What do you think?
Rate this book
The Macabe Brothers #1
Whisky Business
Opposites attract when a fish-out-of-water actress and a grumpy Scottish whisky distiller are forced to work together to save the business they both love.
As a child, April Sinclair dreamt of escaping her quiet island life to become a world-famous actress. Now fully grown and with her once-flourishing career at an all-time low, what better way to figure out where it all went wrong than to go back to the beginning? April has her sights set on a new challenge, and that is saving her family’s distillery on the idyllic Scottish Isle of Skye.
What she doesn’t expect to find is Malcolm Macabe, short-tempered and exceedingly attractive, living in the home she has just inherited. He may be a million miles away from the shy teenager she knew growing up, but one thing is for certain: he doesn’t want her around anymore.
Master distiller Mal has three loves in his life: Whisky, his dog and silence. He has no time for the pampered princess poking her nose around his distillery, even if said princess is the one who got away. More comfortable in the shadows than the spotlight, Mal is content to wait her out. She’ll grow bored and run back to her glamorous world of nail salons and take-away coffee eventually. When sparks begin to fly, he tells himself it doesn’t matter…because April Sinclair could never want a man like him, right?
As a child, April Sinclair dreamt of escaping her quiet island life to become a world-famous actress. Now fully grown and with her once-flourishing career at an all-time low, what better way to figure out where it all went wrong than to go back to the beginning? April has her sights set on a new challenge, and that is saving her family’s distillery on the idyllic Scottish Isle of Skye.
What she doesn’t expect to find is Malcolm Macabe, short-tempered and exceedingly attractive, living in the home she has just inherited. He may be a million miles away from the shy teenager she knew growing up, but one thing is for certain: he doesn’t want her around anymore.
Master distiller Mal has three loves in his life: Whisky, his dog and silence. He has no time for the pampered princess poking her nose around his distillery, even if said princess is the one who got away. More comfortable in the shadows than the spotlight, Mal is content to wait her out. She’ll grow bored and run back to her glamorous world of nail salons and take-away coffee eventually. When sparks begin to fly, he tells himself it doesn’t matter…because April Sinclair could never want a man like him, right?
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 16, 2023
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,124 reviews
June 2, 2023
I was looking for something light and more on the sweet/fluffy side after a harder read and I'm so thankful for GR friends who found this gem of a book! It has grumpy/sunshine, famous h with a reclusive H, childhood crushes to grown-up feelings, struggles with self-acceptance and love, anxiety rep, adorable animals, complex family dynamics, and a small town vibe. I found this to be more emotional than I expected, but in a good way. I would definitely recommend this one!
Both April (h) and Mal (H) have complicated pasts and presents and their attraction to each other is wonderful, but also sometimes highlights those complications. April has come home after years pursuing an acting career, following her grandfather's death. Mal is one of her childhood friend's older brother and manages April's family's distillery. They have to work together and there's plenty of butting heads, blushing (Mal was so adorable and also heartbreaking at times), and readjusting of what each think of the other. At first there's an almost enemies vibe from Mal's end, but April's not who he thinks she is. April also learns more about the depths of what Mal deals with. Written in first person, dual POV. Itsy bitsy, barely there ow/om drama (there's one scene where the H breaks up the h having a drink with another guy that had started to progress to the guy getting handsy; then the h is told by an ow that she had gone on a date with H and wished for a second; both scenes cause jealousy but I was fine) and neither are virgins (unsure how long it'd been for h but H hadn't been with anyone for 5-6 years and h is more experienced).
There is miscommunication and sometimes avoidance, but I felt so emotionally captured by April and Mal that I didn't even hold it against them. Seeing them struggle, but still come together made my heart feel all the things. Then when Mal broke out the dominance and dirty talk when he was so shy and unsure, whew! April gave him the pushes he needed to come out of his shell and take a couple of, careful, chances and Mal gave her the support she needed to be who she wanted to be. This story was so filled with character development and growth.
I loved their small town with Mal's pushy family who loved him (except I didn't like his dad, but even that's complicated), April's friendships, the town supporting Mal without him realizing, just wonderful. I loved their dogs and the relationship they had with each other, oh my goodness I'm such a dog lover and esp when they're featured in romances and Dudley and Boy were scene stealers at times. Along with the foxes, I absolutely would have adopted the foxes too. April's grandparents are gone, but played such an important part of who and where she was, that they also felt very present at times (sometimes with feelings of grief).
This has no third act breakup. There are concerns over what they're going to do and will April stay or leave, but no breakup. Mal does have a big moment that made me cry and have heart eyes at the same time. The epilogue is a few months jumped ahead but very much a HEA feel and adorable. It's not perfect, sometimes I lost track of the timeline of where we were and I did wish that some of the uncertainties were smoothed over earlier, but this was exactly the book I needed when I picked it up. There are also hints for at least one other potential couple, which I'm honestly unsure about, but I'd be very interested to read more in this town and from this author.
Both April (h) and Mal (H) have complicated pasts and presents and their attraction to each other is wonderful, but also sometimes highlights those complications. April has come home after years pursuing an acting career, following her grandfather's death. Mal is one of her childhood friend's older brother and manages April's family's distillery. They have to work together and there's plenty of butting heads, blushing (Mal was so adorable and also heartbreaking at times), and readjusting of what each think of the other. At first there's an almost enemies vibe from Mal's end, but April's not who he thinks she is. April also learns more about the depths of what Mal deals with. Written in first person, dual POV. Itsy bitsy, barely there ow/om drama (there's one scene where the H breaks up the h having a drink with another guy that had started to progress to the guy getting handsy; then the h is told by an ow that she had gone on a date with H and wished for a second; both scenes cause jealousy but I was fine) and neither are virgins (unsure how long it'd been for h but H hadn't been with anyone for 5-6 years and h is more experienced).
There is miscommunication and sometimes avoidance, but I felt so emotionally captured by April and Mal that I didn't even hold it against them. Seeing them struggle, but still come together made my heart feel all the things. Then when Mal broke out the dominance and dirty talk when he was so shy and unsure, whew! April gave him the pushes he needed to come out of his shell and take a couple of, careful, chances and Mal gave her the support she needed to be who she wanted to be. This story was so filled with character development and growth.
I loved their small town with Mal's pushy family who loved him (except I didn't like his dad, but even that's complicated), April's friendships, the town supporting Mal without him realizing, just wonderful. I loved their dogs and the relationship they had with each other, oh my goodness I'm such a dog lover and esp when they're featured in romances and Dudley and Boy were scene stealers at times. Along with the foxes, I absolutely would have adopted the foxes too. April's grandparents are gone, but played such an important part of who and where she was, that they also felt very present at times (sometimes with feelings of grief).
This has no third act breakup. There are concerns over what they're going to do and will April stay or leave, but no breakup. Mal does have a big moment that made me cry and have heart eyes at the same time. The epilogue is a few months jumped ahead but very much a HEA feel and adorable. It's not perfect, sometimes I lost track of the timeline of where we were and I did wish that some of the uncertainties were smoothed over earlier, but this was exactly the book I needed when I picked it up. There are also hints for at least one other potential couple, which I'm honestly unsure about, but I'd be very interested to read more in this town and from this author.
July 3, 2023
⭐⭐⭐.5/5 - This is really cute, but the best part is that the 'hero' has something I've never heard of described before in a romance novel: a prepared cleft palate? Something about a character with this kind of surgery being written as the heartthrob warmed my heart! Usually, we're reading about perfect male specimens and that gets SO old.
THOUGHTS:
- I never like the Hollywood starlet characters. They normally scream *poor little rich girl* and I pretty much loathe that character arc. In Whisky Business, though, April is honestly a pretty great character!!
- I'm a sucker for the sweet but a little nervous hero character. They scream that they need to be hugged and snuggled!! 😭😭
NOTES:
- European romance - so adorably charming in a small Scottish town!!
- 🌶️🌶️/5 - Lot's of cute tension!
- Minus a half point for the manic pixie energy... I want to read about somewhat tall gals having a romance!
- Kindle Unlimited
THOUGHTS:
- I never like the Hollywood starlet characters. They normally scream *poor little rich girl* and I pretty much loathe that character arc. In Whisky Business, though, April is honestly a pretty great character!!
- I'm a sucker for the sweet but a little nervous hero character. They scream that they need to be hugged and snuggled!! 😭😭
NOTES:
- European romance - so adorably charming in a small Scottish town!!
- 🌶️🌶️/5 - Lot's of cute tension!
- Minus a half point for the manic pixie energy... I want to read about somewhat tall gals having a romance!
- Kindle Unlimited
September 18, 2023
first of all thanks to RLbooks's review i didn't get anxious while reading this because i knew there wasn't third act 🤍 i just enjoyed taylor songs the author choose for chapters without thinking hard on the meaning of the songs 🤭
It amazed me that I held the power to hurt her. All of these weeks, I'd seen myself as a blip on her radar. A single star in an endless sky. A glare on the windscreen you put on sunglasses to block out. When to me… she was becoming the whole sun.
that man...he was screaming, crying, punching the wall with desperation. he's the definition of yearning. he's the picture you can see if you search longing on google🤭😍
Click.
