This book pulled at my heart strings and had me tearing up. A beautiful country, coming to terms with grief, personal discovery and a sexy scottaman in a kilt what more could you want??

𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 : 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗽 𝗯𝘆 @akileybooks
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Release Date: 5th March 2024

𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 ! 𝙄𝙛 𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩 , 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙬!

This was such a sweet, slow burning, and soft hearted romance. Addie and Logan are the perfect MCs that are just meant for each other. Addie has been around the world, running between airports while still feeling empty with the loss of her mother. She ends up in Scotland on a work trip, which also happens to be her mother’s homeland. Logan is the passionate tour guide and the client whose travel business she is here to reform. They have clashing perspectives - business minded vs emotional value oriented.

𝙇𝙤𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮, (𝙝𝙞𝙢?) 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧..

I loved their initial meet cute and banter. It’s filled with great chemistry, forced proximity travelling together, and also spice (workplace shenanigans)! Special mention to the utterly hot Logan in a kilt! 🔥

Alongside the romantic journey, it is also a healing journey for Addie where she recovers from her mother’s loss while revisiting her memories and quite literally finds herself at home. Logan’s support and warmth helps so much! For travel lovers, there’s enough Scottish history references and landmarks for you to make your next itinerary! 🙌

I am thankful to @netgalley @htpbooks @akileybooks for providing me the ARC in return for my honest review!

There is so much happening in this book, and it is all written so beautifully! Traveling around Scotland; overcoming grief; learning to give and receive both love and forgiveness; discovering what home means; and so much more. Instant attraction, angst, slow burn, and spice. This book really had it all, including perfectly flawed characters. As a huge fan of all things Scotland, Logan will be living rent-free in my thoughts for a very long time.

I love how he gave Addie space to deal with her grief and fears while silently supporting her through it all. He is sweet, funny, sexy, steadfast, loyal, and loves with his whole heart. Addie is a bit of a mess, but smart and stronger than she gives herself credit for. She's been through a lot and it holds her back. Several times through the story, I wanted to reach into the pages and shake some sense into her, but I never lost faith in her. It just took a little love and a lot of grace from the right person to help her see she deserved better than she allowed for herself.

I loved the trips through Scotland's countryside and sites. Kiley's descriptive and poetic writing transported me there and it was so easy to get lost in it.

Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley is a wonderful novel that will make you want to hop a flight to Scotland! Abbie is a world traveler who is assigned to help a family run tour business whose profits are declining. Logan is running his family's tour business, but isn't sure how to turn it around. When the two meet, sparks fly, but they can't do anything about it, they have a business to save. A fun and enjoyable, "will they, won't they" dynamic which keeps the reader engaged. Loved it! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

DNF'd at 16%

i REALLY wanted to like this and i tried so hard to stick it through to see if it would peak my interest but it really feels like a chore to get through. this concept is really cute but not for me! i just think i don't like romance that's mixed so much with like business you know? i don't know, it's just not for me and i really don't want to force myself to read this and come to resent it

this is definitely something i'd listen to the audiobook of! but physically reading it is challenging and so i'll have to dnf it right now

i don't rate dnfs usually but since this is for netgalley, i'll give it a 3 bc the concept is good, i just can't get into it!

thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

As someone that fell in love with Edinburgh just this past year, the setting for this story was perfect. I loved knowing all the places that were mentioned throughout the book. Addie and Logan were great MCs. Their chemistry from the start was fantastic. Reading through their ups and downs was entertaining and touching. Highly recommend reading this one if your looking for a good romance with characters that have depth.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

I was so happy to be able to get an ARC of this because I'm of Scottish descent myself, and I loved every bit of Scotland in this book. The character development was a little on the weaker side but overall the story was pretty cute.

What a fantastic debut novel! I loved Addie and Logan and I loved to see their romance progress. This was so cute, charming and Scotland?! Love.

Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley is a romance debut and the story of Addie and Logan.
 
Logan is born and raised in Edinburgh, and he absolutely loves his home and shares all the hidden gems through tours. However, the family-run tour company is struggling. Logan is a true Scot and ever since Outlander, I’m completely obsessed with everything Scotland and he is the epitome of it.
 
Addie is a travel consultant and globetrotter, and her home is the world. She is an expert in the traveling business and therefore tries to help Logan’s family business. She is such a vibrant person who explores a personal connection in Edinburgh and that added an emotional layer to the story that I really liked.
 
Addie and Logan have a hate-to-love situation going on and at first, they aren’t fond of each other. But that slowly changes, and they start working together beautifully. I really loved how this story and romance progressed. Addie and Logan are such a cute couple and that in combination with the Scotland vibes was amazing.
 
