[ARC Review] Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year by Rochelle Bilow
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.
My thoughts: Rochelle Bilow gives readers so much more than a romance in Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year. Filled with a sense of wanderlust, Ruby's story is about finding love, finding home, and finding your person.
Both Ruby and Brochan are passionate people, and this story was truly their way of rediscovering that. However, just like in real life, following your passion looks different for everyone and Bilow made sure that carried through to our main characters. While Ruby's attempt to reconnect with her passion took her from New York City to the small town of Thistlecross, Scotland, Brochan's passion kept him near home to defend the people and places he loved.
I truly enjoyed the journey Ruby went on throughout this novel. As Ruby herself points out several times, she doesn't need - nor was she intending on finding - someone to make her feel complete. And Brochan ended up being much more than that. I loved Bilow's emphasis on finding your home and your person.
This was truly a love story for love in all its forms. Sometimes, love is sacrifice. Sometimes, it's affection. Sometimes, it's cooking for those you care about. Ruby touches on all those forms and more. This one was closed door/fade to black, but Ruby and Brochan's story was rich in so many other ways that I didn't even mind.
Bilow's culinary past shines through in the dishes that Ruby makes for the people she cares about. With a fantastic story, a newfound love for life, and a fulfilled sense of wanderlust, Ruby Spencer brings a romance to inspire us all.
[A huge thank you to Berkley Romance for providing an advanced copy of this title. All opinions are my own.]
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Release date: 2/14/23
Format: eARC
eARC provided via: NetGalley
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