I knew what I was doing. Saving all these little moments with her like shells collected at the beach. An April album for my mind to flip over when she was gone, proof that I was happy, if only for a short time.
he mentally clicked her picture in his mind even before they were together🥺 he clicked EIGHT TIMES and my heart was melting every single time he did that. what a small moment that turn me into a puddle 🫠
anyways at this point as you can guess i'm in love with him. so if you need more to be convinced reading this;;;; there are to adorable dogs, supportive friends/family members, small town vibe, a great heroine, blushing hero 😻💞🤍🤭🥰😌
and his dirty talking?🥵 you wouldn't guess what kind of things that shy,grumpy man says in bed 😳🥵
this was exactly what i needed today. a low angst, cute story. but what i would want more? a loooooong epilogue set in the future. i would love to see them as parents maybe🤔🥺
It amazed me that I held the power to hurt her. All of these weeks, I'd seen myself as a blip on her radar. A single star in an endless sky. A glare on the windscreen you put on sunglasses to block out. When to me… she was becoming the whole sun.
that man...he was screaming, crying, punching the wall with desperation. he's the definition of yearning. he's the picture you can see if you search longing on google🤭😍
Click.
I knew what I was doing. Saving all these little moments with her like shells collected at the beach. An April album for my mind to flip over when she was gone, proof that I was happy, if only for a short time.
he mentally clicked her picture in his mind even before they were together🥺 he clicked EIGHT TIMES and my heart was melting every single time he did that. what a small moment that turn me into a puddle 🫠
anyways at this point as you can guess i'm in love with him. so if you need more to be convinced reading this;;;; there are to adorable dogs, supportive friends/family members, small town vibe, a great heroine, blushing hero 😻💞🤍🤭🥰😌
and his dirty talking?🥵 you wouldn't guess what kind of things that shy,grumpy man says in bed 😳🥵
this was exactly what i needed today. a low angst, cute story. but what i would want more? a loooooong epilogue set in the future. i would love to see them as parents maybe🤔🥺
June 21, 2024
Trying this because of buket's review & the fact DIVINITY loved it.
-------------------------------------
The audio came out on June 4th, 2024 and I got it! Even though it makes it a little harder for me to understand, I really appreciate that the narrators have a Scottish accent/twang (?).
-------------------------------------
This was really spicy and emotional, don't say I didn't warn you
Love jada's review it basically says it all, *spoilers included*
A snippet from her review, give her all the credit:
- no third act breakup
- inexperienced H/experienced h 😮💨
- childhood crushes
- actress h/blue collar H
- dirty talking H 🥵
- BLUSHING H (🤭)
-------------------------------------
The audio came out on June 4th, 2024 and I got it! Even though it makes it a little harder for me to understand, I really appreciate that the narrators have a Scottish accent/twang (?).
-------------------------------------
This was really spicy and emotional, don't say I didn't warn you
Love jada's review it basically says it all, *spoilers included*
A snippet from her review, give her all the credit:
- no third act breakup
- inexperienced H/experienced h 😮💨
- childhood crushes
- actress h/blue collar H
- dirty talking H 🥵
- BLUSHING H (🤭)
July 30, 2024
5☆ Cheers, it’s bloody adorable.
➳❦“Glare all you want, princess, I can take it.”
Give yourself a sweet, spicy, cozy gift and read this. 🥃🥰 So glad RLbooks’ review led me to this gem so that a giant, blushing, celibate, extremely grumpy Scot could go ahead and make me melt all over the damn floor 🫠🫠🫠.
➳❦ As humans, we demanded a beginning and end to make sense of the world around us. But for this, there would be an after, but no end. My love for her was as boundless as the mountain we lay upon. When she left me, my love would remain, burning just as fiercely as it did now.
The make-it-or-break-it element for me is always how much I like and care about the MCs, and Malcolm and April are both wonderful in different ways. The author does the grumpy-sunshine trope quite well, with pushy family and friends, a generous dose of comedy, a touch of angsty soulfulness, and a delicious double-dollop of spice.
➳❦ He pulled back just far enough to husk out, “I’m so fucking gone for you, do you even realize?” And just as he pushed me against the fogged glass, trailing those calloused fingers around my thighs to spread me wider, I whispered, “Mal, does this mean I can have my underwear back?” His laugh was soft. Husky. Happy. “Oh, princess, that’s never going to happen.”
And just in case that’s not enough, it’s set in a beautiful Scottish village with two sweet canine sidekicks who play matchmaker by falling in love as well.
➳❦ “I don’t let Boy onto the furniture,” I said. She snorted. “He looked pretty at home up there for a dog ‘not allowed’ on the furniture.” Of course he did, the wee shit doesn’t listen to a thing I say.
The MCs were oblivious to their mutual crush growing up, but had very different childhoods and opposite life trajectories. And when April, now a famous actress, first “meets” Malcolm again, it’s absolutely hilarious. Because they both had to break into her deceased grandfather’s house, and…
➳❦ I’d just had a physical fight with Malcolm Macabe. I’d jumped him like a goddamned spider monkey and shoved my bra into his mouth. This was quickly taking the top spot as the strangest night of my life. 🤣 🙈
The sexual tension and chemistry are so sooooo good, and the normally anxious, reclusive Mal turns out to have a surprisingly dirty mouth (yes please). The whiskey distillery coworker setting doesn't hurt, either; those sturdy casks are quite versatile. 💪🥃🔥
➳❦ “Hold it on your tongue,” he instructed, muscles in his arms bunching where they folded over his chest. I did as I was told, letting it pool in my mouth. A heat that didn’t belong to the whisky hurtled through me. He hadn’t drunk any of his yet, waiting—watching—for my reaction. “Good girl . . . now swallow.” His voice was like water rushing over rocks as his eyes trailed down my throat, following the burn of the liquor. I held in my cough, my entire body burning. “Well . . . it’s nicer than I remember.” “Aye.” He cleared his throat and sipped his own. “I suppose it improves with age.” 🥵
It's not all sunshine and puppies and shower sex, though. There's mental health rep, a #MeToo casting couch, grief, debts, and family secrets. I could go on about the heartwarming plot and character arcs, but I’m feeling bookdrunk and just want to plaster this review with a million quotes. So I’ll control myself admirably and just give you one last one. Ok, TWO last ones. 🙇🏻♀️
➳❦ “How does he look at me?” “Like . . . you’re a revelation.” I swallowed thickly. “Like you’re a puzzle he has no idea how to solve but wants to try anyway.” 🥰
➳❦ “It’s terrible. A monstrosity! It turns out I can’t make a bench to save my bloody life and I love you!” He practically shouted it at me. 🤭❤️🩹
So…I really hope you read it. 💕
➳❦“Glare all you want, princess, I can take it.”
Give yourself a sweet, spicy, cozy gift and read this. 🥃🥰 So glad RLbooks’ review led me to this gem so that a giant, blushing, celibate, extremely grumpy Scot could go ahead and make me melt all over the damn floor 🫠🫠🫠.
➳❦ As humans, we demanded a beginning and end to make sense of the world around us. But for this, there would be an after, but no end. My love for her was as boundless as the mountain we lay upon. When she left me, my love would remain, burning just as fiercely as it did now.
The make-it-or-break-it element for me is always how much I like and care about the MCs, and Malcolm and April are both wonderful in different ways. The author does the grumpy-sunshine trope quite well, with pushy family and friends, a generous dose of comedy, a touch of angsty soulfulness, and a delicious double-dollop of spice.
➳❦ He pulled back just far enough to husk out, “I’m so fucking gone for you, do you even realize?” And just as he pushed me against the fogged glass, trailing those calloused fingers around my thighs to spread me wider, I whispered, “Mal, does this mean I can have my underwear back?” His laugh was soft. Husky. Happy. “Oh, princess, that’s never going to happen.”
And just in case that’s not enough, it’s set in a beautiful Scottish village with two sweet canine sidekicks who play matchmaker by falling in love as well.
➳❦ “I don’t let Boy onto the furniture,” I said. She snorted. “He looked pretty at home up there for a dog ‘not allowed’ on the furniture.” Of course he did, the wee shit doesn’t listen to a thing I say.
The MCs were oblivious to their mutual crush growing up, but had very different childhoods and opposite life trajectories. And when April, now a famous actress, first “meets” Malcolm again, it’s absolutely hilarious. Because they both had to break into her deceased grandfather’s house, and…
➳❦ I’d just had a physical fight with Malcolm Macabe. I’d jumped him like a goddamned spider monkey and shoved my bra into his mouth. This was quickly taking the top spot as the strangest night of my life. 🤣 🙈
The sexual tension and chemistry are so sooooo good, and the normally anxious, reclusive Mal turns out to have a surprisingly dirty mouth (yes please). The whiskey distillery coworker setting doesn't hurt, either; those sturdy casks are quite versatile. 💪🥃🔥
➳❦ “Hold it on your tongue,” he instructed, muscles in his arms bunching where they folded over his chest. I did as I was told, letting it pool in my mouth. A heat that didn’t belong to the whisky hurtled through me. He hadn’t drunk any of his yet, waiting—watching—for my reaction. “Good girl . . . now swallow.” His voice was like water rushing over rocks as his eyes trailed down my throat, following the burn of the liquor. I held in my cough, my entire body burning. “Well . . . it’s nicer than I remember.” “Aye.” He cleared his throat and sipped his own. “I suppose it improves with age.” 🥵
It's not all sunshine and puppies and shower sex, though. There's mental health rep, a #MeToo casting couch, grief, debts, and family secrets. I could go on about the heartwarming plot and character arcs, but I’m feeling bookdrunk and just want to plaster this review with a million quotes. So I’ll control myself admirably and just give you one last one. Ok, TWO last ones. 🙇🏻♀️
➳❦ “How does he look at me?” “Like . . . you’re a revelation.” I swallowed thickly. “Like you’re a puzzle he has no idea how to solve but wants to try anyway.” 🥰
➳❦ “It’s terrible. A monstrosity! It turns out I can’t make a bench to save my bloody life and I love you!” He practically shouted it at me. 🤭❤️🩹
So…I really hope you read it. 💕
November 13, 2024
“Good girl… now swallow.”
