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Red Blooded
Instead of eating ramen and meeting frat guys like most college freshmen, Peyton Arthur is on the campaign trail. Traveling with her mother, the Democratic pick for vice president, she's ordering room service, sneaking glances at cute campaign intern Dylan and deflecting interview questions about the tragic loss of her father. But when a reporter questions her paternity, her world goes into a tailspin.
Dylan left Yale and joined the campaign to make a difference, not keep tabs on some girl. But with the paternity scandal blowing up and Peyton asking questions, he's been tasked to watch her every move. As he gets to know the real Peyton, he finds it harder and harder to keep a professional distance.
When the media demands a story, Peyton and Dylan give them one—a fake relationship. As they work together to investigate the rumors about her real father and Peyton gets closer to learning the truth, she's also getting closer to Dylan. And suddenly, it's not just her past on the line anymore. It's her heart.
72,000 words
Dylan left Yale and joined the campaign to make a difference, not keep tabs on some girl. But with the paternity scandal blowing up and Peyton asking questions, he's been tasked to watch her every move. As he gets to know the real Peyton, he finds it harder and harder to keep a professional distance.
When the media demands a story, Peyton and Dylan give them one—a fake relationship. As they work together to investigate the rumors about her real father and Peyton gets closer to learning the truth, she's also getting closer to Dylan. And suddenly, it's not just her past on the line anymore. It's her heart.
72,000 words
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 3, 2015
About the author
Caitlin Sinead
6 books30 followersI am represented by Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger, Inc. and my debut novel, Heartsick, was published by Carina Press in 2015. My writing has appeared in multiple publications including The Alarmist, The Binnacle, Crunchable, Jersey Devil Press, and Northern Virginia Magazine. I earned a master's degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University in 2011 and have also studied writing at the College of William and Mary and Yale University. I currently work as an web content manager and continue to keep an eye out for good stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 10, 2018
Peyton 18yo is on the campaign trail for president election where her widowed mother is a candidate.
Like we can expect from politicians there are secrets, covers up, media coaching, fake relationships and like we can expect from teens there are messes, parties and in the case of this particular teen very little drama and temper tantrums.
I was more upset for her then she was.
She sure is very forgiving. And level headed. Very mature.
Throughout the book we get to read Payton's father book entries from the book he wrote before he died. It was very emotional and cute and my favorite part of the book.
I was not bored with political part of the book. But I should mention that this is not romantic book or at least romance is not main thing in it. There is mystery in it but it was very predictable. I didn't mind it at all.
Overall...Not bad!
Like we can expect from politicians there are secrets, covers up, media coaching, fake relationships and like we can expect from teens there are messes, parties and in the case of this particular teen very little drama and temper tantrums.
I was more upset for her then she was.
She sure is very forgiving. And level headed. Very mature.
Throughout the book we get to read Payton's father book entries from the book he wrote before he died. It was very emotional and cute and my favorite part of the book.
I was not bored with political part of the book. But I should mention that this is not romantic book or at least romance is not main thing in it. There is mystery in it but it was very predictable. I didn't mind it at all.
Overall...Not bad!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2015
"As you get older, the years move along like pegs in a zipper. All the possibilities between the two sets of fabric are laid out, but you tug along, year by year, clasp by clasp, closing them off, until you look back and the zipper is completely zipped. All the possibilities are closed off."
From the start Red Blooded was tedious and flat, but in spite of this troublesome beginning, after I got past the first few chapters, I felt myself being drawn in and unable to put the book down.
While this novel was predictable I still found myself intrigued. I can't exactly put my finger on what was so special about it, but a major part of why it was such a good read is because of the bond between Peyton and her deceased father. Not to mention I enjoyed the political aspect and the forbidden romance. And readers, do not fret! The writer's focus was not subjected to heavy political beliefs or constant courtship between Peyton and Dylan. Caitlin Sinead really balanced everything out and the focus never deters from Peyton's journey or growth.
My first instinct when reading any novel is to find a connection with the protagonist, and once I can do that, I find myself content with what I'm reading. And I have to say I enjoyed reading about the leading lady. She was such a well polished character that I could easily relate to.
Now, of course, I didn't agree with all of Peyton's actions, but I understood the choices she made. Do I think she should have waited until after the election to look into her biological father? Yes. Did I get where she was coming from about wanting to know sooner rather then later? No doubt. She lost her father, the one who raised her, at such a young age. She was hurt by the fact that the father she loved wasn't biologically related to her. It made sense that her first instinct was to go searching for the truth.
Although I do hope in the future when someone asks her to be patient she'll find the strength to do so. Peyton has a tendency to act before she thinks, which isn't always a good thing.
As for Dylan, I was glad Sinead didn't write him with cliche character tropes like "bad boy" and "broody". It was nice to read about his sensitive side, a smart guy, who really cared about his job. He had real concerns about following the rules, which I respected. His feelings for Peyton were real, there was evidence of that, but he knew what was considered right and wrong. His inclination was to be level headed and do what he felt was ethical. Dylan showed a great level of maturity and there is nothing I find more appealing in a guy then acting one's age.
There was so many positive things about this book. Sinead wrote beautifully and I cried as I read the excerpts from Richard Arthur's novel at the beginning of each chapter. The father/daughter relationship was so important to me and I have high praise for the way it was done. Not all family relationships are bad and I appreciate an author who's willing to address the flip side of what's considered "normal" in narratives nowadays.
Some of you are probably wondering why I gave Red Blooded four stars, instead of five? Well, I was very disappointed in certain character behavior and how it was handled. Peyton told Dylan about the clothes pins she kept inside her sleeves and she specifically asked him not to use that information in the campaign. She willingly shared something personal with him and he went behind her back because he wanted to win the election. It was not his place to do so and I don't really believe he was aware of how wrong that was. I also did not find his apology sincere enough and I was distressed that Peyton was quick to forgive him.
I was not content with the ending, in fact, it fell flat as the beginning had. So Red Blooded respectfully earned four stars from me. Having said that I recommend this read. And if you're looking for similar stories you should check out The Wrong Side of Right and Blocked.
June 19, 2015
Originally posted on my blog, Over The Bookshelf
During a campaign stop Peyton is asked to address the rumors regarding her deceased father. Rumors about him not being her biological father. Like she has been trained to do, she shakes off the question, but it plants the seed in her head and she can’t help but wonder if the rumors might be true. When her mother refuses to answer any of her questions, she decides to try and find the truth on her own.
After it’s revealed publicly that Peyton’s not 100% sure of her paternity the media goes wild. After a couple of “missteps,” involving Peyton trying to figure out the truth about her father, the campaign manager assigns cute intern Dylan to shadow Peyton and make sure she doesn’t get into any more trouble. I expected Dylan to have a stronger reaction about, essentially, being demoted to babysitter. He left Yale to join the campaign because he wanted to make a difference and now he’s stuck playing babysitter. I think at that point he definitely already had feelings for Peyton, so he didn’t hate it as much as i thought he would.
I loved Peyton, although sometimes I felt really bad for her. She idolized her father and it hit her really hard when he died. He wrote a book about it and how she was handling the situation, so the media and the public felt connected to Peyton, like they were sharing her grief. It makes everyone feel like the know her and it gets to her a little bit. She was really smart and I love that she cared about politics, not just because of her mother, and she wasn’t afraid to speak up about things that she cared about.
I really liked Dylan. I love that in the beginning of the book, he and Peyton are already friends. They already knew each other and liked each other. He is extremely driven and cares a lot about politics. He wants to make a difference and he’s dedicated. He eats, sleeps, and breathes politics, so it was fun to see him slowly step back a little and start to care about Peyton, and not just the campaign.
The fake relationship was pretty entertaining. They were already sort of heading in that direction, and it was interesting to see them pretend that it wasn’t more than it was. It works out pretty well and they slowly start to develop real feeling, but then one of them, of course, has to do something stupid, and it creates tension. Now they really have to fake it and it was very entertaining. Overall, I really loved the relationship and I’m so happy with how it turned out.
