A classic fish out of water story that follows sisters Emma Collins (the dependable, grounded, wanna-be anthropologist) and Katy Dodson (the never thinks things through, eternal optimist) who relocate to an obscure part of the Ozarks when Katy buys a "B&B" online, sight unseen using her divorce settlement. Thinking Katy purchased a bed & breakfast, the girls are shocked to find it's a bait shop and barbecue restaurant in tiny Warbler Lake. Of course, knowing nothing of either business, Emma, who's put her college dreams on hold again to help out her sister and 5-year old nephew, Josh, with their new venture immediately wants to sell. Katy, however, thinks it's perfect and wants to make a go of it and raise her son in the friendly, small town.In the meantime, Josh's father and Katy's ex-husband Sean Dodson resurfaces after having walked out on them 3 years earlier when he felt Katy and their baby would be better off without him. Pushed by his domineering mother, Gwen (CEO of the family's mult-million dollar burger franchise) he heads to Warbler Lake to visit with Josh. Gwen's ulterior motive, however, is to take Josh from Katy and bring him back to St. Louis when he can have his hearts desire and all that money can buy. Certain Katy was never good enough forger son, Gwen fails to see the things that make she and Katy very similar.I have to say, the title definitely caught my attention and I found it to be a fast-paced read. Definitely enjoyed it and would probably read another of Pamela Morsi's books.
The beginning of each of the 31 chapters is a bit of wisdom from Bitsy, the woman who died and left her B&B to the town to sell and keep the proceeds to help Warbler Lake's citizens. Bits of wisdom like: "Use unsalted butter. You don't want somebody else deciding how much seasoning is right for you." or "Rub down your clean cooking grate with a smidgeon of oil. It will cut down on cursing when you're taking the meat off." or "Hornyhead minnows are often confused with creek chubs. Maybe you can't tell the difference, but the fish can." I loved reading this book. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I can highly recommend this to anyone who likes a well-written, warm, and funny story. It's a soft, mellow book with soft, mellow good people and one or two harsh people who end up being mellower than the run-of-the-mill harsh person in other books. They are just harsh enough for the reader to dislike and hope that they get their come-uppance. The good people are wonderfully funny and sweet and you keep rooting for them.I liked watching Emma and Katy make friends in the town and learn how to sell bait and work the BBQ pit. The town is behind them and the support is heart-warming and funny to see. Five 'I wouldn't mind living in a town like Warbler Lake' beans......
What do You think about Bitsy's Bait & BBQ (2007)?
I just finished reading this book on 9/17/07. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about small town life, and the dependence the people in the small town (in the story) had on fishing.It was also funny to read about the way everyone gossiped about one another because I could understand how that could happen. After attending BYU-Hawaii, that "gossip" seems all too familiar.The important part of the book was about the relationship the two sisters, Emma and Katy had with each other. They really needed to depend on each other because they didn't have their parents around or to even fall back on for anything.However, I think the best part of the book was the relationship between Katy and her husband/ex-husband, Sean. Hey, I'm a hopeless romantic. I can't help but hope. Anyway, their love for each other was tried and true.
—Car
This is by far the best Pamela Morsi book I have read. I don't have one negative thing to say about it. Her books are good in that they are not your typical aimed at 20 year old Chick Lit books but definitely not a novel a man will sit down and read. I like that kind of a book lately. I'm becoming more wary of the cutsie covers and back covers that write about a thirty something who still doesn't have it all together that have become Chick Lit so Morsi's books are a nice breath of fresh air. Pick this one up first but I have not been disappointed by any of her other books either.
—Bree
Pleasantly surprised. I picked this up for a little light reading, expecting the usual romantic froth. not that there is anything wrong with a little romantic froth once in a while. but while this was romantic, it was also funny and heartwarming without being sickening sweet and sloppy. nice characterization, nice resolution to the story, and for once women characters were able to walk away with a happye ending that didn't involve being rescued by a man! in fact there was very little male rescueing in this at all, much the reverse. A pleasant surprise - I've already bought another book by her and look forward to some more summer reading out on the porch.
—Jan Aldergate
