Scotch on the Rocks

The Macabe Brothers #2

by Elliot Fletcher

Opposites attract in this sexy Scottish romance between a young woman and the man who is completely off-limits, from the author of Whisky Business.

The Macabe Brother Rule Book (according to Juniper Ross):

Don’t look at a Macabe brotherDon’t talk to a Macabe brotherDon’t even think about a Macabe brotherIt’s pretty tough for June to follow her own rules, considering one brother is in love with her best friend, one is her ex-fiancé, and one … well, one is super-hot, small-town hero Callum Macabe.

But when Callum seems to be popping up everywhere, especially when Juniper is at her most vulnerable, it’s hard not to imagine just how good breaking a rule might feel.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Scotland, Small Town Romance, Enemies To Lovers

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 5, 2025

Reviews

[Tarah DeWitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yoooo this sh*t HIT THE SPOT.
Angst 🍴
Prose 🍴
Character work 🍴
DELICIOUS tension and spice 🍴
Yum yum yum dinner and dessert is served I devoured it in a sitting !!!!!!

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was love at first sight for him, but then he learned she was dating his brother. Fast-forward, both Callum and Juniper are older and wiser. Juniper's broken engagement resulted in a list of rules regarding the Macabe brothers which fly out the window when Callum works his way into her life and her heart.

I am going to get this out of the way - I am not a fan of books where people get into relationships with one of their relative's exes. It's too complicated and there is a bit of an ick factor for me. With that said, I did adore this pairing. I was often able to forget June's past with Cal's brother and simply be in the moment with them. They had great energy and so much heat between them. I loved how Cal was all in, and their verbal sparring often made me giggle.

Callum was quite a wonderful hero. He had a soft side which rubbed off on June, and I wanted that for her. June was a bit hardened from her past as an abandoned infant and foster child. Though she was adopted by loving parents, she always felt she could lose their love at a moments notice. Cal gave her the security that she needed to feel like she could be loved while being her true self. As for Callum, he was the fixer type who was taking care of everyone, and finally, there was someone to look after him. This part of the story really touched my heart.

There were tons of fun moments and lots of Macabe family time to enjoy as well. It's always a thrill catching up with old friends, and seeing April and Mal thriving was a great thing. There was definitely something amiss with Alistair which I anticipate learning more about with the next book. Overall, I was thrilled to return to this world!

And, I just want to leave this thought right here to keep it out in the universe - After Alistair's book, I really hope Fletcher has an HEA in line for the Macabe sister!

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[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️| TikTok | IG |

THIS is how you start a book!

I love when a book starts with a bang and boy does this one.

I read Whisky Business last year and had such a good time with it I knew I needed to jump on this one! It did not disappoint and dare I say, the author has stepped up her craft! This is one you won’t want to miss!

What’s to love…
- black cat FMC + Golden retriever MMC (reverse grumpy/sunshine)
- He’s is down BAD for her
- forbidden romance (ex-fiancee’s brother)
- age-gap (9 years)
- A++++ banter and tension
- well-developed characters (and a side of trauma, and healing)
- Isle of Sky (small-town) Scotland setting
- dual POV (so we get to see how much of a simp the MMC is)
- SPICY 🌶️ - a little edging, a little teasing, perfectly placed and utterly delicious!

What’s not to love…
- because the beginning was such a BANG the acing then felt a bit off as we dialed back the tension and steam - in the end it was overall well paced but it initially lost my attention for a brief moment.

🌶️ - This is spicy, open door and explicit. This one might be hard to skip the spice scenes if thats your preference. Those who appreciate a nice balance of plot and spice will find this one has plenty of plot but also plenty of of spice. Chapters with spicy bits are: Glasgow Three Years Later, 18, 23, 29, 34, 35, 37

Audio Narration: 4/5 Enjoyable listen. Solid on inflection & pausing. Definitely one you need to speed up, it sounds a little slow at 1x. My biggest complaint in the character voice variations within each POV. There isn’t much change and it can sometimes make it hard to distinguish who’s who.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scotch on the Rocks is an 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 her family's inn and give it a new look—and Callum, her ex-fiancé's brother and the man who 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!

~Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

[☆EmilyEverAfter☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing for a copy of *Scotch on the Rocks* in exchange for an honest review.

Alexa, play "You Should Probably Leave" by Chris Stapleton. ❤️

Um, hello! I gobbled this up! Love at first sight, brother's ex fiancé. The banter was spectacular from page one. His nickname for her is Harpy, and I have never loved a nickname so much. When I say this man is pathetic for her, whimpering for her, begging for her.. Good god, the tension was like walking a tightrope. He takes her hiking! [I LOVE HIKING], and he wears a kilt, a fucking KILT, y'all. I was swooning.

Juniper is a prickly character, a total black cat personality. While she is snarky and funny, she's also been hurt a lot and honestly feels kinda insecure. [Relatable] I really enjoyed the way these characters grew together and became better people all around. This was a deep yet incredibly funny love story. 🥰

[Soft Nectarine ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The definition of forbidden love is falling for your brother’s EX-fiancé! I fear this one was ruined for me by the terrible narrators.

Callum has loved Juniper ever since he first saw her and years after she’s broken up with his brother he still can’t forget her 👀 He loves to tease her & craves her snarky retorts just to conceal his true feelings!

💙These two definitely fight their way into love.💙

Not sure if it was the flat delivery (especially the female narrator) or the messiness of her flip flopping feelings that made me lukewarm to this love story. The story did too many things at once rather than doing one trope well. Callum was unserious & gruff manly man but then also gave up all the control in the bedroom. Juniper was sarcastic and very emotionally insecure but then wanted to give dominatrix vibes in the bedroom. It just didn’t add up for me! Or maybe it was all the narrator’s fault…

My favourite moment: Callum discovering her new piercings & tattoos while undressing her under the waterfall

I did enjoy the vulnerable conversations about feeling (un)lovable and the slowly building bond between Juniper & Callum. I think Callum’s character definitely did the heavy lifting.