The one thing I was worried about with this book was the politics. I’m not a very political person, so I was a little worried I wouldn’t connect with the book, but I didn’t have a problem at all with it. It was easy enough to follow along with everyhting that was going on.
I loved this book for so many reasons. The romance was really sweet and I enjoyed that there was a little bit of a mystery in regards to Peyton’s biological father. It was a easy read and I was able to read it in one sitting. I highly recommend this book and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
*E-Arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
During a campaign stop Peyton is asked to address the rumors regarding her deceased father. Rumors about him not being her biological father. Like she has been trained to do, she shakes off the question, but it plants the seed in her head and she can’t help but wonder if the rumors might be true. When her mother refuses to answer any of her questions, she decides to try and find the truth on her own.
After it’s revealed publicly that Peyton’s not 100% sure of her paternity the media goes wild. After a couple of “missteps,” involving Peyton trying to figure out the truth about her father, the campaign manager assigns cute intern Dylan to shadow Peyton and make sure she doesn’t get into any more trouble. I expected Dylan to have a stronger reaction about, essentially, being demoted to babysitter. He left Yale to join the campaign because he wanted to make a difference and now he’s stuck playing babysitter. I think at that point he definitely already had feelings for Peyton, so he didn’t hate it as much as i thought he would.
I loved Peyton, although sometimes I felt really bad for her. She idolized her father and it hit her really hard when he died. He wrote a book about it and how she was handling the situation, so the media and the public felt connected to Peyton, like they were sharing her grief. It makes everyone feel like the know her and it gets to her a little bit. She was really smart and I love that she cared about politics, not just because of her mother, and she wasn’t afraid to speak up about things that she cared about.
I really liked Dylan. I love that in the beginning of the book, he and Peyton are already friends. They already knew each other and liked each other. He is extremely driven and cares a lot about politics. He wants to make a difference and he’s dedicated. He eats, sleeps, and breathes politics, so it was fun to see him slowly step back a little and start to care about Peyton, and not just the campaign.
The fake relationship was pretty entertaining. They were already sort of heading in that direction, and it was interesting to see them pretend that it wasn’t more than it was. It works out pretty well and they slowly start to develop real feeling, but then one of them, of course, has to do something stupid, and it creates tension. Now they really have to fake it and it was very entertaining. Overall, I really loved the relationship and I’m so happy with how it turned out.
The one thing I was worried about with this book was the politics. I’m not a very political person, so I was a little worried I wouldn’t connect with the book, but I didn’t have a problem at all with it. It was easy enough to follow along with everyhting that was going on.
I loved this book for so many reasons. The romance was really sweet and I enjoyed that there was a little bit of a mystery in regards to Peyton’s biological father. It was a easy read and I was able to read it in one sitting. I highly recommend this book and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
*E-Arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2016
After the election, I found it hard to focus on reading books. My attention kept slipping back to social media feeds and news stories. The books themselves reminded me too much of what was happening--a WWII novel about protecting vulnerable people in Vichy France; a nonfiction book about rowing in the Olympics in Hitler's Germany.
And so, on a whim, I began reading Red Blooded. It was at the end of my list not because of its quality - I knew it was good - but because being reminded of politics would hit, I thought, too close to home. Peyton is the 18-year-old daughter of the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, and her life is deeply entwined in all the painful public revelations that accompany election seasons.
Yet this book ended up being escapist in the best way possible. It is fun and romantic and thought-provoking, sure, and I would recommend it for any of those reasons. But even more than that, it reminded me that there are people out there who genuinely want to change the world for good. Leaders who will give up every private moment of their lives in order to improve the lives of millions of strangers. Yeah, politicians aren't perfect. But what they do involves a ton of sacrifice - and there are politicians who are genuine about the changes they advocate.
It reminded me that the acrimony of the recent election was nothing new - all elections are difficult and charged and dramatic. Yet it also harkened back to a time where the scandals didn't revolve around hate, around the elevation of one kind of person at the expense of many other people. That's still my country, that's still the country I know and love.
And so, on a whim, I began reading Red Blooded. It was at the end of my list not because of its quality - I knew it was good - but because being reminded of politics would hit, I thought, too close to home. Peyton is the 18-year-old daughter of the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, and her life is deeply entwined in all the painful public revelations that accompany election seasons.
Yet this book ended up being escapist in the best way possible. It is fun and romantic and thought-provoking, sure, and I would recommend it for any of those reasons. But even more than that, it reminded me that there are people out there who genuinely want to change the world for good. Leaders who will give up every private moment of their lives in order to improve the lives of millions of strangers. Yeah, politicians aren't perfect. But what they do involves a ton of sacrifice - and there are politicians who are genuine about the changes they advocate.
It reminded me that the acrimony of the recent election was nothing new - all elections are difficult and charged and dramatic. Yet it also harkened back to a time where the scandals didn't revolve around hate, around the elevation of one kind of person at the expense of many other people. That's still my country, that's still the country I know and love.
July 4, 2015
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this novel in return for an honest review
'Red Blooded' is told from the point of view of Peyton, an 18 year old girl whose mother is running for VP and whose father died a couple of years ago. Her father was an author, and he wrote a book about his life as he was dying - much of it about Peyton, and this catapulted her and her mother into the spotlight. This book starts with a reported questioning whether Peyton's father really was her father - both of her parents have brown hair, and she has red - and this leads into the rest of the intrigue and mystery in the book.
This book is part mystery surrounding her dad, part romance and part politics as we watch Peyton struggle to deal with the accusations while also supporting her mum on the campaign trail. Everything she does is watched by the media, and so in the end they assign a campaign intern - Dylan - to watch over her. Dylan is young and cute and funny and he seems to just get Peyton - and something starts to build between them. The thing is, he's also extremely committed to the campaign, and doesn't want to do anything to hurt it, including dating the VP's daughter.
I liked the relationship between Peyton and Dylan. It was fleshed out well, and didn't feel rushed at all. It was nice seeing them get to know each other, and support each other. We see the relationship build, and I really wanted them to get together.
I thought Peyton was a great main character - level headed but also determined and curious to find out about her past. I also thought she was well-built by the author - she had certain quirks like crying practically all the time (I can relate) and loving gummy bears and being able to add up the electoral college points for different states. I also liked the extracts from Peyton's dad's book at the beginning of each chapter - it was nice to see her from a different angle, and you get to know him in the process, too, which made his death all the more heartbreaking.
This was a bit cleaner than a lot of NA books - there's still sex but not very much and not as explicitly described. However, I really enjoyed it as an entry into the NA genre, because I feel like that it was a lot more driven than some of them. They can stray a bit on the plotless side, only held together by the will-they/won't-they but this novel has a plot and a purpose, and the romance is a strong part of the story but the book could function without it.
This was a fun and quick read, and I found myself not being able to put it down!
'Red Blooded' is told from the point of view of Peyton, an 18 year old girl whose mother is running for VP and whose father died a couple of years ago. Her father was an author, and he wrote a book about his life as he was dying - much of it about Peyton, and this catapulted her and her mother into the spotlight. This book starts with a reported questioning whether Peyton's father really was her father - both of her parents have brown hair, and she has red - and this leads into the rest of the intrigue and mystery in the book.
This book is part mystery surrounding her dad, part romance and part politics as we watch Peyton struggle to deal with the accusations while also supporting her mum on the campaign trail. Everything she does is watched by the media, and so in the end they assign a campaign intern - Dylan - to watch over her. Dylan is young and cute and funny and he seems to just get Peyton - and something starts to build between them. The thing is, he's also extremely committed to the campaign, and doesn't want to do anything to hurt it, including dating the VP's daughter.
