⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ - 4.5 stars! This was such a sweet tale of second chances, and the descriptions and the setting in Scotland made the story all the more magical. The weaving of timelines was so well done, and I was hooked by the first chapter. If you’re on the hunt for a cozy, tension-filled romance that will leave you wrecked in the absolute best way, look no further. But fair warning… you may find yourself booking a trip to the Highlands ✈️ ⛰️

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advance copy!

I am being generous and saying it's two stars. I couldn't even make it halfway though I was so bored. Some books I can make myself read them and it starts picking up but this just didn't for me at all. I really tried and I really wanted to like it. I saw the title and cover and was excited for a cute little romance. For me that is not what I got and I hate the time jumps so much. This book was just not for me.

3.5/5 stars

Thanks to Net Galley for the eARC for review

Firstly, this book has made start a Pinterest board for a dream trip to Scotland.

Second chance romances are normally very hit or miss for me but I thought that Scot and Bothered did a pretty good job handling it in a way where it made you believe that the characters could get over their past issues I think the duel timeline was a big part of that and helped to not only give context but flesh out the characters as well.

If you love a second-chance romance packed with yearning, unresolved tension, and the kind of forced proximity that makes you want to scream (in the best way), Scot and Bothered is for you. Brooke and Jack’s story unfolds on the rugged and breathtaking Skye Trail, where they’re forced to work together on a memoir project that just so happens to be deeply personal for both of them. As they hike through Scotland’s moody landscapes, we’re treated to a dual timeline that slowly unravels their past, showing us how they fell in love—and how it all fell apart. The big reveal of their breakup isn’t shocking, but the emotional weight behind it lands perfectly, making their journey back to each other feel that much more satisfying.

Jack is the ultimate book boyfriend—thoughtful, devoted, and completely gone for Brooke, even after all these years. And Brooke? She’s stubborn, guarded, and so deeply relatable in her fear of failure and desire to play it safe. Their dynamic is filled with longing and stolen glances, and while the book isn’t overflowing with spice, the tension is off the charts (seriously, the shared tent scene?!). Beyond the romance, Kiley weaves in meaningful themes of personal growth, creative passion, and finding the courage to chase what you truly want. And of course, the Scottish setting is its own kind of magic—I could practically feel the mist rolling off the Highlands. Whether you’re here for the slow-burn romance, the emotional depth, or just an excuse to mentally transport yourself to Scotland, Scot and Bothered is a trip worth taking

Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐
Spice Rating: 3/5 🌶️

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW BELOW:

This book spoke to my soul on so many levels. Walking the line between following a dream and working to live—because sometimes they aren't synonymous—can be heartbreaking to navigate, especially when other voices are louder than your own, influencing your decisions.

To find someone who understands you exactly is so beautiful and rare, but adds and extra layer of complications to your journey of dream chasing. How can you live for yourself and for someone else?

Alexandra Kiley told Jack and Brooke's story brilliantly, seamlessly switching between narratives and timelines to give the reader the full picture, even when the characters didn't have it themselves. It was the perfect follow up to her debut novel, Kilt Trip, which I absolutely fell in love with last year.

Now I just have to sit patiently and wait for Reid to get his own happily ever after! 💚

I adored the first book in this series, so it was an automatic request for me! This is a second chance romance, and I loved the characters, however I didn't really care for thr duel timeliness. I loved how Brooke and Jack just click when they first meet, then they discover that they can't be together so a little bit of forbidden romance in the troupe too. This was definitely a fun read! Can't wait for more by Alexandra Kiley!

I absolutely loved this second-chance romance set in Scotland! The setting alone was enough to make me fall in love, with the beautiful landscapes and the rich, atmospheric backdrop. The characters were so well-developed, and I really enjoyed seeing their journey from past heartbreak to rediscovery. There’s just something so heartwarming about a second-chance love story, especially when it unfolds in such a picturesque location. Honestly, do I need to say more? It was everything I wanted in a romance novel—emotional, charming, and just the right amount of swoon-worthy moments.

There was something so heartfelt about the first one in this series that I truly enjoyed and I felt that I didn’t get that in this one. Something felt like it was missing, perhaps the believability of the romance, the chemistry. It’s very clear that this is a continued ode to Scotland but I’m wondering if writing it via romance is the right choice.

Scot and Bothered follows ex's Brooke and Jack, as they hike the Skye Trail. Brooke is looking to add more soul to the memoir she is co-writing with the founder of the trail and Jack is taking pictures for the same memoir that happens to be about his aunt. Along the trail, Brooke and Jack find their way to their true passions, as well as back to each other along the gorgeous backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.

The book is written from the pov of both Brooke and Jack going from present day to their past. The flashbacks were key chapters giving us insight into how their relationship started and why it fell apart. We don't find out till the last quarter of the book what caused them to break up 7 years ago, and while it was a bit predictable, it was not any less impactful to their story.

