This book had me wanting to go to Scotland to find myself a husband.

So so good!!! I cannot wait to see what Alexandra comes out with next!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I'm a sucker for any romance set in Scotland, and this was no exception. I really enjoyed the dual timelines. Getting to learn about Brooke and Jack as they were and what led to their breakup is such an important part of the story. And experiencing them come back together was delightful! This was a fun, sweet read!

Seriously, why do I not live in Scotland? I loved this so much. A second chance romance with a dual timeline and dual POV? Yes, please. And then throw in a hike across the Isle of Skye? Again, yes. I loved the journey these characters took to get back to each other. They had a common purpose a shared reason to help someone they both loved and that in turn led them to realize they still loved each other. Alexandra Kiley's books are just so good and I'm excited to read more from her in the future.

This book was a DNF for me at this time. I just didn’t mesh well with the storyline and characters, but definitely plan to pick this back up in the future and try again. This is not a fault of the author at all, just simply my own preferences.

Such a brilliantly written book - though I have yet to visit Scotland, I really was able to picture myself there, imagined myself looking upon the scenes and was truly immersed in this beautiful book; I wasn't just reading about Jack & Brooke, I found myself truly immersed in their world. Alexandra Kiley truly has a gift when it comes to writing and keeping the reader engaged.

The dual perspectives and the dual timelines both kept this story flowing and provided enough to see just how much chemistry Brooke and Jack had, and had always had. The hurt, the desire, the longing was so very evident and as they worked to rekindle their romance they both show a lot of grace and growth with each other.

This would be a wonderful read for anyone that loves reading character driven plots and about second chance romance!

Thank you to Canary Street Press and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Don’t mind me. Just over here packing my bags to go to Scotland to find me a swoony Scotsman! Logan and Abbie’s story still lives rent free in my head (if you haven’t read Kilt Trip you’re missing out) probably because Logan is very much my type.

This time Alexandra Kiley brings us another sweet and steamy story featuring Logan’s younger brother Jack and his University girlfriend Brooke. Second chance romance, deep romantic connection, both main characters on a journey of self discovery. And in the process you also get to experience Scotland - which might be one of my favorite parts of Alexandra’s stories. There’s still one Scottish brother left (Riley) and I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed that there’ll be a story about him too!

Grab this if you like
💙 second chance romance
💙 Scottish men
💙 stories about writers
💙 slow burn romance
💙 Scottish cows 🐮

And yes, I had to get one of these Highland cow warmies (you can heat them up for comfort, cramps etc) because of this book 🫣

Thank you @htp @canarystreetpress for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Scot and Bothered was a fun second-chance romance. I loved the setting and felt like there was a good amount of detail describing the landscape and the scenery. Was it predictable at points? Yes, but it was an easy and enjoyable read.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A second-chance romance set in Scotland?! I’m in.

Now, there’s something I didn’t love about it that I can’t put my finger on… I shall continue to mull it over.

But, overall it was lovely, just not the perfect romance for me.

I liked Kilt Trip by this author, so when I got the chance to read her new release, I jumped on it. I appreciated the tension between Brooke and Jack, and I believed their relationship. And while I did really love the insight into their past relationship, I felt almost jolted out of the story by the constant shifting of time. It felt like every other chapter was a flashback, to the point where it started to get difficult to tell where we were in time. I wish that the flashbacks were more concentrated chunks rather than spread throughout every chapter. The constant back and forth of past and present was tiring and hard to follow. I thought the setting was perfect for the romantic comedy elements of silly things to push the two of them together, but their actual reuniting felt sudden to me. We went from yearning and regret and stolen glances so quickly to a new physical tension that it also made me wish for a slower and realer start to their relationship.

Thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for this ARC!

Loved being back in Scotland with another Alexandrea Kiley book! The vibes and writing were immaculate just like Kilt Trip. I want to take a trip based on everywhere they go in this book. Kiley is so great at letting you experience places through her characters' eyes. Sweet second chance romance and all the yearning. I loved the emotional depth that the storyline about Jack’s Aunt Mhairi added to the book. I was a little frustrated by the reasoning for Brooke and Jack's breakup in the past storyline, especially when he took actions without speaking with her first and I wanted to know a little more about Brooke's life after being expelled until the present day.

I had trouble staying interested in this book. I didn't find the characters compelling or the plot engaging. It was a struggle to finish the book.

I wanted to like this more than I did. The American Britishisms were a little embarrassing, and I found myself much more invested in the past-selves story than the present-day one. It was kind of two books in one and neither was fleshed out enough for my liking. I don't love rating books with stars or critiquing an author (or editor!) because I know this book will have resonated better with many others. I hope this is someone's favorite book!

This is such a fun second chance romance that would make you want to jump on a plane to visit Scotland! Brooke is an American ghostwriter who got kicked out of the University of Edinburgh seven years ago. She is tasked with assisting her college mentor in writing a story about a notorious Scotland hiking trail. Brooke decided to hike that trail herself because the story needed more vibrancy. A nature photographer needed to join Brooke on the hike. Jack, who was Brooke's college mentor's nephew, decided to join Brooke on the hike, and Brooke and Jack's connection goes back to over 7 years ago.

I really liked this book! I liked the dual timeline between the past, which was about Brooke and Jack's story seven years ago at the University of Edinburgh and the present with hiking the trial. The author described Scotland with such rich and vibrant details which I liked reading. My only critic is that this book was a little anticlimactic. I was not completely fulfilled by the ending. Overall, I would give it four stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a free review! It is out now.

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ebook.

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley was such a lovely and unexpectedly heartfelt read. At first glance—especially from the playful title—you might expect a goofy or spicy romance, but what you actually get is something much deeper and more emotional. It’s a second chance romance, yes, but at its core, it’s a story about love, loss, personal growth, and the profound impact a mentor can have on your life.

The story follows Brooke, who is co-writing a memoir for her beloved mentor, Mhairi, a woman who also happens to be the aunt of Jack—Brooke’s old flame. When Brooke and Jack embark on a meaningful hike through the stunning landscapes of Scotland, they not only revisit the ghosts of their shared past, but also reflect deeply on Mhairi’s legacy. The descriptions of the Scottish countryside are breathtaking, grounding the emotional journey in a vivid and unforgettable setting.

As the hike progresses, it becomes clear that Brooke and Jack never stopped loving each other, despite the pain that once drove them apart. Their reunion isn’t flashy or over-the-top—it’s tender, raw, and deeply moving. I found myself getting teary-eyed more than once, especially as they processed what Mhairi meant to them—not just personally, but as a guiding force in their lives.

If you’ve ever felt lost or had someone in your life who helped you find your way, Scot and Bothered will hit home. It’s a beautiful, emotionally rich story with just a touch of romance—a perfect read for anyone in need of a little direction, or simply a reminder of the power of human connection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for this arc in exchange for my honest review!
Ok is it too much to ask that I just want to move to Edinburgh and find my own Jack? I loved Kilt Trip so as soon as I saw that Alexandra Kiley was coming out with this I knew I had to read it! Loved all of the descriptions of the real locations and I could shut my eyes and picture myself there with the characters. There was a surprising depth to this story that I wasn’t expecting, but really loved. Only wish is that there were more coos🐂

Wellllll snap. I will say based off the title alone I expected more rom-commy vibes? But alas, twas just romance which is fine. I love a good romance. This was a nice story with some deep undertones. Had some good gut punches. Made you question “how would I have handled this.” However it seemed to be missing a HUGE chunk of the story. At what point did the fmc and Mhairi become close? I kept expecting a flashback or a story that explained how they became close after the “incident” but it never came. It just ended immediately after the incident and there was never a “then” part of the story again. So that confused me. I kept feeling like I must have missed something at the beginning. But it still was a cute book. Some of the dialogue was choppy and I couldn’t tell who was saying what here and there but I figured it out. Just needed a bit more smoothing over. But all in all I think 3 starts rings pretty true. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced electronic reader’s copy!

I love me a second chance romance. This book does that trope perfectly. The writing is beautiful and makes me want to book a trip to Scotland immediately. I also really loved the dual timelines and thought it was a great addition to add depth to the characters and the romance story. I will definitely recommend to my romance loving friends.

Brooke had dreams of being a published author, dreams that died seven years ago. Now a ghostwriter, she has the opportunity to write, but not under her name. She gets her chance when her mentor, Mahari McCallister, asks her to co-write Mahari's memoir of her time on the Skye Trail. Brooke jumped at the opportunity, even if it means hiking the trail with a photographer who just happens to be Mahari's nephew Jack, the man who broke her heart.

I'm partial to a good romance set in the highlands of Scotland. I looked forward to joining Brooke and Jack as they trekked the Skye trail. And I did enjoy that part of the story. Unfortunately, the alternating time line between "now" and "then" slowed the pace of the story. The "then" chapters provided history of Brooke and Jack's relationship, but each time the story switched from "now" to "then" I felt like it took me out of the action and I had to read a few pages to get back into the "now". I think there might have been better ways to illustrate the history, or perhaps cut back the number of times the "then" cut into the "now".

Brooke and Jack and Mahari are interesting, well crafted characters with whom I could empathize. I could feel Brooke's anxiety and fear in actually going for what she wanted, and Jack's anxiety as he found himself caught between his dreams and his family's expectations for him.

The last third of the book was the strongest part of the story. Written strictly in the now, Mahari became the center of the story. I have to admit the end of the story left me with tears in my eyes, a lump in my throat and a warm feeling in my heart.

I truly fell in love with Kilt Trip last year. Kiley's writing style just hooked me in and just the way she writes grief so carefully and thoughtfully through her main characters is beautiful and emotional. With Scot and Bothered, she just did it again, writing characters like Brooke and Jack, so relatable in the sense of not wanting to take risks in fears of failing, I feel like that is a mindset a lot of twenty year olds have. I loved the dual timeline, personally it's a writing style that keeps me wanting to read more because I want to solve it all and it also being dual POV was just chefs kiss. We can see the way Brooke and Jack had this respect and care for each other, they always made each other happy, until they didn’t. But this is a second chance romance after all, which is a favorite trope of mine, it was nice seeing the barriers go down during their trip, old habits die hard.
Just the way Scotland was described during their trip, I really felt like I was being immersed which I enjoyed.
Mhairi!! I LOVED THAT WOMAN and the last chapters made me utterly sob. And just the connection that both Brooke and Jack had with her was so beautiful.

Thank you Alexandra Kiley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!

I loved Alexandra Kiley's first book, and this sophomore romance did a fantastic job of showing her growth as an author. I loved the setting (the Scottish highlands will always feel magical to me) and adored the fact that we got a now/then timeline for Brooke and Jack. I liked getting to see their growth over time when they were apart, and really enjoyed how quick their pull back together was once they met again. The dialogue was fantastic and sweet and full of enough reflection and nostalgia that it kept me wanting to read more.

Thank you so much for this early read opportunity!