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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to St Martin’s Press Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
I was able to read this just before Halloween which added even more to the spooky vibe! This book had it all - horror with comedy, relationships between generations , and multiple POVs.
This was such an entertaining read!
I was able to read this just before Halloween which added even more to the spooky vibe! This book had it all - horror with comedy, relationships between generations , and multiple POVs.
This was such an entertaining read!
A cross between vampires and zombies rising from the dead in a small Southern town filled with gossips and offbeat characters?
I'm in.
The Evans women run the only funeral home in a small southeast Texas town. Early on one of their, um, customers rises from the dead, a development they treat with a calm that is surprising. Until we learn that this isn't the first time this has happened here, including 15 years ago when there was a bloodbath brought on by the strigoi (the undead creatures) that affected all of their lives. It's the job of the Evans women, all four generations of them, to keep the strigoi from running amuck and feeding on the living, thereby creating more strigoi. Things went sideways 15 years ago, and they're trying to prevent history from repeating itself.
Ryan mercifully wastes no time getting right to it. The prologue tells us what these creatures do by lurid example, and by the end of the first chapter we know what's going on and how the Evans women try to stop it. It's a stomach-churning book, in that Ryan dozens of times describes what's going on in a characters stomach as he or she witnesses something revolting. Kind of an odd quirk.
Horror novels (and movies and TV series, etc.) are notoriously hard to end, and the conclusion here comes a bit out of nowhere, at least in terms of what we know about certain characters, and what we don't know. But the getting there is a lot of fun, with a lot of recognizable Southern types and plenty of gory horror.
(Note: I listened to an audiobook. And liked the Southern accents!)
I'm in.
The Evans women run the only funeral home in a small southeast Texas town. Early on one of their, um, customers rises from the dead, a development they treat with a calm that is surprising. Until we learn that this isn't the first time this has happened here, including 15 years ago when there was a bloodbath brought on by the strigoi (the undead creatures) that affected all of their lives. It's the job of the Evans women, all four generations of them, to keep the strigoi from running amuck and feeding on the living, thereby creating more strigoi. Things went sideways 15 years ago, and they're trying to prevent history from repeating itself.
Ryan mercifully wastes no time getting right to it. The prologue tells us what these creatures do by lurid example, and by the end of the first chapter we know what's going on and how the Evans women try to stop it. It's a stomach-churning book, in that Ryan dozens of times describes what's going on in a characters stomach as he or she witnesses something revolting. Kind of an odd quirk.
Horror novels (and movies and TV series, etc.) are notoriously hard to end, and the conclusion here comes a bit out of nowhere, at least in terms of what we know about certain characters, and what we don't know. But the getting there is a lot of fun, with a lot of recognizable Southern types and plenty of gory horror.
(Note: I listened to an audiobook. And liked the Southern accents!)
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 timeframe 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.
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!
I want to thank Netgalley, the publishers, and the author for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.
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!
I want to thank Netgalley, the publishers, and the author for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan introduces a new world of bloodthirsty creatures that can charm even a Southern Belle if you aren’t careful.
The only funeral parlor in town, a family owned business ran by the Evan’s women. Most avoid them for their strange lifestyle, but all eventually see them when it’s time to say goodbye. Hopefully you’ll only bid adieu once..
This was a fun horror story playing in the world of vampires or strigoi. It was a lighter novel with its darker gruesome truths, but kept a serious tone. I wouldn’t have ‘advertised’ it to be humorous mystery-thriller but I did think this book was quite a delight. Definitely a future recommendation, 3.5 rounded up!
(Extremely grateful for the ARC I received)
The only funeral parlor in town, a family owned business ran by the Evan’s women. Most avoid them for their strange lifestyle, but all eventually see them when it’s time to say goodbye. Hopefully you’ll only bid adieu once..
This was a fun horror story playing in the world of vampires or strigoi. It was a lighter novel with its darker gruesome truths, but kept a serious tone. I wouldn’t have ‘advertised’ it to be humorous mystery-thriller but I did think this book was quite a delight. Definitely a future recommendation, 3.5 rounded up!
(Extremely grateful for the ARC I received)
This was unfortunately not for me. It just felt very dragged without much to say. I didn't care much for the characters and the "twists" very pretty obvious. So from around the 150/200 page mark, I just wanted to get done with this but it still felt like forever.
The red herring was so obviously red herinnging about that I started to wonder if I was wrong after all. (which would somehow have been even worse) But no it was just that obvious. Like with pretty much everything else...
The red herring was so obviously red herinnging about that I started to wonder if I was wrong after all. (which would somehow have been even worse) But no it was just that obvious. Like with pretty much everything else...
I absolutely loved this small town horror novel more than I thought I would. It features great characters, unspeakable monsters, brutally bloody carnage, and it has a lot of heart behind the terrors.
A only funeral home in a small Texas town has always been run by the females of a certain family. They have their hands full dealing with prejudices while doing their best to provide the best service they can.
But they also have secrets. Dark secrets. Secrets that nobody else knows. The dead don't always stay dead. Not quite vampire and not quite zombie, these undead are very hungry for human flesh. They are viscious creatures who get stronger as they eat.
It's these women's job to destroy them when this happens, unknown to everyone else in town. But when anra outbreak of these things start to rack up a body count they might be in over their heads.
The women in question are a close knit family. The matriarch is a no nonsense kind of woman while the others are more diplomatic. A deputy is frantically searching for answers as friends and neighbors are visciously being slaughtered in horrifying manners.
Stuck in between her family's secrets and what's going on in town is a teenage girl who just might be the source of this monstrous outbreak even if she doesn't know it.
There are many wild secrets to uncover as the book progresses. Tension is high as bodies start piling up. And the kills are absolutely brutal. The author has done a great job in bringing a terrifying twist on small town horror while giving us characters you'll love and care about. I highly recommend this book.
A only funeral home in a small Texas town has always been run by the females of a certain family. They have their hands full dealing with prejudices while doing their best to provide the best service they can.
But they also have secrets. Dark secrets. Secrets that nobody else knows. The dead don't always stay dead. Not quite vampire and not quite zombie, these undead are very hungry for human flesh. They are viscious creatures who get stronger as they eat.
It's these women's job to destroy them when this happens, unknown to everyone else in town. But when anra outbreak of these things start to rack up a body count they might be in over their heads.
The women in question are a close knit family. The matriarch is a no nonsense kind of woman while the others are more diplomatic. A deputy is frantically searching for answers as friends and neighbors are visciously being slaughtered in horrifying manners.
Stuck in between her family's secrets and what's going on in town is a teenage girl who just might be the source of this monstrous outbreak even if she doesn't know it.
There are many wild secrets to uncover as the book progresses. Tension is high as bodies start piling up. And the kills are absolutely brutal. The author has done a great job in bringing a terrifying twist on small town horror while giving us characters you'll love and care about. I highly recommend this book.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated