Okay, Scotch on the Rocks is way better than Whiskey Business and actually makes me want to continue the series so I am so glad I continued onto this book, and didn't stop after book 1.

Callum and Juniper have had a connection from the start even when Juniper is dating Callum's brother and I loved finding out just how much Callum felt from the beginning as the story progresses. Juniper is terrified of being unlovable after her life gave her a few too many examples her brain can use against her. Her journey to find love and realize just how many people love her was so sweet and perfect to this story. Callum was one of many people who loved her and she needed so much support and reassurance with him, I was swooning at how well he re-affirmed her.

Callum is struggling with a lot of family issues and isn't letting anyone in or asking for much help, except from one person who keeps ignoring him. Juniper is the first person to truly see how much Callum is struggling with and the way she supports him and makes sure he knows she is there even when she cant be is so wonderful.

Callum and Juniper are so cute and their story was so easy to read! I can't wait to see whose book comes next!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotch on the Rocks by Elliot Fletcher 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

In this second installment to the Macabe Brothers series, we follow Callum and Juniper. He keeps showing up everywhere she least expects. And above all else, Juniper needs to stay away from him. But that’s easier said than done, right?

This book has everything from yearning to pent up (sexual) frustration to sexy meet ups. The spice level is severely hot.

I was able to read and listen with my ARC and ALC (thanks, @harperaudio @netgalley @elliotfletcherwrites) and it was such a fun time!! I really want to visit Scotland and maybe I could find my own Callum.

As this book is the second book in the series, I don’t think you necessarily need to read the first one, but it is a good introduction as Mal and April show up a lot in this one.

This book is out tomorrow, July 8! Read this is any of this review resonates or sparks any intrigue.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Spicy, emotional, and full of heart”

The Isle of Skye setting feels alive, wind‑swept and beautiful, making the romance feel all the more intense. Callum’s gentle “golden retriever” charm perfectly balances Juniper’s prickly “black cat” defense, and their banter is sharp and genuine.

If you’re after a slow‑burn enemies‑to‑lovers romance rich in setting, witty banter, and emotional payoff, this one’s a treat. It earns four stars for its heartfelt chemistry.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing the ARC.

#bookstagram #bookreview #romancebooks #booklover #bibliophile #netgalley

3.5 Stars! This is the second book in ‘The MaCabe Brothers’ series and can be read as a standalone. The main characters are Callum and Juniper and I loved him but she was too much of a ‘female dog’ at first and she just annoyed me. She does get better though. He has been into her since he first met her, even though she was with his brother at the time. Duel points of view, plenty of banter, a couple of sexy time scenes, & a grumpy(her)/sunshine(him) trope where he falls first. Not sure why he fell for her when she wasn’t really a lovable character. I would’ve liked some more backstory but it may have been in the first book in the series that I didn’t read.
Callum’s Dad has Alzheimer’s so he’s dealing with all that entails and I have been dealing with my aunt with Alzheimer’s so I understand the difficulty and heartache involved in helping care for a loved one with health issues.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

Juniper and Callum…. I can feel so much tension in between the pages! Definitely enjoyed this more than the previous but it kept me so hooked!

I really love everything about this book! It is my favorite among the two for sure!! The plot for both main chapters was so good! I also love the family aspect for both of them, the FMC was adopted! I also love that it also talked about Alzheimer’s with his dad. I also just have a love an appreciation for a strong facing FMC and Jupiter was definitely that! Also can we talk about their occupations!! I love that she runs an inn and he is a vet. I also love the nickname that she thinks up for him! I also love the banter and the back and forth they have!

