Bless Her Heart

Ellery #4

by Sally Kilpatrick

Laugh-out-loud funny and unabashedly uplifting, with just the right amount of Southern sass, Sally Kilpatrick's wonderful novel centers on one woman's journey from unhappy marriage to a surprising second chance . . .
On the day Posey Love discovers that her born-again husband has been ministering to some of his flock a little too eagerly, she also learns that he's left her broke and homeless. Posey married Chad five years ago in hopes of finding the stability her hippie mother couldn't provide. Instead she got all the trappings of security--house, car, seemingly respectable husband--at the price of her freedom.
Posey's mother, Lark, accepts her daughter's return home with grace, though her sister can't resist pointing out that being a sweet Southern wife hasn't worked out as planned. And so, with the Seven Deadly Sins as a guide, Posey decides to let loose for once. Envy is easy to check off the list--Posey only has to look at her best friend's adorable baby for that. One very drunken night at The Fountain bar takes care of gluttony. As for lust--her long-time friend, John, is suddenly becoming much more than a pal. One by one, Posey is bulldozing through her old beliefs about love, family--and what it really means to be good. And she's finding that breaking a few rules might be the perfect way to heal a heart . . .
Praise for Sally Kilpatrick's Novels
"Don't miss this quirky, fun love story. I couldn't put it down." --Haywood Smith, New York Times bestselling author on Better Get to Livin'
"Kilpatrick mixes loss and devastation with hope and a little bit of Southern charm. She will leave
the reader laughing through tears." --RT Book Reviews on The Happy Hour Choir
"A pleasantly engaging take on Romeo and Juliet." --Library Journal on Bittersweet Creek

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Womens Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, Book Club, Ebooks

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2017

About the author

Sally Kilpatrick writes...stuff. She prefers fiction to biographies, but here we are. When not fretting over her biography, Sally writes southern fiction, mystery, and lots of to do lists. She lives with her dashing husband, two precocious kids, and two persnickety cats in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Visit her author website at sallykilpatrick.com or follow her on BlueSky as @SuperWriterMom.

Reviews

[Sally Kilpatrick]

In keeping with tradition, I mark this book as read on the day that I turn in my page proofs. I have read this book. And read it some more. Then I read it one more time--and that's after writing it. This is my tale of a preacher's wife who gives up church for Lent.

[Sunflowerbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet and quirky fun love story!! I loved the southern style to this one. My first read from Sally and won't be my last! This was just the right palate cleanser for me with all my mystery thrillers!

Funny, sassy, and just the right amount of love. I was running a bit behind on my arcs but glad I finally got to this one yay! 4 love stars <3.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Kensington for an advanced arc.
Publication date 10/31/17.

[☆Dani☆ ☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate this opportunity.

Synopsis: Posey Love has been married to Chad for 10 years. She feels her marriage is what normal is even though her husband is a preacher and teaches that women should submit to their husbands in a severe way. She does everything her husband says from punishment and uncomfortable sex to waiting on him hand and foot. She works the receptionist desk for their church Love Ministries and is cut off from her life outside her husband. She lives a very unhappy life but is so numb to it all. She doesn't even realize the toxic marriage she has been in for the last decade but maybe she hides it because she desperately wants children. Posey Love lives day by day and just goes through the motions. That is how she survives.



When everything seems to be going as its "supposed" to, Posey finds out her husband has ran off with another woman. She wakes up to her world falling apart and debt consuming her. She feels so overwhelmed by her world turning upside down and having to move back in with her mother that she decides to commit the Seven Deadly Sins to see if that will help her find herself. While living in a small southern town she has to deal with the statement she hates the most, "Bless your heart" at every turn.



Posey is glad to have the support of her BFF Liza and her siblings. Moving back home means that she has to address the deep rooted issues with her mother. She also finds a great support in her high school crush but things are not all rosie for Posey. She has to find a job, deal with southern town drama, and Chad won't leave her alone. Will Posey be able to find and love herself again? Will Posey be in danger?