I felt the character development for both Brooke and Jack was well done. We had enough insight into Brookes past to understand her and learned more about Jack's family to get a better understanding of his motives. Their relationship did not feel rushed and their journey back to each other felt well paced. There were many scenes that I felt the same anxiety and anticipation as the characters (their first kiss, the alcove at the cave, sharing a tent on the hike).

I give it 2.5/5 for spice level. They don't share their first kiss until Chapter 15 (past), with two spicy scenes following chapter 15 (past) and 23 (present). While the title insinuates the book is fairly spicy, there was more yearning/pining which was not a bad thing. The spicy scenes were well timed and written.

I may be biased but having had a recent trip to Scotland, I could easily picture their adventures in Edinburgh as well as in the Isle of Skye. Scotland is an easy country to fall in love with as well as in.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! The characters were well cleaned out and I enjoyed Brooke and Jack's story.

This book was more than a romance it dealt with grief in a raw and real way. It was a beautiful book with its up and downs but was all around amazing. I love a second chance romance. Jack is a grade A book boyfriend. This book had me on the edge of my seat hoping it would all work out in the end. Full of second chances, forced proximity and flashbacks. You definitely have to read it.. 100% recommend..

Oh, I'm so glad I read this book! I loved the writing of Alexandra Kiley - such lovely writing, both in her descriptions of the characters' thoughts and feelings, and also highlighting the wonderful setting of Scotland's beautiful landscape. (I want to go there now!). Hiking through Scotland was a perfect backdrop for this Romance.
I also loved the character development - so "real". The main characters met in a college setting, then came together again in the future. Yes, they were both flawed and hurting with broken hearts and unfulfilled dreams, but the growth was realistic and optimistic. A writer and a photographer, they attempt to build each other up and make each other better.
I enjoy when one of the main characters is a writer, and the author builds on this by having them "think" in beautiful, literary ways. Example: "Jack was like the snow, absorbing all the noise in her brain, making her feel cozy and peaceful" I mean ... who doesn't want a partner like that?!
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy to review.

Thank you so much to the author, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Canary Street Press for an advance copy of this!

I became a fan of Alexandra Kiley after her debut Kilt Trip and could see the potential in her future. As much as I had enjoyed Kilt Trip, I did struggle while reading it. But this one, I was sucked in from the moment it started. I absolutely LOVE this book!

This one to me felt like a romance and it wasn't that the prior wasn't a romance, I felt it was more centered about the FMC's grief than her romantic love interest. Whereas this one, this former couple was forced to work together and be together on a multi day hike and the tension was brewing.

"Watching her was like a lighting storm. No matter where he looked,there was something equally as lovely lighting up just outside his focus."

Also I love the use of the past timeline where we got to see how Brooke and Jack first met and then how their relationship became complicated when he became a teacher's assistant. There was something that caused the break up and altered the course of Brooke's life and the whole book we are leading up to finding out the moment.

Jack is *chef's kiss* a beautiful book boyfriend! He is flawed but also the most caring person. He was and still is head over heels for Brooke. He knows he had messed up in the past and wants to try to fix things. Brooke. Our beautiful Brooke. She is so strong and has so much resentment towards Jack about what had happened in the past. She wants to complete her hike and get the memoir she is ghostwriting for completed so she can start her next job. She does not want any complications with Jack but spending so much time together has reminded her what she loved about him. Even when Brooke was not so nice to Jack, they still had complimented each other so well! And Jack remember things about her just made him so incredibly swoooony aka the thunderstorm scene. "I've got you" - Gah!

"You sure know how to woo a girl."
"I'm trying as hard as I can."

I love how each of them (in the past & present) pushed one another to be a better version of themself and to go after what they truly want. And this book is a reminder to never settle and if you are unhappy, change what's making you unhappy. Also not to always play it safe! Brooke was playing it safe for too long and not truly living the life that she wanted to live because of the fear of failing due to incidents in her past.

There is also this beautiful subplot that I won't give away too much but it centers around Brooke's relationship with Jack's aunt, Mhairi her old writing professor who asked her to ghostwrite her memoir. I love hearing both of them tell stories about Mhairi and also Mhairi would provide life advice for Brooke especially towards the end of the book when Brooke didn't know which career path she wanted to go towards. And I'm pretty sure Mhairi purposely planted the seed to have them both go on this hike together to communicate their difference and possible rekindle their relationship.

I just couldn't stop reading. I wanted to know more about this couple and the journey and to find out what happened between them. I just loved Brooke and Jack so much!!!

This is a stand alone centered in the same universe as Kilt Trip. But I do not think you necessarily need to read Kilt Trip in order to understand the characters in this.

I recommend this if you are looking for a forced proximity, nature, Scotland setting and a second chance romance!

Brooke was once a hopeful university student, ready to take the world by storm with her words. Years later and she's lost it all, hiding behind her job as a ghostwriter. Her newest job though will finally credit her name on the cover. Only she has to go to Skye with the photographer in order to bring life to the manuscript and it's none other than the one she wanted to get away from, Jack Sutherland.
Alex's prose knocked me off my feet. It's beautiful and sincere and provided the perfect imagery. Revisiting one of my favorites places through her words was nothing less than bliss. Brooke is bitter (every right to it) and Jack is apologetic and their then and now relationship turmoil was exactly what I enjoy reading in a second chance. I just need to know if I get to go back with a book from Alex or if I can drag her to Scotland with me next time.
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Another beautiful, transportive story from Kiley!

