Book Review
The Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley

Tropes
Enemies to Lovers
Opposites attract
Small town
Tight knit family vs estranged family
Grief
Forced proximity
Coos
Open door romance with a bit of steam- just enough to “wet your whistle”

What Its Got
Armchair travel to Scotland - Castles, moors, Loch Ness and the Scottish highlands
Logan- A brawny Scottish lad who wears a kilt~ he is strong armed into accepting help to revive his family business
Addie- An FMC with a Scottish heritage~ she travels the world helping travel businesses while never putting down roots herself
A local pub full of the regulars- secondary characters in a small town always capture my attention
Shenanigans and Pranks- laugh out loud humour

Overall a solid debut from this author. I look forward to reading more from her

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade publishers for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

4 stars - such a feel good romance novel

tropes
- HEA
- slow burn
- small 2nd act break up
- grumpy sunshine
- travel adventure
-enemies to lovers
- workplace romance

Book takes place in Scotland and is about Addie, a travel consultant, and Logan, a kilt wearing Scot who doesn't want his travel tour company to change. Logan pushes back on all off Addie's ideas but along the way they are able to see each others side and Abbie falls with Scotland.

This book makes you wanna grab your our Frank (suitcase) and run to Scotland. Maybe find a kilt wearing man along the way

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press and Alexandra Kiley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I loved, loved, LOVED this book. The chemistry between the characters is undeniable, and their slow-burn enemies-to-lovers tension build was deliciously spicy. It is clear the author has tons of knowledge about Scotland and getting to explore that along with Addie was so exciting. Addie’s family background and internal struggles that resulted from it were very well fleshed out and weaved into the story well. The one and only thing I wasn’t crazy about was that during the argument and reconciling between Addie and Logan, I felt like Logan was always on the offensive and all Addie did was apologize. It felt like there was a slight power imbalance and I was a little uncomfortable on Addie’s behalf. Everything else was 10/10 and very enjoyable to read.

Addie is a tour guide consultant hired to assist The Heart of the Highlands tours, a Scottish family run tour led by Logan Sutherland. The Heart need help and lots of it. Its website is dated, it ignores the main tourist attractions, and most of the brothers have left the company for other ventures.

But to Logan the tours are about more than gift shops and photo ops, the Heart is about history and meaningful connections. Can these two vastly different people create the best tour Scotland has ever seen and maybe find love on the way?

This book has one of my least favorite tropes used not once but twice - miscommunication (liar's reveal). Addie lies about her identity at the beginning of the book, which starts off the enemies to lovers trope, and then lies again (about a different element) consistently for the remainder of the novel.

I feel like enemies to lovers could have been utilized without bringing in the miscommunication trope and the third act liar's reveal is always rough to read.

I was hoping for a quick, Hallmark-esque, fun and cozy read about a travel agent falling in love with a man and a country but this book is much heavier (Addie speaks frequently on grief and loss) and lengthier than I expected. It wasn't for me but I'm sure it's a good read for someone else.

Addie McRae is a travel consultant in an up-and-coming firm traveling Luke, doesn't think things need to change. So begins the butting of the heads and they eventually end up finding in each other that person who will always be there for them and have their backs. This of course does have miscommunications and some stumbles along the way to their happily ever after.

There is family drama that both are dealing with and trying to handle alone. The secondary characters were so well written, and I enjoyed them as much as our heroine/hero.

The descriptions of the places in Scottland were beautiful and the history just make you want to get on a plane and go there yourself.

I did wish we could have seen Addie's family situation resolved a little more, it just felt like loose ends to me. I also would have liked to know a little more about Luke's youngest brother as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Books Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book made me want to take a road trip in Scotland and call my mom. Addie Macrae lost her mom over a decade ago and has been running from her grief ever since. She begins working as a consultant for Logan Suterland's family tour guide business. What starts out as workplace rivals soon turns into something more as Logan helps Addie reconnect with her Scottish heritage and her mother's spirit. I read this book in one sitting! I highly recommend for anyone who has a fantasy of finding their own Jamie Frasier.

It's getting Scot in here!

This book was a lovely little escape from reality. If you're looking for a sweet, enemies-to-lovers romance between two strong-willed characters, this is the book for you! The romance itself is a bit of a slow burn. I'm usually not too keen to read a slow burn, but the sprinkling of spice and the last few chapters were quite the payoff! The epilogue alone bumped up my rating - questions were answered and loose ends were tied up nicely.

If I didn't already long to visit Scotland, I do after this! I would re-read this book for the imagery alone. Alexandra Kiley does an absolutely beautiful job of taking you on an adventure through Edinburgh. As someone who married into the Wallace Clan, I'd book a tour with The Heart of the Highlands without hesitation! From the descriptions of castles to the hilarious commentary on cows (or 'coo'), it really feels like you've witnessed the most beautiful parts of Scotland's capital.

Overall, come for the romance and stay for the plot/picture-perfect imagery!

*Big thank you to Alexandra Kiley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, and NetGalley for the ARC copy. All opinions are my own!

This was a very sweet and spicy Scottish/American contemporary romance. Both characters were lovely and the supporting characters were equally so. I found it just a little bi slow to start, but once I got to about 30%, I sped through the rest. Cute and sweet, with a little steam.