I liked the relationship between Peyton and Dylan. It was fleshed out well, and didn't feel rushed at all. It was nice seeing them get to know each other, and support each other. We see the relationship build, and I really wanted them to get together.
I thought Peyton was a great main character - level headed but also determined and curious to find out about her past. I also thought she was well-built by the author - she had certain quirks like crying practically all the time (I can relate) and loving gummy bears and being able to add up the electoral college points for different states. I also liked the extracts from Peyton's dad's book at the beginning of each chapter - it was nice to see her from a different angle, and you get to know him in the process, too, which made his death all the more heartbreaking.
This was a bit cleaner than a lot of NA books - there's still sex but not very much and not as explicitly described. However, I really enjoyed it as an entry into the NA genre, because I feel like that it was a lot more driven than some of them. They can stray a bit on the plotless side, only held together by the will-they/won't-they but this novel has a plot and a purpose, and the romance is a strong part of the story but the book could function without it.
This was a fun and quick read, and I found myself not being able to put it down!
May 21, 2015
*I received this ARC via NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a fantastic book in all the ways. From the top, the things that stood out to me about this book were the diversity, the mystery that kept the plot moving forward, and the excerpts from Peyton's father's book. The writing, of course, was excellent.
We are introduced to Peyton as the yes-girl at the beginning of the book, but she grows so much throughout the book. The mystery is introduced in a way that made me just as speechless as Peyton—during a live interview, she is confronted about the possibility of her father not being her real father. Lots of facts slowly piece themselves together, leading Peyton to different conclusions that kept me, the reader, guessing until the truth was revealed. I had to read this book in one sitting because it was impossible to stop!
Not only is the swoon-worthy hero—Dylan—a diverse character (he's Hispanic), but there were countless major characters of various ethnicities in this novel. It is difficult, even in recent years, to find romance and New Adult novels that naturally depict the world as it really is. As a WOC, it warmed my heart to see a non-white presidential candidate, non-white friends, etc. THIS is how you write diversity.
The other thing that tugged at my heartstrings in this book was how excerpts from Peyton's father's book were included at the beginning of some chapters. Not only did they add cute anecdotes that brought his character to life on the page, but they also added to the story in that it illustrated Peyton and her father's relationship despite him not being present. It is such a central part to the novel and this was a creative way to show it. I found myself really feeling for Peyton and her loss.
The romance was adorable and developed so well. I like how they begin with a friendly relationship—even though Peyton thinks Dylan is gorgeous—that carefully morphs into a romance that leaves you breathless and with a fuzzy feeling. They do each make their mistakes—big mistakes that any couple would go through. This was realistic, and made me appreciate their HEA that much more. They work so hard for their happy ending and I enjoyed it.
All in all, this book was fantastic, and I can't wait to read more books by Caitlin Sinead!
This was such a fantastic book in all the ways. From the top, the things that stood out to me about this book were the diversity, the mystery that kept the plot moving forward, and the excerpts from Peyton's father's book. The writing, of course, was excellent.
We are introduced to Peyton as the yes-girl at the beginning of the book, but she grows so much throughout the book. The mystery is introduced in a way that made me just as speechless as Peyton—during a live interview, she is confronted about the possibility of her father not being her real father. Lots of facts slowly piece themselves together, leading Peyton to different conclusions that kept me, the reader, guessing until the truth was revealed. I had to read this book in one sitting because it was impossible to stop!
Not only is the swoon-worthy hero—Dylan—a diverse character (he's Hispanic), but there were countless major characters of various ethnicities in this novel. It is difficult, even in recent years, to find romance and New Adult novels that naturally depict the world as it really is. As a WOC, it warmed my heart to see a non-white presidential candidate, non-white friends, etc. THIS is how you write diversity.
The other thing that tugged at my heartstrings in this book was how excerpts from Peyton's father's book were included at the beginning of some chapters. Not only did they add cute anecdotes that brought his character to life on the page, but they also added to the story in that it illustrated Peyton and her father's relationship despite him not being present. It is such a central part to the novel and this was a creative way to show it. I found myself really feeling for Peyton and her loss.
The romance was adorable and developed so well. I like how they begin with a friendly relationship—even though Peyton thinks Dylan is gorgeous—that carefully morphs into a romance that leaves you breathless and with a fuzzy feeling. They do each make their mistakes—big mistakes that any couple would go through. This was realistic, and made me appreciate their HEA that much more. They work so hard for their happy ending and I enjoyed it.
All in all, this book was fantastic, and I can't wait to read more books by Caitlin Sinead!
June 21, 2015
Okay, I want to get my nitpicks out of the way first before I talk about how much I loved this, because while I decided they weren't enough to dock points for, they were things that bugged me enough that I thought abou it.
That stuff said: I LOVED THIS.
I loved Peyton. I loved her friendships. I loved her and Dylan learning to trust each other. I loved that they both talked around each other and what they were feeling and I loved that finally neither of them could do that anymore and they just went for it. They were just so darling. And I loved Dylan on his own, which makes it even better.
Honestly, reading this just made me so happy and excited, and I want everyone to read it right now.
That stuff said: I LOVED THIS.
I loved Peyton. I loved her friendships. I loved her and Dylan learning to trust each other. I loved that they both talked around each other and what they were feeling and I loved that finally neither of them could do that anymore and they just went for it. They were just so darling. And I loved Dylan on his own, which makes it even better.
Honestly, reading this just made me so happy and excited, and I want everyone to read it right now.
June 21, 2015
3.5ish
I liked this, but it also felt maybe not entirely there. Take the romance. When the book started, I thought, "Oh, a nice slow burn romance." But it felt like it never emotionally progressed past the beginning of the slow burn. I didn't get enough sense of the connection between them. Also .
And I know this isn't on the author, but don't refer to something that doesn't happen until the 70% mark in the description!
The paternity stuff ended up feeling a little strange. I don't know. (slight spoilers)
And I thought Petyon's actions were occasionally selfish, like
I liked the political and election stuff. It felt like what I'm looking for in these kinds of books. I liked that Peyton was into politics and had opinions and generally didn't resent being a politician's kid.
I liked this, but it also felt maybe not entirely there. Take the romance. When the book started, I thought, "Oh, a nice slow burn romance." But it felt like it never emotionally progressed past the beginning of the slow burn. I didn't get enough sense of the connection between them. Also .
And I know this isn't on the author, but don't refer to something that doesn't happen until the 70% mark in the description!
The paternity stuff ended up feeling a little strange. I don't know. (slight spoilers)
And I thought Petyon's actions were occasionally selfish, like
I liked the political and election stuff. It felt like what I'm looking for in these kinds of books. I liked that Peyton was into politics and had opinions and generally didn't resent being a politician's kid.
May 19, 2015
I really, really enjoyed this book! The passages from Richard are absolute highlights for me. I loved them and would happily read an entire Richard book. I also loved the inclusivity in terms of characters. Peyton's friend Tristan is a stand out. The behind-the-scenes information about politics and especially the politicians themselves were really good, and the story's ending was perfect. If you're looking for a book with a lot more to the plot than just a romance, this is it!
June 22, 2015
3.5 stars.
I was really into this! I was surprised that the plot went the way that it did, like I expected so much more of the book to be about finding her dad - I mean, it was a pleasant surprise.
I was really into this! I was surprised that the plot went the way that it did, like I expected so much more of the book to be about finding her dad - I mean, it was a pleasant surprise.
October 1, 2015
3.5 stars
I mostly enjoyed this. I liked the characters and the politics, but didn't feel like it delivered as a romance novel. The romantic relationship is rather weak.
I mostly enjoyed this. I liked the characters and the politics, but didn't feel like it delivered as a romance novel. The romantic relationship is rather weak.
August 11, 2015
This review was originally posted on Blushing Reads
Peyton is asked about rumors that her deceased father may not being her biological father. Even though she shakes the question off she can't help but wonder if the rumor is true. I mean who wouldn't right? So when her mother refuses to answer the questions Peyton sets out to find the truth on her own. Of course once the media finds out that she isn't sure they are on her like white on rice. Enter Dylan, Peyton's shadow assigned by the campaign manager to ensure she doesn't get into any trouble.
