This was one of the books I picked up at a library book sale, so I have not read the first book in the series. I did not know there was a bird called a towhee until I read this book, just based on the title, I didn't know if it was supposed to be a person's name. I had noted the resemblance of the title to the work "Annie Get Your Gun".

Both towhee and "Annie Get Your Gun" play a role in this book but not together. The towhee is not shot (nor does it wield a gun as the title might imply). The local theater does plan to put on "Annie Get Your Gun"--maybe--if they can work all the kinks out.

Amy Simms is the amateur sleuth of the series. She's the owner of a shop called Birds & Bees but, like most cozy mystery sleuths, rarely seems to be at her place of business, instead leaving the running of it to her friend Kim (who sometimes runs off to "help" her husband who's renovating a home to flip it) or her mother (who has muscular dystrophy and supposedly isn't supposed to be on her feet all day) or her Aunt Betty (who I don't seem to know much about). It's a wonder she still has a business!

There wasn't as much information about birds in the mystery as I thought their would be considering the series is "A Bird Lover's Mystery".

I did not guess who the murderer was. (I'm not usually able to guess the murderer so your experience may differ.)

It was an enjoyable enough read, but I'm not intrigued enough to purposely seek out the first book in the series or other books in the series to read. ( )

The community theater in Ruby Lake, NC is putting on a production of Annie Get Your Gun. But the rehearsals are plagued with freak accidents.When two of the performers are injured by a falling stage curtain, Amy Simms is pressured into taking over one of the parts. It's a small part, but Amy is busy running her shop Birds & Bees, arguing with a new neighbor and trying to save her business from the local planning commission. The production's string of bad luck escalates when a cast member is found murdered in a locked dressing room. Who doesn't want the show to go on? Amy is on the case to find the killer before anyone else dies.

I like this series. Towhee Get Your Gun is the 2nd book in the Bird Lover's Mystery series. Amy Simms is a likable main character, and the quirky side characters give the stories a sweet charm. The side plots just round out the bird theme and don't get in the way of the mystery. Accidents plaguing the cast of the local theater group's production of Annie Get Your Gun was a fun backdrop to the murder plot. I don't really care for the cantankerous boarder Amy got stuck with when she bought her shop building. Esther Pilaster, is incredi-annoying. But....she is supposed to be! So the character is effective if her behavior in the story makes me wish I could jump into the book just to tell her off. Amy doesn't call her "Esther Pester" behind her back for no reason. :)

It isn't necessary to read the series in order. There is background about the shop and the characters in the first book, but a reader could start with book 2 and still enjoy the story. Book one, Die Die Birdie, takes place when Amy is first opening her shop.

All in all, a fun cozy mystery! Towhee Get Your Gun will be available January 3rd.

I voluntarily read an Advance Readers Copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

J.R. Ripley is the pseudonym of Glenn Meganck, writer of the Tony Kozol and Maggie Miller Mystery series. He also writes the Kitty Karlyle Pet Chef mystery series under the pen-name Marie Celine. Check out his website here: www.glennmeganck.com ( )

In Towhee Get Your Gun, the second book in the Bird Lover's Mystery series, author J.R. Ripley weaves an intriguing cozy mystery tale that follows the latest amateur sleuth adventures of Bird & Bees shop owner Amy Simms. Amy unexpectedly finds herself embroiled in the mysterious mishaps that plague the local community theater, Ruby Lake Theater On The Square (TOTS), and solving the murder of theater crew member Patsy Klein.

Set in the southern town of Ruby Lake, North Carolina, Amy is busy with running Birds & Bees, a birding supply store in an old three story Victorian home with her best friend and business partner Kim Christy. But when mysterious mishaps sideline some of the cast of the theater's production of Annie Get Your Gun, Amy unwillingly finds herself substituting for the wounded actress in the production, which turns tragic with the mysterious death of crew member Patsy Klein, and Amy's cousin Rhonda is implicated as a suspect in the murder. And if that isn't enough, Amy continues to have problems with the town wanting to demolish her Victorian house / shop; rescues a injured Eastern Towhee; and has neighbor issues with Paul Anderson, who is opening a new beer garden next door with partner Craig Bigelow, who happens to be Amy's ex-boyfriend!