Oh gawd damn.... He wasn't even talking about anything dirty, he was talking about drinking whisky. It's always the quiet ones....
I REALLY loved Mal. He was real and his struggles were real and talked about beautifully. I loved how his character was handled.
The only complaint I have is that they started fucking like rabbits after they got together and it was tooooo much 😭
But Mal... the mouth on this man !
“I wanted you to know you’ll always have a place in the world where someone adores you, a place where someone is wondering where you are and if you’re okay.”
May 29, 2023
Loved it
It's always the quiet ones! A little shy and a lot grumbly, this hero steals the show in a big way. He's this reserved, gentle giant who rarely speaks to anyone (other than our heroine), and he's convinced that he doesn't have what it takes to keep a woman happy in the long run. Watching him fall hard and fast for his girl while struggling to accept that he's enough for her was so compelling, and I loved the little bit of enemies-ish tension thrown into the mix. The heroine was also great, as was the setting - it's a small town romance that's set in Scotland, so there are accents and even a sexy kilt scene or two. This slow burn also brings the SIZZLE towards the end, dialing up the intensity for a spicy, intimate love story. I ended up loving the whole thing, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this new-to-me author.
The story follows April, an actress whose career has been moving in the wrong direction. When she's called back to her hometown to take care of the whisky distillery she just inherited, it's a surprisingly welcome break for her. Unfortunately, her new business partner is not overly excited to see her. While Mal may have crushed on April as a teenager, he's disappointed in her recent actions. He's always been quiet and unapproachable, but it was never like this. But as the two work on rebuilding the business together, their tension simmers into an entirely different kind. Mal knows there's no way a woman like April intends to stick around forever, but that doesn't stop his feelings from growing.
I really didn't know what to expect going into this, and that made the reading experience even better. I loved the small town vibes paired with the Scottish feel, I loved the mutual crushes turned into adult tension of a different variety. I loved the sweetheart of a hero and the way his adoration for April was palpable. I also found his insecurities and unique background to be the things that made this a complex, multi-faceted read. There's something so compelling about a hero who not only shows his sweet side, but also acknowledges that he might not be enough... especially when that is clearly not the case. Mal and April have great chemistry in this, and that was proven once they crossed those lines. It was spicier than I expected, and the whole thing was a feel good, (mostly) lighthearted read. A definite win for me.
It's always the quiet ones! A little shy and a lot grumbly, this hero steals the show in a big way. He's this reserved, gentle giant who rarely speaks to anyone (other than our heroine), and he's convinced that he doesn't have what it takes to keep a woman happy in the long run. Watching him fall hard and fast for his girl while struggling to accept that he's enough for her was so compelling, and I loved the little bit of enemies-ish tension thrown into the mix. The heroine was also great, as was the setting - it's a small town romance that's set in Scotland, so there are accents and even a sexy kilt scene or two. This slow burn also brings the SIZZLE towards the end, dialing up the intensity for a spicy, intimate love story. I ended up loving the whole thing, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this new-to-me author.
The story follows April, an actress whose career has been moving in the wrong direction. When she's called back to her hometown to take care of the whisky distillery she just inherited, it's a surprisingly welcome break for her. Unfortunately, her new business partner is not overly excited to see her. While Mal may have crushed on April as a teenager, he's disappointed in her recent actions. He's always been quiet and unapproachable, but it was never like this. But as the two work on rebuilding the business together, their tension simmers into an entirely different kind. Mal knows there's no way a woman like April intends to stick around forever, but that doesn't stop his feelings from growing.
I really didn't know what to expect going into this, and that made the reading experience even better. I loved the small town vibes paired with the Scottish feel, I loved the mutual crushes turned into adult tension of a different variety. I loved the sweetheart of a hero and the way his adoration for April was palpable. I also found his insecurities and unique background to be the things that made this a complex, multi-faceted read. There's something so compelling about a hero who not only shows his sweet side, but also acknowledges that he might not be enough... especially when that is clearly not the case. Mal and April have great chemistry in this, and that was proven once they crossed those lines. It was spicier than I expected, and the whole thing was a feel good, (mostly) lighthearted read. A definite win for me.
September 1, 2024
5 stars for Mal!! Mal might be my favorite male main character that I've read this year. I found his anxiety so relatable, but he was also endearing, grumpy, sweet, and so deserving of the love he found with April. He is so grumpy, shy, and awkward, but he was also painfully sweet and desperate for April. He reminded me of Archer from Archer's Voice.
I loved the setting in Scotland and the Hollywood/Whiskey distillery sub-plot. I can tell this is going to be a series about Mal's brothers, and I'm excited for that.
The smut in this is also HOT.
Thank you Noi for the recommendation!!
I loved the setting in Scotland and the Hollywood/Whiskey distillery sub-plot. I can tell this is going to be a series about Mal's brothers, and I'm excited for that.
The smut in this is also HOT.
Thank you Noi for the recommendation!!
August 13, 2024
🌟Brief Summary:
4.5 stars! Rounded up
Malcolm and April had crushes on each other when they were younger neither acted on this and then April moves away at 18yrs old to become a famous actress while Malcolm stayed behind to help run her grandfathers whisky distillery.
When her grandfather dies she has to come home and figure out if she can save the distillery.
Her and Malcolm have to work together but he isn’t so happy to see her back.
Okay….I definitely have lots of thoughts about this book.
‼️First…. I seriously struggled for the first half of this book. It was slow, I didnt feel the chemistry between the h and H. But I’m glad I hung in there cause it all comes together so nicely and it all makes sense by the end and you’re swooning for the second half.
❤️There were so many sweet and swoony moments in the second half. It was so heartfelt and heartwarming. I loved the vulnerability these two showed each other.
‼️One thing that really stood out to me was how true the author was to her characters.
Hear me out….
💯Often we have a hero w serious mental or physical health issues but he will be an extreme manwhore. Always finding a way to get his pecker wet💦.
-In this case the hero is a pretty extreme recluse w social anxiety so it makes sense to his character that he has very little sexual experiences.
💯Or we have a famous beautiful celebrity woman who is older and has zero or almost zero sexual experiences…. MAKES NO SEINSE. Not with what we know of Hollywood especially…. even just a stunning and beautiful woman… doubtful she is sitting around till she is 30 not creating life experiences for herself w men.
-Here we have a typical 30 yr old woman who has experienced the kind of relationships and sex that I would expect of her character.
⭐️So I’m glad the author didn’t shy away from what is popular (heaven only knows why it is 🙄) and made her characters Very true to reality.
Why wasn’t this 5 stars when I ended up totally loving this book? 2 reasons…
1. Like I said before this was a VERY SLOW START. I almost as gonna DNF.
2. My big pet peeve of is having them “be together” towards the end (no 3rd act thank goodness) but having a constant question about them staying together. For whatever reason, here it’s cause she has to go back to London for her career. Now I HATE this cause we live in 2024. The age of planes, smart phones and technology. I mean now a days people can spend more time together away from each other then some couples who live in the same house. So this is only to add angst and it’s the STUPIDEST drama. Cause it’s just so dumb when the answer is so simple.
‼️Doggy love
‼️Misconceptions about each other
‼️Grumpy Sunshine
❤️No manwhore H
‼️Mental health issues
‼️Self esteem issues
‼️Very small town
‼️Heartwarming
‼️Steamy sexy times
❣️Things I Liked/Loved❣️
-Mentally taking pictures f her
-I liked that he never dirty talked before that’s was for her.
-I really just enjoyed the Romantic connection specifically the second half.
Things I Did 💔 Not Like
-He basically calls her a whore at one point and I didn’t like that. He is mean and he judges her harshly for a huge for chunk of the book. I thought it went past grumpy. So I think people should know that. He does have reasons and he def fixes his mistakes. So I loved him for sure but I was expecting something a bit less harsh.
-She is desperate and often a doormat in the beginning. I just couldn’t like how she constantly took his horrid remarks and kept begging for more. It makes sense and the H needed it but I didn’t like her desperation for approval from everyone.
‼️She has been a popular actress for 12 years and hasn’t watched the world’s most famous movies. This was highly annoying. I did t buy it for a second.
-He was gonna let his brother pursue her… yeah no. And when she is at the bar the H watches w OM and only steps in when she’s to drunk to say no. I definitely didn’t like this. Although I understand cause of his issues. I still don’t like it.
