Callum and Juniper have to be one of my most favorite couples of 2025. He’s the golden retriever and she’s the black cat.

Shout out to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the copy of this book!

I loved Whisky Business so I jumped on the chance to read this. This book is the PERFECT amount of banter. I’m a very sarcastic person myself and I felt seen by Callum and Juniper’s relationship. The tension and longing was chefs kiss. There is a fine line between hate and lust and this sure showed that.

If you love banter, reverse grumpy sunshine and golden retriever mmc’s this is the book for you.

Ahhh this was so fun I really enjoyed this with that little forbidden aspect and the tension. Our MMC is down bad and we just love a down bad MMC so much

I love this author. I have read a lot by this author and have loved every book I have come across. I was sucked into this book from the first page and wished I had more story to read.

I absolutely fell in love with April and Mal in Whisky Business, and was delighted when the series got picked up by trad publishing. There was something magical in the writing, especially the setting and characters.
Scotch on the Rocks is the second book in the Macabe brothers series. Juniper and Callum’s banter was wonderful, I love the black cat X golden retriever trope, so I really enjoyed them opening up to one another. While I enjoyed the overall story, I did feel as if the pacing didn’t work quite well for me.

This is an ARC review. I want to thank Elliot Fletcher and Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me the chance to read this book ahead of release day! This book started out a little hard to read with the flow of the plot. I felt as though there was a lot of dumping information but missing vital pieces of information to piece it together for a better flow. But it was extremely easy to get into Juniper and Callum’s messy love story.

Juniper and Callum have a banter and tension love story at its finest. They are absolutely hilarious pushing each other’s buttons like in grade school. Between Callum’s hero complex and Juniper’s determination to do everything by herself, it caused for a lot of head butting.

I loved that this story provided two strong main characters that had no issue getting on their knees for each other. Literally. This was a good story like with minor spicy scenes which really just allowed you to fall in love more and more with their love story.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this arc! I loved loved loved the first book of this series, but sadly didn’t feel quite the same intensity with the MC’s chemistry here.
I still love Fletcher’s writing style and enjoyed the setting and secondary characters of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t know what to expect going into this book. I’m not the biggest fan of the brother’s ex trope but the witty banter and down bad Scot from the previous book in the series made me hopeful.

This book follows Juniper and Callum. Juniper is trying to prove to her adoptive mother that she can be trusted to renovate and run the family inn while avoiding her ex’s brother who she definitely has a crush on. And Callum, being the Macabe he is, is down bad and hard core crushing after Juniper (and has been since a chance encounter on a train before he knew she was dating his brother).

I wanted to like this more but it felt like there were a lot of different things at play with the brother’s ex, Juniper’s trust issues, Callum’s need to take care of everyone, and also their arrangement exchanging renovation work for dates. Some strands would be dropped and then picked up multiple chapters later in a way that I kind of forgot that they were happening. To be completely fair I was a little distracted while reading this but it still felt jarring at times.

All in all a good and fun read especially if you enjoy banter as flirting. I did love their dynamic and how the relationship progressed. Also who doesn’t love a cat named Shakespeare?

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read an eArc!

I was so excited to dive in since I've reread Whisky Business a few times and it's become a comfort read for me. I'm glad there are some bits of Mal and April through out Scotch on the Rocks too! Unfortunately, I don't think Callum and Juniper's relationship is on the same level as Mal and April's.

Firstly, Callum begins to develop feelings for Juniper while she is dating his brother. He continues to have these feelings for several years. But why? We only get two brief flashbacks and those didn't convince me that there is a connection between them. It seems like Callum just noticed she was attractive one day and then becomes obsessed with her after she turns him down. It would have been nice to have some extra flashback chapters so we could see more of their interactions and how these feelings progressed over several years.

I didn't mind Juniper but sometimes her attitude was a bit much. I understand she's been through a lot but her sassiness got old pretty quick.

Then you have Callum who really enjoyed messing with Juniper and getting a rise out of her with all the banter but that also became annoying pretty quick. Some bickering here and there I could handle but a good chunk of the book they were just provoking each other. Again, it didn't convince me that they like each other.

I did like the things going on outside of their relationship. Like Juniper running Ivy House and her interactions with April and Mal. Also, Callum being a Vet and seeing him navigate his family issues.

Of course their relationship gets better by the end but I wasn't really rooting for them like I was with Mal and April. I still love the writing and the setting. Despite me not completely feeling this couple, I will definitely continue with the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this arc in exchange for my honest review!
This was too freaking cute. From the nicknames they had for each other, to the gorgeous setting on the isle of Skye, loved every second of this book! Already planning on reading the 1st in the series and I’m excited to see what’s next!

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an engaging read! I enjoyed the plot and would read it again.

Shout out to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC to review this early! I was so excited for this one, I absolutely loved the first book but I just knew Callum was gonna be my favorite and it looks like I was right 🥰
The ex boyfriend’s brother trope is one of my absolute favorites and I think that it was done really well here! Callum has such big golden retriever energy. As the oldest McCabe brother, the literal weight of the world is on his shoulders and i absolutely loved watching him let Juniper take care of him. And Juniper is such a goth baddie, i could not get enough of her. I love both of them together, and they were SCORCHING 🥵

I cannot wait for Alistairs book :)

"There was a reason people languished in the known, a favourite book read over and over; a movie recited line for line; the same out and raisin cookie every Monday morning. The familiar held no ugly surprises."