Peyton was a great character in my opinion. She really loved and idolized her father like most girls and his death hit her hard. Dylan is a great character as well and the fact that him and Peyton were already friends really helped the story. They both are driven and care about politics although Dylan was a bit more extreme in his care of politics. I was surprised that he handled being Peyton's babysitter as well as he did. After all he didn't come into the campaign to do that. So I felt that maybe their friendship is what helped.
The romance is sweet and like all relationships in books that are fake at any point it was entertaining. I enjoyed watching them both pretend that they didn't feel anything more than they should. All in all this was a very good book and one that surprised me more than I thought it would. I was nervous about the politics because sometimes that can take over a story but it wasn't an issue. In fact they simply added to this story.
*E-Arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
About Caitlin Sinead
Caitlin Sinead is represented by Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger, Inc. and her debut novel, Heartsick , is available now from Carina Press. Her writing has earned accolades from Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Glimmer Train , and Writers & Artists, and her stories have appeared in multiple publications, including The Alarmist , The Binnacle, Crunchable , Jersey Devil Press , and Northern Virginia Magazine . She earned a master's degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University.
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Peyton is asked about rumors that her deceased father may not being her biological father. Even though she shakes the question off she can't help but wonder if the rumor is true. I mean who wouldn't right? So when her mother refuses to answer the questions Peyton sets out to find the truth on her own. Of course once the media finds out that she isn't sure they are on her like white on rice. Enter Dylan, Peyton's shadow assigned by the campaign manager to ensure she doesn't get into any trouble.
Peyton was a great character in my opinion. She really loved and idolized her father like most girls and his death hit her hard. Dylan is a great character as well and the fact that him and Peyton were already friends really helped the story. They both are driven and care about politics although Dylan was a bit more extreme in his care of politics. I was surprised that he handled being Peyton's babysitter as well as he did. After all he didn't come into the campaign to do that. So I felt that maybe their friendship is what helped.
The romance is sweet and like all relationships in books that are fake at any point it was entertaining. I enjoyed watching them both pretend that they didn't feel anything more than they should. All in all this was a very good book and one that surprised me more than I thought it would. I was nervous about the politics because sometimes that can take over a story but it wasn't an issue. In fact they simply added to this story.
*E-Arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
About Caitlin Sinead
Caitlin Sinead is represented by Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger, Inc. and her debut novel, Heartsick , is available now from Carina Press. Her writing has earned accolades from Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Glimmer Train , and Writers & Artists, and her stories have appeared in multiple publications, including The Alarmist , The Binnacle, Crunchable , Jersey Devil Press , and Northern Virginia Magazine . She earned a master's degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
July 17, 2015
***I received an ebook ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review***
I’m no stranger to Sinead’s work. I raved about Heartsick, which was my first taste of her storytelling skills, and when I saw she had a new novel coming out, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Now, after reading, I’m so happy I did.
Red Blooded is a romance story set against the backdrop of Capitol Hill. Peyton Arthur’s mom is the Democratic pick for vice president. While most kids her age are out making poor choices at college parties, Peyton is thrust front and center into the political spotlight, with the American public—and her mom’s political competitors—keeping tabs on her every move. When a family secret with the potential to turn into a huge scandal comes to light, Peyton finds herself losing even more of her privacy, and struggling to put together the pieces that will tell her the truth about her past.
Dylan is an intern on the campaign, and though things between him and Peyton start out innocent enough, they take a sharp left turn away from platonic town when the two are forced to publicly fake a romance.
The question remains: are they really faking? Or is there more to Dylan and Peyton’s story than everyone knows?
Sinead did such an amazing job of showing what it would be like to be submerged fully in the political landscape. Either she did great research, loves politics herself, or has worked in politics before. The realistic approach to storytelling was one of the things that stood out the most to me with Red Blooded. I especially loved how real time issues were brought up and discussed thoughtfully between the characters.
I loved Peyton’s character. She’s fiercely loyal to her mom, she clearly loved her dad very much, and she’s got this rebellious streak that always manages to show itself at the most inopportune times. She doesn’t let anyone walk all over her and once she sets her mind on something, she doesn’t stop until she’s attained it. At the same time though, she’s just a typical college girl who likes to let go and get wild sometimes and who makes poor choices. I loved her loyalty to her friends as well. There were so many times throughout the story where she could have walked away from her friendship with Tristan, but she never did. She fought for him, for their bond, and I loved that about her.
This story moved along really well. There was a lot going on at times, but Sinead maneuvered gracefully through it, and I didn’t find myself feeling like things were sluggish or wishing I could skip ahead at any point. The different segments of the storyline worked well together too, and I think that helped make this such an easy read. Even though things veered off in two or three different directions, they always managed to merge back together, and at the end I felt like everything just made sense.
I enjoyed the slow build up between Dylan and Peyton. Their attraction wasn’t over-the-top and nothing happened instantaneously for them, and that made it so much better. It was a slow burn, but there was always some indication there that one of them felt more than friendship toward the other.
Peyton’s mom was what stopped this from being a five star read for me. I think that when it came to her character development, it was just missing a few things. The way she was written never made me feel like she was genuine or a good person, even though that’s what the book was trying to convey. I struggled with this portion of it, but Sinead nailed the development with the other characters, which made up for what I felt like I was missing with her mom.
Sinead has shown her talent yet again with Red Blooded. She’s such a great author and I can’t wait to see what new twists and turns and fun places she decides to take us readers when she puts pen to paper again!
I’m no stranger to Sinead’s work. I raved about Heartsick, which was my first taste of her storytelling skills, and when I saw she had a new novel coming out, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Now, after reading, I’m so happy I did.
Red Blooded is a romance story set against the backdrop of Capitol Hill. Peyton Arthur’s mom is the Democratic pick for vice president. While most kids her age are out making poor choices at college parties, Peyton is thrust front and center into the political spotlight, with the American public—and her mom’s political competitors—keeping tabs on her every move. When a family secret with the potential to turn into a huge scandal comes to light, Peyton finds herself losing even more of her privacy, and struggling to put together the pieces that will tell her the truth about her past.
Dylan is an intern on the campaign, and though things between him and Peyton start out innocent enough, they take a sharp left turn away from platonic town when the two are forced to publicly fake a romance.
The question remains: are they really faking? Or is there more to Dylan and Peyton’s story than everyone knows?
Sinead did such an amazing job of showing what it would be like to be submerged fully in the political landscape. Either she did great research, loves politics herself, or has worked in politics before. The realistic approach to storytelling was one of the things that stood out the most to me with Red Blooded. I especially loved how real time issues were brought up and discussed thoughtfully between the characters.
I loved Peyton’s character. She’s fiercely loyal to her mom, she clearly loved her dad very much, and she’s got this rebellious streak that always manages to show itself at the most inopportune times. She doesn’t let anyone walk all over her and once she sets her mind on something, she doesn’t stop until she’s attained it. At the same time though, she’s just a typical college girl who likes to let go and get wild sometimes and who makes poor choices. I loved her loyalty to her friends as well. There were so many times throughout the story where she could have walked away from her friendship with Tristan, but she never did. She fought for him, for their bond, and I loved that about her.
This story moved along really well. There was a lot going on at times, but Sinead maneuvered gracefully through it, and I didn’t find myself feeling like things were sluggish or wishing I could skip ahead at any point. The different segments of the storyline worked well together too, and I think that helped make this such an easy read. Even though things veered off in two or three different directions, they always managed to merge back together, and at the end I felt like everything just made sense.
I enjoyed the slow build up between Dylan and Peyton. Their attraction wasn’t over-the-top and nothing happened instantaneously for them, and that made it so much better. It was a slow burn, but there was always some indication there that one of them felt more than friendship toward the other.
