3.5 ★

I was really enjoying how this started out. It was giving me Grady Hendrix vibes mixed with Alice Hoffman. A generational group of women fighting the undead? Right up my alley~

But then towards the middle, it slowed down and I found myself loosing interest. Not a whole lot was going on, and a lot of unnecessary back and forth between characters. It's set in the 90s but it didn't read that way...Not a whole lot of hints at the nostalgia that is the 90s, so not really sure why the author even bothered to mention it's set in the 90s?

Then towards the end it became pretty cheesy and it lost me altogether.
Characters were killed off just to kill off somebody and to get a reaction out of the reader. Which didn't work (least on me) since there were so many characters to begin with, so you didn't get the time to get invested in anyone.

But I did enjoy the beginning and the dynamics/banter between the family.

Not sure if I'll read the sequel (if there is one...but seems like there will be).

I was really excited to read this book based on the plot summary. And while I thought the idea was interesting, the execution was terrible. The writing was boring and repetitive. The author needed to show more than tell. And I wanted to throw my phone every time she mentioned Ducey eating a butterscotch. I get it, she’s eat butterscotch candies all day. You don’t have to tell me every other sentence. Perhaps this would have been a more enjoyable read if written by a different author. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the review copy

This book was not for me. The plot was fine, I just couldn’t stay interested, but I think many of our patrons will Ike it. I couldn’t keep the female characters straight. They all seemed too similar.

The cover of this book immediately caught my attention with that charming Southern title! I knew I had to check it out, and I'm glad I did. Instantly had me hooked. But let me tell you, it's not your run-of-the-mill charming tale – it had such a spooky twist that it had my skin crawling a little! Now, if spooky things make you jump out of your skin, maybe give this one a pass. But if you're like me and thrive on that spine-tingling, hair-raising excitement, you're in for a treat!

So, we've got the Evans women, these feisty funeral parlor owners in this adorable Southeast Texas town. But hold your horses, 'cause it's not just any funeral parlor drama. Nope, it takes a wild turn when the dearly departed decide they're not entirely done with their grand exit. They rise up as "Strigoi," and let me tell you. It's a whole new take on vampire books. The author, Lindy, weaves in family secrets and characters so captivating, they'll have you flipping pages so fast.

And oh my gosh, can we talk about those characters? Each is unique, and you're piecing together their stories and intriguing backgrounds as you go along. I was practically buzzing with questions, but you know what? Every single one was answered, just like a grand finale of a fireworks show. And that ending – perfection! It left me grinning, totally satisfied with all the mystery and suspense.

I loved it!

This is such a fun read! Everyone who wants a good vampire tale, with some laughs, and All vampire loving southerners should give this book a try! I cannot wait to share this book with everyone when it is published.

Thank you so much for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

That cover grabbed me, along with the Southern charm of a title and the very spooky story, as the women running Evans Funeral Parlor fight to keep the town safe from vampires. A fine mystery-horror tale that should NOT be read at night.

The funeral home business has been in the Evans family for a long time and ran by Evans women. That alone makes for an interesting Southern story. Then clients of the funeral home start waking up! No, I didn't really expect that nor did I expect the women to easily handle the situation. Of course the story thickens and there's plenty of drama and past drama that livens? up the story. This book kept me interested the whole time. There's humor, horror, mystery, sadness and hope. I read this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fun read with very spooky vibes...for some reason did not think this was supposed to be a horror/scary novel tho lol.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this e-arc.

This was definitely an interesting premise. I enjoyed the overall story, and can easily see it becoming a series. The one thing that really detracted from my ability to love this book was how difficult I found it to keep the Evans characters straight. The younger two women of the family were easy to follow along with. The older two however it took me until over halfway through to be sure exactly which was which. Each chapter does tell you who is speaking, so it wasn't that. It was understanding who was the mother of who, and keeping the older generations straight. If I was able to just focus on the story instead of understanding the characters this could have been a story to easily get caught up in.

I liked it! It’s a pretty straightforward mystery that focuses on the characters and their relationships throughout this small town more so than the vampire elements, so I’d recommend it more as an exploration of generational trauma/responsibility/love than as a penny dreadful. Having said that, there is very detailed gore and death so. Look out for that. It reads very cinematically at times, so the visuals are clear and fun but you may not get too in depth a look at what characters were thinking. Overall it was fun and compelling with a moving ending, but isn’t overly deep or meaningful imo. Just a fun read.

This was really fun southern charm combined with vampires? Sign me up. I had a good time, though I have to say that the writing style took me a while to get used to so I could really get immersed into the story. Fun premise, well-written, lots of fun! Very unique book also liked throwback to nineties.

I want to know more about the Evans family! Tell us about Pie or more future books, please!!

Lindy Ryan is a talented author. The dialogue was a joy to read and the way she described the gore was top notch. Would not recommend reading this one at bedtime. The ending was also unexpected! 5 stars.

This was really fun! Lots of southern charm and atmosphere combined with spooks and vampires? Sign me up. I had a good time, though I have to say that the writing style took me a while to get used to so I could really get immersed into the story. Fun premise, well-written, lots of fun!

I am all here for this! Southern charm, mystery, horror and Vampires. This book 8s one of my favorites. I could not put it down. This is an amazing book. The title is perfect for this book. Absolutely perfect.
I just reviewed Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan. #NetGalley
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This read was definitely haunting and gory and had plenty of the undead in it! However, I don't believe the writing style was for me. Though if this is ever adapted, I'll 100% be the first one to there to watch. Aside from the writing I do believe the premise was well executed.

Thank you for my ARC!

Horrifically fantastic and marvelously morbid 🪦

Wow!! What a ride! I was 100% drawn in by the fabulous cover and hilarious title - and boy am I glad!

We follow the Evans women who own and operate the only funeral parlor in good ol’ Southeast Texas. It’s their job to handle & bury all the bodies that come through their door - seems pretty normal right? Well, it’s also their job to make sure that the bodies they put in the ground - stay buried.

This book has it all! It’s creepy, supernaturally spooky, full of strong female badassary, 90’s nostalgia, southern charm, fast paced and one heck of a haunted read!

10/10 recommend picking up Bless Your Heart when it hits shelves 4.09.2024!

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

This book is an excellent read on a hot summer's day. Make sure to have your sweet tea or mint julep. The Evans family is full of sass, Southern sayings and are badasses. They are fighting against vampires and zombies. They use the family business, mortuary as a means to hide some of their actions. In addition there are some family secrets that may out.

It was an enjoyable read that I can see becoming a movie as well.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook.
I was looking forward to this book. It wasn't bad but it wasn't what I thought it would be. If you like books from Grady Hendrix you will like this novel. They have the same writing style as in tons and tons of gore and just well it is better if you are not eating while you listen or read lol.
That part didn't really bother me it just seemed like the novel was more for ya writing instead of adult. There seemed to be a lot of skipping around, just like all over the place writing.
I am not really sure if I would read from her again. But since Halloween is around the corner this is a fast easy read.

Loved this title. Quite a twist on the normal vampire story. Enjoyed the characters and the "southern-ness" of it all.