This book was a lot of fun to read! I enjoyed the whole storyline. It was one of those mysteries that made you smile while reading it, which means you really enjoyed it. I look forward to more books by this author to enjoy!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Another good cozy. I am becoming a huge fan of the cozy mystery genre due to books like this. You can read this as an escape from the everyday in a weekend. A really good mystery.

As someone who works in a library, I was so excited to see this new series. I started reading this book and could not put it down. I read it in one night. I loved Josie and the town and people of Wilifred Oregon. The story had a great pace and the mystery had great surprises in the end. I can't wait for the next book in this series. If you love books and magic this new series is for you

Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders
Publisher: Kensington Books
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Release Date: December 29, 2020

Bait and Witch is the first book in the new Witch Way Librarian Mysteries by Angela M. Sanders.

This was such a great cozy mystery! I loved the paranormal aspect! The characters were great and the story was incredible!

I would highlight recommend this to anyone looking for a paranormal cozy mystery! It is a quick read with a great story! I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

I'm so grateful to Angela M. Sanders, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Bait and Witch

This is a new paranormal cozy mystery series in Wilford Oregon. Josie Way has accepted a Librarian job in this town as a way to hide so she thinks.

While working for the Library of Congress she and a friend over hear a conversation of corruption. After they go to the FBI her friend disappears and Josies decides to leave town. She arrives at her new job to find out that the library is set to be torn down, she also discovers that she is descended from a long line of witches.
The books actually talk to her. Josie finds a body her first night she arrives, all she can think is they found her. Josie has so much to think about, her new magic ability, who killed the woman, will the library be torn down. Rodney the cat is right by her side whenever she gets into trouble.
Will Josie find the killer and save the library and herself.

I am new to Paranormal cozy mysteries and I loved this one, I couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait for the next one in this series.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Josie, a librarian and whistleblower from DC, has escaped across the country to try to avoid the culprits whose plans she thwarted. She hopes a small library in an obscure town in Oregon will provide the perfect refuge. But when she discovers a dead body her first night in town, she has reason to question her decision. She wonders if the corpse had anything to do with her plight.

She has more things to question than just that. By crossing The Great Divide, she unleashes a hidden power that she never suspected she had. And it is an awesome power that frightens her. She discovers that she is able to commune with the books in the library as well as Rodney, the cat who adopts her the moment she arrives. Added to her own lack of full disclosure to her new employers, she discovers they too have been less than honest. The library, her new home, is threatened with demolition. It may only be days before its fate is known but Josie, with her connection to the books, jumps in to try to persuade the judge it still has value in the community.

Everything comes together as she sets herself up as bait, added by an FBI agent with a deep personal connection to both the town and the library. Still frightened of her uncontrolled power, Josie will have to decide whether she uses it when her life is on the line. It’s a good mystery with some fascinating characters about town. The library itself is a delight. I can well imagine spending hours roaming its rooms. The story grabbed me from the start and it never let go. I hope there will be further adventures.

Five purrs and two paws up.

This is a great start to a new cozy mystery series! I thought that the story started off maybe a little slow but I quickly became interested and couldn't put it down. With all the twists and turns, I was surprised at the murderer. I would definitely recommend to fans of mystery series and supernatural.

I devoured this awesome book! I liked the writing style. The magic is fascinating. I like the library in Wilfred. I didn't know who the killer was. I really want to read the next book in this series.

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
So this is the first book in a new paranormal cozy mystery series. I should say that paranormal is not something that I usually go for - whether it’s mystery, romance or historical fiction. The writing really does have to be good for me to want to continue or pick up a paranormal book.
I’m pleased to say that this book kept me interested and I didn’t have to do too many eye rolls, which seems to be my default facial expression when I read paranormal. It’s not a judgement- it’s just that it’s not my thing and I really struggle to engage with that kind of story line. Anyway, I’m not being a negative Nellie in this review as I did actually enjoy the book.
I really enjoyed the setting of a library in a Victorian mansion and the emotional pull of it being under threat of closure. I also enjoyed all the literary references and mentions of some of my favourite classic authors and books (homage to Jane Austen was duly paid so that’s a big plus point for me whatever).
To be honest I found all the goings on outside of the murder just, or maybe even more engaging than the murder itself. And I didn’t guess who the murderer was either, which I personally find quite fun- I quite like to be surprised.
This is definitely a series that I will be continuing on with (but don’t tell my tbr as there’s already an abundance of started series on there already. Should be able to sneak another on the list though without too much upset).

