Thank you Avon, HarperVoyager, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. After reading Whisky Business, I couldn't wait to read more about the Macabe brothers and life on the Isle of Skye and Scotch on the Rocks did not disappoint! I was hooked on the first page and absolutely loved how the relationship between June and Callum developed. As their romance bloomed, we learned about June's history and understanding how it shaped the way she trusted people. We also got more insight into the Macabe family dynamics and especially how it impacted the storyline about Jim Macabe's Alzheimer's diagnosis and his care taking.
This was such a fun read and I am looking forward to the third book with Alistair, but also wouldn't mind if we got a fourth book for Heather to get her HEA. 😊

Where do I even begin? Scotch on the Rocks was an absolute delight to read! It was funny, emotional, deep, and so hot! Elliott Fletcher has a gift for banter and spice. Callum and June had perfect chemistry that I just couldn’t get enough of. I didn’t want their story to end!

I adored this book. There’s humor, there’s heart, and there’s that aching kind of yearning that makes every page addictive. I was rooting for them so hard, and when everything finally falls into place? Perfection.

Synopsis: Callum felt immediate interest in Juniper when he met her on a train, but he wasn't aware that she was his brother Alistair's fiancé. Five years after Juniper and Alistair have split, Callum can't seem to stay away from her. Juniper has decided to avoid the Macabe brothers completely, but she finds that to be quite difficult when it comes to Callum. Their friendship creates quite a stir in their small Scottish town...

My opinion: Callum and Juniper couldn't be a more perfect fit for each other! She's your classic black cat FMC, and he's such a golden retriever that she calls him Community Ken. I love a good "he fell first" story and this absolutely fits the bill. Elliot Fletcher makes you want to be friends with these characters and I was immediately hooked on this book. This made me want to move to a Scottish town and find my own Macabe brother. I highly recommend this one!!

So good! I loved how the characters grew together.. Their families were messy, but in a way that added depth to the story. I love it when a MMC pines and boy did Callum pine!

Callum and Juniper have a complicated history to say the least, but when Juniper is in need of help, and is out of options, Callum is there to provide some much-needed assistance. This sudden forced proximity gives them the perfect opportunity to really get to know one another and unpack their pasts while perfectly building tension between them, which will eventually boil over in more ways than one.

The Pining.
The BANTER.
The Slow Burn.
The demonic cat.

Absolutely loved this book. The golden retriever x black cat energy was perfect.

Thank You to Avon and NetGalley for the eARC.

The story of Callum and Juniper is complicated, has been years in the making and is perfectly slow burn. We start the story off in the past, showcasing these two throughout two monumental events in their lives before we jump to the future and to Isle of Skye where they both now live and work and try to stay out of each others way. Well, Juniper tries to do that, since she has all her rules. But Callum, not so much. And when she eventually needs his help, these two start to grow a lot closer to each other.

The black cat and golden retriever energies are so perfect here. Juniper is jaded, she's snappy and prefers to keep everyone (including her own stepmom) at least an arms length away from her and Callum has the need to help everything and everyone, even at the cost of his own wellbeing. It's even gotten to a point where he keeps stuff from his siblings in order to keep them safe and not worrying over their father. So in theory, these two should not work but they do. I loved every single moment in this book and every interaction between these two was pure gold. And the yearning? Just gimme all of that, buckets and buckets, as that was so perfect.

I also love how the author was able to weave in so much without it ever feeling too much. We got family drama, we got personal growth, we got funny moments, we got introspective moments and we got some action in there as well. And it works so seamlessly together. The love just shines from the pages and the way Callum just understands Juniper and what she needs is breathtaking. And when she starts to understand Callum and let him in, I squealed. Love, love, love. The spice in the story works so well too and the moments (all of them) feel meaningful and perfect for this couple and the way the chemistry and emotion in those scenes, it's on point. It's really a perfect blend of spice and emotional journey.

Returning to this world was perfect and I cannot wait for another Macabre brother book!

Scotch on the Rocks is from a new to me author and I am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The witty banter and steam really hit the spot.

I DNF's at 25%. It was moving too slow, and I didn't understand the chemistry between the two leads or why our black cat female lead was a so black catty. It started off strong with some great spice and chemistry, but I couldn't follow past that.

I love a good black cat fmc with the microtrope of her having a rescue cat that’s basically a reflection of her own personality😂
Okay but really this book had me hooked, the mmc is throughly obsessed with her and has been for years. He knows given she’s his brothers ex that telling her isn’t an option but being anything to her, even someone she loathes is better than nothing. These two are beyond similar and always feel like they have to prove themselves and do it alone and that’s partly why they work so well together, they take care of each other better than anyone else could because they just understand each other. I love That they handle conflict so well and even as the fmc actively pushes the mmc he sees right through her and continues to show up. I also Love that even as their romance grew the dynamic of them giving each other shit didn’t disappear, but that the fmc was able to let her guard down and show her softer side too. There is still some heavy subjects they’re working through the fmc with her abandonment issues and the mmc with all the family things going on. But the author does a really good job of weaving that into the narrative and showing how they support each other and help the other through those things.

Thank you to @netgalley for an ARC copy of Scotch on the Rocks.
I am so happy I got the chance to read Scotch on the Rocks by Elliot Fletcher. I am a big fan of her writing and enjoyed her first book. This book however, was spectacular.
Callum is a vet in a small town in Scotland who meets a beautiful girl on a train several years ago. Unfortunately, she's dating his brother.
Juniper, a black cat sort of girl, ended her relationship with Alistair only to start hanging out with Callum.
Age Gap, Black Cat and Sweetheart MC, Forbidden love, this book has it all.
I really loved the banter between Callum and Juniper and I loved watching how their relationship grew over time.
Callum was the sweetest most romantic MC I've read in a while. And what's even better is that the setting is beautiful Scotland! Who doesn't love a man with an accent???
I give this book a solid 4 stars. It was soooo good!!

Oh I loved this so much. I have to admit it took me a little bit to get past how childish they were both acting in the beginning, but once they started actually having conversations I adored their dynamic. These are two perfectly messy characters that grew a lot together and had a lot on their plates. I loved how the family dynamics were explored for both of them. I'll always read anything Elliot Fletcher writes.

Super fun read! I loved the Scottish setting and all the characters! I look foward to reading more from Elliot Fletcher

Thanks to Elliot Fletcher, my darling, and Avon for letting me read this wonderful and lovely book early. I am on my knees in gratitude!! All thoughts are my own!

Scotch on the Rocks is the second book in Elliot Fletcher’s Macabe Brothers series! I read Whisky Business almost two years ago when it was independently published, and I knew right then that Elliot was going to be one of my forever favorite authors. The way she writes her characters always gets me so invested in them. Her books are so lovely and so special to me. She’s amazing, and I LOVE HER!! I’m so proud of her and all her hard work to share these books with us. This is her first traditionally published book that wasn’t an indie book first, and I’m so emotional watching her accomplish everything.

Juniper is so relatable and wonderful. She’s tall and fierce and so funny. She spends the whole book just waiting for people to leave her because she thinks she’s unloveable. It’s this expectation that she carries with her, and I LOVE HER SO MUCH!! Her growth to knowing that she is loved and that people care about her made me so emotional because it’s such a real feeling. Every relationship she has in this book, even with her cat, was impacted by her shielding herself and waiting for the moment when they decide she’s too much. And yes, it’s a romance, so Callum fought through those walls and showed her how much he loves and cares for her, but Juniper does the work. She talks to her mom. She realizes that friendships don’t have to come with time limits or conditions. She accepts that she is worthy of love with no conditions.

Callum is also so complicated and layered! He’s taking so much on and trying to protect his siblings from seeing how the situation with their dad has developed. He cares for everyone, and he doesn’t realize that he also needs to be cared for. Juniper knew he needed someone to care for him while he was busy thinking about everyone else. Juniper sees him, and he’s so soft with her I COULD CRY. I did, actually, multiple times. They had such good banter and tension, but once they moved more towards being soft and sweet, it was amazing. Once he started asking her questions because he realized he didn’t know her as well as he thought, I WAS DONE FOR! The fact that this man hid his feelings for her because he knew she was happy and his brother was happy was so sad and so sweet. Even when he knew they were done, he was still so understanding of their history. He cared for Juniper so much, and I cried IT’S FINE. He did all these things to support her through the years without telling her just because he loved her.

The tension has me blushing and giggling. The spice is actually so hot, like at 80% they still haven’t had sex, but what they have been doing is so HOT. Callum is immediately going on my list of book partners who love to eat. They had so much chemistry, and every interaction was so charged. SHE LIKES TO BE IN CHARGE, AND HE LOVES BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO!! I’m still thinking about her piercings too cause DAMN.

I really love the way the conflict with Alistair was handled. I was expecting it to cause an issue between Callum and Juniper and a third act breakup, but they communicated like adults and talked about it. I mean they argued and fought, but they worked through it and didn’t keep anything from each other. I LOVE THEM!! WE LOVE TO SEE IT!! I love when there is no third act breakup, especially when it’s coupled with actual communication.

I LOVED SEEING MY ANGEL BABIES MAL AND APRIL AGAIN!! Since Mal is Callum’s brother, and April and Juniper are friends, I knew they’d be in this book a lot. I miss them so much, and I genuinely have to hold myself back from rereading Whisky Business like once a month.

One of my favorite parts of this book happens in the epilogue, so I won’t spoil that for anyone. But just know, that once you see what I’m talking about, you’ll know.

I am so very intrigued for the next book, even though this one doesn’t come out for a while. I will be as patient as I possibly can, but I will also be screaming about Scotch on the Rocks FOREVER!! Avon, if you’re reading this, I need the next book as soon as you have it besties!

Some of my favorite quotes:

“Falling in love with Juniper Ross felt like stepping into oncoming traffic.”

“What colour today, harpy?”

“Still hate me, sweetheart?”
“Undoubtedly.”
“Good. Just making sure.”

“Quit manhandling me unless you want my hands around your throat.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time, sweetheart.”

I was soo looking forward to this book release so it was such a suprise to get approved for it here.
I liked how we saw both Juniper and Callum briefly in the first book but from the start of this one you understand that you didnt know the depth of history Juniper and Callum had and i loved that!
It made it feel more like a standalone than part of interconnected series, which is always great.
But overall, I relate to Junioer personally a lot so it was nice to see how she let her walls down slowly but surely, and i mean Callum sure was persistent and just didnt give up on her even if it might not have been the best idea to fall for your brothers ex fiancee 🤭

I did not want to put this book down!! I was so excited to go back to Kinleith with the Macabes. I fell in love with Juniper and Callum instantly. I felt Juniper's struggle with accepting her worth and always waiting for the next shoe to drop, doing everything you can to be as little of a burden as possible in hopes that the people you love don't leave you. She was rough around the edges, but we were given such insight into why and it made me love and respect her so much. Callum was so wrapped around Juniper's finger from the get go. I loved how he found little ways to support her and prove to her that he was in this with her, that he loved her no matter what and wasn't going to abandon her. He continuously showed her that she was safe with him and that she could trust him with her heart. Their banter was so much fun, their chemistry was great, their love was tender in the way that they needed it to be, and they both dealt with complex family dynamics while growing with and towards each other. I am so glad I got to read this early and cannot wait for it's release! I am so looking forward to more stories with this dynamic family in their charming Scottish village.

Scotch on the Rocks was everything I wanted and more! Elliot Fletcher delivers a sharp, witty, and completely intoxicating story with characters that stole my heart. The banter? Perfection. The chemistry? Off the charts. The emotional depth? Hit me right in the feels. I laughed, I swooned, and I never wanted it to end. If you love a romance that’s equal parts steamy, heartfelt, and unputdownable, this one is a must-read!

Getting to return to the island of Skye and the Macabe brothers is a lot like getting to put on pajamas after a full day of wearing town pants. It's comforting, it's cozy, and I never want to leave.

Scotch on the Rocks was one of my most anticipated reads this year. I am a diehard Whisky Business fan, and I was giddy to return to this world.

I think that Elliot did an amazing job with this story. The previously-involved-with-his-brother trope has historically not been my favorite., but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was done in a way that made the story feel much more authentic. I liked how unique the relationship between Callum and Juniper felt and it wasn't constantly revolving around their previous history as his brother's fiance. They made their own connection and it felt removed from their previous knowledge of each other. Callum's decade long pining was palpable, and I thought Juniper's character development was lovely.

I was elated to see our side characters return and Elliot has a knack for crafting vivid imagery for the Scottish island of Skye. The village feels quaint and welcoming and the setting really jumps off the page.

I became a loyal reader with Whisky Business and will remain a fan of the Macabe Brothers after Scotch on the Rocks.

This was a super cute book! I really enjoyed Whisky Business and immediately requested Scotch on the Rocks after finishing. Personally, I preferred Mal and April's story over Callum and Juniper, but I still really loved it. As someone who struggles with abandonment issues myself, it was really nice to see Juniper working through her block when it came to letting others in. I really related to how she makes herself smaller so as not to push others away, and I loved seeing Callum remind her that he would love her regardless, and that she doesn't need to put herself last in order to deserve love.

Enemies to lovers is not one of my favorite tropes, so that's no fault of the author. Overall, I had a really good time reading this. I think the beginning was a bit slow, but once the story got going, it was impossible to put down. I'm really curious to know if we find out what's going on with Alastair. I hope we get a book for both him and Heather, because she deserves her happy ending too!

OH MY GOD THIS WAS AMAZING!! I ATE THIS BOOK UPPPPP, I LOVE THIS AUTHOR SO MUCH AND CAN'T WAIT TO READ MORE OF WHAT THEY COOK UP IN THEIR MAGICAL BRAIN.