3.75 ⭐️ DON’T LISTEN TO THE AUDIOBOOK!

forbidden love
brother's ex
he falls first
slow burn
he’s obsessed with her piercings
animal lovers
HEA

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Mira · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in The Macabe Brothers series. Callum fell for Juniper eight years ago, but she was dating his brother—and even got engaged to him—so she became completely off-limits. Now Juniper is back in Kinleith to help with the hotel while her mom is on vacation, but the place needs serious repairs… and only Callum can help.

These two already caught my attention in the first book—their chemistry was undeniable.
The beginning really pulled me in, but after a while, things started to feel a bit repetitive. There were plenty of events, but not much real plot development, in my opinion. The focus leaned more toward physical attraction than building an emotional connection between the characters.

Still, I really enjoyed the remote Scottish island setting, the humor, and I was happy to see the characters from book one again.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓black cat/golden retriever
✓ex-fiancé’s brother
✓enemies to lovers
✓age gap
✓hero falls first
✓slow burn

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager (Avon) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Mora · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

I really liked the H and wanted to rate this higher for him but the h and the other man drama really got to me here. And that’s rare for me… I usually don’t even mind OMD.
______

Safety:

— Age gap (9): H (39) / h (30)
— Forbidden (she’s his brother’s ex-fiancee)
— Second chance (see below)
— Black cat x Golden retriever
— Small town
— Slow burn
— He falls first and harder
— No virgins:
╰┈➤ Both are experienced.
╰┈➤ The H has been celibate for 5 years (turns out the H’s playboy reputation from the previous book wasn’t true).
╰┈➤ The h has been celibate for like a year.
— Slight OW:
There’s this wannabe woman who’s been chasing after the H for like 6 months. At first he just ignored her because he didn’t want to hurt her feelings but later he told her that he wasn’t interested at all. Still she kept pushing. She hates the h and causes a bit of drama out of jealousy but the H finally got fed up with her crap and put her in her place.
(PS: The H kissed ow once when they were drunk at 16 (off-page)… and then immediately threw up on her, so not exactly a big deal lol).
— OM:
The h brings up her ex a lot and she even compares him to the H multiple times.
At one point the ex shows up and tries to talk to her and fix things between them. He ends up causing a bit of drama when he finds out she’s now involved with his brother.
— No cheating/scenes with other people
— No 3rd act break up
— Push away from the h
— HFN

Trigger :

— Emotional abuse (the H’s father)
— The H's father has Alzheimer's
— Loss of loved one (the h’s foster father)
��� Child abandonment (the h’s biological parents) :
The h has major abandonment and rejection issues. Her biological mom left her when she was a baby and she spent most of her childhood in foster care. Then her fiance—who claimed she was the love of his life—ended up leaving her too proving he never really loved her enough. And after the breakup her best friend (aka the H’s/ex’s sister) also dropped her. So she doesn’t trust anyone anymore, hates asking for help and keeps all her real feelings bottled up. A big part of her storyline focuses on this but the book ended without actually resolving any of it 😕.
•
•
•
SPOILERS‼️

➥ This book starts 8 years ago when the H (Callum) was on his way home to meet his brother (Alistair) and his new girlfriend. That’s when the H and h (Juniper) met for the first time on a train. And he fell for her at first sight… only to be completely shocked when his brother introduced her as his girlfriend. So of course the H kept his feelings hidden for years and tried to stay away from her.

“From that moment on, I locked my feelings deep inside my chest. I flirted and taunted and threatened to steal her away from my brother in the night. I ruffled her hair and flicked her nose like a big brother would.
But mostly … I avoided her, because every time I saw Juniper Ross, she owned me a little bit more.”

➥ The h was deeply in love with the H’s brother, they were together for years and even engaged. But when her dad got sick and she had to go back to her hometown to take care of him, her ex didn’t want to leave the city with her. He basically abandoned her when she needed him most.

“You ended things over a bloody video call, Alistair,” I hissed, glancing around to make sure no one overheard us. “You said I was the love of your life, got down on one knee and asked me to marry you, then only six months later – just after my dad had died, no less – you broke up with me in a two-minute conversation”

➥ I didn’t realize this book had a second chance trope!!

A year after the h broke up with her ex-fiance (and five years before the present timeline) she met the H at a bar. There was instant chemistry between them and they just couldn’t resist—it led to a kiss and they were headed to a hotel to spend the night together… but the h totally ruined the moment by saying this:

“Now, Macabe.” Eyes fluttering closed, she fell back on her elbows. “Are you going to fuck me better than he ever did?”

“It was the tight squeeze of her eyes that had me stumbling back. If I continued, would it even be me fucking her? Or the memory of
him?”
* * *
“Allow me to be crystal clear this time.” My eyes bounced between hers. “I wanted to fuck you because you’re you, that never changes. But I also knew why you wanted me. I’m not a good man, sweetheart. I’ve betrayed my brother in my mind more times than I can count, and I couldn’t have lived with myself if I’d selfishly taken what you offered when it was little more than pain-fuelled revenge for you.” Biggest regret of my life. Well, second, it sat right below letting Alistair meet her first.”

Turns out the h was still hung up on the H’s brother at the time and the H realized it too. So he stopped things and told her he couldn’t sleep with her. But of course she got mad and took it as just another rejection.

(For context: they kissed, ended up in the car and the H was literally about to go down on her when he suddenly processed what she said, so he pulled back immediately. Nothing actually happened between them except some dirty kissing).

About their whole celibacy situation after that night:

Five years after that night, the two kept seeing each other a lot since they’re neighbors. The H is still totally in love with the h, completely obsessed and kinda desperate for her. He keeps flirting and teasing her nonstop just hoping to get something out of her. And even though she tries to ignore him, he really knows how to push her buttons.

