Member Reviews

DNF @ 49%

Unfortunately this just didn’t grip me. I loved the setting and the way Scotland was described makes me want to go and visit and see the beautiful scenery but the actual plot just didn’t work for me. I just didn’t really even understand what this book was meant to be about?

I found it really hard to connect with the FMC, I noticed that there were a lot of inner monologues that seemed really random and rambling. I was not feeling the romance between the FMC and the MMC and there were too many side characters to keep track of.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the gifted ARC.

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There was such a quiet loveliness about this story. This was a stupendous, funny romantic comedy filled with some deep introspection. Despite some of the more serious parts of the story, the death of family members and difficulty with other family members, I genuinely laughed out loud more times than I can count. It is true laughter is truly healing, and that was embodied in this story. The chemistry between Katie and Graeme is like watching old screwball comedies from the thirties. I was equal parts enthralled and thoroughly engaged. This was the first book for me from this author, but I am sure I will look for more going forward. Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

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Some Like it Scot takes place on the island of Mull where travel writer/blogger/podcaster Katie Campbell is spending 3 weeks on assignment. Katie is staying at an estate that is going to be opening soon to the public. At the estate that she will be staying at, has promised a true Edwardian experience from ballroom dances, dinners, and sports while wearing the clothing from the era. Katie soon ventures out on Mull to explore and to meet the people that live there to get their stories. Katie is known for as "Miss Adventure" to her readers and being in Scotland is no different. Graeme MacKerrow is the grumpy handyman that seems always around when Katie needs him the most by being her hero. Katie weaves her way into Graeme and his family's lives and doesn't want the trip to end. Some Like it Scot is a cute, funny and clean romance that anyone would enjoy. I would like to thank both NEtGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for letting me read an advanced copy of this book.

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This is my first book by this author and it won't be my last. The dual point of view between Katie and Graeme made these characters feel real to me and gave me a deeper insight into each character's way of thinking, how they were feeling, and what scars they were dealing with or even trying to ignore. I loved Katie's big heart and her outlook on life, especially how she could laugh at herself and love others so wholly. Graeme's emotional depth and layers had me swooning often--he also has such a big heart and a capacity to love and protect fiercely.

I enjoyed the setting immensely and seeing Scotland from Katie's point of view because this was her first visit and she felt more and more at home there. This theme of discovering the true meaning of home was expertly woven throughout the pages--both Katie and Graeme (despite Graeme thinking home was just a place) had to figure out what home really was for themselves and it felt so natural watching each character's growth arc.

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Maybe it's a recent visit to Scotland, maybe it's an addiction to Pepper Basham's heartfelt characters- but whatever it is, I loved this gentle book and didn't want it to end! She skillfully wove two broken, grieving lives together for a (predictably) happy ending. And the supporting characters Mirren and Lachlan and Brett were so sincere and sweet- they really added to the depth of this story. I think l'd truly enjoy a friend like the gifted but fragile Katie (and I KNOW l'd like an honest conversation with her parents!). Like me, she chronically lacks confidence in her own value, even though she knows her work is good. Also like me, a loving friend-turned-suitor turns her doubts upside down! I received a complimentary copy of this book via Net Galley and was not required to post a review.

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Thank you to NetaGalley and the author for allowing me to read this arc. I received a complimentary copy of this book. opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Katie Campbell is a travel writer whose next assignment is to travel to Mull in Scotland to attend an immersive Edwardian era 3 week adventure. Katie is known as 'Miss Adventure' as she finds herself in misadventure more often than not. She falls into (literally) a scotsman from the island who is stuck in his own bubble. This dual-POV book follows the characters into the unknown territory of love and coming to terms with their pasts.

I went into this book not realising that it had a Christian base. However, even as a non-Christian I really enjoyed this book. There are a few editing issues that I have made apparent to the editor, but the story itself is wholesome and sweet, full of reflection and self-growth. I felt like the Edwardian weekend was rushed over a bit, however it made up for it in the family connections between Katie and Graeme's family.

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The premise of the book is really fun—Katie, a travel writer, goes to Scotland to attend a weeklong immersive Edwardian experience (complete with time period appropriate clothes, food, and manners) at a Scottish manor run by a British husband and wife who are kind of caricatures. The first half of the book was so slow that I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to finish it. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and the experience the main character came to Scotland for, hadn’t even started by almost halfway through the book. However, the second half of the book picked up and got much better, hence the 3 stars. I wish the entire book had been paced the way the second half was.