🥀 Hero:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Malcolm 32
I adored him! ❤️
He’s more than a grump for a while I actually thought he came off as an asshole. BUT HE DOES CHANGE AND HE WON MY HEART IN A BIG WAY.
He has some serious self esteem issues and rightfully so as well as mental health issues. Hes very vulnerable!
It endured me to him more once we find out that being an ass is a way to protect himself. And when you see how insecure and unworthy he feels it’s just so heartbreaking.
❤️I absolutely fell in love with this man!
❤️I love that his dirty talking mouth was ONLY FOR HER.
❤️I love that almost everything he has experienced and felt was ONLY FOR HER.
📸His mental pictures was so swoon and also heartbreaking.
🦋 Heroine:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ April- 30
Celebrity actress who left home 12 yrs before and is back to see to her grandfathers distillery.
She was a good character if a bit boring. I like how she was perfect for Malcolm. She deserved him and I like that she to had her insecurities but she was so good for him.
I liked how confident she was during sex with him not cause she had experience but cause she was just so into him.
💭 POV:
Duel first person
😡/😍 Angst level:
Low
❤️🔥 Sex & Burn Rate:
First kiss 49%
Sex 68%
Amazingly hot sexy times.
Gah this man was so freaking amazing and I love how confident but also unsure he is it was a very sexy combo 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I loved his lack of experience but his dirty confident desire for her that pushes him to fulfill both of their fantasies!
❤️Just PERFECT!
No condoms
Birth control
Both clean
🌓 Push/Pull:
She is the main pursuer
He avoids her a lot in the first half and definitely doesn’t pursue her cause of his issues. But in the second half he absolutely does learn to pursue her and fight for what he wants 😍
☠️ OW/OM Drama:
No not really
OW mentions she went on a date with the H and wants more. He didn’t and doesn’t.
OM- a guy at a bar is hitting on the h she’s enjoying the attention but it goes to far and the H steps in.
OM- H brother pretends to be into the h too get his brother to step up and fight for her.
🤮 OW/OM Sex / Fluid or DNA Exchange:
None
🤬 Cheating:
None
👰🏼♀️ Virgins:
No V!
H- he only had 2 sexual experiences in his life!!! With 2 different woman both strangers. I like that we didn’t have to see or hear about his past in this small town. He had been celibate for 6 years❤️
h- she was experienced just cause she has had a few different relationships in her past. It had been a while for her.
⛈️Separation/ 3rd Act Breakup:
None which I love/ pretty sure authors don’t get that readers don’t like 3rd acts usually.
But like I said they are not sold till the last page. I mean they are but they are both sure what she will do stay or go.
🎧AUDIO
⭐️⭐️⭐️ it was ok. Narrators don’t do a very good job of expressing emotions or changing their voices for characters. It’s kinda monotone. The accents were good though.
Safety⚠️Triggers🗡️:
Mental heath issues
Death in the family
parental health issues
Family drama and issues
Pretty big insecurities from both h and H
🌈Epilogue:
6 mo later!
Ugh so sweet married and so so happy
Not sure I’ll read others in this series cause there is a lot more going for situations and dynamics that are not for me. Like manwhores and such
🥂HEA:
Yes yes yes I love them ❤️
❌My opinion is just that… MY OPINION.❌
I know we all get passionate about our favorite reads and characters but we should respect each opinions a thoughts. ~Thank you
4.5 stars! Rounded up
Malcolm and April had crushes on each other when they were younger neither acted on this and then April moves away at 18yrs old to become a famous actress while Malcolm stayed behind to help run her grandfathers whisky distillery.
When her grandfather dies she has to come home and figure out if she can save the distillery.
Her and Malcolm have to work together but he isn’t so happy to see her back.
Okay….I definitely have lots of thoughts about this book.
‼️First…. I seriously struggled for the first half of this book. It was slow, I didnt feel the chemistry between the h and H. But I’m glad I hung in there cause it all comes together so nicely and it all makes sense by the end and you’re swooning for the second half.
❤️There were so many sweet and swoony moments in the second half. It was so heartfelt and heartwarming. I loved the vulnerability these two showed each other.
‼️One thing that really stood out to me was how true the author was to her characters.
Hear me out….
💯Often we have a hero w serious mental or physical health issues but he will be an extreme manwhore. Always finding a way to get his pecker wet💦.
-In this case the hero is a pretty extreme recluse w social anxiety so it makes sense to his character that he has very little sexual experiences.
💯Or we have a famous beautiful celebrity woman who is older and has zero or almost zero sexual experiences…. MAKES NO SEINSE. Not with what we know of Hollywood especially…. even just a stunning and beautiful woman… doubtful she is sitting around till she is 30 not creating life experiences for herself w men.
-Here we have a typical 30 yr old woman who has experienced the kind of relationships and sex that I would expect of her character.
⭐️So I’m glad the author didn’t shy away from what is popular (heaven only knows why it is 🙄) and made her characters Very true to reality.
Why wasn’t this 5 stars when I ended up totally loving this book? 2 reasons…
1. Like I said before this was a VERY SLOW START. I almost as gonna DNF.
2. My big pet peeve of is having them “be together” towards the end (no 3rd act thank goodness) but having a constant question about them staying together. For whatever reason, here it’s cause she has to go back to London for her career. Now I HATE this cause we live in 2024. The age of planes, smart phones and technology. I mean now a days people can spend more time together away from each other then some couples who live in the same house. So this is only to add angst and it’s the STUPIDEST drama. Cause it’s just so dumb when the answer is so simple.
‼️Doggy love
‼️Misconceptions about each other
‼️Grumpy Sunshine
❤️No manwhore H
‼️Mental health issues
‼️Self esteem issues
‼️Very small town
‼️Heartwarming
‼️Steamy sexy times
❣️Things I Liked/Loved❣️
-Mentally taking pictures f her
-I liked that he never dirty talked before that’s was for her.
-I really just enjoyed the Romantic connection specifically the second half.
Things I Did 💔 Not Like
-He basically calls her a whore at one point and I didn’t like that. He is mean and he judges her harshly for a huge for chunk of the book. I thought it went past grumpy. So I think people should know that. He does have reasons and he def fixes his mistakes. So I loved him for sure but I was expecting something a bit less harsh.
-She is desperate and often a doormat in the beginning. I just couldn’t like how she constantly took his horrid remarks and kept begging for more. It makes sense and the H needed it but I didn’t like her desperation for approval from everyone.
‼️She has been a popular actress for 12 years and hasn’t watched the world’s most famous movies. This was highly annoying. I did t buy it for a second.
-He was gonna let his brother pursue her… yeah no. And when she is at the bar the H watches w OM and only steps in when she’s to drunk to say no. I definitely didn’t like this. Although I understand cause of his issues. I still don’t like it.
🥀 Hero:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Malcolm 32
I adored him! ❤️
He’s more than a grump for a while I actually thought he came off as an asshole. BUT HE DOES CHANGE AND HE WON MY HEART IN A BIG WAY.
He has some serious self esteem issues and rightfully so as well as mental health issues. Hes very vulnerable!
It endured me to him more once we find out that being an ass is a way to protect himself. And when you see how insecure and unworthy he feels it’s just so heartbreaking.
❤️I absolutely fell in love with this man!
❤️I love that his dirty talking mouth was ONLY FOR HER.
❤️I love that almost everything he has experienced and felt was ONLY FOR HER.
📸His mental pictures was so swoon and also heartbreaking.
🦋 Heroine:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ April- 30
Celebrity actress who left home 12 yrs before and is back to see to her grandfathers distillery.
She was a good character if a bit boring. I like how she was perfect for Malcolm. She deserved him and I like that she to had her insecurities but she was so good for him.
I liked how confident she was during sex with him not cause she had experience but cause she was just so into him.
💭 POV:
Duel first person
😡/😍 Angst level:
Low
❤️🔥 Sex & Burn Rate:
First kiss 49%
Sex 68%
Amazingly hot sexy times.
Gah this man was so freaking amazing and I love how confident but also unsure he is it was a very sexy combo 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I loved his lack of experience but his dirty confident desire for her that pushes him to fulfill both of their fantasies!
❤️Just PERFECT!
No condoms
Birth control
Both clean
🌓 Push/Pull:
She is the main pursuer
He avoids her a lot in the first half and definitely doesn’t pursue her cause of his issues. But in the second half he absolutely does learn to pursue her and fight for what he wants 😍
☠️ OW/OM Drama:
No not really
OW mentions she went on a date with the H and wants more. He didn’t and doesn’t.
OM- a guy at a bar is hitting on the h she’s enjoying the attention but it goes to far and the H steps in.
OM- H brother pretends to be into the h too get his brother to step up and fight for her.
🤮 OW/OM Sex / Fluid or DNA Exchange:
None
🤬 Cheating:
None
👰🏼♀️ Virgins:
No V!
H- he only had 2 sexual experiences in his life!!! With 2 different woman both strangers. I like that we didn’t have to see or hear about his past in this small town. He had been celibate for 6 years❤️
h- she was experienced just cause she has had a few different relationships in her past. It had been a while for her.
⛈️Separation/ 3rd Act Breakup:
None which I love/ pretty sure authors don’t get that readers don’t like 3rd acts usually.
But like I said they are not sold till the last page. I mean they are but they are both sure what she will do stay or go.