Peyton’s mom was what stopped this from being a five star read for me. I think that when it came to her character development, it was just missing a few things. The way she was written never made me feel like she was genuine or a good person, even though that’s what the book was trying to convey. I struggled with this portion of it, but Sinead nailed the development with the other characters, which made up for what I felt like I was missing with her mom.
Sinead has shown her talent yet again with Red Blooded. She’s such a great author and I can’t wait to see what new twists and turns and fun places she decides to take us readers when she puts pen to paper again!
August 3, 2015
This book could not have been release at a more perfect time. America is in the midst of debates and political clamoring for the upcoming Presidential election and this book was such a great companion to what is happening in the real world. It is a great story in its own right, but having the real life backdrop reflect this political theme added another notch to the great column! RED BLOODED is a story about a young woman, Peyton, on the verge of college and a new start in life, who is learning to intimate ins and outs of the campaign trail with her mother who is running for Vice President. This story shows her journey to find who she is and her place in the world.
One of the things I loved about RED BLOODED is that it was primarily a story about a young woman finding who she is. There are romantic themes and political themes, but above all this is Peyton’s story. We follow her life over the campaign trail and watch her learn about her life and struggle to find solid ground to stand on in a life altering situation. She is independent and fiercely loyal but she is also a young girl. I feel like Caitlin Sinead did a great job of balancing Peyton’s personality. She shows a maturity in life based on who her parents were but she is also a girl becoming a woman and she will make mistakes. There is a love for politics but also a real person beneath the smiles and political jargon. I love that dichotomy of character in which she is both a normal young woman and a rising political icon.
The love story between Peyton and Dylan is perfect for this book. It is sweet, beginning with a mutual respect and friendship, which grows into something more. I enjoyed their conversation and banter. They clicked both on the campaign trail and off the trail, allowing for both to find someone who understands the ins and outs of their reality. The sweet moments were balanced by the sad moments of hurt and betrayal. This story allows two young people to achieve their goals and make personal decisions as to what they will do to achieve them- something that allows them to make mistakes and grow up within the pages of this book. Their chemistry is great and completely age appropriate, something you often find lacking in the genre. I appreciated that their love story was perfect for an 18 year old and the life that Peyton had lived. There was romance and love, but the heat and passion was appropriate for the story.
Any political book has the potential to be overrun with opinions and political agenda, one of the reasons I don't read many political stories, but that is not the case with this book. The stance taken by the characters is believable and authentic but never pushed on the reader. There is a vast display of policy and ideology presented, as well as a clear stance on many of those ideas, but you never feel like you are being lectured or preached to. I appreciated that quality of the story. There is conviction but not an agenda for the author to sway the reader.
There are surprises and a major plot twist that I did not see coming. The issue of Peyton’s father was an incredibly presented story line that added depth and emotion to this story. I loved Peyton’s tenacity to find the truth about what happened and her growing maturity through the process. Overall this story is a fantastic read. It has spunk, politics, and a story about a girl coming into her own. There is romance, scandal, and campaigning that will hook you from the very beginning!
One of the things I loved about RED BLOODED is that it was primarily a story about a young woman finding who she is. There are romantic themes and political themes, but above all this is Peyton’s story. We follow her life over the campaign trail and watch her learn about her life and struggle to find solid ground to stand on in a life altering situation. She is independent and fiercely loyal but she is also a young girl. I feel like Caitlin Sinead did a great job of balancing Peyton’s personality. She shows a maturity in life based on who her parents were but she is also a girl becoming a woman and she will make mistakes. There is a love for politics but also a real person beneath the smiles and political jargon. I love that dichotomy of character in which she is both a normal young woman and a rising political icon.
The love story between Peyton and Dylan is perfect for this book. It is sweet, beginning with a mutual respect and friendship, which grows into something more. I enjoyed their conversation and banter. They clicked both on the campaign trail and off the trail, allowing for both to find someone who understands the ins and outs of their reality. The sweet moments were balanced by the sad moments of hurt and betrayal. This story allows two young people to achieve their goals and make personal decisions as to what they will do to achieve them- something that allows them to make mistakes and grow up within the pages of this book. Their chemistry is great and completely age appropriate, something you often find lacking in the genre. I appreciated that their love story was perfect for an 18 year old and the life that Peyton had lived. There was romance and love, but the heat and passion was appropriate for the story.
Any political book has the potential to be overrun with opinions and political agenda, one of the reasons I don't read many political stories, but that is not the case with this book. The stance taken by the characters is believable and authentic but never pushed on the reader. There is a vast display of policy and ideology presented, as well as a clear stance on many of those ideas, but you never feel like you are being lectured or preached to. I appreciated that quality of the story. There is conviction but not an agenda for the author to sway the reader.
There are surprises and a major plot twist that I did not see coming. The issue of Peyton’s father was an incredibly presented story line that added depth and emotion to this story. I loved Peyton’s tenacity to find the truth about what happened and her growing maturity through the process. Overall this story is a fantastic read. It has spunk, politics, and a story about a girl coming into her own. There is romance, scandal, and campaigning that will hook you from the very beginning!
August 4, 2015
To read this review and others like it check out my site at www.homelovebooks.com
I used to completely love politics, in high school it was my favorite thing to talk about, and West Wing is still my absolute favorite show. That being said politics these days is all about screaming at each other it seems like, but romance books set in the political landscape, now that's my cup of tea. I liked the premise of this book mostly because it's about the daughter of a political candidate. I love the idea of family members in politics, I mean they aren't the candidate, but somehow they are under just as much scrutiny as the candidate themselves, everything is about image. And lets face it an eighteen year old girl under that kind of spotlight, its a lot to deal with, so was pretty excited to get to know Peyton.
I liked Peyton, she seems to have a really good head on her shoulders. She has a learning disability, but she has managed it really well, and gives back to other kids like her, her whole experience has made her really passionate about education. But being a part of a campaign basically means that people want to dictate what she says, how she says it, and even what kind of smile she should have (in case your wondering it's the pizza smile). So when questions start coming up about the paternity of Peyton, things really start to go crazy with the media and with Peyton's life. I really felt for her through this entire thing. I can't imagine being eighteen and coming under that kind of scrutiny, especially people questioning whether her dad is really her dad when he has passed away. My biggest complaint about Peyton is that she doesn't want to cause any waves, she does what she wants, but at the same time she is so quick to forgive and move on, and sometimes I just wanted her to throw a fit.
As for Dylan, ah our love interest, Dylan, I liked him. He's a politics nerd, like its all he lives and breathes. It's a great thing for his job, but not the best thing for his life. I liked Dylan, I really did, he was super protective of Peyton, he's kind to her, and goes out of his way to try and help make her life easier. But there is one moment in the book where I wanted to punch him in the face, he is so much all about politics that he seems to forget that people are real and have real feelings and he can hurt people, Peyton especially, while focusing on poll numbers.
I liked the build up to the romance in this book, it made the payoff really nice. I liked the elections background, and the whole is he or isn't he my father storyline, it really worked for me. The pacing was good, the writing was good, and all in all it really was a fun new adult book for me. If you like politics like I do, then this might be the new adult book for you.
I used to completely love politics, in high school it was my favorite thing to talk about, and West Wing is still my absolute favorite show. That being said politics these days is all about screaming at each other it seems like, but romance books set in the political landscape, now that's my cup of tea. I liked the premise of this book mostly because it's about the daughter of a political candidate. I love the idea of family members in politics, I mean they aren't the candidate, but somehow they are under just as much scrutiny as the candidate themselves, everything is about image. And lets face it an eighteen year old girl under that kind of spotlight, its a lot to deal with, so was pretty excited to get to know Peyton.