~ So the H has been celibate for 5 years (since that night they kissed).

“rumours around the village suggested I slept about, but the truth was, a monk had seen more action than I had in recent years. The last time a woman so much as touched me was so long ago, I couldn’t even recall her face. Not that I’d tell Juniper that, I had some pride left.”
* * *
“I was man enough to admit she’d struck me stupid, following me to my car, tempting me until I could scarcely remember my own name. I’d been half crazed from a single taste. If I’d hoped it would be enough to cure my need for her, I’d been sadly, foolishly mistaken. My balls were still blue five years later.”

~ As for the h, she wasn’t celibate:

“How many men have touched you since that night?”
“Probably fewer than you think.”
“That’s all you’ll give me?”
* * *
“I hadn’t so much as touched a man for almost a year before this thing with Callum”

➥ The h got on my nerves for most of the book. I just couldn’t connect with her. She kept pushing the H away, constantly denying her feelings and it was obvious she wasn’t over her ex-fiance. No she wasn’t still in love with him but she was still hurt and the book focused so much on that. 🙄 It took her forever to finally move on and stop freaking out about the possibility of getting hurt again.

When her ex showed up (around 56%) and they saw each other for the first time in six years, she totally panicked. She looked wrecked and cried in front of him and the H! I get that she never processed how badly he hurt her but that moment really bugged me. The ex still had that much of an emotional effect on her and I just felt bad for the H having to stand there and watch it, probably thinking she still had feelings for his brother.

Also that small unnecessary scene where the H told his brother about his relationship with the h… and she got mad at him for it!! Like she was all “you made a scene, you embarrassed me”. Girl you were literally dancing with your ex while wearing your engagement dress… of course the H got jealous and I don’t blame him tbh. But yeah… she ruined it for me again.
(I didn’t like that she still kept the dress, let alone wore it when she finally decided to confront her ex. Like… what was the point? Her reason for wearing it didn’t even convince me–see below).

“Alistair was back in Kinleith.
It felt as though he’d crossed an invisible boundary line, spinning all my carefully crafted calm out of control. The control that Callum had been chipping away at for weeks now, if I was being honest.”
* * *
“I wasn’t certain what had affected me more. Seeing Alistair for the first time since he shattered my heart or his brief head tilt when he’d spotted Callum and I together.”
* * *
“It can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because it can’t go anywhere (she means the relationship between her & the H).” And the longer it went on, the more dangerous a game we were playing.
April folded her arms. “At the threat of sounding repetitive, but again, why?”
“Alistair! They all have so much going on right now with Jim, I’m an extra problem they don’t need.”
“Alistair gets zero say in your love life. And I’ve seen the way Callum looks at you, you’re the furthest thing from a problem for him.”

➥ The h still had her engagement ring and the H saw it (she gives it back to her ex near the end). She even kept her engagement dress.

“My brows flew up, about to ask what the hell that meant, when Callum’s attention slid from the game to the sideboard. The ring box I usually kept hidden in my junk drawer sat open, the diamond glinting in the fresh band of sunlight filtering through the window. Everything with Callum had left me feeling … muddled and I’d pulled it out last night to torture myself. I must have forgotten to put it away.
The floor tilted. My steps slow and choppy as I rushed to snap the lid shut. I knew it was too late. The pinch of his lips told me he’d already seen the contents.
Neither of us spoke for a long moment. The seconds passing almost audibly when I refused to look at him.
Then he was at my side, his large hand covering mine, skin surprisingly rough as he slipped the box from my fingers and brushed a thumb over the closed lid. “Why do you still have it?”
“To remember—” The words rose up my throat, tangling at the tip of my tongue. “Someone can swear you’re the love of their life a thousand times, that doesn’t make it true.”
He set it back on the sideboard carefully. “Did he cheat on you?”
The question surprised me. Had he and Alistair never spoken about this? “Does it matter?”
“Of course it matters.”
No, he hadn’t cheated. Sometimes I wished he had so I could look back and pinpoint the moment it all went wrong. A reason to rage and scream. A reason to burn his pictures and cut up his clothes. When a person abandons you for the simple reason of not loving you enough, everything becomes very … quiet. A small wound that lingers, festering beneath the surface.
* * *
“You look like a fucking queen in his dress. You keep his ring on your sideboard like a goddamned trophy, what am I supposed to think, Juniper? I told myself over and over again that it didn’t matter, so long as I got to keep you.”
“The only reason I wore this dress is because I look phenomenal in it and thanks to you I’ve finally reached a point where I don’t look at it and feel terrible about myself. I didn’t think you’d even recognise it.”

“The past few weeks have helped me realise— you have helped me realise that I’ve been using it (her engagement ring) as a kind of physical representation of how unlovable I am.”

➥ The h compared the H to his brother several times but it was enough to really irritate me.

“His light brown hair, the exact same shade as Alistair’s”
* * *
“the blue eyes he shared with Alistair flashing a sharp cobalt.”
* * *
“He’d grown more handsome in the year since I’d seen him, features a little more chiselled with age, the scruff of facial hair a little longer. I used to find him too rugged, favouring Alistair’s more refined features.”
* * *
“Better than Alistair?”
I pursed my lips, considering. “Different. It’s hard to fully compare. Sex with Alistair was always incredible, but this was … I don’t know, charged. In a way I’ve never experienced before.”
* * *
“in true Callum Macabe fashion, his stream of chatter didn’t halt. The man could be six feet below water and still find a way to steal the conversation. One of the most obvious differences between him and Alistair, Callum didn’t simply speak, he performed. A born storyteller. When passionate, his eyes dazzled and he embellished with his hands like a conductor leading a symphony, making it all the more impossible not to get drawn in.”
* * *
“I couldn’t pinpoint precisely when it happened, but the starling blue Macabe eyes had morphed into an affiliation with him, not a memory of Alistair.”
* * *
“His hair was shorter too. Shorter than I’d ever seen it. His shoulders were broader, ready to burst the seams of his thick navy jumper.
He looked good (her ex).
I hated that I noticed and compared, because Callum looked better.”
* * *
“I wanted him so badly (the H) that even Alistair’s return hadn’t curbed the hunger for long.”
* * *
“I squeezed his fingers. He squeezed right back, bringing his other hand around to cover my knuckles, holding on like I was a lifeline. I’d never been that for anyone. For my entire relationship with Alistair, he’d been the epitome of a stiff upper lip. Always in control. Rarely brought his work home with him. Never once needed to lean on me”
* * *
“Loving Alistair had been easy. And still it had broken me. I’d allowed it to break me.
This thing with Callum wasn’t love … not yet. It was worse – it was hope.”

