Cozy mysteries often have a theme and sometime they can come across as a little far-fetched or make you feel as though you've read it before, this one was different and I found it refreshing. Always love it when a story focuses on a librarian, and with one who has a bit of supernatural thrown in. I loved Josie's ability to recommend a book to anyone and it always be the right one. The power of a library, it's books and those who work in them is strong, and inspiring. Highly recommend!

Cozy mysteries are adorable and this one was as well. This one centering around a librarian that finds out she's a witch was so cute and just what I needed. I do think that the murder part of the story could have been a little better. But it was still good enough that I so need the next one if there is! I loved the characters and the story and I need more!

Books and magic?! Sign me up.  These are some of my favorite aspects in a cozy mystery, and this story did not disappoint.  I loved getting to know the small town of Wilfred, it's citizens, and the wonderful sounding library in an old mansion. If I had the option I would be there all the time.  This story had many mysterious aspects; not only is there a murder, but Josie is running away from her old home in DC, AND she is discovering magical powers! Though this story was light on the actual sleuthing, there was enough going on to keep me interested and guessing the whole time. Josie is a great character and I cannot wait to see more of her and I hope we see more magic she can do.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me through NetGalley. This book was just absolutely wonderful. It was just so easy to get lost in and I just couldn’t put it down. I just lost myself within this amazing story. I most definitely will read more by this author.

Highly enjoyable paranormal cozy mystery starring a librarian on the run who takes a job in a small town where things aren't quite what they seem. Enjoyed the combination of small town politics, suspense and intrigue, and discovery of magic. Especially loved the cat familiar, Rodney! Very likeable main character and well-written and well-paced story.

Josephine works at the Library of the Congress, a day during her lunch break she overhears a shady deal between two men so after she reported it to the authorities she decides to go on the run. She is lucky enough to get a job as librarian in an Oregon little town, but when she arrives she soon understands that her life won't be quiet as she expected, with books that speal to her and the discovery of a dead body near her new house.

I wanted to try something new and I decided to try to read some cozy mystries books, and what's better than start a new genre with reading the first book in a new series? I tell you, nothing.
I've really enjoyed Bait And Witch, it was such a nice read that kept my attention all through. I loved the magic element and how our heroine discovers her magic powers slowly and gradually.

Angela M. Sanders depicted her characters really well, especially the towners that seem all friendly but every single one of them keeps a secret from the others.
The mystery is intriguing and very well developped, you won't solve it until the author wants you to.

I wish I can read soon Josie's next adventure.

Bait and Witch is the first in a new series, by Angela M. Sanders, and tells the story of Josie a librarian who finds out that she is a witch.

Josie loves books and has a dream job at the Library of Congress. While on lunchbreak, she and her friend accidently hear something being discussed with the Senator’s chief of staff. Something very shady. Being a good citizen, Josie shares this information, and soon after she doesn’t feel safe. Her friend has disappeared could she be next? To be safe, she flees to small-town Oregon to go into hiding. No one will find her there. Luckily, she applies and gets hired for a librarian job available there.

As soon as she arrives, Josie stumbles upon a dead body and fears she has been found! Not only does Josie have to deal with the fear that her life is in danger, but she also found out the library - her saving grace in this situation - is on the verge of being sold.

This mystery includes books, a black cat, a witch learning how to maneuver her craft and a town that reminds me of Star Hallow, from Gilmore Girls. All the ingredients of a good witch’s brew.

Bait and Witch was a super fun read. Looking forward to the next bewitching Josie adventure!

Thank you NETGALLEY, Angela M. Sanders and Kensington Books for this early preview in exchange for my honest review. ♥️
 
#BaitandWitch #NetGalley

This story is quite interesting. The storyline flowed well and it was easy and fun to follow the plot. There are a number of characters besides the main character, Josie Way, who are very likable. I liked how Josie discovered her magic and that she realized she has a lot to learn to use it safely.

I love a mystery where the ending is a total surprise and that's what I got. I love Wilfred and most of its people and the library sounds like a book lover's dream. Josie's magic is a twist I've never seen before and the possibilities are endless. I also appreciated that her attempts at questioning people were clumsy and not well received. Too often the amature detective is a better investigator than the professionals which can seem unrealistic. I look forward to seeing more as Josie learns about her magic.

What a sweet, heart-warming, cozy mystery! This was a pure cover pick for me and it could not have been a more fun spooky season read! Josie runs from DC to Oregon to start a new life as the librarian in an eclectic town where taking a bath at the library is just something people do. As she settles in strange things start to happen, is she over tired or maybe it’s something more? I stayed up late reading this one several nights in a row, just because I wanted to see what would happen next. The town's characters seem right out of Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls. Perfect for fans of Juliet Blackwell’s Witchcraft Mystery series!

