What do you think?
Rate this book
Widow's Bay #1
Resting Witch Face Lib/E: A Widow's Bay Novel
Between her cheating husband and her on-air meltdown, Marzie Nowak is going through a bit of a bad spell and a heck of a midlife crisis. Her kids have flown the coop to college and her husband has opted to trade her in for a younger model. With nowhere else to turn, the ex-big-city journalist crawls back to her superstitious hometown of Widow's Bay just in time for their annual pagan festival. Her new, much less glamorous gig has her reporting for a local news website. It doesn't take long for her to realize the legends surrounding Widow's Bay may be more practical magic than fanciful myth. Soon Marzie is forced to contend with an invasion of flirty furry tourists, a sun-shy billionaire, and her suddenly chatty cat's fashion advice. When an unsolved murder sparks her own mystical powers Marzie comes face to face with the fact menopause is a real witch and so is she! With a killer on the loose and magical mysteries around every corner, can Marzie crack the case before her next meltdown? Or hot flash? Because in Widow's Bay a hot flash means your magic is just getting warmed up!
Audio CD
Published July 21, 2020
763 people are currently reading
620 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Regnier
27 books160 followersI write, beachy women's fiction, paranormal women's fiction, and I'm also a columnist.
I was in television news for 21 years but hung up the hairspray to become an author.
Give me a follow on TikTok, it's my latest way to procrastinate.
I'm an avid reader and fan. Thank you for connecting with me here!
I was in television news for 21 years but hung up the hairspray to become an author.
Give me a follow on TikTok, it's my latest way to procrastinate.
I'm an avid reader and fan. Thank you for connecting with me here!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
November 24, 2021
Resting Witch Face is the first in a new paranormal series featuring Marzie Nowak a newly fired television newscaster, now hometown reporter in her old childhood home, a town that appears to be a more magical than she remembers.
When she arrives in town, Marzie discovers that the murder of one of the town's oldest residents isn't at all what it seems, the owner of the new ski resort is not what he appears to be either and the loggers moving into town, well, nooooo, they are not really what they seem to be at all. Is it just Marzie or is the whole town actually quite different from what she remembers?
Yes, Resting Witch Face is all about the paranormal, from witches to shape shifters and more in between. It's written well, it's hilarious at times and, most importantly, it's highly entertaining. I absolutely loved getting to know the Yoopers in this story and learning about life in the UP! Guess where I'm heading come summer!? You betcha - the U.P! If cozies with paranormal are your thing, then you'll find Resting Witch Face a perfect read.
When she arrives in town, Marzie discovers that the murder of one of the town's oldest residents isn't at all what it seems, the owner of the new ski resort is not what he appears to be either and the loggers moving into town, well, nooooo, they are not really what they seem to be at all. Is it just Marzie or is the whole town actually quite different from what she remembers?
Yes, Resting Witch Face is all about the paranormal, from witches to shape shifters and more in between. It's written well, it's hilarious at times and, most importantly, it's highly entertaining. I absolutely loved getting to know the Yoopers in this story and learning about life in the UP! Guess where I'm heading come summer!? You betcha - the U.P! If cozies with paranormal are your thing, then you'll find Resting Witch Face a perfect read.
March 31, 2021
Resting Witch Face by Rebecca Regnier is an entertaining introduction to Widow's Bay located in the upper peninsula of Michigan and the paranormal community that resides there. I enjoyed meeting Marzie, her friends and the women of the Distinguished Ladies Club/The Crones.
February 22, 2021
This was a fun read but could definitely use a bit more editing along the way to polish it up. I would definitely consider book two though!
February 26, 2024
'Resting Witch Face' kicks off a cosy Urban Fantasy series set in the small town of Widow's Bay on Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It's a fun mix of what the main character, Marzie Nowak, describes as "magic, murder and menopause".
One thing that made the book stand out for me was that, for once, this is an Urban Fantasy book where the main characters aren't in their teens or twenties. The focus is on two generations of women, one set who are in their nineties and one set in their late thirties, The younger women, who have all been friends since childhood, are all widowed or divorced. They are all women who can exercise magic, especially when they work together. I loved the idea that their magic only really comes into its own as they approach forty and gets stronger as they get older.
The other thing that sold me on the book was the character of Marzie Nowak from whose point of view the story is told. She has a dry sense of humour that made me laugh. She's also got a breadth of life experience. She left (fled?) Widow's Bay early on and built herself a career as a news anchor in a regional Detroit TV station where she co-anchored the morning show with her husband. She has two sons who have just gone to college. She's not someone who is trying to find herself or someone who is searching for a man to replace the cheating husband who she's recently divorced. She's embraced her independence and given herself a new start by returning to Widow's Bay to take up a position as a reporter for a local web-based news service.
I won't go into the plot as finding out what is really going on in Widow's Bay is a big part of the fun. I will say that what is going on lays the groundwork for a solid trope-twisting Urban Fantasy series.
Most of the book is about Marzie reconnecting with her old friends and getting to grips with her new job which, from her first day, involves her in investigating the murder of a much-feared nonagenarian woman. That investigation, plus the other events and incidents that she covers, leads her to confront the secrets that sit beneath the cosy surface of Widow's Bay society.
I liked the mystery and was surprised by the outcome. I loved Marzie's refusal to accept magic as an explanation for anything, even the very strange things she sees with her own eyes. Her hard-nosed energy drives the book forward and gives it a sceptical perspective that I rarely see in Urban Fantasy.
For me, what grounded the book was Marzie's relationship with the other women in Widow's Bay. It felt real. Not too soppy. Not too zany. It was just right.