I liked Peyton, she seems to have a really good head on her shoulders. She has a learning disability, but she has managed it really well, and gives back to other kids like her, her whole experience has made her really passionate about education. But being a part of a campaign basically means that people want to dictate what she says, how she says it, and even what kind of smile she should have (in case your wondering it's the pizza smile). So when questions start coming up about the paternity of Peyton, things really start to go crazy with the media and with Peyton's life. I really felt for her through this entire thing. I can't imagine being eighteen and coming under that kind of scrutiny, especially people questioning whether her dad is really her dad when he has passed away. My biggest complaint about Peyton is that she doesn't want to cause any waves, she does what she wants, but at the same time she is so quick to forgive and move on, and sometimes I just wanted her to throw a fit.
As for Dylan, ah our love interest, Dylan, I liked him. He's a politics nerd, like its all he lives and breathes. It's a great thing for his job, but not the best thing for his life. I liked Dylan, I really did, he was super protective of Peyton, he's kind to her, and goes out of his way to try and help make her life easier. But there is one moment in the book where I wanted to punch him in the face, he is so much all about politics that he seems to forget that people are real and have real feelings and he can hurt people, Peyton especially, while focusing on poll numbers.
I liked the build up to the romance in this book, it made the payoff really nice. I liked the elections background, and the whole is he or isn't he my father storyline, it really worked for me. The pacing was good, the writing was good, and all in all it really was a fun new adult book for me. If you like politics like I do, then this might be the new adult book for you.
May 19, 2015
*Advanced Reader Copy received from Netgalley for an honest review*
This is one book that I really enjoyed. It was sexy, full of emotions, hot, intriguing and full of mysteries. I normally hate books that are political but I actually enjoyed this book a lot.
This book is about a eighteen year old named Peyton whose mother is running for VP and her father who died a couple of years ago. Her father being a good author wrote his biography on his dying breath and that book brought Peyton and her mom into the spotlight. In this book people started asking questions if he was really Peyton’s farther because she does not look at all like him.
This book is part romance(which I love ), part mystery about her farther and politics. Peyton struggles with all the accusations while supporting her mother and everyone is watching her every move especially the media so they decided to assign Dylan to watch over her. Dylan seems to get Peyton(he understood sheer more than anyone) and he is also young, funny and cute which leads up to something between Peyton and Dylan. The only problem is he is very committed to this campaign and does not want anything to hurt it, that includes dating the VP’s daughter!
What I loved is that the relationship between Peyton and Dylan didn’t feel rushed. The relationship build stronger each day and I really wanted them to get together. The characters development was very good. Peyton was level headed and curious about her past and had very adorable quirks like being addicted to gummy bears. When ever a new chapter started the author extracted a piece out of “Peyton’s farthers book” which means we saw her in a different light as well. I love seeing how others see the heroine in a way that she would never see herself as. We also got to know the farther in this book which means reading about his death made it more heartbreaking. This book has sex in but not a lot and not so explicitly described but I did really enjoy it and it was a real light and wash read in the NA genre! This was a perfect page turner and I would tell you to get your hands on this book because you will enjoy it a lot! Trust me! I really felt for Peyton and how she was trying to figure everything out at such a young age. She really did need Dylan but it took a lot of struggle to get to where they are now.
MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG:
This is one book that I really enjoyed. It was sexy, full of emotions, hot, intriguing and full of mysteries. I normally hate books that are political but I actually enjoyed this book a lot.
This book is about a eighteen year old named Peyton whose mother is running for VP and her father who died a couple of years ago. Her father being a good author wrote his biography on his dying breath and that book brought Peyton and her mom into the spotlight. In this book people started asking questions if he was really Peyton’s farther because she does not look at all like him.
This book is part romance(which I love ), part mystery about her farther and politics. Peyton struggles with all the accusations while supporting her mother and everyone is watching her every move especially the media so they decided to assign Dylan to watch over her. Dylan seems to get Peyton(he understood sheer more than anyone) and he is also young, funny and cute which leads up to something between Peyton and Dylan. The only problem is he is very committed to this campaign and does not want anything to hurt it, that includes dating the VP’s daughter!
What I loved is that the relationship between Peyton and Dylan didn’t feel rushed. The relationship build stronger each day and I really wanted them to get together. The characters development was very good. Peyton was level headed and curious about her past and had very adorable quirks like being addicted to gummy bears. When ever a new chapter started the author extracted a piece out of “Peyton’s farthers book” which means we saw her in a different light as well. I love seeing how others see the heroine in a way that she would never see herself as. We also got to know the farther in this book which means reading about his death made it more heartbreaking. This book has sex in but not a lot and not so explicitly described but I did really enjoy it and it was a real light and wash read in the NA genre! This was a perfect page turner and I would tell you to get your hands on this book because you will enjoy it a lot! Trust me! I really felt for Peyton and how she was trying to figure everything out at such a young age. She really did need Dylan but it took a lot of struggle to get to where they are now.
MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG:
July 13, 2015
Title: Red Blooded
Author: Caitlin Sinead
Series: No
Cliffhanger: No
Release Date: August 3, 2015
Rating: 3.5
HEA:
Peyton Arthur is 18 years old and her mother is running for Vice President. He father died a few years earlier. He was an author and his last book was about his life and had a focus on Peyton. So Peyton is dealing with being a celebrity of sorts because of the book and her mom’s campaign. While doing some interviews to help her mom’s campaign Peyton is surprised with a new story about how her dad isn't her biological father. The reporter mentions how she has red hair while no one in her family does. Red Blooded follows the mystery of her dad, a romance with campaign intern Dylan, and the politics of running for VP.
My absolute favorite pieces of the book were the little excerpts from the book Peyton’s dad wrote when he was dying. If one of my parent’s were dying and they had time to do something like that, even without being a professional author and having the book published, I would love having that. It’s not a huge part of the book but it was my favorite all the same.
Another part I liked was the buildup of Peyton and Dylan’s relationship in the beginning. It showed moments where we get to know what they have in common and how they compliment each other. The buildup was slow until it was all of a sudden I really like and and then sex. I felt like they skipped a step even with the relationship for the media’s sake. We don't get to see that much so it seemed to be a bigger jump then there should have been. Regardless I enjoyed them together.
The mystery of her birth dad was interesting. I didn't know where it was going with it until right before and then I just knew. Other books have had plot points like this and Red Blooded did it in a way I haven't read a lot in book so that was nice.
I think my main issue was the politics. Politics and politicians are just not something I am interested in. And Dylan not my ideal book boyfriend because he is way too into campaigning and politics. Because of that I don't understand the interest in a politician’s kid, even if they are the subject of a famous author’s book. Regardless of my dislike of politics I enjoyed this book and could not put it down. Unfortunately the ending was really abrupt and I wanted more. It didn't feel complete to me. Maybe there could be another book? Or a novella because I was not done with Peyton and Dylan.
Author: Caitlin Sinead
Series: No
Cliffhanger: No
Release Date: August 3, 2015
Rating: 3.5
HEA:
Peyton Arthur is 18 years old and her mother is running for Vice President. He father died a few years earlier. He was an author and his last book was about his life and had a focus on Peyton. So Peyton is dealing with being a celebrity of sorts because of the book and her mom’s campaign. While doing some interviews to help her mom’s campaign Peyton is surprised with a new story about how her dad isn't her biological father. The reporter mentions how she has red hair while no one in her family does. Red Blooded follows the mystery of her dad, a romance with campaign intern Dylan, and the politics of running for VP.
My absolute favorite pieces of the book were the little excerpts from the book Peyton’s dad wrote when he was dying. If one of my parent’s were dying and they had time to do something like that, even without being a professional author and having the book published, I would love having that. It’s not a huge part of the book but it was my favorite all the same.
Another part I liked was the buildup of Peyton and Dylan’s relationship in the beginning. It showed moments where we get to know what they have in common and how they compliment each other. The buildup was slow until it was all of a sudden I really like and and then sex. I felt like they skipped a step even with the relationship for the media’s sake. We don't get to see that much so it seemed to be a bigger jump then there should have been. Regardless I enjoyed them together.
