Wow… this was a tough read. It was very well-written, and I loved how the author developed the characters and the entire small town it was set in. However, the detail of the gore that went on was too much for me. I enjoyed the paranormal horror plot, but the amount of detail of how violent and bloody everything was just put me over the edge at times. If you have an uneasy stomach, definitely consider if you can handle this book.

Thank you Minotaur Books for the complimentary DRC.

Do you ever read books and not have a lot to say about them? That’s the case with this book for me. I liked it but didn't love it.

I didn’t connect to any of the characters and the lack of communication between the 4 women really got under my skin. I didn’t ‘believe’ in the relationships between any of them until right at the end.

The start was slow and I considered DNF-ing. I’m glad I didn’t though because I was drawn in by the ending and want to read the next book. It reminded me of ACOTAR in that I didn’t love the first book but it ended in a way that I believe book 2 is set up to be great!

I think I went into this expecting something completely different than it was. I wanted something funnier, more southern belle banter, more fun. The characters were great, but not sure I would describe this book as fun. This was a darker more horror than comedy. There were twists and turns and it definitely had some unexpected plots. It was well done, but at times dragged on. It was often very repetitive. I wish it had more banter and fun to balance out the mystery aspect.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.

This was exactly what I thought it would be (in a good way), I always appreciate when the blurbs actually match up to the story and this one totally does. I really enjoyed the close knit family of women and their….unusual…occupation, it was a fun and unique take. While I enjoy high drama supernatural books, this was a nice reprieve from the sometimes exhausting intensity they often have. The more casual, cheeky vibe made it a fun read that I didn’t have to be too emotionally invested in. Also, the late 90s in the South vibes were spot on (as someone who lived in Alabama and Florida for a big chunk of my 80s/90s childhood). I would definitely pick up future books by Lindy.

This ALMOST did it for me! I feel like I was really into the story at times (southern vampires!! How could I not be?) but other times, I felt like the story was really repetitive which bogged down the pacing for me.

It was entertaining but not a book I feel like I’d pick up again!

Much like the southern town it takes place in, the plot meandered and moseyed along. It was well past the halfway point before some crucial backstory was revealed. This didn’t build tension. It built frustration, especially since none of it was surprising.

Dragging out the beginning left no time for some major questions about the rules of the world. The BBEG of the past and present didn’t make complete sense to me. The hows and whys never got answered. The reveal and the ending felt rushed, especially given the body count.

The writing is good. There were quite a few parts I highlighted and the southernisms were fun. It was the pacing that turned me into the frustrated Stitch gif. I was reading for answers, not because I cared about the plot or characters.

Also, every POV character had something up with their stomach. I wanted to chuck a giant bottle of Tums at the book. I liked the concept but the execution was meh for me. It looks like it might be part of a series. I might read something else from this author but I don’t think I’d revisit this world again.

A southern vampire, or more accurately Strigoi (troubled spirits who rise from their graves and gain vitality from the blood of their victims), story the only funeral home in a small Southeast Texas town and the women who operate it.

BLESS YOUR HEART is like no vampire story I have ever read. There were no bats or caped creatures with fangs. It is not a scary or gruesome story. Some scenes are "gross", but not horrible. I enjoyed the story and was intrigued and surprised by the end.

I have been provided with a review copy of this title from NetGalley for an impartial review. I just absolutely had so much fun getting to go along on these characters journey. I was just swept away and I just absolutely can’t get enough of this series or its wonderful characters. This author just has a way of drawing you in with her wonderful stories and you just can’t get enough of them. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Set in Southern Texas in 1999, Bless Your Heart is a cozy gothic horror mystery following the Evans women as they run their family funeral home - and kill the undead. Told from multiple POVs, settle in for a gory vampire hunt of a mystery! Somehow heartwarming and goosebump raising at the same time, Bless Your Heart is sure to be a hit!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lindy Ryan’s latest book is like a cozy horror mystery. There are a lot of gory details and several deaths, but for some reason, I never found it too dark or scary, which speaks to the way Ryan presented the story.

Set in Southeast Texas, four generations of Evans women run the local funeral home. Readers soon learn that they have a past with vampire-like beings, and one woman even got up close and personal with one.

Fast forward to the present and things start happening again that get them worried. The local sheriff knows their secrets and he is immediately suspicious. To add to the drama, there is a new young man in town that looks mysterious and has befriended the youngest Evans woman.

This was an entertaining read and I found it safe to read when I was home alone. Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to review this and recommend to other readers.

Thank you so much to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I am so sad to say that I did not enjoy this book. I thought it was going to be funny and a bit campy but that is not what I experienced. I felt it was boring and super gory. I loved the idea of this book but it did not deliver for me. I didn't finish this one because I felt it just kept dragging. I also wasn't connecting with any of the characters.

I know many others have loved this one but it was not for me.

What on earth did I just read? This book is so unexpected in so many great ways. Imagine if Buffy the Vampire Slayer crossed over with The Golden Girls. I giggled so many times at the sassy women of the Evans family. We have Ducey, Lenore, Grace and Luna. Four generations of women who run the town's funeral parlour and have a few secrets up their sleeves.

Trigger warnings should include:
Death (obviously)
Undead (again, obviously)
A LOT of blood and gore
Loss of loved ones/friends
Animal injury
Occult

This was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it a lot.

I absolutely loved this book! Lindy Ryan is a new author for me. I’m so happy this book was recommended to me. I’m surprisingly very emotional at the end of this one. It is a five star read for me. I love good horror!

The Evans women run the local funeral parlor in their small Texas town. They also have another responsibility: taking care of the restless dead. Ducey, Lenore, and Grace keep the town’s secrets, and protect those who don’t even know they need protection. But when a string of missing persons cases start to pop up in town, things start to get strange. Grace’s daughter Luna is having strange dreams, and the Evans women have secrets. The author weaves a tale that keeps you guessing, has chapters from the perspectives of multiple characters, and brings a fresh take on the elements of horror throughout the story. I enjoyed every page. I also adored these women!

The monsters in this story are the Strigoi - they are vampires, but they have an interesting twist. I really want to give details here, but you should read about them with no prior knowledge. This was a very original take on a well-known creature.

This book was truly a delight for a reader like me who loves horror. I’m really hoping to get to read more about the Evans women. Thank you to NetGalley, St.Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to this book. I did both, and the audiobook has an absolutely incredible narrator in Stephanie Nemeth-Parker. This book releases on April 9th. I highly recommend it!

This book was way more gory than I realized it was going to be, but honestly that wasn’t such a bad thing. I loved the 4 generations of women. I loved the small town setting as well as the setting of the the early 2000s. I loved the multiple points of view. I thought the story was interesting and that really young adults or adults would appreciate this book.

this was a fun and witty vampire/zombie horror book and i really enjoyed it, for the most part. i loved the idea of a women working in a funeral parlor killing the dead and keeping the town safe but it just didn’t hit the mark for me. i thought Luna’s character was kind of annoying in a way, like your family tells you there are undead walking around and tearing ppl apart and you just skip school and prance around at night? ehhhhh. i also found it hard to believe that the seasoned women could not fight the undead, like at all. i know they’re older but like come on lol. and then fact they weren’t doing anything like going out and trying to hunt down the undead until the very last second also irked me. regardless of that, i found the banter between all the women delightful and i loved the southern aspect of it, it made me happy and def gave me the southern book clubs guide to slaying vampires vibes. overall it was a fun gory book. 3,5/5
thank you netgalley and at.martin’s press for the e book in exchange for my honest review!

Fun fast read. I’m always up for a vampire book. I liked the twist and the pov of slayers. I also enjoyed the family dynamics. In the end though it’s lacking in content and immersing me more in its world.

"Bless Your Heart" was an enjoyable read. I thought the storyline had a really interesting premise and I think it'll do well with readers who enjoy Paranormal Mysteries.

I loved that this story was set in 90's and had a cast of strong female main characters. I am a huge fan of reading books with multiple POVs so I was glad that the author chose this method to tell this story.

I think it's definitely worth checking out.

Thanks Lindy Ryan , Net Galley and St Martin's Press-Minotaur Books for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. The Evans family have operated the only funeral home in their small Southern town for generations. Now left to Ducey, her daughters Lenore and Grace and her granddaughter Luna, things are mostly peaceful until, well, the dead simply aren’t staying dead anymore. Ducey and her daughters know what has to be done. They’ve done it before and it’s time they revealed to Luna her heritage and destiny.

By turns gruesome and charming, this book is great fun.

Highly recommended.

This was a fun debut from Lindy Ryan and clearly sets up future novels in this universe. I really hope there are more novels set in this universe because I definitely have questions and there were a lot of loose ends.

Bless Your Heart is a multiple POV novel that pivots between the Evan's women, Deputy Roger Taylor, and various other town's people. We never get a POV from any of the Strigoi which I thought would have been interesting and showed more information about the Strigoi. I see where Lindy has easily set up more novels, but it kind of bothered me that there weren't more answers. The Evans women have essentially been vampire hunters for generations, but they still don't know really anything about Strigoi beyond myths and legends. It just kind of bothered me that there wasn't a stronger knowledge base.

I did really enjoy the central story and the rising panic/anxiety. About half way through as the reader you start putting pieces together and it gave me so much anxiety in a good way. This was the kind of book where I was quickly turning pages and completely caught up in the drama. I thought the ending did lack a little oomph, but again I think it's because the author is setting up multiple story arc. I will be disappointed if I don't see another book in this series.

Bless Your Heart is a fun thriller that will keep you on your edge of your set. Even if I still had questions at the end, I really enjoyed this novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC.

Bless Your Heart was a cool southern gothic read about four generations of the Evans women. The Evans women Ducey, Lenore, and Grace have been running a funeral home for decades and Luna is about to come of age and learn the truth.

They kill the undead.

This was so fun and it’s the first in a series. I’m hoping the author was hinting at the past of Ducey and Lenore being featured in the next installment.

Fun and gory at times but also heartwarming and mostly about family with some undead mixed in. This was a great ride. Packed with murders and undead creatures.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher here for my early copy. I’ll def be waiting for the next book.

If you like Grady Hendrix, this is likely to be one you enjoy.