**I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

I really enjoyed this first in the series! It's a light, fun cozy mystery, with an entertaining main character. Josie seems a little reluctant to be caught up in this amateur sleuth role, which is slightly different than the usual format of a cozy mystery. Yet, she handles the situations well and her meeting of characters in this book leads to exciting possibilities in character development later in the series.

I enjoyed the magical realism interlaced in this book, and I will definitely continue the series. Recommended.

Taking a job in a remote small town in Oregon seems like the best way to hide from those who may be looking to silence librarian Josie Way after she becomes a witness in a corruption scandal. Instead of the quiet safe life she was expecting, however, Josie finds herself in the middle of another crime investigation--one involving murder--when she stumbles across a body in the woods. As if that wasn't shocking enough, strange things begin to happen around Josie as she comes into unexpected magical abilities that had being laying dormant most of her life.

Her new employer had not told her the library, housed in a Victorian mansion, was at risk of being torn down when she accepted the job. There is speculation the murder may be related, but no one knows for sure. Josie decides to use her newfound powers and connection to the books to solve the murder while at the same time try to save her new job and friends.

This paranormal cozy mystery was a delight to read. There are plenty of secrets--and not so secret secrets--Josie finds herself looking into, which helps give the novel a stronger sense of place. At times, the murder investigation takes second seat to the saving of the library, but it did not detract me from the story. Author Angela M. Sanders pulled me right into the pages of the book, and I felt like I was walking among the Wilfred residents. Josie's backstory is a big part of this novel. The reader sees her discover her magical powers--and what book lover would not especially like that her magic centers around books? Bait and Witch whet my appetite for reading more in the series and that's exactly what I did!

Great cozy mystery with a supernatural spin. I always enjoy a protagonist who is a book lover and here we meet a terrific example of just such a sleuth. Yes, it is a cozy mystery, but it also crosses genre with its supernatural touches and that makes it really different and fun to read.

I tried reading it. However disliked the reading style. And found the story lacking personally. I found that I did not care for the characters :/

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. this is a great new mystery series that I can't wait to read more of. the animals are especially engaging

Bait and Witch and Seven-Year Witch by Angela M. Sanders are the first and second book in the new paranormal cozy Witch Way Librarian Mysteries series. As with most cozy mystery series each of the books in the Witch Way Librarian Mysteries will contain their own mystery to be fully solved so they can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. There is of course character development that carries over from book to book for those that read from the beginning.

Josie Way had been working at the Library of Congress when she became a witness to a corruption case and became a target for those involved. Looking to disappear until things were resolved in DC Josie found an opening at a small town library in Wilfred, Oregon where she thought she would never be found.

After arriving in Wilfred Josie finds her safe place was not as she expected with the library being housed in an old Victorian mansion which was slated for demolition. As Josie tries to figure out what to do next though she finds that she’s actually she’s descended from a long line of witches. Josie’s witchy roots help her in her new job and also finding the killers that seem to plague the small town.

Being someone that enjoys all different kinds of books I’m always drawn to those that cross different elements of genres together. Seeing that the Witch Way Librarian Mysteries series had a touch of paranormal I was immediately engaged in the story in the first book. I enjoyed the characters and knew I would return for book two after finishing the first. The second book went down a little in rating as I found that I thought it could have done a little better re-introducing the characters and setting than it did but the mystery was still a fun one to follow so I will continue on to book three.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this paranormal cozy with a witchy librarian. As a librarian myself, the idea of books speaking to me and magic readers' advisory is the stuff of dreams, so I loved reading about it. I will definitely be continuing with the series.

I absolutely loved this cozy mystery with a hint of magic and a dash of small town charm. It was a fun story with a good plot. You could tell from the set up and character exploration that it is the beginning of a series which made me want to read more of them! I'm excited to see what comes next.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. I adored Rodney's character. This is a fast paced book. The setting is peaceful. I definitely didn't expect that person to do it. This book is in stores for $8.99 (USD). I highly highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

This is a cozy mystery, and this is the first book in a new series. I liked some parts of this book, but I hated other parts of this book. I have to say I really hated the ending because I feel it was not a ending. It was like we were running a long and just stopped out of no where, and that was the ending. I hate books that do that even if there is going to be another book in the series. Maybe that is just me, but I need a good ending in a book. I also felt that it took me 30% of the book for me to care about the characters. I did love the mystery, and I love how the author did the witch parts in this book. I will read the second book in this series, but I will be hoping the ending will be a ton better in that book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Kensington) or author (Angela M. Sanders) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Great start to the series! Angela works with me in our Sisters in Crime chapter. I'm looking forward to the next title in the series.