What an enjoyable start to a new series! I'm a big fan of paranormal mysteries, especially when it involves a witch. Josie flees Washington DC and finds herself the new librarian in Wilfred, Oregon. Enter a quaint little town, a cast of quirky characters and Josie discovering she's a witch. The storyline was fun and I'm excited for book 2.

Josie Way loves her job at the Library of Congress. But one day she overhears something while having lunch in the stacks that endangers her life and makes her go on the run. In an effort to hide she takes a job as librarian in Wilfred, Oregon.

Once in Wilfred she finds out there is drama in the small town. The library, housed in a Victorian mansion, is scheduled to be sold and demolished to make way for a resort. When she finds a body soon after arriving, Josie wonders if she's found a good place to hide, or the bad guys have found her.

While dealing with the possibility of someone coming after her, and the discovery of a dead body, Josie learns she is descended from witches, and her own powers have suddenly come out.

Josie and her new friends are working to keep the library from being torn down, at the same time Josie is coming to terms with her new power.

I would actually give this book 3 1/2 stars. I wouldn't classify it as a cozy, because I don't feel the murder mystery took center stage. There were no clues left for the reader to try and figure out whodunit. It is more of a coming into powers story, with a mystery thrown into it. The reader never meets the victim, so to me she seemed like a secondary character.

The town, however, is full of characters, which added to the charm of the book. I liked Josie. She's a strong character who goes to bat for the library, even though she's very new to the community. The way she dealt with her newfound powers made her even stronger to me. There is also a great cat, Rodney, which I always love to find in books.

In all, I will read the second book in this series when it comes out, but I won't go into it expecting a cozy.

I read a digital copy of this book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders is a fantastic first book for a wonderful new series about witches and books.

Can Josie figure out who killed a woman the night she arrived?

Josephine "Josie" Way
Josie Way is the main character and the point of view character. She is a librarian trying to do what she needs to do. Well, that is until she gets to Wilfred, Oregon. Josie is trying to figure out a way to solve this mystery while not letting out what she was really doing. She is a great character, and I love everything about this book. I love how she finds out about her magic. It's a great read.

The Mystery
The mystery is about a young city woman found dead near the library but no one knowing why she was there. Josie thinks it has something to do with her, but really it wasn't. I was shocked by who did it, and I loved the hints about everything. The other case that was going on is about the reason why Josie is there. I liked how each of the cases is interconnected in some way to what was happening in town. The dead woman is a great way to put the FBI there to help the murderer and make sure that no one cares about what happens to the person who did it.

Five Stars
Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders is an outstanding book, and I loved reading it. Ms. Sanders is a great author, and I loved her different way of doing witches, especially for a cozy. Josie is a wonderful character, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment. Everything about this book is fabulous.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was an okay start to a new series.

First in the series.

A cute, quick, and very light read, without a lot of serious substance. A typical first in the series, and getting to know the main characters.

I like that it was set in an old Victorian building turned in to a library. Some of the back story was a bit over the top, but I could overlook that.

I look forward to book 2

Bait and Witch was my first ARC that I received for 2021. If you aren't familiar with ARC's they are advanced reader copies that are given in an exchange for an honest review. I was pretty excited to get this copy because it combined two of my favorite things, magic and cozy mysteries. There were a lot of great things about this book but it just didn't hit the mark for a 5 star read. The main issue that prevented me from giving this 5 stars was that it was a little hard to connect with the main character. But there were some magical things that happened in the book that I honestly loved. Talking books anyone? Well, technically they only spoke in Josie's head, but still! Being able to just hear the name of the book someone needs and it help them in some way would be such a cool power to have.

The book itself starts off with Josie accepting a job in a library in some small town. At first it seems normal, until you find out that she is actually on the run from something. Then a body shows up and Josie is convinced that it was someone trying to find and killer her! Okay, so that is what really drew me in. Why was someone trying to kill her? What was so special about her that makes someone want to travel cross country to kill someone? And then you have the slow addition of magical things happening. The books whispering and making suggestions, and Josie matching people to things that they didn't even know they needed. She slowly starts to have a positive effect on the people in this small town. But of course everything isn't all butterflies and sunshine. The library she just got a job at might be closing, someone is trying to kill her, and she started to have some feelings for the rich benefactor of the library but he too is hiding a secret.

