This was a fun, fast paced, and addictive thriller. It was a great mix of political intrigue, love story, obsession, and madness. ⁣ ⁣ The multiple POVs were great but I found the main characters to be very immature, impulsive, and acting like love sick teenagers instead of grown up professionals. I felt irritated by their personalities and their behaviors but I could not stop reading. ⁣ ⁣

If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, then this is it! The backdrop of a brutal sickening crime but with a satisfying end. It’s an absolute page turner which will keep you hooked. The story is raw and fresh and characters are really well-developed. Enjoyed it!

In Seattle, Washington, Harris Cox is running for election in 2018 to be a U.S. Congressman, and his father, U.S. Senator William Cox, has been orchestrating his son’s life to lead to this time. The win of this election. The win of the beginning of his son’s political career. Fifteen years ago, the Senator’s dream for his son was almost crushed, but thankfully, at the most crucial moment, his son was wise to call him first. Harris has followed each step of his father’s guidance, even the steps that infringed on his personal happiness with Cleo. The race is close, and every step must follow the plan, with the election only a month away. The plan to win! The intrigue for me began as soon as the title captured my attention and the delight of introduction to an author that I had not previously read. Opening the book, I was delighted by the “Table of Contents” showing that a “Prologue” would introduce Harris and Cleo 15 years ago and then continue in succession from a month to different weeks to different days leading up to the election as I love that format and it was also clear a 3rd POV of a woman named Thalia would add another dimension before the election. Power. Intellect. High Stakes. Calculating Risks. This is not a poker game; this is life, but for some, life is a game of winning, having it “my way.” Who will succeed? There are twists and turns, junctions, and detours, and choices are made at each twist, turn, junction, and detour. Right or wrong? I loved the suspense, the unexpected, and the choices I wouldn’t even think of, and together, they made for a page-turning thrill ride from cover to cover. It’s a powerhouse of a stand-alone, but I’m excited by the possibilities that will come as this novel begins a new series.

This gripping psychological thriller dives deep into Cleo’s tumultuous life, revealing the aftermath of a single, life-altering mistake. With well-developed characters and a plot full of unexpected twists, the story keeps you hooked from start to finish. The complex web of lies and deceit makes for an engaging read, perfect for fans of suspenseful, thought-provoking novels.

The more I think about this book the more confused I get. Not in a bad way, just I can’t decide how I felt about it. While reading it, I was intrigued and anticipating what would happen next. I was on the edge of my seat and I truly wasn’t sure what I wanted to happen next. Maybe I’m a happily ever after kind of girl, maybe not. But I didn’t necessarily connect or have any leanings toward any of the characters, because they were all “villains” in one sense or another. I’m rating this book a 4 because of how it kept me on edge and invested and the plot moved quickly. That said, in hindsight, I’m not sure I truly liked the book. I didn’t love the ending, but I don’t know how I wanted it to end or what would have made it “better” to me- maybe it ended exactly how it should. I’m afraid that I think too much for these “thrillers,” so maybe they’re not for me- I like to feel something for some character and I didn’t here. I think anyone who loves the twisty, slightly chaotic, borderline (or beyond the line) mental illness/obsession genre will love this book.

This book was about a lot of people behaving very badly without a thought for anyone else but themselves. Throw in a dose of delusional, psychotic metal craziness and you have a perfect receipt for a great thriller. This book keeps you turning pages just to watch all the characters spiral out of control. There is a feeling of real-world intrigue and a couple of political figures whose depravity and crookedness are spot on and know no bounds. The story built the suspense well with a main character you really like to dislike. I kept wanting to see what Cloe would do next. The ending was a shocker because they all came out smelling like roses. I think this was the only time I was not happy to see the MFC get her HEA, but that is what made this book so good. I did take away one star because there was no character who was good, and I wanted at least one decent person to root for within all the badness. Well done!

Those books that you can’t put down, even though it’s a stressful scene, even though you know something is about to happen. This is one of those books. I enjoyed the Kinsman and was very happy when the author asked if I was interested in reading this book. One event changes everything for Cleo and Harris. One event sets them each on a path that will forever alter everything. Obsession, lies, deceit, love and infatuation are all present in this book and I could not put it down. While the ending wrapped up the immediate questions I had the teaser of the next book has me asking more. This novel is dark and twisty and definitely gives Fatal Attraction vibes. Holly writes in such a way that you can’t help but keep going to see what secret, what twist is coming next. I am looking forward to reading Holly’s next book.

Read this psychological thriller in three nights. The story opened brutally with a sickening crime. I wanted to stop reading, but was already hooked. Good character development, especially the pathology of Cleo and of Harris’s father. Lots of twists and turns, but clues are dropped in all the right places. Enjoyed this story and it’s ending, but it left me longing for justice for the original victim.

Related by Blood by Holly Sheidenberger revolves around Cleo and Harris. As the story foreshadows, can one mistake destroy your life? It did for Cleo. Cleo hopes that her undefined relationship with Harris, the son of a U.S. Senator, will finally become official. But their plans are interrupted by a shocking accident. I’m not sure how I feel about this book. There was no real reason for them to leave the scene of the accident, other than to preserve Harris’s supposed future political career. But I guess that is the crux of the storyline. The characters were good, some you rooted for, others you despised. There were good twists and the story shows how power and greed can corrupt and how people treat each other. Overall, it is a good read and one I would recommend.

The author has crafted a narrative that is not only a page-turner but also a profound exploration of how a single mistake can ripple through the lives of everyone involved, with devastating consequences. “Related By Blood” is more than just a thriller; it’s a haunting tale of loss, desperation, and the lengths to which people will go when driven by guilt and obsession. If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that will get under your skin and stay with you long after the final page, “Related By Blood” is a must-read.