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Book Review: A Tale of Adventure and Belonging
In "Miss Adventure," popular travel writer and podcaster Katie Campbell takes readers on a captivating journey that explores the essence of home and the beauty of unexpected connections. With a spirit that thrives on spontaneity, Katie has built a career saying yes to new experiences—whether it’s a different country, cuisine, or activity. However, her adventures often take amusing turns, transforming into delightful misadventures.
This time, Katie is presented with an extraordinary opportunity to delve into her ancestral roots through a three-week Edwardian experience in Scotland. Dressed in period attire and indulging in traditional foods and activities, she finds herself enveloped in the charming eccentricity of the Scottish landscape. The stage is set for endless misadventures, especially with the antics of a mischievous macaw, a jealous co-worker, and an irritable Scotsman.
Enter Graeme MacKerrow, a reclusive guardian of his family's legacy, who prefers the comforts of his island home. A stoic Scotsman, Graeme's life is deeply rooted in family, particularly after the recent loss of his sister. His world is turned upside down when Katie, a six-foot-one American known for her travel mishaps, unexpectedly enters his life.
As Katie navigates the rich folklore and vibrant community around her, she begins to uncover her own story. The question arises: can a series of misadventures lead her to a sense of belonging? Will Graeme, so set in his ways, be willing to embrace the unpredictable nature of Katie’s wanderlust and open his heart to her?
This enchanting tale beautifully illustrates that home is not merely a physical place but often a connection with another person. Through Katie and Graeme’s journey, readers are reminded that our paths may diverge, but the potential for shared stories and love can bridge even the widest gaps.
"Miss Adventure" is a delightful exploration of the unexpected twists life can take and the profound relationships that can blossom in the most unlikely circumstances. With wit, charm, and a touch of whimsy, this book invites readers to consider what home truly means and how sometimes, it can be found in the arms of someone who seems completely different from ourselves. A must-read for anyone who believes in the magic of adventure and the power of love. #netgalley

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This was a fun read. Every woman's dream to fall in love in Scotland. The only thing I didn't like about it is it didn't feel original, but was still good.

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Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Travel author Katie Campbell heads to Scotland to immerse herself in a three-week "Edwardian Experience" at a Scottish manor house. Katie's "handle" for her travel blogs is "Miss Adventure" and it is indeed the perfect description of her adventures. She gets herself into some hilariously ridiculous situations, and most of them were not her fault. For the most part, it just involves being in the wrong place at the wrong time. For example, she has run-ins with both an exotic bird, and a cow; and she falls into a loch. All of these "misadventures" seem to revolve around a "Hot Scot" named Graeme. Naturally, the start out disliking each other, but that soon changes. Both are dealing with similar past traumas, and they can't help gravitating toward each other.

Katie's misadventures are quite hilarious, as are the other looney people involved in the "Edwardian Experience." However, there are touching parts to the story as well: Katie's search for what "home" is, and Graeme's sorrow over the death of his twin sister.

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I read it because I was interested in the plot and the Scotland setting, but it healed my inner child instead.

Katie Campbell, a travel writer, was tasked with producing an article from the Edwardian Experience held at a manor in Mull, Scotland. In the experience which lasted for 3 weeks, Katie, who traveled her entire left, unexpectedly found home and healed her inner child.

Although I was having trouble connecting with Katie, but I can empathize with her unhealthy relationship with her mother and all her struggles. Because, like Katie, when I saw warm families who is willing to be open and show their vulnerable side to each other and have good communication is too good to be true. Likewise, Katie feels she doesn't deserve to be loved because all her life she has never known unconditional love from her mother. I understand that well.

So it is not an exaggeration if I say that this book also gives warmth to my inner child. This book isn’t just about romance, it’s more about exploration of the many ways we define “home” and find our place in the world.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This book had so much promise and I can’t deny the fact that I was so excited to read it.

Starting off, this book really hit the ground running. The very beginning was ridiculously hilarious! I was literally laughing out loud from the absurdity of Katie’s arrival at the manner. Honestly, it hooked me right away.

Not only was the comedy a great selling point for me, but let’s be honest, I was really here for the tall Scot. And the book definitely delivered the perfect Scottish man.

I think what really made our MMC perfect was the author’s ability to nail his accent. It was incredibly easy to hear his accent in my head because his speech was written so perfectly.

Very shortly after our first encounter at the manner, the comedy aspect definitely died down a bit, but at this point it wasn’t enough to turn me away. It just felt like the energy died down a bit, but I was already invested in the characters so I just rolled with it.

At a certain point, things shift again but IMO, it’s not a good change.

Suddenly Christianity takes the focal point of the story. I’m not going to lie, I felt completely blindsided. There was no indication anywhere that this was a Christian book and I find that to be a bit upsetting. Had I known that this was a Christian romance, I would have never picked this one up.

The fact that nowhere in the synapses of this book does it indicate there are religious themes and ideologies feels deceiving. I just feel really icky about the whole situation, honestly.

Overall, I think it is really unfortunate that the synapses wasn’t clear about the contents of this book. If I would have known Christianity played such a large role in the story, I would have never read it and I definitely wouldn’t be here now leaving this low of a rating.

