This is one of my favorite reads of the year. If I don’t find a man like Callum, I don’t want him!! This banter was top notch, the tension was tangible. It broke my heart and healed me all in one.

This was absolutely adorable.

After a chance meeting on a train, Callum discovers the woman he’s instantly drawn to is none other than his brother’s fiancée, Juniper. Years later—long after the engagement has ended—they’re unexpectedly reunited in their hometown. When Cal offers to help Juniper renovate her family’s inn, the two are forced into a reluctant partnership that slowly blossoms into something more.

I loved their black-cat/golden-retriever dynamic. The banter was sharp and fun, keeping things light while their layered backstories added depth. Callum, a war veteran turned veterinarian, and Juniper, an adoptee struggling with abandonment issues, were both compelling and well-developed. And of course, I adored the rich infusion of Scottish culture and geography, not to mention the delightful return of April and Mal from book one.

I’ll be waiting (not so patiently) for the next book in the series.

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

I enjoyed the previous book in this series, Whiskey Business, and had high hopes for this one. While I loved the premise and how the characters were marketed, I did not feel their connection.

It was a bit too insta-lovely on Callum's side and the banter/nicknames felt forced. Juniper felt more like an archetype than a fully fleshed out character.

I did however, enjoy their dynamic in the bedroom. It is rare to see a dominant woman in traditionally published romance, and I appreciated its inclusion. Their intimate moments were written well and very fun to read.

One of the best parts of this book was the setting. I wish we had seen more of Scotland, but the moments we got were magical. The way the fairy pools, featured on the cover, were described made me want to book the next flight out to see them for myself.

If you don't mind insta love and wish to travel to Scotland, you may want to add this to your TBR.

I received a digital advanced reader copy through NetGalley

I had a great time reading Juniper and Callum's love story! Scotch on the Rocks is second in the Macabe brother's series but I think it could likely be read as a standalone. It's a sexy, open door romance between Callum and Juniper, the woman he has dreamed about for years but was unfortunately previously engaged to his brother.

What I loved: the connection between the characters felt realistic, I really liked how they supported each other through their growth arcs. The supporting cast and subplot is solid, and the tension and banter are excellent.

What I didn't love: there were a couple of times when his brother/the ex come up in conversation that made me cringe

Overall I think it's a solid book and I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series!

Grumpy x sunshine romance?? Yup give it to me. I am a sucker for when the men are down bad for the FMC. Would recommend to others

This was such a fun and spicy book to read. The plot held enough to keep me intrigued and the characters had flaws that made them seem so real and relatable.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC of this book! Wee all been there, right? There’s a hot hero in town, but it’s Complicated and we really shouldn’t but we want to. I’m glad Juniper got to dive into the fantasy and live a little, taking us on an adventure as she worked through the complications of all of the above. This was fun, flirty and a breath of fresh Scottish air – and revisiting an old friend after reading Whisky Business. Come for the Scot, stay for the hot brother.

The PINING, The YEARNING. Callum and Juniper’s chemistry caught fire and could not be put out. These two and their “be honest with me” energy were just so good.

Flirty, fun, steamy and set on the Isle of Skye, I really enjoyed this romance. Opposites attract-and do they ever-and I love a complicated and prickly main character, especially when it is a woman. This releases on July 7th, and it isn‘t necessary to read the 1st in the series, Whisky Business, but I recommend it. Great fun all around with the McCabe brothers!

Back on the Isle of Skye, we get the second Macabe brother book. And this Macabe brother is the hometown hero, golden retriever 😍

I will read almost any book that’s set in Scotland, especially the Isle of Skye. Elliot Fletcher does a wonderful job describing the Scotland scene so it makes you feel like you’re there.

I love a black cat and golden retriever trope and this one delivered. Callum is the golden retriever hometown hero veterinarian that puts everyone first, taking care of his ailing father, his veterinary business, his friends and neighbors, and now his brother’s ex-fiancé.
And the ex-fiance, Juniper, is the black cat who also always wears black and has a mean cat 😂. Loved her character, the growth she experiences through the book, and the banter between her and Callum is delicious.

And also, that off limits relationship tho. Brother’s ex-fiancé?! Could it get more off-limits?! It created so so much tension!!

I wanted more insight into why things didn’t work out between Callum’s brother Alistair and Juniper (but I’m assuming that’ll be in Alistair’s book). It explains it to an extent but I wanted more. I also wanted more from Callum and Alistair’s confrontation, I felt it all got swept under the rug too quickly and I wanted more drama.

