This is the cutest (also spicy) ex’s brother love story. Love at first sight that was never meant to be until much later. I legit ugly cried in the beginning and laughed by the end of it. 10/10 recommend for someone looking into a fluffy love story full of angst and Scottish accents 🥰

Never in my life would I have expected to love a book in which the FMC ends up with her ex-boyfriend's older brother, but boy, did I love this one—the tension between Juniper and Callum was palpable and worth every second we had to wait to see it through. The pacing was done so nicely, although we don't really know much about Juniper's relationship with Alister, it did not feel like she ran from one to the other or like she had been harboring feelings for Callum the entire time. We are told this is how Callum felt, but again, it was not something that was a "real" issue whilst Alister and Juniper were together. I do wish we could've seen a little bit more about Juniper's relationship with her parents. LOVE LOVE LOVE Mal and Heather's involvement in this book, especially Mal having to know things about Callum against his will.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the eARC.

I adored Whisky Business and was so happy that this is right on par with that first book. Black cat/golden retriever is a trope I don’t typically enjoy but this was so wonderfully done. I just couldn’t get enough of their dynamic and banter. It did feel a tad banter heavy at times, where things could have been cut but it doesn’t take away from how well written and fun it is. I truly loved this so much and I can’t wait to see what the third book brings!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was a fantastic second installment of The Macabe Brothers. I loved Juniper and felt such a strong connection to her character. The love story between Juniper and Callum may be unconventional, but the way it was written was so beautiful and emotional at times. I love the family and found family dynamics in this series as well. I give this four stars because I truly believe it could’ve been a little shorter and it was repetitive at times.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were relatable, the plot was interesting, and the story was great! I would definitely recommend!

“still hate me, sweetheart?”
“undoubtedly.”
“good. just making sure.”🤭🫠

this series is so FUN! i absolutely could. not. put this book down!!

the tension between Cal & Juniper? the PINING?! the forced proximity because he can’t not help her when the renovations she wants to have done on her bed and breakfast turn into a disaster? the way he lives for the interactions between them?*sigh*🫠
Callum may make the top 3 most down bad book boyfriends to ever book boyfriend.

read if you like:
+ he’s her ex-fiancés brother🙂‍↕️
+ a prickly fmc
+ a man literally so down bad he would get her teeth marks tattooed on his body
+ “sweetheart”
+ banter on banter
+ soulmates😭
+ small Irish towns

thank you thank you to Avon & Netgalley for this gifted arc! it came at the exact time i needed it (for real i cried when i got the notification) 😭🤍

Sinopsis en español:


entre una mujer joven y el hombre que está completamente fuera de los límites, del autor de Whisky Business.

Libro de reglas del hermano macabo (según Juniper Ross):

No mires a un hermano macabe
No hables con un hermano macabe
Ni siquiera pienses en un hermano macabe
Es bastante difícil para June seguir sus propias reglas, teniendo en cuenta que un hermano está enamorado de su mejor amiga, uno es su ex prometido y otro... bueno, uno es el héroe súper caliente de un pueblo pequeño Callum Macabe.

Pero cuando Callum parece estar apareciendo en todas partes, especialmente cuando Juniper está en su punto más vulnerable, es difícil no imaginar lo bien que podría sentirse romper una regla.






Reseña:


Es el segundo libro de la serie The Macabe brothers, en donde Callum se enamoró a primera vista de Juniper, pero para su mala fortuna ella está saliendo con su hermano, entonces intentó esconder sus sentimientos hasta que ella y el hermano terminaron. Después de esto intentó por años alejarse porque no quería traicionar a su hermano, ambos lo intentaron. Jun también empezó a desarrolla sentimientos por Callum, pero como se vería si ella saliera con otro Macabe. Iniciaron un juego del gato y el ratón hasta que ya no pudieron más y actuaron en consecuencia a su enamoramiento.

Por lo regular esta clase de trama no me gusta porque siento que es una traición a ala familia, pero aquí siento que se manejó bien; sobretodo porque Callum fue y dijo “él tuvo su oportunidad y la desaprovechó, ahora Jun es mía”.


Gracias NetGalley por el ARC, lo disfruté.

4.5 ⭐️ Oh, this was so fun! I really enjoyed being back with the Macabe brothers. Juniper and Callum's relationship was beautiful and playful and so sweet. I'm not sure I loved it as much as the first book but I really really enjoyed it - and I still want to move to Scotland. 😂

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!!

