This book was refreshingly simple in it's otherworldly lore.
I loved the humor and 1999 southern gothic style.
The narrator was great. I recommend the audiobook.

Thank you to @NetGalley for letting me listen to the advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This book had an intruguing concept, matriarcal family who run a funeral home. When people come back to life the Evans women have to keep them dead/down. The miscommunication and withholding the truth between the women on this family was so infuriating. Almost every problem in the entire book was due to lack of communication. There also too many loose ends that werent addressed at the end and the book was too gory for my taste (im a baby when it comes to that). Overall the concept and characters were great but every problem could have been solved with just talking.

"Put me in pink lipstick or blue hair if you want when I go...but bury me in my brassiere and I'll haunt you."

Matriarch Ducey Evans, in her eighties, is my hero in the uproariously funny mix of southern charm and gore,Bless Your Heart, by award winning horror author Lindy Ryan. I am putting the above quote in my will!

In 1999 Texas, the Evans family, made up of 4 fierce females, runs the only funeral parlor in their small town. Ducey, the great grandmother and definition of a tough broad sleeps with smut paperbacks on her nightstand and a rifle in reach at all times. Her daughter Lenore keeps things running at the family business. Lenore's daughter Grace is a single Mom with her daughter Luna about to turn 16...and maybe turn...well old enough for family secrets.

When the body of Mina starts to rise from the dead at the funeral home the Evans women (minus Luna) know trouble is back. It's been 15 years. What's brought it back and how do they stop it?

Is it the new wanna be Christian Slater from Heathers teen who just appears in town, is it Luna's weird dreams or is it whatever is buried under the roses in Grace's garden?

I'm sending a virtual standing ovation to voice actress Stephanie Nemeth-Parker who with the perfect blend of southern drawl and ghoulish horror brought to life this hilarious world filled with some bloody scenes where only a tongue is left at a crime scene. This writer masterfully found the fun in gore.

Cops are bewildered by the deaths and the women know a fight is coming but with a wink at us the author mashed up Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Six Feet Under and Supernatural and all I can say is bless her heart for sharing her gory comedic talent with us mortals.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from #macmillanaudio via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

The restless dead have a resurgence in a small Texas town circa 1999. I mean, sure, the town experiences a restless member of the nonliving cropping up every now and then, but these are numbers the women of the Evans family haven’t seen in years. 
 
Three generations of Evans women are about to introduce a fourth generation to the family calling. As proprietors of the only funeral home in town, they are used to being the last stop before town members are laid to rest. Some of their clients just need a little extra help getting there. 
 
This one is told in multiple POVs. Strap in for something kind of wacky, and I recommending avoiding eating while reading. 
 
Bless Your Heart would be good for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, who are open to impalements staged in a Southern setting. 
 
Stephanie Németh-Parker’s narration kept me engaged. I was impressed by how she uses a different voice for each and every one of the characters and was easily able to tell which Evans woman was speaking based on the narrator's tone and accent choices. 
 
I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

Thank you to @netgalley @macmillan.audio and @stmartinspress for the gifted copy of this book.

I just love the Evans women! As the owners of the local funeral home, they make sure that the dead stay dead. These women have big hearts, are tough as nails, and approach every situation with witty humor. They’ve seen it all, fought it all, and refuse to back down from a challenge. They prove that sometimes popping a butterscotch candy and wielding a sharp object is all it takes to get through the day.
This isn’t your typical vampire story, I mean there are vampires and gore, but at the heart of it is a family that will do anything to protect each other and their community.

I had such a great time reading this book. It’s well paced with a great mystery and even better cast of characters. If you’re looking for a fun, easy read - this is the one!

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 (4.5)

Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan-debut author
Publication 4-9-24, read 4-9-24
E-book 301 pgs. and audiobook 10:48
Genre: Adult Fic, Paranormal, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Thriller
Tropes: Vampires, Family Drama, Hidden Secrets

Thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for this ARC & ALC❤️! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are mine alone.

