BLOG TOUR - Ruby Spencer’s Whisky Year

Title:  Ruby Spencer’s Whiskey Year

Author:   Rochelle Bilow

Publisher:   Berkley

Genre:   Romance

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   368

Date of Publication:   February 14, 2023

My Rating:   4 Stars 

DESCRIPTION:

When a thirty-something American food writer moves to a Scottish village for one year to fulfill her dream of writing a cookbook she finds more than inspiration--she meets a handsome Scotsman she can't resist.

Ruby Spencer is spending one year living in a small cottage in a tiny town in the Scottish Highlands for three reasons: to write a bestselling cookbook, to drink a barrelful of whisky, and to figure out what comes next. It’s hard to know what to expect after an impulse decision based on a map of Scotland in her Manhattan apartment—but she knows it’s high time she had an adventure.

The moment she sets foot in Thistlecross, the verdant scenery, cozy cottages, and struggling local pub steal her heart. Between designing pop-up suppers and conversing with the colorful locals, Ruby starts to see a future that stretches beyond her year of adventure. It doesn’t hurt that Brochan, the ruggedly handsome local handyman, keeps coming around to repair things at her cottage. Though Ruby swore off men, she can’t help fantasizing what a roll in the barley might be like with the bearded Scot.

As Ruby grows closer to Brochan and the tightly held traditions of the charming village, she discovers secret plans to turn her beloved pub into an American chain restaurant. Faced with an impossible choice, Ruby must decide between love, loyalty, and the Highlands way of life.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

One year in Scotland. Drink a lot of whisky. Write a cookbook. Ruby Spencer is sure that she will fulfill that particular dream. There is more than one distraction, however. That distraction is none other than a sexy Scotsman named Brochan. Considering why Ruby chose Scotland in the first place just goes to show that fate just might have played a hand. 

Considering her visa is only good for a year,  any chance of a romance could not possibly be more than a fling. Not so sure that she has time for such a distraction, Ruby sets out to achieve her goals. Ruby loves the setting where she is at, concerned villagers who share a history  that bonds them together. Ruby does far more than to research and work on her book. She finds herself drawn into their lives, even striking up other close friendships the more time she spends there. 

Meanwhile, the attraction shared between her and Brochan got stronger and stronger, thus making this book an even better read. Meanwhile, despite having a happy life and a wonderful family back in the States, Ruby begins to feel like Scotland is where she was meant to be. It felt more like home more than ever. I loved the drama in this book, especially as her relationships grew with the villagers. One such villager was Brochan’s aunt Grace. I loved the bond that Ruby formed with Grace. Lastly, Brochan’s story was very intriguing. Ruby Spencer’s Whisky Year was a truly delightful read. 

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rochelle Bilow is a romance writer, food journalist, and writer. She is a graduate of The French Culinary Institute and has worked as a baker, a line cook, and the social media manager for Bon Appétit and Cooking Light magazines. Her articles about cooking, eating, and farming has been published in a variety of national publications. Rochelle splits her time between upstate New York and Vermont, where she cooks with copious amounts of butter and reads stacks of books by the wood stove (as is only proper).

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