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The Righteous #1
Bless Her Dead Heart
The day Loey Grace Keene and her best friends condemned a man to death was the day she knew she’d never leave Righteous, Tennessee. Running her grandparents’ coffee shop and old farm distracts her from the sins of her past. ’Course, that’s until she discovers the town’s preacher impaled in the cemetery’s oldest tree.
There ain’t never been a storm in Righteous like there was the day Jeronimo James blew into town. He might be Blackmore Baptist’s new preacher, but Loey’s instincts warn her to stay away from his black eyes, cowboy swagger, and motorcycle. His arrival on the heels of a murder, plus his odd questions about salted graves and hallowed ground, lands him smack dab at the top of her suspect list.
Loey’s search for the killer uncovers the magic beneath Righteous’s ancient superstitions and a family secret that further binds her to the town. For centuries, the Keenes have kept Righteous’s threads knotted together, but something sinister is tattering the Seam.
Unless Loey can catch the otherworldly killer and embrace her calling as a Keene, the Seam between Righteous and a pocket world will be ripped forever, unleashing a hungry, vengeful creature onto the God-fearing folk of Righteous.
The Righteous Series is the twisted sweet tea of Southern paranormal suspense. Delve into a world of mysticism, where the lies run as thick as the accents and the superstitions are born of real and powerful mountain magic.
There ain’t never been a storm in Righteous like there was the day Jeronimo James blew into town. He might be Blackmore Baptist’s new preacher, but Loey’s instincts warn her to stay away from his black eyes, cowboy swagger, and motorcycle. His arrival on the heels of a murder, plus his odd questions about salted graves and hallowed ground, lands him smack dab at the top of her suspect list.
Loey’s search for the killer uncovers the magic beneath Righteous’s ancient superstitions and a family secret that further binds her to the town. For centuries, the Keenes have kept Righteous’s threads knotted together, but something sinister is tattering the Seam.
Unless Loey can catch the otherworldly killer and embrace her calling as a Keene, the Seam between Righteous and a pocket world will be ripped forever, unleashing a hungry, vengeful creature onto the God-fearing folk of Righteous.
The Righteous Series is the twisted sweet tea of Southern paranormal suspense. Delve into a world of mysticism, where the lies run as thick as the accents and the superstitions are born of real and powerful mountain magic.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2019
664 people are currently reading
761 people want to read
About the author
Meg Collett
29 books546 followersBestselling and award-winning author Meg Collett lives the cozy mountain life in a tiny home in Tennessee with her dogs. Inspired from an early age by her grandmother’s spicey mystery novels, Meg dreamed of writing books of her own one day. Today, with countless stories to her name, she’s known for weaving tales with monsters, bad language, and lots of kissing. When she’s not writing, Meg enjoys coaching rowing, playing video games, and trout fishing. Discover more about her work at megcollett.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
January 30, 2019
Fear University, Meg Collett's dark paranormal romance/fantasy series, is one of the most unique I've ever read. It's what got me hooked on her writing, so needless to say, when I heard she was writing another paranormal series, I was thrilled! I knew it wouldn't be the same tired storyline I've read time and time again, and I couldn't wait to dive in.
Loey Grace Keene lives in a small town full of big secrets. Some of those secrets changed her life forever. Others affected the people around her in the same irrevocable ways, but the biggest ones of all are ripping apart the fabric of the world.
Bless Her Dead Heart is an original, dark, southern, paranormal, mystery/suspense novel. The dark aspects of the story aren't just in the paranormal elements. Rape, domestic abuse, and drug abuse are just some the topics you'll come across in this book. It made it have a melancholy feel throughout, but it was right for the story.
If you've ever lived in a small town or visited one for any length of time, you know that everybody has a way of finding out everyone else's business. People try to hide a lot of their ugly truths, and that's also the case in Righteous. I enjoyed that part of the story as much as the preternatural one.
In fact, the relationships between Loey, Dale, Cross, and Travis are what I found most interesting. Those characters got more of an emotional response from me than Loey's love interest, Jeronimo. Their friendship, the amount of love they have for one another, and even the messed up ways they enable and protect each other felt so real to me. It warmed my heart and at times, it crushed it, too.
I'm about to go off on a little tangent here, because I can't help myself. LOL Bear with me for a minute. *This will only really make sense to you if you've read the book already, so feel free to skip to the end if you haven't.*
I hope to God that somebody knocks the shit out of Cross and Travis in the next book, because it's killing me that no one has done it yet!! I understand their predicament, but if either of them really cared about Dale at all, they wouldn't let things continue the way they are!! Hell, they wouldn't have let it happen in the first place!!
No wonder the woman has a drug problem after everything she's dealt with and continues to deal with on a daily basis!! It infuriates me that everyone is upset about it, but don't stop to think that they might be one of the biggest damn reasons! Loey acknowledges her part ( and Dale actually made that decision without Loey so it's not on her), but nobody points a finger in their direction! Sure, Loey gets aggravated with them, but she needs to put her foot up somebody's ass!
Dale's always taking care of and protecting everyone else. I want someone to come in and take care of her for a change! I hope so much that she finds happiness by the end of the series. I will be crushed if it doesn't happen. I would also love to hear her point of view. I'm crossing my fingers for that in the next book!
Okay, rant over! Lol
Overall, Bless Her Dead Heart is intriguing, suspenseful, heartbreaking, and beautifully written. There is a glimmer of hope mixed in with all the heartache, and I'm 100 percent invested in these characters and what's coming next for each of them. I won't lie. The beginning was a little slower moving than I expected. I worried I wouldn't like it at first, but thankfully, that wasn't the case. In fact, once I got into it, I didn't want to put it down. I was sad when it was over, and I can't wait for the next installment in the series!
If you like dark paranormal mysteries and/or urban fantasy, this might be the one for you!
Loey Grace Keene lives in a small town full of big secrets. Some of those secrets changed her life forever. Others affected the people around her in the same irrevocable ways, but the biggest ones of all are ripping apart the fabric of the world.
Bless Her Dead Heart is an original, dark, southern, paranormal, mystery/suspense novel. The dark aspects of the story aren't just in the paranormal elements. Rape, domestic abuse, and drug abuse are just some the topics you'll come across in this book. It made it have a melancholy feel throughout, but it was right for the story.
If you've ever lived in a small town or visited one for any length of time, you know that everybody has a way of finding out everyone else's business. People try to hide a lot of their ugly truths, and that's also the case in Righteous. I enjoyed that part of the story as much as the preternatural one.
In fact, the relationships between Loey, Dale, Cross, and Travis are what I found most interesting. Those characters got more of an emotional response from me than Loey's love interest, Jeronimo. Their friendship, the amount of love they have for one another, and even the messed up ways they enable and protect each other felt so real to me. It warmed my heart and at times, it crushed it, too.
I'm about to go off on a little tangent here, because I can't help myself. LOL Bear with me for a minute. *This will only really make sense to you if you've read the book already, so feel free to skip to the end if you haven't.*
I hope to God that somebody knocks the shit out of Cross and Travis in the next book, because it's killing me that no one has done it yet!! I understand their predicament, but if either of them really cared about Dale at all, they wouldn't let things continue the way they are!! Hell, they wouldn't have let it happen in the first place!!
No wonder the woman has a drug problem after everything she's dealt with and continues to deal with on a daily basis!! It infuriates me that everyone is upset about it, but don't stop to think that they might be one of the biggest damn reasons! Loey acknowledges her part ( and Dale actually made that decision without Loey so it's not on her), but nobody points a finger in their direction! Sure, Loey gets aggravated with them, but she needs to put her foot up somebody's ass!
Dale's always taking care of and protecting everyone else. I want someone to come in and take care of her for a change! I hope so much that she finds happiness by the end of the series. I will be crushed if it doesn't happen. I would also love to hear her point of view. I'm crossing my fingers for that in the next book!
Okay, rant over! Lol
Overall, Bless Her Dead Heart is intriguing, suspenseful, heartbreaking, and beautifully written. There is a glimmer of hope mixed in with all the heartache, and I'm 100 percent invested in these characters and what's coming next for each of them. I won't lie. The beginning was a little slower moving than I expected. I worried I wouldn't like it at first, but thankfully, that wasn't the case. In fact, once I got into it, I didn't want to put it down. I was sad when it was over, and I can't wait for the next installment in the series!
If you like dark paranormal mysteries and/or urban fantasy, this might be the one for you!
May 15, 2019
Great paranormal treat!
Bless her Dead Heart by Men Collett is a book I couldn't help but to read with a southern drawl. Great paranormal adventure about a very small conservative town where you know everyone. But there is something else going on in this town too! Very awesome!
Bless her Dead Heart by Men Collett is a book I couldn't help but to read with a southern drawl. Great paranormal adventure about a very small conservative town where you know everyone. But there is something else going on in this town too! Very awesome!
January 11, 2020
The main reason I bought this was because of the gorgeous cover art, I fell totally in love with it. But sadly what was beneath the cover wasn’t nearly as good. It started with a lot of promise but then it just kind of petered off and got lost. There were so many questions raised and absolutely no answers and it was quite frustrating. Definitely not a series I’ll be continuing!
November 1, 2019
What an amazing book!!!!!! I was literally floored while reading this and did not want to keep this down for a second even (although in the end I was forced to due to not wanting to fall asleep on my job the next day). Everything about the book kept me on my toes. Every word was a page turner for me and that cliffhanger. I really did not expect such a cliffhanger.
Although some reviews itself said that the book was scary, it really did not scare me at all.The story was more of a thriller than a horror book and the Skinned Man really did not scare me off. The truth about the whole situation is unveiled in the last few chapter and some of the secrets are still hanging around so it is hard to figure out how the series will conclude. I know the second book is in the POV of Dale and after reading the blurb before I finished the book I was somewhat confused as to how Barty is going to be a main character along side Dale who is already married but now everything makes sense. I love how the characters are not perfect and they have their own drama to deal with, how the silent sweet Southern town is actually is not sweet itself. As they say, the ones that look perfect to the outside are the most broken of them all.