I took a chance on this series because Audible offered it for free and we needed something to listen to on the long drive north. We got so involved in the story that, when the long drive was over, my wife and I spent the evening listening to the rest of the book. I'll be using this series as a comfort read on my next drive north. There are eight books in the series and I already have my eye on the next one 'Coven Mitt' which is also free on Audible.
I recommend the audiobook version of 'Resting Bitch Face'. Traci Odom delivered a great performance that increased my enjoyment of the book.
One thing that made the book stand out for me was that, for once, this is an Urban Fantasy book where the main characters aren't in their teens or twenties. The focus is on two generations of women, one set who are in their nineties and one set in their late thirties, The younger women, who have all been friends since childhood, are all widowed or divorced. They are all women who can exercise magic, especially when they work together. I loved the idea that their magic only really comes into its own as they approach forty and gets stronger as they get older.
The other thing that sold me on the book was the character of Marzie Nowak from whose point of view the story is told. She has a dry sense of humour that made me laugh. She's also got a breadth of life experience. She left (fled?) Widow's Bay early on and built herself a career as a news anchor in a regional Detroit TV station where she co-anchored the morning show with her husband. She has two sons who have just gone to college. She's not someone who is trying to find herself or someone who is searching for a man to replace the cheating husband who she's recently divorced. She's embraced her independence and given herself a new start by returning to Widow's Bay to take up a position as a reporter for a local web-based news service.
I won't go into the plot as finding out what is really going on in Widow's Bay is a big part of the fun. I will say that what is going on lays the groundwork for a solid trope-twisting Urban Fantasy series.
Most of the book is about Marzie reconnecting with her old friends and getting to grips with her new job which, from her first day, involves her in investigating the murder of a much-feared nonagenarian woman. That investigation, plus the other events and incidents that she covers, leads her to confront the secrets that sit beneath the cosy surface of Widow's Bay society.
I liked the mystery and was surprised by the outcome. I loved Marzie's refusal to accept magic as an explanation for anything, even the very strange things she sees with her own eyes. Her hard-nosed energy drives the book forward and gives it a sceptical perspective that I rarely see in Urban Fantasy.
For me, what grounded the book was Marzie's relationship with the other women in Widow's Bay. It felt real. Not too soppy. Not too zany. It was just right.
I took a chance on this series because Audible offered it for free and we needed something to listen to on the long drive north. We got so involved in the story that, when the long drive was over, my wife and I spent the evening listening to the rest of the book. I'll be using this series as a comfort read on my next drive north. There are eight books in the series and I already have my eye on the next one 'Coven Mitt' which is also free on Audible.
I recommend the audiobook version of 'Resting Bitch Face'. Traci Odom delivered a great performance that increased my enjoyment of the book.
September 25, 2019
I'll agree that one star is probably slightly unfair, but I really didn't like it. I should have DNF'd it like I wanted to early on, but it was easy to read, and I figured I'd keep trying until 50%. At 48% I thought the story was picking up. It wasn't.
A couple more minor things first: Marzie is only 40 but she's written with a younger personality and older skin. She often seems immature, and I was sick of listening to her complain about her wrinkles and grey streak in her hair. Probably her fixation on her looks and her ageing is because she works in an industry that is unkind to older women. But it was still annoying to hear about. Her on-screen breakdown is also treated kind of weirdly to me--maybe I'm being optimistic, but I can't imagine that there wouldn't be any sort of sympathy for her after her husband takes up with a much younger woman they work with. I also can't believe that a studio wouldn't take advantage of her viral breakdown (this was written in 2018--getting people to tune in is a major deal) or that anyone would care that much nearly a year down the line.
Anyway onto the plot!
Marzie breaks down on camera while giving a news report. Moments earlier, she found her husband--and co-anchor--getting a blowjob from the girl they work with. She gets fired, they get divorced, and then she moves home. (Somehow, with a cat whose thoughts she can understand and the knowledge magic exists, she's shocked vampires, werewolves, and other magical beings exist. The lore is true! But wait, didn't you already kind of know the lore was true? Whatever, this isn't a major problem).
Evil-old-hag-that-no-one-likes Lottie has been killed. It genuinely doesn't seem like anyone cares, including the author, since this plot is basically nonexistent. So main issue hereI was promised paranormal mystery, goddamn it! This wasn't a mystery. Marzie spends a lot of time working on other stories, trying to figure what her aunt means by it's time to take over, and spending time with her personality-less friends. She does very little work on the murder, occasionally talking to people for her job and occasionally connecting the dots but little else. The story is all over the place, introducing the shape shifters and vampires, talking about the mayoral election, figuring out what her aunt means (why can't she sit her aunt down and ask for a decent explanation?), and working for the newsroom. And this was all explained and done in the blandest way possible. This entire book felt like exposition. Maybe that's the best way to say it. Marzie is in danger from the murderer for a whole half a page, and that's basically the only action.
So: flat characters, a barely present mystery, no tension, no real reason to read.
A couple more minor things first: Marzie is only 40 but she's written with a younger personality and older skin. She often seems immature, and I was sick of listening to her complain about her wrinkles and grey streak in her hair. Probably her fixation on her looks and her ageing is because she works in an industry that is unkind to older women. But it was still annoying to hear about. Her on-screen breakdown is also treated kind of weirdly to me--maybe I'm being optimistic, but I can't imagine that there wouldn't be any sort of sympathy for her after her husband takes up with a much younger woman they work with. I also can't believe that a studio wouldn't take advantage of her viral breakdown (this was written in 2018--getting people to tune in is a major deal) or that anyone would care that much nearly a year down the line.
