I've read quite a few books by the author so I was excited to see where the series began and to experience one as an audiobook. I didn't notice the narrator was the author until after I had finished. I have had some bad experiences with author narrations, but she did a really good job bringing it to life. The characters and humor shine maybe because she knows it all so well.

I must say the humor is what really draws me to the author's work and while this one has it, there is a little less than I have come to expect. maybe because it is the first novel in the series and there is more to setup, characters usually make appearances before their story, or it is something she has added in her later novels.

But the terrific characters that I bond with were here in this one. The sparks fly between Zoe and Rory. It was fun to listen to how they began since I knew so much about them as they appear a bit in future installments.

I love small town romances and throw in grumpy sunshine/opposites attract and you have all the makings for a great rom com. I loved the origin story between these two great characters and I recommend this to all rom com lovers.

What a fluffy, funny book. A completely unserious, light-hearted cotton candy book. Its not a ride or die book, but it is a fun book that you pass around your friend group because its just so great.
3.5 stars rounded up

Loved this enemies to lovers rom-com set in the highland bluffs of Scotland. Isn't it every girl's fantasy to live in a castle in another country and meet a man with a sexy accent? Bonus for one like Rory who is good with his hands 😉. I love the tenacity Zoe has and that she keeps a positive outlook when things are literally falling to shite around her. I highly recommend listening to this one! Can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Highland Games is about Zoe who sets off on an adventure because she is left property in the Highlands from a relative. Unbeknownst to Zoe, Rory believes the land belongs to him. Because of this misunderstanding, these two have a little rivalry and high jinks ensue. As Rory and Zoe interact with each other, both realize they can help each other. When they are willing to help each other does their attraction bloom.

When I started listening to this, I was hoping for something light and full of humor, with a little heart and maybe a little spice.

This definitely delivered! Read by the author, I couldn't fault the tone of the reading, and the narration was pleasant and easy to listen to. Though when there were some conflicts, a little well earned shrill moments happened.

Zoe has never really felt like she's belonged anywhere. So when her uncle passes, and he leaves behind his remote cabin in the Highlands, she jumps at the chance to move. She won't really miss her job, and she'd always loved her summers at her Uncle's. She has an ally and friend in Fiona, along with her mother Morag and brother Jaime.

Everyone might think she's crazy f0r wanting to move into the worn out, unfurnished, powerless, unplumbed cabin, but they're eager to help her get herself set up. All that is, except for Rory. The grumpy estate worker who had hoped to have the cabin for his own after the previous owner's passing.

Rory will employ a few tricks to try to get Zoe out of the cabin. After all, a city girl like her would never last the winter, and she can't really want to rough it. They might have underestimated each other, but before too long, will they have to give into their attraction to each other, and face what their own futures in the highlands will look like.

Fun, fast read (or listen) it marked everything I could have hoped for. Scottish romances are quickly becoming some of my favorites!

Fun and fast I loved Highland Games! This audiobook is read by the author which I think is so cool! This book has found family, enemies to lovers, and home renovation all set in beautiful Scotland!

4 Stars

Evie not only knows how to write her characters all bubbly and witty and awkward, but she knows how to narrate them also. I really enjoyed this audiobook because it had me swinging my feet giggling, laughing out loud, mortified on behalf of both Rory and Zoe equally (and separately), and swooning. Evie really does know how to write the humor and the banter wonderfully.

Zoe is quirky with a go-with-the-flow ease about her. She's always seeing the silver lining and getting things done! She's never down for too long and with Rory's grumpy, she truly is the embodiment of sunshine.

Rory is grumpy, but not really. He's got a candy-coated hard shell, but is ooey gooey on the inside and apparently built like a Norse god which I fully support in all ways. There's something special about a grumpy man who has a reason to be grumpy (his family) then finds a reason to wake up and just be sweet.

The way they both think the other doesn't like them and the way they resist that pull gives the reader a delicious slow-burn angst that I just always enjoy the hell out of.

Thank you, NetGalley and Emlin Press for this ALC.

📱E-Book Review📱

Highland Games
Evie Alexander

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is book 1 in the Kinloch Series.

So, I've don't this all the wrong way round - as I read book 5 first, before any others in the series! And in book 5 we re-visit the characters from this book.

It was brilliant, therefore, to go back right to the start and learn about the meeting of Zoe and Rory!

As ever, the setting and characters really jump off the page.
I loved the ever positive Zoe and really felt for her when she arrived at the cabin to find it the complete opposite of how she'd imagined....but of course, the sexy bear man might have made things slightly better!
Rory was amazingly grumpy. I loved the banter between the two and the way Zoe brings Rory round to her way of thinking and they come to an agreement....before becoming more!

This would not be an Evie book without a healthy dose of spice and this one is packed full as we'd expect.

Such an easy read - Full of fun and humour - you cannot help but love this book and I am so excited to get going on book 2 of this series.

** I also listened to this on audio book and what an amazing experience!
I loved hearing this read (as intended) by the wonderful Evie herself! **



💕Thank you to the author and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

Give me a book based in Scotland any day. I really enjoyed this one, it gave me all the feelings and I flew through it. This was such a cute fun read and I look forward to reading more from Alexander.

I enjoyed this story. It is about starting over while also reconnecting with your past. I thought it was a funny book. I enjoyed the romance between our two characters and the way they helped each other with what they needed. The side characters were lovely en I loved the setting

This was a total suprise as I randomly come across this audiobook and i manglad i applied for it.
This is so interesting and amazing, the plotline was well written and executed too. The characters were well drafted by the author, each has been given sufficient scope to contribute to the plotline. I absolutely had a great time reading this.

Highland Games is a cute romcom that’s full of adventure, sexy scenes, and fun! This audiobook was performed by the author, and her passion for the story shows in her narration. I really enjoyed this story and the audiobook.

I listened to the audiobook at 1.75x speed (my normal audiobook speed is 1.75-2x speed).

Thank you NetGalley and Audio ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this advanced audiobook copy.

It was super cute and I loved that the author voiced for the audiobook. It definitely elevated the quirkiness and hilarity of the characters.

A super fun romantic comedy with a huge helping of the comedy. Strangely it had nothing to do with Highland Games 🤷🏼‍♀️

Zoe, a young woman who has always played it safe, inherits a ramshackle cabin and embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
As she tries to adapt to her new life, Zoe meets Rory, a grumpy but kind-hearted man who "runs a local business" (those are sarcastic air quotes). Their initial clash turns into a slow burn as they learn more about each other and their differences.
The book is full of humor, heart, and Scottish charm. Alexander's writing is witty and engaging, making it easy to get lost in the story. "Highland Games" is a perfect read for fans of romantic comedies and Scottish adventures.
Here are some highlights of the book:
Zoe's journey of self-discovery: Zoe is a strong and independent woman who overcomes challenges to find her place in the world.
Rory is a funny and witty man who is also living a far more complicated life and past than our initially appears. The family dynamic he grew up with and still lives with really colors his personality throughout.

Overall, "Highland Games" is a charming and heartwarming read that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy and more than a little steamy . This couple has amazing chemistry and their physical escapades were open door and fun me

Fun, quick little grumpy x sunshine read with a lovely setting at a castle in Scotland. Always a plus when it's read by the author!

The story is about Zoe and Rory, and I don’t know what to say about their chemistry, but having Rory as a grump was worth it. Zoe is his sunshine, and I love how she managed to get the worst and the best out of him. They were cute, maybe I was expecting something else, or I was reading too many books lately. But for me something was missing. I don’t want to spoil the book, so I’ll stop with the details.
I had some fun listening to this book, but somehow every book written by Evie ends up being funny. I like how she writes these rom-coms, and even though some of these stories could use a little depth, let’s not forget they are called rom-coms for a reason! It needs to be funny!
Thank you, Netgalley and Evie Alexander for this copy of audiobook, it was a pleasure to listen to this book and this is my honest review! ❤️

I received this book for free form netgalley for an honest review thank you for the opportunity

Funny and full of snark I loved every bit of it. Well done.

When Zoe left her boring life in London to find adventure in Scotland, little did she know that the ramshackle cabin her late uncle left her will open her eyes and heart to a new life, with old friends, a handsome but complicate man and a great future. Funny, full of emotions and great feelings. The audiobook, narrated by the own author, is great. Evie Alexander really knows the story and the characters and makes an excellent job to bring them to life.

Witty dialogue, sweet romance with a nice amount of spice in this slow burn romance that takes enemies to lovers as they grapple over a spot of remote land that both of them want. She was left the property in her uncle's will, he wants to take it back as part of his domain as the current ruler of the crumbling castle he has inherited. Both are trying to escape from the bustle of city life and trying to make a go of life in the country. Who will win the battle? Could they find more success if they team up? One thing remains certain, secrets never stay secret and will always come out at the worst possible time! Great characters, witty dialogue and a fun plot that will keep you entertained for hours! The narration was awesome and really brought the characters to life and made the fun even more enjoyable. I'm delighted to see that this appears to be the first of a series as there are many characters that we could continue to see more from!

Thank you @netgalley and Emlin Press for the audio!

I LOVED this book. First off I am so impressed when an author can both write a book and record themselves for audio. So endless praise to Evie Alexander for her skills.

This book was hilarious, sweet and romantic. I loved the little bits of dry humor shining through and seeing the tests that Rory made Zoe go through. I enjoyed Zoe’s can do attitude and ability to make her situation better. The secondary characters were just as lovely as the main characters. I can’t wait to dive into the second book and find out more about what fun everyone gets into next!