Review: I give Bless Her Heart by Sally Kilpatrick 4 out of 5 southern comfort stars! I really enjoyed this book and enjoyed the characterization. I could relate to a lot of things in this book. I honestly was introduced to a what some would call a cult when I was younger and had no idea that is what it was until 6 months being a member. The church built me up and I felt this amazing love and passion. Then when 6 months hit I was given all these rules and if I did not obey them I would be punished and kicked out of the church. This messed up my spirituality big time. This was so hard for me because they took me in like the family I never had and it ended traumatically but that's not the point. I just felt because of this life experience I had I could especially relate to this book. I knew what the main character was going through with a lot of her feelings. I will warn some people who might not like a lot of christian references, this may not be the book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because of being southern and having to experience a lot of the circumstances that the characters went through. I could relate to 4 or 5 different characters. I really enjoyed this book and I'm pleased to have read it. The only reason I am not giving this 5 stars is because I felt it was a little bit slow at times and a very small part I had a differing point of view. Overall I was happy I picked up this book.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posey Love hates three little words. Every time someone says, "Bless your heart," Posey sees red.

But who could blame her? Her life hasn't exactly turned out the way she pictured it would. After a decade of marriage, Posey hoped to be raising a child with her pastor husband. Still aching each month as she hopes for a positive instead of a negative indicator on a pregnancy test, Posey finds her world turned upside down when her husband absconds with another woman and leaves her with a repossessed car and a pile of outstanding debt.

Moving back in with her mom, Posey decides that she'll "give up" going to church for the Lenten season and follow her younger sister's advice to experience each of the seven Deadly sins during those forty days.

Delightful and authentic, Sally Kilpatrick's Bless Her Heart is another winning novel from one of my favorite authors. Posey's world and story is at times heartbreaking (finding out just how far her husband was going to ensure Posey never got a positive result on her pregnancy test when he knew it was breaking her heart each month), at times charming (Posey's flirting with the piano tuning John who she's had a crush on since high school) and at times completely uplifting (Posey's continued reconnection and understanding of her mother). Like real-life, the answer to Posey's problems isn't straight-forward nor is it always the easiest way.

Told from Posey's unique point of view, Bless Her Heart offers hope and redemption for Posey without necessarily wrapping things up in a pretty bow by the time the last page is turned. Kilpatrick wisely avoids the "and she lived happily ever after" ending, leaving the door open for a return visit with Posey or a cameo in future novels. And while Posey (and readers) may not get every answer they want, the story provides enough answers and a sense of closure to this portion of Posey's journey to be completely satisfying.

I'm probably starting to sound like a broken record here when it comes to the praise for Kilpatrick and her stories. Each story has grown more assured and confident and each one has a satisfying reading experience. The only issue I keep having is that the books seem to fly by and I find myself wanting more after that final page is turned. And while Bless Her Heart doesn't center around University of Tennessee football as her delightful Orange Blossom Special does, this book still hit home in all the right spots.

Bless Your Heart is another winner from Sally Kilpatrick. If you haven't picked up a story from her yet, this is a great entry point.

Highly recommended.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I will also add that I knew Sally back in the day when we were students at the University of Tennessee together.

[Chris Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a delightfully fun story. Sally Kilpatrick is a terrific writer.

[The Geeky Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were only three words in the English language that I hated with all of my being: bless, your, and heart—specifically in that order.

Every Southerner knows what it means when someone blesses your heart, so it's no mystery why Posey Love hates hearing that phrase, especially after a lifetime of having her heart blessed by someone. But then, her life hasn't exactly turned out the way she'd planned, either. She thought she would be a teacher, married with a couple of kids. At 32, she was married, had no children, and is a receptionist at her husband's church, Love Ministries. She's content with her life—for the most part—and feels completely blindsided when she discovers that not only is Chad having an affair, he's also mismanaged their money and sold their home without telling her.

With no money and nowhere else to go, Posey goes home to her mother, Lark, whose lifestyle and youthful escapades were the source of most of the "bless your heart" comments Posey received throughout her life. With the help of her younger sister and her best friend, she's able to clearly see her husband's true character, and how he manipulated and controlled her throughout their marriage. After years spent following all the rules imposed on her by Chad, Posey is feeling more than a little rebellious. She starts breaking rules for a change—working her way through each of the Seven Deadly Sins—and starts living the life she dreamed of... on her terms this time.

The title alone was enough to spark my interest, but when the blurb mentioned it had "just the right amount of Southern sass" I was sold. How could I resist that?

Posey Love has earned a spot on my favorite characters list. She made me laugh so hard. I nearly died when she took a pole dancing lesson at the Pole Cat... SO funny! That scene is a treasure, trust me. The banter she had with her friend, Liza, always brought a smile to my face. I'm pretty fond of Liza, as well. I could completely relate to the moments when Liza is a sleep-deprived mess because her baby isn't sleeping through the night. New motherhood isn't always pretty, and I loved the realism of all those scenes.

Another character I particularly liked was John. He definitely had flaws, but he was a good guy. I really enjoyed seeing how things unfolded between him and Posey, and I liked that it wasn't always easy. Whenever there was a conflict between them, it made sense to me that (things I won't mention) would be an issue for one of them. Chad, on the other hand, was a character I disliked him almost as soon as he appeared in the story. Later on, I came to despise him for something he did. I won't give away what it was, but he committed a particularly heinous betrayal against Posey that made me so mad, I had to take a moment and say a few choice words before I could go back to reading.

I adored this book. All the characters (including several I didn't mention above) are incredibly well written and (with the exception of Chad) delightful in every way. Posey's growth as a character was outstanding, and I loved the way she was able to take charge of her life and do what was in her best interests, and not worrying what someone else would think about it. While the ending came a little too soon for me—I wasn't ready to let go of the characters yet—I loved the final line of the book.

Kilpatrick's writing is superb throughout, creating a fabulous cast of characters that I won't soon forget. This is the first book of hers that I've read, but it won't be the last. She definitely has a new fan in me.

Be sure to put this one on your TBR list, folks! Trust me when I say you do NOT want to miss out on this little gem—this book is most definitely a book worth reading.

I received an advance review copy of this book courtesy of Kensington Books via Netgalley.

[Peebee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some will find the Christianity references in this book excessive -- I know that I did because the publisher's summary didn't really give a hint about them, except to refer to the protagonist's husband as born-again. When I started, I questioned whether I had missed that this book was really Christian chick-lit (which is its own genre) but apparently it isn't being sold that way. I was raised Baptist, so I could relate to much of it, but I can see that others of different faiths or no faith would not. So now you know.

As for the book itself, I liked it. I'm usually a fan of books where the woman finds herself and fights back against an abusive bully. Posey is a likeable character and transforms over the course of the book, and you want to root for her. I needed a lighter story after some of the heavy and depressing literary books I have been reading lately, and this fit the bill.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a terrific book! Posey needs to find her true self after years with her creep of a husband and denial about her family. Giving up church for Lent and a trip through the Seven Deadly Sins is a unconventional way to do that (and please don't find it offensive- it's very funny). She's not the only food character in this novel- her mom Lark and friend Liza are also totally believable, especially since they only have Posey's best interests at heart. There's a romance, of course, and I'll bet you enjoy how Posey deals with it. Thanks to Netgalley for what turned out to be one of my favorite reads this month.

[Jayne {aka cupcakesandbookshelves} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad, funny, honest and hopeful Sally Kilpatrick's Bless Her Heart was a joy to read with characters and settings that felt so real and vivid even when I have no prior connection with the subject matter. Watching Posey's journey from what she hoped for, to what she got and how she dealt with it afterwards was such an adventure.

*ARC kindly given by NetGallery in exchange for an honest review*

[Karin Gillespie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when a saintly Southern belle decides to sample the seven deadly sins? That’s the amusing premise of the novel Bless Her Heart by Marietta author Sally Kilpatrick.

Posey Love finds out that her born-again husband has been leaving his Bible on another woman’s bedside table, and her once-perfect life as a pastor’s wife is now a memory. Posey decides to patch up her battered heart by giving up church for Lent and going a little wild.

She moves in with her hippie mom, flirts with a cute piano tuner and finds a little piece of redemption through breaking the rules. Bless Her Heart is a lively yet thoughtful romp about a woman finding the meaning of goodness while behaving badly. A must-read for Southern fiction lovers.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent tale of overcoming bullying and abuse.

