You really can't go wrong with a well written cozy that takes place in a literary themed B&B. This is the 2nd book in the series and I found it to be just as enjoyable as the first. With interesting characters and a well written storyline this book is sure to please the devoted cozy reader.

I've been reading Gilbert's Blue Ridge Library series and when I saw she had a new book in a different series I decided to give it a try. I find her books to be a pleasant diversion when I want something light to read. Reserved for Murder is the second book in the Booklover's B&B mystery series. I haven't read book 1 but I didn't have any trouble starting with this book.

Charlotte owns a book-themed bed and breakfast in North Carolina. When a famous author comes to the B&B looking for respite from the public, Charlotte asks her to do some meet and greets. It all sounds so simple until the president of the local writer's club is found dead.

Reserved for Murder is a fun little cozy mystery that will delight bookworms with its mentions of authors, fanfiction, and ghostwriting. It is almost like a publishing industry soap opera.

The characters are interesting and loveable. It might just be because I'm travel-deprived, but I think it would be a lot of fun to stay in a literary-themed B&B. The book is set in July and the sunny, warmth of summer is definitely something I would welcome right now. Overall, it made for good escapism reading.

It has the same vibe as her Blue Ridge Library series so if you are enjoying it you will also enjoy the Booklover's B&B series.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Wednesday, Oct. 27 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2021/10/3-mysteries-to-curl-up-with.html

Reserved for Murder is the second book in the Booklovers B&B series and it does not disappoint. This book is a mystery within a mystery. The story continues Charlotte Reed's adventures as she establishes her life in Beaufort NC following a personal tragedy and inheriting Chapters, a book-themed B&B from her great-aunt Isabella Harrington along with next-door neighbor and holder of the B&B's trust, Ellen Montgomery. In this book Charlotte is hosting a weeklong event for fans of author Amanda Nobel. Amanda and three of her fans are staying at the B&B. The mystery unfolds as one of these fans is murdered. As Charlotte investigates and discovers that there is more behind each of these fans and their relationship with Amanda, including accusations of plagiarism and the discovery of a ghostwriter. Of course Charlotte is able to unravel the story in the end and solve the murder.

The mystery within the mystery is more clues around Isabella's and Ellen's relationship when they were younger and involved in espionage, bringing to Beaufort Gavin Howard as a houseguest and supposed relative of Ellen's. Charlotte quickly establishes that Gavin is not Ellen's relative and there must be something else going on. This storyline expands upon the first book in the series, unfolding a bit more about Isabella's and Ellen's work and the involvement of a friend who still lives in Beaufort and is a part of Charlotte's 'adopted' circle of friends.

This book is fast-paced and one you will want to read in one setting, if not to solve the murder but to learn more about Isabella's secret past of which her family, including Charlotte, was totally unaware.

I highly recommend this book, as well as the first, and will look forward to the next installment in the series!

I would never had guessed that some authors used ghostwriters. I think I have vaguely heard about it and it does make for an interesting plot twist for a book tour topic. It also explains why one of my old favorites doesn’t “sound” the same anymore. As with the first story, you cannot help but to be drawn into the mystery much like our B&B host, Charlotte, who is much about as good at subterfuge and sleuthing as her deceased benefactor, Great Aunt Isabella. The story is a stand-alone yet it continues to move the series along with the interactions of Charlotte’s friends, neighbors, and staff. Excellent attention to detail regarding Beaufort as well!

I loved this cute little mystery! It was an easy read but the plot and characters kept me flipping the pages. I would definitely recommend to my friends.

Reserved for Murder is the second book in the Booklover's B&B Mystery series by Victoria Gilbert where Charlotte Reed is hosting Amanda Nobel, an author and three of her fans at the Chapters Bed and Breakfast. Everything is not so fine at it would seem with all. Especially when the head of of the Fan Club, Lisette Branford is found dead. Who killed her and why? All of guest are suspects. But that isn't the only mystery! Ellen Montgomery a retired spy has a guest, Gavin Howard, her first cousins boy. Ellen doesn't let anyone stay with her. Why now?

I loved hearing more about Ellen and Charlotte's great-aunt, Isabella and their adventures! While finding out more about Gavin. This story was well written and kept me guessing until the end who the killer was.

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. Thank to NetGalley for allowing to read this book. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

This is a good cozy mystery about a bed and breakfast, a famous author, and murder. You can't go wrong. Charlotte runs a book-themed B&B and needs to bring in some income. She invites a famous author and some fans for a fun weekend. One of the fans ends up dead, so Charlotte sets out to solve the murder.

There are twists and turns throughout the story that keep the reader guessing. This is the second story in the series. I didn't read the first, but I don't feel like I missed out on any parts of the story by not reading it. I will go back and read the first one since I had such a good time with Reserved for Murder.