So, there were a lot of things that were happening in this book because the author was trying to set the stage for a series. You have Josie who has something magical unlocked inside of her. The reveal with this one seemed a little rushed. Pretty much things began to happen but then another character was used to fill in what happened to her and the magic inside of her all these years. It just felt like there she was the last to know about her abilities and everyone was just like "oh yeah you are totally special". That part was disappointing BUT I understand why it was done. There was a lot of ground to cover in this book so the reader needed to get some of that information somehow. I did love that her ability causes her to be able to have a connection with books. This was a fun thing and I look forward to seeing that develop in the next book in the series.

Overall, the murder mystery portion of the book was very interesting. I will admit, I had my suspicions but the killer did end up surprising me! Just like Josie, the reader is lead to believe that everything is tied to the reason she is in hiding but the truth is a lot more complicated. The reader had to really pay attention to all the clues and characters that were introduced. Not everything is as it appears to be. Sanders also did an amazing job making the library itself, its own character. I can't wait how that develops later in the series. I believe this is a great beginning to a new series, but I am hoping the next book delves more into her powers and allows the reader to connect with her a little better. This was an interesting start to a new series.

Josie needs to escape D.C. in a hurry after overhearing something she shouldn't have while taking a break in the basement of the Library of Congress. In order to keep her family safe, Josie doesn't end up where her family things she is going. Instead of New York, Josie is in the middle of Nowheresville, Oregon. A sleepy little town, Wilfred, OR doesn't offer much but a historic mansion-turned-library, a diner, a few stores, and a trailer park. Upon arrival, Josie is shocked to learn the library has been sold to a couple who want to tear it down and rebuild a more modern retreat on the land. Josie's hideaway is about to be destroyed. In the midst of the news, Josie finds a body in some bushes on the library's property. Was this person looking for her and if so, who killed them and why?

Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Josie decides she wants to do something to help prevent the demolition of the library. She also does some sleuthing on the side. She can't identify the body and the police aren't talking but she sure can try to find out if who they are pinning the murder on is right. After all, the person just doesn't seem like the type (although, do they ever?!) and she's sure something's missing. There are a few potential suspects, each with their own reasons for possibly wanting someone dead - some of them shocking. I was actually surprised at the reveal of the murderer and why. I didn't see it coming and was blindsided by the revelation. Bravo, Ms. Sanders, Bravo!

Josie was a delightful heroine who discovers she's from a long line of witches. Not being raised to know or understand her powers, Josie is frightened of them and what she could possible do. Josie also was a smart amateur detective. She didn't do anything that made me mutter under my breath about the legalities, shake my head at the pure lack of common sense, or yell at her for doing something totally stupid. Josie is my kind of cozy mystery heroine. She's smart, thoughtful, caring, and willing to go the extra mile, even though she hasn't been in town very long. The secondary characters were entertaining and enjoyed getting to know everyone in Wilfred.

This book was simply amazing. The pacing was perfect - not too fast or too slow. Everything about Bait and Witch captivated me and keep me engaged. I didn't want to put the book down. I'm really excited for the next book!

Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders is the delightful debut of A Witch Way Librarian Mystery series. Josie Way has been working at the Library of Congress. She is having lunch in a basement room with her co-worker and friend when they overhear two men plotting corruption. They report what they overheard, and the FBI becomes involved. The next day Josie’s co-worker has vanished which has Josie and his wife worried. Josie decides to lay low and takes a position as librarian in Wilfred, Oregon. The next day, Josie learns that beautiful Victorian the library resides in may be sold which means she will be out of a job as well as a place to live and a hiding place. Later that day, Josie takes a walk in the woods and finds a murdered woman. Josie has always felt a kinship with books, but she begins to notice some odd things after beginning her new job. Its almost as if the books are talking to her. That cannot be possible or can it? Bait and Witch is a fun story to read. I liked the interesting cast of characters that includes the library staff, town residents, Josie’s family, Rodney, the library cat. I liked getting to know Josie and look forward to seeing what happens with her next. The author has a casual writing style that makes this cozy mystery easy to read. The book moved along at a good pace and we are given vivid descriptions of Wilfred, the library, the shops, and its residents. I especially loved the descriptions of the Victorian the library resides in. There is humor scattered throughout the story along with mystery, friendship, suspense, family, and a touch of romance. The mystery was not the focus of the book in the beginning. It becomes more prominent as the tale progresses. There is a red herring, a couple of suspects, and helpful clues. Bait and Witch is a cute cozy mystery with a paranormal twist. The author came up with some fun paranormal elements. I thought a book witch was a wonderful concept (great opportunities for book references). I am looking forward to reading the next A Witch Way Librarian Mystery. Bait and Witch is a diverting tale with a clever cat, a secretive man named Sam, Roz’s curious project, rampant rumors, political corruption, babbling books, and witchy wonders.

