Great read by a favorite author of mine. The plot is well written and enticing to the reader. The author writes in a way that makes the reader feel like part of The story.

Back to Chapters B&B, where Charlotte has an event involving a romance author and 3 die hard fans. When one fan is found dead, everyone is a suspect and Charlotte and her trusty neighbor Ellen investigate. There is a secondary storyline involving Ellen which also brings a romantic option into Charlotte’s life. But overall, the main mystery seemed less interesting than Book 1 and I was able to figure out the main suspect halfway through. It’s a nice cozy mystery but it didn’t wow me like I hoped. Hopefully book 3 swings the pendulum in the other direction.


Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the arc.

Written in a bit of an old fashioned style. Sort of two stories in one. I think I need to read the first book now!

A fun cozy mystery set in the cut throat world of novelists (no pun intended!). The characters were fun and engaging, and I couldn’t wait to find out who the culprit was. A great read!

Charlotte Reed inherited a B&B from her great aunt . The name of the guest house is Chapters and it has a library and hosts literary events , an author Amanda Nobel comes to visit with three of her avid fans. A murder occurs and Charlotte begins to investigate.

I had not read the initial book in the series, but did not find this an issue . All the aspects of this story, the book themed B&B and a cosy mystery / murder really appealed to me. Unfortunately I found it very lack lustre and missing something. I found the characters well rounded and likeable and the writing flows easily. The story seemed flat and did not leave me wanting to read chapter after chapter to find the murderer. I found it an easy read and ideal for a light read to pass away a few hours.

Thanks to Crooked Lane books and Netgalley for an arc copy.

Having enjoyed the first book in this series I was looking forward to this one. Overall I felt that it was just okay as if the author didn't really put a whole lot of effort into it. It was one of those books that I would look up in a few months and not remember if I had read it or not. There was nothing particularly engaging about the story line. It was fine if you want a story to be just mindless entertainment for a few hours. My main issue with the book was that the author gave one character an alibi at the end of the book that totally contradicted what our MC personally witnessed and recounted early on in the book. I even went back and reread that section to verify this. This makes me irritated when an author can't remember what they had written. To change a plot point completely is a let down to the reader.

I have not read other stories in the series but did not find that to be a challenge. The book stood alone fine. I had difficulty keeping up my interest in this murder mystery though. It was all very quaint and easy to follow, just not as exciting as I’d hoped. It kind of reminds me of the TV show “ murder she wrote”. However, I did enjoy the book!

I'm in between on my feelings towards Reserved for Murder. It was nice to be back with Charlotte & her neighbors, but something was just a bit "off". The story moves along just fine, the murderer is revealed at the end (perfect, so as to not have to read a story knowing the entire time who it was). The characters just seemed to be a bit at each other, disjointed in a way. I'm hoping Ms. Gilbert is not being pushed along as the author in the story was! A new interest in Charlotte's life will add to the next story, we will hope for the best with the next book. Thanks to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for the preread in exchange for an honest review.

I highly anticipated reading Reserved for Murder because of how much I enjoyed the first book in the series. But I was disappointed. Charlotte owner of Chapters Bed and Breakfast was welcoming a new author to spend the weekend there with three of her biggest fans.to have one of her fans murdered was an exciting plot.
But the subplot was dull and not as exciting with Charlotte's ex-spy neighbor being involed
In espionage and bringing another innocent friend into it was not exciting.Bringing in a new character for a possible romance with Charlotte was intriging.

Thank you Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley the ARC of this book. I have this book a honest review

It is a cozy murder mystery with a literary theme. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me.

The setting is based on a retreat and was well described. The mysteries are well written but it didn't engage me as such.

I honestly couldn’t put this book down. What a whirlwind story, beginning with a wonderful stay at the lovely Chapters, and of course, ending in murder.
There’s nothing I love more than reading a well written book filled with colorful characters who always make me smile.
I’m anxious to see what will happen next.

More Murder On The Books....
A Bed and Breakfast for booklovers - ‘Chapters’ - in a beautiful waterfront location providing relaxing and fascinating literary themed weekends - sounds idyllic? It most definitely does. Murder, however, is on the horizon. The second in the Booklovers B&B Mystery series - finds B&B owner, Charlotte, in the middle of a mystery again and suspects are numerous. A likeable protagonist with a colourful cast of characters, a desirable backdrop and an appealing theme. Escapist reading.

I did not realize this is the second book in a series. If I had read the first book, I believe I would have enjoyed this more. I enjoyed the setting and the actual mystery. I suggest reading the first book before this one. Thank you NetGalley!

A popular author is hosting a week-long retreat for herself and three fans at Chapters. While the author is doing for her Romance series, murder seems to be the theme of the week when one of the three fans who are spending the week with her is murdered. Charlotte and her neighbor Ellen are on the case and it turns out Ellen’s cousin has plans of his own as well.

With a slew of suspects, the ladies have their hands full trying to narrow it down to who had motive, means and opportunity. Slowly and surely they work their way through the suspects and come up empty handed. Will Charlotte be able to keep her suspicions from her guests or will she get too close and become the killer’s next target to silence her?

The second book in this series is just as good as the first…maybe even a shade better since I know the regular cast of characters. This is also the second series I have read from the author and both are fabulous. A true bibliophile with a series set in a literary themed Inn and the other set in a library, you can’t go wrong with either series from this talented author.

This is a quick read set in an interesting location. Although character driven,
there is somewhat intriguing about the murder and how that is solved. I read this for Netgalley review. Loved reading about the B and B.

I missed the first book in this series and feeling like I missed out on some background which made it hard to keep it all straight. Enjoyed the book theme though.

This is book two in the Book Lover's B&B Mystery series and what a welcome back to the Chapters Bed and Breakfast. A great cozy mystery! Thankful for NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel.

cozy mystery, murder investigation, Bed and Breakfast, widow, amateur sleuth, friendship, family dynamics, small business, small town, North Carolina, author, fans, retired spies****
The murder mystery centers on an author's book signing at the B&B and one fan's appropriation of things. The other mystery relates to past espionage by both Charlotte's deceased aunt and her current neighbor. The sleuthing on both counts was pretty good as was the character development, but something present in the first book was pretty underdeveloped in this one. Wish I could explain better, but I'm hoping that the third book will be the charm.
I request and received a free ebook from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley.

A perfectly cozy mystery. I prefer my cozies to have a book theme, and a murder during a special author event is perfect. My only negative was the amount of times a murder that happened last summer was mentioned. But, the author would like to sell books; I get it.

I think the premise and the plot of the book were quite intriguing, but overall it fell flat for me. Much of the story was moved along via dialog, and I think it would have benefited from some more world building.