Thank you, Netgalley, for an advanced copy for my honest review.

Reserved for Murder: A Booklover’s B&B Mystery
By Victoria Gilbert
Crooked Lane
June 2021

Review by Cynthia Chow

After the death of her rather mysterious great-aunt Isabella Harrington, Charlotte Reed gave up her career as a teacher to accept and run her inheritance of Chapters, a book-themed bed-and-breakfast in Beaufort, North Carolina. While famous romance writer Amanda Nobel plans to keep her stay at Chapters on the downlow, Charlotte hopes that the B&B will later benefit from the positive reviews and publicity Amanda promises to deliver later. Also in on the secret of Amanda’s presence are three uberfans who won a contest to spend an all-expense-paid vacation with their idol, not to mention the publisher’s representative who seems determined to control the author as much as possible. While Amanda admirably holds her own during a bookstore Q&A with an academic criticizing her lack of research and accurate historical details, further strife seems to be developing among the aforementioned fans. Surprisingly, accusations of plagiarism are thrown not at Amanda, but at the fan club president’s fan-fiction.

When the possible plagiarist is found murdered, there is a surplus of suspects all hovering in Beaufort. The late Lisette Bradford’s stalker ex-husband was reportedly seen at the author event, and an even more mysterious man has arrived next door to Chapters. Gavin Howard claims to be a relative of her neighbor Ellen Montgomery, but the former Intelligence Agent never mentioned that she would be having family arrive for a visit. Ellen’s past is closely tied with that of Isabella, as the two were ambitious Cold War agents willing to live double lives and manipulate others in order to track a Russian spy. Ellen and Charlotte had recently proved to be an impressive team when recently tracking down a murderer, so it’s not a huge surprise when Beaufort Police Detective Amber Johnson asks Charlotte to use her teacher-and-mystery-reading-honed skills to observe her guests and funnel information to the authorities.

The latter half of the book really kicks into gear as its explores the repercussions of Ellen and Isabella’s lives in espionage. The regrets and acceptance of their deceptions are as fascinating as Charlotte’s management of Chapters, which includes literary-themed rooms and an entertainingly diverse staff. This second in the series can easily be read without knowing anything of the previous, but it expands on the secrets that were introduced in the debut. Charlotte has seen the downside of being “famous,” as her husband died a hero and had to continually be reminded of his loss. Talking to his portrait helps her to work through her thoughts and her complicated feelings towards the newcomers, including that of the mysterious “cousin.” Charlotte’s bookstore-owning friend is but one of her affectionate and supportive friends, and the banter between them all is envious and quippy. Bibliophiles and espionage fans will love this mix of cozy and suspense, and the finale delivers a surprising and hopeful conclusion.

Charlotte Reed inherited Chapters, a book-themed B&B by the sea, from her late aunt Isabella. Charlotte's late husband died tragically, and it's here she retreated to, to ease her pain. She's come to love running a B&B, and even more surprise awaited her when she met her next-door neighbor, Ellen. Ellen's past intrigued her, and even more, Charlotte's quick mind and ability to piece things out quickly intrigued Ellen even more. So the septuagenarian and Charlotte became fast friends, never imagining that they would also become partners in solving crimes. But Ellen now has a visitor -- a cousin of sorts, although Charlotte is suspicious.

However, she can't worry about that when her latest guest is a hot romance author and has agreed to meet with three contest winners of her fan clubs. But when one of them is tragically killed, suddenly all eyes are on who might be the killer. The suspects are plenty -- from the author herself to a local professor who derided the series -- and Charlotte and Ellen certainly have their work cut out for them. Not to mention that Charlotte is determined to find out exactly who Gavin Howard, the cousin, really is, and why he's in town...

This is the second book in the series and I truly enjoyed it more than the first. Although the first set the scene by giving us background on Charlotte, her aunt, and Ellen, this book expands upon that and brings us deeper into the mysteries. It also gives us a nice mystery to sink our teeth into -- exactly who is Gavin, and who killed the fan club president?

As to Gavin, we are given bits and pieces throughout the book so that mystery is easier to solve; but it seems that the murder of the fan club president is more personal, and any one of several people could have been the murderer. What the question is, is who had the best motive?

I do like the fact that Charlotte and the police actually have a good relationship, and they aren't on her all the time by treating her as if she were below them. The police chief is an intelligent woman who treats Charlotte with respect, and realizes another intelligent woman when she sees her. As for Ellen, she respects Charlotte, and I like the fact that they test one another occasionally. It's quite appealing.

When the killer is discovered, it's a rather sad deal all around, but then, of course, things could have been different for them in other circumstances. All in all, the book was quite enjoyable, and I read it in one sitting, so that is telling in itself. Highly recommended.

