Amy repeatedly calls people and incidents "too high school" in this book, and i find these to be apt descriptors for this book. People reactions are sophomoric, the situations are poorly thought out, and there's missing information (how did she get a rolling pin to defend herself in the denouement?). Not as bad as some I've read recently, but not really worth a reader's time.

<http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=61709>

First in a New series.

For Amy Simms, hatching a birding shop in her hometown of Ruby Lake, North Carolina, hasn’t exactly been a breeze. But could a deadly discovery clip her wings for good?

It’s just days before Amy plans to open Birds & Bees on the first floor of her creaky Victorian house, but delayed seed shipments have prevented the fledging owner from stocking her shelves. And it doesn’t help that Amy’s best friend and business partner is out of town indefinitely. With locals sceptical about the niche shop taking flight, the last thing Amy needs now is a dead man in her storeroom—or for a crotchety tenant to catch her holding a bloody birdfeeder hook over his body . . .

Pigeonholed as a leading murder suspect by police and lacking a solid alibi, Amy’s delving into the victim’s ugly past and buzzing around Ruby Lake for clues on his killer . . . before she ends up like so many of her beloved feathery friends—trapped behind bars!

A fun and quirky start to a new series. Love the concept of a Birds & Bees shop in a rickety old house, with an unwanted grouchy old lady boarder to boot. Well plotted and written, with good set of characters. Will be interesting to see what happens in the next book.

An enjoyable read to lighten your day.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Published by Lyrical Underground/Kensington Books and downloaded via NetGalley.