➥ At one point the H mentioned that he actually heard the h and his brother having sex once.

“I heard the two of you fucking once, did you know that?”
What?
“You sighed his name, over and over and over. I thought I’d go insane from the sound of it.”

➥ The next book is gonna be about Alistair and I’m definitely skipping that one.
I’m just not into the whole “his ex-fiancee is now his brother’s wife” trope and his FMC will have to live around the ex all the time. Not just any ex — she was his best friend who knows him inside out.

“We were more than a couple, June, we were best friends. I failed at that.”

Plus I’m never gonna forget all the intimate stuff he shared with his ex/the FMC from this book (which she kept bringing up btw) and how they apparently had incredible sex…💀. That’ll just be stuck in my head the whole time. So hard pass.

The h & her ex:

“I’m not asking you to forgive me. I don’t expect you to.” When I came back to face him, the bleakness in his expression caught me off guard. “I know I don’t have the right to ask you for anything but … I feel like there’s this gaping hole in my chest and you’re the only person who can fill it.”
“Alistair … I’m not …” Shit, I couldn’t believe I had to say this. “I’m not in love with you anymore, I haven’t been for a long time.”
“I know that,” he said, a little hollowly. “I told you, I want to spend time with you. To be … friends.” His eyes, almost identical to Callum’s, flicked away as he spoke. Flustered. Hesitant. “Do you think it’s possible?” So damn hopeful.”
* * *
“Alistair gazed at her like she’d hung the fucking moon, eating up every word from her lips”
* * *
“Are you still in love with her?”
He was silent for long enough for that niggle to grow wings that lurched around stomach. “No. At least not in the way you think. Obviously, you know how impossible she makes it not to care about her, even when she’s infuriating.”

[b.andherbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Russ Bain and Rebecca McClay are EXCELLENT narrators. Re-read via audio and enjoyed it even more. the wee details (Callum's accurate wearing of a kilt, ahem, the power dynamics in their sexual relationship, shakespeare the cat) just made me smile, and hearing the scottish burr of "sweetheart" and "harpie" huzzah ! ! ! can't recommend this more.

as i read, i kept going was this book written for ME???? over and over again as my favorite tropes, settings, and character qualities/quirks/sexual dynamics were hit. Like, absolutely pitch perfect for me. Unicorn!

I loved Whisky Business, but holy smokes I am OBSESSED with Scotch on the Rocks. A prickly heroine who is ready to run before anyone else hurts her, an absolutely pining man who's been gone for her since forever, and a gorgeous Isle of Skye setting that has me ready to book a ticket to return to my beloved fairy pools. I haven't done {redacted} there before.

also it has been a hot second since a romance has made me blush and flustered, but the dirty talk is EXQUISITE in this one. I am hoping for great narrators because this would be an excellent listen. Prayers up people!

Author lists content notes in the back matter - do check, but does include dead parent/grief (in past), parent with declining cognitive health/dementia, blood from wounds (tended)


My full profesh review will be coming soon to Library Journal

[Liz Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Noi (in & out)]

21% in and I just don't care?
The first interactions were... odd. But then, they talked about a plumber like 5 times? Can we move on? I understand it's part of the plot, but I was just so bored.
------
I loved book one, but I've heard this one starts kinda rough?

[taylor ❤️‍🔥 · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝘪 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵, 𝘪 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”
“𝘪 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘪’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.”

callum met a woman 7 years ago and couldn’t tear himself away, only to find out that she was his little brothers girlfriend and soon fiancé juniper. burying his feelings for years, it isn’t until juniper moves home after a broken engagement that he finds that he can’t stay away, especially when she is in need.

OH MY GOD?! i thought that it couldn’t get better after the first book of the series but boy was i wrong. typically with interconnected story series it starts to just feel like a wash and repeat of the same book just with different characters. that is not the case with scotch on the rocks and it is so refreshing.

i found juniper to be such a complex character for the book being only 350(ish) pages. she’s a badass but at the same time insecure and entirely relatable. callum falls into a more typical golden retriever mmc, but you can see that he is such a people pleaser who looks out for everyone but himself (cue the: is this play about us? moment). oh and did i mention he’s a veterinarian? 😭✋🏻

i cannot wait for the next book in the series and here to hoping it’s alisters book. 🤭🤞🏻

what to expect:
🐈‍⬛ love at first sight
🐈‍⬛ he falls first
🐈‍⬛ she’s in charge 😏
🐈‍⬛ black cat x golden retriever/ grumpy x sunshine
🐈‍⬛ age gap

thank you elliot fletcher and avon books / harper collins publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review. 🫶🏻

[Natalie | nats.bookrecs · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ ex fiancées brother
✨ he falls first and harder
✨ HE YEARNS
✨ small town Scotland
✨ black cat x golden retriever
✨ 8 year age gap

Official an @elliotfletcherwrites fan account because what was this. One of my favorite reads of 2025, my love for her only grows. We all know how much I love Whisky Business I don’t think I could post about it more and her next release follows Mal’s brother and his brothers ex fiancée. And when I tell you this man is on HIS KNEES for 400 pages I mean it.

