Alexandra Kiley's Kilt Trip was my introduction into contemporary romance. I was already quite impressed to learn that Kilt Trip was her debut novel, and after reading Scot and Bothered the author has cemented her place as a powerful and heartwarming story teller.

Jack Sutherland dreams of making his passion for photography his full-time job. His ex Brooke Sinclair is a hard working student/ghostwriter who has ambitions of becoming a published author. Brooke's college mentor Mhairi needs a cowriter for her memoir, and Brooke is all-in; willing to do anything for the opportunity and a shot at getting published. Brooke's willingness to do anything lands her hiking the 80-mile Skye Trail for authenticity's sake. To Brooke's shock and despair, the photographer accompanying her will be none other than Jack, who broke her heart and ruined her writing career. As Jack and Brooke head into the hike, their solitude from the outside world and close proximity to each other forces them to confront old feelings. There's second-chance romance, dual timelines written and executed expertly, and a new micro-trope to love- only ONE tent.

The story was so beautifully written and I felt the emotions of the characters while reading. The dual timelines really allow you to understand each character's perspective and root for a breakthrough in communication. The descriptions of the landscapes throughout the trail really made me feel as if I were a third person on the hike with Jack and Brooke, catching deeply intimate moments and witnessing their tension build. I was crying by the end from a multitude of emotions as the author took me on a whole journey exploring central themes of ambition, forgiveness, allowing yourself to be vulnerable and dealing with illness. Scot and Bothered, along with Kilt Trip are on my shelf of books that I will return to again and again for a comfort read. I am forever an Alexandra Kiley cheerleader. If you weren't watching her already after Kilt Trip, you will be after reading Scot and Bothered!

Scot and Bothered is a sweet second chance romance set in the beautiful Scotland.

Brooke is an aspiring author who hit a career bump when she was expelled from University of Scotland 7 years ago for having a relationship with Jack her TA. Fast forward and she is offered a ghost writing job for her idol Mhairi, who also happens to be Jack's aunt. She takes the job but it means seeing Jack again

The tricky part of this story is the split timeline. I found myself completely uninterested in the past timeline, but the present day story was very intriguing. I loved the aspects of it set on the trail through Isle of Skye. The past was hard to get into knowing how it ended from the start of the book, plus it was just one big miscommunication trope. The present felt much better, and I enjoyed the themes of how to follow ones dream as an adult, and dealing with loss. I loved the side characters Jack and Brooke met on the trail.

3.5 stars

Brooke and Jack have a heart-wrenching past, and they're forced to face it on a grueling hike through the Scottish Highlands. Both are trying to pursue their dreams in ways that feel authentic to them, while struggling with past mistakes and hopes for the future.

I think I liked this one more than Kilt Trip?! The movement between the past and the present was very well executed and fit this story well. I liked learning the first love story of Brooke and Jack while moving through their present trials on the trail. The past scenes felt like a coming of age romance, and the present was full of adult understanding and realistic hurdles that were keeping Jack and Brooke apart.

I thought Brooke gave up her anger fairly quickly on the trail, but I can also see that as a character development; being a rational adult and not holding grudges. I really appreciated the moment near the end of the book when Brooke was angry at Jack for not disclosing Mhairi's secret. Brooke experienced her anger but then moved past it and didn't make a scene or blame Jack. A lot of modern romances go for that sort of drama while promoting unhealthy relationship qualities, and Kiley didn't do that here which I really appreciate.

I love that Kiley has the ability to write fun & feel-good romances with a decent level of spice, and also include some emotional gut punches, such as the celebration for Mhairi at the end of the book. Cried my eyes out. In a good way? A+ work :) Can't wait to see what she writes next!