Although some reviews itself said that the book was scary, it really did not scare me at all.The story was more of a thriller than a horror book and the Skinned Man really did not scare me off. The truth about the whole situation is unveiled in the last few chapter and some of the secrets are still hanging around so it is hard to figure out how the series will conclude. I know the second book is in the POV of Dale and after reading the blurb before I finished the book I was somewhat confused as to how Barty is going to be a main character along side Dale who is already married but now everything makes sense. I love how the characters are not perfect and they have their own drama to deal with, how the silent sweet Southern town is actually is not sweet itself. As they say, the ones that look perfect to the outside are the most broken of them all.
July 28, 2019
The dead are talking. Are you listening?
I could not put this book down! If you have never read Meg Collett you need to read this book. If you've read Meg Collett, let me tell you, this is the best one she's written.
I have to admit, there were a few times I got so scared that I screamed out loud. I don't want to give a run down about the story. It's best to go in blind so you get the full effect of the creepy factor.
Meg Collett has created a fantastic story about a small town full of small town drama. A small town with hopes and shattered dreams. A small town teeming with familiarity and superstition. A small town holding secrets and unsung heros.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.
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March 20, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/20/2019)! 🎁
Blurb:
The day Loey Grace Keene and her best friends condemned a man to death was the day she knew she’d never leave Righteous, Tennessee. Running her grandparents’ coffee shop and old farm distracts her from the sins of her past. ’Course, that’s until she discovers the town’s preacher impaled in the cemetery’s oldest tree.
There ain’t never been a storm in Righteous like there was the day Jeronimo James blew into town. He might be Blackmore Baptist’s new preacher, but Loey’s instincts warn her to stay away from his black eyes, cowboy swagger, and motorcycle. His arrival on the heels of a murder, plus his odd questions about salted graves and hallowed ground, lands him smack dab at the top of her suspect list.
Loey’s search for the killer uncovers the magic beneath Righteous’s ancient superstitions and a family secret that further binds her to the town. For centuries, the Keenes have kept Righteous’s threads knotted together, but something sinister is tattering the Seam.
Unless Loey can catch the otherworldly killer and embrace her calling as a Keene, the Seam between Righteous and a pocket world will be ripped forever, unleashing a hungry, vengeful creature onto the God-fearing folk of Righteous.
Blurb:
The day Loey Grace Keene and her best friends condemned a man to death was the day she knew she’d never leave Righteous, Tennessee. Running her grandparents’ coffee shop and old farm distracts her from the sins of her past. ’Course, that’s until she discovers the town’s preacher impaled in the cemetery’s oldest tree.
There ain’t never been a storm in Righteous like there was the day Jeronimo James blew into town. He might be Blackmore Baptist’s new preacher, but Loey’s instincts warn her to stay away from his black eyes, cowboy swagger, and motorcycle. His arrival on the heels of a murder, plus his odd questions about salted graves and hallowed ground, lands him smack dab at the top of her suspect list.
Loey’s search for the killer uncovers the magic beneath Righteous’s ancient superstitions and a family secret that further binds her to the town. For centuries, the Keenes have kept Righteous’s threads knotted together, but something sinister is tattering the Seam.
Unless Loey can catch the otherworldly killer and embrace her calling as a Keene, the Seam between Righteous and a pocket world will be ripped forever, unleashing a hungry, vengeful creature onto the God-fearing folk of Righteous.
January 31, 2019
God the mother of cliff hangers. For the past few months i havent been so invested in a book and alomg comes this beauty and i was swepy up in it. After reading the first chapter all i could think about this book. I loved the writing. And its different from what i normally read but i think i needed that. The only reason i gave this 4.5 stars was because of the cliffhanger. Cant wait for the next book
January 27, 2019
Righteous a small southern town where Sundays are reserved for church, where everybody knows everybody and family is everything. It's also where lies and scandals and powerful magic run deep. An evil has been lying in wait to crossover unto the town and now that the seams are broken and weak its bringing death and destruction to the town.
This was an eerie start to the series. Large cast of characters each broken for various reason but all tethered by a common tread. I am a fan of southern otherworldly tales and this certainly fit that bill and left me thirsting for more.
This was an eerie start to the series. Large cast of characters each broken for various reason but all tethered by a common tread. I am a fan of southern otherworldly tales and this certainly fit that bill and left me thirsting for more.
July 7, 2019
I have read a few books from this author which I have enjoyed. I didn't enjoy this one too much. I found the constant moving from past to present annoying and the story just kept getting darker. None of the characters seemed to gel right. It seemed that they all secretly hated each other. Just the story of seeing the threads and battling an evil spirit would have been enough. You didn't need all the other drama. There was child abuse, murder, secret magic, drugs, homosexuality and suicide all in around 200 pages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2020
Eerie and atmospheric with a lot more emotional depth than I expected. Bless Her Dead Heart started out interesting and turned into a thumping good read. I'm seeing a lot more Meg Collett in my future
January 7, 2019
This one is a little different from Meg Collett's other books. But still just as good.
When strange things happen in Righteous, 2 girls, Loey and Dale, know more than they are saying. And Jeronimo is another part of this strange town.
When strange things happen in Righteous, 2 girls, Loey and Dale, know more than they are saying. And Jeronimo is another part of this strange town.