I’m not sure how to properly sum up this book. Juniper is back in her hometown helping her mother run her late father’s inn, and wanting to transform it into her dream. When her ex fiancée brother is always there. Teasing and taunting her, and being Skyes #1 golden boy. When she needs his help Callum finally sees that as his in with a juniper and to show her he’s always been the man for her. The push and pull, the tension, the slowly breaking down of a walled up angry FMC. I love the banter between them, the slowly breaking down and small moments these two share. The YEARNING. This book is perfection. The connection between these two jumps off the pages and you’re unable to put it down.

I finished this book and immediately wanted to pick it back up.

[Marie]

Well, this didn't go as planned.

Callum just gave me the ick. The way he acted in the beginning was ... not for me.
And don’t even get me started on his nickname for Juniper, I just couldn't do it.


___
Going to start all the books now that I have finally time to read again 🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️

[Masha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and to Avon as well as the author for providing me with this audio ARC, in exchange for my honest review.
I will say while I wasn't a huge fan of the first book in the series this one I LOVED!! Small town romance, she was married to his brother, love at first sight! The way Callum Macabe is with Juniper, it warmed my heart. Definitely recommend reading it and especially listening to the audio for the accents!

[ras 🔻 · Rating 3 out of 5]

yeah there’s def such a thing as too much banter

[Megan Coggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 the setting, hiking and exploring the little Scottish island.

Banter solid

Netgalley arc review ✨

[Katie Beasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absoultely LOVED the first book in this series- so the bar was set high for this one. When I tell you that Elliot NAILED this one- she freaking NAILED it yall. I LOVED Callum and Juniper. The tabooness of her being previously engaged to his brother. The fact that he has been pining after her for YEARS and has now finally decided he is done hiding his feelings. The lingering looks and questions they asked of like are they feeling this too? Juniper being a true black cat and using her claws when she has any type of feelings. I loved this setting once again. I LOVED the accents in the audiobook- they just helped bring the scene to life for me. I loved how Callum had this reputation in June's eyes that was ultimately wrong. That he had been trying to not acknowledge these feelings he had for her until he no longer was. Watching June recognize that there really was something between them was great. But ultimately I loved how much they supported each other. They were legit opposites on paper- our black cat with the town golden retriever, but they worked. The chemistry was legit electric. Watching June let her walls down and getting a peek of the mushy center was nothing short of GLORIOUS. She had such a huge heart- it had just been blackened so many times that she wanted to protect it. The spice was GLORIOUS- I liked the role reversal there- IYKYK.

Juniper has decided to finally take the plunge. She is going to do some redecorating ideas that she has been dreaming of for the B&B her and her mom run together. But of course things don't go her way and now she has found herself having to call Callum Macabe. Which breaks all of her Macabe Brothers rules which now only apply to Callum and Allistair. See June has a history with these men. One had her heart and broke it, and one was on the precipice of something and rejected her. Or at least that's how she sees it. But she pulls her big girl pants and asks Callum for help. Why does he have to be so insufferable and good looking? How can one man create such feelings in her? How did she agree to him showing her around the island and getting together with him for his help. How is she supposed to act around him with all of this energy running around them. How is she not supposed to kiss him when he looks at her like that. How is she not supposed to wonder if she was with the wrong Macabe Brother all those years ago. How has she gone so long without feeling this way with a man- so in control and worshipped at the same time. How will the conversation go when they tell his family. How is this so complicated. And how has she lost control of the situation and still is all in. Because now that she has been with Callum there is no going back. She is his and he is hers. She will have it no other way.

Callum has been down bad for his little brother's ex for YEARS. He fell in love with her the first time they met before he realized who she was. And years later when they had a chance he walked away because he recognized that he wanted MORE from her than what she could give him. But now it has been YEARS, and he is ready to shoot his shot. Which is how he finds himself offering his services as a handyman if she agrees to go on 4 outdoor dates with him. He just wants a chance to show her how great they could be together. He sees how she looks at him. He knows what is in that look because it's how he looks at her. But she is so closed up. So jaded. Which is why Callum likes poking at her. He likes getting her to react and getting her fired up. The more time he spends around her the more they come close to crossing the unwritten line that is there. The line that he is oh so willing to cross, but he doesn't want to do so until she says. So when she says YES, he is beyond ready to jump. And now they are doing this thing. She is so much more than what she shows the world. He is beyond honored that he is getting to see this side of her. He is beyond honored that she has chosen him. Now he just has to figure out how to keep her without messing up his relationships with his brother. All while making sure she recognizes that he isn't going anywhere without her.

I felt so much reading this one yall. I laughed out loud. I LOVED how much Callum liked to poke her. How when he saw her not acting herself he poked her so she could get back to her natural state of annoyance around him. I loved June. She was such a prickly woman but if you were in her club she was like a mama bear. I loved learning more about her past and why she was the way she was. I liked that we finally got to meet Allistair in the flesh. But most of all I loved the LOVE these two had for each other. And how RIGHT it felt. Their spicy scenes had me 1000% blushing. And looking around to make sure my volume wasn't too high in my car HAHA. I loved learning about Callum and how he had mastered the front of acting like all was well when really he wanted someone to love him. I can't recommend this series enough!! This was a wonderful follow up to book 1. I am PUMPED to see where else Elliot takes us in this world. I found myself trying to figure out who Allistair is going to end up with- any thoughts on that??

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Iqra · Rating 3 out of 5]

They were so cute but very dramatic lmao. Their dynamic was hotttt — we love a woman in charge 🫦

The writing felt a bit too simple which is the only reason it’s not a four star.

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC! ♥︎

[abby :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75/5

shakespeare would be the name of an "evil" cat...

following the hit that was whiskey business is a hard feat and this book fell a bit short but i still had a blast visiting the macabe family once again. juniper and callum have been on my mind from the second i finished the first book. i love seeing the tension between other characters before their own book, i also loved the amount of tension in the beginning of this book. tension is all i need to root for a couple, sexual chemistry for the win!!!

juniper was kinda the star of the show for me. i love a grumpy fmc more than life so i was a goner. while i was rooting for her and callum, i was also unhappy with the amount of telling about their relationship and not showing, also the throwing away of tropes. i think if we had stuck with him helping her fix up the inn and them going on little excursions with forced proximities mixed in, i would've been obsessed. i was rooting for them to be together but i hate when we just don't tell people about the relationship and that becomes a big issues. like you're telling me callum couldn't cut in for a dance and then later have a conversation with alistar... you're nearly forty, act like it.

so much was going on in this book, between the fixer upper, the "dates", the parental sickness, the brother tension, and the relationship obvi, so by the end i felt like so much had happened but also nothing had happened. i can assume that we will get more of the aftermath of this relationship in alistar's book which i am looking forward too. my guess is that he's gonna be with the doctor, i could be totally wrong but she's like the only women he's interacted with that isn't related to him or dating his brother.

*thank you to netgalley and avon for the arc!*

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book for:
💙Small town romance
🥃Brother’s ex-fiance
💙Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🥃Age Gap (9 years)
💙Town vet x Inn manager
🥃Yearning

Synopsis
Juniper Ross has three rules for surviving life on her tiny island:
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.

But rules are meant to be broken—especially when Callum Macabe is involved. The town’s golden boy, the local hero, the man who makes her pulse race against her better judgment. There’s just one problem: his brother got there first.

But when you live on a tiny island, avoiding them is impossible. Alistair Macabe was her first love, her almost-forever—until everything fell apart. Now, five years later, her heart shouldn’t race every time Callum walks into a room. He’s off-limits. He’s her ex’s brother. And he’s everything she swore she wouldn’t want again.

Callum has spent years keeping his distance, burying the feelings he never should have had. But Juniper was never meant to be his brother’s, and the way she looks at him now makes him wonder if maybe—just maybe—she feels the same.
But breaking the bro code is one thing. Breaking her heart is another. And some lines, once crossed, can never be redrawn.

My Thoughts
This book is the second book in the Macabe Brothers series. The first book, Whisky Business, was the best surprise of 2024, so I had high expectations for this one. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to them. While Whisky Business was a solid five-star read, Scotch on the Rocks lands at about three stars for me.

The Setup
The book started off strong, and I genuinely enjoyed both characters at first. Callum Macabe is the town’s golden boy—Rockport’s very own "Community Ken." A former soldier, now a local vet, he also cares for his father, who has Alzheimer's, brings his therapy bunny Simon to preschoolers, and helps out wherever needed. In short, he’s the picture of selflessness and small-town charm.

Juniper Ross, on the other hand, has had a difficult past. As an adopted daughter who lost her father, she now helps her adoptive mother, Fiona, run the local inn. With Fiona away on vacation, Juniper takes on some of the inn’s maintenance work, including hiring a plumber to fix the shower in Room 5. Unfortunately, the plumber botches the job entirely, flooding the entire floor instead of repairing the issue. Completely overwhelmed, Juniper has no idea what to do—until Callum steps in and offers his plumbing services.

A Complicated History
But before we dive into that, let’s rewind a little.
Callum and Juniper first met six or seven years ago, on a train platform. He was boarding; she was already seated by the window. Intrigued by the beautiful woman in second class, Callum—who had a first-class ticket—made his way over to flirt with her. Juniper, however, showed zero interest. It wasn’t until they got off the train a mere half-hour later that he found out why: she was dating Alistair Macabe—his younger brother.

Juniper and Alistair's relationship progressed quickly, leading to an engagement. However, after her adoptive father, Alexander, passed away, Alistair ended things. Since that train ride all those years ago, Callum had been yearning for Juniper, constantly imagining ways to make her his. About a year after the broken engagement, they ran into each other in Glasgow, and despite their best efforts, the gravitational pull between them was undeniable.
Fast-forward a few years, and we’re back to Callum offering up his plumbing services. But there’s a catch: he wants to strike a deal—he’ll fix the shower if Juniper agrees to four dates of his choosing. She reluctantly agrees, and so begins a slow-burn romance filled with rising tension, witty banter, and undeniable chemistry.

Where It Fell Apart
For the first 75–80% of the book, I was completely invested. The dynamic between Callum and Juniper was engaging, the romantic tension kept me hooked, and I thoroughly enjoyed their interactions. However, things took a sharp turn for me around the time of Callum’s jealous outburst at the Whisky Celebration.

At that point, Callum’s deep-seated yearning started feeling less romantic and more obsessive. What once felt like an intense, long-standing attraction suddenly read as borderline unhealthy, giving me huge red flag vibes. His fixation on Juniper no longer seemed sweet—it became overbearing.

Additionally, the sudden shift in Juniper’s character threw me off. One moment, she maintained emotional distance, and the next, she was suddenly calling Fiona "Mom" after a significant revelation. The emotional weight of that moment should have been built up more gradually, but instead, it felt jarring and out of place.

Final Thoughts
If I were rating just the first three-quarters of the book, it would have been an easy five-star read. But the dramatic shift toward the end really dampened my enjoyment, bringing my final rating down to three stars.
That said, I’m still looking forward to the third book in the Macabe Brothers series, which will focus on Alistair. And deep down, I really hope we get a Macabe Sister book for Heather—because she deserves an HEA too!

I received an e-ARC from NetGalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The more I read, the less I liked the MMC.

This book started with such a bang. I was immediately invested and having the best time, but as the story unfolded, I found the way the brother's ex-fiance dynamic was handled really didn't work for me. I'll probably end up ranting.

For context, Callum has pretty much been in love with June from the minute he set eyes on her, which was just before being introduced to her/realising she was his brother, Alistair's, girlfriend. He spent their relationship pining/loving her from afar until circumstances, and Alistair's admittedly bad handling of them, saw him break up with June and remain in Glasgow when she had to move back to Skye. It's been six years since the break-up and this is where the book begins. Callum and June are just acquaintances. She's best friends with his sister and his other brother's girlfriend. He's had feelings for her the whole time.

The banter is brilliant. It's dual-pov, and at first, I loved Callum, but the more the romance progressed, the more I disliked being in his head. In the six years since the break-up, Callum has apparently got over any guilt or caution regarding his feelings for June and gives absolutely zero f**ks about pursuing her.

He thinks things like she was always meant to be his, he wants to erase his brother from her brain (this was during a spicy scene), he tells her a story about how he heard her and his brother going at it once, again this was just before they started going at it (is this meant to be hot? I didn't find it hot), and even though he even tells June that when Alistair ended things Alistair's "heart broke too," he still told his brother about his and June's relationship in the least compassionate, most selfish way possible. He literally just says “I’m dating Juniper. Sorry if that’s weird for you.” ??!! Verbatim. This is his younger brother, whom he apparently loves.

In the end, I found Callum jealous, proprietary, and kind of obsessive. And not in a hot way. I think we aren't supposed to think of him as selfish because he takes responsibility for his Dad's advancing Alzheimers care, has always done what's expected of him, is a pillar of the community and goes out his way to help June. I think it tries to frame it in a way that this is just his time to do something for himself, but that just gets lost under the complete lack of consideration he has for his brother in this. I think if there had been some more internal conflict, if we'd seen him wrestle with his feelings and his decision to pursue June more, if his behaviour toward his brother had been better, then I would have been on board.

Also, June has some life-long abandonment issues for very valid reasons. She's a black cat character who doesn't believe she's lovable, hides behind snark, and a prickly exterior and keeps everyone at arms length. But a few dates and orgasms from Callum, and being told he's pined after her for years, and this is resolved.

Objectively, this is a good read. The writing, the banter, every Mal and April crumb which kept me FED, it was all good. But once the MMC gives you the ick, there's no going back.

I actually can't wait for Alistair's book. JUSTICE FOR ALISTAIR.

[Andrea ☾ [is inconsistently consistant] · Rating 4 out of 5]

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!!!
4 ⭐️ I am sooooo in love with this series—it’s INSANE!

This book completely blew me away, and I can’t believe it’s the author’s very first traditionally published book. It wasn’t until I reached the dedications at the very end that I realized this, and it made me so happy to see an indie author absolutely crushing it and making the publishing industry their b*tch. Let’s be honest, the industry's needed a new domme for a while now lol.

The story itself is everything I could have hoped for this second time around the lovely Isle of Skye. The characters are vibrant and unforgettable, the world-building is rich and immersive, - and realistic! The romance is equal parts tender and hard, both frozen and scorching hot. It’s the kind of book that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go until you’ve devoured every last word. The emotional depth, the witty banter, and the sheer unadulterated need for these two to just admit their own feelings and get together! The plot comes together at the end to create something truly special, and after the roller coaster that is Callum and Juniper, I really needed it to be.

I’m so glad I got the chance to read this as an eARC because it’s one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve finished it. If you’re looking for a series that’s bold, fresh, and unapologetically addictive, trust me, this is it. The author has knocked it out of the park, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 - The spice is chef’s kiss — steamy, well-written, and perfectly timed. It’s the kind of heat that makes you fan yourself even when it's kinda slow-burning the sh·t out of you!

¨¨¨¨¨¨···········................______................···········¨¨¨¨¨¨

I just got this eARC and I'm so excited!!!
Forever grateful to RLBooks for introducing me to this series! Whisky Business was such a before and after for me in terms of fully diving into self-published / indie authors and I cannot wait to get into this one!

[CB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for this ARC. All words are my own.

REVIEW
Unfortunately this did not hit for me due to the tropes. I was so excited to see this arc on Netgalley because I had LOVED the first book in the series that I immediately requested. Well I probably should've checked what the tropes were, lol.

Okay, let me back up and say that this story is good. Don't get me wrong. The writing is good, the banter between the two MCs is A+, the setting is A+ for me too. Especially the scene where they do things in the fairy pools that I'm literally going to be visiting in a few months made it hit even better!

Where I just struggled with this story is the whole "reverse" grumpy/sunshine trope. We have a black cat and major golden retriever mix up with a dom-fmc and I just was not feeling it. Black cats (not real ones I love all cats lol) are a hit or miss for me. I think the reason why our FMC was such a miss for me was mostly my own fault by not being aware she was that grumpy . I say it like that because it felt like most of the times that she was it was honestly for no good reason.

Overall I would say it's a good story for those that enjoy a reverse grumpy/sunshine with an emphasis on the FMC being a black cat whose a bit dom and a golden retriever MMC. I would definitely recommend it for that specific CR trope.

3/5

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, 4 stars, I loved this audiobook, the Scottish accents made this book so much fun to listen to!! This was my first book by Elliot Fletcher and I will definitely be reading the first book in the series Whisky Business about April and Mal. You do not need to read Whisky Business to enjoy this book.

I really enjoyed Juniper (June) and Callum's (Cal) story. The author did an incredible job turning the brother's ex trope into an amazing story. What I really liked about this book was that it was believable. The banter, the timing of the story, June and Cal's background stories, and the supporting characters were also very well written. I loved that Cal was attracted to June right away but fell for her over a longer period of time, their relationship was handled with such care. The only thing that I wanted was a little more depth into June and Cal's background.

Format: audiobook - Russ Bain and Rebecca McClay

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Audio for the advanced audiobook!

I can't wait for Allister's story next.

[Lia Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first book in the series, and I loved this one too! I wanted to shake both the FMC and MMC multiple times and they’re wayyy more similar than they realized until the end. They both had firey personalities and the chemistry and banter was top tier!

[Jessie ツ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4
🌶️2.5
**⚠️ NOTE: Safety ↓ contains some spoilers

[MMC]: And all I could think was, Please don’t break my heart.

Hella served on MMC pining🙂‍↕️

Inhaled this super quickly, not much to note.

Good if you want:
✅forbidden (ex bf brother)
✅pathetic-for-her MMC
✅vicious black cat FMC
✅funny banter

Maybe skip if you don’t want:
❌FMC who loved before
⤷ (MMC brother)
❌Vagueness on FMC past relationship breakup
❌rushed resolution

——•MY THOUGHTS•——
This fed my never-ending pining & ’Ive loved her forever’ craving! It was good, great even on this aspect. Def provided some butterflies🦋. However….

Some development was 1000% missing.

Your telling me when spend the whole book with elusive nods to FMCs past relationship and the mysterious breakup reason to NOT FUCKING ADDRESS IT. Literally one vague fucking sentence. THATS IT!!!!!! Omg it made me so mad. We built up to all this conflict then it was just *poof* nothing ????

- [ ] Where’s the dive into Allistairs feelings/perspective. “..Looking back, I should’ve known”. Give me a break🙄!

- [ ] Where the fuck is Junipers exploration of the nitty gritty from that relationship. We don’t even uncover what ‘happened’ even tho that detail was like a golden egg this entire time - once found, Callum would win (fully understand). But nooooo we don’t get that. Just one vague sentence left to interpretation & a 3rd act “conflict” so completely fizzled and flat.

This was missing from the story. For me, this NEEDED to be included bc of the way it’s led up to the entire story. It all just ended up being bleh whatever. Utter nonsense!✋


——•TROPES $ SUCGH•——
Forbidden (ex bf brother)
Second chance
Small town
Sweet
Funny banter
MMC in love from start
MMC pines A LOT
FMC feisty
FMC black cat energy
abandonment issues (FMC)

———•SAFETY•———
No virgins
No cheating
No real OPD
OM: FMC ex, no longer in love w, MMC jealous tho
OW: a pts owner asks him out, he declines, isn’t interested, only has eyes for FMC; nothing ever happened between them
HEA


NOTES ⚠️‼️*spoilers* ↓ ↓ ──────────────────
-LOVED FMCs inner monologue when Heather caught them. I feel like other books def would’ve made FMC react differently. I loved her “I should’ve demanded more for myself” attitude.

-LMFAOO this was foul of him 😭😭🤣:

”I’m dating Juniper. Sorry if that’s weird for you.”

-”Deep down, I think you’ve always felt like mine.”

Aghhh I hate this shit in books. Oh so now that we get to the end we’re gonna chalk the past up to this even tho it 100% wasn’t true in past. Ok…

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for witty banter, thick tension, hot Scottish men, and years of yearning (on his end), then this one is for you!!!

I remember reading Whisky Business before it traditionally got picked up and I just knew then and there that this series was going to be a banger! The constant bickering and head butting between Juniper and Callum was so fun and quick paced that I didn’t even realize how far I’d gotten into it in one sitting.

Junipers personality may seem guarded and cold, but deep down is a soft and caring person who just wants to be loved and feel like they’re enough for others (like ouch calling me out like that). And with Callum, his bubbly and constantly “on” personality, is almost similar in a way to Juniper. They both use these different brands of emotions to shield their true feelings from the people they care about because it’ll protect themselves. I loved how these two complete opposites understood each other so well in their own ways and my heart just ached for them.

Also y’all this book was HOTTTT. Juniper basically walked Callum like a dog and I was here for it!! I’d let her do anything to me okay?? 🧎🏻‍♀️

Anyways! I really enjoyed this one and I’m curious to see what happens in the next book. But for now, Juniper and Callum are gonna be on my mind for a while hehehe. Thank you Avon and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my review!!

[Elizabeth]

DNF at 24%. Yay for a buddy read with RL where we both feel the same way.

I got this audiobook as an advanced reader copy. I enjoyed the audiobook narrators (some of my friends did NOT) but I absolutely HATED the main characters.

Callum meets Juniper on a train and he's SMITTEN. But, sadly, finds out that she not only is dating someone, that person is his younger brother. So, he starts teasing her as a way to avoid his feelings and act like he doesn't care.

After 2 years of dating (and engagement), Juniper and Alistair (the brother) break up. One year later, Juniper and Callum almost hook up but Callum backs out at the last second, stating "I don't want to regret this in the morning". And Juniper is (not surprisingly) incensed and hurt that he says that. There's a gross part where she talks about her ex in the middle of things that throws ice water over the situation, so I could understand Callum backing off... but I don't understand how he leaves her hanging without even trying to have a friendship with her.

For FIVE YEARS Callum goes back to teasing Juniper and being a prick to her. He's the nicest guy to EVERYONE else, but to her? He's a total jerk. He gets "turned on" when he can get a rise out of her. He loves teasing her (but in a mean way that I was NOT okay with). It's no wonder that she is pretty sure he doesn't like her.

She's got a LOT of issues even outside of him. She's constantly bad talking herself. And then, she tries to problem solve something her adoptive mom won't... and she lies and tries to do it on her own and there's a BIG mess where she needs the "hero" to step in.

I am not a fan of the lying and the hiding and also being incompetent. Callum isn't kind about his offer to help her. He is arrogant and a jerk about it so it wasn't a big surprise that she initially turned him down. But, she's desperate and finally reaches out.

And that's where I stopped.

I love KIND men. I love pining when it's done well. And this "pining" felt like "I'm super horny for her but not willing to sacrifice anything to see if I can make this woman's life better. I prefer to pretend like I was rejected and that it's her fault we're not in a relationship and in the meantime, I'll tease her and make her feel like crap."

The first book was lovely... but this one? NOPE! I did NOT like Callum. And Juniper is a sad sack.