Overall, really cute, spicy romance and definitely excited for the next one in the series!

Does it make me an alcoholic to enjoy books centered around liquor? No? Okay good! Mix that with small town and Scotsmen? I’m sold. Am I easy? Yeah probably, but I have fun time doing it!

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to Elliot Fletcher and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the eARC of this book! I LOVED THIS BOOK. The Dual POV was perfect. It has one of my favorite tropes, Grumpy x Sunshine. This is the second book in the Macabe Brothers series and I can't wait for more from Elliot! The Scotland setting is one of my favorites! I can't say enough good this about this book!

Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!

Tropes: Ex's Brother, Age Gaps, and He falls first. These are some of my favorite tropes in a good romance novel. The development of the characters and the story was great. The writing made you really like the characters. This is my first time reading this author and i very much enjoyed it. Thank you to the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book. I look forward to more by this author.

4.25 ⭐️ Yes! The exes older brother trope. 🔥

These Maccabe brothers are pure Scottish sin.

Callum: oldest brother
Veterinarian
“Community Ken” 🤣

Juniper: the black cat
Inn “owner”

It had tropes I love.
Grumpy x sunshine
Black cat x golden retriever
Age gap

Oh the pining.
Boy obsessed.

I liked setting, hiking and exploring the little Scottish island.
Banter

Netgalley arc review ✨

I really enjoyed this book!
The characters felt life like, and I could imagine their banter as it was happening. The dual POV allowed you to really see how Callum had always been dealing with his feelings for Juniper and how Juniper was able to deal with her abandonment issues.
Overall, it's a really enjoyable read that has everything you could want from a romance!

Scotch on the Rocks is the second installment of the Macabe Brothers series and I was so excited when I saw this book announced! I absolutely loved the first and continue to be obsessed with this town and its inhabitants.

Juniper has rules about the Macabe brothers, mostly to avoid them at all costs, after having her heart broken by Alistair. But Callum is determined to win her over and will do anything to finally get his girl. They make a deal that while Callum helps to restore a plumbing emergency at her family inn, Juniper will let him show her around their town.

Juniper has amazing growth throughout the story as she learns to let people into her life and accept love. Her and Callum are both such softies inside and my heart couldn’t take it! I love her independence and take charge attitude as well.
Callum was head over heels from page 1 which could sometimes be off-putting for me, but it didn’t take away from their tension and banter at all! Their relationship was seriously hot and had me blushing throughout the entire book!

Read if you like:
Black cat FMC x sunshine MMC
Ex’s brother
He’s obsessed with her
Age gap
Small-town in Scotland

I would have liked to see a bit more resolution between Juniper and Alistair, but I have a feeling we will get to know more in the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

“Scotch on the Rocks” was teeming to be one of the most exciting reads for me this year. Callum is the older, hot, charming brother of Juniper's bff AND ex-fiancé, and the chemistry they dutifully ignored has just begun to bubble over. I have to say though, regrettably, their story really didn’t reach those beginning hopes I had.

So, hear me out…the concept of an ex’s brother, age gap, small-town romance was superb, but the carry-through felt ..clunky. The previous relationship Juniper had with Alistair /is/ left scorned, however, he is not evil or villainous enough for you, as the reader, to want to see him left in the dust like that. I felt almost icky the way Callum was so prideful his brother's relationship fell and he could finallyyyy take the reins. The elements surrounding their coupling felt ungratifying and left behind essentially: Alistair was not entirely a bad guy (he’s getting his own book for pete's sake!!) therefore this trope doesn’t work. But! focusing solely on the characterization of Callum as the understanding, attentive, caring upgrade for Juniper - that aspect was precisely what I wanted, and wins for the most enjoyable factor.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Elliot Fletcher for providing this eARC!

I’m a big fan of some of the tropes in this book. Taboo relationship (ex’s brother), age gap, he falls first. This story had great depth and development and really just a lot to like. I hadn’t read this author before and wanted to thank Avon and Harper for the opportunity to read and review!

s someone who loves a romance book with the enemies to lovers plot line, I very much enjoyed this book. Callum has always had a thing for his brothers ex-Juniper (scandalous) but things don’t progress until years later (which I appreciated). This book has great banter, strong character development & enough spice to hope your neighbor on the train can’t see what’s on your kindle.