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (0-5)
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (0-5) I bump up for public-ish places/outdoor spaces

What I'm Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 Mccabe brothers. Scotland. Brother's ex-fiancée. Do I really need to say anything else?
🤩 These voices and accents are such a treat--beautiful audiobook entertainment from Rebecca McClay & Russ Bain.
🤩 The whole reason Juniper & Callum become enemies, trying to avoid their attraction.
🤩 Because--forbidden!
🤩 I adore how June thinks of Callum in Ken doll characters.
🤩 All the banter and so many antics.
🤩 Scottish village--their jobs are great. He's a vet with a therapy rabbit for a pet and she's runs Ivy House, the inn her adoptive parents own.
🤩 I love a let's make a deal!
🤩 All the adventures, especially the waterfall!
🤩 Isle of Sky Guidebook--cleverly written, so captivating.
🤩 Yeah, these two are hot once they give in.
🤩 It's always been you.
🤩 Beautifully written dementia representation.

What I'm Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 Did I ever figure out the title connection? Maybe to remind us of the rocks by the waterfall?!

Scotch On The Rocks by Elliot Fletcher 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Put me in a box and ship me off to Scotland so I can meet my own version of a Macabe brother, please and thank you. I LOVE this series so much! They can be read standalone but to get the full experience I highly recommend reading them in order. I had the best time reading this. It was full of yearning and banter and goodness. Plus the setting is so dreamy and makes me desperately want to go to Scotland.

Juniper was once engaged to a Macabe brother, but they ended up splitting up. Now she is back in her hometown that also happens to be the small town where her ex-fiances family lives. Now everyday she ends up running into Callum... aka the super hot, small town hero who is also her ex-fiances brother. I know this dynamic may seem a bit taboo but it's so perfectly done here! Juniper tries to set rules to avoid the Macabe brothers but Callum doesn't make it easy with him always stepping in to help her with whatever she needs and just being there for her.

Callum was so down bad for Juniper from the first day he set eyes on her. Meanwhile Juniper is someone who is hesitant to open herself up to people and uses her black cat reputation as a shield of sorts. Callum will gladly take any attention he can get from her even if it will only be her biting insults and dismissive comments. He ends up breaking the walls she's built down bit by bit, proving that he is someone who sees all of her and will always be there for her. Despite Callum being the happy go lucky guy on the outside, he is someone who carries too much on his own to try to ease any worry or stress for his family. Juniper recognizes this in him and wants to be the person who is there for and takes care of him.

There's a lot of hesitancy, understandably, from them both to act on and admit the feelings they have for each other. The build up and tension is so, so good and makes it that much more rewarding when they finally do.

🩺 he’s a vet
🐈‍⬛ black cat fmc
🤭 brother’s ex fiancé
🦮 golden retriever mmc
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 small town Scotland
🐾 includes a cat and a rabbit
👏🏻 no third act breakup

dual POV
5/5 stars ⭐️
2.5/5 spice level 🌶️

This is the kind of pining I need from my MMC. I read this one without having read the first in the series and was able to follow along just fine. The book was angsty, romantic, and funny.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperAudio, and Avon and Harper Voyager for both the ARC and ALC

Story 4 ⭐️
Narration 4 1/2 ⭐️

This was such a fun read, and my first by this author. The banter between Juniper and Callum was perfect, and some of the best black cat/golden retriever trope I’ve read in a while. Their chemistry felt so natural, and the growth of their relationship realistic, and I loved how they let each other see things they didn’t share with others. And the yearning, you have to love a man who has yearned for her for years, and is determined to prove she’s worth everything. The writing was well done, funny, yet emotional. One of my favorite things is when after a couple gets together the snarky banter stays, because why should you lose the spark that ignited everything in the first place.

Russ Bain and Rebecca McClay were amazing narrators and managed to capture the passion, humor, heartbreak, and yearning so well that it gripped you. And the accents, who doesn’t love a Scottish accent

After reading the first book in this series, I was super excited to read June and Callum‘s story. He yearns for her! June is prickly and grumpy and she’s also his brother‘s ex fiancé, but he has wanted her from the first moment he saw her. All of their banter is just him desperate to get a second chance with her. This book was so good. Dare I say even better than the first. And now I’m here wanting brother number three to get his book but also let’s not forget the McCabe sister!