🎧AUDIO
⭐️⭐️⭐️ it was ok. Narrators don’t do a very good job of expressing emotions or changing their voices for characters. It’s kinda monotone. The accents were good though.
Safety⚠️Triggers🗡️:
Mental heath issues
Death in the family
parental health issues
Family drama and issues
Pretty big insecurities from both h and H
🌈Epilogue:
6 mo later!
Ugh so sweet married and so so happy
Not sure I’ll read others in this series cause there is a lot more going for situations and dynamics that are not for me. Like manwhores and such
🥂HEA:
Yes yes yes I love them ❤️
❌My opinion is just that… MY OPINION.❌
I know we all get passionate about our favorite reads and characters but we should respect each opinions a thoughts. ~Thank you
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2023
I knew this book was for me, MADE FOR ME, when I saw that it was about an actress who returns to her small hometown and falls for the grumpy man living on her property.
Whisky Business was simply so lovely. And I highly recommend everyone to read it if you find those topics and tropes interesting! It's a very easy book to get into, not one boring moment, and you get a fabulous set of characters you will definitely fall in love with. You, like me, will want books for every secondary character NO DOUBT. This is one of the main reasons I love small-town romances like... the community is such a big part of the book just as much as anything else. It's important to fall for the other characters as well as the main characters, if not I feel like it won't work. The appeal of small-town romances doesn't only fall in the protagonists or the love story but the world around them.
The romance itself was so good. Mal is shy, gentle, and easily annoyed by April. I love the very specific trope of "I misjudged her so badly at first and now I have to grovel and apologize because I was obviously in the wrong" and this book has this!!! Also, he hasn't had sex with anyone in about five years or had any meaningful relationships aside from his siblings and he doesn't talk to them much either. He prefers to be sort of reclusive in his cottage and do puzzles, watch movies, and be with his pup Boy. I loved Mal very much!
And then we have April who is coming back home while having a current slump at work. After a series of problems in her career, she decides to take a break at home, at the place she once ran away from. She reunites with old friends and people who she once knew back in the day, and one of them is Mal. They knew each other as kids and kind of had a crush on each other? Maybe hehe. It's very cute to see them bump into each other again and you notice from the get-go how amazing their relationship will be. HE CALLS HER PRINCESS IN A CONDESCENDING WAY AT FIRST BUT THEN HE CALLS HER PRINCESS WITH LOVE AND CARE.
Whisky Business was simply so lovely. And I highly recommend everyone to read it if you find those topics and tropes interesting! It's a very easy book to get into, not one boring moment, and you get a fabulous set of characters you will definitely fall in love with. You, like me, will want books for every secondary character NO DOUBT. This is one of the main reasons I love small-town romances like... the community is such a big part of the book just as much as anything else. It's important to fall for the other characters as well as the main characters, if not I feel like it won't work. The appeal of small-town romances doesn't only fall in the protagonists or the love story but the world around them.
The romance itself was so good. Mal is shy, gentle, and easily annoyed by April. I love the very specific trope of "I misjudged her so badly at first and now I have to grovel and apologize because I was obviously in the wrong" and this book has this!!! Also, he hasn't had sex with anyone in about five years or had any meaningful relationships aside from his siblings and he doesn't talk to them much either. He prefers to be sort of reclusive in his cottage and do puzzles, watch movies, and be with his pup Boy. I loved Mal very much!
And then we have April who is coming back home while having a current slump at work. After a series of problems in her career, she decides to take a break at home, at the place she once ran away from. She reunites with old friends and people who she once knew back in the day, and one of them is Mal. They knew each other as kids and kind of had a crush on each other? Maybe hehe. It's very cute to see them bump into each other again and you notice from the get-go how amazing their relationship will be. HE CALLS HER PRINCESS IN A CONDESCENDING WAY AT FIRST BUT THEN HE CALLS HER PRINCESS WITH LOVE AND CARE.
June 11, 2023
Sweet but so fucking boring.
June 8, 2024
3.5-4⭐️
I don't think I vibed with the MMC. He was a little too shy for my liking but I did love the FMC! I knocked off a star and a half because of the MMC and also because I got a little bored with the distillery business side of the book. Otherwise, this was a cute easy read!
I don't think I vibed with the MMC. He was a little too shy for my liking but I did love the FMC! I knocked off a star and a half because of the MMC and also because I got a little bored with the distillery business side of the book. Otherwise, this was a cute easy read!
March 27, 2024
➸ 3.75 stars
“As humans, we demanded a beginning and end to make sense of the world around us. But for this, there would be an after, but no end. My love for her was as boundless as the mountain we lay upon. When she left me, my love would remain, burning just as fiercely as it did now.”
Tropes:
↬ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Praise Kink, Dirty Talk, Grump in the Streets/Freak in the Sheets)
↬ Contemporary Romance
↬ Dual POV; First Person
↬ Small Town
↬ Grumpy/Sunshine
↬ “Saving the Business” Trope
↬ Forced Proximity
↬ Slow Burn
↬ Anxiety and Cleft Palate Rep
Ratings:
↬ Characters: 4.5/5
↬ Romance: 5/5
↬ Plot: 5/5
↬ Structure 3.5/5
↬ World-Building: 3.5/5
↬ Writing: 3.5/5
↬ Uniqueness/Creativity: 3.5/5
↬ Overall Enjoyment: 3.75/5
↬ Read: on Kindle
_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
This was really cute! I’ve been really excited to pick up Whisky Business for awhile. I remember seeing this advertised a lot over on Instagram by the author, and it seemed to have pretty good reviews by arc readers. I’ve finally got around to reading it, and I’m so glad I did! The small town vibes of this were great, and the reoccurring side characters were also fun!
I really enjoyed both of the main characters. April, our heroine is an actress with a current dip in her career, and decides to come back to her hometown after he grandfather passes. I really liked seeing her become reacquainted with her home town, and fall back in love with it. I also enjoyed seeing her fall in love with her grandfather’s business, the whisky distillery. Her flirty personality was also so fun, I feel like you don’t see that type of heroine a lot!
I enjoyed Malcolm, our hero the most though. He’s very shy and has crippling anxiety and I thought the depiction was really well done. He’s definitely seen as a grump/very unapproachable by the people in town, but he’s really just too anxious to talk to people. His overthinking, and constant self-doubt was very relatable, and I enjoyed the author also showing his childhood trauma/why he had anxiety. He also had a cleft palate, which I’ve never read about in a book, and I’m so glad authors are adding more representation in their books. In terms of personality, I loved Mal’s. He was so sweet behind his hardened exterior, and I thought all the thoughtful things he did for April were just adorable.
The romance between April and Malcolm was so sweet. I really loved how they shared their love of books and movies, and I adored the scenes where they were working together to help save the whisky distillery. They had so much chemistry, and I was rooting for them for the entire book. Them having crushes on each other as teenagers just added the cherry on top for me, especially because Mal thought there was no possible way April could be into him. I also loved the confession scene where he tries to make her a bench and just utterly fails lol.
This is like the perfect “cutesie palate cleanser” type of romance. It’s not too heavy, it’s very fluffy, and it has both a lovable plot and characters to suck you in. I’m really excited to see what this author puts out next, this was a great, fun time!
* * *
Ugh this cover is to die for!!!
“As humans, we demanded a beginning and end to make sense of the world around us. But for this, there would be an after, but no end. My love for her was as boundless as the mountain we lay upon. When she left me, my love would remain, burning just as fiercely as it did now.”
Tropes:
↬ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Praise Kink, Dirty Talk, Grump in the Streets/Freak in the Sheets)
↬ Contemporary Romance
↬ Dual POV; First Person
↬ Small Town
↬ Grumpy/Sunshine
↬ “Saving the Business” Trope
↬ Forced Proximity
↬ Slow Burn
↬ Anxiety and Cleft Palate Rep
Ratings:
↬ Characters: 4.5/5
↬ Romance: 5/5
↬ Plot: 5/5
↬ Structure 3.5/5
↬ World-Building: 3.5/5
↬ Writing: 3.5/5
↬ Uniqueness/Creativity: 3.5/5
↬ Overall Enjoyment: 3.75/5
↬ Read: on Kindle
_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
This was really cute! I’ve been really excited to pick up Whisky Business for awhile. I remember seeing this advertised a lot over on Instagram by the author, and it seemed to have pretty good reviews by arc readers. I’ve finally got around to reading it, and I’m so glad I did! The small town vibes of this were great, and the reoccurring side characters were also fun!
I really enjoyed both of the main characters. April, our heroine is an actress with a current dip in her career, and decides to come back to her hometown after he grandfather passes. I really liked seeing her become reacquainted with her home town, and fall back in love with it. I also enjoyed seeing her fall in love with her grandfather’s business, the whisky distillery. Her flirty personality was also so fun, I feel like you don’t see that type of heroine a lot!
I enjoyed Malcolm, our hero the most though. He’s very shy and has crippling anxiety and I thought the depiction was really well done. He’s definitely seen as a grump/very unapproachable by the people in town, but he’s really just too anxious to talk to people. His overthinking, and constant self-doubt was very relatable, and I enjoyed the author also showing his childhood trauma/why he had anxiety. He also had a cleft palate, which I’ve never read about in a book, and I’m so glad authors are adding more representation in their books. In terms of personality, I loved Mal’s. He was so sweet behind his hardened exterior, and I thought all the thoughtful things he did for April were just adorable.
