⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
🐈‍⬛ x 🥮

This was … okay. It would probably work better for other readers better than it did for me.

Juniper has learned her whole life how she’s unwanted - years in foster care, abandoned abruptly by her fiancé- and her entire personality is black cat. Maybe she doesn’t realize that the cat she adopted named Shakespeare is exactly her? Doesn’t see that she’s worthy, unwilling to trust anyone or let anyone in and bites back at anyone who shows her kindness?

Callum Macabe has loved her for years, but put his feelings aside when his brother claimed her. Honestly, his POV was the only bright spot for me. He shows a lot of self-deprecating humor and there were a few laugh out loud moments.

Their entire relationship seemed to be based on sex, especially for June. I didn’t feel the chemistry. There was a whole lot of “tell me” instead of “show me”.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC and ALC. All opinions are my own.

LOVED THIS. Ex’s brother? Yes please. This was sweet as well with all the family dynamics to work through. Callum and Juniper were so good together and complement each other so well.

I was really excited to read this book after reading the first in the series, Whiskey Business.
While not needed to appreciate the story, I liked that I had read the first book as I already met Callum and June, and liked them separately in the first book.
I thought this story did an excellent job of going through family struggles, dealing with loss and finding who you are with someone else. I appreciated the banter, the buildup to friendship. Sometimes enemies to lovers have the main characters being unlikely enemies but this book really made you feel how much June didn't want to like Callum and I appreciated her ability to make the reader feel their tension.

This was my first book by Elliot Fletcher and a true delight! This book is part of a series, but can totally be read as a stand alone.

Callum fell hard for Juniper 8 years ago when he met her on a train, only to find out that she was dating his brother and then went on to be engaged to his brother. Years later, they are both living in their hometown. Juniper is in need of help renovating her family inn, and of course, Callum is the only one that can help. The forced proximity blooms into a beautiful relationship.

The banter between these two is witty and fun. They bring out the very best in each other. They are better together than apart.

The author does a great job of bringing the Scottish countryside to life. I wanted to hop on a plane!

Scotch on the Rocks became one delightful surprise. It's a gorgeous medley of swoons, yearning, angst, laughs, and triumph. All led by two very wildly lovable protagonists, Juniper and Callum.

After having her heart broken by one Macabe brother, the last thing Juniper needs in her life is to fall for another of the Macabe brothers. Especially the one who irritates her day and night. But some things are easier said than done...

I easily loved both Juniper and Callum. They have such contradicting personalities that you'd think they wouldn't mesh well, but as it turns out, they balance one another perfectly. Juniper is introverted and self-isolating. She prefers to do all she can on her own before asking for help. She is independent and self-reliant, and as admirable as it is to see her strength manifest this way, it also leads to cracks in her armor. Cracks Callum desires to patch up. Extroverted, out-going, and open-faced, Callum for all his wisecracks and light-heartedness is determined to be the helping hand Juniper needs. In turn, Juniper sees through the shiny armor he wears to the heavy burden he carries beneath it. A burden she steps forward to shoulder, to show him exactly what he shows her: they don't have to go at it alone. It's so comforting to watch the strongest of characters tend to their vulnerabilities not to erase them, but to face them.

Juniper and Callum complement one another so well. With their opposing personalities, where one's weakness is found, the other's strength can mend, allowing them to support one another in the moments they most need it. One of the highlights in experiencing the Juniper and Callum relationship develop is witnessing how electric their tension is. Between they playful banters, their simmering bickering, their special names for one another, they gravitate towards one another even when they don't mean to. Whether they are on each other's mind or their feet walk them right up to the other. They are wholly inevitable. The tension builds and builds and it's almost addicting how you want to keep that tension going, but it's also so fantastically satisfying once the the tension explodes and lines are finally crossed. The emotional and physical intimacy between our leads is wonderfully developed and fortified.

