Review - - No Words

No Words

by Meg Cabot

Little Bridge Island - Book 3

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Release Date: October 12, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

 

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Author...

Welcome to Little Bridge, one of the smallest, most beautiful islands in the Florida Keys.

Jo Wright always swore she’d never step foot on Little Bridge Island—not as long as her nemesis, bestselling author Will Price, is living there.

Then Jo’s given an offer she can’t refuse: an all-expense paid trip to speak and sign at the island’s first ever book festival.

Even though arrogant Will is the last person Jo wants to see, she could really use the festival’s more-than-generous speaking fee. She’s suffering from a crippling case of writer’s block on the next installment of her bestselling children’s series, and her father needs financial help as well.

Then Jo hears that Will is off-island on the set of the film of his next book. Hallelujah!

But when she arrives on Little Bridge, Jo is in for a shock: Will is not only at the book festival, but seems genuinely sorry for his past actions—and more than willing not only to make amends, but prove to Jo that he’s a changed man.

Things seem to be looking up—until disaster strikes, causing Jo to wonder: Do any of us ever really know anyone?

PJ's Thoughts:

Cabot returns to the Florida Keys for the third book in her Little Bridge Island romantic comedy series and it's my favorite so far. 

One of Cabot's strengths is her ability to create a setting that is so realistic and appealing that it has me wanting to pack my bags and hop a plane. She then populates that setting with a variety of quirky, endearing, frequently complex, and occasionally villainous characters who, by the end of the book, feel more like friends than fictional characters. Okay, maybe not the villainous ones but the others, definitely.

I really enjoyed the evolving relationship between Jo and Will. Cabot took the story in different directions that I originally anticipated, allowing both characters significant growth in the process. I was surprised to discover how much my opinion of each of them evolved as they did themselves. 

I also loved how the author brought Jo's Kitty Katz, Kitten Sitter book series to life in this book. I wish it was a real children's book series. I have two five-year-olds in the family who would adore it! 

It's obvious Cabot has attended her share of book conferences/festivals in the way she writes the details of Little Bridge's first book festival and the authors who are in attendance. I found myself laughing out loud many times and also missing those events, even the awkward and sometimes embarrassing moments that inevitably occur. Whether you've attended one or not, there is plenty in this one to both entertain and amuse. 

While No Words is the third book of a series, and there are a few characters from the first two books who make appearances, it stands on its own and readers can jump in without missing a beat. If you enjoy upbeat rom-coms with well-developed characters, heart-tugging emotion, and plenty of humor, take a trip to Little Bridge Island with Meg Cabot's No Words. 

Review - - No Offense

No Offense: A Novel

by Meg Cabot

Little Bridge Island - Book 2

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Release Date: August 11, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

Welcome to Little Bridge, one of the smallest, most beautiful islands in the Florida Keys, home to sandy white beaches, salt-rimmed margaritas, and stunning sunsets—a place where nothing goes under the radar and love has a way of sneaking up when least expected... 

A broken engagement only gave Molly Montgomery additional incentive to follow her dream job from the Colorado Rockies to the Florida Keys. Now, as Little Bridge Island Public Library’s head of children’s services, Molly hopes the messiest thing in her life will be her sticky-note covered desk. But fate—in the form of a newborn left in the restroom—has other ideas. So does the sheriff who comes to investigate the “abandonment”.  When John Hartwell folds all six-feet-three of himself into a tiny chair and insists that whoever left the baby is a criminal, Molly begs to differ and asks what he’s doing about the Island’s real crime wave (if thefts of items from homes that have been left unlocked could be called that). Not the best of starts, but the man’s arrogance is almost as distracting as his blue eyes. Almost… 

John would be pretty irritated if one of his deputies had a desk as disorderly as Molly’s. Good thing she doesn’t work for him, considering how attracted he is to her. Molly’s lilting librarian voice makes even the saltiest remarks go down sweeter, which is bad as long as she’s a witness but might be good once the case is solved—provided he hasn’t gotten on her last nerve by then. Recently divorced, John has been having trouble adjusting to single life as well as single parenthood. But something in Molly’s beautiful smile gives John hope that his old life on Little Bridge might suddenly hold new promise—if only they can get over their differences.

PJ's Thoughts:

Meg Cabot captures the unique qualities of the Florida Keys - and island residents - in her new Little Bridge Island series. With her well-known wit, a raft of quirky, meddlesome characters, and a bit of a mystery to be solved along the way, Cabot brings Little Bridge to life in this new romantic comedy. 

This second book in the Little Bridge series is what I would call an easy, breezy read. The main characters are all likable, for the most part, although for much of the book Molly borders on annoying, thinking she knows best for everyone and that she can do the Sheriff's job better than he can. She does come around nicely in the end, however. John is a good guy, trying to do his job while raising his teen daughter and at a bit of a loss when it comes to understanding women. But giving it his best. He really is a good dad and I liked him a lot. 

The mystery isn't deep or thought-provoking but adds another layer to the story and a reason for Molly and John to keep encountering one another. 

What really brings the story together is community. While the romance moves along at a pretty much uncomplicated (minus a few hiccups) surface level, the ensemble of characters who make up the community of Little Bridge keep things interesting and moving forward, adding humor and heart along the way. 

If you're looking for a meaty, emotional read, this book probably isn't for you. But, if you're in the mood for a lighthearted, fun story that keeps your emotions on an even keel, tickles your funny bone, and leaves you with a smile, give No Offense a try. 

While this is the second book in the Little Bridge Island series, there are only a couple crossover characters from book one, allowing No Offense to stand on its own. However, I really enjoyed book one, No Judgments, and give it my enthusiastic recommendation.