The romance between April and Malcolm was so sweet. I really loved how they shared their love of books and movies, and I adored the scenes where they were working together to help save the whisky distillery. They had so much chemistry, and I was rooting for them for the entire book. Them having crushes on each other as teenagers just added the cherry on top for me, especially because Mal thought there was no possible way April could be into him. I also loved the confession scene where he tries to make her a bench and just utterly fails lol.
This is like the perfect “cutesie palate cleanser” type of romance. It’s not too heavy, it’s very fluffy, and it has both a lovable plot and characters to suck you in. I’m really excited to see what this author puts out next, this was a great, fun time!
* * *
Ugh this cover is to die for!!!
June 3, 2023
I adored this book. I loved both the hero and heroine a lot and the setting. This was such a fun story.
However, the author has quite a few editing issues and there's some sloppiness to her writing. This is set in Scotland but it feels like it was written by an American not familiar with much of Scottish language or culture. Ok. According to her author bio, it says she's British. But seriously... it doesn't make sense for the way this book is written... perhaps I'm wrong and this is how folks talk there too? It just feels like it was written by an American trying to be authentic but failing.
For instance, there is drinking of lemonade and eating of s'mores. These seem very American. But perhaps I'm wrong! The language the characters used was inconsistent. Lots of wee and tae (instead of to) and then it went to straight unaccented English.
It's a fun story if you don't let those inconsistencies get in your way.
Also, the constant self-doubt from the hero is a bit exhausting but we do get to hear of him getting some therapy in the epilogue.
However, the author has quite a few editing issues and there's some sloppiness to her writing. This is set in Scotland but it feels like it was written by an American not familiar with much of Scottish language or culture. Ok. According to her author bio, it says she's British. But seriously... it doesn't make sense for the way this book is written... perhaps I'm wrong and this is how folks talk there too? It just feels like it was written by an American trying to be authentic but failing.
For instance, there is drinking of lemonade and eating of s'mores. These seem very American. But perhaps I'm wrong! The language the characters used was inconsistent. Lots of wee and tae (instead of to) and then it went to straight unaccented English.
It's a fun story if you don't let those inconsistencies get in your way.
Also, the constant self-doubt from the hero is a bit exhausting but we do get to hear of him getting some therapy in the epilogue.
July 16, 2024
Absolutely adorable grump and sunshine story!
And as an added bonus there were dogs!
I am sold.
LOVED IT.
And as an added bonus there were dogs!
I am sold.
LOVED IT.
November 9, 2024
something about romances that take place in Scotland have my entire heart😭🩷.
March 26, 2024
4.75 ⭐️ Screaming, crying and all around devastatingly in love with this book.
I had already read this book before - this is a reread for me, and the fact that I still loved it as much as I did the first time says so much about this book. Most importantly, this edition was given to me as an eARC through NetGalley (thank you so much!) and it has an extra special epilogue chapter at the end, and -omg- I could cry. It's so beautiful.
Both MCs in this book are so different from one another, and in my opinion, neither are particularly likeable. April is an actress trying to cling to what feels like her already fleeting career due to issues she can't help but silently blame herself for, and Malcolm is a gruff, quiet, gentle giant with heaps of social anxiety stemming from a difficult childhood in and out of hospitals. The chances of such different people having this kind of intense chemistry together feels impossible, but it's so, so incredibly beautiful to witness.
So... yeah. I did enjoy this book immensely. This entire story feels like an odd, contemporary fairytale. Mal is this mix of Eeyore and Winnie the Pooh all rolled in one -aka just an anxious teddy bear deserving of all kinds of love and attention!- and I can't get enough. This book is by no means perfect, and there are a couple of times where the characters make... let's just call them questionable choices (imo), but there's one thing that makes this book superior to most other romances out there.
THERE IS NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP.
Listen, there's nothing that turns me off a romance faster than an unnecessary, drawn-out breakup. And to be honest, if it would have happened here, I wouldn't even have called it unnecessary. There were so many ways this could have gone wrong, or at least many other outcomes where the MCs chose to put themselves as individuals above one another and their relationship. I truly think that it's one of my favourite things in the entire book. Even though they are scared for themselves, and their feelings, they still put the other and the chance of a future together first. I loved the friends and family aspect too, and I cannot wait to see future books about Juniper, Heather, Callum... There were so many hints to possible future books, and I want them all!! And if one of them is not Callum x Juniper I'm going to be so heartbroken (it might not be for everyone, but I so sincerely do not care about Alastair... he can get his own book too, just not with Juni!)
Thank you so much RL for the rec! She was the first that put me on to this story, and even the second time around, I love this book so much. Even if it's not perfect, this could definitely be used as a yardstick to measure all other romcoms I read in the future.
🌶🌶🌶- This is a spicy book, and although I don't think it's too over-the-top, it does have a generous handful of s*x scenes. Mal is HOT -yes, I say that with all caps. The fact that he's always so anxious when he speaks, but finds the words to 'spicy talk' with April... I have no words. I just loved it all!
I had already read this book before - this is a reread for me, and the fact that I still loved it as much as I did the first time says so much about this book. Most importantly, this edition was given to me as an eARC through NetGalley (thank you so much!) and it has an extra special epilogue chapter at the end, and -omg- I could cry. It's so beautiful.
Both MCs in this book are so different from one another, and in my opinion, neither are particularly likeable. April is an actress trying to cling to what feels like her already fleeting career due to issues she can't help but silently blame herself for, and Malcolm is a gruff, quiet, gentle giant with heaps of social anxiety stemming from a difficult childhood in and out of hospitals. The chances of such different people having this kind of intense chemistry together feels impossible, but it's so, so incredibly beautiful to witness.
So... yeah. I did enjoy this book immensely. This entire story feels like an odd, contemporary fairytale. Mal is this mix of Eeyore and Winnie the Pooh all rolled in one -aka just an anxious teddy bear deserving of all kinds of love and attention!- and I can't get enough. This book is by no means perfect, and there are a couple of times where the characters make... let's just call them questionable choices (imo), but there's one thing that makes this book superior to most other romances out there.
THERE IS NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP.
Listen, there's nothing that turns me off a romance faster than an unnecessary, drawn-out breakup. And to be honest, if it would have happened here, I wouldn't even have called it unnecessary. There were so many ways this could have gone wrong, or at least many other outcomes where the MCs chose to put themselves as individuals above one another and their relationship. I truly think that it's one of my favourite things in the entire book. Even though they are scared for themselves, and their feelings, they still put the other and the chance of a future together first. I loved the friends and family aspect too, and I cannot wait to see future books about Juniper, Heather, Callum... There were so many hints to possible future books, and I want them all!! And if one of them is not Callum x Juniper I'm going to be so heartbroken (it might not be for everyone, but I so sincerely do not care about Alastair... he can get his own book too, just not with Juni!)
Thank you so much RL for the rec! She was the first that put me on to this story, and even the second time around, I love this book so much. Even if it's not perfect, this could definitely be used as a yardstick to measure all other romcoms I read in the future.
🌶🌶🌶- This is a spicy book, and although I don't think it's too over-the-top, it does have a generous handful of s*x scenes. Mal is HOT -yes, I say that with all caps. The fact that he's always so anxious when he speaks, but finds the words to 'spicy talk' with April... I have no words. I just loved it all!
October 16, 2023
4⭑
Tropes:
- anxiety rep (mmc)
- celebrity romance
- grumpy x sunshine
- slow burn romance
- small town romance
- dual POV
A romance set in Scotland with Scottish characters that isn’t full of stereotypes? We love to see it🫶🏼
Tropes:
- anxiety rep (mmc)
- celebrity romance
- grumpy x sunshine
- slow burn romance
- small town romance
- dual POV
A romance set in Scotland with Scottish characters that isn’t full of stereotypes? We love to see it🫶🏼
March 9, 2024
3.5⭐️
I almost dnf’d this at the beginning because I wasn’t feeling it, but stuck it out for a few more chapters and really enjoyed it. The pace was slow for me, hence no 4⭐️. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author
I almost dnf’d this at the beginning because I wasn’t feeling it, but stuck it out for a few more chapters and really enjoyed it. The pace was slow for me, hence no 4⭐️. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author
December 7, 2024
not too long, v unproblematic, loved the main characters especially MMC - a solid 4⭐️
September 5, 2023
i put off this book for months just to end up loving it so much 🤭 it made me cry. a good cry
i started this and didn’t think i was going to like it. it starts off with April & Malcolm in a bit of a tift, well more so just on Mal’s part. i don’t like when books are solely based off of a misunderstanding between adults like you’re in your 30s?? communicate maybe?
that aside .. i absolutely LOVED this!!
no third act breakup
inexperienced H/experienced h 😮💨
childhood crushes
actress h/blue collar H
dirty talking H 🥵
BLUSHING H (idk why i love this 🤭)
this book follows Mal and April. her childhood best friends older brother. unbeknownst to the other they had crushed on each other as teens. besides being her friends brother, Mal also worked for her recently deceased grandfather’s distillery. April left home to become an award winning movie star until her career hit the brakes and her grandfather passed away suddenly.
