I have liked her Blue Ridge librarian mystery series pretty well, so when I ran across this, I picked it up.

Maybe it's because I didn't realize until I was into it that I'd missed the first of the series. But, alas, I was not super impressed.

She does a good job of filling in the backstory necessities I presume were in Book 1, but I never really felt connected to the protagonist, Charlotte. I loved the setting -- was just at Emerald Isle and Beaufort in November. So that was very well done. But something just seemed .. missing somehow. I felt like I knew the details of the B&B's decor more than why I should care about the protagonist or the other characters, really.

However, it was a well-paced, satisfyingly twisty plot, with a few insights into darker side of the competitive world of fan fiction. ( )

Back at Chapters, our B&B. Charlotte has become my favourite cozy protagonist. She doesn't proclaim herself on any mission to save people, she gives all the info she gets immediately to the police, and is honest that she sleuths because it's fun and she's good at it. It's refreshing. Her partnership with Ellen is still solid and I love that we're seeing growth with Alicia and Damian. There's a great conversation around the power of anger management classes that I just love. I'm also appreciative of how Damian's experiences of racism are handle with sensitivity and without making them a big deal.

In this story, the murder revolves around professional rivalries in writing and also examines plagiarism. I didn't see the murderer until well in but the clues were well laid, which I've come to expect from this author. I also like that Charlotte gets a love interest, with glimpses of how she's handling moving on from her lost husband but it doesn't overwhelm the story. As for the guy, he's not nearly as charismatic as Richard from Gilbert's library series but his seeming ordinariness is a good fit for her.

This remains an enjoyable series. ( )

Charlotte Reed, the owner the B&B known as Chapters, is hosting a private get together with an acclaimed author and her fan club contestant winners. Things are a bit tense when one of the winners turns up dead and the reason could be plagiarism. Charlotte needs to figure is there a guest in Chapters who's also a murderer.

I liked the story but the ex-CIA operatives seems to be pushing it. Is each book going to have some link to Charlotte's dead aunt and her past? I hope not. ( )

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. ( )

"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. ( )