Look! There's a Dog!

TITLE: No Judgments (Little Bridge Island #1)
AUTHOR: Meg Cabot
PUBLISHER: William Morrow Paperbacks
PUBLISHING DATE: September 24, 2019

FROM GOODREADS: The storm of the century is about to hit Little Bridge Island, Florida—and it’s sending waves crashing through Sabrina “Bree” Beckham’s love life… 

When a massive hurricane severs all power and cell service to Little Bridge Island—as well as its connection to the mainland—twenty-five-year-old Bree Beckham isn’t worried . . . at first. She’s already escaped one storm—her emotionally abusive ex—so a hurricane seems like it will be a piece of cake.  

But animal-loving Bree does become alarmed when she realizes how many islanders have been cut off from their beloved pets. Now it’s up to her to save as many of Little Bridge’s cats and dogs as she can . . . but to do so, she’s going to need help—help she has no choice but to accept from her boss’s sexy nephew, Drew Hartwell, the Mermaid Café’s most notorious heartbreaker. 

But when Bree starts falling for Drew, just as Little Bridge’s power is restored and her penitent ex shows up, she has to ask herself if her island fling was only a result of the stormy weather, or if it could last during clear skies too. 

MY THOUGHTS: So I knew this would be a romantic women's fiction book when I picked it up but I was lured by the promise of dogs.  While I didn't find it mind-blowing, it ended up being a solid read and a good way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Bree has moved to the small island off of Florida after having some relationship and family troubles in New York.  She recalls fond memories of her dad taking the family to Bridge Island when she was young, so it is there she decides to retreat.  She is working in a small cafe, tending to her rescue cat, and sharing a small apartment with her new best friend when news that a hurricane is headed straight toward the island.  Despite numerous warnings, Bree decides to tough out the hurricane.  In the process, she learns she has more friends than she thinks, her important connection to someone famous comes out, and she ends up rescuing a lot of animals.  And oh yea, the jerk nephew of her employer's wife just may be what's been missing in her life.

So overall I really liked Bree. It's clear she has some baggage which the reader learns about as the book progresses.  In addition, she has a big heart as evidence by her rescue cat and how close they've become.  I also tend to like the enemies to lovers trope when I do read romance so I enjoyed Drew as well.  And there were a few things to admire about Drew - his soft spot for dogs and his don't-care-what-people-thinks attitude.  And did I mention his love for dogs?

Like I said, I don't know that this book really stands out against similar ones I've read.  Some of it was pretty predictable.  However, the characters and the roll the animals play in it definitely pushed it to a 4-paw read for me. Without them, it may not have rated so high.  And let's just say when I mention animals, there are cats, dogs, birds, guinea pigs and probably a few others I forgot to mention.

I enjoyed the characters enough that it's likely I'll check out the next installment in this series.  I am especially hoping it might center around Bree's roommate. 

RATING: 4 PAWS