I beta’d this early last year but I loved it just as much a second time. Callum and June have left a permanent imprint on my heart, scenes that burrowed into my brain and I was so excited for people to be able to read it and inevitably love them as much as I do. I love how obsessed Callum is with June – her being his brother’s ex just makes it even more delicious – and that he never quits trying to make it happen between them. They are inevitable. June could step on me and I would say thank you, I love how snarky she is, protecting her heart from anymore of the pain she has experienced in her life. I love that neither of them change who they are, they’re just able to open up because they have that love and support they’ve always craved in each other.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Elliot Fletcher for providing me with an eARC of Scotch on the Rocks by Elliot Fletcher! I read this for free in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! It’s very light-hearted, and the romance is stunning. The MCs are definitely giving black cat x golden retriever vibes which I love. The banter was so fun!

This was a light, quick read that I loved!!

This is the 2nd book in the Macabe Brothers series - I didn't know that and easily read it as a stand alone story.

Juniper has a rule book for the Macabe Brothers - basically stay away from them! However, when her mom goes on vacation and Juniper decides to remodel their inn, she soon needs help and in steps eldest Macabe brother, Callum. She calls him Community Ken - in reference to the Ken doll and playing the hero in their community. However, there is a lot more going on in this book - it's interesting, the banter is witty and the characters are loveable.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

I really loved this story! Loved the black cat x golden retriever vibes. The forbidden love. You could really feel for the characters. Their connection was so strong but their circumstances holding them apart. I was truly rooting for them throughout the book.

Will definitely be stocking in my shop!

This is the second book in the MaCabe Brothers series and I really enjoyed it! I did not read the first book but can't wait to go back and read that one!

Juniper is our black cat female character. While her mom is on vacation she decided that she will do some renovations to the family inn. After a plumbing issue the last person she wants to ask for help is Callum.

Callum is our golden retriever mmc. He had had a thing for Juniper since a chance encounter on a train 8 years ago only to find out that she was dating his brother😬 He is ex military and now a veterinarian. He is helping her fix the inn.

I loved the banter between both characters! I liked the tension and build up to when they finally get together. Can they make things work or will her past come back and bite them in the butt? The way Callum yearns for Juniper was😍😍😍

Thank you NetGally and Avon/Harper Voyager for this book!!! I loved it!

I really enjoyed this!! Callum and Juniper had great chemistry and I loved the forbidden edge. Their banter was incredible and I was consistently laughing out loud at how quick they were with each other. The nicknames were amazing! The side storylines were interesting as well, adding some solid tension that went beyond the romance. It was so sweet how obsessed Callum was from the very beginning. I loved that his feelings for Juniper never wavered and how he was always working quietly in the background to make her life easier. So great when a man is an absolute simp!!! Elliot Fletcher writes such great stories and characters!

As a huge Outlander and Scottish romance girly, my number one favorite romance I read last year was Whiskey Business by Elliot fletcher so when I heard we were getting a book with Malcom’s brother and April’s best friend and it was going to be this black cat/golden retriever vibe I had never been so excited.

Callum has been obsessed with Juniper for years but unlucky for him Juniper’s number one rule is to not look at, talk to, or even think about a Macabe brother.

One because her ex fiancé is a Macabe and two, she almost slept with one of the brothers and that brother is Callum.

Years after their close call they are back in each other’s lives and the yearning in this is just so good. They both know anything between them is completely off limits but they just can’t stay away from each other.

We also get glimpses of Malcom and April and they are just as adorable as ever. I just wish I could get little short stories about those two on a continuous loop.

Elliot Fletcher also does such a good job of making you feel like you are in Scotland while you’re reading her books. I’ve never been there but I feel like this is doing a pretty good job of making I feel like I have. Kind of like how we all felt watching Outlander.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC of Scotch on the Rocks!

I really enjoyed the witty back and forth between the two main characters, I did in fact have fun with them.. I’m a total sucker for a “he falls first” storyline, and Callum absolutely did that. The sexual chemistry and playful banter are definite highlights.

That said, while the romance definitely sparkled, I didn’t quite feel the emotional depth I crave to fully root for the relationship. Also her being engaged to one brother only to end up with the other—was messy. Callum’s “lol, deal with it” attitude after the switch left a bit of a bad taste for me. Personally, that kind of cavalier shift didn’t quite land.

Overall though, if you love steamy romance with banter and don’t mind a bit of drama, there’s plenty of fun to be found here.

what an emotional and steamy read. i really wanted to love this one but it felt flat for me. there were often times when i felt disconnected from the story and needed more plot development. there is a lot that is going on — the inn, the dates, the tension with the family, etc yet felt like nothing happened if that makes sense??

juniper (june) the fmc is renovating her family’s inn in a small scottish town. however, she keeps running into her ex fiancés brother, callum, despite her best efforts to avoid the macabe family. these two have the most witty banter and bickering moments but soon develop a strong attraction to one another. they decide to start a secret romance, but will this lead to drama?

tropes: black cat x golden retriever, forbidden romance, he’s a vet, he yearns, ex fiancés brother, age gap, dual pov

*𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩* don’t mind me... I’m just over here falling for yet another handsomely Scottish, kilt-wearing Macabe brother😍

Callum Macabe has pretty much always been gone for Juniper Ross since the moment he laid eyes on her. Unfortunately, when his brother breaks her heart, she builds some strong walls around it and firmly puts the Macabe brothers on her sh*t list. Nevertheless, Callum is not deterred by Juniper’s grumpy moods and still very much determined to win her over...

...and I mean you could 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 this man’s 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 through the pages! He is so completely and utterly smitten by this woman😭 Juniper is definitely my type of girlie because I adore a female lead that radiates the black cat energy 🐈‍⬛ She is righfully grumpy and I love that she didn’t give in that easy when it came to Callum.
There’s nothing I love more than a black cat and golden retriever being paired together because you just know the banter and tension are going to be insanely good.... I just didn't think it was going to be this intoxicating🤭
But even with the humor and some lightheartedness there’s still that real and vulnerable, relatable characters that shine through – both going through something difficult to the point where they feel like they need to prove something.

I also loved that we got to explore more of the Isle of Skye and the little adventures these two went on together. It showed the sweeter sides of Callum and Juniper when the walls started to crumble.

I can't wait to see what will happen with the last brother, Alistair, especially with everything that we got told about him in this book. And even though this series is about the Macabe brothers, I do hope we get something a lil extra with their sister because she deserves her own love story🥹

*𝘈 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘷𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤! 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.*

I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced release copy of this book. Another great one! Highly recommend!

I want to preface this with the fact that I did not read the first Macabe Brother book - Whisky Business. That being said, I didn't feel very confused or unsure about the characters or story by reading Scotch on the Rocks first.

This book was absolutely adorable and I loved the dynamic between Callum and Juniper - it honestly makes me want to go and read the first book in order to get as many glimpses of them as I can.

I was unaware when I initially requested the book that it was a "siblings ex" trope and normally I would choose not to read that but Fletcher really made it work and made me root for them despite it being a situation that likely should have felt awkward and uncomfortable. The situation is confronted and I felt like the characters really reacted appropriately and realistically.

I do wish that we got a little more development regarding Juniper's insecurities, it seemed like it was hinted at once and then just approached as fact without really building it up.

I'm really looking forward to what else the author writes, she has a great blend of sweetness, humor, and sexiness in her writing that makes the books so comforting and rereadable.

I love a hateful banter situation. Two people who cannot be nice to each other because they want each other so bad but they feel like they cannot be together. The needling and aggravating is delicious.
I love the opening of this book
“Falling in love with Juniper Ross felt like stepping into oncoming traffic.” What a way to start a book.
I loved Callum & Juniper. I loved all the things going on in their lives and how they could not stay away from each other.

i think i had a hard time getting past the fact that he was into her for eight years. that’s a really long time considering her and his brother were broken up for the last six of them … he had time to go after her. he “tried” once and knew he is the one who messed it up, and then just never tried again? rubbed me the wrong way and i couldn’t get into the book

Juniper is a Black cat energy so prickly- angst from the start, he calls her Harpy! Callum is a man who fell at first sight on the train and has been pining for her for yearssss. This one starts with an almost bang but fast forwards to why it didn’t happen. His brother's ex fiancé but he has had it bad from the start but can’t do anything about it until he can but still can’t. He is sooo gone for her. The banter between these two is perfect but then he takes her hiking and I feel even more in love with this man. Angsty and chemistry from the golden boy of small town Scotland- Community Ken will have you swooning but he is willing to step in and has for years to help her out.