February 21, 2019
This story was fun but man I hate cliffhangers, I need the next book, like yesterday.
September 22, 2019
Quirky, strange and oh so good.
A friend has been telling me for a while to read this...
I finally did, and I couldn’t seem to put it down. It was very odd, interesting and the characters literally kept you on your toes. Talk about a twisted group, bless their hearts but everyone in that town was a liar.
This author had a Charlaine Harris feel to her, that is the best way to describe it. It was that good and that bizarre. I’m heading into the next book. I hope that Lo, Dale, Cross and Travis find some wee bit of peace in their decisions. J needs some too.
Oh and I never would want to live in that crazy town.
A friend has been telling me for a while to read this...
I finally did, and I couldn’t seem to put it down. It was very odd, interesting and the characters literally kept you on your toes. Talk about a twisted group, bless their hearts but everyone in that town was a liar.
This author had a Charlaine Harris feel to her, that is the best way to describe it. It was that good and that bizarre. I’m heading into the next book. I hope that Lo, Dale, Cross and Travis find some wee bit of peace in their decisions. J needs some too.
Oh and I never would want to live in that crazy town.
April 13, 2020
En realidad, este libro tiene un 2.7 estrellas.
Bless her dead heart es un libro de misterio del cual no me esperaba nada y no tenía ni idea de que se trataba, y que bueno que fue así porque me hubiese decepcionado un montón.
Lo terminé la semana pasada y solo recuerdo el nombre del protagonista Jerónimo, no recuerdo el nombre de ella, solo que era un nombre muy feo y me cargaba leerlo (sorry)
Este es un thriller con toques sobrenaturales sobre varios asesinatos que han estado ocurriendo en Righteous. Aunque ya hay un culpable del primer asesinato (que no es realmente el culpable pero estoy totalmente de acuerdo con que se hayan organizado para culparlo), han habido varios ¨accidentes¨ sin explicación o simplemente asesinatos de los cuales, ¿por qué la gente no está asustada? luego de tantas cosas que pasa yo ya estaría espantada. La gente hace su vida normal como si nada, llenos de secretos y cosas malas que según la protagonista caracterizan a un pueblo pequeño.
Cuando nos dieron entender que algo sobrenatural tenía que ver con todo esto mi pensamiento fue ¡que bien!, pero mientras se desarrollaba era ¡que mal!... a lo Homero Simpson para el que entienda la referencia. El desarrollo de lo que iba pasando era demasiado absurdo y poco justificado, pasaban cosas que no logré entender en que momento pasaron y cuál fue la justificación para aquello... fue bastante decepcionante.
Hay personas que era súper innecesarios y situaciones nada que ver, que si se sacan nadie se iba a dar cuenta... o sea, ¿era necesario? ¿cuál era la idea? perdonen por no especificar pero no quiero dar spoilers. Ningún personaje me gustó, ninguno era interesante, por mi que se murieran todos. Menos mal que el libro era corto.
Se que es una trilogía pero de verdad que no me dan ganas de seguir con los demás libros, creo que no vale la pena. Mejor lo cambio a 2.3 estrellas.
Bless her dead heart es un libro de misterio del cual no me esperaba nada y no tenía ni idea de que se trataba, y que bueno que fue así porque me hubiese decepcionado un montón.
Lo terminé la semana pasada y solo recuerdo el nombre del protagonista Jerónimo, no recuerdo el nombre de ella, solo que era un nombre muy feo y me cargaba leerlo (sorry)
Este es un thriller con toques sobrenaturales sobre varios asesinatos que han estado ocurriendo en Righteous. Aunque ya hay un culpable del primer asesinato (que no es realmente el culpable pero estoy totalmente de acuerdo con que se hayan organizado para culparlo), han habido varios ¨accidentes¨ sin explicación o simplemente asesinatos de los cuales, ¿por qué la gente no está asustada? luego de tantas cosas que pasa yo ya estaría espantada. La gente hace su vida normal como si nada, llenos de secretos y cosas malas que según la protagonista caracterizan a un pueblo pequeño.
Cuando nos dieron entender que algo sobrenatural tenía que ver con todo esto mi pensamiento fue ¡que bien!, pero mientras se desarrollaba era ¡que mal!... a lo Homero Simpson para el que entienda la referencia. El desarrollo de lo que iba pasando era demasiado absurdo y poco justificado, pasaban cosas que no logré entender en que momento pasaron y cuál fue la justificación para aquello... fue bastante decepcionante.
Hay personas que era súper innecesarios y situaciones nada que ver, que si se sacan nadie se iba a dar cuenta... o sea, ¿era necesario? ¿cuál era la idea? perdonen por no especificar pero no quiero dar spoilers. Ningún personaje me gustó, ninguno era interesante, por mi que se murieran todos. Menos mal que el libro era corto.
Se que es una trilogía pero de verdad que no me dan ganas de seguir con los demás libros, creo que no vale la pena. Mejor lo cambio a 2.3 estrellas.
March 18, 2019
I fell in love with this cover before I even picked it up, plus I loved the title. I wasn't totally sure what I was getting into when I first started the book, so I went into it with an open mind. I was really impressed! I'd never read this author before and I really enjoyed her writing style. It was easy to read and engaging.
