3 ⭐️

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. ❤️

This book is set in SE Texas and features multiple generations of Evan's women who run a funeral parlor, but all is not as meet the eye. What appears to be a run of the mill business is actually a strigoi or ghoul assassination business only, Luna, the youngest of the evans family isn’t yet aware of the actual business or what it entails. Bless your heart takes you through their journey to saving the town and carrying on the generational knowledge to keep the future safe.

I found it to be a bit show to fully immerse myself into which I found interesting bc I really enjoy this genre.

This was such a fun vampire novel!!! As a lifelong Southerner, I was completely charmed by this book even if it was about vampires. From mulitgenerational women characters to the small town Texas funeral parlor setting, everything about this book was just great. I really enjoyed this one.

I had a thing for funeral homes ever since “six feet under,” and I enjoyed the women running this one. Horror, sometimes gruesome, a vampire, and four strong women; this story does not disappoint.

This book was an absolute joy to read. If I had to describe it, it’s almost like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Practical Magic had a baby, and that baby was the four badass Evans women who kept their sleepy little Texas town safe from the restless dead.

I could not put this book down, and I especially enjoyed the multiple point of view chapters. This writing style also ensured that I kept reading. Most of the chapters ended on cliffhangers that weren’t resolved until later, and I absolutely needed to know what happened next.

I loved this book, and will definitely be purchasing a physical copy once it’s published. Thank you Lindy Ryan, for writing this awesome book, and to the publisher for this ARC from NetGalley.

I love reading new authors to find one I love even if I really don’t have time to add more to my list. I started this because both the blurb and the cover drew me in. I recently finished this, and I’m a little conflicted. I did really enjoy this book, but I think it needs to be reduced in pages a bit since it’s a little wordy in places. Also, they mention the “bad” guys as strigori, but I saw them as more zombies than vampires. Which brings me to my next point: gore. I don’t mind that at all, but this is a warning for those who do. Like I stated at the beginning, I really enjoyed this book. I also forgot at times that this novel takes place in the 90s even if the time frame of the events doesn’t matter, but it was a little nostalgic for me anyway when things were mentioned from that time. I’ll definitely read the next one in the series…and there has to be after a little thing at the end. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

This was just a meh for me. First off, do not judge the book by its cover, I thought this was going to be cozy mystery type and it was NOT. It was a slightly gruesome horror story which don’t get me wrong, I love a good horror story, I just found it lacking in some areas.

This is very descriptive at points so if you don’t do well with the idea of descriptive and horrific images I would stay away from this one.

It mixes the charming south with a classic monster story to bring you a gruesome yet adventurous horror story. It was well written I just needed more I guess? I usually can see images as I’m reading a book and I did not have that with this book.

Maybe I just didn’t connect with it. It was still good and I’ll still recommend it to people it just wasn’t unforgettable if that makes sense.

I just could not get into this book. Undead, southern beauty parlor, vampire slayers. Yeah, just not my cup of tea and the writing just couldn’t keep my attention. I tried, but ultimately sid not finish this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"Bless Your Heart" by Lindy Ryan is an absolute triumph, blending mystery, horror, and Southern charm into a gasp-worthy delight from start to finish. Ryan's debut novel is a tour de force, offering readers a crackling narrative that unfolds in Southeast Texas in 1999, where the Evans women, proprietors of the town's sole funeral parlor, find themselves thrust into a supernatural battle with the return of the Strigoi – the original vampires.

The story kicks off with a seamless mix of small-town routine and the unexpected supernatural, as Ducey Evans and her descendants, Lenore and Grace, navigate the ups and downs of running Evans Funeral Parlor. The narrative takes an exhilarating turn when Mina Jean Murphy, the town gossip, rises from the dead during what should have been a routine burial. From that moment, the Evans women embark on a thrilling and perilous journey to protect their town from the resurrected Strigoi.

One of the novel's standout features is its well-crafted characters. Ducey, the seasoned matriarch, Lenore, the daring experimenter, Grace, the compassionate daughter, and Luna, the infant at the center of a mysterious past, form a captivating family dynamic. Each character is imbued with depth and complexity, making the reader emotionally invested in their journey. The seamless interplay between family bonds and the supernatural elements adds layers of richness to the narrative.

Lindy Ryan's writing style is a true revelation, evoking the Southern setting with vivid descriptions and a narrative cadence that captures the essence of the region. The pacing is masterful, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with a perfect balance of suspense, horror, and heartwarming moments. The novel skillfully builds tension, and the unexpected twists and turns will leave readers gasping for more.

The exploration of family secrets and the revelations that spill from the past into the present adds a compelling layer to the story. As the Evans family confronts not only the undead but also buried truths, the narrative delves into themes of resilience, sacrifice, and the enduring strength of familial ties. It's a testament to Ryan's storytelling prowess that even amid the horror, there are moments of profound emotion and connection.

"Bless Your Heart" is a captivating and unforgettable journey into the supernatural, showcasing Lindy Ryan as a rising star in the world of fiction. With its big-hearted characters, Southern charm with a bite, and a plot that keeps you guessing until the final page, this debut novel is a remarkable achievement. Lindy Ryan has crafted a story that lingers in the mind, leaving readers eagerly anticipating her future contributions to the literary world. If you're a fan of mystery, horror, and beautifully nuanced storytelling, "Bless Your Heart" is a must-read that will leave you utterly enchanted.

Lindy Ryan has a great debut in Bless Your Heart. She has created an entertaining blend of horror, mystery, and humor. I will look forward to seeing more from this author.