Anyway onto the plot!
Marzie breaks down on camera while giving a news report. Moments earlier, she found her husband--and co-anchor--getting a blowjob from the girl they work with. She gets fired, they get divorced, and then she moves home. (Somehow, with a cat whose thoughts she can understand and the knowledge magic exists, she's shocked vampires, werewolves, and other magical beings exist. The lore is true! But wait, didn't you already kind of know the lore was true? Whatever, this isn't a major problem).
Evil-old-hag-that-no-one-likes Lottie has been killed. It genuinely doesn't seem like anyone cares, including the author, since this plot is basically nonexistent. So main issue hereI was promised paranormal mystery, goddamn it! This wasn't a mystery. Marzie spends a lot of time working on other stories, trying to figure what her aunt means by it's time to take over, and spending time with her personality-less friends. She does very little work on the murder, occasionally talking to people for her job and occasionally connecting the dots but little else. The story is all over the place, introducing the shape shifters and vampires, talking about the mayoral election, figuring out what her aunt means (why can't she sit her aunt down and ask for a decent explanation?), and working for the newsroom. And this was all explained and done in the blandest way possible. This entire book felt like exposition. Maybe that's the best way to say it. Marzie is in danger from the murderer for a whole half a page, and that's basically the only action.
So: flat characters, a barely present mystery, no tension, no real reason to read.
May 22, 2021
Round up to 3.5 stars.
September 24, 2019
I loved the story and that it was set in Michigan, as I'm originally from Michigan, but there were too many typos, grammatical errors, and missing words. I think there was probably an average of one error for every page on my Kindle. I probably would have given it a 4-4.5 star review if it has been edited better.
April 14, 2020
Overall rating: 4.7
‘A truly great intro of Widows Bay and all its characters. This tale definitely illustrates how sometimes our vision of what we want really isn’t what’s best for us. This amazing woman manages to find herself after having her world turned upside down. I just want to rant about these quirky characters and all the good feels this tale has. Loved it! All my reviews are always voluntarily written.
‘A truly great intro of Widows Bay and all its characters. This tale definitely illustrates how sometimes our vision of what we want really isn’t what’s best for us. This amazing woman manages to find herself after having her world turned upside down. I just want to rant about these quirky characters and all the good feels this tale has. Loved it! All my reviews are always voluntarily written.
August 29, 2021
When Marzie Nowaks marriage falls apart on TV no less, Marzie decides to pack up her belongings, her cat and dog and move back to her home town. She moves back into her childhood home which she had bought from her parents, and found out her home town is not quite what she remembered. First off she can hear her cats thoughts. Then she finds out that magic is real and there are supernatural beings in town. Marzie has to decide if she wants to stay and be part of this community or if it's just too much for her to handle.
Read
June 9, 2021This was a little bit heavier on the mystery than on the paranormal but it seems like it was just setting up the series. I will be reading the next one to find out.
December 26, 2023
Totally enjoyed this book anxious to read the rest of the series but none of my libraries have it. Tried to get on audible....problems !
September 13, 2025
Audiobook - cute little paranormal romance
June 23, 2019
Light and entertaining. Good characters. Humorous at times.
July 21, 2018
First book of Rebecca Regnier in this series and I loved it.
I like fantasy books, but this one is different.
It starts with getting to know the main character Marzie from the start, with the discovering of her husband having an affair just before going live on air together.
Next she is fired and goes back home to a special place where she still has friends and a new job. Something different as on television, but not as easy as she thought, because there is enough happening. Her first story is about a murder, which didn't happen for so many years.
Next to that Marzie and her friends get to see more and more of the super natural things happening in the village and they need to step up to help.
In a great realistic way it is written how Marzie's life is going, what her struggles are and how she reacts to her special gifts. It is written with humor and I am looking forward to read more books in this series. I want to know what is going to happen next.
I like fantasy books, but this one is different.
It starts with getting to know the main character Marzie from the start, with the discovering of her husband having an affair just before going live on air together.
Next she is fired and goes back home to a special place where she still has friends and a new job. Something different as on television, but not as easy as she thought, because there is enough happening. Her first story is about a murder, which didn't happen for so many years.
Next to that Marzie and her friends get to see more and more of the super natural things happening in the village and they need to step up to help.
In a great realistic way it is written how Marzie's life is going, what her struggles are and how she reacts to her special gifts. It is written with humor and I am looking forward to read more books in this series. I want to know what is going to happen next.
August 9, 2019
Fairly decent
After being sacked for telling the news viewing public her dirty laundry, this is a woman scorned indeed! Throwing her husband's mistress across the room with her anger (because of her glare ...right?) and the cold sore in her now ex's face that was there already, right?, So Marzia packs up and moves back to her home town of Widow's Bay. With strangeness afoot and being told to step up all the time, can she put her own fears and disbelief aside to step up for her new job? Her old friends? He family? He town? So much pressure and On top of that a murder is afoot in widows bay, can Marzia push her disbelief aside??
I really enjoyed this book it was different view point, the older divorcee witch to be. I highly recommend this book its a good story the murder gets kind of lost a bit but all the goings on around make up for it!
After being sacked for telling the news viewing public her dirty laundry, this is a woman scorned indeed! Throwing her husband's mistress across the room with her anger (because of her glare ...right?) and the cold sore in her now ex's face that was there already, right?, So Marzia packs up and moves back to her home town of Widow's Bay. With strangeness afoot and being told to step up all the time, can she put her own fears and disbelief aside to step up for her new job? Her old friends? He family? He town? So much pressure and On top of that a murder is afoot in widows bay, can Marzia push her disbelief aside??