The mystery of her birth dad was interesting. I didn't know where it was going with it until right before and then I just knew. Other books have had plot points like this and Red Blooded did it in a way I haven't read a lot in book so that was nice.
I think my main issue was the politics. Politics and politicians are just not something I am interested in. And Dylan not my ideal book boyfriend because he is way too into campaigning and politics. Because of that I don't understand the interest in a politician’s kid, even if they are the subject of a famous author’s book. Regardless of my dislike of politics I enjoyed this book and could not put it down. Unfortunately the ending was really abrupt and I wanted more. It didn't feel complete to me. Maybe there could be another book? Or a novella because I was not done with Peyton and Dylan.
July 30, 2015
Actual rating 2.5
I was really looking forward to reading this book. It sounded slightly different, but similar enough to books I usually read to intrigue me. However, now I've reached the end I feel sort of let down. I was expecting more from what I read in the blurb and it just didn't deliver on what was promised in my opinion.
Red Blooded started off well, and for around the first 40% it held my attention. I found the writing easy to read and the laid-back style made it pleasant. It wasn't a book I had to think too hard about to follow. Similarly, I liked the political angle and I thought it was going to set up some interesting scenes.
However, unfortunately, after that things began to go downhill, until I was only skimming the final few chapters. The main issue I had was the romance took forever to blossom. I was expecting Peyton and Dylan to begin their fake relationship early on and then develop, but it didn't arrive until 73%. By then my attention was waning significantly because I didn't feel any kind of chemistry leading up to it.
The majority of the book is about Peyton's paternity issues and although that side of things was okay, it wasn't enough. The story felt slow and not enough happened. The same thing seemed to be repeated and there wasn't enough romance. I didn't feel a spark and I wanted more to happen faster. By the time a relationship actually developed the book was over. I just didn't care for the characters.
Moreover, I never really connected with either Peyton or Dylan. Peyton switched from stubborn to cry-baby so often that I didn't ever really get a grip on her character. As for Dylan, he was a bit weak and underdeveloped. He was meant to be Peyton's handler but he followed her around like a puppy. He had no backbone and hardly any history or depth.
Overall, I don't know if I expected too much from this book, but in my opinion the blurb oversold it. There was hardly any romance and for that reason I was disappointed. The first half is okay, but after that it lost me unfortunately. I wish I could rate it higher but my only feeling on this book is it was okay. Others who like less romance may enjoy it, but it didn't work for me.
I was really looking forward to reading this book. It sounded slightly different, but similar enough to books I usually read to intrigue me. However, now I've reached the end I feel sort of let down. I was expecting more from what I read in the blurb and it just didn't deliver on what was promised in my opinion.
Red Blooded started off well, and for around the first 40% it held my attention. I found the writing easy to read and the laid-back style made it pleasant. It wasn't a book I had to think too hard about to follow. Similarly, I liked the political angle and I thought it was going to set up some interesting scenes.
However, unfortunately, after that things began to go downhill, until I was only skimming the final few chapters. The main issue I had was the romance took forever to blossom. I was expecting Peyton and Dylan to begin their fake relationship early on and then develop, but it didn't arrive until 73%. By then my attention was waning significantly because I didn't feel any kind of chemistry leading up to it.
The majority of the book is about Peyton's paternity issues and although that side of things was okay, it wasn't enough. The story felt slow and not enough happened. The same thing seemed to be repeated and there wasn't enough romance. I didn't feel a spark and I wanted more to happen faster. By the time a relationship actually developed the book was over. I just didn't care for the characters.
Moreover, I never really connected with either Peyton or Dylan. Peyton switched from stubborn to cry-baby so often that I didn't ever really get a grip on her character. As for Dylan, he was a bit weak and underdeveloped. He was meant to be Peyton's handler but he followed her around like a puppy. He had no backbone and hardly any history or depth.
Overall, I don't know if I expected too much from this book, but in my opinion the blurb oversold it. There was hardly any romance and for that reason I was disappointed. The first half is okay, but after that it lost me unfortunately. I wish I could rate it higher but my only feeling on this book is it was okay. Others who like less romance may enjoy it, but it didn't work for me.
August 14, 2015
I love a good political plot and Red Blooded by Caitlin Sinead delivered loads of happiness! This is a coming of age story set with the backdrop of a political campaign. Peyton's mother is the United States Vice Presidential Candidate in the middle of a contentious campaign. Peyton's father was a best selling author who wrote a book about life and death as he was dying of cancer. The whole world feels as though they know Peyton even as she's trying to figure out who she is.
Most chapters in Red Blooded begin with what is supposed to be an excerpt from Peyton's father's book. It's typically an anecdote about something funny or poignant from their lives. I LOVED this part. These snippets perfectly set the scene for each chapter and kept the book moving along. And, I really felt as though these insights were critical to the story, the plot and the characters. I found them clever and moving and insightful. And, FYI (Caitlyn Sinead, I'm talking to you) - if that was actually a book written about life and dying, I would totally read it! Well done!
Dylan is a good guy, pulled from the hustle and bustle of the campaign trail (which he loves) to assist Peyton with her media and campaign related tasks. He has a heck of a time keeping her and her inquisitive nature out of trouble. He struggles with his need to be a professional political operative and his growing care for Peyton. The bulk of the story centers around a mystery over the true identity of Peyton's father. Her curiosity is peaked and she spends the majority of the book on a journey to discover the truth. Peyton is a strong, new adult, female character with poise and grace and intelligence. Her humanity and authenticity made the book come alive.
Red Blooded is a quick read, but it doesn't skimp on the character development. If you enjoy political plot lines, you'll definitely delight in this well crafted story!
An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review. The BFF Book Blog also uses a set of icons for additional ratings. Red Blooded received additional icon ratings for: angst, butterflies, character development, heroine and romance.
Most chapters in Red Blooded begin with what is supposed to be an excerpt from Peyton's father's book. It's typically an anecdote about something funny or poignant from their lives. I LOVED this part. These snippets perfectly set the scene for each chapter and kept the book moving along. And, I really felt as though these insights were critical to the story, the plot and the characters. I found them clever and moving and insightful. And, FYI (Caitlyn Sinead, I'm talking to you) - if that was actually a book written about life and dying, I would totally read it! Well done!
Dylan is a good guy, pulled from the hustle and bustle of the campaign trail (which he loves) to assist Peyton with her media and campaign related tasks. He has a heck of a time keeping her and her inquisitive nature out of trouble. He struggles with his need to be a professional political operative and his growing care for Peyton. The bulk of the story centers around a mystery over the true identity of Peyton's father. Her curiosity is peaked and she spends the majority of the book on a journey to discover the truth. Peyton is a strong, new adult, female character with poise and grace and intelligence. Her humanity and authenticity made the book come alive.
Red Blooded is a quick read, but it doesn't skimp on the character development. If you enjoy political plot lines, you'll definitely delight in this well crafted story!
An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review. The BFF Book Blog also uses a set of icons for additional ratings. Red Blooded received additional icon ratings for: angst, butterflies, character development, heroine and romance.
July 21, 2015
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I loved this book! It has mystery, politics, drama, love and many more things that made it a really unique read.
When I started reading it I had no idea what to expect, I thought there were going to be to many political plots and I didn’t think I was going to like them a lot. But I was absolutely wrong! This book has the perfect combination of genres to make an amazing read.
Peyton Arthur is the daughter of the Democratic pick for Vice President, so it goes with the territory that her life is going to be on the spot light especially after her late father wrote a book about his and Peyton’s journey from the moment he was diagnosed to the moment he dies.
So when she is doing an interview and someone questions her paternity, she doesn’t know what to say, but being Peyton she start digging for info anyway and anywhere she can, and when they keep giving her answers she doesn’t want to hear, she knows she has to find out the truth.