The narrator Stephanie Nemeth-Parker read in a Southeastern Texas accent that fit all the characters . The voices brought this fantasy to life with quick pacing by the narrator and the author. I loved all the different POVs-mainly the four Evans' women. The narrator paused and announced every time a new chapter came. The book had a table of contents which helped me follow along with the e-book and audio.

It's 1999 in TX where the Evans' women run a funeral parlor that protects the town from the Strigoi-the "original" vampires along w/ ghouls they create. The matriarch is Ducey Evans(80) along with her daughter Lenore, granddaughter Grace, and great granddaughter Luna. Grace has raised Luna alone and kept her father's identity from her, along with the events leading up to the death of Grace's father Jimmy. The killings and rising dead have started again so the Evans' women know the past has creeped back into their lives. The side characters gave the story some charm, loved Sheriff Buck and Belle . I would definitely read more in this world!

I loved this small town human/vampire story very much in the vein of The Southern Vampire Mysteries and The Dead Don't Die-both the book series and movie highly recommended. I suggest listening to the audiobook because you can adjust the speed, skip parts easily (if desired), and picture the characters more vividly.

Rating: 5/5

Thank you NetGalley and MacMilan Audio for an ARC of the audiobook Bless Your Heart!

Well, call me a Strigoi because I ate this book up and am restless to read book two!

For context, Bless Your Heart is the first book in a cozy horror meets small town mystery series. It follows four generations of Evans women as they deal with running a funeral parlor and trying to keep the undead at bay, all while dealing with their own secrets. Along the way, you meet a cast of lovable small town locals trying to figure out why dead bodies keep popping up all over their town. Lindy Ryan pays as much attention to the humorous banter and clever wit of the characters as she does to the gore and horror, giving this book a refreshing feel! As someone who rarely ventures into the horror genre I was nervous going into this one that it would be too much to handle; however, I could not have been more wrong! I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a gateway into the horror genre or those interested in the genre who welcome an energizing new read.

As I said before, I received this book as an audiobook and I simply cannot sing enough praises to the book's narrator! There are many different characters in this book and at times, we get bits and pieces of their perspectives. The narrator handled this with vocal gymnastics that made it easy to follow the plot and who was speaking. Such a delight!!!

This book was absolutely incredible and I feel like it’s opened the book world up to a whole new genre: cozy horror. It had all the heart, banter, and unrequited love of a cozy with all the gruesome gore of horror. The Evans women are a monster hunting force to be reckoned with but still have all the mother daughter, family drama of any other family. I definitely connected with the small TX town feel of this novel and of course loved ALL the references of 1999. I can’t wait to not only read more bout this family and town but also see it on the small screen since it’s been picked up for a series. All the characters were really special in this and after reading the acknowledgments it was really obvious why. This is overall a really fun book and I can’t wait to see what the world thinks about it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC of "Bless Your Heart" by Lindy Ryan.

"Bless Your Heart" by Lindy Ryan is a fun romantic comedy set in the cozy town of Magnolia Bay. You'll be laughing along with Emma Lee as she tries to find love in a sea of small-town drama. While the story is entertaining and the characters are lovable, some parts might feel a bit too predictable, and a few characters could use more depth.

The narration in "Bless Your Heart" is easy to follow, pulling you into Emma Lee's world with its vivid descriptions and relatable dialogue. It's like watching your favorite rom-com unfold on the page.

Overall, "Bless Your Heart" is a feel-good read that'll leave you smiling, despite its occasional predictability. If you're in the mood for a light-hearted romance with plenty of laughs, this book is sure to hit the spot.

This was not what I was expecting. From the synopsis I was looking for something more Grady Hendrix-esque, but this fell short. I feel like there were lots of loose ends left at the end too.