Whisky Business was a favorite and this one might top it. We get Scotland, a small town romance, family drama with a big fat D, an actual black cat, and him in a kilt. It’s hard to put down!

Scotch on the Rocks is a emotional and steamy romance featuring best friend's brother, small town, slow burn and reverse grumpy x sunshine. The story follows Juniper, who after convincing her mother to go on vacation, is ready to renovate the family business and give it a new look; and Callum, her ex fiancé's brother and the man that can't seem to stay out of her business. When a plumbing job goes wrong, Juniper is forced to accept Callum's help, and in exchange he gets to take her on four "dates". I really wanted to love this one but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The setting and writing were amazing, I loved getting to explore Isle of Skye, but the romance and the way Callum and Juniper handled their forbidden relationship was iffy. While the banter and back and forth was so fun and exciting, the lack of empathy on Callum's side when the truth came out left a bitter taste in my mouth. I think the drama just got to be a bit too much and stilted the sweet and emotional ending the story was supposed to have. This romance didn’t fully come together for me, but if you’re a fan of charming Scottish towns, sharp banter, and meddling families, this one might still be worth a read.

Callum and Juniper... ahh I loved them both so much. And together? They were everything. 

Callum is the town veterinarian and golden boy. He has been pining for Juniper, his brother's ex-fiance, for years. Juniper is renovating her family’s bed and breakfast and reluctantly accepts Callum’s offer to help. 

Each has their own issues they are working through. Juniper learns to accept love and let people in. And Callum is learning to take care of himself, not just those around him. They easily balanced what the other needed, and fit together perfectly. These two had the best snarky, yet playful banter. I really loved Juniper's growth. I loved seeing her let down her walls and be sweet to Callum. He needed it. 

I absolutely love Elliot’s writing. She writes yearning men SO well. It’s so beautifully written, making it easy to transport to the Isle of Skye while reading.

🖤Remote island in Scotland
🖤Ex fiancés brother
🖤Black cat x Golden retriever
🖤He years
🖤Age gap (9 years)
🖤Banter as foreplay

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

I do not think the term enemies to lovers quite covers the way Juniper and Callum feel about each other. For Callum it was love at first sight, the only problem was his younger brother got her first.
Six years later after Juniper & his brothers engagement ends, he decides to shoot his shot.

Juniper is the perfect black cat female (actual cat included), she is snarky, unattached, and has mastered the RBF. Callum, village Golden Boy/Retriever, Army Vet turned actual vet but he can't help the draw he has to her. Every f*ck you she gives him, makes him love her more.

This was a fun read, the banter and back and fourth between the two was so much fun. But under all of that was heart and emotion that really had me. They are very much a SLOW BURN, I think it was a little too slow for me at first. I had a hard time getting into it, but at about the 40% mark I couldn't put it down.

Read if you enjoy
- black cat/ golden retriever
- he falls first
- brothers ex
- small town
- enemies (kind of) to lovers
- neighbors
- she like control/dominance
- SPICE

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for thaw advance copy!

I don’t know what it is about Scottish heroes I am obsessed, haven’t read one I haven’t loved. Banter and tension that was too hot for the page and also he’s older and her ex-fiancés brother. He also hasn’t stopped thinking about her. Stop. My. Heart. Loved this book with all my soul.

I need Scotch on the Rocks exorcised from my soul because I will never know peace again. Callum Macrae is not a man, he is a slow-burning wildfire with a tragic backstory and a “please just hate me if you can’t love me” complex. This man spent a decade pinning for his brother’s (now ex) fiancée like some kind of tortured anti-hero who hides his undying love behind snide comments, open hostility, and acts of pure emotional masochism. (Sir, therapy is available in the UK... KIDDING).

When the spice picks up.... I collapsed like a Victorian housewife seeing ankles. (HE WHIMPERS!!!!!) The tension?? Has been simmering beneath layers of banter and grudges for five full years of denial, and when it finally breaks? It is biblical. It is a fuck-it-on-the-ROCKS moment with the Scottish sea screaming approval in the background. (well... kind of?)

I went to Scotland and came back feral.

Anyway, a million stars, I need to lie down in a mossy glen and scream.