Aiding her is volunteer extraordinaire Dylan, he left year for a year to help with the campaign but he is put instead in charge of making sure that Peyton stays focused on school and not on digging the past.
The relationship with these two was a wonderful torture to read, just when I thought something was going to happen it didn’t! But I loved it, I loved the way their relationship progressed, it felt very real.
This book was such a nice surprise, an amazing read that I was definitely in need of!
Keep Calm and Read On
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September 19, 2015
Red Blooded is a good book, and I really enjoyed it. It is a story about a young girl who is about to enter first first year of college, and if that is not enough to make a young girl nervous, her mother is running for vice president of the United States, and that is!
Peyton is a well developed character, she is trying so hard to be a help and set a good example for young people but she is young and it is hard for her to be perfect. After a couple of incidents that come to light that are very upsetting to her, they have Dylan who is also involved with the campaign for the presidential candidate, assigned to follow Peyton everywhere to keep an eye on her, and to keep her from saying the wrong thing to all the Paparazzi and reporters following her. She can't make a move without being all over Twitter and the news.
Although overwhelming at times, Peyton does try her best and she and Dylan start to have feelings for each other, but Dylan does not want to acknowledge them until the election! However Peyton does not realize this and is upset about it. However, after Peyton learns to work with Dylan and to confide in him certain things, they do so much together rather than alone!
However the real issue Peyton has is something that happened a long time ago and secrets and lies have started leaking as they always do during a campaign, and she and her mother have to come to terms with it. Will it destroy her mother, and bring disgrace on Peyton?
The book is well written, the characters are well developed and there is a lot of twists to this plot that keep you guessing! I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I have, do not want to give the plot away so-just read the book! You will be glad you did and it is pretty true to form I think about politics!
I gave this book 4**** fabulous stars!
Peyton is a well developed character, she is trying so hard to be a help and set a good example for young people but she is young and it is hard for her to be perfect. After a couple of incidents that come to light that are very upsetting to her, they have Dylan who is also involved with the campaign for the presidential candidate, assigned to follow Peyton everywhere to keep an eye on her, and to keep her from saying the wrong thing to all the Paparazzi and reporters following her. She can't make a move without being all over Twitter and the news.
Although overwhelming at times, Peyton does try her best and she and Dylan start to have feelings for each other, but Dylan does not want to acknowledge them until the election! However Peyton does not realize this and is upset about it. However, after Peyton learns to work with Dylan and to confide in him certain things, they do so much together rather than alone!
However the real issue Peyton has is something that happened a long time ago and secrets and lies have started leaking as they always do during a campaign, and she and her mother have to come to terms with it. Will it destroy her mother, and bring disgrace on Peyton?
The book is well written, the characters are well developed and there is a lot of twists to this plot that keep you guessing! I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I have, do not want to give the plot away so-just read the book! You will be glad you did and it is pretty true to form I think about politics!
I gave this book 4**** fabulous stars!
August 5, 2015
I like it when authors get new adult stories right and Hot Blooded does that. It strikes a good balance between showing some of the naïveté that comes along with being young and the pressures, pleasures, and personal convictions that are a reality of adulthood.
A college student on the campaign trail with her VP candidate mom, Peyton is naive, but determined, and throughout the story she learns a lot about herself and what she's made of. She learns about the weight of her words and choices, the fragility of trust when the truth is given and when it's withheld, and she learns to accept that she may never truly stop mourning the loss of her dad. But most importantly, she learns about love - what it feels like to truly fall for the first time and how it's possible to find love and family in unexpected places.
Dylan is a great hero. He's a bit older, a lot wiser and just indulgent enough to meet Peyton where she is, so they can get where they need to be.
This is a well-written story with a heroine and hero with whom you can identify and a blossoming love story that's worth an afternoon of easy reading.
I received an ARC of this book, via Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review.
A college student on the campaign trail with her VP candidate mom, Peyton is naive, but determined, and throughout the story she learns a lot about herself and what she's made of. She learns about the weight of her words and choices, the fragility of trust when the truth is given and when it's withheld, and she learns to accept that she may never truly stop mourning the loss of her dad. But most importantly, she learns about love - what it feels like to truly fall for the first time and how it's possible to find love and family in unexpected places.
Dylan is a great hero. He's a bit older, a lot wiser and just indulgent enough to meet Peyton where she is, so they can get where they need to be.
This is a well-written story with a heroine and hero with whom you can identify and a blossoming love story that's worth an afternoon of easy reading.
I received an ARC of this book, via Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2015
This is the second book I have read by Caitlin Sinead. I don't usually go for books about US politics as it's something I'm not familiar with or interested in, but I liked the author's style and wanted to check this one out too.
I would hate to have been in Peyton's situation, in the limelight, stalked by paparazzi and needing to think twice before opening your mouth. Dylan isn't my new book boyfriend, I couldn't take all his political pillow talk for the rest of my life. But I still loved them. I loved the tension between them and I got caught up in their story.
The excerpts from her father's book at the start of each chapter, often got me a bit choked up.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I would hate to have been in Peyton's situation, in the limelight, stalked by paparazzi and needing to think twice before opening your mouth. Dylan isn't my new book boyfriend, I couldn't take all his political pillow talk for the rest of my life. But I still loved them. I loved the tension between them and I got caught up in their story.
The excerpts from her father's book at the start of each chapter, often got me a bit choked up.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2015
4 STARS!!!
I really enjoyed this book. I really felt for Peyton and how she was trying to manage everything at such a young age. Dylan was just the person that she needed but like all young couples (fake or not) they had to wade through everything to get to where they wanted to be. I admit I guessed part of what the twist was going to be but in a good way not in a it was so predictable way. I thoroughly disliked Bain which I think was the point. Dylan also redeemed himself after having a crappy moment. I recommend this one a lot.
ARC received from Netgalley for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. I really felt for Peyton and how she was trying to manage everything at such a young age. Dylan was just the person that she needed but like all young couples (fake or not) they had to wade through everything to get to where they wanted to be. I admit I guessed part of what the twist was going to be but in a good way not in a it was so predictable way. I thoroughly disliked Bain which I think was the point. Dylan also redeemed himself after having a crappy moment. I recommend this one a lot.
ARC received from Netgalley for an honest review.
August 3, 2015
Red Blooded was a fantastic new NA romance that kept me turning pages and dreaming of the hero and heroine whenever I was forced to put my Kindle down. Caitlin seamlessly balances romance and intrigue while giving her young heroine depth and authenticity. The chemistry is made of that pure va-va-voom that can only be captured by a story of toe-curling first love. Thank you Carina, Caitlin and NetGalley for a story I won't soon forget. -- Julie Anne Lindsey.
November 5, 2015
3.5 stars
Really well done NA romance with a political setting (in the same vein as Emma Barry's books). I enjoyed this but the romance was very slow burn which I like but I never felt as if they make this final emotional connection to be a couple. I liked that the ending was more a HFN than a HEA. It suited their ages and the overall plot very much.
Really well done NA romance with a political setting (in the same vein as Emma Barry's books). I enjoyed this but the romance was very slow burn which I like but I never felt as if they make this final emotional connection to be a couple. I liked that the ending was more a HFN than a HEA. It suited their ages and the overall plot very much.
June 15, 2015
This. Book!!! I couldn't put it down, I was laughing and enjoying myself too much while reading it. The connection and banter between Peyton and Dylan is big and so very special. Please pick it up.
Review will be up on release day!
Review will be up on release day!
June 16, 2015
I came across this book on netgalley and I thought I should give it a go because the plot sounded right up my alley. Overall, the book was definitely enjoyable for the most part and I finished it very quickly too which is a good thing so I think a lot of people will enjoy this one!
June 26, 2015
ARC Given.
Review to come!
Review to come!
June 25, 2017
you know how you can feel love through the pages? that's what you can find in this book
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