The story? I was in it! I loved it. The premise was very unique, which is sometimes hard to find in a story with paranormal elements because it feels like everyone kind of does the same thing over and over again. But this book... I don't even know what to expect from the rest of the series, but I can't wait! I usually wait until an entire series out before starting, but this book just called to me. I'm glad I read it. Now I just want the rest of the series right NOW!
I loved these characters. Loey was such a cool character. I love that her appearance isn't perfect. It's refreshing. I loved seeing her grow and develop over the course of the book. I'm sure by the time the series is over, she'll be ready to kick all the butts. It was really awesome to see her start taking more control in her life, to start being the driver and not the passenger.
And ooohhhh Jeronimo. I have so many questions for him. And I've totally fallen for him already. I can't WAIT for more of him! He's the perfect mix of mysterious, broody, sexy, and trying to redeem himself (mostly to himself).
I will DEFINITELY be checking out more from this author. She's amazing. Love her originality and her writing!
The story? I was in it! I loved it. The premise was very unique, which is sometimes hard to find in a story with paranormal elements because it feels like everyone kind of does the same thing over and over again. But this book... I don't even know what to expect from the rest of the series, but I can't wait! I usually wait until an entire series out before starting, but this book just called to me. I'm glad I read it. Now I just want the rest of the series right NOW!
I loved these characters. Loey was such a cool character. I love that her appearance isn't perfect. It's refreshing. I loved seeing her grow and develop over the course of the book. I'm sure by the time the series is over, she'll be ready to kick all the butts. It was really awesome to see her start taking more control in her life, to start being the driver and not the passenger.
And ooohhhh Jeronimo. I have so many questions for him. And I've totally fallen for him already. I can't WAIT for more of him! He's the perfect mix of mysterious, broody, sexy, and trying to redeem himself (mostly to himself).
I will DEFINITELY be checking out more from this author. She's amazing. Love her originality and her writing!
April 8, 2020
First of all, beatiful cover. 10/10. The book itself was interesting. I know this is a paranormal book but at first we get to see more issues involving the story about the past of the main protagonist, and that's what kept me hooked from the start. I didn't even know this was supposed to be a paranormal read. I liked it, although I wished we got more explanation about the magic elements in this story.
January 20, 2019
**Copy provided by Author, in exchange for an honest review**
Bless her Dead Heart is a paranormal romance. It’s about Loey, a coffee shop owner in a small town of Righteous. Things were as simple as a little town with a secret was, until a stranger named Jeronimo came to town asking questions. Jeronimo was a mystery within himself with his own secret to hide, which Loey found out quickly in the story. Loey and Jeronimo had this connection that made me happy dance when they finally made things happen. Their kiss was explosive and I cannot wait to get more of them.
As this is book 1 of the series, this book goes through a lot of explanation about the townspeople and the town itself. I cannot wait for book 2, to dig deeper into the mystery of the town and of course Jeronimo.
Bless her Dead Heart is a paranormal romance. It’s about Loey, a coffee shop owner in a small town of Righteous. Things were as simple as a little town with a secret was, until a stranger named Jeronimo came to town asking questions. Jeronimo was a mystery within himself with his own secret to hide, which Loey found out quickly in the story. Loey and Jeronimo had this connection that made me happy dance when they finally made things happen. Their kiss was explosive and I cannot wait to get more of them.
As this is book 1 of the series, this book goes through a lot of explanation about the townspeople and the town itself. I cannot wait for book 2, to dig deeper into the mystery of the town and of course Jeronimo.
January 21, 2019
Bless Her Dead Heart is the first book in a new series, The Righteous Series, by Meg Collett. The first thing, besides the author being Meg Collett, that caught my attention, was the gorgeous cover! This book is an exciting start to this new series. It had me on the edge of my seat a few times. It has everything I look for in a book; romance, suspense, a few humorous moments, and the added bonus that it's paranormal! I loved the main character Loey and her best friend Dale's relationship. I'm really excited to read the next book in the series, Blessed His Cursed Soul. I'm anxious to be back with these characters!
October 27, 2019
This story just wasn't for me! Too dark! I thought it would be more like a southern cozy!
July 9, 2019
Loey finds out she has talents to knot threads to keep the dead on their side of the world and away from the living after her grandparents sudden deaths. A stranger blows into town, and the fit hits the shan. Loey needs to decide if she's strong enough, or if her past will always define her.
Here's what I liked: the bit about how Tenders do things. the title, some of the way the author describes people.
Here's what I didn't like: I felt like Loey's past was a back story too far drawn out that didn't amount to anything, especially how she got her scars. I also felt like it took far far too long for the super-natural part of the story to show up. I don't really know who or what the skinless man was. Felt convenient. I didn't like Dale. Or her family. Cross, while a great friend, felt like a distraction. I guess these were build ups to Dale's story, which is the next one, but they felt like they distracted from Loey. The ending was extremely abrupt and didn't really give me closure on what happened, or with JJ.
Overall, this is about a 2.5 star book for me, and I won't be moving on to the next.
