This was such an interesting mystery/horror! This book follows The Evans family who have been fighting the undead for decades. Bless Your Heart is told through multiple POV which helped the story feel fast paced. I’ve never read a book quite like this one and unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. This book had a lot of good moments that kept my attention, but I didn’t particularly love any of the characters. If you are looking for a lighter horror read, you may want to give this one a try.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for advanced copies of Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan publishing April 9th.

This genre-bending release has humor, heart, suspense, and horror! Perfect for fans of Grady Hendrix's "A Southerner's Guide to Slaying Vampires," Ryan's new release follows 4 generations of Evans' women who run a small-town funeral parlor and guard the living from those who raise from the dead!

It's 1999, and while the Evans' women are preparing Mina Jean Murphey's body for burial, she stirs and sits up in her coffin. It's clear that the Strigoi - original vampire - are back, and the Evans women must protect their town before more bodies start piling up or before the local Sheriff's office start asking way too many. Unfortunately, viciously attacked bodies keep getting called in, and the Evans' matriarch realizes that the secrets she and her daughters thought they had buried 15 years ago, might be back to haunt them and put their youngest, Luna's life in danger. Forced to tell Luna about her family's true heritage (while violently driving a stake into the heart of a recently raised dead body in their morgue), Luna must learn and train (quickly!) before the walking dead overtake the whole town.

Y'all. I'm a born and raised Southerner, and there is just something so fun about an 80 year old grandmother who sucks butterscotch candy being the matriarch of a vampire hunter family. Ducey Evans is sharp-tongued, strong-willed, and hilariously blunt. Her daughter, Leonor, is more curious about the undead, and has been secretly stashing their ashes to study them, while Grace is soft-hearted unless it comes to protecting her teen daughter, Luna. Together, the women must solve who is still out in the community feeding on locals and getting stronger every day. The story is told through a variety of POVs, from the Evans women, the sheriff, detectives on the force, and other local victims. The plot was propulsive, and make no mistake, there is nothing 'sweet' about the horror. The Strigoi make an absolute MESS out of their victims, but the Evans women do their best to conceal the truth about the horror lurking in the shadows. While the ending leaves the current mystery resolved, it seems to foreshadow that this story will be continuing into a possible series, which is really exciting!

Readers will adore:
90's Cultural References
Strong Women
Sharp banter and LOL moments
Twist and Turns
Multiple POVs
Family secrets and hidden identities
Start of a new series!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. I had both the elecrtonic galley and the audiobook for review and combined them into a single review. It will post to my blog on April 2. I'll also highlight the book and review on Instagram that day and post the review to Goodreads, The Storygraph and retail sites as well.

Review:
I love a fun horror comedy novel, especially when it's full of Southern charm and witty sayings. In this funny and creepy novel, readers are taken on a wild ride through Southeast Texas. If you're a fan of undead creatures, family drama, and a healthy dose of Southern charm, then this book is sure to be right up your alley. I received a digital ARC as well as an advance copy of the audiobook, so I was able to read and listen at the same time, which was extra fun! I might need to start doing this for more books in the future. It really enhanced my experience.

Set in 1999, "Bless Your Heart" introduces us to the fierce and fabulous Evans women who run the only funeral parlor in town. Ducey, Lenore, Grace, and teenaged Luna find themselves at the center of a supernatural storm when the Strigoi—an ancient sort of vampire—resurfaces in their seemingly quiet town. When the first body comes to the morgue - and then reanimates - all sorts of havoc ensues. The Evans women are prepared, though, and as people around town begin to drop like flies - and then come back as something not quite human - all eyes begin to turn toward the Evans women and their funeral home - what is planted underneath that rose bush that Grace fawns over anyway? Over the course of a few days, family secrets come to light, fingers are pointed, secrets are revealed, and when all is said and done, the Evans family will never be the same.

It's not every day that you come across a book that seamlessly blends horror, humor, and heartwarming moments, but "Bless Your Heart" manages to do just that. Ryan's writing is sharp, witty, and brimming with creative flair. The dialogue crackles with energy, and the characters leap off the page with their unique quirks and personalities. From the no-nonsense Ducey to her spunky daughter Lenore, her lovable daughter Grace, and Grace's teen daughter Luna, each member of the Evans family brings something special to the table. This is also where I need to give a major shoutout to the audiobook narrator. She effortlessly portrays each of these women (and several other characters) with a unique voice and speech cadence. I was in awe the entire time I was listening. A lot of times, audiobook narrators can do maybe 2 or 3 voices, but in this case, every character has a distinct voice, which really elevates the experience.