Y'allllllll. Okay, I know this book takes place in Texas, but I can picture the characters right here in south Louisiana. I can see them sitting on their porch, I can hear the mosquitoes, feel the humidity, and smell the wet grass.
With the exception of people turning zombie-like in the beginning of the book, the first 30ish percent was quite wholesome and funny....then it got GROSS but in the best way possible. Don't let the cute little southern women and cartoon cover fool you. 🫣

If you liked the Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix, I think you'd like this. I also think if you read Suburban Hell by Maureen Kilmer and wanted a little more gore, you might wanna pick this one up.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

That was a fun one to listen to! Horror but not too graphic, with some decent characters and good pacing. The narrator did a good job. I would continue this series.

Four stars for the audiobook, and three stars for the novel! The narrator was great. I thought the book was super fun overall with vampire zombie mashups and the family of women working in the funeral parlor. I liked the characters and all the butterscotch references. My mind wandered a bit with the story, but overall the audiobook performance made it enjoyable.

Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan includes plenty of fun elements that will suit a variety of readers. This book has plenty of gruesome bits that are perfect for horror fans, along with elements of intrigue, Southern charm, and some quirky characters. The nostalgic 1990s setting and the backdrop of a Texas small town create the perfect environment for the Evans women and the creatures they battle...the Strigoi. As far as the characters go, I loved all of the Evans women! They are each strong in their own ways, but of course they also have their own unique challenges to overcome. There are plenty of side characters that help the story move along while adding their own flair. I think this book is a refreshing addition to the mystery and horror genres and I love the way it's not a typical vampire story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review an eAudiobook of Bless Your Heart.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this audiobook for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a very fun, quirky, gory Southern mystery with some vampire/zombie creatures thrown into the mix. I absolutely adored the intergenerational perspective here and I fell in love with the Evans women very quickly!

The intergenerational perspective added a lot of mystery to the novel, as well as a lot of humor, and was one of the biggest strengths of the novel. Ducey was by far my favorite character with her brutally honest demeanor and dark humor. The horror aspect is also fantastic. Be wary if you can't handle gore, because there is plenty of that. I also enjoyed that the reader found out details about the Evans family bit by bit, getting hints here and there as to what was happening. It was very satisfying to see the pieces all come together by the end. And the big plot twists were excellent as well! :)

Listening to the audiobook was such a fun way to experience this book because the narrator included a southern twang to the characters' accents, which made the setting feel even more real! I think I would have gotten the characters' relationships (particularly the Evans women) sorted out in my head quicker if I was reading the novel, but I still greatly enjoyed the listening experience. I greatly look forward to the next installment in this series!

Publication date: April 9, 2024

Thank you NetGalley and McMillan Audio for this ALC. This novel is the eptiome of "cozy" but that does not detract from the "horror" element. The cast of characters, though set in a small town, are "diverse". Ryan comments on small town ideas about LGBTQ issues, legacies, and responsibilities. The women in this novel are funny, yet fierce. I really liked Ryan uses the Strigoi variation of the vampire. It has been some time that I have seen this creature in our popular media. Overall, this was a great story and a fast read. It will entertain!

4.5 Rounded up
This is a review of an ALC - thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I have read from Lindy Ryan but I will continue to pick up each new book in this series as they are published - as well as seek out her other titles.

As a dedicated fan of horror, I found Lindy Ryan's Bless Your Heart to be an enjoyable and unexpected addition to the genre. I would personally classify this as "Light Horror" or "Cozy Horror". With its blend of Southern charm, biting humor, and heartwarming female relationships, it truly kept me entertained the entire time.

The unique setting in a small Southeastern Texas town in the late 90's feels just like home to me. Growing up in Texas, I could connect with the atmosphere of the book. As well as the Evans women, who have been charged with the responsibility of being the final touchstone for the members of their community. I was reminded of the cozy atmosphere of Stars Hollow and the undeniably intertwined relationships of Rory, Lorelai, and Emily in Gilmore Girls. However, the Evans women are much more likable to me. They remind me of the matriarchs of my own family and the women who ran the potlucks or dinner trains after a loss in the neighborhood. Much like Gilmore Girls, Bless Your Heart charms readers with its witty banter and heartwarming moments, while also taking a darker turn, delving into the secrets and supernatural mysteries lurking beneath the surface of this seemingly idyllic Texas town and it's only funeral home.