But just because this wasn’t my cup of tea, doesn’t mean that it can’t be yours. Despite my qualms about this book, I would still recommend it to those who like to read Christian romance.

It was definitely written very well and was entertaining. (Until it wasn’t for me, but that’s because of my own personal religious beliefs.)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Pepper Basham has outdone herself with her upcoming release of Some Like It Scot! This book had ALL the things and made me fell ALL the feels. I laughed and cried - sometimes at the same time. This book follows Katie, a travel writer whose misadventures have become her brand. With her easy-going nature and humor, she has learned to roll with it, endearing herself to her readers and social media followers. The story begins with her arrival in Scotland to attend a premier of an Edwardian experience at an old manor house. With her penchant for trouble, a grumpy Scotsman, a rival at the same Edwardian experience and a mischievous little boy and his dog, this story took off in a super fun way and was thoroughly enjoyable throughout.

Though this book had a lighthearted feel, it did not shy away from heavier topics. There was family drama, grief, and low self-esteem among other heavy-hitting topics, but Basham weaves the heaviness with the lightness in a beautiful manner that points us to the Light Himself. Though the faith thread was a bit lighter in this book (not so many direct mentions of God), He is definitely in the underlying story and the tale and characters point to Him throughout. The romance in this one was a lot of fun, and the character growth and development was absolutely stellar, though the characters were fabulous to begin with. I loved the Scottish dialect and the picture the author painted of the Scottish countryside, making the setting a huge part of the story. I also enjoyed the nod to the author's most recent series in Skymar as well. All in all, this was a fabulous read and one I can easily recommend to fans of contemporary rom-coms especially, but to anyone who enjoys a good story with great character development. Special thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

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A hilarious yet heart-warming modern-day rom-com from Pepper Basham! The rather bumbling heroine (a social media influencer) finds herself in the midst of an authentic Edwardian "experience" and falls (quite literally) for a handsome Scot.

But the depth of the novel is in the Basham's characters. Loveable (even in their blunders), insightful (though they are so human), and hilarious (plus all the puns) by turns, you just might find yourself falling in love, too.

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This book was just pure delight! I absolutely adored it. The setting, the humor (I kept picturing Mrs. Lennox as Lady Button from the UK version of Ghosts and it made everything ten times funnier), the romance, the accents.. it was just all so good. Somebody book me a trip to Scotland stat!

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It was an enjoyable read. It felt very like the "classic" rom-com setup but that wasn't a bad thing. Sometimes you just need that type of book/movie. It definitely reminded me of the movie Austenland, which I love.

👍:
-All the Scottish culture, language, landscape, etc.
-Lighthearted (there were elements of grief and loss but it didn't feel heavy)
-Lots of funny moments
-It felt like "watching" I feel good rom-com

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.

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Cute, clean romance. The pacing was good and the story kept me interested. Thanks NetGalley for the Arc. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Some like it Scot by Pepper Basham. Publishing date April 8th.

The cover drew me in to start with but then found it was a rom-com based in Scotland I was sold. This love story did not disappoint! Katie was a traveling writer who had been running away from her family issues for years and didn’t know the meaning and love from home and family. She is well know for her misadventures on her travels and telling peoples stories from around the world the world. She literally falls on a Scottish hunk Graeme on her latest adventure and everytime she sees him he has to save her from some disaster. Figuring out that she actually needs saving she falls for the hot scot, his family and his home!
Beautifully written … the way the author describes the Scottish scenery makes you think you are there!! Was cheering Katie all the way through and was so happy she got her happy ending!

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This was so sweet! I loved all the characters, and enjoyed all the relationships, not just the romantic one! Lots of sweet moments and lots of hilarious moments. Was a quick read in a good way! Loved it!

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Thanks to netgalley for the ARC! I’m a sucker for a cute romance and these cartoony covers that are a thing lately. I also liked when I saw this was being published by the Christian branch of the publisher bc I’m not always looking for steamy messes of books. This one was definitely cute. Graeme and Katie have a good connection (a bit too insta-love after him being a grump for no reason but still nice connections), and it’s nice to see a female protagonist that’s not tiny and petite but is actually quite tall. The nephew and family dynamic for Graeme was lovely to see, and I also liked that Katie, while accident-prone and needing some saving sometimes, is a strong, independent woman ho travels and rights and does her own thing. At first I could barely tell this was a Christian romance, but then I feel like in the middle there were more mentions (honestly seemed a bit overdone and forced like the author was getting in her quota of “God nods”), but it didn’t ruin it if someone wasn’t super religious or anything. It’s clean but not pushing purity culture, and the descriptions of Scotland and the sayings and accents were fun. Overall, a cute read I did enjoy but didn’t fall in love with.

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