Second Chance Romance
Close Proximity
Trigger Warning: Someone dealing with terminal disease but dealt with in a respectful manner

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to provide feedback on this book. I truly enjoyed this author's writing style and character development. This is a second chance romance, that also contains a beautiful message on how one can achieve what they thought wasn't possible with the love and support from special people in their life.

i read an arc of kilt trip last year, and i am over the moon that i was able to read an arc of scot and bothered this year! scot and bothered follows logan’s brother, jack, and brooke. it’s a second chance romance told in a split timeline and set across both edinburgh and the isle of skye. i absolutely adored everything about this novel. dare i say, i might have even loved it more than i loved kilt trip, which is saying a lot.

brooke sinclair is a ghostwriter who longs to tell a story of her own, but has had her confidence knocked one too many times to work up the courage to do so. jack sutherland has a passion for photography but feels trapped by the dreams he feels his family has imagined for him. years ago, during their time at the university of edinburgh, jack and brooke embarked upon the journey of helping each other truly embrace what they wanted in life… now, seven years later, they find themselves together on one last adventure. brooke is cowriting a memoir for mhairi, her mentor and jack’s aunt. mhairi believes brooke needs to experience the isle of skye for herself in order to authentically tell mhairi’s story, so she sends her off on the trail with none other than her nephew, jack, who just so conveniently happens to be the one in charge of photography for the memoir. alone on the trail, brooke and jack are forced to acknowledge their unresolved feelings for one another and decide if their story is worth a second chance.

some specific things that i loved:
—as a reader, i adored brooke’s povs. her thoughts are such a love letter to the written word, and, through her character, alexandra kiley somehow voiced everything i feel about writing and language and stories in the most eloquent way. a favorite line being, “she breathed in the smell, like dust and ink and love.” brooke’s story is also incredibly encouraging for aspiring writer’s; i particularly loved the discussion about first drafts, that they “just [have] to exist. the starting is the hardest part.”
—i love a split timeline; i was so engaged with both plotlines the entire way through. i think the timing of the “then” chapters aligned perfectly with the brooke and jack’s character development in the “now” chapters. the little sprinkles of jack and brooke’s past were perfectly timed, allowing for so many endearing, full-circle moments.
—scot and bothered is also a love letter to scotland. i’ve been to scotland twice since reading kilt trip last year, and having my own personal memories attached to so many of the places that are mentioned throughout the novel just added an entirely new layer of joy for me. alexandra kiley truly captures the magic of not just edinburgh, but all of scotland with descriptions such as, “the particular green [jack] was sure couldn’t be replicated anywhere else on earth” and “the mystery around every corner… like home, this combination of welcoming and adventure and mystique.”
—the side characters were delightful. mhairi’s character was such a welcome addition to this story. i loved getting to see more of the sutherland family, and i loved getting little sprinkles of logan and addie post kilt trip.

scot and bothered is everything i could ever want in a romance: it’s endearing, steamy, and full of wonder.

review will be shared to my bookstagram account (linked below) the week of december 2nd and is currently live on my goodreads profile (also linked below).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book!

I love Scotland like loveeee it so the setting of this book is perfect and of course the isle of Skye is perfect too. I felt like this book had a lot of heart and it was easy to feel connected to the characters. It’s a second chance romance where it was easy to see where both sides were coming from. A good book to remind you to put yourself out there and it’s brave to forgive as much as it is to hold your ground!

Brooke Sinclair had her life all planned out: go to the University of Edinburgh, get into the writing fellowship of her writing idol, and become a published author. All of her plans are derailed when she is expelled. Now seven years later, she is a ghostwriter, writing the stories of others, but not her own. Her college mentor, Mhairi McCallister, known for creating a famous hiking trail, has chosen Brooke as her cowriter for a memoir. Brooke agrees to go hike the Skye trail without realizing the photographer that will be accompanying her is Mhairi’s nephew, Jack Sutherland, the man who broke Brooke’s heart and got her expelled seven years ago. Jack is finally really going after his dream of breaking away from his family touring business and becoming a full time photographer. Brooke and Jack are forced to confront their past while hiking a rugged trail for the next two weeks.

I really enjoyed the dual timeline and perspectives used to tell the story. I loved the juxtaposition of the physical journey the characters are going through on the hike, versus the emotional journey they both are going through.