Now falling for an ex-partner's sibling is a trope I tend not to care for, but Scotch on the Rocks is a perfect example in making the trope not only work, but shine. The history between Juniper and Callum's brother Alistair is indeed a hurdle but it's one well met, so once overcome it feels absolutely right. I appreciated how the past feelings between Juniper and Alistar were real, not something that could easily be skirted around. The feelings were real, but so was the hurt. And even though he's a Macabe brother and bound to be a future protagonist, I also appreciated how the narrative did not leave Alistair blameless in character. While he is clearly a good person, he's also shown to be a very human one with flaws. Overall, I was very satisfied with how the resolution of Juniper and Alistair's history is done, allowing a very clear path forward between Juniper and Callum. You will want to root for that relationship wholeheartedly.

While it took me a bit to warm up to this one, but once I did, I completely melted for it. What a truly fun ride!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for this advanced complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily. 4.5

I'm not sure what Elliot puts in these books but my goodness I am smitten every single time
The setting, the banter, the
kilts. I may be perusing flights to Scotland now. In the beginning of this book when Callum and Juniper first meet you can see just how much she peaked his interest. I love that we see how their feelings (albeit one sided for a bit) and their relationship ebbs and flows through time. While Juniper boldly "hates" Callum, behind the scenes Callum is doing everything he can to make sure things are going smoothly for her and her families Inn. And that's the type of caretaking I love to see. The secret but proud, not loud and braggy, but so so helpful.
The thing I loved most about Callum and Juniper was their vulnerability with each other. Callum made Juniper feel so safe in her femininity and gave her the space to be soft with him. And Juniper did the same for him. She gave Callum the space to accept help from those around him.
This is truly the story of two people being absolutely there for eachother and that's really something I needed right now. Thank you to Elliot and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to ARC this.

This is the second book in The Macabe Brothers series. Callum fell for Juniper eight years ago, but she was dating his brother—and even got engaged to him—so she became completely off-limits. Now Juniper is back in Kinleith to help with the hotel while her mom is on vacation, but the place needs serious repairs… and only Callum can help.

These two already caught my attention in the first book—their chemistry was undeniable.
The beginning really pulled me in, but after a while, things started to feel a bit repetitive. There were plenty of events, but not much real plot development, in my opinion. The focus leaned more toward physical attraction than building an emotional connection between the characters.

Still, I really enjoyed the remote Scottish island setting, the humor, and I was happy to see the characters from book one again.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:

✓black cat/golden retriever
✓ex-fiancé’s brother
✓enemies to lovers
✓age gap
✓hero falls first
✓slow burn

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager (Avon) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Everything from the meet cute on the train to the epilogue was perfect. I honestly don’t have anything bad to say and, admittedly, I’m a picky reader.

This is an ex’s brother, ✨kind of✨ second chance, small town romance that focuses on a funny, kind hero who tries to be everything for everyone (classic oldest sibling syndrome 🙋‍♀️) and a prickly, but secretly soft heroine that has her heart locked away and encased in barbed wire.

A few things I loved:
* The Supermarket Sweep reference 🛒💨
* The Banter 💬❤️
* Black Cat 🐈‍⬛ / Golden Retriever 🦮 vibes
* “I’m a vegan!” 🐄💩
* Shakespeare 🐱
* I guess I have a respect kink???
* Hank & Ada
* Simon the therapy rabbit 🐰

I can’t say enough about Callum Macabe. I think I love him. He’s my favorite kind of MMC: falls first and hard, respectfully relentless, funny and can dish sass right back, and is overall just a good dude. And don’t forget, NOT a player. I want my man ✨obsessed✨ and Callum delivered.

He’s pined for years - YEARS - for Juniper. Through a relationship and eventual engagement to his younger brother, to the years Juniper spent healing from heartbreak, and through her hesitancy toward him once she finally started caving, he stuck it out. He knew she was his from the moment he laid eyes on her, it just took her a minute (oh, only a decade-ish) to figure it out.