Mal does not like that April is home and is under the impression she’s trying to take the distillery out from under him and sell it for profit. Mal also thinks she put her career above her dying grandfather and resents her for it, but April didn’t know he was even sick.
April on the other hand doesn’t know why Mal dislikes her so much and is truly trying to save the distillery from a mess of debt her grandfather left behind. they eventually come to terms and work along side one another and eventually can’t deny their feelings anymore. i’d say this is a slow burn, there’s push & pull from both Mal & April at times so nothing officially happens until around 70%.
Mal pushes April away after their first kiss. he can’t come to terms that she would actually want him and tells her he doesn’t want her anymore. now this would have pissed me off if April would’ve gone home and wallowed (and we didn’t know Mal was just scared) but she goes out to a bar and flirts with a guy. Mal shows up and the jealousy scene 🙌🏼🙌🏼 i love it
April then pushes Mal away and asks for time. he makes it known that she can take all of the time she needs but it doesn’t mean he’s going to just disappear. they FINALLY!! figure out their issues and have a fairly easy going relationship as they learn how to communicate with each other.
i loved Malcolm so much 🥹🥹 my sweet baby deserves the world!! April was a good fmc. she was so patient and understanding with Mal’s anxiety and i loved her for it.
safety into 🤗
Mal has been celibate for 5/6 YEARS. only with 2 ow before April. never any relationship, just to “scratch the itch” neither compared to what he had with April.
doesn’t say how long it’s been for April. i’d like to say around a year or more? it’s implied she hasn’t been with anyone since her last long term relationship ended and the drama causing her career to nosedive started which had been going on for a while i think.
i started this and didn’t think i was going to like it. it starts off with April & Malcolm in a bit of a tift, well more so just on Mal’s part. i don’t like when books are solely based off of a misunderstanding between adults like you’re in your 30s?? communicate maybe?
that aside .. i absolutely LOVED this!!
no third act breakup
inexperienced H/experienced h 😮💨
childhood crushes
actress h/blue collar H
dirty talking H 🥵
BLUSHING H (idk why i love this 🤭)
this book follows Mal and April. her childhood best friends older brother. unbeknownst to the other they had crushed on each other as teens. besides being her friends brother, Mal also worked for her recently deceased grandfather’s distillery. April left home to become an award winning movie star until her career hit the brakes and her grandfather passed away suddenly.
Mal does not like that April is home and is under the impression she’s trying to take the distillery out from under him and sell it for profit. Mal also thinks she put her career above her dying grandfather and resents her for it, but April didn’t know he was even sick.
April on the other hand doesn’t know why Mal dislikes her so much and is truly trying to save the distillery from a mess of debt her grandfather left behind. they eventually come to terms and work along side one another and eventually can’t deny their feelings anymore. i’d say this is a slow burn, there’s push & pull from both Mal & April at times so nothing officially happens until around 70%.
Mal pushes April away after their first kiss. he can’t come to terms that she would actually want him and tells her he doesn’t want her anymore. now this would have pissed me off if April would’ve gone home and wallowed (and we didn’t know Mal was just scared) but she goes out to a bar and flirts with a guy. Mal shows up and the jealousy scene 🙌🏼🙌🏼 i love it
April then pushes Mal away and asks for time. he makes it known that she can take all of the time she needs but it doesn’t mean he’s going to just disappear. they FINALLY!! figure out their issues and have a fairly easy going relationship as they learn how to communicate with each other.
i loved Malcolm so much 🥹🥹 my sweet baby deserves the world!! April was a good fmc. she was so patient and understanding with Mal’s anxiety and i loved her for it.
safety into 🤗
Mal has been celibate for 5/6 YEARS. only with 2 ow before April. never any relationship, just to “scratch the itch” neither compared to what he had with April.
doesn’t say how long it’s been for April. i’d like to say around a year or more? it’s implied she hasn’t been with anyone since her last long term relationship ended and the drama causing her career to nosedive started which had been going on for a while i think.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2024
I was so excited to read this, because I was in Scotland last summer and absolutely loved Isle of Skye! It’s other worldly beautiful, and we visited whisky distilleries and ate oysters while we gazed dreamily at the sea and wondered why we didn’t wake up and do all that everyday.
So I’m really bummed that this book, set in a whisky distillery on Skye, just isn’t working for me. I don’t love the exposition-heavy, somewhat scattered writing style, I can feel the framework of the trilogy snapping into place, the h/H feel pretty typical, movie star/rock star/whatever characters are not my thing, there are way too many mentions of Julia Roberts, I hate the nickname “Princess” and how it is always, always egregiously overused in books, she refers to a gross prank she pulled in the past that I hate, she overreacts in a Rachel-and-Monica-fogged-Danny kind of way, and neither the rom-com hijinks nor the attempts to give angsty back story ring particularly true. The whole thing just feels a bit forced and a bit overly referential, as there are a ton of pop culture echoes in the dialogue and zany scenarios.
I wish there was more immersion in the setting as well. And call me delusional, but so much of this felt very American to me, too, though maybe that’s a by-product of a ton of contemporary romance language and sitcom shenanigans.
Skimmed ahead—the second half does seem better, and the sex seems surprisingly not bad—but it’s not enough to save this for me. So disappointed.
DNF and I still live in stupid America.
So I’m really bummed that this book, set in a whisky distillery on Skye, just isn’t working for me. I don’t love the exposition-heavy, somewhat scattered writing style, I can feel the framework of the trilogy snapping into place, the h/H feel pretty typical, movie star/rock star/whatever characters are not my thing, there are way too many mentions of Julia Roberts, I hate the nickname “Princess” and how it is always, always egregiously overused in books, she refers to a gross prank she pulled in the past that I hate, she overreacts in a Rachel-and-Monica-fogged-Danny kind of way, and neither the rom-com hijinks nor the attempts to give angsty back story ring particularly true. The whole thing just feels a bit forced and a bit overly referential, as there are a ton of pop culture echoes in the dialogue and zany scenarios.
I wish there was more immersion in the setting as well. And call me delusional, but so much of this felt very American to me, too, though maybe that’s a by-product of a ton of contemporary romance language and sitcom shenanigans.
Skimmed ahead—the second half does seem better, and the sex seems surprisingly not bad—but it’s not enough to save this for me. So disappointed.
DNF and I still live in stupid America.
May 19, 2023
“you were inevitable, princess.”
this was the “ive always been in love with you but have to pretend im not” and grumpy/sunshine romance of my dreams. this has all my favorite things in a romance, tenderness, comedy, great chemistry and beautiful love declarations. one of my favorite books of the year.
this was the “ive always been in love with you but have to pretend im not” and grumpy/sunshine romance of my dreams. this has all my favorite things in a romance, tenderness, comedy, great chemistry and beautiful love declarations. one of my favorite books of the year.
November 13, 2024
The dumbest thing I have ever done was let this book sit on my shelves as long as I did. Being a mood reader really bites me in the ass sometimes. Enchanted, delighted, breathless, gleeful, hopeful, uncomfortably h*rny…all things I felt while reading this book.
Mal was my favourite kind of MMC. Grumpy, deeply loyal, prefers his own company, a touch sad, and so absolutely head over heels in love that he can’t even believe April would feel the same way about him. I wanted to wrap him up in a warm hug. I adored April and how much she wanted to help Mal with the business and with love. She struck me as kind of her own lost soul alongside Mal, but together they stayed on track. This was really slow burn but once they started to communicate and get to know each other it moved along quickly. I just really enjoyed everything from the characters to the setting. Can’t wait for the next in the series!
Mal was my favourite kind of MMC. Grumpy, deeply loyal, prefers his own company, a touch sad, and so absolutely head over heels in love that he can’t even believe April would feel the same way about him. I wanted to wrap him up in a warm hug. I adored April and how much she wanted to help Mal with the business and with love. She struck me as kind of her own lost soul alongside Mal, but together they stayed on track. This was really slow burn but once they started to communicate and get to know each other it moved along quickly. I just really enjoyed everything from the characters to the setting. Can’t wait for the next in the series!
August 20, 2024
i dont give romance books 5 stars that often anymore but this is just what i needed.
a fluffy grumpy mmc and a fierce & loving fmc. healthy communication, no 3rd act breakup. the right amount of spice that wasn’t over the top. a connection between our two mcs.
a stunning romance!
a fluffy grumpy mmc and a fierce & loving fmc. healthy communication, no 3rd act breakup. the right amount of spice that wasn’t over the top. a connection between our two mcs.
a stunning romance!
March 6, 2024
An adorable missed chance romance with a pinch of smut thrown in for good measure. Elliot Fletcher nicely marries romance, smut and small town drama in a union that is thoughtful, emotional and enjoyable.
April Sinclair and Malcolm Macabe certainly have their personality flaws and the burdens that come with daily life with a little extra due to family. Fletcher blends the heartbreaking with the heartwarming and then sprinkles just the right blend of spice throughout their story. The author does a good job of building the tension not only between the characters but also with the small town of Kinleith and the outside world. Don't worry, the smut doesn't really start until almost the end - but it's good. Look, you can't have a romanctical relationship with somone without sex (in most cases) so expecting to read a romance without sex? Well, that's called Christian Romance - this is not that.
There is a foundation of "reality" that culminates in the Disney romance we've been spoon fed to measure everything. Whilst I did find April's occupation to be a little too convenient and easy to the story, I appreciate that it didn't overwhelm/overshadow everything and everyone. Malcolm is an interesting character as he is much portrayed as a gentle, grumpy giant that is extremely introverted and agoraphobic. He's deeply affected by his childhood troubles (cleft palate) and his father's inability to emote appropriately.
The polarity of these two characters makes for entertaining and frustrating dialogue and situations that you can't stop reading! I flew through these almost 400 pages thanks to the short chapters (why can't more books do this?), witty conversations, ridiculously hilarious interactions with various people and animals and the heartache of some truths behind a lot of misunder-standings. I highly recommend if you are looking for a quick read to get you out of a slump or just to change up your current reads.
April Sinclair and Malcolm Macabe certainly have their personality flaws and the burdens that come with daily life with a little extra due to family. Fletcher blends the heartbreaking with the heartwarming and then sprinkles just the right blend of spice throughout their story. The author does a good job of building the tension not only between the characters but also with the small town of Kinleith and the outside world. Don't worry, the smut doesn't really start until almost the end - but it's good. Look, you can't have a romanctical relationship with somone without sex (in most cases) so expecting to read a romance without sex? Well, that's called Christian Romance - this is not that.
There is a foundation of "reality" that culminates in the Disney romance we've been spoon fed to measure everything. Whilst I did find April's occupation to be a little too convenient and easy to the story, I appreciate that it didn't overwhelm/overshadow everything and everyone. Malcolm is an interesting character as he is much portrayed as a gentle, grumpy giant that is extremely introverted and agoraphobic. He's deeply affected by his childhood troubles (cleft palate) and his father's inability to emote appropriately.
The polarity of these two characters makes for entertaining and frustrating dialogue and situations that you can't stop reading! I flew through these almost 400 pages thanks to the short chapters (why can't more books do this?), witty conversations, ridiculously hilarious interactions with various people and animals and the heartache of some truths behind a lot of misunder-standings. I highly recommend if you are looking for a quick read to get you out of a slump or just to change up your current reads.
June 4, 2024
YOU NEED TO READ ON AUDIOBOOK BECAUSE HE HAS A SCOTTISH ACCENT AND CALLS HER PRINCESS AND SAYS GOOD GIRL!!!! 🥵🥵🥵
This is honestly one of the most beautiful romances I have ever read AND I say that with my whole chest as someone who has read the greats in the genre.
The anxiety rep from Mal, the MMC, had me in an absolute tizzy. The gentleness and dedication he had for the things he cared for because of that anxiety literally had me BALLING my eyes out on the highway driving to work 🥲🚗
April is a tenacious and sweet FMC. The way she handles the bad side of fame and the way that reflects back through her actions... BESIDE MYSELF!!!!
- childhood crush
- Scottish isle’s
- grumpy x sunshine
- the dogs fall in love too
- NO third act break up
- SPICY 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️
This is honestly one of the most beautiful romances I have ever read AND I say that with my whole chest as someone who has read the greats in the genre.
The anxiety rep from Mal, the MMC, had me in an absolute tizzy. The gentleness and dedication he had for the things he cared for because of that anxiety literally had me BALLING my eyes out on the highway driving to work 🥲🚗
April is a tenacious and sweet FMC. The way she handles the bad side of fame and the way that reflects back through her actions... BESIDE MYSELF!!!!
- childhood crush
- Scottish isle’s
- grumpy x sunshine
- the dogs fall in love too
- NO third act break up
- SPICY 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️
October 11, 2024
upgrading to a 5 because i actually love this books sm
July 5, 2024
For every girl who ever dreamt of escaping to Scotland…
It couldn’t possibly be as good as everyone says, right? But it was… it really, really was.
📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Whisky Business by Elliot Fletcher
📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: The Macabe Brothers character series. Book 1.
📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle. Borrowed from Libby.
📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Contemporary romance
📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Grumpy/sunshine, he falls first, found family, Hollywood romance, fish out of water, mental health rep, all the feels, no third-act breakup.
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: April returns home to a tiny island in Scotland to help bring her grandfather’s distillery back to profitability. What she doesn’t anticipate is Malcolm, a surly distiller who has been running the place in her absence and seems to hate the idea of change.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I’d seen this book a few times, touted on Instagram and on TikTok. I hesitated, and let the long library hold guide me - because so often those books fall flat for me. But I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book.
April and Mal were such great characters. They were both complex and fun to read. The tension between the pair was so well-written… and then when the spice kicked in I was feral
The little island was a perfect backdrop for their story. If any of you ever wished to be swept off your feet in Scotland, this book would have you totally swooning.
Glad I took the jump into this one, and can’t wait for more from this family.
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶
It couldn’t possibly be as good as everyone says, right? But it was… it really, really was.
📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Whisky Business by Elliot Fletcher
📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: The Macabe Brothers character series. Book 1.
📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle. Borrowed from Libby.
📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Contemporary romance
📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Grumpy/sunshine, he falls first, found family, Hollywood romance, fish out of water, mental health rep, all the feels, no third-act breakup.
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: April returns home to a tiny island in Scotland to help bring her grandfather’s distillery back to profitability. What she doesn’t anticipate is Malcolm, a surly distiller who has been running the place in her absence and seems to hate the idea of change.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I’d seen this book a few times, touted on Instagram and on TikTok. I hesitated, and let the long library hold guide me - because so often those books fall flat for me. But I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book.
April and Mal were such great characters. They were both complex and fun to read. The tension between the pair was so well-written… and then when the spice kicked in I was feral
The little island was a perfect backdrop for their story. If any of you ever wished to be swept off your feet in Scotland, this book would have you totally swooning.
Glad I took the jump into this one, and can’t wait for more from this family.
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶
October 9, 2024
Whisky Business by Elliot Fletcher 🥃
I absolutely adored this book. I had a feeling that Malcolm would be a character I would love from the start but when it was stated that he's a man who prefers to spend his evening doing a puzzle with his dog, I was fully in love. I know as romance reader we love our alpha men, but I love myself a soft man who is quite shy but opens up to the woman in his life unlike he has with anyone else.
April grew up in a small Scotland town with her grandparents but hasn't been back to town in a while due to career as an actress. Her career has reached an all time low so she decides to return to the town she grew up in hopes of saving her family's distillery. Especially since her grandfather had recently passed away and she is the new owner. She doesn't expect to see Malcom basically running the distillery on his own and him to be upset to see her return. April remembered Malcolm to be shy and while that remains true, there's some animosity there now. As April becomes more involved in the business, she spends more time with Malcolm as much as he would prefer otherwise. Lingering looks and hesitant touches begin to occur but Malcolm can't believe that someone like April could fall for him.
The love between April and Malcolm was so tender and sweet. I loved how they both had a dog and they played a part in their story as well. There's so many small moments and micro-tropes I'd love to mention but I'd rather everyone experience them when they read it. So many moments that had me swooning and giggling and sweating. Malcolm may be shy and feel like he doesn't have the right words most of the time, but oh boy is he a dirty talker!
This had the perfect example of what I like to see for no third act breakup. There is conflict that arises and both begin to worry but instead of running away from each other or choosing to separate, they talk it through to make sure they take the best path forward for their relationship. Highly, highly recommend!
🌤️ grumpy (him) / sunshine (her)
🏴 small town
🤭 childhood crush
🐶 includes dogs
👥 close proximity
👑 nickname
👏🏼 no third act breakup
dual POV
5/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 spice level 🌶️
I absolutely adored this book. I had a feeling that Malcolm would be a character I would love from the start but when it was stated that he's a man who prefers to spend his evening doing a puzzle with his dog, I was fully in love. I know as romance reader we love our alpha men, but I love myself a soft man who is quite shy but opens up to the woman in his life unlike he has with anyone else.
April grew up in a small Scotland town with her grandparents but hasn't been back to town in a while due to career as an actress. Her career has reached an all time low so she decides to return to the town she grew up in hopes of saving her family's distillery. Especially since her grandfather had recently passed away and she is the new owner. She doesn't expect to see Malcom basically running the distillery on his own and him to be upset to see her return. April remembered Malcolm to be shy and while that remains true, there's some animosity there now. As April becomes more involved in the business, she spends more time with Malcolm as much as he would prefer otherwise. Lingering looks and hesitant touches begin to occur but Malcolm can't believe that someone like April could fall for him.
The love between April and Malcolm was so tender and sweet. I loved how they both had a dog and they played a part in their story as well. There's so many small moments and micro-tropes I'd love to mention but I'd rather everyone experience them when they read it. So many moments that had me swooning and giggling and sweating. Malcolm may be shy and feel like he doesn't have the right words most of the time, but oh boy is he a dirty talker!
This had the perfect example of what I like to see for no third act breakup. There is conflict that arises and both begin to worry but instead of running away from each other or choosing to separate, they talk it through to make sure they take the best path forward for their relationship. Highly, highly recommend!
🌤️ grumpy (him) / sunshine (her)
🏴 small town
🤭 childhood crush
🐶 includes dogs
👥 close proximity
👑 nickname
👏🏼 no third act breakup
dual POV
5/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 spice level 🌶️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,124 reviews