Overall, I found this to be a heart-warming story about second chances. Those who also enjoyed Kilt Trip will not be disappointed with this addition to the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was my first book by Alexandra Kiley and she will now by on my repeat read list! As someone planning a trip to Scotland, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Brooke and Jack's trek across the Isle of Skye. Even through the pages, you can feel the cozy charm of Edinburgh and the Isle of Skye. This book jumps between past and present and is does well in setting up their relationship as well as building up to what ultimately caused their downfall.

arc's not being formatted normally when i transfer them to kindle is my nightmare...

this seems like a book that would be right up my alley but something about it just threw me a bit. i am blaming the formatting but it could also be the fact that i was reading another second chance romance at the same time and that one had a better plot line. this was just kinda hard for me to follow and i wish that i was more in love with it because everything about it usually would work for me. the vibes were there and the tension was there but i just couldn't get into it... sorryyyyy.....

This book was mildly formulaic as a typical romantic story most of the problems could have been solved by open and honest communication.
That being said the now and then formatting of the chapters sometimes disrupted the flow of the narrative, but the then scenes add understanding and depth to the characters.
It was a pleasant diversion and the scenery described on the pages was detailed enough for a clear picture of Skye and Scotland. You will root for them while wanting to yell "just talk to each other". pleasant and diverting read overall a nice break for anyone seeking an escape.

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley

Releases March 5

Thank you @canarystreetpress and @netgalley for the ARC!

Rating: 4.5 stars rounded up

Review: I absolutely loved this book. I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump, so picking up any new book is daunting for me right now. But I picked this one up late last night and absolutely devoured it. I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more. I loved the dynamic between Jack and Brooke, both in the past and present. I loved Mhairi’s character and how honest she was throughout. I’m a sucker for a second chance romance and this was an amazing one.

Synopsis: Brooke Sinclair’s dream of being a published author derailed when she was expelled from the University of Edinburgh seven years ago. Now a ghostwriter, she sticks to other people’s stories. But when her college mentor, Mhairi McCallister, needs a cowriter for her memoir about Scotland’s most challenging trek, Brooke will do anything for the opportunity—including agreeing to hike the rugged Skye Trail for authenticity’s sake. What she doesn't know is that the nature photographer who’ll join her is Jack Sutherland, the teaching assistant who shattered Brooke’s writing career—and her heart.

Between falling for a student despite university rules and walking away from his family’s tour-guiding business to follow his photography dreams, Jack is desperate to prove he didn’t disappoint everyone for nothing. And he can’t ignore his aunt Mhairi’s final wishes for her memoir. Even if it means acting as guide and storyteller for the one who got away. Even if it means keeping secrets about Mhairi’s health.

As Jack and Brooke head into the solitude of the sweeping Scottish landscape, they’re forced to confront old feelings that haven’t disappeared with time. But can two weeks and eighty miles heal years of unspoken hurt and offer a second chance at the end of the trail?

˗ˏˋ 📸 ˎˊ˗ Thank you Netgalley and Canary Press for the opportunity to read and review this early! ˗ˏˋ 📸 ˎˊ˗


˙✧˖°📸⋆｡˚ "𝓘'𝓿𝓮 𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸𝓸 𝓶𝓾𝓬𝓱 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓻𝔂𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓹𝓮𝓸𝓹𝓵𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓲𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝔂𝓸𝓾." ˙✧˖°📸⋆｡˚


Tropes:
📷 Second Chance Romance
📷 Hiking Trip
📷 Forced Proximity
📷 One Tent Trope
📷 Found Family

Non-Spoiler Thoughts:
📷 This was a really sweet and tender book about two people who had a misunderstanding and just couldn't get their timing right. The setting of Scot and Bothered was just as beautiful and atmospheric as Kilt Trip, and returning to it was a breath of fresh air. While the conflict didn't hit super hard for me, the resolution did. The romance on the trail was so sweet, and watching these two people with such long history kind of just fall back into it like no time had passed just felt romantic. This was such a fun, heartfelt story, and overall a good time.

SCOT AND BOTHERED is a beautiful second-chance love story filled with emotional depth and delicious tension. A romance that has so much realness and rawness to it that it was very easy to adore and care about the characters. Even though I'm not a ghostwriter traveling the Skye Trail with the handsome and sweet man who broke my heart when at the time he thought his choice was actually going to help me. I found the story very relatable when it comes to struggling your direction in life when your life didn't turn out to how you thought it would be now. Surrounded by the breath-taking Scotland landscape, Brooke and Jack reignite their connection that they never actually lost seven years later, and in the process learn more about the kind of lives they want to live.

I was deeply invested in their relationship and watching it evolve and just wanted to sign every time they were closer to each other or just looking at one another. I loved so many moments and quotes in the book but my favorite may just be: "Trust that the thing you love will take you where you need to be." I really enjoyed the beautiful writing and can't wait to read whatever the author decides to grant us with next!!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book had me at coos. But seriously, I immensely enjoyed the emotional rollercoaster the story took me on.
Cannot wait until my shelf trophy copy arrives.

After reading Kilt Trip, I knew I would love to read this story and see the characters I grew to love! This was such a sweet and sad story at the same time. Brooke and Jack's flashbacks really made this story whole - their connection, their slow-burn, the breakup... it made the present story so much deeper.

However, I did feel like there wasn't a lot of romance in the present storyline. I also felt like the seven-year gap between them breaking up to the present felt like a very long time... I just think it is unrealistic that they never would have talked during that whole time, especially with Brooke being so close to Jack's aunt.

Overall, this was a cute story and I loved the one-tent, traveling-together tropes that were included!

Scot and Bothered follows Logan’s brother Jack and his ex, Brooke. Mhairi, Brooke’s mentor, encourages her to hike the Skye Trail to gain perspective for the memoir she is co-authoring after years of only ghost writing. Jack (her ex) unexpectedly joins her on the trip when the initial photographer for the book gets injured and Mhairi, his aunt, calls in a favor.

I enjoyed this novel even more than Kilt Trip, and am excited to listen to the audio version when it releases. It is duel timeline, alternating between when they first met in college and present day. It is a story of second chances, forgiveness, and rebuilding of confidence in themselves and each other. Not to mention the Scotland setting always makes for gorgeous descriptions along the way!

I would (and have) recommend this book to those who love a second-chance romance (this coming from someone who does not always enjoy this trope)!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this book! This one was a fun read that really tugged on my heartstrings. I think I felt the whole conflict of the story was just too unrealistic, and honestly they did the FMC dirty with that! I think a few parts just felt a little too cheesy, but it has some extremely vulnerable and emotional parts that came out of nowhere. It definitely gave me the travel bug again and I’m dying to go back to Scotland now 🥹 3.5/5 Stars

I loved this second chance romance along the Skye trail in Scotland reunites lovers after seven years. Brooke and Jack first meet in college and although the sparks immediately fly at a Halloween party meet-cute, their romance is forbidden when they discover he is a TA and she is a student. A horrible falling out leads to a derailment of their career paths.

After years as a ghostwriter, Brooke is finally trying to fulfill her dream of publishing a book with her name on it if she can endure the week long trek of the Skye trail. The only problem? Her long lost love is the hired photographer that will accompany her. The trail is full of fun tropes involving one tent, one shared bunk bed, overcoming the fear of traversing the Bad Step together, and relearning all of the reasons they fell each other in the first place.

This story was incredibly romantic. It’s is a stand alone, but does involve cameos of Jack’s brother Logan and his love Addie (from Kiley’s first novel Kilt Trip). The depiction of the trail and all of its beauty made me want to book a trip to Skye asap. It was fun to follow along with each of the characters internal conflict of following their dreams or taking the safe path, in both professions and in love.

“Take a chance on yourself. Trust that the thing you love will take you where you need to be.”

This book was so beautiful and emotional. I loved the second-chance romance so much. It has dual POVs and dual timelines, which turned out to be fantastic. I really liked that we got to experience their first meeting, what happened afterward, and how they felt about it all. The chemistry between both characters is so steamy, and you can tell their bond is stronger than ever. I knew this was going to be a 5-star book because I absolutely loved Kilt Trip.
The pacing was done well, and the character development was perfect for this book.
B's story was really relatable, and I can definitely understand the feeling of wanting more in life and trying to chase your dreams before they are gone. Jack's story was so sad, and I really felt for him during this book. His family wanting so much from him but also him not wanting the same things they wanted was pretty relatable.
The amount of crying I cried during this book was ridiculous, but I would definitely re-read this book so many times.

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review,

This book is a lovely second chance romance with very likeable characters.
The setting is Scotland, and it makes you want to go buy a ticket tomorrow.

Can definitely recommend this one, and will be keeping an eye out for future books from this author!