LOVED LOVED LOVED. Absolutely brilliant. Couldn't put it down. Didn't want it to end. FABULOUS READ!!

3* A light read.

After a few psychological thrillers I felt in need of something light, amusing or romantic to read, preferably a combination of all three. According to the publisher's blurb, Scotch on the Rocks sounded promising.

Callum Macabe fell for Juniper Ross at first sight, his hopes were soon dashed when he discovered that she's his brother's girlfriend, soon to become fiancé. Even after Alistair and Juniper break up, Callum can't make a move on his younger brother's ex. Years later, Callum and Juniper have both returned to the small town on the Isle of Skye where they grew up, he's the local vet and she's helping to run her family Inn. Avoiding each other is impossible, whenever they meet Callum teases Juniper and she responds by insulting him. Juniper fears rejection and keeps everyone at arm's length, making Callum's decision to win her particularity challenging.

My reason for only a 3* rating. When they finally get together (no spoiler, this is a romance), Callum switches from an easy-going admirer to a jealous, domineering lover. And their date to swim in the Fairy Pools - pure Hollywood fantasy. The month was October, freezing wind was mentioned, even in summer the water is notoriously frigid and the Pools are a 'must see destination' for every tourist, making the location neither private nor warm enough for a romantic tryst.

Suspend your belief and the book's enjoyable.

With thanks to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

This is book 2 of the McCabe brothers series following Whisky Business.
"Scotch on the Rocks" absolutely stole my wee heart as a Scottish girlie!. From start to finish, it was the cutest, most heartwarming read. I’m honestly gutted it’s over. The way the author painted the Isle of Skye and wee village life was pure magic. Just perfection.

The characters? I’m obsessed. Juniper is my whole personality now—strong, soft, and so real. And Callum? A total dreamboat. The very definition of healthy masculinity, and the way he yearns for her? I swooned. Their chemistry sparkled like the loch in the sunshine, and I loved how they gave each other space to grow and heal as the story takes place over so many years. Every side character added their own flavour, making the story feel warm and genuine, like a cosy Highland pub full of charm.

The pacing was spot on, and the writing flowed like a dram of good whisky—smooth, warm, and just what I needed. If you're in the mood for something light, romantic, and full of Scottish soul, this is the book. It’s like a warm hug wrapped in tartan.

Huge thanks to Harper Collins and Elliot Fletcher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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There is a moment in this book where Callum says « When something matters you take time with it », and it’s the most perfect way of describing him and the care and love he has for Juniper. He’s fallen hard and fast for her and has kept it to himself for years, letting her get over the breaking of her engagement with his brother, but still not letting her out of his sight. They live next to each other, and he takes care of her without her even realising. Juniper, on the other side, is guarded. Unfortunately, she has all the right reasons to be, no-one who should have stuck by her and love her has done so in the past. It’s a good thing Callum is patient, and ready to take his time with her, until she lets herself be loved.

I had adored Whisky Business and was impatiently waiting for Scotch on the Rocks - to the point I apparently preordered the book twice without realising it until now. Let me tell you this book was just as good. I fell in love with Callum and Juniper, with their messy history, with Callum’s endless pining for her and Juniper’s constant snarky (but lovely) attitude. I love how Callum loved all of her, including when she isn’t nice, and never expected her to change but instead encouraged her to be herself and showed her he’d love all versions of her, not just the easy ones.

If you love a romance where the guy is head over heels and would do anything for the girl he loves, this is the book for you!

Callum has been in love with his brother's ex girlfriend Juniper since he first laid eyes on her. Juniper is a 'black cat' fmc who doesn't trust easily but Callum does not let this stop him from trying to break down her walls. She is currently trying to work on her families B&B but with things not going to plan, Callum steps in. I absolutely loved how much Callum loved Juniper and it was a truly swoon worthy romance. There was the perfect amount of spice for me and the banter between the two throughout the story which made it enjoyable. This was my first book by this author and I would definitely read more!

