really good book and lots of suspense, you will love the mystery and have no trouble finishing this one

This book has it all, romance, horror, mystery, small town vibes. I loved the family of strong women who all have their secrets. I thought the gore and sweet family moment were in perfect balance of not too sappy or slasher. Will definitely read for this author in the future.

This book was INTENSE from start to finish!
First of all check trigger warnings for this one, the gore side of this book was a bit much for me and I feel I need to warn about that.
Other than that, this book was really good. I loved the characters and was getting attached to so many of them. I feel like if this was just a book about all these characters living normal lives (without the vampires) I would have also loved that.
The storyline itself, I found to be very well thought out and had me wanting to know what was going to happen next and how it was going to tie together.
I did have my suspicions about a few things and ended up being right, but I didn’t really mind that.
Overall this was a good book that kept my heart racing and me wanting to find out how it was all going to finally end!
I really enjoyed the ending, you could feel all the raw emotion the author put into this and it was just very heartfelt.
Thank you Lindy Ryan and NetGalley for my arc copy, I am leaving this review on my own.

I was totally in for this work which immediately made me think of Southern Book Clubs Guide to Killing Vampires. Would recommend! Thanks for the arc

The Evans women are the owners of the only funeral parlor in town. When the dead die, they busy them. The end. That’s how it’s always been.

But when town gossips Mina Jean Murphy’s body is brought in for a regular burial and she rises from the dead, its clear that the original vampires are back. Good thing the Evans women are there to fight to put them back.

As more folks in town end up dead, the deputies begin asking questions and the Evans women must figure out who’s behind the vampires return. As the saying goes, what goes up, must go down. As secrets are revealed, the Evans family must face that sometime, the dead aren’t the only things you want to keep buried.

This was a quick and interesting read. I thought that it was a fun take on a horror story, though it wasn’t exactly dark horror, more lighthearted horror or horror adjacent. The Evans family was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed getting to know their characters, but I felt that this book was a little bogged down. There were so many points of view in the book I don’t think that we got to know any of the characters on a deeper level. I wish that that this one would have been told through maybe 2 to 3 points of view and we could have gotten to know them on a deeper, less superficial level. The story itself however was rather compelling and kept the story moving. I do feel like this book was a little slower than I would have preferred, it took a while for things to pick up and take off and I would have preferred we got to the meat of the story a little quicker. I felt that by the time we knew what was going on the book was almost over and there wasn’t time to finalize things nicely, and therefore I felt the ending was a little rushed. I do think that this book had a lot of potential, and it was a fun quick read. I would recommend it to some looking for a lighthearted horror read.

Thank you so much to the publisher, St Martins Press @StMartinsPress and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Four generations of the Evans family (Ducey, Lenore, Grace, and Luna) run the local funeral parlor in their small Texas town. But when a series of grisly attacks begins in their home town, the Evans family must reveal their biggest family secret to the youngest amongst them--the Evans women fight vampires. To save themselves and their community, they must figure out who has risen--and put them down.

With a gripping prologue that hooks you and doesn't let go, this story is a supernatural mystery-lover's delight. Starring a curmudgeonly granny, a bumbling police force, and a teenager trying to grapple with her family's *second* family business, there's lot to love here.

If you enjoy a good supernatural murder mystery, give this one a shot. You won't be disappointed.

I have NO idea what the hell I just read, but I was THOROUGHLY entertained and enjoyed every second of this.

The southern element really shined through - do yourself a favor and read this entire thing with a southern accent for peak enjoyment!

Phew! I don’t know if I’m exhilarated or exhausted, but for a horror novel, I’m suffering from a crazy amount of emotional upheaval. This is not a perfect book, but it’s entertaining and engaging - I read it very quickly. Horror is not my preferred genre, but there’s something about female written horror that draws me in (I’m looking at you, Rachel Harrison). Maybe the relationships and connections between characters? Whatever it is, I’m here for it.

I received a copy of this book from Minotaur Books.

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