3.5 stars

I think that whiskey business was always going to be a very tough act to follow, and as much as I wanted to love this book.... I didn't, I'm so sorry. I LIKED it a great deal, but it came nowhere near to Whiskey Business for me.

Here's what worked for me:

June was such a wonderfully fleshed out character, and I like that the author didn't shy away from giving her insecurities and self doubt.

The sex scenes were well written and plentiful

The family dynamics in this book actually ended up being my favourite part.

Alistair.....What are you hiding? I'll definitely be picking his book up too if I can.

Here's what didn't:

The banter felt very.... juvenile, I had a hard time believing that a 40 year old man would unironically call someone "stinkerbelle". There was no wit to their exchanges, it was just on par with saying "your mom" "nuh uh YOUR mom" for a good 50% of the book. I felt like I was reading about a frat boy and an emo teen.

In fleshing out June, I feel as though Callum was sorely neglected as a character. He felt more as a prop for June's journey than a full fleged character in his own right because his entire personality was just being in love with June.

The central conflict just seemed like a rehash of Whiskey Business with one MC concerned that they weren't good enough for the other MC.

Some stuff that I didn't love, but these are things that are more preferance than objective criticisms (All that to say that these are me problems as opposed to narrative issues):

Love at first sight works best for me when there is a defining moment in which one MC sees the other do something that speaks volumes about their personality/values etc so him being in love with her for years after seeing her on the train just doesn't spark any feelings for me

I don't particularly enjoy books where one MC has been mooning after the other for years and does nothing about it or even attempt to get over it (again very heavily preference based, not an objective critique)

Callum intentionally checking her out to get a rise out of her gave me the severest ick. I know it was meant to come off as sexy, but it just felt creepy to me.

If you’re looking for a black cat and a golden retriever, you’ve come to the right place. Despite the HOT beginning (and the crushing cold shower), this slow burn was just delicious.

Juniper Ross has sworn off the Macabe brothers, but Callum—ex-soldier, town vet, and all-around golden retriever of a man—makes that promise hard to keep. Their chemistry crackles, their banter is sharp, and their past is messy.

While Callum’s jealousy threw me off at times, and Juniper was a tad unlikable to me at first, the depth of emotion, especially around family and personal growth, kept me hooked. If you love complicated love stories set against a stunning backdrop, this one’s worth a read.

**Thank you very much to NetGalley and Avon for the eARC, in exchange for a genuine review! All opinions are my own.**

SWOON!! Holy moley was that adorable. Juniper and Callum are precious and this book was everything that I had hoped it would be. It had all the vibes one is looking for in a romantic book. It was well written, but didn't drone on, making it feel fast paced. I didn't want to put it down and finished it in 2 days. This was my first book in this series, but it makes me want to go back and read the first one (as it is technically the second book). Has all the makings of a vacation reading book, it was so easy to escape in this! Juniper is the black cat heroine and Callum the brooding golden retriever. The spice was definitely hot, but very appropriate during the instances it occurred. The Scottish setting was well described, and I would love to visit this place if it was real to see the coffee shop, vet office, and local hotel. So freaking cute. Not to be missed or overlooked if you are in the mood for a swoon-worthy Scottish romance! Well done Elliot Fletcher, well done.

Thank you Netgalley and HapperCollins for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

4.5 stars. Callum Macabe is quite possibly the most pathetically boy obsessed MMC I’ve ever read and I LOVE HIM. We’re talking *years* of pining and being desperate for any scrap of Juniper’s attention he can get, often reverting to schoolyard poking — but never in a mean way and June gives it right back to him. There is so much underlying tension between the two that’s been simmering between them for years with the added layer of June being Callum’s brother’s ex-fiancée. I usually struggle with the sibling’s ex idea but it was done so, so well here.

Aside from their undeniable attraction to each other, Callum and Juniper have so many similarities in the way they present themselves to the people around them. They’re complete opposites in the actual presentation but the motivation for their choices are deeply emotional responses to their pasts. Callum is full golden retriever energy, charming everyone around him and always taking care of others while silently carrying the weight of the world on his own shoulders. June projects her independence and keeps a safe emotional distance after a childhood of being left and fear of taking up too much space or being too needy. June may be a different Macabe’s ex, but it’s clearly for a reason because she and Callum are exactly who the other needs.

