Review: Dogs and Goddesses by Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart and Lucy March

Synopsis: 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… (from the back of the book)

Review: I picked this up on a whim at a local used book store and I am SO glad I did! The story was intriguing and well-written, the characters were distinct - not something easy to do when you have this many main ones - and the world-building was believable - even if it was about a real life goddess! And the dogs - oh, I laughed out loud several times at the dogs! I highly recommend this if you enjoy a good light funny read!

Prude Note: There are several sex scenes, and one rather odd scene with paint. You can skip if you want, but they are integral to the story - unusual for a romance novel, by my standards. However, just knowing that happen is enough and skipping is fine if you want.

Bookmarks: 7 of 10

Awards: None

Date Finished: 5-17-2012
Pages: 388

Review: A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-1832 by Joan W. Blos

Synopsis: Catharine's mother has died, following the birth of an infant son, and when her father decides to remary, Catherine faces painful changes, not the least of them in herself. (From the back of the book)

Review: This story is told in the form of a journal, written by a middle school girl. She lives on a farm with her father and siblings in 1830. This is excellent. The story is vibrant and well-told, with real-to-life struggles of the time - slavery, school, death and a blended family. I enjoyed this immensely and highly recommend!

Bookmarks: 8 of 10

Awards: Newbery Medal, 1980

Date Finished: 4-26-2012
Pages: 144

Review: Cultures of the World: Afghanistan by Sharifah Enayat Ali

Synopsis: This is a children's book, part of a collection, on countries around the world. It goes over culture, geography, history etc, and includes many color photos.

Review: This is an excellent introduction to Afghanistan. I was pleased it was half words and half pictures. I'd recommend this for children age 5+ who wish to learn about other cultures.

Bookmarks: 7 of 10

Awards: None

Date Finished: 4-25-2012
Pages: 144

Review: The Practical Princess and Other Liberating Tales

Synopsis: What was the fairy thinking of when she gave the gift of common sense to a baby princess? After all, what does a princess need but beauty and charm? But Princess Bedelia's common sense  bought through many a dangerous situations! (From the back of the book)

Review: This is a collection of retold fairy tales, featuring hapless males and strong females. It's delightful! It's a quick read, fun and funny. If you find a copy, buy it and enjoy!

Bookmarks: 7 of 10
Awards: None
Date Finished: 4-15-2012
Pages: 94

Review: Astropilots by Laura J. Mixon

Synopsis: Andrea Ito has the right stuff. She's an ace pilot, the Top Gun of the toughest space academy in the solar system. Then mysterious Jason Stiletto blasts into her life from Eridani, a distant star system. He's the best cadet she's ever seen. But he has a terrible secret.
Jason doesn't play by the rules. He only has one goal - revenge on the man who tried to kill him. And he only has one friend - the gently alien Sssrei. That is, until he meets Andrea. But can he trust her with the truth? And how can he stop his enemy's deadly plan?
Review: Published in 1987, I expected this to be cheesy and stupid. I was pleasantly and completely surprise to find it an excellent read, with complex plot, well-rounded characters and excellent world-building. This is first-class space fiction novel. I'm eager to read more of the author's work and would recommend this to anyone wanting a quick, excellent read!
Bookmarks: 8 of 10
Awards: None
Date Finished: 4-12-2012

Pages: 236

Review: The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church by Reggie McNeal

Synopsis: In this provocative book, author, consultant, and church leadership developer Reggie McNeal debunks these and other old assumptions and provides an overall strategy to help church leaders move forward in an entirely different and much more effective way. In The Present Future, McNeal identifies the six most important realities that church leaders must address including: recapturing the spirit of Christianity and replacing "church growth" with a wider vision of kingdom growth; developing disciples instead of church members; fostering the rise of a new apostolic leadership; focusing on spiritual formation rather than church programs; and shifting from prediction and planning to preparation for the challenges of an uncertain world. McNeal contends that by changing the questions church leaders ask themselves about their congregations and their plans, they can frame the core issues and approach the future with new eyes, new purpose, and new ideas. (from the website)

Review: I did not like this. I thought his premise was a rewording of tired arguments, he preached to the choir, and it was full of inane advice the sounded good because it was different but that didn't make it good. In the end, I think the author's heart was in the right place, but his advice cliched and unhelpful.

Bookmarks: 5 of 10

Awards: None

Date Finished: 4-8-2012
Pages: 152

Review: No Children, No Pets by Marion Holland

Synopsis: NO CHILDREN! NO PETS! What can the three Sanders children and their cat do about a sign like that? Don and Jane and their troublesome little sister find their new Florida house filled with odd tenants - and strange happenings. Why did the superintendent leave in such a hurry? What happened to the missing ruby clip? And where did the homeless boy come from? Here are suspense and fun - the unexpected and the hilarious. Even the peculiar tenants wind up says, Yes Children! Yes Pets!

Review: Published in 1956, this is a flimsy paperback book with retro illustrations. The story is cute and cliched, but takes place in Florida, which I found marvelous. Holland nailed the quirky old people, the Florida weather, the gritty sand and the sound of wind through palms. This story is worth reading, if for nothing more then the vintage language and the funny characters.

Bookmarks: 7 of 10

Awards: None

Date Finished: 4-7-2012
Pages: 156