before she’s brewing up trouble in the form of magical baked goods and steaming up her life with an exasperating college professor.

And then there’s Daisy, a web code writer, and her hyperactive Jack Russell, Bailey. Her tightly-wound world spins out of control when she discovers the chaos within and meets a mysterious dog trainer whose teaching style is definitely hands-on.

Finally there’s Shar, professor of ancient history at Summerville College, who wakes up one morning to find her neurotic dachshund, Wolfie, snarling at an implacable god sitting at her kitchen table, the first thing in her life she hasn’t been able to footnote.

What on earth is going on in this unearthly little town? It’s up to Abby, Daisy, and Shar to find out before an ancient goddess takes over Southern Ohio, and they all end up in the apocalyptic doghouse…

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Don't be put off by the talking dogs; clever (human) dialogue and sassy heroines make this joint novel an amusing standout. After meeting at a local dog obedience-training session, coffeehouse owner Abby, Web writer Daisy and history professor Shar become fast friends. They also discover that the dog trainer is the Mesopotamian goddess Kammani, determined to rule the world like she did 4,000 years ago. Chosen as Kammani's priestesses, Abby, Daisy and Shar aren't quite ready to support the goddess's destructive goals, even when she grants them magical powers including the ability to understand their dogs. Established authors Crusie (Charlie All Night), Stuart (Fire and Ice) and Rich (Wish You Were Here) turn this quirky charmer into an enjoyable paranormal romp that's definitely not just for dog lovers. (Feb.)
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From Booklist

*Starred Review* Abby Richmond had come to Summerville, Ohio, to sell the bakery she just inherited from her grandmother, but when she decides to attend the Kammani Gula dog-obedience class being held at the local college, she meets Web designer Daisy Harris and Professor Shar Summer. After drinking some of Kammani’s special “tonic,” Abby, Daisy, and Shar not only hear their dogs talking but each woman finds she has been given a unique power. Once the three discover they are pawns in a plot concocted by a 4,000-year-old, very cranky Mesopotamian goddess who plans on ruling the world, Abby, Daisy, and Shar (along with the new men in their lives) team up to stop her. Equal measures of sexy romance, captivating characters, and clever writing give Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, and Lani Diane Rich’s collaborative effort its splendidly original flavor. With its uniquely talented trio of authors, uniquely resourceful trio of heroines, rich cast of quirky secondary characters (including one of the best villainesses ever written), and wickedly witty writing, Dogs and Goddesses is absolutely sublime. --John Charles

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; 1 Original edition (February 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312944373
• ISBN-13: 978-0312944377
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (84 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #306,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 37 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars I should have known better.... February 10, 2009

By Flush Barrett-Browning

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Jennifer Crusie is one of the best contemporary light fiction authors publishing. But 'Dogs and Goddesses' doesn't read like a Crusie book at all. She is famous for her attention grabbing opening sentences, the sexy tension between the major characters, and her laugh aloud lines. I didn't find any of that here. I strongly suggest that potential readers glance at the first page or two of this book; it pretty well predicts what is to come. Some people seem to enjoy it; I didn't. I found it difficult, even after I'd read half the book, to tell the three major characters apart. There were a few funny lines, but nothing like what I'd come to expect from Crusie. I've also enjoyed Anne Stuart's books in the past, and I can't find many if any traces of her strong characterizations and interesting plots here either. I should have known to read the reviews at Amazon before I bought.

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Gave up after chapter 10 February 10, 2009

By Elly Sparks VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was such a fan of Agnes and the Hitman (Jennifer Crusie) that I couldn't wait to read something new by author Crusie. D&G started off clunky. Dogs began to talk after 3 women drank a magic tonic. The women's responses to the talking dogs were cliche. In fact, most of the book is a cliche. These authors, Rich, Crusie, and Stuart, have written several books on their own, yet together, the story felt as if was crafted by three highschool girls in their first creative writing class.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes during the cliche sex scenes. I finally gave up after chapter 10 (I usually give up after the 3rd/4th chapter if I don't synch with a book). I really wanted to like this book. I kept hoping it would get better-but it went from clunky, to better, to bad, to outright silly.
That's just me, though.
I will be looking forward to Crusie's new book w/ Mayer. Not giving up just yet.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed Expections February 28, 2009

By UniqueAngl

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I love Jennifer Crusie. I like reading about super-natural phenomena and I'm a complete animal lover, so "Dogs & Goddesses" sounded like a great read to me. Unfortunately, I found it to be a total flop. The plot is barely existent, the characters are shallow. I was completely and utterly disappointed.