⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! The Scottish setting was beautifully detailed, and the banter between Juniper and Callum was so much fun. The whole “falling for your ex’s brother” thing added just the right amount of drama and excitement.

I also really appreciated the thoughtful representation of Alzheimer’s/dementia and the foster/adoption themes. It gave the story a lot of heart and depth.

Overall, it was a sweet, fun, and emotional read with great characters and a setting I didn’t want to leave.

"𝕀𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕞𝕖, 𝕓𝕖𝕘 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕚𝕥."
I don't have it in me to write a coherent review so lemme just give you a few of the pros 👌🏻

🥃 he falls first
🐈‍⬛ black cat/golden retriever
🥃 forced proximity
🐈‍⬛ ex-fiancé's brother
🥃 veterinarian MMC
🐈‍⬛ begging
🥃 top tier banter
🐈‍⬛ piercings (and not on him) *wink wink*

Thank you NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read an advanced e copy.

This was an interesting book, we follow Juniper and Callum as they pretty much fall in love. (Of course Callum has been in love with her, but we watch as Juniper falls in love with him.)

The spicy scenes were spicy, and I honestly liked the dynamic between them as they were both kinky as hell!

I enjoyed this book and am very interested in picking up the 1st book in this series.

Thank you again NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for sending me an advanced copy!

On The Rocks
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I think if we had some forced proximity here I would have LOVED LOVED it. It honestly took me probably 40-50% to be fully invested. You know how there’s this heatwave going on right now and people are putting their pans outside to warm up and then coming back to fry an egg? That’s kinda how this felt. You know it’s going to be sizzling, but the waiting felt a little meh? That was me. I knew it was going to be good, but the build up was a little so so, sorry! I loved Callum and Juniper individually for sure, but it seemed like they were doing their own thing the first half of the book. When they were together though? Flirty, witty, sexy, I couldn’t get enough. I personally just needed a little somethin somethin in the first half. I loved Callum’s playfulness in book one so I was excited to get to his story and he didn’t disappoint. He’s his cutie golden retriever with a praise kink (IYKYK 😉) Speaking of kink! The spice is spicy and delicious! I think Juniper is also a great example of someone who is closed off, scared, afraid she isn’t enough, but not mean. I felt like she still gave off this warm glow that just drew you to her. Dual POV, still in the perfect small town, and a playlist! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
•
“This woman had broken me a long, long time ago. Hairline fractures that could be patched and melded. Covered with grins and charm until I resembled something semi functional. But now…she’d completely and utterly ruined me.”
💜
This is the second book in the series! The third book focuses on third brother Alistair. I’m going to be honest, he isn’t painted in the best light in either book BUT the little more we saw of him in book two I’ll bite.
•
Thank you Elliot Fletcher, Avon and NetGalley for this e-arc, it’s out now!!

Started out fun and chaotic, but quickly lost interest. Unfortunately, I got bored around a third of the way through. I swapped between the audio and ebook.

Audiobook narrator for the MMC has an accent, which is super fun. It’s dual POV and dual narrated too.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced copy!

That was fun! After reading Whisky Business, the first book in the Macabe Brothers romance series, I eagerly awaited its follow-up, and I wasn't disappointed. Even though it took me a few chapters to get reacquainted with the characters, I quickly fell in love in Juniper and Callum's story set among the sites of the Isle of Skye. While this is a spicy, open-door romance, it does address deeper issues such as abandonment and dementia. Read if you enjoy: female grumpy-sunshine characters, Scottish settings, spicy romance, open-door scenes

Scotch on the Rocks was such a fun, swoony read! Callum and Juniper are pure golden retriever x black cat energy, and their chemistry is chef’s kiss. The banter is sharp, the tension delicious, and the pining? Top tier. I’m always here for a man who's fully obsessed—in the best way—and Callum delivers. Loved watching Juniper’s icy exterior melt as she started to trust him. It’s the kind of romance that gives you all the feels while keeping it spicy and funny. Definitely a great pick if you’re into opposites attract and protective Scottish men.

3.75 stars

I felt that even though it was one of the tropes I enjoy, I just could not like love love the book. I loved the setting and premise and that is what kept me stuck with the book.