Here's what I liked: the bit about how Tenders do things. the title, some of the way the author describes people.
Here's what I didn't like: I felt like Loey's past was a back story too far drawn out that didn't amount to anything, especially how she got her scars. I also felt like it took far far too long for the super-natural part of the story to show up. I don't really know who or what the skinless man was. Felt convenient. I didn't like Dale. Or her family. Cross, while a great friend, felt like a distraction. I guess these were build ups to Dale's story, which is the next one, but they felt like they distracted from Loey. The ending was extremely abrupt and didn't really give me closure on what happened, or with JJ.
Overall, this is about a 2.5 star book for me, and I won't be moving on to the next.
February 22, 2019
I love this so fucking much!
I love the phasing, I love the narrative, and I tremendously adore the characters! The cover is stunning, the story is ominous, I love every bit of the twists and turns, and I can not wait for the second book to come out!
Meg is a new-to-me author and she absolutely did not disappoint me!
I love the phasing, I love the narrative, and I tremendously adore the characters! The cover is stunning, the story is ominous, I love every bit of the twists and turns, and I can not wait for the second book to come out!
Meg is a new-to-me author and she absolutely did not disappoint me!
April 29, 2019
DNF. Cliffhanger. Nope.
May 29, 2019
Not my cup of tea, I really wanted to like this book, but I didn’t like the authors style of writing, it just seemed to go off in different directions.
July 31, 2019
Marvelous read! Couldn't help but read in a Southern accent. Such a way with words, Meg Collett spins a thriller tail that's hard to put down.
May 29, 2019
What a read, wow! I stepped into this thinking it was going to be like a lemon chiffon cake, light and sweet with some tang on the tongue. Wooo boy was I wrong! This thing is a devil's food cake almost from the first page. Dark, rich, satisfying and maybe, just maybe, more than you bargain for based on the pretty cover.
I won't bore you with plot and such, there are people who will describe it better than me. But I will share a couple things having just finished it. If her way with words, southern culture and gripping story continues with the second book, Meg Collett could swiftly become one of my new favorite authors of 2019.
It's very clear that Collett loves the culture she writes about, the good and the bad. Her descriptions are wonderfully vivid, her characters bold and rich. (Like that cake I mentioned above.) You can feel Loey and Dale's pain. Feel the love Loey and her grandparents shared, even though they're only in a few scenes.
A few small notes I'd like to point out, in case Ms. Collett or her editor should see this.
- The "all first name" things occasionally makes it hard to keep characters straight, Dale Rose (a lady), Loey Grace, Leigh (young man, I'm assuming said like "Lee"?), Cross Rose. Sometimes it was a struggle to keep characters straight and not cross my eyes.
- There were a few, maybe a handful, of spots where I felt like the editing could have been *a little bit* tighter.
I desperately want to change it to, "as if someone couldn't figure out how open them." It just feels cleaner to me.
Those nitpicks aside, I really enjoyed this novel. I hope that this review encourages you to check it out. Thanks for reading, now I'm going to grab the next book. :)
I won't bore you with plot and such, there are people who will describe it better than me. But I will share a couple things having just finished it. If her way with words, southern culture and gripping story continues with the second book, Meg Collett could swiftly become one of my new favorite authors of 2019.
It's very clear that Collett loves the culture she writes about, the good and the bad. Her descriptions are wonderfully vivid, her characters bold and rich. (Like that cake I mentioned above.) You can feel Loey and Dale's pain. Feel the love Loey and her grandparents shared, even though they're only in a few scenes.
A few small notes I'd like to point out, in case Ms. Collett or her editor should see this.
- The "all first name" things occasionally makes it hard to keep characters straight, Dale Rose (a lady), Loey Grace, Leigh (young man, I'm assuming said like "Lee"?), Cross Rose. Sometimes it was a struggle to keep characters straight and not cross my eyes.
- There were a few, maybe a handful, of spots where I felt like the editing could have been *a little bit* tighter.
"Up at the pulpit, Jeronimo paused mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing on the church’s front doors where the handles clanged against the locks as if someone couldn’t figure out how to open the doors."
I desperately want to change it to, "as if someone couldn't figure out how open them." It just feels cleaner to me.
Those nitpicks aside, I really enjoyed this novel. I hope that this review encourages you to check it out. Thanks for reading, now I'm going to grab the next book. :)
February 11, 2019
“Sometimes we have a little bit of devil in us, but most days, we have a whole lot of good and that should count for something.”
This is southern superstitions at it’s finest! Loey has lived in the town of Righteous her whole life being raised by her grandparents. They have all sorts of superstitions but for someone who has lived here their entire life you don’t think twice about them. She lives next to the cemetery and also helps take care of it. During a storm that comes out of nowhere she finds the pastor dead. Shortly after, Jeronimo James, the tall, dark, and handsome, stranger comes rolling into town and he is asking a lot of questions. She starts to question some of the superstitions that she more or less took for granted. This opens up a lot from the past. So many things are starting to fall into place and seem like she is getting answers but things are also so twisted with the magic that is all around that she finds things aren’t always as they seem. “Magic is like religion. No matter where you are in the world, religion exists in some way, …. Magic is similar. It’s interpretation changes depending on geography and culture.” Righteous is a southern religious town full of lies and sweet tea. Everyone puts a smile on their face and spins pretty lies but Loey is done with it. She wants the entire truth. She wants the truth for and from everyone. This is a thrilling, magical, twisted story that will keep you on your toes right to the very end. There are dark aspects of the book but not everything that is dark is paranormal. It’s super intriguing, thrilling and suspenseful. A definite page turner! But look out! What would be worse than the book ending? One heck of a cliffhanger! I am totally hooked on this series and completely invested. Bless Her Dead Heart is written beautifully! Can’t wait to continue the series!