Overall, Kilt Trip is such a great debut romance, and you should totally check it out. 4 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

This was a really cute read! It had a fun plot and I really enjoyed the characters. I really enjoyed Addie and Logan's relationship. I love reading books about places I've never been. They always make me want to take a trip to the location and this was no exception, I'd love to see Scotland one day after reading this!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

✅ will make you start looking into flights to Edinburgh
✅ Addie (a travel consultant) + Logan (a tour guide) at odds with each other
✅ Dual POV
✅ SWOONY. So much yearning!!!!!
🌶️: you have to wait for it, but A+ payoff

Addie Macrae, a seasoned travel consultant, heads to the enchanting Scottish Highlands to revive a struggling family-owned tour company. Amidst breathtaking landscapes and hidden treasures, Addie finds herself entangled with Logan Sutherland, a passionate and rugged tour guide. As they clash over professional strategies, a deeper connection is forged through Addie's exploration of her ancestral ties, guided by Logan's unwavering charm. Together Addie and Logan navigate love, loss, and the pursuit of adventure amidst the rolling hills and ancient castles.

"Kilt Trip" offers readers a vivid and immersive journey through the picturesque landscapes of Scotland, with Edinburgh portrayed as a rich and historically accurate setting. Alexandra Kiley's meticulous research shines through, creating an atmosphere that feels authentic and lived-in. However, while the travel aspects and setting are beautifully detailed, the characters fall short of leaving a lasting impression. The protagonists lack depth and fail to evoke a strong connection and the trope of a “career woman falling for a charming man with an accent” feels somewhat clichéd and Hallmark-y. Despite the delightful side characters, the central relationship between Addie and Logan fails to fully captivate. The novel's pacing also struggles, with a slow and lengthy narrative that may leave readers feeling tempted to skim through. Overall, while "Kilt Trip" excels in its atmospheric depiction of Scotland, it falls short in delivering compelling character dynamics and pacing, making it a somewhat underwhelming read for those seeking a deeper and more engaging romance.

CAWPILE Rating: 3.5 Stars

Plot - Addie is a consultant who helps touring companies; Logan is a tour guide for his family's tour company. Logan thinks Addie's improvement suggestions remove the personal and unique aspects of his tours, so he takes her on various Scottish adventures to sway her to see the country the way he does.

The Good: The atmosphere of Scotland was lovingly described and helped build the mood. The plot had a good amount of tension between the two having professional disagreement, but personal connection. The romance aspects were fun and a good level of steamy.

The Wasn't For Me: The characters were hit and miss. Logan's whole personality seemed to be "being Scottish" and Addie was frustrating at times when she would not communicate her feelings/motives.

Overall, this was a book with great atmosphere, a good plot, but weaker on the character side.

Such a fun cute book! Loved the plot, Addie was such a wonderful female lead. Logan had a heart of gold in this book and all the side characters were wonderful, but the main character of Scotland was by far the best. A wonderful Must read

I need to move to Scotland ASAP!!! Kilt Trip had me googling the castles and sites they explored and dreaming up a trip! I really enjoyed Alexandra's writing as it had me laughing out loud and then tearing up. I appreciated the deeper themes that Addie dealt with by exploring her Mom's pictures and her relationship with her Dad. I do wish we had more of a on page reconciliation on page with her Dad but didn't miss that too much. Overall I loved Addie, Logan, and all the side characters and really hope Alexandra writes more about Logan's brother and especially Elyse! Plus the romance had me swooning!!

Thank you to Net Galley and Canary Street Press for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Ugh I cried yall. This was so cute and amazing and Scottish. Definitely made me want to jump on the first flight to Scotland. Addie & Logan were just.. perfectly imperfect. Really loved their story and seeing them both heal from their family stuff was so well done.

With an upcoming trip to Scotland I just had to read Kilt Trip.

Addie is a travel consultant hired by Neil to help over haul The Heart of the Highlands tour company. His son Logan has other ideas about someone coming in & changing the tours that he puts his all into even if their books show the full scope of how the business is failing.

Logan butts heads with Addie even as she's tilts his world on its axis. Addie has herself completely closed off even as Logan helps her connect with her Mother that she loved dearly & lost so long ago.

Can these two put aside their differences & see that sometimes you gotta get a little lost & lose yourself in order to find your place & be found.

This was such a lovely read and I'm hoping Logan's brother's get their own stories.

**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed.**

I loved this book and got Hallmark movies/romcom vibes from the start, but it quickly delved deeper than what those stories typically go. There’s not anything that I didn’t get from the story or wanted differently. I consumed this book and only set it down because it also made me want to plan a bucket list trip to Scotland. This was such a sweet and emotional story and while I’m not an emotional person, this one did get me a few times.