I really enjoyed this book it was different view point, the older divorcee witch to be. I highly recommend this book its a good story the murder gets kind of lost a bit but all the goings on around make up for it!
January 14, 2021
So disappointing
The book was repetitive, full of spelling and grammatical errors that kept breaking my concentration. So why did I keep going, you ask? Because the synopsis gave me hope that it would get better. It took until 75% in for it to get to the point of the story....not a end of story arch, more like a stuff the entire arch in 25% of the book. I think if the book had been half the size it would have been a 3.5 star. There were still issues with reality (a divorce, even uncontested is NOT wrapped up in less than a month) and the spelling was atrocious so it wouldn't ever be a 5 star read.
Such a great premise, such a disappointment
The book was repetitive, full of spelling and grammatical errors that kept breaking my concentration. So why did I keep going, you ask? Because the synopsis gave me hope that it would get better. It took until 75% in for it to get to the point of the story....not a end of story arch, more like a stuff the entire arch in 25% of the book. I think if the book had been half the size it would have been a 3.5 star. There were still issues with reality (a divorce, even uncontested is NOT wrapped up in less than a month) and the spelling was atrocious so it wouldn't ever be a 5 star read.
Such a great premise, such a disappointment
May 31, 2020
Could have been SO much better. Needs a good edit. Too much of the back story left for future books I guess. Unrealistic that Stephen would not have heard of Driving Miss Daisy, he doesn't live in a cave, he is a businessman. Too many vague conversations, tell half the story then leave? Excuse me? Things happening right before her eyes, everyone she knows believes, but she is hesitant...just ridiculous. Would read the next if I got it for free or allowed to edit it.
September 18, 2018
PERFECT start to a new series I cannot wait for Coven Mitt....found a new addiction!! ❤️❤️
March 6, 2021
Reviewed at Paranormal-y Romantic
Resting Witch Face, the first story in the Widow’s Bay series is a bit Paranormal Cozy Mystery and a touch of Paranormal Women’s Fiction. I was browsing for my next read (totally ignoring the tons on my e-reader) and clicked on the latest book in this series – and being the series junkie that I am, went back to the beginning only to discover that I had purchased it a while ago. This is good and bad. Good that I already have it, and bad that it’s sat there waiting for me to read it for… well, far too long. So with apologies to the book but goodness this was well worth the wait. And now I’m officially hooked on finishing the series (or at least getting caught up).
I saw Resting Witch Face as the world-building introduction to the Widow’s Bay series in many ways. I may change my mind as I dive further into the series, but I really felt that I was getting to know Marzie’s back story, how she got to this place in life – totally not where she expected to be, that’s for certain. Also, because with the new-ish genre of Paranormal Women’s Fiction immerging since this was originally published, it does seem to fit in that genre a bit better.
Marzie and her husband were co-anchors on a news show. That day she had no thoughts beyond what headlines would be on the show… right up until she caught her husband and a sweet young thing in an extremely compromising position (talk about getting caught with your pants down!). Her very public meltdown had immediate results in more ways than she’d expected. Oh, she wasn’t surprised at being fired, angry but not really surprised, it was the other things that she questioned and then lost sight of in dealing with the resulting chaos. Marzie left her big-city home, set a divorce from the scum husband into motion, and while not admitting it to herself, headed back to her roots, her mental tail definitely trailing behind her to her home in the small, tiny town of Widow’s Bay where not everything is explainable.
While now reporting for a local news website, Marzie isn’t as lost back home as she thought she’d be. There were childhood friends to get caught up with, her aunt to spend far more time talking about “taking over” than Marzie really understood, and the changes to her hometown that brought back all those rumors, those under stirring thoughts of her youth. Widow’s Bay really was a paranormal town, and she’s experiencing some magical abilities that she knew she didn’t have when she left years ago. Now all she has to do is track down a murderer thanks to her first news assignment, and figure out this magical stuff… easy peasy, not.
I enjoyed Resting Witch Face. Yes, there were some small issues with an obsession with some things, but I can see that leveling out as we move on in the series. Overall, I enjoyed getting to understand Marzie, travel with her as she faces some really unexpected changes in her life, and perhaps even more importantly, as she comes to own those changes, makes them uniquely her own over time. I’m looking forward to seeing where Marzie’s journey takes her… and thanks to coming late to this series, I can easily binge-read to get caught up.
If you like to mix genres a bit in a story with a touch of PCM and PWF, then you’ll feel right at home with the Widow’s Bay series.
I own a Kindle edition of this title.
Resting Witch Face, the first story in the Widow’s Bay series is a bit Paranormal Cozy Mystery and a touch of Paranormal Women’s Fiction. I was browsing for my next read (totally ignoring the tons on my e-reader) and clicked on the latest book in this series – and being the series junkie that I am, went back to the beginning only to discover that I had purchased it a while ago. This is good and bad. Good that I already have it, and bad that it’s sat there waiting for me to read it for… well, far too long. So with apologies to the book but goodness this was well worth the wait. And now I’m officially hooked on finishing the series (or at least getting caught up).
I saw Resting Witch Face as the world-building introduction to the Widow’s Bay series in many ways. I may change my mind as I dive further into the series, but I really felt that I was getting to know Marzie’s back story, how she got to this place in life – totally not where she expected to be, that’s for certain. Also, because with the new-ish genre of Paranormal Women’s Fiction immerging since this was originally published, it does seem to fit in that genre a bit better.