A great cosy mystery interspersed with a sprinkle of magic. Loved the way this small town dealt with the upheaval!

I enjoyed this mystery and am looking forward to reading the next book. This is primarily a mystery, the paranormal element is pretty light and could easily have been left out. On the paranormal side, Josie's handling of her power had me raising my eyebrow a bit. On the mystery side, I thought the killer's motive for killing and handling of it was weak. Also, Josie seems very savvy in some aspects in her move to Wilfred, but makes really rudimentary errors especially given the powers the people after her would have. However, while I was reading the story I just accepted everything and was able to enjoy it.

I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a good start to new series. Josie has to put herself into her own sort of witness protection program to get away from the people who might be trying to kill her in DC for whistleblowing on what she heard in the library stacks with a colleague. Her colleague has gone missing and Josie is smart enough to know that she needs to get out of town. The only flawed logic in this is that Josie took a job which is tied to her social security number on her paycheck so I feel like that is super easy to track down. But this isn't a Jason Bourne novel so whatever....skipping over that detail, it's a fun read. She discovers she's descended from witches and there's a black cat Rodney that loyally follows her around at her Victorian mansion above the library as her new home. She's working hard to keep the library from being shut down and turned into a resort.
The murder was a little random in that no one in town knew who it was nor did anyone seem overly concerned but otherwise it had all the markings of a classic cozy - super slow, lots of random stuff like the knitting club, the assistant librarian who's a friend and the mean real estate agent.

With it's small town charm, political intrigue, interesting characters, magic, and a mystery full of twist and turns. I couldn't put it down and can't wait for more.

A solid opening for a cozy mystery series. This book has everything you want in the genre: a twisty (but solvable) mystery,small town charm, a library, budding romances and magic. There are a few holes in the plot, like how Josie’s escape from the threats in DC is completely illogical if not impossible, however, once the scene is set, the book is a great read. There is lots of room here for more in this series, and I look forward to reading more about this small town’s resident witch-librarian.

The perfect job for the perfect cover for someone who just blew the whistle on a Senator's aide. Or at least that is what Josephine Way, with the unusual star birthmark, thought she was doing. At least that is until she ends up in the middle of a land dispute between the library trustees. If that was not interesting enough lets add a little magic to the mix. I liked the twist on the magic and the idea that there is not one type of witch but rather there are those who have special powers, Josie seems to be a bibliowitch who can talk to books and get the books to talk back. Of course this is a little scary and a lot of overwhelming at first and completely fueled by emotion. Oh and one more bit to add to this intersting story is the murder aspect, of course. It seems that a body has been discovered, the body of a finisher. So who were they coming to finish off? There are a whole lot of rabbit holes to go down with this cozy as the plot thickens and the characters are developed. First in a new series and definetly off to a great start. and I will be the first to admit that I did not see that one coming with regards to the murderer.

An amazing coming into your own story combined with a thrilling mystery. Josie is a whistle-blower who is on the run. She lands in Oregon and her life changes in ways she could never imagine. The small town of Wilfred is in need of a librarian and revenue for the citizens. Will the town be saved in addition to Josie? This is a one sitting read that you will not want to put down. I hope this is the beginning of a series,

Cozy read with an engaging plot, carefully crafted characters and lots of twists that will keep you hooked till the very end.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of BAIT AND WITCH by Angela M. Sanders in exchange for an honest review. Josie Way loves her job at the Library of Congress, but she has to flee after she overheard the schemes of corrupt government officials. Josie accepted a job at a library located in the tiny mid-west town of Wilfred, which is so small it isn’t even on maps. Even though Josie only planned a short stay at her new job, she’s appalled to find out the town plans to demolish the library and, as a result, her new job. Then, she finds a murder victim behind the building. All of this stress causes Josie’s very new-found magical powers to flare and go haywire. Will Josie be able to save the library and find a killer? Will Josie be able to survive being hunted by corrupt politicos and being cornered by a killer? Will Josie’s new powers be her salvation or her doom?

I really, really liked this book. It was a terrific start to a new series. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring books, magic, and political intrigue.

#BaitandWitch #NetGalley

This is a fun story where the main character runs away from her normal life. She leaves Washington DC Congress library after over hearing something nobody was supposed to hear. Her friend was murdered and she took a job in Oregon at a library in a town trying to close it down and build a retreat on the property. Upon her arrival she finds a body near the library of a women she believes was sent to get rid of her. As the new librarian she puts together information to try to save the library. The story takes place in a small town that doesn’t have much going for it as far as job opportunities so they are trying to keep the library to help the people by educating them through the books they read. A very enjoyable story to all who may read it.