Thank you, Avon and Harper Voyager and #Netgalley for the ARC and exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Listen, I am a SUCKER for a man who yearns for someone he cannot have. And Callum McCabe YEARNS.

Imagine seeing a woman and instantly falling in love with her, then finding out she’s with your younger brother. You watch them get engaged and their relationship fall apart, and you desperately want her, but you can’t have her…..and now she also hates you.

I fell in love with Elliot’s writing last year when I found Whisky Business, and trust me when I say I was dying for Scotch on the Rocks to come out - and it did not disappoint.

Callum and Juniper are the perfect black cat x golden retriever, will they/won’t they duo. He is sunshine, she is a storm cloud, and they are perfect for each other. Their banter and the way that they so tenderly cared for each other when allowed was so beautiful - once again, Elliot has written a pairing whose romance feels so tangible and organic.

This series has quickly become one of my all-time faves, and I CAN’T wait to see how the rest of the series develops!!

Read this if you’re looking for:
🥃 Grumpy x sunshine
🥃 He’s loved her for years
🥃 Isle of Skye setting
🥃 She’s his brother’s ex-fiancée
🥃 Innkeeper FMC x Veterinarian MMC
🥃 Letting people past your walls
🥃 Banter in Scottish accents

Thanks to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the eARC and a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a quick and swoon worthy read! And it made me want to visit Scotland really bad! Juniper and Callum first meet on the train, when Callum is instantly love struck. Juniper turns him down, and later Callum quickly learns why. Juniper is his brother’s new girlfriend. Years later, after her breakup and one more steamy encounter with Callum, Juniper finds herself single and back in Skye. Callum, who couldn’t forget her no matter how hard he tried, makes it his goal to make her his.

I enjoyed how sweet Callum was in this book. It balanced well with Junipers black cat personality! Juniper having a black cat was hilarious and I enjoyed seeing the two of them come around to the idea of love at the same time in the book. It drove home just how much Juniper’s confidence in herself to be loved by others grew throughout the book.

My favorite part of this book was how messy the drama was! I ate up every part of it. Elliot Fletcher did not sugarcoat the nature of dating your ex’s brother. She allowed us to see the nitty gritty of what a strained family relationship would feel like in a situation like this one. It was raw, real, and so entertaining. Parts of it, especially Callum and Alastair’s confrontation were like a train wreck you couldn’t turn away from but in the most exhilarating way.

At times, I felt like the story line with Juniper and her adoptive mom was put on the back burner. After Juniper and Callum complete their project, it’s really not discussed or touched on again until after her mom gets back from vacation. I wish this had been a bit more woven into the story as it felt a bit random in the back half of the book.

This was a solid read and entertaining read for me! I look forward to what comes next with the Macabe brothers.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books, and Harper Voyager for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

4.5/5 ⭐️ 3 🌶️
Goodreads review posted on: 07/07/2025

Juniper and Callum’s story was hilariously entertaining while also being incredibly sweet at the same time. Shakespeare was the best side character, keeping Callum and Juniper involved while being the sweetest cat ever. Juniper was previously engaged to Allister Macabe but is currently falling for Callum Macabe, Allister’s brother. Callum is fighting the emotions that Juniper invokes and Juniper is doing the same. While this is happening, there are many different familial elements for both Callum and Juniper that keep the reader engaged in the story.

The writing (and audio) were great and helped add an extra edge to the story. The audio was definitely engaging during the spicier scenes🌶️😉 and I was totally fangirling over Callum’s back and forth teasing and flirting with Juniper. Overall 4.5/5 stars and thank you NetGalley for both the ebook and audiobook ARC/ALCs!

I really loved the first book in this series, but this one just didn't live up to that. This story focuses too much on the physical attraction between our two love interests for me to buy that they have actual chemistry or compatibility outside of their lust for each other. I think the author was aiming for more spice with this one, but that's not the only thing I want in a romance book.