This is all too true with the second installment of the Macabe Brothers. Once again, we are treated to a grumpy/sunshine romance (though she is the grump), lovely prose about the island of Skye, and spice that kind of takes over the plot. Which is great! It was good the first time, and it is great again the second time around. The cartoon clinch cover tells you exactly what you are looking at with this book: a whole lot of spice, a deep sort of love where he fully falls first, and a whole lot of Scottish-based fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Callum, a veterinarian in a small town in Scotland, has one big problem: he's in love with his brother's ex-fiancée, Juniper. When Juniper is forced to return to her hometown, she realizes she needs to renovate her family's inn but can't afford it. Callum ecstatically offers to help her financially, forcing the two into an unlikely partnership. But with undeniable sparks flying, will they be able to keep the arrangement platonic, or risk everything they are working for?

I loved this! Juniper was definitely prickly & struggled so much with abandonment issues and opening up emotionally. I found her to be very relatable & I loved seeing Callum break down her walls by making her feel safe. Additionally, I loved how she encouraged Callum to accept help, so he wouldn't feel so alone. The banter in this book was INCREDIBLE. The sass that Juniper brought to the table perfectly complemented the sweetness that Callum provided. This man was so down bad for Juniper, quite literally crawling after her, and i ATE IT UP. The setting for this book was incredible too, I felt totally immersed in the story. The spice was incredible, the romance was believable, & the character building was very strong! I recommend reading the first book in this series first, because you can get even more connected to the setting & characters. I can't wait for more in this series!!

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

✨black cat fmc & golden retriever mmc
✨age gap (9 years)
✨brother's ex-fiancée
✨forced proximity

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you so much to Avon/ Harper Voyager, Netgalley, & Elliot Fletcher for an ARC!! 🫶🏼

I have never read a book where a man has simped more for a woman than the man in this book did. I fear he has set unattainable standards for all MMCs going forward.

I think this book definitely improved on the first in the series, and explored a different dynamic than the first book. I also just appreciate that there’s history with both couples in the first book and in this book - I think it adds to the depth of their feelings and the believability of the pace of the romance. Callum is quite literally the perfect man and even further than that, the perfect man for Juniper - he is exactly what she needed as somebody with a massive chip on her shoulder and a lack of faith that she is lovable. That man is so down bad for her, has loved her since he laid eyes on her, and it was deliciously agonizing watching them both find their way to each other through taunts and barbs and banter.

Not to mention the DRAMA, because Juniper was previously engaged to Callum’s brother. We also got further exploration into Callum‘s father’s Alzheimer’s and his struggle to support his parents while maintaining boundaries for himself as a caregiver. That poor, sweet angel man just needed somebody to take care of him while he was taking care of everyone else.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book, I thought it was super solid, and I am very interested to read the next book that I believe will be about Alistair because that man does not seem well right now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance copy to review!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This enemies to lovers romance will leave you sweating!

Juniper Ross has a set of rules when it comes to the Macabe Brothers: Don’t look at a Macabe brother, don’t talk to a Macabe brother, and don’t even think about a Macabe brother. But it’s easier said than done. No matter how hard she tries she can’t escape the pull of Callum Macabe, her ex fiancé’s older brother. When he keeps popping up to her rescue it proves hard to follow her rules.

I loved the fun banter between Callum and Juniper. It was fun and witty and really kept me hooked. Both Juniper and Callum are dealing with a lot and it takes awhile for Juniper to let down her guard. It’s so fun to watch Callum break down her walls. I really liked them together, and I appreciated their honest conversations. There is no third act break up (thank God), and while there is a hiccup that pops up they talk about it. I was curious to see how the fall out of their relationship would play out when Alastair (her ex) becomes aware of the relationship. I really appreciated that Ms. Fletcher did not shy away from the messiness. It’s not a perfect resolution, and I expect we will see more of the consequences in the next book in the series, which I’m here for.

All in all, it’s a fun read with witty banter and a lot of spice.

A gorgeous book that had all the charm and complexities of the first one in the series. Would recommend and the characters had fantastic chemistry

I fell in love with this small town in Whiskey Business, and this follow-up made me fall even harder. There is something about Elliot Fletcher's writing that just captivates me—the banter in this one is next level, and the underlying emotional journey that our MCs go on really tugged at my heart. Plus, who doesn't love the taboo trope of ex-fiancé's brother?

This story revolves around Juniper, former fiancée to Alistair Macabe, and Callum Macabe, Alistair's older brother. Without giving too much away, there's missed opportunities & lots of pining but now, years after Juniper's engagement has ended & she's settled back into her small town, Callum is finally ready to make his move. Callum & Juniper have this teasing/flirty banter that is infectious. As they both get to know each other, they start to realize that they aren't as different as they sometimes seem. Their contentious back & forth is their foreplay & I just adored their relationship.

Juniper in particular has a rich backstory, being adopted and never feeling settled or truly worthy of love. Callum, the golden retriever he is, shows her what unconditional love is & what it looks like when someone shows up. Her journey in particular really tugged at my heartstrings & I just loved her.

Callum is swoony, sexy & just a big old softie. He has no problems getting on his knees & crawling for Juniper. This is a slow burn but worth the wait. Throw in some family drama when Alistair comes back to town & this story has all my favorite elements.

I am loving this series & can't wait until we get to see Alistair's story!

🏡 Small Scottish Town
❣️ Ex-Fiancé's Brother
💖 He Falls First & HARD
🐈‍⬛ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
💋 Age Gap (8 yrs)
☀️ Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
💕 So Much Pining
✌🏻 Dual POV

This is the first book I have read by Elliot Fletcher and let me just say I was missing out. I knew once I picked up this book I would not be sleeping. Based on the description and tropes I KNEW this book would be perfect for me. I have to go back and read the first book. 10/10 recommend!

Oh this was so good!! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, I have been waiting for it since the end of book #1. Loved it!