Marzie and her husband were co-anchors on a news show. That day she had no thoughts beyond what headlines would be on the show… right up until she caught her husband and a sweet young thing in an extremely compromising position (talk about getting caught with your pants down!). Her very public meltdown had immediate results in more ways than she’d expected. Oh, she wasn’t surprised at being fired, angry but not really surprised, it was the other things that she questioned and then lost sight of in dealing with the resulting chaos. Marzie left her big-city home, set a divorce from the scum husband into motion, and while not admitting it to herself, headed back to her roots, her mental tail definitely trailing behind her to her home in the small, tiny town of Widow’s Bay where not everything is explainable.
While now reporting for a local news website, Marzie isn’t as lost back home as she thought she’d be. There were childhood friends to get caught up with, her aunt to spend far more time talking about “taking over” than Marzie really understood, and the changes to her hometown that brought back all those rumors, those under stirring thoughts of her youth. Widow’s Bay really was a paranormal town, and she’s experiencing some magical abilities that she knew she didn’t have when she left years ago. Now all she has to do is track down a murderer thanks to her first news assignment, and figure out this magical stuff… easy peasy, not.
I enjoyed Resting Witch Face. Yes, there were some small issues with an obsession with some things, but I can see that leveling out as we move on in the series. Overall, I enjoyed getting to understand Marzie, travel with her as she faces some really unexpected changes in her life, and perhaps even more importantly, as she comes to own those changes, makes them uniquely her own over time. I’m looking forward to seeing where Marzie’s journey takes her… and thanks to coming late to this series, I can easily binge-read to get caught up.
If you like to mix genres a bit in a story with a touch of PCM and PWF, then you’ll feel right at home with the Widow’s Bay series.
I own a Kindle edition of this title.
February 22, 2020
Marzie Nowak, co-anchor of the evening news with her husband Sam, is not having a good day. She just surprised her husband and a nubile young reporter in a compromising position and now Marzie has just made a spectacle of herself with an on-air meltdown. Getting fired is the last straw. Looks like it's high time to pull up stakes and move back to her childhood home in Widow's Bay on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Marzie still owns the family home there and she will be surrounded by her girlhood friends as well as her elderly Aunt Dorothy. A job with the tiny Your U.P. News internet reporting sounds like a much needed break from her old job.
Tiny Widow's Bay has changed a lot since Marzie has been away. There are certainly a lot more people in town and business is booming. A swanky ski resort is about to open the the pagan festival of All Souls Weekend is imminent. For her first news story, Marzie is tasked with the report of a murder of an elderly woman, not the most likeable person in town, but a long-time resident. Rumors of 'black magic' catch Marzie off-guard until she begins to feel the old sensations, especially around her female friends, of a latent power within herself. Just what is going on in Widow's Bay and why does Marzie feel such a strong connection to it?
This was a cute little story about a cozy little town and its secrets. I like the friendship between the women and their is an interesting side character: Agnes, Marzie's cat who can converse with Marzie telepathically. Not bad.
Tiny Widow's Bay has changed a lot since Marzie has been away. There are certainly a lot more people in town and business is booming. A swanky ski resort is about to open the the pagan festival of All Souls Weekend is imminent. For her first news story, Marzie is tasked with the report of a murder of an elderly woman, not the most likeable person in town, but a long-time resident. Rumors of 'black magic' catch Marzie off-guard until she begins to feel the old sensations, especially around her female friends, of a latent power within herself. Just what is going on in Widow's Bay and why does Marzie feel such a strong connection to it?
This was a cute little story about a cozy little town and its secrets. I like the friendship between the women and their is an interesting side character: Agnes, Marzie's cat who can converse with Marzie telepathically. Not bad.
May 10, 2022
This was a great first book in a series. I was impressed with the main character, Marzie, and how she adapted to the return to her hometown. Then she had to adapt to having some unusual abilities. She was joined by her friend from when she lived there before and lived in her family home, which needed some serious updating too. Great story, good characters, and a well-done mystery. Can't wait to read the next one!
Amazon synopsis;
Between her cheating husband and her on-air meltdown, Marzie Nowak is going through a bit of a bad spell and a heck of a midlife crisis. Her kids have flown the coop to college and her husband has opted to trade her in for a younger model. With nowhere else to turn, the ex-big-city journalist crawls back to her superstitious hometown of Widow’s Bay just in time for their annual pagan festival. Her new, much less glamorous gig has her reporting for a local news website. It doesn't take long for her to realize the legends surrounding Widow's Bay may be more practical magic than a fanciful myth.
Soon Marzie is forced to contend with an invasion of flirty furry tourists, a sun-shy billionaire, and her suddenly chatty cat’s fashion advice. When an unsolved murder sparks her own mystical powers Marzie comes face to face with the fact menopause is a real witch and so is she!
With a killer on the loose and magical mysteries around every corner, can Marzie crack the case before her next meltdown? Or hot flash? Because in Widow's Bay a hot flash means your magic is just getting warmed up!
Amazon synopsis;
Between her cheating husband and her on-air meltdown, Marzie Nowak is going through a bit of a bad spell and a heck of a midlife crisis. Her kids have flown the coop to college and her husband has opted to trade her in for a younger model. With nowhere else to turn, the ex-big-city journalist crawls back to her superstitious hometown of Widow’s Bay just in time for their annual pagan festival. Her new, much less glamorous gig has her reporting for a local news website. It doesn't take long for her to realize the legends surrounding Widow's Bay may be more practical magic than a fanciful myth.