Elliot Fletcher can do no wrong in my eyes. Just like with Whisky Business, Scotch on the Rocks is funny, smart, and wildly sexy. The tension between these characters is palpable, and I devoured the book in a little over a day. Can’t wait for more!

I am so obsessed with this series and even more obsessed with this grumpy/sunshine duo. I loved every second of watching these two find their way to each other, and was equally enamored with the way they ultimately found themselves. Reading this series makes me want to move to Scotland and that is one of my favorite things about it!

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH.

The YEARNING this book delivers is chefs kiss. Callum and Juniper are a perfect match. I truly melted every time Callum was describing Juniper. You can tell how in love with her he is straight after meeting her. This man also had to spend years pining after her just hoping he would one day be able to have her. I just adore this couple so much. I could read 50 more books of them just being happy and cute together.

When Callum Macabe met Juniper Ross he never imagined how intertwined their lives would be.

Juniper has three rules:
1. Don't look at a Macabe brother
2. Don't talk to a Macabe brother
3. Don't even think of a Macabe brother

A forbidden love with her ex's brother is a slow burn that has a layered plot arc and plenty of secondary characters to add to the story.

Once engaged to his brother Juniper will need to sort through her feelings about Callum because all these years later...he secretly wants her. Will he give in and risk the family fall-out?

A story that centers around a family that would do anything for each other if they could get past the secrets and fear of not leaning into each other for support.

Note the content/trigger warnings

Spice is spicy with a little "tie me up tie me down" vibe

Looking forward to seeing which sibling happy ever after is next!

4.25 stars

The banter is brilliant. It's dual-pov, and at first, I loved Callum, but the more the romance progressed, the more I disliked being in his head. In the six years since the break-up, Callum has apparently got over any guilt or caution regarding his feelings for June and gives absolutely zero f**ks about pursuing her.

After having her heart broken by one Macabe brother (Alistar) and being humiliated by another (Callum), Juniper Ross has created her own rule book: don’t look at, talk to, or even think about a Macabe brother. But when Callum keeps popping up everywhere—especially when she’s at her most vulnerable—it’s hard not to imagine just how good breaking a rule might feel.

Scotch on the Rocks was such a fun read!! Callum and Juniper are a classic golden retriever x black cat combo, and their chemistry is off the charts. The pining is just perfection and you knowwww I love a man who’s obsessed, he would literally do anything for her! I also loved Juniper’s cool exterior and how her soft side was revealed as she began to feel safe with Callum. The Scottish backdrop of the Isle of Skye was the cherry on top!! I want to book a trip there immediately!

read if you like:
🐈‍⬛ black cat X golden retriever
🗣️ dual POV
❤️‍🩹 frenemies to lovers
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish settings
🖤 age gap

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This was my first Elliot Fletcher book and I thoroughly enjoyed it!! Unfortunately I didn't realize this was book 2 in a series when I started, but will go back asap to read book 1!

Scotch on the Rocks by Elliot Fletcher

Book 2 in the Macabe Brothers Series (can be read as standalone)
Out on KU, paperback, and audio

💙 Black cat x golden retriever
💙 Ex-fiancé’s brother
💙 Remote island in Scotland setting
💙 He falls first
💙 She’s the boss in the bedroom (and he loves it)

🎧Dual narration by Rebecca McClay and Russ Bain
• This was an incredible audiobook to listen to!! If you are an audio fan, I highly recommend this one. The accents were so fun to listen to and brought the Scottish setting to life!! Rebecca and Russ captured Juniper and Callum so beautifully, and I was completely invested in the story and performance from beginning to end!!

Bottom Line review: I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK. Infinity stars. READ IT.

Full Review:
CALLUM AND JUNIPER!!!!! God I miss them already! These two were so unbelievably fun and charming. Please let the record stand that Black Cat FMC x Golden Retriever MMC is my favorite trope, and if I needed to give any person an example as to why, this book would be Exhibit A. Elliot is a true genius when it comes to evoking emotions with her writing. I was HOOKED and immediately a mess just from the prologue! I am truly a sucker for a man who yearns, and Callum could honestly win the award for perfecting the art of yearning in a way that is both desperate and hot AF. His POV chapters were one long continuous swoon from me. And Juniper! My sweet Juniper. So prickly on the outside with so many soft feelings within. I LOVED HER and want to protect her at all costs. This book was so beautifully written with so much emotion, and yet it was also so FUN. The banter and teasing between Callum and Juniper was so addictive and flirty, and honestly these two were just f*cking hot. They were dripping with chemistry, and the spice in this book will not leave you disappointed. Juniper is a woman in charge and Callum couldn’t be happier.