This is southern superstitions at it’s finest! Loey has lived in the town of Righteous her whole life being raised by her grandparents. They have all sorts of superstitions but for someone who has lived here their entire life you don’t think twice about them. She lives next to the cemetery and also helps take care of it. During a storm that comes out of nowhere she finds the pastor dead. Shortly after, Jeronimo James, the tall, dark, and handsome, stranger comes rolling into town and he is asking a lot of questions. She starts to question some of the superstitions that she more or less took for granted. This opens up a lot from the past. So many things are starting to fall into place and seem like she is getting answers but things are also so twisted with the magic that is all around that she finds things aren’t always as they seem. “Magic is like religion. No matter where you are in the world, religion exists in some way, …. Magic is similar. It’s interpretation changes depending on geography and culture.” Righteous is a southern religious town full of lies and sweet tea. Everyone puts a smile on their face and spins pretty lies but Loey is done with it. She wants the entire truth. She wants the truth for and from everyone. This is a thrilling, magical, twisted story that will keep you on your toes right to the very end. There are dark aspects of the book but not everything that is dark is paranormal. It’s super intriguing, thrilling and suspenseful. A definite page turner! But look out! What would be worse than the book ending? One heck of a cliffhanger! I am totally hooked on this series and completely invested. Bless Her Dead Heart is written beautifully! Can’t wait to continue the series!
February 11, 2019
“Sometimes we have a little bit of devil in us, but most days, we have a whole lot of good and that should count for something.”
This is southern superstitions at it’s finest! Loey has lived in the town of Righteous her whole life being raised by her grandparents. They have all sorts of superstitions but for someone who has lived here their entire life you don’t think twice about them. She lives next to the cemetery and also helps take care of it. During a storm that comes out of nowhere she finds the pastor dead. Shortly after, Jeronimo James, the tall, dark, and handsome, stranger comes rolling into town and he is asking a lot of questions. She starts to question some of the superstitions that she more or less took for granted. This opens up a lot from the past. So many things are starting to fall into place and seem like she is getting answers but things are also so twisted with the magic that is all around that she finds things aren’t always as they seem. “Magic is like religion. No matter where you are in the world, religion exists in some way, …. Magic is similar. It’s interpretation changes depending on geography and culture.” Righteous is a southern religious town full of lies and sweet tea. Everyone puts a smile on their face and spins pretty lies but Loey is done with it. She wants the entire truth. She wants the truth for and from everyone. This is a thrilling, magical, twisted story that will keep you on your toes right to the very end. There are dark aspects of the book but not everything that is dark is paranormal. It’s super intriguing, thrilling and suspenseful. A definite page turner! But look out! What would be worse than the book ending? One heck of a cliffhanger! I am totally hooked on this series and completely invested. Bless Her Dead Heart is written beautifully! Can’t wait to continue the series!
This is southern superstitions at it’s finest! Loey has lived in the town of Righteous her whole life being raised by her grandparents. They have all sorts of superstitions but for someone who has lived here their entire life you don’t think twice about them. She lives next to the cemetery and also helps take care of it. During a storm that comes out of nowhere she finds the pastor dead. Shortly after, Jeronimo James, the tall, dark, and handsome, stranger comes rolling into town and he is asking a lot of questions. She starts to question some of the superstitions that she more or less took for granted. This opens up a lot from the past. So many things are starting to fall into place and seem like she is getting answers but things are also so twisted with the magic that is all around that she finds things aren’t always as they seem. “Magic is like religion. No matter where you are in the world, religion exists in some way, …. Magic is similar. It’s interpretation changes depending on geography and culture.” Righteous is a southern religious town full of lies and sweet tea. Everyone puts a smile on their face and spins pretty lies but Loey is done with it. She wants the entire truth. She wants the truth for and from everyone. This is a thrilling, magical, twisted story that will keep you on your toes right to the very end. There are dark aspects of the book but not everything that is dark is paranormal. It’s super intriguing, thrilling and suspenseful. A definite page turner! But look out! What would be worse than the book ending? One heck of a cliffhanger! I am totally hooked on this series and completely invested. Bless Her Dead Heart is written beautifully! Can’t wait to continue the series!
January 31, 2019
Loey Grace Keene is a young woman with a secret. A number of them, it turns out, some of which she didn't even know she had.
Loey, who is Loey Grace to the old biddies who flutter around the town of Righteous, Tennessee, has been through some... things. The kinds of things that break people. She has found people dead under disturbing, mysterious circumstances. She has managed to escape abuse, though at a high cost. And she recently put her beloved grandparents in the ground.