Soon Marzie is forced to contend with an invasion of flirty furry tourists, a sun-shy billionaire, and her suddenly chatty cat’s fashion advice. When an unsolved murder sparks her own mystical powers Marzie comes face to face with the fact menopause is a real witch and so is she!
With a killer on the loose and magical mysteries around every corner, can Marzie crack the case before her next meltdown? Or hot flash? Because in Widow's Bay a hot flash means your magic is just getting warmed up!
March 14, 2025
Overall I think this book is great. The story is engaging and I truly want to read forward to see how the story unfolds throughout this series. The side characters were charming and I enjoyed the energy.
The down side…the author is quite repetitive. Yes, we know the main character’s husband cheated on her with an opportunist at their job. Yes, we know that the main character doesn’t understand nor want to know about magic or the not so folklore in the town. Yes we know that the main character has friends she’s had since childhood who grew up and stayed in their home town. By repeating this information over and over again it gives that the author was trying to extend this story without any idea on how to expound on the actual story.
When you add a cat in the story usually, when they speak, it’s charming and beneficial. The cat in this story was surly and rude, constantly berating the main character which made for annoying reading. Not only was the cat annoying but the main character was a bit unlikeable.
Lastly, one glaring issue I found with this book is the comma placements. Comma’s are used for a slight pause in thought, for emphasis within the context of the sentence. There were so many comma’s placed but they didn’t need to be there. The overuse of comma’s tell me that there wasn’t a proofreader or editor on this project. Usually I can overlook misspellings and bad punctuation placement but the comma issue was throughout the entire book which was a little frustrating.
The down side…the author is quite repetitive. Yes, we know the main character’s husband cheated on her with an opportunist at their job. Yes, we know that the main character doesn’t understand nor want to know about magic or the not so folklore in the town. Yes we know that the main character has friends she’s had since childhood who grew up and stayed in their home town. By repeating this information over and over again it gives that the author was trying to extend this story without any idea on how to expound on the actual story.
When you add a cat in the story usually, when they speak, it’s charming and beneficial. The cat in this story was surly and rude, constantly berating the main character which made for annoying reading. Not only was the cat annoying but the main character was a bit unlikeable.
Lastly, one glaring issue I found with this book is the comma placements. Comma’s are used for a slight pause in thought, for emphasis within the context of the sentence. There were so many comma’s placed but they didn’t need to be there. The overuse of comma’s tell me that there wasn’t a proofreader or editor on this project. Usually I can overlook misspellings and bad punctuation placement but the comma issue was throughout the entire book which was a little frustrating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2020
Charming marriage of two popular genres, cozy mystery meets paranormal fiction.
I loved Marzie, her friends and the focus on their friendships. #PowerOfThree - now that brought back happy memories. Although I've to say at this point their respective powers are still very much a mystery. Its more like she's finally accepted them and now we'll have to wait for later books to find out what they are and what their purpose is.
I liked the setting, I spent a few months working in Lower MI right after high school so that had me feeling all nostalgic and who doesn't love a magical small town?! :)
I'm not too happy with the hinted at love triangle. Ugh! I hate those, it's so middle school and has no place in a book like this. Also, there's really only a handful of vamp-stories that I actually like.
Lastly- editorial issues!
Some minor typos or common mistakes like mixing up "there" and "they're" or keeping your weekdays straight - Marzie woke up on Saturday two days in a row (and no, it was not Groundhog Day). But the biggest issue by far were commas. Waaay too many of them. A lot of them unnecessary or downright wrong, changing sentences to the point where they stopped making sense and then only to forget the commas in places where they were needed...
Still, overall I enjoyed it enough that I'll be sure to pick up the next one sooner rather than later
I loved Marzie, her friends and the focus on their friendships. #PowerOfThree - now that brought back happy memories. Although I've to say at this point their respective powers are still very much a mystery. Its more like she's finally accepted them and now we'll have to wait for later books to find out what they are and what their purpose is.
I liked the setting, I spent a few months working in Lower MI right after high school so that had me feeling all nostalgic and who doesn't love a magical small town?! :)
I'm not too happy with the hinted at love triangle. Ugh! I hate those, it's so middle school and has no place in a book like this. Also, there's really only a handful of vamp-stories that I actually like.
Lastly- editorial issues!
Some minor typos or common mistakes like mixing up "there" and "they're" or keeping your weekdays straight - Marzie woke up on Saturday two days in a row (and no, it was not Groundhog Day). But the biggest issue by far were commas. Waaay too many of them. A lot of them unnecessary or downright wrong, changing sentences to the point where they stopped making sense and then only to forget the commas in places where they were needed...
Still, overall I enjoyed it enough that I'll be sure to pick up the next one sooner rather than later
November 1, 2020
Note: I listened to an audiobook that isn't currently listed on goodreads.com so I am placing my review here.
A long time ago I got tired of authors just making their MCs idiots who would see magic, monsters, etc. and then deny the existence of what ever they saw. Here, the author goes even further, having the MC actually DO MAGIC, then discuss with her friends other magic they have done both together and seperately. But then person after person approaches the MC about something supernatural and she just fobs it off and pretends like the supernatural doesn't exist. After about the tenth time the author replys this scenario I got fed up and stopped listening.
So why three stars? Because other than this annoying waste of readers' time and undermining of the MC, this is a good book. I read a lot of books. Seriously. In excess of 200 a year. (It is rare for a day to go by where I don't listen to a book and plenty of days where I listen to two books so it wouldn't be an unreasonable guess that I get through 300 or more books a year.) My point being that many readers would not be as sensitive to this bit of cliche story telling as I am. Those people should give this book a try because the author otherwise did a really good job telling her story.
Bottom line: Many may enjoy this book, just not me.
A long time ago I got tired of authors just making their MCs idiots who would see magic, monsters, etc. and then deny the existence of what ever they saw. Here, the author goes even further, having the MC actually DO MAGIC, then discuss with her friends other magic they have done both together and seperately. But then person after person approaches the MC about something supernatural and she just fobs it off and pretends like the supernatural doesn't exist. After about the tenth time the author replys this scenario I got fed up and stopped listening.
So why three stars? Because other than this annoying waste of readers' time and undermining of the MC, this is a good book. I read a lot of books. Seriously. In excess of 200 a year. (It is rare for a day to go by where I don't listen to a book and plenty of days where I listen to two books so it wouldn't be an unreasonable guess that I get through 300 or more books a year.) My point being that many readers would not be as sensitive to this bit of cliche story telling as I am. Those people should give this book a try because the author otherwise did a really good job telling her story.
Bottom line: Many may enjoy this book, just not me.
September 30, 2025
I suffered through 50% of this nonsense, so I gave it more than a fair chance, but it's a definite "nope" from me: The writing is bland and repetitive, the characters are so flat they can collapse the whole time-space into none-dimensionality, the plot (however little there was of it) is slower than stone-cold-frozen molasses and the rest of it is jaw-breakingly boring. There are shapeshifters, vampires and witches, and yet I have read tax audit logs that were more entertaining than this book!
The last straw was the main character's overwhelming stupidity and lack of professional expertise, or, hell, at least some basic human curiosity. She is quick to deny and dismiss anything even slightly out of the ordinary — that's no way to approach a newsworthy narrative of any kind. She is ageist to the extreme in all directions operating on pure stereotypes alone. She is dismissing her aunt's strange words as "old-folks-be-crazy" instead of taking basic decency steps to understand the situation and maybe find help for her aunt if she is indeed losing her mind. She is incapable of putting 2 and 2 together, when it's been shoved into her face repeatedly and from multiple directions. At this point it's stubborn willful ignorance and voluntary stupidity, and I just can't be in her empty head anymore.
New to me author, and I am not eager to try any of her other books after this.
The last straw was the main character's overwhelming stupidity and lack of professional expertise, or, hell, at least some basic human curiosity. She is quick to deny and dismiss anything even slightly out of the ordinary — that's no way to approach a newsworthy narrative of any kind. She is ageist to the extreme in all directions operating on pure stereotypes alone. She is dismissing her aunt's strange words as "old-folks-be-crazy" instead of taking basic decency steps to understand the situation and maybe find help for her aunt if she is indeed losing her mind. She is incapable of putting 2 and 2 together, when it's been shoved into her face repeatedly and from multiple directions. At this point it's stubborn willful ignorance and voluntary stupidity, and I just can't be in her empty head anymore.
New to me author, and I am not eager to try any of her other books after this.
November 21, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️½ — 3.5-Star Review of Resting Witch Face by Rebecca Regnier
Resting Witch Face is a quirky and magical start to a paranormal cozy mystery series that doesn’t take itself too seriously—and that’s part of the fun. Marzie Nowak makes for an entertaining heroine, stumbling back into her hometown with a bruised ego, a collapsing life, and a knack for attracting supernatural chaos. Her snarky voice and reluctant curiosity bring humor to every chapter, especially as she tries to make sense of Widow’s Bay’s eccentric residents, strange happenings, and unexpectedly magical twists.
The setting is delightfully whimsical, packed with folklore, oddball characters, and just enough mystery to keep things engaging. The walking contradictions—furry festivalgoers, a cryptic billionaire, and a fashion-conscious talking cat—add plenty of charm. The murder mystery itself is intriguing, though it sometimes takes a backseat to the worldbuilding and Marzie’s personal upheaval.
While the pacing can feel a bit uneven at times, the book still delivers a fun and imaginative reading experience. With its mix of humor, small-town magic, and a heroine discovering her own powers, Resting Witch Face sets up a series that cozy-mystery fans will likely enjoy continuing.
Resting Witch Face is a quirky and magical start to a paranormal cozy mystery series that doesn’t take itself too seriously—and that’s part of the fun. Marzie Nowak makes for an entertaining heroine, stumbling back into her hometown with a bruised ego, a collapsing life, and a knack for attracting supernatural chaos. Her snarky voice and reluctant curiosity bring humor to every chapter, especially as she tries to make sense of Widow’s Bay’s eccentric residents, strange happenings, and unexpectedly magical twists.
The setting is delightfully whimsical, packed with folklore, oddball characters, and just enough mystery to keep things engaging. The walking contradictions—furry festivalgoers, a cryptic billionaire, and a fashion-conscious talking cat—add plenty of charm. The murder mystery itself is intriguing, though it sometimes takes a backseat to the worldbuilding and Marzie’s personal upheaval.
While the pacing can feel a bit uneven at times, the book still delivers a fun and imaginative reading experience. With its mix of humor, small-town magic, and a heroine discovering her own powers, Resting Witch Face sets up a series that cozy-mystery fans will likely enjoy continuing.
July 24, 2018
Resting Witch Face is a fascinating story of a woman that is closer to 40 than to 30 and reclaiming herself again and maybe claiming a bit more than she realizes when she moves back home. Marzie has wit and humor on her side. She has a great set of friends that she can still rely on and a hometown that isn’t quite the same as when she left.
