What do you think?
Rate this book
Blood Relations
Six years into a 'together but separate' relationship, Simon Melville is engaged to be married. Almost. While Simon's lover is making wedding plans, Simon has yet to say 'yes'.
Following the death of his father -- a man who cut himself off from his family at the age of seventeen -- Simon is stunned when he receives a letter informing him that he is now heir to the Melville fortune and the historic southern estate known as Melville Hall.
Intent on liquidating his assets and returning to civilization as soon as the ink is dry on the paper; Simon finds his plans altered when he discovers clues to his family's past and his own secrets -- long buried -- begin to haunt him.
Can Simon resign himself to marriage? Or will he rise to the challenge of a new relationship with his handsome cousin and risk the consequences of the Melville family curse?
Following the death of his father -- a man who cut himself off from his family at the age of seventeen -- Simon is stunned when he receives a letter informing him that he is now heir to the Melville fortune and the historic southern estate known as Melville Hall.
Intent on liquidating his assets and returning to civilization as soon as the ink is dry on the paper; Simon finds his plans altered when he discovers clues to his family's past and his own secrets -- long buried -- begin to haunt him.
Can Simon resign himself to marriage? Or will he rise to the challenge of a new relationship with his handsome cousin and risk the consequences of the Melville family curse?
- GenresMysteryM M Romance
279 pages, ebook
Published July 3, 2017
About the author
Zev de Valera
8 books14 followersBorn in New York City and raised in the San Joaquin Valley of California, Zev now splits his time between Brooklyn , New York and Stratford, Connecticut with his husband, two cats and one dog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 5, 2017
Once I started reading Blood Relations I couldn't put it down.
The language is so beautiful throughout I was completely wrapped up in every conversation. The genteel, yet witty banter gave an overall tone that worked perfectly for this southern tale of secrets and revelations.
Full review on the blog soon and then here.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
The language is so beautiful throughout I was completely wrapped up in every conversation. The genteel, yet witty banter gave an overall tone that worked perfectly for this southern tale of secrets and revelations.
Full review on the blog soon and then here.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
November 10, 2017
This book was everything.
5 STARS!
This was packed with so much HEART. And that is only one of the MANY reasons why I loved this book. Every character of this story had undergone a lot of hardships in their lives. I can't even begin to describe the stories each one of them has. God, this book was...more than IMPRESSIVE. It was a historical romance extraordinaire. The GRIEF, the LOVE, the UNYIELDING HOPE, the KINDNESS, the TRUST, the COURAGE & most importantly the MEMORIES shared in this story would stay with me for a long time.
Thank you, Zev de Valera!
Thank you for sharing the characters & this very story to us. <3
5 STARS!
This was packed with so much HEART. And that is only one of the MANY reasons why I loved this book. Every character of this story had undergone a lot of hardships in their lives. I can't even begin to describe the stories each one of them has. God, this book was...more than IMPRESSIVE. It was a historical romance extraordinaire. The GRIEF, the LOVE, the UNYIELDING HOPE, the KINDNESS, the TRUST, the COURAGE & most importantly the MEMORIES shared in this story would stay with me for a long time.
Thank you, Zev de Valera!
Thank you for sharing the characters & this very story to us. <3
July 31, 2017
** 4.5 Stars **
Excellent suspenseful romance with Southern Flair!
I didn't really know what to expect, it could have been a paranormal story but it's not. Reading Blood Relations was like peeling an onion, you uncover layer after layer of secrets and lies. It has all the elements to make a great novel, there're secrets, lies, prejudice, family honor, sorrow, regrets and extremely compelling characters. There's an atmospheric quality to the book, a "je ne sais quoi" that I totally LOVE!
Diary entries (dated 1918-1921) written by one of Simon's ancestor Hezekiah Melville "Zeke " play an important role and shed more light on Simon's family history.
Some readers don't like "cheating" and there definitely is. .
While this story is all about Simon uncovering his family past and present history it's also very much about Simon's quest to finding himself. Highly recommended!
"Home is where the heart is".
Excellent suspenseful romance with Southern Flair!
I didn't really know what to expect, it could have been a paranormal story but it's not. Reading Blood Relations was like peeling an onion, you uncover layer after layer of secrets and lies. It has all the elements to make a great novel, there're secrets, lies, prejudice, family honor, sorrow, regrets and extremely compelling characters. There's an atmospheric quality to the book, a "je ne sais quoi" that I totally LOVE!
Diary entries (dated 1918-1921) written by one of Simon's ancestor Hezekiah Melville "Zeke " play an important role and shed more light on Simon's family history.
Some readers don't like "cheating" and there definitely is. .
While this story is all about Simon uncovering his family past and present history it's also very much about Simon's quest to finding himself. Highly recommended!
"Home is where the heart is".
October 16, 2017
4.5* Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
When I first read the blurb for this story, I was intrigued enough to give it a try; I honestly had no idea what to expect from the book but was looking forward to diving in. After finishing it, all I can say is this: This book was So Good! Seriously, I just loved it! While at first the story seemed fairly straight forward, the more you got into it, the more it became apparent that that wasn’t the case.
