DNF
Callum just gave me the ick. The way he acted in the beginning was ... not for me.
And don’t even get me started on his nickname for Juniper, I just couldn't do it.

I enjoyed this book just as much as I enjoyed the first book in the series! They are classic contemporary romances set in a small town in Scotland and I really enjoyed the shift in culture in these books as well as the romance storyline! I love an edgy FMC especially with a golden retriever MMC so this book was right up my alley. I would recommend reading this series and I am genuinely looking forward to the next book.

Scotch on the Rocks by Elliot Fletcher had me wishing I could drop everything and just hop on plane to Scotland. The story follows Callum who is and has been in love with Juniper. There's just one problem, though: she's his brother's ex-fiancé. And Juniper knows Callum is off limits, but the annoyingly good looking small-town hero has her reconsidering all the rules she swore never to break. Y'all the waterfall scene sill has me blushing!

Spicy: 3 peppers

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**


Callum is down bad for our black cat girl Juniper. The way this book started was perfect and it led to the perfect slow burn. The flirting was perfect and Juniper was finally seen.

There’s so much tension in this book and it’s so well done. You can tell how much Callum and Juniper want each other, but one of them is very reluctant to admit it. Loved seeing the growth between the two main characters.

This book hooked me. it was spicier than the title/art led me to believe and I am okay with this. I did not read the first book but didn't really feel left out of the plot. I do want to go back and catch up on some things because I like the characters and want to hear their story.

The FMC and MMC really pulled me through this because I was invested from the jump. Some things did feel disjointed and I'm hoping it's just the ARC but I did have to scroll back a few times for weird book physics things like "when did he move to his knees", "wasn't her leg just..." overall it was fine but I was gaslighting myself at some point over their positioning.

I was a little iffy on the big proclamation and how it came about but I'm going to just chalk it up to how this couple functions. Factually, I was super entertained and breezed through this story.

Thank you so much to the author Avon/Harper Voyager and Netgalley for this ARC. I attest that I am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.

probably needed a hug, fell in love with Callum & Juniper instead 🥹💗

I don’t know what it says about me that I could probably recite this book from beginning to end atp, but there’s just something /so hot/ about Callum Macabe willingly (read: eagerly) spending 300+ pages on his hands and knees, yearning for his brother’s ex-fiancé 🙂↕️

I genuinely do /not/ know how to move on from this book (prepare to be sick of me!!) bc the banter, the pining, the deep softness of it all!! It’s just 😙👌

Not to mention the fact that the golden retriever mmc x black cat fmc is arguably the best (!!) couple combo, and I think there was something even more special about the dynamic it created with Callum and Juniper in this book!! Juniper desperately needed someone loyal and steady to show her that not everyone will leave, while Callum needed someone strong to offer him the space to be soft and unburdened for once 🥺🫶🏻

I’m just gonna leave it at that (for now 🤪), bc I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you only take one rec from me this year, pls let it be this one!! (and bonus: if you read Whisky Business, Mal & April are sooooooo fun in this one 🤭)

rating: 5/5 ⭐️’s
release date: june 5th ☀️

thank you sm to avon for providing me with an arc in exchange for a review 🫶🏻 giving y’all a giant virtual smooch on the forehead for this one!

⭐️
🔥🔥🔥

Quick Breakdown

He Falls First & HARD
Ex Fiancé’s Brother
Age Gap - 8 Years
Small Town
Set in Scotland
Black Cat x Golden Retriever
No 3rd Act Breakup
Slow Burn
Dual POV
Open Door - Moderate

After falling head over heels for Whisky Business, I blindly dove right into book two, Scotch on the Rocks after shamelessly begging for an ARC. It was 1000% worth it. This book bewitched me, body & soul, right from the first line of the book.

The tropes here are 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗳’𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘀. He falls first is one of my favorite tropes of all time & this one goes straight to the top of the list. Callum is GONE, on this knees for Juniper from the very first page & I ate it up. How patient he is for her. Their playful banter as Juniper slowly fell just as hard for Callum. The nicknames 🫠 PERFECTION.

Callum & Juniper play the black cat x golden retriever trope in a way that had me addicted. Callum, the flirty little golden retriever meets town golden boy & Juniper, the jaded realist who happened to have adopted the grumpiest black cat. There’s even some delightful light power play that I really quite enjoyed 😉

Elliot knocked it out of the park with the taboo-esque ex fiancé’s brother trope. Between the pining & the 6 year gap between brothers, Callum & Juniper felt right & inevitable.

I could wax poetic or mindlessly ramble for hours about how I love this book. Thank you @avonbooks for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Scotch on the Rocks releases July 8th. Add it to your TBR now!

BIG FAN of this one! I didn't realize it was a second book in a series, so I do need to back track a little, but overall you're okay if you go in blind. There is so much banter and a bit og a slow burn. I really liked the black cat fmc / golden retirever mmc dynamic.

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I absolutely ate this story up. I hadn’t read the first book in the series, so I am absolutely going back to read it- if it is as good as this book! The banter was great and the characters were very relatable! Who doesn’t love a good whimpering for her Scottish man?!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Loved book 1 in this series and I wass so excited to jump into book 2. It was a great enemies-to-lovers, ex's sibling romance. I loved the banter between the MCs. I had lots of good angsty feels over their love story. Book 2 did not disappoint. Love the little world that Elliot Fletcher has created. Can't wait to get the audiobook when it comes out to enjoy those Scottish brogues.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and I’m stoked to say that it lived up to all of my hopes!