Posey Adams Love, church receptionist, is married to Chad Love, head of Love Ministries. Longing to be a mother, she submits to mind numbing manipulation. When she finds herself abandoned, moving home to her former hippie mother, Lark Adams, Posey must face her decisions and move forward with help from her half siblings.

Reconnecting with her former self, her friends and career goals was an inspiring story with funny parts that kept the story moving quickly.

A thoroughly enjoyable book.

Told in first person. I volunteered to read an ARC copy of this book through Net Galley.

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most in the south know, a simple “Bless Her Heart” is used in many ways, the honest and open goodwill is often the least of them. In fact, those three words are Posey’s least favorite in the English language – and you can believe she feels she’s heard (or used) it more than once. Married for five years to a rather controlling and wholly uncaring husband, and working in his ministry as an administrative assistant, she wakes one day to find him gone, the car repossessed and her bills piling up. With few to no options presenting themselves, she moves back to live with her mother Lark, a house she left hoping to find security, stability and a chance at her family being more “Leave it to Beaver” than Roseanne.

Years with a more restrictive life focused on her husband’s ‘flock’ and the good works of the ministry, Posey’s married life was structured and moving forward – the only thing she thought was missing was a child. But, after the devastation of her marriage’s end, she’s in a bit of a crisis: while she truly tried to be good (as defined by her husband and their position) she’s left with nothing – and there should be something more. But, her crisis isn’t simple. Her sister suggests she finds her ‘goodness’ in travelling through the Seven Deadly Sins – and we are off.

While the theme of this title does run into Christianity, the use of the sins and Posey’s reactions to her own testing of limits show that faith and belief, as well as an honest confrontation and realignment of those beliefs in lieu of new information, situations and even perspectives is both important and integral to learning to move on and find your path. Sure, there are moments when it overwhelms, but the core story is there – one of growth, self-affirmation and how to find your own path through the minefield that is often presented by family, friends and expectations. Posey missteps, redirects and redesigns her life, her beliefs and even herself as the story continues: with input from her family and friends and plenty of humor, the story is fun and easy to read – leaving readers with hope that change is possible and can be a positive, if you attack it in the right way.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at I am, Indeed

[Jencey/ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Kensington Books and Sally Kilpatrick for a copy of Bless Her Heart. I was given this novel in exchange for an honest review. I received no financial compensation.
Posey has been married to Chad for ten years. All she really wants is a child. She has put up with some weird requests from Chad. One day she wakes up to find that he is gone with another woman. The house is gone and the car repossessed. What is Posey to do?
Posey moves back in with her family. What to do about her life? Now what to do about a job? She had worked for Chad in Love Ministries as a receptionist. Her little sister Lark has the answers. She thinks that Posey should explore the seven deadly sins. Does Posey feel these experiences are fun or have consequences? How will it impact the future?
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed Ms. Kilpatrick’s novel. I found Posey to be an entertaining character. She has lots of sass. Lark added a lot of entertainment value to Posey’s adventures. The author creates characters that are interesting. The conflict in this story had me rooting for Posey. When I first read the synopsis for the novel I thought the story had a different path. Ms. Kilpatrick writes with great wit. Her writing makes it a joy to turn the page.
Bless her heart is an easy read! That readers will enjoy!

[Judy Christiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, this book had so many themes going on in it. An awful marriage, a dysfunctional family, self doubt and tension in friendship/relationships. That is how the book begins, but as in life, nothing is static and through changes that occur as the story goes on, situations change and become clear that work needs to be done to move to a better future.

I went through so many emotions in this book. It was difficult to read some of the book when I wanted to slap a certain character. I was really happy as the story unfolded and the plot moved to bring the results I wanted.

I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading book 5 in the Ellery Series. I have been reading the series in order, although each book can be read and understood independently.

[Belva W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally Kilpatrick has woven another enjoyable charming Southern tale. This one felt a little more serious to me than previous books that were just fun and filled with her sassy wit. Even though the author tackled some tough subjects, it is a wonderful book about second chances, one that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys Southern fiction. I'm already looking forward to her next one. My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

[Falguni Kothari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like eating butterscotch ice cream on a scorching day - a very sweet and satisfactory read. Very recommended.

[Auntshawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. Posey is the obedient wife of a domineering self-proclaimed pastor. (Having experienced such individuals, I found Ms. Kirkpatrick's description of Chad to be spot on.) Her mother is a new age hippie that owns a yoga and natural foods store in town. A series of events forces Posey to the stark realities of her husband and his domination and her relationship with her family.
The story flowed and felt believable and I came to really like Posey and her family. Themes include marital abuse, infertility, relationships (parent, child, sibling, friendship, etc), adult caregivers and Alzheimers.
It's a good read and I highly recommend.

[Patty Nobles · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Sally Kilpatrick’s latest novel “Bless Her Heart”, Posey Love has spent a lot of life proving to everyone that she is a good girl that follows the rules, and this especially is the case in her marriage. Posey spends her days watching the desk at Love Ministries while her husband Chad is busy watching other women, and when he leaves with one of the women to attend a conference at the last minute Posey has reached her limit of being good. Posey must figure out the life she was meant to have in order to live the best life she deserves and through a series of incidents that involve a sexy piano tuner, a lying soon to be ex-husband, a grandmother who has Tom Brokaw’s love child and a mom she must make peace with Posey finally finds a happy truce with herself. Ms. Kilpatrick writes novels that come from the heart that will make you laugh and cry as she weaves a tale of strength through the voice she lends to her characters. I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Jeanne Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion of the book. I read this book in less than 12 hours. I really enjoy reading about females, who through adversity find their voice as well as themselves. The book was funny, relatable characters, and a joy to read. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!!!!

[Penny Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled a bit with this one at first, but as Posey grew stronger she grew on me. Man, Chad was a jerk. I enjoyed Posey's exploration of the seven deadly sins!

And now on to book 5, which is going to be an online book discussion featuring the author, and which started my odyssey in Ellery, TN!

[Janga · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Kilpatrick's best since her debut--funny, sweet, honest, irreverent, inspiring and on-the-mark Southern. I loved it! I’m not a huge fan of first-person point of view in fiction, but sometimes it works wonderfully. Such is the case here. Hearing the story in Posey’s voice makes the story funnier and more poignant, and it makes it so easy to love Posey, fabulous and flawed as she is.

Chad is vermin, of course, and he is rendered even more repulsive because he is so close to some real-life characters I have known. The other characters, like Posey, are richly dimensional. Posey’s mother is wise and vulnerable, and her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s inspires a mix of laughter and sorrow that will be familiar to those who have watched loved ones move through the stages of that disease. Rain, Posey’s half-sister, is as interesting, as complex, and as lovable as Posey herself. And former roadie, current piano tuner John is sweet and flawed and complicated.

Kilpatrick’s debut novel, The Happy Hour Choir, is still one of my favorite books. Although I have enjoyed her other novels, none has quite reached that I-want-to-read-this-again-and-again response that the first one did. I rank Bless Her Heart right up there with The Happy Hour Choir. It is a little bit Flannery O’Connor, a little bit Fannie Flagg, but mostly delightfully and originally Sally Kilpatrick. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the author revisits these characters.

I highly recommend this one for readers who like Southern fiction or women’s fiction that evokes laughter and tears. Romance readers should be aware that this is not a romance. It has a strong romantic element, but the conclusion is more open-ended than the conventional HEA.

[Crystal Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC in return for a review.

I'm a little leery of calling this book powerful and painful in case it turns potential readers off. Trust me, if you're just looking for a regular amazing fiction book, go ahead and grab this one. This is a sweet, touching story of a woman that gives up church for Lent, and how she finds herself while checking off the seven deadly sins along the way.

But it resonated so strongly with me that I found myself crying in several places, reliving a past that I had forgotten, and wishing I could reach through the pages and stop Posey from going through the same thing I did. I blessed her poor heart more times than I could count.

I couldn't put the book down. I think I probably could have finished it in one sitting if I hadn't started it on a super busy weekend. It really had everything. I even walked around, reading the first page out loud to anyone who would listen because it was just that funny. The characters, the setting...EVERYTHING was just so vivid and real that I felt like I was right there with them. Days after I finished it, I still catch myself wondering how they're all doing. I hope this isn't the last we hear of them.