I’m reminded of a quote from Shrek about Ogres and onions; both have layers, to paraphrase, and the very same could be said about this book. While Simon is busy dealing with his new inheritance and learning about the family he never had a chance to claim as his own, a lot more is coming to light than expected. There was much more going on with the Melville family than expected; as the book progressed there were a ton of secrets and lies exposed, all wrapped up with family pride and some bad decisions that have left a serious mess in need of sorting. I found the entire thing to be fascinating and I just loved how I never knew what I was going to read next. I also really enjoyed the fact that I was learning about Simon’s family right along side him as this is all new to him as well; the journal entries of one of his relatives from around 1920 featured predominantly throughout the story and I enjoyed the heck out of them. Besides exposing more of his family’s somewhat sordid past, the journals gave the story a nice historic feel that went well with the setting and I liked that quite a bit.
The story was just…it was GREAT and I simultaneously want to keep talking about it and not talk about it at all because there’s no real way to truly encompass all the interconnected bits in a way that doesn’t spoil the story. One word of warning, however; Simon is in a relationship when he meets Dana and takes up with him but it is also understood that he and Izzy are in an Open relationship. Things do progress from just a casual fling and some can look upon that as cheating at that point and if that bothers you, be aware that this is a part of the book. While I abhor cheating in books, with the state of Simon and Izzy’s relationship at the beginning I found this didn’t bother me at all. If that doesn’t bother you though, I would highly recommend giving this one a try; I was in love with the book by the end of it and sad to see it end. This was also my first book by this author but I plan on making sure it isn’t my last!
When I first read the blurb for this story, I was intrigued enough to give it a try; I honestly had no idea what to expect from the book but was looking forward to diving in. After finishing it, all I can say is this: This book was So Good! Seriously, I just loved it! While at first the story seemed fairly straight forward, the more you got into it, the more it became apparent that that wasn’t the case.
I’m reminded of a quote from Shrek about Ogres and onions; both have layers, to paraphrase, and the very same could be said about this book. While Simon is busy dealing with his new inheritance and learning about the family he never had a chance to claim as his own, a lot more is coming to light than expected. There was much more going on with the Melville family than expected; as the book progressed there were a ton of secrets and lies exposed, all wrapped up with family pride and some bad decisions that have left a serious mess in need of sorting. I found the entire thing to be fascinating and I just loved how I never knew what I was going to read next. I also really enjoyed the fact that I was learning about Simon’s family right along side him as this is all new to him as well; the journal entries of one of his relatives from around 1920 featured predominantly throughout the story and I enjoyed the heck out of them. Besides exposing more of his family’s somewhat sordid past, the journals gave the story a nice historic feel that went well with the setting and I liked that quite a bit.
The story was just…it was GREAT and I simultaneously want to keep talking about it and not talk about it at all because there’s no real way to truly encompass all the interconnected bits in a way that doesn’t spoil the story. One word of warning, however; Simon is in a relationship when he meets Dana and takes up with him but it is also understood that he and Izzy are in an Open relationship. Things do progress from just a casual fling and some can look upon that as cheating at that point and if that bothers you, be aware that this is a part of the book. While I abhor cheating in books, with the state of Simon and Izzy’s relationship at the beginning I found this didn’t bother me at all. If that doesn’t bother you though, I would highly recommend giving this one a try; I was in love with the book by the end of it and sad to see it end. This was also my first book by this author but I plan on making sure it isn’t my last!
August 15, 2017
Good story about the past and i felt that it portrayed what it would be like to have been in love back then and not really abe to show it. Forbidden lover....
July 9, 2019
A 3.5* read.
A slow starter but did layer up, just like all the lies that unfold eventually to reach the truths.
Ends on a bit of possible HFN maybe a HEA but with loose ends still to tie up for Simon.
Simon initially appears to be a well put together guy, coming up to 40, good job, boyfriend. The potential marriage is a bit tricky but not a deal breaker at this point. He even inherits a house and a massive fortune - and then it all goes, well not wrong but not smoothly.
We get glimpses of lives lived in secret, with lies, those in the near past, those in the far past. I liked Zeke’s diary - did want to know more about after Indonesia.
Dana I never warmed to, I kept expecting him to be playing a long game and be the villain of the piece.
Joe in the cafe I thought would be a surprise addition to the mix but he did stir things up. I also chuckled at Simon’s response to his ‘what can I get y’all?’ - well said Simon!!!
Big Dana was a hovering presence never met (though the name is more a female one to me in the UK so had problems throughout with both).
Ultimately whilst lots of lies and truths are revealed (and seriously Hawai’i, at 9yrs old???? Protection of minors surely??) there are still secrets being kept and Izzy to resolve.
An interesting read. New to me author and would read again.
A slow starter but did layer up, just like all the lies that unfold eventually to reach the truths.
Ends on a bit of possible HFN maybe a HEA but with loose ends still to tie up for Simon.
Simon initially appears to be a well put together guy, coming up to 40, good job, boyfriend. The potential marriage is a bit tricky but not a deal breaker at this point. He even inherits a house and a massive fortune - and then it all goes, well not wrong but not smoothly.
We get glimpses of lives lived in secret, with lies, those in the near past, those in the far past. I liked Zeke’s diary - did want to know more about after Indonesia.
Dana I never warmed to, I kept expecting him to be playing a long game and be the villain of the piece.
Joe in the cafe I thought would be a surprise addition to the mix but he did stir things up. I also chuckled at Simon’s response to his ‘what can I get y’all?’ - well said Simon!!!
Big Dana was a hovering presence never met (though the name is more a female one to me in the UK so had problems throughout with both).
Ultimately whilst lots of lies and truths are revealed (and seriously Hawai’i, at 9yrs old???? Protection of minors surely??) there are still secrets being kept and Izzy to resolve.
An interesting read. New to me author and would read again.
Want to Read
September 5, 2017oooo cousins
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews