Five stars! Six stars! All the stars! I typically don’t reach for a second chance romance, but Kilt Trip was so perfect I had to see what made Luke brood so. Boy oh boy was I rewarded. Luke and Brooke yearn and yearn and love and lose and heal and grow and love and yearn and yearn. Did I mention the yearning? It’s perfect.

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley is a tale of romance and second chances; romance is not my usual genre choice but I am a fan of tales of the Scots and hiking in the Highlands is a dream of mine. I was drawn into the story immediately and enjoyed the duel timeline-that was a bit of a mystery as to what really happened seven years earlier to end Jack and Brooke's relationship so completely. Jack and Brooke as they have been awkwardly thrown together as Brooke is writing Jack's aunt Mhairi's memoir--and Jack will be the photographer.

This was a hard to put down book and I enjoyed Kiley's breathtaking descriptions of hiking the Skye Trail as well as the emotionally charged love scenes. Though the characters were almost too perfect to be true, they were extremely likable and one could not help but hope that they would be able to work things out. This is a tale of the importance of following your dreams and the healing power of nature.

I would recommend this book to fans of romance, interesting plot, great immersive writing, and happy endings. Thank you to Harlequin for providing me with an advance copy.

Alexandra Kiley has done it again! I loved her debut, Kilt Trip, and was so excited for this ARC. It did not disappoint! What sets Alexandra Kiley's writing apart from other contemporary authors is her immersive writing. I was immediately drawn in to Brooke and Jack's love story, and felt like I was hiking the Skye Trail right alongside them. Though the setting was similar to Kilt Trip, I appreciated that the story structure/tropes were different, and I could really see the author's growth as a writer. The second chance romance and dual timeline allowed for excellent character growth and pacing. I was always excited to jump back in time to get more answers, and to then see how things played out in the present timeline. I can't wait to read this author's next book! More hot Scots, please!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

4.5 rounded up!

I really did love this. I cried from like 80% on. I LOVED the trail hiking and the "now" story. So incredibly beautiful. The final cabin scene- it will live in my head forever. So tender and beautiful- obviously I cried.

The "then" conflict felt really messy and still kind of unreslolved...? I just felt like the details of why Jack did what he did were swept under the rug or not talked about. I also wanted to know more about Brooke. I felt like I needed a little more background to add some warmth and likeability to her character.

But, a book that gets me to read with excitement, feel all the feels, and makes me cry- LOVED it. This was a gem and I can't wait to read more of her books as they come out!

This was such a cute read about loss, second chances and learning to follow your dreams. A dual timeline romance following Brooke and Jack on their second chances, hiking through the Scottish wilderness and their first chance and where it went horribly wrong. I had such a good time reading this story and getting to learn who Brooke and Jack are. I wish we got to see more moments of them together now, vs back then. I feel we got more slow moments of them in the past and the foundation for them but I was wanting more of them in the present. The present was very focused on the writing and the joint loss they’re both sharing and I wish we got to see them actually talk about their past more. I all over really enjoyed this story and reading them getting their hard earned happily ever after.

Scot and Bothered is a charming story of an author finding her voice and finding love. It's a beautiful story set in a gorgeous setting. The story flips between narrative of current day and events approximately 7 years prior. While the chapters set in the past did take a bit longer for me to engage with, I overall really enjoyed how the past timeline parallels with the events in the current timeline and add meaning to current day events. This is a very emotional story, and I really loved how the author showed the emotions and tensions, as well as a having a very descriptive writing style for the scenery and landscapes. There is a particular landmark described in the book in vivid detail, which made me curious to look it up. I was quite pleased to find out that it's a real place/monument and looked exactly as a I pictured from reading about it in this story. Overall, I enjoyed this story and look forward to what Alexandra Kiley comes out with next!

This review is based on NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.

One piece I would add specific for the NetGalley review: I did notice some odd formatting issues which I assume will be corrected before the final publication. The strangest one was that every "fl" seemed to have at least one or multiple spaces between the letters. This happened most frequently when those two letters were the first two letters in a word, but it even occurred consistently in "butterf lies". Other examples, "f led", "f light", etc.

Brooke and Jack had a tumultous end to their relationship 7 years ago, altering the course of action for the both of them. However, fate throws the two of them together for his aunt's memoir while hiking the Skye Trail.

I absolutely loved this book. It was a slow start for me, and I initially had some difficulty getting into it. This may be because I'm not the biggest fan of second chance romances. As the book picked up its pace, I was hooked.

I love a good only one bed (or, in this case, tent) trope, and this one was absolutely no exception. There was the perfect amount of spice to the story, adding to its charm.