I love a second chance romance with all the big, messy, unresolved feelings, and oh man, if you want a second chance with pining and angst, Scot and Bothered is for you, dear reader. There were moments my heart ached but do not fear, Kiley holds your hand and heals your heart in the end. Brooke and Jack’s love story is tender and will give you double the dose of warm fuzzies and butterflies as they fall in love, find their way back to each other, and allow themselves the gift of a second chance.

Kiley excels at penning stories that are both incredibly immersive not only with gorgeous vistas but also filled with experiences that speak to our humanity and how our lives are enriched when we build community and foster connections. Like with Kilt Trip, Kiley dives into meaningful conversations around grief, failure, and second chances where we are not only afforded the chance to see our own experiences on page, but are gifted with the opportunity to have our hearts healed and filled with hope through Jack and Brooke’s characters. Kiley’s work reminds us that we’re all evolving and in some stage of healing and to always give ourselves grace and the freedom to start again.

If you wish you could pack your bags and head to Scotland like yesterday and your heart longs for a romantic adventure, Scot and Bothered is the book you need to pick up!

Thank you for providing this ARC!
My review has been posted on GoodReads:

“I adored this dang book.
I don’t always love a second-chance romance because I seem to hold a grudge better than the protagonists, but this? This book was a delight from start to finish. I laughed, I cried, I kicked my feet a bit, and I just couldn’t put this book down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this ARC for my honest review, and I look forward to reading more from this author!”

“I want to feel the wind on my face and taste the salt in the air and smell the boggy soil. I want to go on a journey.”

📸✍️🏞️🥾📚🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I love good “journey” book. Where the characters take a literal journey and it shows them something about themselves and it turns into an internal journey. Love it. If you loved books like Happiness for Beginners or You With a View you probably will like this one.

It started a little slow for me, maybe because it goes back and forth to the past and present. It’s a good medium for a second chance romance because it makes it a bit heavier and mysterious not know what went wrong when they were together the first time. I thought that was well executed, and after the initial slowness (only a few chapters) I liked how it panned out.

The feeling is a bit heavy, some heavy topics, and the sadness of their past. It was an enjoyable, emotional read, with 3-4 sex scenes. The end was sweet.

I tried hard to like this story- but not even the amazing setting of the Scottish highlands could win me over. The general concepts of the story would usually tick many of my boxes:
- second chance romance
- forced proximity
- Scottish MMC
- FMC who's a writer

YET, I didn't find their reconnection and rekindling of their love to be very convincing, or the characters all that likeable.

What an adorable romance that makes you want to travel to the far-off land of Scotland!

Brooke and Jack have history. While Jack was teaching a writing course at university, Brooke was in another section of this course. As a romance blossomed between the two of them, they realized what was at stake and knew they had to keep their romance private. Fast forward to today, Brooke is cowriting her mentor Mhairi’s (who happens to also be Jack’s aunt), memoir. The photographer Mhairi hired for her memoir had an injury, so who else was there to call? None other than Jack.
As Jack and Brooke set out on an adventure through Scotland to document Mhairi’s most meaningful moments, we discover why things didn’t work out the first time, and whether or not these two are meant to be.

This was such a cute romance! I will admit the beginning was a bit slow for me, because there were a lot of characters and I was confusing the past and present timelines, but once I got to the 40% mark I was determined to keep reading. I recommend this one for any romance reader looking for a heartfelt story with beautiful depictions of the Scottish Isle.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book.

Kiley's sophomore romance is another great dual POV love story set in Scotland that sees two former university flames getting a second chance when they are forced to hike a trail on the Isle of Skye in order to help finish a dying Professor's memoir.

Brooke is a ghostwriter struggling to find her own voice and wants to make her mentor, Mhairi proud but when she learns her ex, Jack, is the new photographer assigned to take photos for the book, she's less than pleased. Jack betrayed her in University and she's never forgiven him. Full of second chances, forced proximity and flashbacks to their time at Edinburgh, this was a deliciously sweet and spicy romance that is sure to deliver all the feels.

I especially enjoyed it on audio and highly recommend it for fans of other ghostwriter romance books like The dead romantics by Ashley Poston, Business or pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon, The perfect rom-com by Melissa Ferguson or Love at first book by Jen McKinlay. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

CW: side character with pancreatic cancer

This was such a fun read! I absolutely loved the setting and all of the details about Scotland included in the book. Jack and Brooke were wonderful protagonists and I enjoyed the alternating narrators as well as the two time periods that slowly revealed their past alongside their present. Mhairi was such a good character and this book was an emotional ride but so sweet. I’m looking forward to reading the author’s first book set within this world!