The Goddess Rules

A Novel

By: Clare Naylor

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Here’s the delightful new novel from Clare Naylor, whose sleeper hit Dog Handling was one of Cosmopolitan’s Best Beach Reads for 2002. Fresh and fun, The Goddess Rules is an outrageous, wry, and razor-sharp portrait of a girl who thinks her life is just fine - until she meets a woman who swears by the belief that life is meant to be fabulous.

When obsessed pet owners have pooches or kitties they want immortalized on canvas, Kate Disney is the artist of choice. From her shed (which doubles as a studio and apartment) in London’s Primrose Hill, Kate caters to the whims of the rich and famous while herself living a decidedly bohemian existence. The problem is, she has a tendency to cater to her on-again, way-off-again boyfriend as well. Jake is so erratic, that most of her friends don’t understand why she even bothers. But it’s hard to fall out of love with a man who writes her songs and calls her “Angel” - even if he disappears for weeks at a time.

Luckily for Kate, Mirabelle Moncur isn’t buying any of that claptrap. Mirri was an actress, a legend in her time. Now, at age 60, she’s given up on fame and men and lives in Africa, where she raises lion cubs. But her reclusive nature has done nothing to dull her beauty, mar her incredible figure, or dampen her outrageous joie de vivre.

After sweeping into London to have Kate paint a portrait of her favorite cub, Mirri seizes hold of Kate’s life - from the baggy wardrobe to the hopeless taste in men. Under Mirri’s tutelage, Kate learns to dance on tables with abandon, drink like a dockworker, and flirt like a goddess. And when her old friend Louis reenters the picture, she begins to see things in a whole new light. But Mirri has secrets that hint at a less than divine future. Now it’s Kate’s turn to teach Mirri a thing or two about life, love, and being fabulous.

©2005 Clare Naylor (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Laugh-out-loud scenes and authentically touching asides on aging and lifelong yearnings combine in a perfectly balanced, irresistible confection." (Booklist)

“[A] red-hot read sure to turn up the heat.” (Cosmopolitan)

“Readers will stay on Naylor’s scent as she devises surprising ways to break up and re-pair brightly drawn characters...Yip, yip hooray!” (People)

Goddess Rules

Roslyn Landor gave a magnificent performance. She brings out the Best in the Story. It was a good story. The girl, Kate was sort of dump , but finally made a right decision.

better than average chick lit!

Roslyn Landor is one of those narrators that makes even the worst book that much better. Fortunately, that wasn't an issue for this book. It's certainly light, fluffy fare, but for what it is--it was pretty damn good!
The main character is flawed in a believable and not annoying way, while Miri is all Id. These two become friends despite their differences and help each other work through their relationships.


The publishers summary put me off of this one for a while, so I suggest going through the reader reviews to make your final decision on a purchase.

Keep Them coming

I savored every minute of this book. The writing is so well done and the reader is wonderful. I wanted to live in this world and meet these people. Mind you it is strictly for fun and quite a good escape. Ms. Naylor knows how to keep descriptions interesting and short to keep the story moving. It is about relationships and stepping outside of normalcy. I'd love to hear more by this author.

Worth All The Stars!

I've just finished this book and thought it was terrific. Well paced with enough peaks and valleys for the characters. This author gave you enough to keep you entertained with an intelligent well thought out story. The reader was wonderful as always. (Just finished the Winter Sea) I've listened to countless Rosalyn Landor reads and I think she is very talented - She sounds younger here. Want to read more Clare Naylor. (Richard's wife)

light & fun needs a good editor

Great fun the 1st time through. The characters are strong and well drawn, the scene charmingly set and the story predictably escapist. The 2nd time through I began to see holes in the narrative. It is generally a literary "fox pause" to have a character make an appointment with an employer for the next afternoon, leave on a spontaneous romantic get-away for two days, and have the appointment roll around without comment from the other characters. The story has all of the elements of a good "chic flick" but beware if you wish to re-listen.

5 Star for Fun Fiction

This 12 hour book kept me entertained the entire time. I think most women can directly identify with the main character. The writing was excellent and the narrator was one of the best I have heard. I highly recommend for a fun listen.

inspirational, uplifting

a fun, memorable, uplifting book that sticks with you. vivid characters, inspiring.

The Goddess Rules

It's a lighthearted and very enjoyable book. I'd almost call it lovely. Everything about it reminds you of lazy summer afternoons in England, which could be because that's the setting, but also because, well, it's very well set, but you know what I mean. And it's predictable, that is true, but only because you always know how things ought to be, and here they are well sorted out. My point is, I find it notable indeed when an author is able to make something meaningful but cheerful at the same time. And that's that.

Dragged on,..

I had to struggle to get through this book.

As a previous reviewer has said, the narrator got one character "spot on", but the rest were carbon copies. One for male, one for female.

The whole book felt like it was written under a deadline and needed to "filled in" rather than having any story to tell.

A book like every other

Predictable but not boring.