This book made me laugh, smile, and cry—literally. I absolutely loved it.

Set in 1999 Texas, Bless Your Heart follows the unforgettable Evans Women, who run a funeral parlor with a twist: for the past 80 years, they've been keeping their town safe from the restless undead. Yep, it’s just as amazing as it sounds.

What really hooked me was the dynamic between the Evans women. Their love for each other, their tight-knit bond, and their fierce loyalty had me in my feels. Add in a deliciously eerie mystery, a town full of secrets, and a whole lot of heart, and I couldn’t put it down.

Fair warning—this one isn’t light on the gore. But the dark humor and sharp wit balance it out perfectly. It’s the kind of horror-comedy blend I didn’t know I needed.

This is the first book in a series, and while I also adored the Evans women in book two, reading this one first made me appreciate them even more. Getting their origin story, seeing how it all started—it just made my love for them deeper.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC. I’m now officially OBSESSED with this series.

This was a great book. Very enjoyable, I loved the characters, and the plot was super interesting. The narrator did a really good job as well.

This was really different than my typical reads, so it was hard to give a rating. However, I enjoyed it! The audio was well done and the narrator enhanced the story. I would recommend the audio version to anyone thinking of picking this up as their next read.

BLESS YOUR HEART #1, PAPERBACK - Entertaining but easy to put down. Set in East Texas, which drew my interest, with four generations of women running a funeral parlor and fighting Strigoi, (ghouls, part vampire, part zombie). A bit wordy and a Cozy to boot along with plenty of gory happenings and some humor. Paperback is large size, with thick pages, no chemical smell and an easy to read font. Source: Won a GoodReads giveaway. 3*

BLESS YOUR HEART, #1, AUDIOBOOK - This is the only way to enjoy this book. The narrator Stephanie Nemeth-Parker makes this book come alive, making it snap. I spent two days listening to both books, the second book Another Fine Mess, and enjoyed myself immensely. The characters, the story lines and the humor, although there are gory things that happen, which aren't graphic. Source: Netgalley. 5*

ANOTHER FINE MESS, #2, AUDIOBOOK - Starts up a month after BYH ends. I love the narrator Stephanie Nemeth-Parker. As with the first book, the narrator makes the characters come alive and the story pop. She is the perfect person and unfortunately, she does not have a Texan accent, which I understand the rest if the world appreciates. There's plenty of ungraphic gory stuff, humor, love, family and doing the right thing. Source: Netgalley. 5*

Thank you for the change to review the audiobook of "Bless Your Heart" by Lindy Ryan. I was excited for this story based on the summary shared on NetGalley. Small town, vampires, and family of females who battle them. Unfortunately this story did not grab my attention and wasn't drawn to pick up the story and hear more. The idea is promising and the characters are fun, I enjoyed the dynamic of the multi-generational family of females who are fighting them. I am not sure where the story fell short for me but it just didn't grab me.

I “sucked” in pretty quickly, the middle lost me, then it picked me back up at the end. A lot of characters and a lot going on, but overall it was interesting and thriller. I feel the cover is a bit of misrepresentation, due to the fact they are more of a vampire-zombie mix. I loved the narrator. And it was a bit gory for my personal liking but it did make sense for the type of story

The Evan’s women are so freaking cool. I loved everything about this story. This was everything I was hoping it would be and more! Ducey, Grace, Lenora and Luna are four generations of wow!

Thank you to netgalley for a free version.

This book was different than what i am use to reading but I did enjoy it. Humor and vampires made a great combination in this book.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this gifted audio, in exchange for an honest review. Bless Your Heart is out now!

This one sounded perfect; A southern gothic vampire story set in the 90s! Bless Your Heart was a 3.5/5 stars for me! I absolutely loved the setting and I loved the whole family of characters and how they run a funeral parlor together, so sweet! For being a vampire horror,
I was hoping this one was going to be very fast paced, but it fell very slow at times. Otherwise this one was pretty heartfelt for me and I really enjoyed the family dynamic.

BLESS YOUR HEART is a lighter horror novel filled with wit, engaging characters, mystery, and, well, vampires. Ryan delivers intrigue and suspense while still delving into family history and exploring the relationships of the Evans.

Honestly, this was a fun read. It reminded me of when I first discovered BUFFY and how I was instantly drawn to the characters. Ducey, Lenore, Grace, and Luna pulled me in. Their relationships are strong, and there is a lot of love in this family, but that doesn’t mean their lives aren’t complicated. This push and pull between the reality of a small-town world and the fight with the vampires rising propels the narrative forward.

Ryan crafted a heartfelt, smart, and, at times, dark read. I loved spending time with the Evans women and cannot wait to see what they have to tackle next.

Audiobook Note: Narrator Stephanie Németh-Parker did a wonderful job bringing this story to life. I loved the pace and the way she gave each of the characters that added inflection to make them stand out. All in all, a great listen.

Highly Caffeinated Rating of… ☕ ☕ ☕ + 1/2

This is a perfect read for the Fall/spooky season! I loved the small town southern setting. The narration was very well done and brought the characters to life.

Thank you to @macmillanaudio and @netgalley for this advanced listener's copy in exchange for my honest review.

Bless Your Heart is a quirky and supernatural tale set in 1999 Southeast Texas, where the Evans women—proprietors of the local funeral parlor—find themselves unexpectedly battling a Strigoi resurgence. The story is anchored by the three generations of Evans women: Ducey, the matriarch with decades of experience, Lenore, the experimenter, and Grace, the kind-hearted daughter. The plot takes a dark turn when the body of town gossip Mina Jean Murphy rises from the grave, signaling the return of the Strigoi. What starts as a seemingly normal funeral business quickly reveals itself to be a covert operation to fight back against ghoulish, vampire-like creatures. The past slowly unravels as secrets spill forth with Luna, the youngest, unaware of her family’s true legacy—until she’s thrust into the action.

The pacing of the story was a bit uneven and the characters kind of ran together in my mind. The Strigoi, who are treated more like zombies in their bloodthirsty rampage, could have been further explored to clarify their abilities and origin, leaving some unanswered questions. Overall it fell a little flat for me but I can appreciate the exploration of family bonds, the weight of legacy, and the dark secrets that sometimes refuse to stay buried.

Special thanks to @netgally and @macmillan audio for the ALC.

Such a perfect story for fall. I loved the vampires and small town southern setting. The narrator did a phenomenal job bringing this story to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC! This was intriguing and fun. This felt like a solid set up for a series featuring strong southern women and mythical undead. I loved the setting, and I will admit the twist got me. I was saddened by an aspect of the ending and wasn't sure how it would serve the overall series, but I'm excited to see!

This was such a fun read for spooky season! It felt like a combination of Practical Magic and True Blood and extra gory. I loved the southern charm and how the characters were inspired by real life friends and family of the author. I alternated between the audiobook and physical book and the narrator did a great job! I’m looking forward to the sequel coming out in April! 4⭐️

Rise and shine. The Evans women have some undead to kill.

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for sending me a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I decided to DNF this book at 60%. I thought I would like this book because it’s set in Southeast Texas in 1999. I’ve lived in Southeast Texas my whole life and I was in 5th grade in 1999. This book has 90’s references so I thought it would be nostalgic for me to read. I like the Texas setting, the audiobook narrator and the 90’s references but I can’t get into this book.

The way a vampy read warms my heart!

BLESS YOUR HEART was such a fun story with eccentric characters, and with A Southern Bookclub’s Guide to Slaying Vampires vibes that were just spooky enough for me. I loved the small town Texas setting, complete with funeral parlor.

I listened to the audiobook, and loved the narration! Definitely immersed myself even more with this format.

*many thanks to Minotaur Books, Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.

Loved the narrator but the story was only so so for me. I was hoping for a little more humor and creepy vibes

BLESS YOUR HEART
Lindy Ryan, Author
Stephanie Németh-Parker, Narrator
Cozy Mystery

It’s the year 1999 and the Evans women have been going about their business running a funeral home for 15 years without a hitch. But when the dead don’t stay underground for good they know a certain vampire is back.

This book is fun and witty with a dash of sarcasm thrown in. It will have you laughing one minute and then in a full fledged battle the next. I definitely give this book a solid 5 stars and am not so patiently waiting for the second book in the series.

Book Review: Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan (Narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker)

Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan is a playful and quirky blend of cozy mystery and light horror, with a storyline that stands at the intersection of family drama and the supernatural. As the first book in the "Bless Your Heart" series, it sets the stage for a charmingly bizarre world where a family of undertakers deals not only with human deaths but with ancient, undead creatures.

The Evans Funeral Parlor has been managed by the Evans women for generations, and things have been running smoothly—until a vampire, Mina Jean Murphy, quite literally reawakens at the parlor. At this point, Luna, the teenage protagonist, is introduced to her family's hidden legacy and learns just how deep the family’s business goes, taking on the monstrous task of confronting the ancient Strigoi.

Ryan’s writing blends the atmospheric tension of horror with lighthearted, humorous moments. The supernatural elements—vampires, family secrets, and the dark undercurrent of the funeral business—are balanced with an eccentric cast of characters that bring warmth and levity to the tale. However, the rapid introduction of multiple points of view and the intricate family dynamics can make it feel like a lot is happening at once. This creates a slight barrier to fully engaging with the characters early on, though it hints at potential depth and growth as the series progresses.

The narration by Stephanie Németh-Parker adds another layer to the experience, delivering the personalities of the characters with charm and vibrancy, especially during the lighter, humorous moments.

While Bless Your Heart offers a unique take on the genre, with a mix of humor and horror, it may not be for everyone. Readers who enjoy supernatural mysteries but shy away from "blood and guts" may want to approach with caution. However, if you're up for a fun, spooky ride, this book will likely appeal, especially if you’re a fan of cozy mysteries with an edge.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars – A promising start to a series that could develop into something deeper and more engaging as it evolves.