This book was so good that there were some spots where I couldn't even put it down! I really liked the key players a lot and feel like Josie, Roz and Darla will become good friends. Rodney was such an awesome cat, and Josie's powers that she discovered were pretty cool too. I loved what she could do using Rodney's body to get the job done--it came in really handy saving someone's life eventually.

At one point there was a random clue that made me start suspecting whodunit, and I was right, but I had no idea about all the reasons involved. The parts toward the end were suspenseful and the showdown was pretty nail biting since it somewhat followed a vision that Josie's mom had told her she'd had of her, but with her good cat friend and assorted human friends, Josie made it through and caught the real killer. I really loved the ending, and now I'm going to have trouble waiting patiently for the next book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, and my opinions are my own.

There are cozy mysteries that have the standard formula of interesting newcomer solving mysteries, and then there are those with actual magic woven (or in some cases thrown) in. I have not been a fan of many with the magic angle and not had much luck with them, but every once in a while when I see the start of a new series I give in to an impulse and decide to pick it up.
This time around (as you might have guessed from the elaborate introduction), I liked the magical addition. We have Josie Way, who has taken up a job as a Librarian in a small town in order to hide from people who mean her harm. She loves books and thinks this will be a comfortable hiding place, but things immediately start to get more complicated. First, there is the fact that the library is being contested and up to be converted to a retreat centre (my only doubt throughout was why could the retreat centre not have a library?) then there is the fact that a woman was found dead behind the library the very next day after her arrival. To top it all Josie is 'communicating' with books like she never has before, in an almost unbelievable way - until the most apparent explanation makes sense. You have to be okay with magical realism in your books for this part to be digested. It is introduced slowly and made into a substantial backbone for the narrative, so I personally had no complaints.
The investigation and the mingling of the different characters in town were entertaining and set a pretty good foundation for the series as a whole. I did not see the twist coming because it was placed in a completely different position in the book that I am used to. I liked the way things tied up and the narrative voice(s).
I look forward to revisiting their town soon.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

BAIT AND WITCH by Angela M. Sanders
The First Witch Way Librarian Mystery

When her co-worker disappears after they blow the whistle on government corruption, librarian Josie Way decides to run, at least until after the trial. Taking a job as head librarian in the tiny out of the way town of Wilfred, Oregon, Josie feels as if she's found home. Her senses have come alive and the unique library housed in a Victorian Manor seems to welcome her. Even the books call to her. Before she can get settled, Josie learns that the library is on the chopping block as the majority of the trustees want to sell and have a retreat center built in its place. Then she finds a dead body! Certain that the body is someone sent to silence her, Josie wonders if she can save both the library and herself!

I absolutely loved this book! A complicated mystery with several subplots, BAIT AND WITCH stands apart from other cozy mysteries in that our protagonist isn't trying to solve a murder or prove someone's innocence. She just wants to survive and save the town's library. The story is filled with twists and turns and lots of surprises keeping readers on their toes.

The First Witch Way Librarian Mystery gives us lots of unique complicated characters. Their nuances, their quirks, and their backstories provide a rich landscape that the author cultivates brilliantly. Almost everyone seems to have a secret agenda and even the books and portraits in the library have character and express emotion.

I love the way the magick reveals itself and can't wait for Josie to fully accept and explore her abilities. She had me quite put out with her at one point as I shouted at her to use her magick! Of course, I adore Rodney and look forward to seeing more of him.

BAIT AND WITCH gives a powerhouse start to a new series. I was completely engrossed and enchanted and can't wait to return to Wilfred, Oregon.

Bait and Witch is an exciting start to what is sure to be an entertaining cozy mystery series. Josie Way is on the run! When she and a colleague overhear a corrupt deal going down at their government job in Washington D.C., they find themselves in serious trouble. And when Josie's friend disappears, she assumes the worst and makes a run for it...all the way across the country to Oregon!

I loved Bait and Witch. The small town setting along with quirky characters, books, and a cat, give it all of the elements I love about the cozy mystery genre. The magic just gives it that extra, well, magic! Josie's unique skill set (no spoilers!) is enviable, and one I'd choose if I had gotten my letter to Hogwarts...still waiting...

Though there are a lot of  things to love about Bait and Witch, I'd have to say that the eclectic mix of characters gave the book that special something for me. Josie certainly didn't know what she was signing up for by heading to this small town, but she finds some special friendships among this quirky bunch.

I am looking forward to reading the following books in this series. If you like your cozies with a bit of magic, you'll enjoy Bait and Witch too!