Towhee Get Your Gun is an entertaining whodunit tale that has enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, drama, secrets, clues, frenemies, romance, a growing list of suspects, and intriguing twists and turns that will keep you guessing the identity of the murderer. You can't help but get caught up in the drama and calamity that ensues as Amy tries to balance solving the murder while trying to save her Victorian home/shop from having a date with the wrecking ball. Amy's amateur investigative adventure unfolds with a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, and suspense that easily kept me guessing, and left me wanting more.

Towhee Get Your Gun is an entertaining southern cozy murder mystery that will engage you to join in the crazy adventures and trials and tribulations that occur in Ruby Lake, while providing you with a dose of good ol' southern charm and humor. I really enjoyed the author's rich description of the charming western North Carolina small town of Ruby Lake and it's colorful townsfolk, and his impressive knowledge of birds and flowers. So pull up a rocking chair and set down for a spell with some sweet tea while Amy takes you on her latest madcap adventure!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2017/01/towhee-get-your-gun-by-jr-ripl... ( )

Towhee Get Your Gun by J.R. Ripley is the second book in A Bird Lover’s Mystery series. Amy Simms is the owner of Birds and Bees in Ruby Lake, North Carolina. After having a frustrating discussion with Paul Anderson about his camper (which is parked in front of Amy’s store), Amy’s cousin Riley enters the shop. The Theater on the Square (TOTS) is putting on a production of Annie Get Your Gun, but they have been having some difficulties (people injured, thefts of small items, a small fire). He has just come from the theater where the stage curtain rod gave way and injured two of the actors. Riley wishes to recruit Amy to play Winnie (keep in mind that Amy cannot sing and it is a musical). Ava Turner, a movie star who lives locally, has agreed to star as Annie (she played the role on Broadway when she was younger). A few days later, Amy is at TOTS for a rehearsal. Amy is on stage with Riley when they hear a shot ring out. Amy runs towards the back of the theater to find Lou Ferris, the theater manager, trying to get into Ava’s dressing room. After getting the door unlocked, they find Patsy Klein, Jill-of-all trades, dead in Ava Turner’s dressing room. There is no one else in the room and there is a prop gun on the floor. It looks like Patsy committed suicide, but, as we all know, looks can be deceiving. The police discover that Patsy was stabbed to death and Rhonda, Amy’s cousin and Riley’s fraternal twin, ends up being the prime suspect. Amy sets out to find the real culprit and clear Rhonda’s name. In between sleuthing, Amy must deal with her shop, her nosy and annoying second-floor tenant, her new disrupting neighbor, her plans for Seeds for Seniors program, and the town trying to take over her land under eminent domain. Amy cannot say that life is dull in Ruby Lake. Will Amy be able to find the real culprit and rescue her cousin, Rhonda from the hoosegow?

Towhee Get Your Gun is easy to read and has a good pace. I thought that the author included some good information on towhee’s and rehabilitating injured birds. While Towhee Get Your Gun is the second book in the series, it can be read alone (the author gives the reader all the needed information). I personally thought that there was too much going on in Towhee Get Your Gun. We have the murder, Amy’s new neighbor, return of Amy’s old boyfriend, a towhee left on the store’s front porch, the Seeds for Seniors project, Amy’s annoying second-floor tenant (I would find a way to toss that woman out of on her posterior), meddling friend, Kate (the meddling friend) and Randy flipping a house, Barbara (Amy’s mother) illness and meddling, and the possibility of romance for Amy with Derek (despite warnings from Derek’s ex-wife). I am sure that I left something out of that list. I found Amy a hard character to like. She runs around town probing the murder (while her mother and friend try to ruin her life and shop) while alienating the citizens of Ruby Lake with her questioning (which comes out accusatory). I can see why many of the townspeople are not fond of Amy (and she needs them on her side in order to save her home and shop). You know you do not like a character when you keep hoping the killer will bump her off next. Amy also over indulges in food and then laments about her appearance (more than once). I give Towhee Get Your Gun 3 out of 5 stars (okay, but not for me). I thought the mystery was too simple. I could identify the killer before anyone had been murdered (one little detail gave away the perpetrator’s identity). I believe that many readers will be able to figure out all the parts of the puzzle long before the reveal. Towhee Get Your Gun is the type of cozy mystery for readers that like zany and over-the-top antics (and humor). ( )