The Evans women have extremely bad luck with men. They own the only funeral home in town, and everything has been running smoothly since the Godawful Mess years ago. That is, until the dead begin coming back to life.

There's Ducey, the matriarch, with butterscotch in one apron pocket and a trocar in the other. There's Lenore, Ducey's daughter, who likes to experiment. Then we have Grace, Lenore's daughter. She has a beautiful white rosebush, which she feeds with some very strange things. It makes you wonder what's under there. Finally, there's Luna, Grace's daughter. The identity of her father is something of a mystery.

I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend to anyone who loves their horror with a large dash of Southern charm

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free digital copy of this title from Net Galley.

#BlessYourHeart#LindyRyan#NetGalley

Thanks to SMP & NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was thinking that this book gave major Grady Hendrix vibes and I wasn't wrong! I haven't yet read _The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires_, but I imagine that this title is treading similar ground; probably Gray's version is a little funnier.

In this novel, we have 4 generations of Evans women who all work in the town's funeral parlor. They have a long history of dealing with the unquiet dead, or strigoi, as they call them: sort of a zombie/vampire hybrid. Something is causing the dead to be a little more unquiet than usual, and now they must clue in their youngest, Luna, to her role in the family.

This was entertaining enough, if a bit too long. Be prepared for lots of gore; if you like your vampire lore clean and surgical, this one's not for you. The story was fine, if a bit heavy on the "stuff that happened 15 years ago (referred to repeatedly as that "Godawful Mess")", a technique I always find annoying. Shut up and tell us what happened back then already. The "big twist" was a bit expected but also didn't make much sense, and it seemed to me that the author made much of the Evans women not knowing they whys of things so she didn't have to explain or justify certain plot points.

It did become difficult to remember which Evans woman's POV I was reading, and the author threw in many others besides, muddying the waters. There wasn't much to differentiate Luna's mom and grandmom from one another, and her great grandmom was just all business (and butterscotch candy).

2.5 stars, rounded up bc she didn't kill off the dog

Interesting read. Not the typical book that I normally read but it was an enjoyable read. The “undead” come back and chaos ensues. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Overall I enjoyed this book, the premise was good and it had alot of potential but I felt like it was too long and rambling at times

This book was full of surprises - partly because the title and cover do not convey the contents. I thought this would be about a family of vampires, but it's basically the opposite.

Thankfully, I love a quirky horror story with a cast of strong, vibrant women who are willing to do whatever it takes to handle a sticky situation.

This book is a lot more gory and intense than I anticipated. Too much puking for my taste, although given what the strigoi did to all those people, it's justified. Yick!

Another unexpected twist was that this book came with a big dose of Y2K nostalgia. Why does it take place in 1999? I don't entirely know, but as someone who entered their goth teen years at the turn of the millennium, this scratched a very particular itch.

For me, this super fast read was an absolute joy. Part 2?

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Bless Your Heart was such a great fun read! The book definitely gave me Grady Hendrix vibes while reading this book since it was a blend of humor and horror. This was about a family of women who run a funeral home and they try to keep the town safe from the undead. I loved every aspect of this book and so happy I found a new amazing author to read since this book had me turning pages till the very end. Highly recommend to everyone especially if you love Grady Hendrix books. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC read in exchange of my honest review.

This reminded me so much of Grady Hendrix, so if you love his work, you'll love this!! Very fast-paced and very fun! Loved the feminism!

My Thoughts

The only game open in their small Southeast Texas town is their family run Evans Funeral Parlor, a business that unknown to everyone else in town that is responsible for more than regular burials.

There is a saying that I am going to repurpose for this book and my take on it is “The family that slays together stays together.”

As you are enlightened about the slaying aspect of this story readers beware that some parts are more graphic than a squeamish person may be comfortable with.

Four generations of the Evans women are main characters that range from over 80-year-old great grandmother Ducey (matriarch, lover of sarcasm and butterscotch candies in equal measure) , her daughter Lenora (who approaches things emotionally and yet logically in almost the same breath), to her own daughter Grace (riddled with guilt all 15 of the years that come after that “Godawful Mess” followed by her 15-year-old teenaged daughter Luna (result of a love affair with the wrong man).

Not all fun and games as the family secrets come out into the open for Luna one by one, not only opening her eyes to what three generations in her immediate family have kept from her but the final truth about her father as well.

Words cannot express how much I adore these 4 main characters and how it pains me to be forced into waiting for another chance to once more get a look at how things progress after such an ending as this first book has.

The supporting cast of characters are well used and for me this was the perfect introduction to an author new to me who I will keep a lookout for more of her reads to dive into in future.
[EArc from Netgalley]
On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

This reminded me of a Grady Hendrix book. It was fun to read and had interesting characters. A very fast and easy read. I loved the feminist aspect of a group of women fighting evil

I really enjoyed Bless Your Heart and the female characters the book was centered on. I also liked how the bad guy didn't turn out to be who we were expecting and broke through that stereotype.
*Spoiler* I would have liked to see more growth/resolution in Luna and Grace's relationship. However, the way it ended for them was realistic while the circumstances around it were fantastical. Realistic in that a lot of parent/child relationships don't have a clean ending or understanding of each other. Realistic in that they had love for each other but they didn't relaize or get to show it how they wanted to until it was too late.
Not only this but the lost of two mother's made me want to go and give my own mom and grandma a hug and show my love for them while I still can.
I also loved how the ending makes it open for a possible book 2.

Oh how I loved this book. It was fun and had the best characters ever. A fun story line and kept me interested in one reading.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.