And while Loey is broken, she's not helpless. She has a stubborn practicality that pushes her through life and an overriding instinct to do the right thing. And that stubborn streak and her instincts are about to get tested, far further than she ever imagined as a powerful danger settles into town with the intent to destroy.
Loey is also known simply as Lo, to her dear friends who are just as broken as she is -- just in different ways. And she is Lo to Jeronimo, the intense, fascinating stranger that shows up in Righteous with a Hell of a story to tell. While the chemistry between them is undeniable, giving in to that pull is probably a very bad idea. Isn't it?
I like books with a good-sized cast of interesting characters, and I like characters with dimension and cracked bits. If a character is too cookie-cutter, I'm instantly bored. The inhabitants of Righteous, TN, have definitely piqued my curiosity. The town has a lot of history and is steeped in the kind of Southern charm that is entirely hospitable on the one hand and poisonously judgmental on the other. I want to know more about who these characters are, and I want to see them succeed and heal and find their meaning.
I enjoyed this book very much, and I am looking forward to the sequel.
January 22, 2019
Bless Her Dead Heart is the first installment in a dark and twisty paranormal series about a young Southern woman named Loey and all the known and unknown darkness in life. Loey's life has been far from easy. When we meet her, she is picking up the pieces of her life following her grandparents' death in a car accident when she comes across the town's preacher brutally impaled on a tree in a cemetery. Enter the enigmatic Jeronimo James. Regardless of Loey's first instincts telling her to stay away from and not trust Jeronimo, the two of them grow close as they work together to investigate the darkness that is inhabiting their town. This leads to them exposing dark secrets, finding that their lives are entangled in more ways than one, and uncovering the many layers in the small town of Righteous, Tennessee.
Ms. Collett certainly knows how to open a book and grab a reader's attention. For me, this read like a good, dark, Southern gothic romp. The darkness doesn't just include the paranormal kind of dark, but the darkness of real human life. As such, readers should be warned that it does contain some elements that folks may find disturbing, to include rape, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and child molestation. Ms. Collett's characters come across as being very real. The writing was very visionary. In future installments, it would be interesting to learn more about the Seam, its origins, and further impacts on the world. I recommend this series to readers who enjoy Southern gothic and paranormal suspense. Looking forward to reading more.
I received a copy of this book from the author.
Ms. Collett certainly knows how to open a book and grab a reader's attention. For me, this read like a good, dark, Southern gothic romp. The darkness doesn't just include the paranormal kind of dark, but the darkness of real human life. As such, readers should be warned that it does contain some elements that folks may find disturbing, to include rape, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and child molestation. Ms. Collett's characters come across as being very real. The writing was very visionary. In future installments, it would be interesting to learn more about the Seam, its origins, and further impacts on the world. I recommend this series to readers who enjoy Southern gothic and paranormal suspense. Looking forward to reading more.
I received a copy of this book from the author.
February 17, 2019
Oh my god!! There is nothing like the little known as Righteous. The people are everything. I mean everything. They have those Southern ways, which speak to you of Sunday service and good town gossip at the local coffee shop.
"That was the crux of Righteous: its people could damn you in one sentence and redeem you the next. They were the greatest people Loey knew, but they were also the worst. And she could never love them any less."
The writing was amazing... I felt like I was there. I felt like I was part of Righteous. Damn... I really wish I was the reporter covering the craziness happening within Righteous. Loey Grace was a wonderful main character. She wasn't perfect. But she was still a Southern woman that understood etiquette--mainly what was proper and right to say and what needed to be done. I wanted to laugh at those times were she held her tongue. Loey Grace wanted to say more but she said less... I felt like the only time she let herself go was around Jeronimo James.
J and Lo was quite something, especially when they were together. Jeronimo made Loey Grace understand where she came from, who she was, and what needed to be done for the town of Righteous. I loved Jeronimo's character. Loved his character so much. He pushed Loey Grace. Jeronimo never allowed her to hide. He always wanted her to face things head on. I can't wait for book two, Bless His Cursed Soul. I'm worried about what will happen between Dale and Loey...
"That was the crux of Righteous: its people could damn you in one sentence and redeem you the next. They were the greatest people Loey knew, but they were also the worst. And she could never love them any less."
The writing was amazing... I felt like I was there. I felt like I was part of Righteous. Damn... I really wish I was the reporter covering the craziness happening within Righteous. Loey Grace was a wonderful main character. She wasn't perfect. But she was still a Southern woman that understood etiquette--mainly what was proper and right to say and what needed to be done. I wanted to laugh at those times were she held her tongue. Loey Grace wanted to say more but she said less... I felt like the only time she let herself go was around Jeronimo James.
J and Lo was quite something, especially when they were together. Jeronimo made Loey Grace understand where she came from, who she was, and what needed to be done for the town of Righteous. I loved Jeronimo's character. Loved his character so much. He pushed Loey Grace. Jeronimo never allowed her to hide. He always wanted her to face things head on. I can't wait for book two, Bless His Cursed Soul. I'm worried about what will happen between Dale and Loey...
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