The story started out a little overly descriptive. It was good from a tourist type of perspective, and yet hard for me to decide if I needed to recall certain details for later in the story. Once Marzie got to Widow’s Bay things started to hop along and fall into place. As is normal with a small town, there were a lot of things going on below the surface. As Marzie tried to do her job, catch up with her old friends, and solve the town happenings, things just continued to get more mysterious for her. The twists and turns to the magic and mysteries were amusing and fun to read.
Resting Witch Face was a good base to start a mystery series from. I can see lots of future potential happening in this small town that is having an influx of people.
The story started out a little overly descriptive. It was good from a tourist type of perspective, and yet hard for me to decide if I needed to recall certain details for later in the story. Once Marzie got to Widow’s Bay things started to hop along and fall into place. As is normal with a small town, there were a lot of things going on below the surface. As Marzie tried to do her job, catch up with her old friends, and solve the town happenings, things just continued to get more mysterious for her. The twists and turns to the magic and mysteries were amusing and fun to read.
Resting Witch Face was a good base to start a mystery series from. I can see lots of future potential happening in this small town that is having an influx of people.
October 25, 2020
The cover and title are super cute, but the book itself is disappointing. The main character wasn't at all relatable, or likeable, which she gets style points for acknowledging early on, but still. If she was a flat out bitch with a reason it would have made her more relatable. But same old tired, oh, he found someone younger, pity my aging self because it takes me an hour in the makeup chair to be camera ready cliche. The town...meh. other characters...meh. The aunt greets her by telling her how thin she is and she responds with oh your hair is all white. Nothing about the trauma of her marriage and career going to hell. Vapid. Surface. Just what I would expect from a reporter.
Oh and another thing. Why do all these middle-aged heroines always have somewhere to go when the marriage goes up in smoke? Like a Victorian rental house somewhere with plenty of friendly connections that gets conveniently forgotten about until needed. Maybe I'm demanding too much from this genre of paranormal women's stories, but not all of us have vacation homes/inheritances/an escape hatch of any sort.
So one star for the cover, one for the title, zero for the book itself.
Oh and another thing. Why do all these middle-aged heroines always have somewhere to go when the marriage goes up in smoke? Like a Victorian rental house somewhere with plenty of friendly connections that gets conveniently forgotten about until needed. Maybe I'm demanding too much from this genre of paranormal women's stories, but not all of us have vacation homes/inheritances/an escape hatch of any sort.
So one star for the cover, one for the title, zero for the book itself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2018
Fantastic read - vampires, witches, shifters and more!
What an absolutely terrific read. I haven't read anything by this author before and boy was I impressed. The storyline is involved but there is no confusion as to what is happening - it just simply flows. When she finds her husband in a compromising position at her place of work, she has a melt down on screen. Now divorced, jobless and single, she moves back home to be an online news reporter. Her first day has her covering a murder! Who killed the old woman? Shifters, vampires, witches, an old agreement and a gate allowing the supernaturals to come home are all in twined into a story about old friendships and regaining your self esteem whilst also learning about your heritage. Your powers as a witch! Wonderful mixture of characters from the earthy shifters to the enigmatic vampires whilst her circle of friends and family are like people in your own life. Loved the snarky comments from her cat (please give her cat a bigger role). Can't wait for the next book.
What an absolutely terrific read. I haven't read anything by this author before and boy was I impressed. The storyline is involved but there is no confusion as to what is happening - it just simply flows. When she finds her husband in a compromising position at her place of work, she has a melt down on screen. Now divorced, jobless and single, she moves back home to be an online news reporter. Her first day has her covering a murder! Who killed the old woman? Shifters, vampires, witches, an old agreement and a gate allowing the supernaturals to come home are all in twined into a story about old friendships and regaining your self esteem whilst also learning about your heritage. Your powers as a witch! Wonderful mixture of characters from the earthy shifters to the enigmatic vampires whilst her circle of friends and family are like people in your own life. Loved the snarky comments from her cat (please give her cat a bigger role). Can't wait for the next book.
March 27, 2020
Widow’sBay1;4.5 ⭐️
First book of a new series and a Paranormal Women’s Fiction offering.
Marzie Nowak isn’t having a great day. When she walks in on her co-anchor husband getting a bj from the new on-air beat reporter, just before the six o’clock news, she loses it on camera. And is promptly fired and soon divorced. She leaves Detroit for the wilds of Upper Peninsula Michigan and her generational hometown of Widow’s Bay. Her twin sons are at university and not that distressed that she has jettisoned their father, as long as she is cool with it.
The town of Widow’s Bay is a character in these stories and we learn more about its many levels over the course of these books. The town has decided to embrace its eccentricities and in some sense flaunt them, by encouraging tourists to come for weekend festivals. But at its heart, these are cosy mysteries and Marzie, the intrepid amateur sleuth reporter. It’s the questions she learns to ask, that makes this series interesting.
First book of a new series and a Paranormal Women’s Fiction offering.
Marzie Nowak isn’t having a great day. When she walks in on her co-anchor husband getting a bj from the new on-air beat reporter, just before the six o’clock news, she loses it on camera. And is promptly fired and soon divorced. She leaves Detroit for the wilds of Upper Peninsula Michigan and her generational hometown of Widow’s Bay. Her twin sons are at university and not that distressed that she has jettisoned their father, as long as she is cool with it.
The town of Widow’s Bay is a character in these stories and we learn more about its many levels over the course of these books. The town has decided to embrace its eccentricities and in some sense flaunt them, by encouraging tourists to come for weekend festivals. But at its heart, these are cosy mysteries and Marzie, the intrepid amateur sleuth reporter. It’s the questions she learns to ask, that makes this series interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews