I absoultely LOVED the first book in this series- so the bar was set high for this one. When I tell you that Elliot NAILED this one- she freaking NAILED it yall. I LOVED Callum and Juniper. The tabooness of her being previously engaged to his brother. The fact that he has been pining after her for YEARS and has now finally decided he is done hiding his feelings. The lingering looks and questions they asked of like are they feeling this too? Juniper being a true black cat and using her claws when she has any type of feelings. I loved this setting once again. I LOVED the accents in the audiobook- they just helped bring the scene to life for me. I loved how Callum had this reputation in June's eyes that was ultimately wrong. That he had been trying to not acknowledge these feelings he had for her until he no longer was. Watching June recognize that there really was something between them was great. But ultimately I loved how much they supported each other. They were legit opposites on paper- our black cat with the town golden retriever, but they worked. The chemistry was legit electric. Watching June let her walls down and getting a peek of the mushy center was nothing short of GLORIOUS. She had such a huge heart- it had just been blackened so many times that she wanted to protect it. The spice was GLORIOUS- I liked the role reversal there- IYKYK.

Juniper has decided to finally take the plunge. She is going to do some redecorating ideas that she has been dreaming of for the B&B her and her mom run together. But of course things don't go her way and now she has found herself having to call Callum Macabe. Which breaks all of her Macabe Brothers rules which now only apply to Callum and Allistair. See June has a history with these men. One had her heart and broke it, and one was on the precipice of something and rejected her. Or at least that's how she sees it. But she pulls her big girl pants and asks Callum for help. Why does he have to be so insufferable and good looking? How can one man create such feelings in her? How did she agree to him showing her around the island and getting together with him for his help. How is she supposed to act around him with all of this energy running around them. How is she not supposed to kiss him when he looks at her like that. How is she not supposed to wonder if she was with the wrong Macabe Brother all those years ago. How has she gone so long without feeling this way with a man- so in control and worshipped at the same time. How will the conversation go when they tell his family. How is this so complicated. And how has she lost control of the situation and still is all in. Because now that she has been with Callum there is no going back. She is his and he is hers. She will have it no other way.

Callum has been down bad for his little brother's ex for YEARS. He fell in love with her the first time they met before he realized who she was. And years later when they had a chance he walked away because he recognized that he wanted MORE from her than what she could give him. But now it has been YEARS, and he is ready to shoot his shot. Which is how he finds himself offering his services as a handyman if she agrees to go on 4 outdoor dates with him. He just wants a chance to show her how great they could be together. He sees how she looks at him. He knows what is in that look because it's how he looks at her. But she is so closed up. So jaded. Which is why Callum likes poking at her. He likes getting her to react and getting her fired up. The more time he spends around her the more they come close to crossing the unwritten line that is there. The line that he is oh so willing to cross, but he doesn't want to do so until she says. So when she says YES, he is beyond ready to jump. And now they are doing this thing. She is so much more than what she shows the world. He is beyond honored that he is getting to see this side of her. He is beyond honored that she has chosen him. Now he just has to figure out how to keep her without messing up his relationships with his brother. All while making sure she recognizes that he isn't going anywhere without her.

I felt so much reading this one yall. I laughed out loud. I LOVED how much Callum liked to poke her. How when he saw her not acting herself he poked her so she could get back to her natural state of annoyance around him. I loved June. She was such a prickly woman but if you were in her club she was like a mama bear. I loved learning more about her past and why she was the way she was. I liked that we finally got to meet Allistair in the flesh. But most of all I loved the LOVE these two had for each other. And how RIGHT it felt. Their spicy scenes had me 1000% blushing. And looking around to make sure my volume wasn't too high in my car HAHA. I loved learning about Callum and how he had mastered the front of acting like all was well when really he wanted someone to love him. I can't recommend this series enough!! This was a wonderful follow up to book 1. I am PUMPED to see where else Elliot takes us in this world. I found myself trying to figure out who Allistair is going to end up with- any thoughts on that??

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book is the Golden Retriever/Black Cat story you need. I ate it up. I liked Whisky Business but I loved Scotch on the Rocks.

Honestly, I knew I would. Older brother with lil brother’s ex, plus an age gap. I was hooked. And he is so gone for her the whole time. Blessedly, you get his POV too.

This was a character driven story with spicy right out the gate and then it slows down and builds you back up.

The slow down in the story at the beginning was a bit of a hiccup but I didn’t mind since you just know he’s enamored with her and we will get there.

I LOVED it.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A charming read full of witty banter, second chance romance, and small town vibes with memorable characters!

This story had me hooked from the first chapter and only got better and better with every moment. The chemistry between June and Callum was so well done! I appreciate the pacing of the book and how the relationship between the two main characters didn't feel rushed or flimsy. There is a history between them that I enjoyed learning about throughout the storyline.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book!

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year! Huge thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of the book.

I was a little apprehensive going into this one, especially because I knew Elliot Fletcher wasn’t going to turn Alister into a villain. That made me curious and slightly anxious to find out what really happened between him and Juniper, and how long Callum had been interested in her. From the very beginning, Callum and Juniper's chemistry was undeniable, and I’m always a sucker for a good black cat/golden retriever trope.

My only wish was to have seen a deeper development in their emotional connection. We saw great character growth for Juniper, but I would've loved to see more of that between them as a couple. That said, the physical attraction was intense and hot so I can't really complain, and the glimpse of her opening up to him throughout the story was enough to enjoy them as a couple.

I never stop recommending the first book, and now I have another one I’m really excited for people to read!

I love this book. It’s sexy, very funny, moving, grounded in its sense of place, and just—well—yummy. It’s easily the best contemporary romance I’ve read this year.

Callum Macabe met Juniper Ross on a train from Edinburgh to Glasgow and fell for her before he realized who she was: his younger brother Alistair’s girlfriend. Two years later, after her adopted father died and her engagement ended, they crossed paths again in Glasgow. They nearly slept together. Callum pulled away, convinced she would never see him as more than the consolation prize.

Another year passed. Then five more.

Now Callum is back on the Isle of Skye—temporarily, or so he keeps telling himself. He’s the village vet, the man who can stitch up a sheep before breakfast and still remember your dog’s name. But he’s really come home to help his mother care for his father, whose Alzheimer’s is worsening by the day. He hasn’t told his brothers or sister how hard it’s gotten. He doesn’t want to bother them. That silence isn’t noble; it’s isolating. And the longer he stays, the harder it becomes to pretend he doesn’t want more—from the town, from his family, and especially from June.

June, now thirty, helps run the Ivy House Inn and avoids Callum with a precision that suggests practice. They fight whenever they speak—sharp, absurd, often hilarious arguments that have become their signature. Everyone in the village sees the chemistry. They refuse to admit it. June grew up in foster care and learned early not to count on anyone. Even now, with a loving adoptive mother and neighbors who clearly care, she keeps herself apart. The drumbeat in her head says she’ll always be the one left behind. The book never reduces that to backstory. It’s baked into her instincts, her pride, her refusal to ask for help—even when she’s drowning.

When her mother leaves on a singles’ cruise, June finally starts the renovations she’s long wanted—but nothing goes smoothly. The inn springs leaks, the bills spiral, and June tries to handle it alone. Callum offers help in exchange for something that looks like companionship but smells a lot like courtship: trips around Skye so she can better recommend the island to guests. She agrees. Not because she wants his company. Because she already has it, whether she admits it or not.

This isn’t a “grumpy/sunshine” pairing. June isn’t grumpy. She’s cautious, private, and deeply self-reliant. Callum isn’t sunshine. He’s charming, yes, but it’s a charm built to keep people from looking too closely. She’s exhausted by pretending she doesn’t care. He’s exhausted by pretending he doesn’t need anything. What makes them work isn’t contrast—it’s recognition. They know what the other is hiding because they’re hiding the same things.

When June and Callum finally touch, it’s not tender. It’s reckless and hungry and long overdue. They don’t ease into it—they lunge, all sharp edges and pent-up wanting. It’s not clean or careful, but it’s exactly right for who they are and how long they’ve tried to pretend it wasn’t going to happen. The sex is intense, but what makes it unforgettable is what’s underneath: years of resentment, longing, and the terrifying relief of finally giving in.

Callum’s family—especially his father’s decline—is handled with restraint and precision. His refusal to ask for help is maddening, but entirely in character. When his siblings finally find out how bad things have gotten, they’re furious. Not because they’re hurt, but because they were never given the chance to step in. The novel allows that anger to breathe, which makes the eventual repair feel honest.

The past with Alistair isn’t erased. It mattered. When he shows up after six years, it’s not a plot twist—it’s a reckoning. He isn’t a villain, and he isn’t excused. He’s a man who left without explanation and now wants answers he may not be entitled to. The confrontation is emotionally thorny, and the resolution is exactly what it should be: not easy, but final.

The village of Kinleith is beautifully drawn—lush without being twee, full of gossip and charm and the kind of quiet community that doesn’t always ask nicely but does, in the end, show up. The sense of place is real. It never tries to sell you on a postcard version of Scotland. It lets you believe these people live here. You understand why they stay.

June has a rulebook. She wrote it after her heart got broken:

Don’t look at a Macabe brother.

Don’t talk to a Macabe brother.

Don’t even think about a Macabe brother.

She breaks all three.
And thank God she does.

Callum and Juniper were such an amazing slow burn. Callum has pined for Juniper for years, but then, he found out she was engaged to his brother. Years later, she is not engaged to his brother anymore, and he has been doing nice things for her and doing anything to be around her. He is 9 years older than her, but she is the one in control. She makes him beg for it, but he talks her through it. It's so spicy, and the dual POV adds so much to the story.

Callum is a veterinarian and Juniper is helping to run her family's hotel. She is definitely a black cat, and his golden retriever vibes led him to yearn for her. He is so down bad for her, and he loves when she is mean to him. He calls her harpy, but he also calls her sweetheart. He likes to cuddle with her. She is hesitant to get involved with him because of her past with his brother, but she takes a chance and falls for him.

I loved that this is the second book in the series, and I'd recommend reading the first book too. It helps with getting to know the characters and the world building.

The brilliant thing that Fletcher does here is make all of her stakes based in the character's emotions--which makes them feel incredibly real and grounded. She spends a lot of attention on Callum's need to please and Juniper's fear she will never be good enough, and it makes the whole arc of their relationship feel important and leaves the reader highly satisfied with the ending.

Thank you to HarperAudio Adult, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the advanced audio and e-book copies! I’ve had the first book in this series on my TBR for a while, and now I really wish I had read it sooner—because this one absolutely delivered.

Scotch on the Rocks was such a fun, well-balanced mix of humor, romance, and spice. I was genuinely surprised by how quickly I got into the story and how much I enjoyed both the writing and the audiobook narration. The chemistry between Juniper and Callum was so good—flirty, tension-filled, and heartfelt in just the right ways. Also, bless this book for skipping the dreaded third-act breakup!

This had a little bit of everything I love in a romance: a hint of forced proximity, a soft second-chance vibe, a sprinkle of fake dating if you squint, and a fantastic “dislike-to-love” arc that was really just Callum being obsessed with Juniper from the very start (which I’m always here for).

My only small wish? I would’ve loved to dig just a little deeper into the emotional backstories for both Juniper and Callum. It was there, but I’m greedy—I wanted even more! That’s really just me being picky though.

Now I need to go back and read the first book, and I’m crossing my fingers we get two more installments (hello, other siblings 👀). Can’t wait to see what comes next in this series!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
🐈‍⬛ 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.