The dual timelines were well interspersed, and I wanted to keep reading to get the full story. I would, however, have loved more of the past following Brooke after the breakup. I also would have loved to see how the relationship between her and Mhari grew.

Overall, this book was well written and one of the best I've read lately. I became invested in the characters and was emotionally sobbing by the end, which is always my sign of a great book. I'd give it a solid 4.5 stars

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. All views and opinions are my own.

Updated 11/4 to add instagram and storygraph reviews posted today.

This book was so much fun! I felt so immersed in the story and the characters, it was a second change romance that made me frustrated and excited for the characters to reunite.

When Brooke Sinclair is tasked with writing a memoir for her own writing mentor, she learns she will have to work with her ex, the man who got her kicked out of her program. But, when they adventure along the Scottish island where much of the memoir takes place, they find that so much unspoken from the past is bursting to come out.

I love a second chance and this one in this setting was so sweet, it was a quick fun read and I love this author’s writing!

Thank you netgalley and canary street press for the arc!

Everything Alexandra Kiley touches is gold. She needs every award on the planet and I will be a forever fan at this point.

In this book we have a second chance romance in a duel timeline format. Normally I’m not a fan of either but I really liked this one. After reading the first book in the series and I had really high expectations. When I first started it I didn’t know if it was gonna end up being a sophomore drought but I don’t think it was. It was really fun to see the rekindling between the two main characters. The past was really slow for me but I think that is just a me thing. I really liked our main character Jack in both the past and the present but Brooke on the other hand. I really liked her in the present portion but the more of the her in the past really rubbed me wrong cause she blamed everyone but herself and she had a hand in everything that happened too.
The growth was really great to see between the two and the realization of what was in front of them the whole time

Also I want to talk about how Alexandra writes love and grief is so amazing and breathtaking to me and it’s always written in a way that you don’t really see a lot and it is beautiful

*Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the Arc*

Books set in Scotland are becoming a thing for me! This book was no exception. I loved it from the first few pages. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A huge thank you to the author, HTP Hive, Canary Street Press, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read one of my most anticipated 2025 releases! Below is my honest review.

Seven years ago, Brooke was on the cusp of everything she dreamed of—about to graduate from college, a top contender for a prestigious writing fellowship, and madly in love with Jack. But everything came crashing down. Now, she’s rebuilt her life, but instead of writing her own stories, she’s found success as a ghostwriter, living in the shadows of others' words. Her latest project is her most important yet—helping her mentor, Mhairi, chronicle her extraordinary life. But when their editor critiques the draft for lacking “life,” Brooke is tasked with taking readers on an immersive journey. To do that, she must retrace Mhairi’s steps on the Isle of Skye trail, a path Mhairi first explored decades ago. There's one catch: her photographer on this journey will be none other than Jack, the man who broke her heart seven years ago. As Mhairi’s nephew, Jack has his own reasons for ensuring his aunt’s story is told with beauty and truth.

With so much history, pain, and unresolved feelings between them, Brooke and Jack are forced to confront their past while navigating the challenges of the rugged trail. As the days and obstacles pass, they slowly begin to open up, sharing their regrets and rediscovering the deep connection they once had.

This novel is a breathtakingly emotional second-chance romance, skillfully told through dual POV and dual timelines. We get to experience both their first meeting and the aftermath of their heartbreak, creating an electric contrast between the passion of their initial connection and the sorrow of their separation. Their bond is anchored not only in their past relationship but also in their mutual love for Mhairi, whose wisdom and life story deeply influence both of them. Mhairi's insights, woven through both past and present, are pivotal to the plot, as is the stunning setting of the Isle of Skye. I found myself Googling each landmark, captivated by the beauty of the adventure Brooke and Jack were on.

Some books offer a great story but weak writing, while others have gorgeous prose but lack a strong plot. This book excels in both, blending a compelling plot with some of the most beautiful writing I’ve encountered this year. It’s a heart-wrenching, deeply emotional journey that I won’t soon forget.

This book is the sweetest mix of pining, second chances, and rugged Scottish charm. Brooke, a ghostwriter with a passion for storytelling, takes on a dream job hiking the Skye Trail to help her former mentor write a memoir—but her excitement dims when she learns her trekking companion is none other than Jack Sutherland, her college crush-turned-heartbreaker. Cue the tension, the nostalgia, and lots of buried feelings waiting to surface.

Jack is dealing with his own regrets and is just as hesitant to face Brooke, but the wild beauty of Scotland doesn’t let either of them hide for long. The dual-timeline storytelling captures their intense college connection, making their reunion so satisfying to watch unfold. And with tropes like only one tent, deep pining, and the occasional grumpy Highland cow thrown in, this book is both fun and heartfelt.