4.5 stars

This is the second book in Victoria Gilbert's Booklovers B&B Mystery series. Widow and former school teacher Charlotte Reed inherited a B&B called Chapters from her great aunt Isabella. Located in the historic waterfront town of Beaufort, North Carolina, Chapters is a book-themed B&B, where guests and locals can enjoy book clubs and special events celebrating authors and books. In this installment, best-selling author Amanda Noble is on tour, staying at Chapters along with a representative of the publisher and three fan club members. Right from the beginning, Charlotte notices tension between the guests. When one of the fan club members is murdered, Charlotte teams up with her neighbor Ellen to find the culprit.

A delightful read, with fun characters, a tightly knitted community, and a solid mystery. The plot moved at a good pace and I absolutely adored the setting - a book-themed B&B. I could not ask for more as a book lover. I'm not the biggest fan of the spy subplot but overall it did keep me interested and I wouldn't mind too much if more of it is included in future installments.
I look forward to more adventures with Charlotte and Ellen.

Thank You to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This series is not as good as the Blue Ridge Library Mysteries series by the same author. I could not get into this story. It was a very slow read for me.

This is the second book in this series and it is even better then the first. This series has great characters and is set in a wonderful location. I cannot wait for the next book.

"Reserved for Murder" includes several different mystery threads for readers to follow. The mysteries are set at Chapters, a literary-themed bed and breakfast inn run by retired school teacher Charlotte Reed. The plot revolves around an author visit and literary events intended to market her books. The primary mystery thread involves the suspicious death of a woman who attends the special book publication events. Suspects abound, with a variety of motives. The woman apparently had several enemies!

Another mystery involves a visitor to the house next door to Chapters, who is apparently not what he seems. Charlotte has her hands full as she assists local law enforcement in surreptitiously discovering information about the suspects, while continuing to host the literary events as her inn.

For those who enjoy detailed, cozy, book-themed mysteries, this one might be a good choice. While part of a series, the book can be read as a stand alone. It contains no graphic violence, strong language, or intimacy. Readers might have their own theories, but will keep guessing until the end of the story.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Full disclosure: I received this ARC from netgalley and Crooked Lane in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for this opportunity.

Gilbert's successful Blue Ridge Library series won my heart with her well drawn characters, and intricate mysteries. She began her new Booklovers B&B Mysteries Series last year. Reserved for Murder builds upon a great beginning. I was taken with both the lead protagonist, Charlotte Reed, and her neighbor, Ellen, a retired spy. Gilbert has a fine hand with dialogue bringing all of her characters to life. Another plus for me was the choice of Beaufort N.C. and the 18th B&B as the setting. Knowing that Beaufort is a real place, while visualizing the splendor of Chapters, made the reading experience very rewarding. What happens when a highly successful author needs respite from an intense book tour? What can Charlotte do to protect her reputation for Chapters, when one of her guests is found bludgeoned to death? Are the two tied together? And why is Ellen so evasive about her guest Gavin? Gilbert again has produced a challenging puzzle for her fans. Once again she has given us everything a reader of cozies love.

Highly recommended

Wow thanks Crooked Lane Books for introducing me to not one bit 3 new authors and series , and cozy mysteries at that. And all three are on my favorite topic which have something to do with books. And for introducing me to characters that made me laugh and smile and just made me want to keep turning the pages to see what was next.

Charlotte is hosting a best-selling author and a few of her biggest fans for a weekend at her B&B. There seems to be some drama within the group that Charlotte hopes stays away from the weekend. When the president of the author's fan club is found dead, can Charlotte find out what happened with the help of her former CIA neighbor?

I really like Charlotte as a character. She's so much fun to read. I really liked the addition of her neighbor Ellen's house guest. I thought he was really interesting. The whole setting of this series is really fun! I love that it's a book-related B&B! This one definitely kept me guessing the whole time and I'm excited to read more from the series!

Reserved for Murder by Victoria Gilbert is the second in this cozy mystery series set in Beaufort, North Carolina. Charlotte runs a quaint B&B and hosts bookish events. The mystery involves a famous author, a small group of fans, and a look into the publishing industry. The murder was interesting, with many suspects, and a twist on motive. This was an easy read. I will give additional books by this author a try.

I received a free eARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

This is a great series with interesting characters.

Charlotte Reed owns and operates Chapters Bed and Breakfast in Beaufort, North Carolina. The 18th century inn often hosts book related events. In this book the event is a meet-and-greet, book signing by the author of a famous romantic fantasy series. The author, her assistant and three contest winners are staying at the inn for a few days. Unfortunately, the fan club president is murdered, and everyone is a suspect.

My rating: 1 of 5 stars, Unfinished.

Book 2 in the series.

I saw this on NetGalley, and even though I didn't care for the first book, I thought I would give it another chance.

Unfortunately, I didn't like it anymore than I liked the first, so it goes unfinished and on my NOPE list.