I loved getting to know Callum and Juniper on such a deeper level in this book. Thank you to Avon via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Scotch on the Rocks by Elliot Fletcher, is so good! It’s Juniper and Callum on the Isle of Skye—her trying to avoid the Macabe brothers, him being this charming hero next door. The forbidden love thing had me hooked, with funny moments and sweet, romantic ones too. The Scottish island setting felt cozy, like you’re there. It’s like Whisky Business but fresh—perfect with a drink to relax. Loved it!

Simple and chatty, as if I’m telling you about it over coffee. Let me know if you want changes!

I had pretty high expectations after rereading the previous novel in this series, and this book absolutely delivered.

The characters were richly done and well developed; the author really distinguished them as people from the glimpses I'd seen of them without it feeling inauthentic. Callum as the village caretaker and a long-time Juniper devotee worked really well, and June's personality and motivations made her interesting and relatable.

The MMC is the FMC's ex-fiance's brother, and while I was a little fearful going in, this book actually handled that really well. It was compelling and genuine, and it both explained things in a way I appreciated (e.g. Callum seeing and being drawn to Juniper before he knew who she was) and dealt with things head-on (with Alistair never being a topic they didn't talk about or avoided).

This book also hit at a good spot as far as side-plots, the general moving forward of the overall plot, and personal growth being incorporated but not overwhelming. There's enough substance without it taking over the romance storyline.

I also really enjoyed the glimpses of April and Mal in this; it was all very sweet.

PerJuniper Ross
1. Don’t look at a Macabe brother.
2. Don’t talk to a Macabe brother.
3. Don’t even think about a Macabe brother.

So what happens between Juniper Ross and Callum Macabe? Spicy and amusing banter, Forbidden romance (Sister’s best friend AND Brother’s ex girlfriend) and Sizzling sex scenes. With an HOA in there somewhere. It’s one of my favotrites this year.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fun one! I’m a sucker for any romance book set in or around Scotland, and these characters quickly became lovable. Overall, the banter and dialogue was a major strength of this story…loved it. I will say the flashback chapter transitions in the beginning were a bit choppy and hard to follow, but other the pacing was good. Love these tropes, and can’t wait to check out the next of this series!

oh how i enjoyed this one!
Light reading but with a lot of themes you can relate to

He loves her since forever. she is lost, hurt, afraid and doesn't know how to accept love.

and they are just perfect!.
this book was a Rollercoaster of feelings, I related with so many subjects while also having so much fun. The banter within them was exquisite. and the spice was just right!

The Scottish themed background is everything. I loved it so much.

I would totally recommend it!


Thank you to NetGalley and Avon books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

#ScotchOnTheRocks #ScottishRomance #Romance #blackcat #goldenretriever #bookstagram #contemporaryromance #NeyGalley #TheMacabeBrothers #series #spicybooks #spicyromance #SecondChance #Healing #readersofinstagram #preorder #bookrecommendation #bookworm #romanticreads #ElliotFletcher

If you liked Whiskey Business, you’ll love Scotch on the Rocks!

In Scotch on the Rocks you get all the best parts of Whiskey Business - fun banter, picturesque Scottish setting, great chemistry - but with a new twist including forbidden romance (brother’s ex-fiancé), an ‘ice queen’ with a warm and caring hidden heart, and years of yearning and care that are so sweet.

I’m so glad Elliot Fletcher is being rewarded for her talent and hard work with her first fully traditionally published novel! I’m excited to see not just the rest of the macabre family’s stories but also other people and stories she brings to life going forward.

Thanks to Elliot Fletcher, Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Dare I say I liked this even more than Whisky Business? I didn't think it was possible but the chemistry between Callum and Juniper is deliciously perfect. This is book #2 in the Macabe Brothers series and while I definitely think you should read book one, and not just because the main character is a curvy redhead named April, you could still enjoy this one as a standalone. The previous book provides more depth to the main characters for this book and I think you'll appreciate their complexities more having met them outside of their love story.

This book is a sassy, steamy read. We follow along as Juniper works through her abandonment issues with the help of Callum who has the patience of a Saint and the persistence to stay the course. She's a fierce black cat that he somehow manages to charm.

I loved this so much I immediately pre-ordered the audiobook copy.

Scotch on the Rocks by Elliot Fletcher is out July 8, 2025 wherever you get books. Pre-order your copy today!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

#ScotchOnTheRocks #ScottishRomance #Romance #blackcat #goldenretriever #bookstagram #contemporaryromance #NeyGalley #TheMacabeBrothers #series #spicybooks #spicyromance #SecondChance #Healing #readersofinstagram #preorder #bookrecommendation #bookworm #romanticreads #ElliotFletcher