Anthony Hamilton has a reputation of being cold, feared and in control, and thinks himself incapable of feelings because of his abusive childhood at the hand of bullied at school.
Evangeline Spencer is a woman not cowed by any man, not even the dark and brooding lord Hamilton. When she needs protection, he comes up with the plan of a fake engagement which will benefit them both.
Although I liked the plot, I felt there was A LOT of snapping, yelling and shrieking in the book. Evangeline seemed angry all the time. She snapped at Anthony, she snapped at her beloved sister - it could’ve been toned down a little, or actually a lot. It gave the story an even darker vibe, after Lord Hamilton’s ominous background. I understand that Anthony had a awful time at school and was beaten up. It wasn’t specified what exactly happened, but although that was horrible, I felt it didn’t justify him viewing himself incapable of love, just because of that. I like a dark, brooding hero but I would have liked to see both the hero and heroine grow as a person, overcoming their inner turmoil and evolving towards a better and happier human being.
I would have liked more sunshine in the book, so to speak, as a counterpart for the heavy mood and all the darkness. The three aunts trying to direct Anthony’s life were hilarious, as are Anthony’s friends Toby and Jamie, who only encourage them even more in their quest to find him a wife. Despite these wonderful secondary characters they didn’t succeed in lifting the overall mood of the book to keep me entertained and happy. Maybe somebody else might totally like the book but I felt it was missing something.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wow wow wow!

Another brilliant story from a wonderful author..

A sullen,angry hero
A fiesty eldest daughter, who would do anything to keep her family from shame.

Lord Anthony Hamilton a man with a mysterious childhood.
Along with his two best friends, he has a dark childhood that has shaped his present

Evangeline Spencer who does what she has to, to make sure her sister gets her season and her house is run smoothly.

Together they decide on a fake engagement to stall his aunts from marrying him off because he needs an heir, as he falls in love so does Evangeline, but darkness and evil lurks in the shadows..


Yet another brilliant book.. Cannot wait for more.

Brother of Sin is Wendy Vella’s latest book, one that shares its universe with the Deville family - we are even treated to a few scenes with the incomparable Dimity (yay!). The story is about Lord Anthony Hamilton, an earl that inspires fear in most of society, and Miss Evangeline Spencer, a feisty, almost on the shelf, debutante. Evie and Anthony have many secrets, and they clash at nearly every turn until they decide that a fake engagement is the answer to their problems. Evie is headstrong, smart, and resourceful and the perfect foil for Anthony. Anthony is a broken man who has hidden his true self from all except his two best friends and three indomitable aunts. Along the way, their fake engagement becomes something more, though they both fight against it, kicking and screaming the whole way. As with Ms. Vella’s other books, I was quickly invested in the characters and loved their love story. There are many facets to the story - serious childhood trauma, scheming suitors, a hidden identity - that make this book a great read. I am already waiting for book two. I read this book as an advance reader copy.

A delightful romantic story. I like both main characters. The female lead was strong, smart and kind. The storyline was nothing new but I enjoyed it nonetheless the less.
I will be adding the second book in the series on my want yo read list.

If only we all had 3 loving aunts like Anthony does. They are a great addition to a great story. Evie has such a strong personality that she’s constantly clashing with Anthony. When trouble is brewing, they finally realize that they love each other but there are still secrets getting in the way. Highly recommend. Another great read by Wendy!

I so love this author’s stories! She has a way of weaving a tale that has just enough angst to keep your attention, the perfect amount of romance and wonderful, wonderful banter-which this story has in spades! I felt for Anthony and his two friends and found it interesting that , although they faced the same abuse, each came out with different attitudes. Anthony not only built walls , he fortified with cement and thorns to keep almost everyone out. Evie is a “pitbull”, doing all she can to protect, provide and placate her family. The villain is rather obvious from the first, but what his issue is , is very serious and could have been very scary, except for the way the author handled it. I absolutely adore Anthony’s three aunts- reminding me of the three fairy godmothers for Sleeping Beauty, Strong, silly and safe! This is one well rounded, enthralling story and I am totally in love with Anthony and Evie. Their chemistry is just beautiful. Toby and Jamie are great friends and can’t wait to see their story! Lovely read!

I received this story for free and these are my own views.

Lord Anthony Hamilton carefully cultivates his reputation as a ruthless rake who strikes fear in those he meets. Abused as a child, he is loathe to feel any emotions except when it comes to the aunts, who saved his life. When his beloved aunts encourage him to marry and add the “on-the-shelf” Evangeline Spencer to their list of eligibles, Anthony immediately crosses her off the list. His previous encounters with the indomitable Evie had not gone well. But when an old enemy of Anthony’s sets his sights on Evie, Anthony’s noble protective instincts emerge. Anthony and Evie contrive a fake engagement to relieve the pressure on them both. But will forced proximity lead to the real thing? This story is a terrific beginning to a new series and I highly recommend it! This book was provided by the author without any requirement for a review, positive or otherwise. All opinions are 100% my own.

The book is the first in the series and is a worthy composition of a broody and complicated hero as well as a prickly not-straight-forward heroine. The story is gripping and full of action (water accidents, kidnapping and financial peril) as we are used to from earlier works by Vella. The secondary characters drive the story along and Toby is already nicely set up for the second installment.
It is also refreshing that the heroine is not easily likeable and that the story timeline develops over months rather days or weeks. It makes it more believable as well as balances out the pace between action and reflection.
There is one hot scene towards the end of the second third of the book.

Looking forward to the following installments.

Thanks to netgally for the arc. Opinions are my own.

This is the first book in the new series The Blackwood Brotherhood. It is an interesting enemy to lovers, fake engagement story.
Evangeline and Anthony have taken an instant dislike to each other. He had a troubled childhood, and she is trying to keep her family afloat financially. When she is threatened by a would-be suitor, Anthony proposes a fake engagement.
The chemistry between them is interesting, there are wonderful secondary characters, some who are evil, a strong plot, and several twists throughout the story that make it a very enjoyable read.
I cannot wait for the next book in the series!