Loved this Scottish Rom-Com! Juniper and Callum were amazing characters to explore, with Juniper's deep seeded fear of not being enough, and Callum finally having a chance with the one who got away (even though she was his brother's fiancé). Set on the gorgeous island of Skye, this romance is a journey.

Come for the steamy forbidden love, intense yearning, and small town antics and stay for the tension, witty banter, and love story that will have you falling in love with Callum and Juniper.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC!

callum was the definition of down bad and i adoreddddd the way he fell for juniper.

he saw her first but he didn’t get her first. his brother did. after juniper’s failed engagement, she’s back on the isle of skye running an inn and she has an important rule: don’t speak to or even look at a mcabe brother. but when she needs help, callum is always there just popping up. but he’s her ex’s brother and it really wouldn’t be a good idea.

the tension between these two jumped off the pages. callum was so perfect and the way he was always there for juniper and caring for her got me so giddy. i loved juniper’s black cat energy so much. these two are soulmates and you can’t convince me otherwise!!

🎧 the audio was sooooo good!! the scottish accents and voice acting had me completely locked in and i listened and read this in one sitting because i could not part from them!!

thank you so much avon books and Harper audio for the gifted copies!!! this book was my favorite of june and I can’t wait for book 3.

what to expect
⟢ ex’s brother
⟢ black cat x golden retriever
⟢ small town
⟢ forbidden love

After reading Whiskey Business by Elliot Fletcher, I was very excited to receive an arc of Scotch on the Rocks. Since I loved the first book in this series I had a sneaking suspicion that I would love this one as well. I was correct on that hunch because this book was absolutely fantastic. Elliot Fletcher is a great writer that crafts beautiful love stories. Books that keep me interested from chapter one to the end, not to mention their full of characters that are so easy to love. Juniper and Callum’s love story was absolutely perfect. So much longing and angst, but I can’t forget the tension. It was palpable, their banter had me giggling and kicking my feet. And while the superficial things about their relationship were fantastic, the deep stuff is where it’s at. Juniper and Callum have this unique quality of being exactly what the other needs, it felt like they became each others home to me. Two people destined to cross paths and care for escorted. I can definitively say that I am hooked on this series and I can’t wait to read the next one. A big thank you to Elliot Fletcher and Harper Collin’s for an arc.

📖 Title: Scotch on the Rocks-The Macabe Brothers #2

✍🏾 Author: Elliot Fletcher-new to me author

📅Publication date: 7-8-25 | Read 7-6-25

📃 Format: eBook 384 pgs.


Genre:
*Women's/Adult Fic
*Rom-Com

Tropes:
*brother's ex-girlfriend
*forbidden romance
*forced proximity
*grumpy/sunshine
*small town
*neighbors
*frenemies to lovers
*he falls 1st
*age gap
*family drama
*2nd chance romance

👆🏾POV: dual, 1st person

⚠️TW: dementia, adoption, death of a parent

🌎 Setting: Kinleith, Scotland

Summary: When June's mother goes away on vacation, it's the perfect time to make renovations on their family's inn. She needs help when the plumber does an offal job. Enter Callum, her ex-fiancé's brother, to the rescue except he wants June to go on some dates with him. She agrees even though all they do is argue and antagonize each other. June discovers she actually likes Callum, but it's complicated.


👩🏾 Heroine: Juniper "June" Ross-30, renovating the Ivy House inn with her mother

👨🏾 Hero: Callum Macabe- 39, an army veteran vet and veterinarian

🎭 Other Characters:
*Fiona + Alexander-June's adoptive parents, father deceased
*Heather-Callum's sister, June's BFF
*Alistair-June's ex-fiancé-broke up 8 years ago/Callum's younger brother
*April + Malcolm-June's BFF and Callum's younger brother (the couple from [book: Whisky Business|98924172]

🤔 My Thoughts: I loved their fake feud and witty banter. Their relationship was like being a child and liking someone, so you beat them up.

Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level 4/5 🌶️

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager| Avon, and Elliot Fletcher for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.