This is a solid start to a new series. The mystery’s twists, turns, and surprises will have not glued to your book. This is a paranormal cozy but it is light on the paranormal. The characters are likable and fun.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

Bait and Witch is a fantastic addition to the cozy mystery genre. Josie Way is a delightful character, who is introduced to us as a librarian who is moving to a remote area in Oregon.
Taking over the local library is just what Josie needs to try and figure out some serious issues.
Bizarre things begin to take place as Josie is introduced to the staff and board of directors.
Josie begins to feel an odd connection with the books in the library, her ability to know exactly what the patron needs to read next.
As if her own issues aren’t causing her enough problems, she finds out she was hired under false pretenses, and may not even have a job to depend on.
I liked the feel of this story, and an immediate connection to Josie made it very easy to lose myself in this story. As I settled in to read this story, I soon became totally immersed in Josie’s life, as she has an important decision to make.
I would definitely recommend this book to paranormal cozy mystery fans as well as anyone who appreciates a well told story.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.
#BaitandWitch #NetGalley

Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders
Book #1: Witch Way Librarian Mysteries
Source: NetGally and Purchase
Rating: 4½/5 stars

Some people go their whole lives without every seeing the kind of trouble Josie Way has found herself in. Thanks to an ill-timed lunch in her secret place, Josie is now on the run from a powerful corporation with a very long reach. She’s landed herself in a very small town in Oregon heading up a small library that is apparently on the verge of being shut down. With no real job prospects, no confidence in returning home, and some weird new sensations going on, Josie isn’t at all sure what her future looks like.

Wilfred, Oregon isn’t at all what Josie expected. They library is in a beautifully constructed old family home with a load of history, the town is small and relatively tight-knit, and the landscape surrounding the town is unlike anything Josie has ever seen. What’s more, since she arrived in Wilfred, Josie seems to be able to communicate with the books in the library, a skill she certainly has never had before.

Though settling into any new location is awkward, Josie’s is particularly awkward given the uncertain future of the library she was hired to run. IN short order, Josie decides to fight for her new library even if it means going up against some of the town’s heavy hitters. With the books on her side and a group of loyal patrons, Josie is sure they can save the library. Of course, she’s only going to get to enjoy the saving if she survives the fixers that have been sent to shut her up.

In this midst of all the other turmoil, Josie must also try to understand why she can suddenly hear books talk, why everything around here appears, smells, and tastes better than anything every has before, and why the local “stray” cat seems to have attached himself to her. There’s got to be an explanation, but none of the books seem to have the answers. To find the information she needs and wants, Josie is going to have to rattle some family cages.

The Bottom Line: Oh! This is a book I am so excited to have read and sad I put it off for so long. I was into this book from the very beginning and didn’t give up until I finished the whole thing. I found every aspect of this book – plot, characters, setting, etc. – to be wonderfully fun, suitably quirky, and just the right level of everything for a proper cozy mystery. Mixing a bit of the paranormal with a cozy mystery is always a fine idea and I can’t wait for rounds two, three, four, five . . . . well, you get the idea 😊

A first by me by this author and it will not be my last. A first in this new cozy mystery series was everything I hoped for in a cozy. A librarian with magical powers finds herself not only searching for the truth at work but within herself as well! I definitely can't wait to read more books in this series! Loved it.

Librarian Josie Way loved working at the Library of Congress, it was her happy place. But then she overheard a conversation dealing with corruption and she now needs to get away.
Bait and Witch is the first book in the new Witch Way Librarian Cozy Mystery series.
This book has a small-town feel and I enjoyed getting to know the characters.
Newcomer Josie Way decides it's best to skeddadle out of there from her beloved job at the Library of Congress and starts over as a librarian at the Wilfred, Oregon library which is housed in a Victorian mansion which she is devastated to learn is set to be demolished.
Shocked to learn she is a descendant of witches her powers become stronger.
When things get dangerous she is able to use her newfound magical powers to save herself.
I love these cozy mysteries, so much fun to read.

Pub Date 29 Dec 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery! The story was fun and entertaining, and the main character was relatable and loveable. The plot was well paced, and I could not guess the plot twists!

This is book 1 in a new cozy series, Witch Way Librarian. Josie is hiding out in a small town in Oregon when she becomes a witness in a major crime trial. Leaving her job at the Library of Congress to become librarian in Wilfred was to be a temporary solution but murder has followed her and now she is deep in an investigation in shady real estate. Josie is also dealing with emerging powers from her witch ancestors. A cute cozy that has me looking forward to book 2. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Release Date: December 29 2020

Josie is escaping DC, or rather fleeing it after witnessing a crime. There is no where safer than Wilfred...or so she thinks. The day after she gets to town, she stumbles on a dead body. Could someone have come after her? And if that’s not enough Josie seems to have awoken her magical powers on top of everything else! What’s a witch to do?

This is the first book in a new series. Josie is a witch that has books talk to her. What a great concept! Add to that the colorful characters of Wilfred and the whole book was just fun. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series!

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

#baitandwitch #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #cozymysteryseries #netgalleyreads

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.