Their banter made for the perfect foreplay and tension that fueled the spice 🔥 Callum knew just what to say to get Juniper to play with him. I am such a sucker for a man that sees a woman’s comedic deflection for what it is and can bring out their true personality. Also a little switch-y?? Usually not my thing but okayyyyy 🥵🪭

Juniper was such a dynamic character. She kept her heart at a distance, scarred from years in the adoption system, but craved love that had staying power. I have read so many books with a similar FMC structure and something was just always missing. Juniper’s character development hit all the right emotional growth points for me. So well done.

Don’t even get me started on how the family “drama” on both sides helped move the plot along, not bog it down. This review is already too long.

This was the first book I read in the series, but Mal and April’s characters were so cute, I’m 100% reading that and sticking around for Alistair and (I’m assuming eventually) Heather’s stories. The Macabe’s have me in a chokehold.


The Basics:
Veterinarian 🩺 // Inn Manager 🏨
1st Person Dual POV
Standalone, 2nd in “The Macabe Brothers” series
HEA 🖤 + epilogue
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5


Thank you to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🤍

I'm really disappointed. Compared to the first book, this was a letdown. I understand that this is an ARC, but by this point, the book is already published in the UK and is out in early July, so I doubt that the edits needed to be made to this will be made given the publishing timeline. It's very disjointed and sloppy, and reads like it's an unfinished manuscript. Very disappointing from someone whose last book was so beautiful and easy to want to read. I didn't want to put Whisky Business down. I struggled to not put this down. There was so many juvenile sentences that were split in half that could've just been full sentences that I haven't seen the likes of since I beta read for a man who definitely had a lot more things to rework than he did before he published his several books within a six months time period. That man was also a brand new author who had never written before. Fletcher is not, and thus my harsh criticism of the book. She was amazing with the pining in Whisky Business, but she doesn't do enemies to lovers very well. It was more of a slow burn, I felt, as well, with the tension simmering yet nothing happening due to their mutual disdain for one another for so long, even despite their growing feelings. That made for a boring slog through the book as there wasn't too much of a real plot otherwise. I guess I just had my hopes up too high with how much I loved the first book. Unsure if, after this letdown, I'd continue with the series.

A witty and sweet Scottish romance. Juniper and Callum have known eachother for years, in fact, Juniper used to be engaged to Callum’s brother. This spicy enemies to lovers romance is exactly what you’ll need to get you out of a reading slump. Callum is a complete golden retriever and you won’t be able to resist him!

They said, “bring back male yearning,” and Elliot Fletcher said, “hold my scotch.”

Good gravy, this story is brimming with pining, emotional edging and desperation so severe it’s nearly sexual. Damn. Everyone deserves to be loved and obsessed over the way Callum loves and obsesses over Juniper. The needy, growly, possessive way that Callum feels for his brother’s ex is primal, decadent, forbidden, and oh so perfect. He’s one of my favorite contemporary MMCs I’ve read this year (oh and did I mention he’s Scottish). The chemistry is nearly unmatched.

As for Juniper, I love her so much it hurts. She’s a black cat type with armor so sharp a glance will cut you. She’s witty, snarky, sexy, and real. Innumerable heartbreaks have left her a little insecure, which she hides behind a frozen heart. But holy smokes does Callum melt her into mush. I’ve never felt more strongly about characters being soulmates.

Oh, and speaking of edging, this book is somehow both slow burn and smutty at the same time and HELP because whatever witchcraft was needed to achieve that balance had to have cost someone their soul. Incredible witting, pacing, character development, and plotting.

Between their steamy and amusing fighting, emotionally torturous tension, and hilariously disastrous “dates,” these characters completely won my heart and I’ll be thinking about their love for a long, long time.

I love the setting of this book—Isle of Skye is such a gorgeous place & deserves all the books set there. I didn’t find this love store very believable—the instant lust, enemies to lovers trope, coupled with the brothers ex-fiancé just didn’t hit all the notes for me. I did enjoy her writing and would try again this trope combo wasn’t for me.

3.75 rounded up!

i liked this more than whisky business. i felt like the banter and tension were extremely well done, and i just couldn't wait for the mcs to get together. big black cat x golden retriever vibes as well as yearning, nicknames, and a fun clan of found family. also kilts! this was so much fun and i can't wait to read more from this author.

once i started reading this i COULD NOT put it down :)

thank you to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for this arc!

Thank you for the opportunity to read Scotch on the Rocks! I was really looking forward to reading the second installment as I loved Whisky Business so much, but ultimately I’m leaving a little disappointed. I did not find myself caring about either character or where their stories went, and the plot of their relationship just didn’t work for me. I still enjoy this author’s writing and plan on reading future installments, but unfortunately this was a miss.

i thought i could read this without reading the 1st book but now i want to go back and read the first book. i liked this!!

This book was the perfect mix of laugh-out-loud funny and seriously steamy. The banter had me grinning like an idiot, and the chemistry between the characters was chef’s kiss. Every interaction crackled with tension, humor, or heart—sometimes all three.

If you love your romance with a good dose of heat and humor, this one absolutely nails it. I devoured it in one sitting and didn’t want it to end.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
* He falls first
* Enemies to lovers
* Brother’s ex-fiancée
* Longing and yearning for years
* Golden retriever x Black cat
* Slooooowwwww burn but it hurts so good 🤭

Thank you to NetGalley, Elliott Fletcher, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

First, I want to love say I ADORE the names of the FMC and MMC. Just their names alone and the setting made me immediately want to read this book. I enjoy the dual POV, especially from Callum’s, as it really adds to the longing he’s had for her for so long.

Their hate flirting and banter back and forth is so hot and I love how they quickly retort each other with wicked burns so often. They infuriate each other with their attraction and that they don’t think they can have what they want together. Their barbs whenever they’re around each other have me giggling and rolling my eyes simultaneously.

When they finally see their genuine selves and give in to their attraction, it is exactly how they’ve been towards each other the whole time. She controls all of his thoughts, and he enjoys it in the bedroom too. She consumes him and he’s utterly infatuated and captivated by her!

The fairy pools was incredibly sweet and steamy and gave me hope that they were going to give it a go together. They explored each other both emotionally and physically after so long ago they almost went all the way. I was so happy to see her enjoy it and want to kiss him more instead of regret it.

Her thoughtful date was so kind and considerate. She is thinking of him now just as much as he’s always thought of her. I liked to see her get softer and more secure in herself as she began to accept her feelings for him, and HIS strong feelings for her.

So when he doesn’t give her a chance to figure things out about Alistair at the party, I still understood why. He’s waited so long for her and his patience just snapped seeing them dancing together. His declaration of adoration for all parts of her were so brutally raw and honest and my pulse was leaping to see how she’d react, hoping she wouldn’t turn him away.

And then when she in turn explained her own truths, and seeing how much it hurt him to hear how much she was hurting? I think Callum is my new book boyfriend and I just wanted to put up a sign saying “Choose Callum” this whole book! That chapter had me in tears because of their open admissions to each other were so heartfelt, so full of emotion and desperation to finally feel loved by each other. He gave her the validation she needed, especially about that night in Glasgow when he turned her down the first opportunity he had with her.

Every time he calls her wee harpy, I melt. I want a dirty talking, kilt wearing Scot like Callum to talk dirty to me like this! Their first time was incredibly detailed and so sexy. I love that she is so in charge, even if it is still a bit of give and take for them both. He’s just such a goner for her. It’s as if they are the perfect example of the invisible string theory. Honestly, their first time together was one of my most favorites that I ever read! I love them together and how well they fit each other. Their wit, their emotional care for their well-being, how observant they are of each other is just couples goals, and I swooned while reading the last half of the book. I love his playful nicknames for her and how she retorts with vicious teasing and bite, while still being so flirty and unserious. Their attraction to each other is so intense and sexy, so their emotional connection makes it even better by the end of the book.

I loved the honesty and care that Fiona gives to her. Juniper needed to hear that love and care for her directly from Fiona, and things just keep clicking into place for her finally. It was so deserved; I really love her character and relate to her as I too have felt this way in the past with my family and friends. That affirmation from both Fiona and Callum at the end of this book that she is loved, valued by them, and that she matters was so beautiful and emotionally poignant.

My only wish for this book was some more flashback to if and when they interacted while Juniper was with Alistair. And maybe explain why it took 5 YEARS after Glasgow for them to get together. That is a long time to wait for someone, and I would have liked to see or hear a little more of that. But thankfully, patience clearly paid off for Callum 😉

Oh, and I cannot wait for Alistair’s book next (I hope! 🤞🏻)

Big thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing for a copy of *Scotch on the Rocks* in exchange for an honest review.

As much as I loved Whiskey Business, I LOVED Scotch on the Rocks. The black cat x golden retriever trope was done so well. Callum, literally spots her on a train and falls in love with her and then finds out that she's his brothers fiancée (now ex-fiancée) and was still pining for her. Since the beginning, the banter was so good. Her being in charge, him whimpering, crawling, BEGGING. Callum is the type of man that will literally walk on the cement on the hottest day of summer, barefoot, just to get a glimpse of Juniper. Juniper, who uses sass and snark to hide that she's been hurt, felt unloved, and let down a lot that made her very relatable, to me. I'm glad that her growth (and Callum's) was executed so well. Also, Callum helping Juniper with getting out more and exploring the isle that they live in, made me feel like I was there and even made me want to look into a trip there. I'm glad Mal and April had a big presence in this book along with the rest of family, you can't forget Shakespeare who resembles Juniper so well, I'm glad the relationship between them developed as well. I'm excited to see read what happens with the family in the next book.

Scotch on the Rocks is the second book in the Macabe Brothers series. Jaded Juniper, single after breaking off her engagement years ago with the middle of three Macabe brothers, is tasked with running her family’s bed and breakfast while her foster mother is away on vacation. A plumbing disaster strikes and who is the only man available to help Juniper in her time of need? Her polar opposite, Callum Macabe, the sunshiney, eldest Macabe brother. We learn that the pair have a history of ill-timed attraction but that Callum has faithfully held a torch for her over the course of almost ten years in spite of her history with his brother and their vastly different personalities. The story unfolds as Juniper and Callum work through old wounds and the pair come to terms with their growing feelings for each other.

Overall, I liked this book! My favorite part was that the reader gets full pictures of both Juniper and Callum’s personal histories and present realities. Much of Juniper’s black cat nature comes from parental abandonment as a child and abandonment by her fiance when her foster father died in her adult years. Despite Callum’s “Community Ken” reputation - he has exceptional community relationships and is known for being helpful and friendly to all - Callum’s demanding father is currently suffering through a dementia diagnosis. Callum feels responsibility to care for him as the eldest son and to help his struggling mother, filling his already full plate to overflowing. Knowing these things about the main characters provided richness and depth to a story that could have easily become boring or trite.

I did read the previous book before this one and can say that this novel was leaps and bounds more memorable. I had honestly forgotten that I read the other one. I would recommend this book to romance readers who like black cat/golden retriever, grumpy girl/sunshine boy, or Scottish romances. The book wasn’t necessarily life changing for me, but it was very entertaining. Worth a read, for sure!

After Alistair Macabe broke Juniper's heart by ending their engagement, Juniper created a set of rules. Don't look at a Macabe Brother, Don't talk to a Macabe Brother, Don't even think about a Macabe Brother. What seems like a clear cut set of rules, is impossible to follow. Juniper's best friend is the Macabe Sister, her other best friend is dating a Macabe, and the older brother of her ex? Lives right next door. So I would like to add another rule for Juniper, throw the first 3 rules out the window because Callum Macabe? Girl, he's coming for you and you aren't ready for it.

I absolutely loved Scotch on the Rocks. Elliot Fletcher has a great way of helping you connect and root for each character. Their backstories and development are all things many people can relate to. I for one, related to Juniper feeling as if no one would actually choose her, and related to Callum with having a family member with declining mental cognitive abilities.

Not only was this a wonderful story, but as a bonus the spice is A+

Perfect for fans of Whiskey Business, small town romance books, and who have a thing for Scottish men.