The atmospheric setting adds a special magic, bringing a slow-burn warmth to Brooke and Jack’s journey. By the time they reach the end of their hike, you’ll be just as eager for them to find healing, love, and a new beginning. If you love second-chance romances, wistful love stories, and Scottish landscapes, this book is a perfect escape. Solid 4 stars!

*Thansk to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to receive the ARC.

Wow! What an emotional and really poignant story. I did not know there was a book before this one (Kilt Trip), but I’m certainly going to go back and read it now.

One of the most interesting things about this book is the mention of so many different places in Scotland. I found my self stopping to search the internet to see the actual places and it really made the story even more beautiful.

The description of the scenery along with the characters and their big feelings and emotions gives the reader an emotional journey of love and loss and healing. I LOVED Jack and Brooke. The dual time line really almost tells two stories that blend together to create not only a love story, but a beautiful story about life.

Scot and Bothered follows up Alexandra Kiley’s first novel, Kilt Trip, which is also takes place in Scotland, which I love. It feels like a lot of books start to have the same cities/settings/vibes and I love getting lost in Scotland in her books. Scot and Bothered tells the story of Brooke (an American) and Jack (Scottish and the brother of Logan, one of the main characters in Kilt Trip) who met when they were students at university. He was a TA in one of her classes although not hers but the relationship ended badly when it was discovered and they both got in trouble over it. The consequences for her were more severe than for him.

7 years later, Brooke is a ghost writer but has never written her own book, which was always her goal and dream. Jack is a photographer and they end up on a project together, her as a ghost writer for Jack’s aunt’s memoir with him taking photos. There’s a lot of animosity aimed at him from her but they end up on a multi day hiking/camping trip together as part of the memoir and slowly remember why they fell in love in the first place. Kiley does an amazing job capturing the stunning Scottish landscape and I’m dying to take a trip now after having read both her books.

This was so much fun! I loved the romance, banter, and the Scottish setting which became a character of its own. There’s so much to love here and I think my college students will love it.

This was a delightful second-chance romcom that made me instantly want to plan a trip to Scotland. I recommend this to anyone looking for a light, playful book with the escapism of travel.

Jack and Brooke had a forbidden relationship in grad school that ended devastatingly poorly. Fast forward seven years and they are assigned to collaborate on a job - him as the photographer and her as the ghostwriter of an upcoming memoir. Not just any memoir, but that of his aunt and her mentor, Mharai (who, unbeknownst to Brooke, is very ill). For the assignment, they end up hiking and camping together for a week and it helps heal old wounds and reconnect them. But it might not be enough for her to jump back into her dreams and back into his arms.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️

Liked
* This book is incredibly special. I loved Kilt Trip, I ADORE this book. The writing is the perfect balance of funny and emotional and expressive.
* As far as second chance romance goes, this one is absolutely beautiful. They both really hurt each other. They both still really love each other. They’re both adults trying to be honest.
* There is a subtext here about chasing dreams and dreams deferred. I loved how they pushed each other on this. This was an especially powerful part of the book and a fundamental part of their relationship.
* Mharai! What a wonderful character. A guide to both of them and such a force in this book. I loved how she was almost as much of a main character as Brooke and Jack.
* LOVED buddy reading this with @booksmartkate and @bibliolater.alligator!
* As with Kilt Trip, loved all the references to beautiful places in Scotland. Loved the hiking aspects of this too. The trek they go on is no joke.

Disliked
* My only nit on this one is that I would have liked more of Brooke’s backstory as well as more of her relationship with Mharai.

🫡 Tropes deployed: second chance, forbidden love, dual timeline, hiking/camping, grief/illness

Brooke is a ghostwriter who has yet to tell her own story. Years ago she left the University of Edinburgh without a degree and with a broken heart. Now, she’s been asked to write her old mentor’s memoir and it has put her face-to-face with not only the person responsible for her exodus from college but her disastrous love life. A trip on the Isle of Skye will uncover more secrets but will be a second chance for both of them.

I usually don’t care about second-chance romances, but this one was a gem. I read the previous book to do with Jack’s brother Logan and enjoyed it and was excited to jump back into that world. This story is a romance with a lovely story arc and really serious character development. I recently read several romance novels set in Scotland, but most of them fell flat. However, I came across two fantastic books by Alexandra Kiley featuring American protagonists in Scotland, and they were outstanding. If you love Scottish romance like I do, I highly recommend Scot and Bothered!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was an emotional second chance romance that I just ate up. It’s a heart-wrenching journey I won’t soon forget.