I was really conflicted about my feelings for this book because there was a lot about the FMC that I related hard to, specifically in relation to her grief over her mom's death and her very complicated relationship with her father. Parts of this book dragged a bit and felt like I was reading a tourism book on Scotland and while a visit to Scotland sounds delightful, some of those scenes could've been tightened up a bit. I liked the development of the relationship and I understood her fears; I think her rocky relationship with her father was a big hurdle to overcome which is why I'd have loved something more than just her slipping a postcard in the mail to him to cover the resolution of that relationship. I understand the father daughter relationship wasn't the primary focus of this romance novel but when so much of the actual romantic relationship is influenced by the heroine feeling abandoned and alone, then I think it necessitates delving further into the areas of her life that have caused her to shut down and create emotional barriers.

Content Notes: FMC's mother died when she was a teenager, her father basically checked out of being a present parent

"Kilt Trip" is a fun little romp through Scotland and just what I needed after swearing off planning any new travel, for now. Kiley packs this slim volume with loads of dreamy destinations and the thrills of budding romance. A perfect weekend read.

Kilt Trip is such a sweet and funny story! I am obsessed with all things Scottish (including the men 😏) so it was nice reading about the history and the beauty of all the places they visit in this book.

The story is about Addie, a travel consultant, as she is sent by her job to help a struggling family owned tour company in Edinburgh despite her having emotion baggage when it comes to Scottish an ancestry. There she meets Logan, the son/tour guide wanting to take over the family business. His greatest joy is sharing all the hidden gems that make Scotland special and meaningful, even if that means not turning a profit.

Between office pranks and finding ways to make the business profitable without losing the heart of the company, Logan and Addie bring the reader on a journey of closure, new found love and an appreciation for the road less travelled.

Highly recommend!

This was a chore to get through. I love Scotland and everyone likes a hunky Scotsman but this was just so boring. I liked the ending though it was predictable. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

I was transported to Scotland for the book, and once I got back to reality I was searching for flights.

This fun enemies to lovers book had me rooting for the couple until the end. I almost didn’t want it to finish.

I'm disappointed that could not get motivated to complete this read. i made it to chapter 12 and DNF. The Kilt trip seemed very drawn out and wordy to me.

What a great book! My favorite vacation ever was to Edinburgh, and I loved reading about all the places I visited so many years ago.

The descriptions of Scotland were beautiful, but the romance was fantastic too. Addie and Logan were at odds for the start of the book, with Addie being hired to revamp Logan’s company… against his wishes.

Loved the storyline as they got to know each other better and learned to compromise. Great secondary characters that really added to the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Kilt Trip to come out March 5, 2024.

This was such a fun read! I loved it! The author gives such an amazing description of Scotland and it felt like I could actually be in Scotland with Addie and Logan. The character development was great, didn't love the miscommunication trope, but regardless, this was an awesome read!

For fans of rom coms, Outlander, or men in kilts, Kilt Trip is for you!

I will say, the pacing and miscommunication was my least favorite part of the book. But overall, I enjoyed this book! Logan was wonderful, Addie had a great sense of wanderlust, and the side characters were pretty decent.

I wouldn't have minded more from Logan's brothers and family.

And I don't care what anyone tells me, Logan was Sam Heughan in my mind. Specifically, season 1 Jamie Fraser. Because that man can wear the hell out of a kilt.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢 𝘒𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬.

Oh my god… turns out I love a kilt.

Such a heartfelt and charming read, I had so much fun with it. I was obsessed with the characters and their quirks and backgrounds, it made it really easy to root for them. Everything about the story was incredible, such a classic rom-com vibe!

This brought me on an emotional JOURNEY. I love anything that makes me cry and this delivered so many times.

Obviously I went for this right away because who doesn’t fantasize about being the American who goes to Scotland and catches the eye of the kilt wearing Scot of her dreams? This ended up exceeding my already high expectations and became one of my favorite romances I’ve ever read.

The writing is so beautiful. The descriptions of Scotland are wonderful and make you want to book one of Logan’s tours to see for yourself. Logan’s heart and dedication and longing are so well written you feel them yourself. Addie’s guilt and fear and grief are portrayed through her “tours” of Scotland and flashbacks (that never feel cheesy or unwarranted).

This is a like at first sight to rivals to let’s see where this goes lovers to forever lovers. There’s a third act breakup but I’m one of the sick people who loves a third act breakup because I love it when books my me feel that hard. It’s done very well in that it totally devastates you and puts you back together perfectly and beautifully.

Addie is working through her long ignored grief in this book. You see her work through accepting her mother being gone though visiting the same spots her mother and father visited years and years before. She works through her grief about her mother, her distant relationship with her father, and her fear of loving Logan fully. It did feel a little frustrating and gave me some emotional whiplash when she accepted that she wanted that life with Logan, but then immediately got completely derailed from one conversation with her father. That being the spark of her retreat back into herself was a little flat, but the rest of the book made up for it.

This book was an absolute delight to read. The epilogue was perfect. Ends with an engagement, the last sight from her mother’s photos, and in a touristy anti-Logan place.

I pre-ordered this 25% into it I knew I wanted one as a trophy for my shelves.

Thank you to Netgalley and Canary Street Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

HOLY MOLY!!!!!

Where do I start? This book was so good. I thought it was going to be a cute romance but it was so much more.

There is a lot of history & folklore involving Scotland. I've never been but the way the author perfectly describes certain places with such description it makes me want to go and I feel like I'm transported there with the characters.

The book focuses on Addie, who is touring company consultant. She goes to Scotland where she meets Logan, a tour guide/owner of the tour company that Addies company is in contract with. They click instantly and Addie tries so hard to deny her feelings. It has the classic miscommunication troupe, especially since both of them didn't plan to fall for each other. They had other plans. Addie + Logan both have amazing character development.

It's super spicy and I would definitely recommend it to everyone.