The quirky humor and touching moments blend seamlessly with the horror elements Ryan has weaved into this story of generational love and sacrifice. Bless Your Heart offers distinct southern charm. It's an enjoyable read that explores themes of family, betrayal, and the darkness that lies within us all.

”It was hell to get old. It would probably be hell to die, too. She’d seen enough of the good, bad and ugly of death to know better than to expect her time to come quietly. Things just didn’t work that way for Evans women.”

Bless Your Heart is the first installment in Lindy Ryan’s latest series and immediately upon reading the title, I knew had to grab it (what can I say, it warmed my southern heart)... And once I read the synopsis- A string of unnatural occurrences stirs up trouble in a small Texas town and as the dead start to rise in a truly terrifying way, it’s up to the Evans women to step in and bring an end to the nightmare- I was hooked.

The Evans women are a peculiarly complicated lot, running the town’s only funeral parlor in a small Texas town during the midst of 1999. While at first glance their professions seem respectable and mundane enough, Ducey, Lenore, Grace and Luna Evans serve a far more significant and secretive role than merely the town’s resident funeral directors. For as long as anyone can remember, the Evans women have served as humanity’s defense against the terrible entities called Strigoi- monstrous undead beings that gain power from feeding and turning innocent humans.

The story centers around a shocking outbreak of new Strigoi, 15 years after the eldest Evans women thought they laid their secrets to rest for good. Of course, nothing worth hiding stays hidden for long…

I thoroughly enjoyed the diverse cast of characters and the author’s choice of narration (each chapter alternates between different main characters and their POVs) and while some may find that method tedious, I found it was super easy to follow and works in the story’s favor as it gives the reader a better look at the story as it unfolds.

Caught somewhere between mystery, horror and humorous contemporary, I felt this story carried the vibes of a darker, faster paced cousin of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic or perhaps a story somewhere along the same vein as Grady Hendrix’s The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires. Or, if you’re a fan of the lore behind Megan Bannen’s The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, this could be a great place to find similar mythologies of the undead, too. Overall, if you’re a fan of any of those series or simply looking to find a book that exudes southern humor and charm, then I would suggest giving this one a go!


Audiobook Experience:
I was able to enjoy this story through the audiobook version, and I really enjoyed it. As an avid audiobook listener, I was incredibly pleased to find that Bless Your Heart is read by Stephanie Németh-Parker, who I have enjoyed in the past. This book is a great option for those who enjoy listening at either a leisurely or fast pace, her voice clear and engaging at any speed ranging between 1.0x to 2.5x and beyond (for this listen, I found 1.75x speed to be the best for my preferences). Stephanie is fantastic at translating character’s emotions through her voice, and I found her to do a great job bringing both the male and female characters to life during all points of the storyline.

Final Thoughts:
I easily read Bless Your Heart in one sitting, and found it easy to fall into within the first few chapters. Each main character offered something unique and relevant to the story in my opinion, and I quickly found myself growing fond of this oddball cast. Ryan also portrayed a more progressive and daring side of southern culture and southern individuals that I so rarely see in fiction most of the time, which I greatly appreciated.

I plan to pick up book two when it comes out, as I was absolutely blindsided at how quickly it ended, feeling as though I had just gotten started when my audiobook came to stop I was so invested! So I hope to see more of the Evans ladies soon!

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC.

Rating: 4.5

This book was everything I wanted The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires to be. I felt so let down because I loved Grady Hendrix's concept, but the book itself felt so clunky. Bless Your Heart had it all, and felt like an AWESOME answer to what I was actually looking for: strong female leads, humour, and personality mixed with the paranormal. Highly recommend this book. I found Ryan did an excellent job introducing the lovable and quirky ladies, I loved the way this story was woven with some helpful flashbacks from the past, and I just fell in love with the family.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved the choice of narrator for the story. Characters felt distinct and I was engaged throughout. The book wasn’t for me but I will look for the narrator in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to review.