I can't wait to buy a copy when it's released. This one is definitely going to be part of my collection.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun southern read! Brought back memories of koolaid and cookies from VBS at the Baptist Church. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bless Her Heart is a delightful book written by author Sally Kilpatrick. It's funny, sad and hopeful. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advance copy.

[Deborah Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book even more that the books in the Ellery series. And that's really saying something!

I just discovered Sally Kilpatrick's books and immediately ordered everything she's ever written. Her Southern charm permeates the novels and they go down as fast and easily as a cold beer on a hot day (or maybe a mint julep). Humor helps to leaven the serious topics, and her endings are always satisfying. Highly recommended.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book several weeks ago, but have been having a problem writing a review because there are just so many aspect of this novel worthy of mention and discussion that I've had a hard time getting my mind around them. Somebody needs to write a thesis or dissertation on this book. Wait, I don't want to scare you off by suggesting this book is difficult or pretentious. The humor and voice make it highly enjoyable and the plot is page-turning. But, it is excellent in the way the best things are excellent -- it is deceptively simple.

There are no narrator or point of view tricks. No wacky timeline manipulation. No warping of internal / external reality. The novel is first person, linear. Through this most familiar format, though, the author weaves a complex portrait of both individuals and society inching their way through the tangled wilderness left of the collapse of both traditional and sexual revolution values. Posey, the narrator, is the fatherless child of a hippie mother who has been raised by her Baptist grandmother. If that doesn't embody conflict on both personal and societal levels, I don't know what does. Poesy wants nothing more to have a child and provide for it the complete family she never had. But her husband is the worst sort of narcissist who abuses all the best things in life for self gratification -- faith, natural sexuality, and family loyalty. She sticks will him far too long in order to try to do the right thing. Only when he leaves her is she compelled to find her own way through a world that no longer offers clear paths. Guides are rather hard to come by in this world. All her fellow characters are also stumbling toward their futures. As an aside, I like to think the buttons on the cover are symbolic of the characters. They have pretty hearts pierced with holes and cut loose from their cloth. Props to to cover designer. Returning to the story, enter a fellow named John, jokingly nicknamed John the Baptist, who is just as deeply lost as Posey, but he shines a light, physically and spiritually, to a way forward. A lesser book would have made John the hero, the saving grace. But he is only an instrument. Did I mention that Posey's journey begins on Ash Wednesday? When the reminder of death is marked upon one's face in a gritty cross that also is the promise of the new life that will be fulfilled by Easter? And when does Posey's story end? Easter.

That all sounds serious. But, the author has a wonderful sense of humor that infuses the work with joy. Hey, the seven deadly sins Posey faces during lent involve pole dancing and tequila.

That's just a wee bit of the goodness you'll find in this book.

[Donna Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I once said if the author Anita Shreve published her grocery list, I'd read it and love it. I feel the same way about Sally Kilpatrick and "Bless Her Heart" did not let me down. It's quirky and funny, but tackles serious stuff. Posey Love is a preacher's wife, but I wanted the scripture about a man reaping what he sows to rain down on this jerk (Chad) like brimstone. Among other things, he believes in total wifely submission, teaching that a man has a right to discipline his wife by making her stand in the corner and by administering corporal punishment.

Posey discovers that Chad is tending to a female member of the flock a lot too closely. Not only does he run off for a week of adulterous sinning with the woman, but he leaves Posey broke and facing the repossession of her car. Finally at her breaking point, Posey leaves Chad and moves in with her former-hippie-turned-Methodist mother. Posey's dementia-suffering grandmother, teenage sister, and recovering-addict brother round out this interesting family that embraces Posey during her drastically changing season of life.

Naturally, though, Posey is struggling with the fact that her world has collapsed after she'd made every effort to live a Christian life and abide by the teachings of the Bible. Not sure where she stands anymore, she decides to give up something during Lent -- church. She also decides it's time to experience the seven deadly sins. Some of the results are pretty funny; others not so much, but when all is said and done, Posey sees that God never lets go of His children and does, indeed, move in mysterious ways in answering prayers and drawing us back and closer to Him.

I was initially shocked by just how submissive Posey was to Chad, but the book clearly shows why she got drawn into a marriage of that sort and why she stayed for 10 years. Once she makes the break, though, she proves to be stronger than she thought she was and braver than she expected to be when it came to pursuing what was important to her. And some of the things that befall Chad? Well, I laughed out loud and was glad to see him get it. This is one of those stories I wanted to savor, but also couldn't wait to see what happened next. Great read!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's really rare that I can hear the author's voice speaking to me when I read. I'm luck to know Sally personally and I can say unequivocally that I actually heard her voice as I read the text. These characters were so fun and real that I felt like I could really meet them on the street of some small town in Tennessee and have lunch with them. When I was going through my own divorce a few years ago, I felt many of the emotions that Posey felt and I could relate to almost every struggle that she faced. There is a certain rebelliousness and uncertainty that can come about in those circumstances and this book captures that perfectly. She also seems to understand the complexities of relationships after divorce because Posey realizes that her relationship with John is complicated and that she must take things day by day in order to navigate the new world she now inhabits. There is a sense that there might be a "happily ever after" for them, but they both realize that life isn't that simple anymore and people are complex creatures with daily struggles. It mirrors real life so well.

I really felt a punch in the gut each time we learned something about Chad. I felt a new tide of anger every time part of his character was exposed for the things he had done to Posey while they were married. He is the classic abuser in almost every sense of the word. Sally does a good job of carefully outlining all of this as the story progresses.

Also, If I had to pick my favorite supporting character, I would choose Rain. She is smart, funny and has a great head on her shoulders. She's also the typical teenager in almost every sense of the word. I would love to have her in my US Government class!

[Kay Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally Kilpatrick’s delightful Bless Her Heart begins with its protagonist, Posey Love, stuck in a ten-year train wreck of a bad marriage to a man who embodies everything wrong with the man as head of household, woman as submissive and obedient wife branch of conservative religion. In fact, Chad Love started his own ministry largely to take advantage of others.

Posey, who wants a baby more than anything, has put up with her domineering husband for years, at least partly in reaction to her own mother, who has raised three children by three men to whom she was never married at all. But when Posey discovers in quick succession that Chad has been cheating (adultery and hitting are deal breakers even for Posey), and run off with another woman, failed to make the car payment, and sold the house, she begins to take back her own life and finds out that hard as that is, she’s up to the challenge.

As Posey grows into the person she was always meant to be, she takes some adventurous steps. Encouraged by her free-spirited younger half-sister, she sets out to not only give up something important for Lent (church!), but also to sample the Seven Deadly Sins, with generally hilarious results. Along the way she finds out that wishes can come true in very surprising ways.

Bless Her Heart handles some very serious issues, ranging from emotional abuse to Alzheimer’s, with sympathy, understanding, and humor. Especially humor. The characters, from Posey’s rediscovered best friend Liza to her unconventional but wise mother Lark, are well developed and supportive, and Chad is a man the reader will indeed love to hate.

It’s a joy to watch Posey climb out of her self-imposed shell and blossom.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books I'm glad exists and is memorable, though I had trouble getting through sections of it. Warning for: emotional abuse, religious abuse, physical abuse (minimal, though it is there).

While the storytelling has a lighthearted touch, disturbing issues at the core include a controlling, religious-abusive husband and the brainwashed victim his wife, a character in recovery from substance abuse, and a grandmother who has dementia. Posey, the heroine, has an empowering journey (eventually) and I liked the cast of characters that were nuanced enough where no one person is fully good or bad (other than the previously mentioned abuser husband). Religious faith is dismantled and examined from a place of respect and realism. This book is not preachy, does not shy away from God and faith, and also does not sugar coat the dysfunction of the church and how men and small towns twist faith into abuse, gossip, control.

Much of that examination comes with a light touch or aims for laughs, but the base layer commentary here exposes patriarcal culture in Christian Evangelical church and I'm here for it. I would not categorize this as inspirational fiction since many of the tropes and expectations are upended for that genre (and qualifier here: I mean the expectations that Christian Evangelical leaning inspirational books contain from imprints like Harlequin Inspirational or publishers like Bethany House or Thomas Nelson). There is a LOT going on this book and sometimes it sped along a bit fast while other sections meandered with day-to-day here's what happened and then this. Overall, I read this quickly because I had to know what happened to Posey and I loved her ragtag family. A memorable and interesting take that defied several of my expectations.