Scotch on the Rocks was just the absolute cutest.
From the characters to the story, I loved everything, and I'm so sad that the book is finished.
The author described the Isle of Skye and life in a wee Scottish village with perfection.
On the characters' side, they are endearing and have real development. I am obsessed with Juniper; she is just the best. On the other end, Callum is such a good example of positive masculinity, and their chemistry is just everything (and the way he yearns for her...delicious). They give each other room to grow and heal.
Shout out to Shakespeare, who is the real main character in this book 🐈‍⬛
All the characters are unique and add to the story, making it even more authentic.
The pace and the words flow nicely; the story is captivating, a real page-turner.
The book was a good dose of positivity, cute and adorable, where I could see the Skye landscape and feel the weather on my skin. If you want to read something lighthearted and romantic that will transport you to rural Scotland, then this book is absolutely for you.

ARC review

4,5 stars

"Scotch on the Rocks" by Elliot Fletcher is the 2nd book in "The Macabe Brothers" series and follows the story of Callum and Juniper.

I received an advance reader copy of the book from HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

The Macabe Brother Rule Book (according to Juniper Ross):
- Don’t look at a Macabe brother
- Don’t talk to a Macabe brother
- Don’t even think about a Macabe brother
Of course she will break all these rules.

After reading "Whisky Business", I was looking forward to this story. And I liked it even more.
When Callum and Juniper met, she was his brother's girlfriend and became his fiancé later.
The main story takes place 4 years after she broke up with his brother, when they reunite in their hometown.

I liked their interactions a lot, there is a lot of banter and tension between them.
Juniper is struggling with abandonment issues and Callum with his dad's illness.
They are well developed characters that get to help each other and form a healthy relationship.
Callum was so in love with her for such a long time and he managed to slowly break down her walls.

The book has a also spice, but it is balanced with the plot.
Overall, this book convinced me to keep reading the series and made me love the small town in Scotland.

"You own me, sweetheart. Entirely."

Rating: 4.25/5

- small-town Scotland
- inn worker x veterinarian
- ex-boyfriend's brother
- he falls first
- age gap (he's 9 years older)
- black cat x golden retriever
- 🌶️🌶️/5
- dual pov

Such a perfect follow-up to Whisky Business!

Callum has been obsessed with Juniper since before she dated his brother. They shared a moment five years ago, but nothing ever came of it—until now. When Juniper needs help at the inn, Callum volunteers in exchange for dates with her. Yes, the man has a plan.

Juniper is the quintessential black cat heroine—snarky, guarded, and fiercely independent. A former foster kid, she's spent her life trying to make herself smaller, more accommodating, more palatable. But beneath that prickly exterior is a soft heart she only lets Callum see.

Callum, on the other hand, is a total golden retriever. Loyal, helpful to a fault, and constantly stretching himself thin for others. But Juniper sees through the act. They're more alike than either of them realises—both trying to meet impossible expectations, both quietly craving someone who truly sees them. Luckily, they find that in each other.

And wow, the chemistry! The banter! The tension! The soft moments! The yearning! Every lingering look and brush of skin is charged. And when these two finally come together? Let's just say Callum is very into letting Juniper take the lead 😉.

I'm loving this series and can't wait for the next instalment.

It was so great to go back to Kinlieth and be with these characters again. Juniper was one of my favourite side characters in Whisky Business so getting to be in her love story was such a wonderful time and I loved the way that her character developed throughout the story. Callum was such a great counterpart to Juniper. The quiet way that he loved her was so beautifully done and the way that Juniper remained herself but there was also some character growth was so beautifully done. I thought all the points of conflict were handled really well and I flew this book in a matter of hours. I was sad to say goodbye to the Isle of Skye again.

Elliot Fletcher’s Scotch on the Rocks is a deliciously spicy enemies-to-lovers romance set against the rugged and breathtaking backdrop of the Isle of Skye. Callum Macabe is instantly drawn to Juniper Ross — sharp-witted, sarcastic, and undeniably stunning — but there’s a catch. His brother Alistair was the one who won her heart first, and despite their split five years ago, Callum wrestles with the unspoken bro code.

The tension between Callum and Juniper crackles with witty banter and unresolved feelings, making this a compelling read that effortlessly blends heartfelt moments with lighthearted fun. Fletcher’s writing flows smoothly, capturing the unique charm of small-town island life and the complexities of love and loyalty.

A must-read for fans of contemporary romance with a Scottish twist.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I was so excited to read this after finishing 'Whiskey Business', Fletcher is absolutely magic at spinning in tension and emotional moments to incredibly fun books. The black cat heroine in Juniper complimented Callum's golden retriever energy so well, and their banter was incredible and made it nearly impossible to put this book down. The expertise in solving the conflict of the 'ex fiancé's brother' trope, and expertly made the characters inevitable, and all the other issues they faced were merely side plots to the ultimate story.

The moments where we as the reader got to explore the Scottish landscape were outstanding, and added a special addition to the beauty of this story.

This book was a breath of fresh air! I wasn’t the biggest fan of the first in this series, however Scotch on the Rocks was amazing!

Callum & Juniper’s dynamic was so fun and easy, I fell in love with both of them immediately. I loved their whole journey, and thought the story dealt with the issues explored (early childhood abandonment, adoption, Alzheimer's) very thoughtfully.

Definitely recommend this as a great summer romance read! 💕

This series is one of the best romance series I’ve ever read. Sweet, spicy and cute af. Plus NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP!!

Scotch on the Rocks was the perfect Gollum up to whisky Business. I loved it.

Scotch on the Rocks was such a fun and emotional small town romance.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Callum and Juniper, he’s sweet and caring, while she’s tough and guarded, and watching them fall for each other was so satisfying.
Their chemistry was great, and the banter between them kept me hooked. I loved the Scottish setting and learning more about the Isle of Skye, it really added a cosy, charming vibe to the story.
There were some deeper themes like adoption, family struggles, and caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, which added a lot of emotional baggage to the story and enhanced the character growth in my opinion. I do wish we got more background on Juniper’s past with Alistair, and some parts felt a little rushed, but overall, I really enjoyed it. Callum’s love for Juniper was swoony and sweet, and I loved seeing her slowly open up. I’m already excited to read the next book in the series!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

I powered through this in two sittings and could not put it down! April and Mal’s story in Whisky Business was so sweet and fun, but Juniper and Callum’s book had me by the throat.

Be warned, the back and forth banter / heated arguments are so tension filled that the story sizzles with it all the way through. Not only that, but the depth to these characters adds so much more to the book than your typical romance. I really felt attached to both our MCs and their own progression, as well as their love story.

Callum Macabe, the man that you are! I was hooked on him from the first chapter and every one after that had me melting a little more each time. I went into this not realising it was a brothers-ex type scenario and if you’d have asked me before hand? I’d probably have said it didn’t sound like my thing, but boy would I have been wrong on this one.

Juniper is an emotionally closed off and angry FMC who’s been hurt so many times, but also turns out to be very relatable. The slow burn connection building between the two had me eating out of the palm of Elliot Fletcher’s hand and don’t get me started on the YEARNING.

We’ve also got our other band of characters from book one joining the fray, which adds a fun element to the story on top of the main romance plot. All-in-all, I loved this book and definitely recommend jumping into this series if it’s not already on your radar.

If that isn’t enough to convince you to add this to your tbr, here are a few of the key tropes you’ll find in Scotch on the Rocks to tempt you further:

• he falls first (and down BAD harder)
• reverse grumpy / sunshine
• neighbours
• brother’s ex-fiancé (forbidden romance)
• age gap
• small town scottish romance
• heaps of sexual tension
• open-door spicy

Thrilled to be back with the Macabe brothers for another book. Was very impressed with Whisky Business but Scotch On The Rocks has exceeded all expectations. The time jumps worked so well to really set the tone between Callum and Juniper and the pacing of the story flowed really well, making their relationship journey exactly that, a journey.

Loved both of the MC’s and this is a book I will be purchasing upon release and will be rereading.

It also set up nicely for Alistairs book and I’m excited to see what is going on with him.

Scotch on the Rocks is the second book in the Macabe Brother’s series. When I recently read book one, Whisky Business, it was a wonderful surprise, so I immediately requested this next instalment and approached it high expectations. Scotch on the Rocks is / has:
• F/M opposites attract (black cat FMC, golden retriever MMC)
• Off limits – Callum is June’s ex-fiancé’s and best friend’s older brother
• ‘It’s always been you’ / he falls first
• Dual POV, interconnected stand-alone.

This was another well-crafted romance story, that had interesting (and heartbreaking) themes alongside the romance plot.

I liked Callum and June from book one, and my feelings for them grew exponentially in Scotch on the Rocks. June is wonderfully prickly but also misunderstood by many around her. Callum is the local vet that is funny and well liked but juggling everything and taking on other’s burdens. They have history, explored in the opening chapters, that creates a very light ‘enemies’ dynamic and banter / exchanges that I ate up. The romance was excellent, there was a simmering tension, and I loved how they ended up accommodating each other and building trust and intimacy. (An aside, Callum has so many good lines and swoony moments).

This was a genuinely funny, moments had me laughing (there’s a video call that had me howling). Having these light moments was a good contrast and relief to some of the weightier themes explored. Themes included, adoption and foster care (and the impacts these can have on the individual), life after loss, difficult parent/child relationships, caring responsibilities and a family member with Alzheimer’s.

Regardless of how much I enjoyed the relationship, moments and discussions between June and Callum, I did find the off-limits element to be a challenge at times. It felt like an elephant in the room, I wish there was more back story about why June and Alistair’s relationship broke-down. And the resolution to this element (although maybe only partial) felt hurried.

However, this is still an excellent follow-up and I would highly recommend this series. I'm looking forward to the next one.

A Scottish romance where he falls first, age gap. forbidden romance, sold!
This was so much fun excellent banter, spice and plot ratio I absolutely loved the writing of this book and felt the writing had gotten even better from whiskey business!
If you need a perfect summer romance read this book is the one for you!

The yearning, the chemistry, the tension, the humour... a full course meal.

It was so easy to fall into this book, the story and characters flowed so well and grabbed me right from the start. I was already intrigued and excited for these characters' story from the brief insight we were given in Whisky Business and I am so happy that the wait for this book was worth it.

I looked forward to all the interactions between the main leads, the build up and the witty back and forth between the two of them just kept you turning the page and jumping into the next chapter. I enjoyed that whilst the humour and banter between the two was evident in their relationship, I also enjoyed that we got to see more depth to the relationship between the two and the main character individually. The tender and angsty moments were able to add the depth and solidify the relationship between the main leads but the vulnerability and imperfections of the characters also let the readers connect with them as well.

It was additionally enjoyable that we got scenes involving the main two characters away from the romance. I loved getting more back story into the main leads and also that the readers are given more insight and updates in the Macabe family. It was so nice to have the cameos of previous characters and the introductions of new side characters and I also liked that we got more glimpses into the Macabe family dynamic - especially between the brothers.

Overall, so good and enjoyable that it took an embarrassingly long time to make sure I gushed my love for this book in a way that made sense 🤭 p.s. also hoping that we will be getting a third Macabe brother book... 👀

Thank you so much to the Team at Harper Fiction for sending me this eARC!

Scotch on the Rocks was incredible, I absolutely devoured this! I think this is going to be in my top books of 2025.

Juniper and Callum are great together and the slightly forbidden aspect made for some wonderful tension, plus the yearning from Callum was top notch. The black cat x golden retriever trope is done brilliantly, I loved the banter - it was witty and fun without feeling forced.

There is quite a prominent plotline involving a parent with Alzheimer's, which I struggled with a little bit but it's handled respectfully and wasn't used to cause drama. There's also no third-act breakup which I love!