2001 Golden Gateway Competition Third Place Winner!

"Nancy Pirri has written a fun and humorous novel filled with characters I wanted to become friends with. What I enjoyed tremendously were her fabulous descriptions and the energetic dialogue she created. I found myself laughing, wanting to jump in and become part of the story. Yes, Ms. Pirri caught me--hook, line and sinker--with BAIT SHOP BLUES." ~Romance Junkies

4 hearts! "Lured by the love of a grandfather she had only known from letters and a legacy from his will, smartly clad 31 year old Cassandra (Cassie) Thompson left her growing cosmetic firm in the capable hands of others and arrives in International Falls, Minnesota ready to take on any challenge to her claim.

"Vowing to be nice to his beloved surrogate father and partner's long-lost granddaughter, 29 year old Lief Flying Eagle waits impatiently for his nemesis. He is sure her arrival will mess up his tranquil domain and interfere with his business. As his eyes glimpse her willowy figure, he involuntarily whistles at this Marilyn Munroe look alike and briefly wonders what old Roy Thompson was thinking when he made his will giving both of them equal shares in Gateway, his bait shop business.

"Sparks start flying even before they walk off the tarmac and the fun begins! Hooked by the antics of Lief and Cassie as they struggle to accommodate their opposite styles in business and love, Nancy Pirri just reels the readers into this fun, yet highly intense, captivating interplay between the two sparring partners. Set in the pristine lakes area of Minnesota, you share Cassie's first sight of the swaying northern lights, flashing green and red, while she ponders on her decision to go or stay. Is this where she will make her life or is it just to be a northern vacation?

"Effectively interwoven into this very readable romance is Lief's reconnection to his unknown father's family and a better understanding of his Aboriginal mother, Annie Hightower, now making a new start on the Red Lake Reservation. Will these newly gained insights allow him to cut through the heavy barriers Cassie placed around her heart, deeply scarred from being left at the alter? Catch hold of the book and you'll soon find out!" ~reviewed by
Audrey Lawrence for The Romance Studio

"Pirri writes a strong story with two determined lead characters. Cassie and Leif are alone together for most of the story, and the subplot of her two failed engagements drives their sexual tension. The plot is further developed by vivid descriptions of northern Minnesota's lakes and woods." ~reviewed by Karen Sweeney-Justice for Romantic Times Book Club

"Pirri has crafted a tale about fishing, camping, and love in northern Minnesota. Her fun writing style makes for a great read. Take out a cup of tea and enjoy a tale of two headstrong personalities clashing as they fight natural instincts." ~Eileen Key for The Road to Romance