Another aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was its strong emphasis on female relationships and empowerment. The bond between Ducey, Lenore, Grace, and Luna is at the heart of the story, and it's a joy to see these women support and protect each other in the face of danger. The sense of family loyalty is palpable, and I really felt like I knew these characters. Ryan also delves into deeper themes of family, love, and the secrets we keep buried, skillfully weaving together past and present, revealing shocking revelations and hidden truths.

But don't let the heartwarming moments fool you—the book is also full of spine-tingling suspense, eerie thrills, and some gore, reminding us that this is very much a horror novel with a side of comedy and heart. The small-town setting adds a layer of Southern charm to the story, making it feel like you're right there in the midst of all the action. And, naturally, it's the addition of the Strigoi that provides the story with its central conflict. I loved this fresh take on zombie-like vampires that can become stronger and more human-like - it added a fresh take on a familiar trope.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The delightful blend of horror, humor, and heart left me wanting to join the Evans women on their next adventure. With its unforgettable characters, twisty plot, and Southern flair, this book is a must-read for anyone craving a fresh take on the supernatural genre - especially if you're a fan of horror-comedy. Goodreads lists this book as "A Bless Your Heart Novel," which implies that this might be the start of a series. If that's the case, I'm super excited! Bless your heart, indeed.

The story reminded me of Salem’s Lot. People drop like flies and pretty gruesomely. You would think that from the cover, but it’s not a cozy mystery. I enjoyed it and thought the writing was great but maybe not my cup of tea. I really had to work to finish it, even though I’m glad I stuck with it.

A delightfully ghoulish family centered horror story with a touch of humor. Follow the Evans women as they struggle to take down a nightmarish flesh-eating and blood-sucking monster that’s wreaking havoc on their small southern town.

In 1999, in rural Southeast Texas, the dead are getting restless and the Evan’s women, Ducey, Lenore, Grace and Luna, are having none of it. As townspeople go missing and bodies start to pile up, the Evanses begin to prepare for battle. But the elder Evans women have some secrets of their own and they will have to lay all of their cards on the table before they can clean up this mess. With lots of luck, a bit of humor, a side of sentimentality, and large quantities of blood and butterscotch candies, these ladies will try to tackle their horrifying nemesis and take back their town.

This book was so much fun. It won’t be for everyone and it may especially be triggering for some due to recollections of the Columbine school shooting, but I had a truly fantastic time reading this book. It was dark and a touch gory at times, but in a campy 1980s horror movie sort of way that allows it to be humorous and horrifying all at once. Ryan wrote some remarkably complex characters and I loved that I was able to identify and empathize well with them outside of the horrific subject matter. I really enjoyed that it was set in 1999 and felt that the general ambiance of that time period was nicely woven into the work. I would happily recommend this work for any fans of witty, well written horror who may also be looking for a new series.

Thanks @netgalley @lindyryanwrites and @minotaur_books for the digital ARC I’m exchange for my honest opinion.

I received a gifted copy of BLESS YOUR HEART by Lindy Ryan, thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio.

BLESS YOUR HEART is set in Texas in 1999. The Evans women own and operate the funeral parlor for their town. They do the usual preparations for burial, but sometimes there's more to the story. When a body is brought in showing signs of coming back from the dead, the eldest of the Evans women know that the Strigoi (vampires) are back again and they must train the new generation in their true calling.

More people around town start disappearing, dying, and coming back. Complicating matters more, Deputy Taylor is asking a lot of questions that threaten to bring out the family's secrets. Something unusual is going on and Ducey, Lenore, Grace, and Luna Evans must get to the bottom of it to protect the town.

I didn't know a lot about this book going in, but I took a chance on picking it up during a readathon and wound up easily able to binge read the full book without any regrets. It is a horror book and there is gore to be had, but there's some humor and small town charm somehow mixed in as well. The family has a lot of secrets that not all of the members know, and certainly that the town doesn't know, so there is much to discover as the book goes back and forth between POVs.

I really find the different way authors handle vampire lore to be interesting and I enjoyed the new takes this author brought about. There are elements that felt familiar, but also some things that brought new life to the undead.