This book. This series. These characters. All so unbelievably good, and a book I will continue to shout about endlessly!!

I enjoyed Scotch on the Rocks very much. I loved the black cat/golden retriever dynamic between our two main characters. Collum has been in love and pining for Juniper for a long time since he first met her on the train eight years ago, and before he knew she was his brother's fiancée. Now that Juniper and his brother are no longer together, Collum wants a chance with her. Meanwhile, Juniper is unsure whether she should date her ex-fiancé's brother. I love the romance where the hero falls in love with the heroine first and worships her. When the hero and heroine finally get their HEA, it is so much sweeter.

But I wish I had read the first book in the series because I felt that I was missing some information. Juniper and Collum are from the same small town on the island, and Juniper and Collum's sister have been friends since childhood, but Juniper and Collum have never met, and didn't know each other until the fateful night on the train. It was confusing. Other than that, the book can be read as a stand-alone.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series and revisiting the characters I've met in this book.

This is a fun, spicy romance with a prickly lady and the golden boy brother of her ex fiance she should stay far, far away from.
I loved the banter between Alistair and Juniper; it constantly had me laughing out loud. I loved watching Alistair take care of Juniper, even when she fought him tooth and nail about it, then get all soft and mushy when she was there for him when he needed support.
I thought the chemistry was on point. I loved all the relationships between all the side characters.
This was compulsively readable; I didn't want to put it down. While this is book 2 in this series, you don't have to have read the first one, but I loved this one, and already own the first one, so I'll be moving it up on my TBR.

I struggled a bit with the pacing of this one in the beginning. I found Alistair's chapters to be unnecessary in getting the point across. The timeline jumping was confusing, but definitely figured it out after about 30%, so stick it out!

Aside from being a bit long, this was a great listen!

We love a down bad MMC and Callum was the poster boy for it.

I know the rule is “don’t fall for a McCabe brother” but, that’s a little hard to do when that McCabe brother is Callum. Like with the first book in this series, @elliotfletcherwrites absolutely hit it out of the park with Callum and Juniper’s story. Thank you @avonbooks (my loves) for the early review copy!

This story is all sorts of delicious from the forbidden aspect (she’s his brother’s ex fiance) to the forced proximity of Kinleith, Scotland to the absolutely perfect black cat:golden retriever dynamic between the two.

Callum is the most down bad, pathetically in love man who has been pining for Juniper from afar for years. The way he’s always been a little protective of her, a little (lot) infatuated with her, and feeling all the guilt for it made him exactly the kind of man I love reading about.

And Juniper, my grumpy gal. She’s got a prickly outer shell as a way to protect her soft inside and keeps everyone at arms length. She was such a perfect match to Callum’s overall sweetness and golden boy persona. She gave him so much hell and he took it, happily and with a smile on his face.

Their dynamic was fun to explore. It can be hard to write a brother’s ex story where you don’t feel a little bad for the brother but, in this case, Juniper and Callum were right person, wrong time from the very beginning. They were so clearly meant to be together and Juniper was so clearly meant to be in the McCabe clan, just with Callum and his kilt instead.

I love this world that Elliot has created. It’s lush and fun and is the perfect small town, but make it Scottish. I am so excited to fall in love with the rest of the McCabes and know that, if I ever need a man who will be the definition of “if he wanted to, he would”, Elliot’s who I will call.

Get ready to fall head over heels in love with these dummies, Juniper and Callum. Their attraction is so palpable, and Fletcher does an amazing job building their emotional connection beyond their off-the-charts chemistry. I loved getting back to their community of friends and loved ones, and learning more about their hometown in Skye. Definitely share this with your "caledonophiles"! (People who love Scotland; yes I had to look that up.) I'm itching for more from Elliot Fletcher!!