Juniper is the definition of black cat energy (although her pet cat is even grumpier than her to hilarious ends) and Callum is the epitome of down bad. If you thought that Malcolm from Whiskey Business was the king do yearning be prepared because he had nothing on this story. Years of pent up emotions and tension and a man with a protective streak a mile wide? Yes please. Gimme 14 of em.

The tension between these two? The banter? The back and forth and slow burn!? It was impossible to put down and I can’t recommend it enough.


Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for this advanced copy of Scotch on the Rocks.

Overall: 4 out of 5 Stars

Scotch on the Rocks tells the story of Callum, brother to Mal from the first book, and his love of Juniper, their other brother’s ex.
Brothers Ex isn’t my favorite trope, but it can be done well, and I think this book toes the line. It’s a hard line when the brother will eventually be a main character in the series. But I think Elliot Fletcher handles it well by giving Juniper’s past depth and understanding as to why she was so hurt by her ex, without ruining the ex for future storyline.

I really enjoyed the banter of this book. Callum and Juniper are vicious to each other in great ways. My only critique is the instant love. It makes for great sappy moments for Callum confessing, but we never really get why Callum fell for June so instantly. Especially since she had been Heather’s friend since they were kids? Why did he instantly fall for her later? Besides that I really liked the book and give it a solid 4 stars.

AMAZING!!
In this enticing Scottish romance, opposites collide with undeniable chemistry between Juniper Ross and the captivating Callum Macabe. Juniper, steadfast in her rules to avoid the Macabe brothers, finds herself irresistibly drawn to Callum, despite the forbidden allure. As sparks fly and tensions rise, their interactions become increasingly frequent, blurring the lines between attraction and restraint. With Juniper navigating the complexities of past relationships and lingering desires, Callum emerges as a charming and persistent presence in her life. Set against the backdrop of a small-town romance, this story explores the thrill of breaking the rules and the magnetic pull of unexpected love.

4 stars!⭐️ Thanks Harper Voyager & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I used to have a pathological fear of Scottish romances due to the overuse of the word lass, but I dinna ken what I was thinking (see what I did there). Not only was this book adorable, but the yearning and banter was top notch too. I do think the pacing felt a little off — the last 40% did plateau, and I think Callum and Juniper’s character arcs moved too fast near the end. But otherwise can’t wait to read the rest of these silly Scottish whisky books

Honestly, this Macabe Brothers series has become one of my new favorite contemporary reads. The first book was something I picked up on a whim, but I loved the grumpy/sunshine interplay there; the dynamic here is a lot more antagonistic, closer to a love/hate, but I also enjoyed that the FMC was the pricklier one and for reasons that became more and more clear as the book progressed. Great sense of place, terrific chemistry between the leads, and it all wraps up in such a way that I HAVE to know how the next book goes, given who's leading it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Juniper and Callum... man what can I say! I really enjoyed the first book... but DAMN this one... wow it blew me away. The tropes??? ex-fiances brother? sign me TF up. I was absolutely in love with juniper. she guarded her heart so close, especially after having it broken by her ex. and Callum? what a love sick little puppy. even after all these years he was still head over heals for this woman.

the way they were able to tear her walls down, be real with each other, and learn to love again (mostly on her end) was such a nice story. this was very well written, and done so well I couldn't put it down. I really enjoy seeing parts of me in stories... usually the one who guards themselves and would rather be independent than ever ask for help... and I just love seeing what could be. I would definitely recommend this to people, and can't wait to see what comes next!

Juniper is all black-cat energy to Callum’s golden retriever charm. She works at a cozy inn on the Isle of Skye; he’s the local vet — and, as if that weren’t complicated enough, she used to be engaged to his brother. From the very start, Callum is completely gone for Juniper, but she does everything she can to resist. Not just because of her past with his family, but because she can't imagine herself with the town’s beloved golden boy.

I really enjoyed this book. It takes a little time to find its footing, but once it does, it’s thoroughly engaging. Juniper is delightfully prickly, Callum is unwavering in his affection, and the plot brings all the emotional drama you’d hope for. I especially loved the setting on the Isle of Skye and all the details around her work at the inn — it added a lovely texture to the story. Plenty of spice, so head's up!

3.5⭐️
This was such a fun and easy read. I really enjoyed Juniper and Callum’s story. The description of this book is what drew me in so I was unaware this was book 2 for the brothers but now I plan to read book 1 and looking forward to book 3. Thank you NetGalley for this arc and intro to Elliot Fletcher.

Thank you to Netgalley for a chance to eARC Scott on the Rocks!

So, this is evidently book two of a little series, but it read so well as a standalone. I loved the grumpy x sunshine dynamic between Callum and Juniper. This book was filled with yearning, passion, and beautifully done character growth for our FMC.

Juniper was easy to fall in love with. She felt so real, and there were times when I found myself wanting to hug her like she was my best friend. Callum was a dream. He was protective, sweet, funny, and truly was a champion for Juniper. They were a very fun puzzle to watch fall together.

I loved the Isle of Skye. I've never been, but Elliot Fletcher did a wonderful job of painting the setting into my head. I loved the travel tidbits, I loved the clear home feeling created. I thought it was the perfect setting for these two characters.

Now, can we talk about what made this book for me? The. Yearning. I appreciated how this was built and built and built. The tension, the romance, the spice. This is what I look for in contemporary romance, and I am so excited to have found it.

Overall, highly recommend.
3.75 stars (rounded to 4 for netgalley.com)
def a 3.5 🌶

Definitely Read this book if you like the following tropes:

*Black Cat X Golden Retriever
*Small Town Romance
*So So Much Yearning
*All the Banter

I absolutely loved this book, it had spice, banter, and just in general loved the writing of this! I will be going back and reading the first book in this series and can't wait for more to be released.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for offering me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.