A fun read, but didn't live up the expectations I had going in. I've seen others say the same but with a combo of southern living & vampires you can't help but think of Grady hendrix and compare. The pacing was a bit to slow for me and I found myself bored, at 60% I didn't realize it was almost over bc it felt like it was still just getting started. I can see the appeal, but for me personally I didn't feel the charm in this book.

What a fun family of women. The dead should stay dead except when they don’t. Luckily the Evan’s women know exactly what to do when the dead come a knocking. I love the individual characterization of each of the Evan’s women. Each one jumps off the page with their own personality. The book overall is fast paced and easy to get through. I am not sure if it is really gasp worthy, however it is a fun book with great characterization, an easy plot to get behind, and an outcome that may allow for more in the future. This book is really not all that gory, at least I didn't find it that way. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press for granting me access to this extremely unique read by Lindy Ryan. Bless Your Heart is quirky, it's serious, and it's at its core a book about family. I really enjoyed reading this novel.. The women in this book are all so different from one another but their unconditional love is evident in everything they do for one another.

Luna's family is different. They own the funeral parlor in town. Her whole life, Luna has been surrounded by death as the women in her family work to lay folks to rest. However, recently, there have been more deaths than usual and by no means are they typical nor natural. The Evans women know something is up and their worst fears are actualized as they realize it's worse than they ever could have imagined. Now they are forced to confront what's happening while trying to keep their own secrets buried.

If I may, I also would recommend this title as an audiobook. I had the opportunity to listen and read. I must say, the audio at times made me laugh out loud because of how quirky some of the characters were. Be prepared to crave a butterscotch after reading this one. I anticipated this being a light read based on the cover art, but there is a lot going on within this book.

🎧AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🎧

Bless Your Heart - Lindy Ryan
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️

“A crackling mystery-horror novel with big-hearted characters and Southern charm with a bite, Bless Your Heart is a gasp-worthy delight from start to finish from debut author Lindy Ryan.”

I absolutely loved this story of 4 generations of women who run the only funeral home in their small town. The Evans women were charming, funny badasses and I truly hope there will be more books to come from this series. I wouldn’t describe this as horror (though there are a few gory parts) but more paranormal mystery.

Recommend if you like:
- Multiple POVs
- Strong women
- Paranormal mystery
- Dark humor
- 90’s references
- Southern charm

Thank you @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for my copies!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book before release day. Unfortunately it was a DNF at 20% for me. Might just be me and the current theme isn't vibing with me. I might try it again come fall/spooky season.

If you liked A Southern Bookclub's Guide to Slaying Vampires - but need something a little more upbeat - try your hand at Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan. Southern women are a different breed, and if you get four generations of them together to save a town from ruthless creatures - you're bound for a good time!

A bit more gruesome than I anticipated, but also satirical! A fun read for anyone who likes the idea of a non-sparkly vampire, Steel Magnolias-esque women and small towns.

**Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

I loved the idea behind this! It was entertaining and was hard to put down because I wanted to find out what was going on. My only issue is that the pacing was very slow at times. I still give it 4 stars based on plot and creativity

Aaaah this was such a fun read! I wasn't sure what I was getting into, but the surprises (and laughs) kept coming. The Evans women run the local funeral home in their small town... but what the reader soon learns is they do much more than that. The Strigoi, or vampires, are back, and it is their job to deal with them. From the youngest, who's in high school, to an 80=something grandparent, these badass women have to take care of business. I imagine the audiobook would be super fun, too. I highly recommend!

💛❤️ Bless Your Heart ARC Review ❤️💛

Thank you so much to Lindy Ryan and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Bless Your Heart is a supernatural small town mystery. The Evans women run the local funeral home in their small town in Southeast Texas. When people start dying mysteriously, they realize that the Strigoi have come to small town Texas. Can these women fight back and protect their town??

This was an interesting read. It mainly focused on the generational story of the Evans family - their ages ranging from high school to 80s - who have been fighting monsters for decades. The world building was fun and I enjoyed the supernatural aspects of this story. I still had some questions at the end of the story, but I anticipate those will be answered in the next books in the series.

Overall this was a solid three star read for me. Interesting characters and world building, but I did find myself struggling keeping characters straight with all the different POV changes. There was a smidge of a romance plot between two of the characters but no on page smut, so one flame for spice

If you’re a fan of small town vibes, supernatural mysteries, monster hunters and vampire lore, then absolutely pick this one up!

Please Note: review will be posted on Amazon upon publication

I didn't know quite what to expect when I decided to request "Bless Your Heart". This novel took a unique strategy to tell a story of creatures who have been mythologized in literature for ages.
This story is a blend of horror and one of family. For many years the Evans women, (all 4 generations), have carried out a quiet crusade to rid their small part of southeast Texas from the undead. Isolated and eccentric the Evans women have been the operators of the only funeral home in their home town for nearly 16 years. United because of circumstances the Evans and the local sheriff are the only ones who know of the existence of the original vampire, the Strigoi.
Soon, more and more townspeople are turning up missing or dead in a most heinous way, and town Deputy Roger Taylor tries to desperately come up with an explanation or even better, a way to stop the killing.
Unknown to the teenager in the Evans family, Luna, this has occurred before when she was just a baby, and she may be the cause of all of this unrest.
Secrets and lies, are best served up cold in this hot southern town.

4.5⭐️

The Evans women have ran the local funeral home for the last 15 years. Partly because it's a family business, but mostly because they are the only ones that know about Strigoi and have the ability to keep them down. While the Strigoi, the original vampire, have been dormant for years, that all changes when Mina Jean Murphy comes in for her burial but raises from the dead instead. As more dead bodies are found across the town, Ducey Evans, her daughter Lenore and her granddaughter Grace have their hands full.

Luna Evans knew nothing about the Strigoi until she walked in on Edwin Boone rising from the dead and trying to escape the funeral home freezer. All she knows is that she keeps having weird dreams featuring the people who have died in town and calling her to one of the bushes in the front yard. Her mom and grandmothers have been trying to teach her what is required of the Evans women, all while trying to figure out why they are rising again.

I really enjoyed this! I wasn't aware of the Romanian mythology of the Strigoi before this and liked learning of the lore through the eyes of the Evans women. I liked how they are more of a hybrid between a vampire and a zombie rather than a hyper intelligent being that you see in a lot of vampire books. I also liked that even though the story was about the undead and multigenerational trauma, the tone of the book wasn't too heavy and came across not quite a comedy. Each of the Evans women had such different personalities that really added to the story and made things interesting.

I do feel like like at times the story got a bit bogged down by info dumps that effected the pacing. That was easy to look over. There was something missing for me, though, that keeps this from being a 5 star and I'm not quite sure what it was.

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for providing this ARC to me!

I was immediately drawn to the cover and the title of this book, but unfortunately, the contents weren't for me. I was expecting a fun and easy to read story, but couldn't get excited or interested. Thank you NetGalley.

4 Stars
This was a very fun read. Maybe not everyone would say that about a book that included the dead killing and feeding on living, though. While it is a horror novel, the atmosphere of the small town and the quirky characters give this book a depth that even those not excited by horror would enjoy. It definitely gives off "Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires" vibes.

In a small Texas town, Luna is 15 years old and the youngest generation involved in running the local funeral home with other Evans women. Her mother Grace, grandmother Lenore, and GreatGrandmother Ducey have run the funeral home for the past 15 years, since the death of Lenore's husband Jim. All is good, until the dead start to rise and the Evans women have to put them back down. Luna has been kept in the dark about this family legacy of being caretakers, until things get out of hand and she must be told.

Despite the focus on the Evans women, there are a number of minor characters in the book that you get to know quite a lot about. It seems like you only learn this much about minor characters when they are going to die but that was not the case in this book. I really enjoyed having a more thorough view of the Evans' women lives and friends. That depth made the story much more engaging. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan grabbed my attention with a fun cover and kept me hooked with a whirl wind of mystery and intrigue.

What I loved
-main characters that work in a funeral pallor and keep the undead hoards at bay was always a set up that would grasp my attention and keep it.
-Strong family bonds
-Small towns with big secrets is just a whole vibe for anyone who grew up in the Southern United States

What Didn't work as strongly

-way more gruesome on page than I expected
-a tad too fast paced. I wanted more time with the characters to get to really feel them out.

Who I would recommend this title for
Fans of franchises such as Buffy the vampire slayer and readers who are looking for something with a similar energy to the writing of Christopher Moore will have a good time with this story.