The sub plot focuses on the FMC processing her grief from the death of her mom, 13 years prior. Her father shut down following his wife’s death which has left the FMC without anyone to depend on and has left a rift between father and daughter. The author also did a great job of not letting it too heavy, with plenty of laughable moments and endearing side characters. The MMC is so patient and kind once he overcomes his hurt feelings from the deception at the beginning.

There are two open door, detailed encounters, plus a few other insinuated scenes. They hit it off first thing but turns into a slow burn once the MMC finds out who she is.

I received an advance ecopy of this book from Harlequin Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This one wasn't for me. The setting and travel aspects were detailed and fantastic. However, the characters fell short, and I didn't connect with them or want to root for their relationship. Readers looking for a quick and light destination read will likely love this book.

5 ⭐️ Kilt Trip was written for me and everyone else who’s obsessed with Scotland. And if you're not already obsessed, you will be after you read this book. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💕🫶


"You brought my heart back to life."


WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ scotland setting
✨ she's a travel consultant assigned to help out a struggling Highland tour company
✨ he's a guide and the tour company owner's son
✨ insta-lust
✨ slow burn
✨ rivals to lovers
✨ 'forbidden' romance
✨ he falls first
✨ hilarious banter
✨ so much tension and longing
✨ 2/5 🌶️ (open door but not very graphic)
✨ 3rd act breakup
✨ family drama
✨ beautiful prose
✨ lots of Scottish history
✨ TW: death of parent, estranged parent, grief


My Thoughts:

Kilt Trip is easily one of my favorite books of 2024 and has officially been added to my 'Top 10 Rom-Coms of All Time' list. I absolutely LOVE this book and think if you like heartfelt romances that take place in an absolutely magical place, you will enjoy it too.

There is so much about this story I loved . . .

The Scottish setting. I love Scotland. I've been there three times in the past five years, I have a photo of a Highland Coo next to my bed, and I've cried many times over the fact I do not live there (yet). Let's just be real, my love for Scotland borders on obsession. There's just something about Scotland that calls to my heart. When I'm there, I feel like I’m home. Reading Kilt Trip made me feel like I was back in Scotland, and just for a few hours, I was able to once again lose myself in the beautiful streets of Edinburgh and the magical Highlands.

But I was only able to get sucked into this story thanks to the phenomenal writing. Alexandra Kiley is a fantastic writer who, with her stunning prose and vivid descriptions, is able to make her readers feel like they have been transported inside the book and experience everything the characters do, like setting, romance, conflict, etc.

Addie and Logan. They are realistic, well developed, and extremely lovable characters. Addie is a travel consultant who works non-stop and is afraid of love, while Logan runs his family's tour company and is afraid of change. They both struggle with loneliness and deal with some resentment towards family members: Addie with her dad for neglecting her after her mother's death, and Logan with his brothers for bailing on him when his new idea for the company flopped. I like that Addie and Logan are incredibly strong, yet tenderhearted. They don't want to let anyone down, but first they have to take care of themselves.

I also really enjoyed the secondary characters - pretty much everyone at the office and Logan's family.

The romance and spice. Logan and Addie have incredible chemistry and amazing banter, and the 'rivals to lovers' dynamic created such delicious tension. So when they FINALLY get together, it's explosive! Logan is a consent king and a giver, so LOVED that! And when he calls Addie 'Lass' . . . 🥵 I know the Scottish brogue I've been using in my head is nowhere near as sexy as Logan's, so I am excited for the audiobook! (UPDATE: I just listened to a snippet of it on Alexandra Kiley's Instagram and OMG I'M DYING!!!!! The male narrator does an incredible job!)

There are four-ish open door sex scenes that are explicit but not overly graphic, and one closed door scene. The castle and office scenes. 😮‍💨 They live in my head rent free.

The way Alexandra Kiley explored grief was beautiful. I really enjoy stories that go deep, and Kilt Trip does this with Addie, who struggles with the death of her mother. It's been years since she passed, but grief isn't something that disappears entirely, and being in a place that meant so much to her mother makes Addie feel closer to her but also bring up difficult feelings like those surrounding her father and his neglect after the fact. I liked how initially Addie was closed off about discussing this topic, but over time opens up to Logan, who is then very supportive. The side plot about finding the locations in Scotland where her mother took polaroid pictures was touching. 🫶

Learning more about Scotland's history and lore. Sharing this type of information can be boring if not done properly. But in Kilt Trip, Logan delivers this info usually during one of his tours, and he's a fantastic story teller. It was easy to imagine I was there on the tour since it was so engaging. Definitely didn't feel like there was any info dumping.


Overall, Kilt Trip is a wonderful, genuine story that captivates you from the start. I'm very impressed with Alexandra Kiley and have added her to my auto-buy list. What a stunning debut novel. Bravo!