This was such a cute little story. I love a good second chance romance, and the idea of this being about the scenery and love of Scotland really made me feel like I was in another place. This was great!

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book was so close to being 5 stars for me. It was a second chance, dual-timeline romance and both times that these two fell in love were delicious. The first time, they have a forbidden aspect to their relationship because he is a TA for one of her college classes. Seven years later, after things ended poorly for them the first time, there is a forced proximity storyline where they are backpacking in the wilderness together for work. The book flips back and forth between the two timelines which was SO fun.

However, the last 20% was kind of a let down for me. The final "conflict" that they faced was disappointing after I absolutely loved the whole journey of getting there.

Thanks to netgalley and harlequin for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review

This was just okay for me. The premise was promising, winter in Scotland, touring the Isle of Skye for a book with a l landscape photographer that happens to be an ex, shenanigans ensue. I just wanted a little more intensity, both from the characters and the story. Maybe just not in the right mood? Released March 4.

I really enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of Edinburgh and the Isle of Skye. As someone who has visited Scotland, I felt it embodied so much of what I love about the country. While I liked the flashbacks, the revelation of what separated the couple took a while to get to. It made part of the end feel rushed.

2.75! I liked the overall plot - I love a second chance romance. I just didn’t believe the connection between the two main characters. They never truly have a conversation or have it all out in the air about what happened before/talk through it. There are a few times it’s lightly discussed but I wanted a larger confrontation so we could truly move past it - it never felt like there was closure for that. It also went from I hate him to I’ve loved him the whole time a bit too quickly for me. It felt like too big of a switch up especially with there being no resolution of their past. I also didn’t care for the third act breakup?

Thanks Netgalley and HTP books for the arc in exchange for a honest review!

Do you like dual timeline romances? Second chance? Only one tent? If the answer to these questions is yes (and even if it isn’t) then I have a recommendation for you!

Alex’s writing is so lovely, and I soaked up this book like someone trying to savor every drop of olive oil using fresh-baked, crunchy bread. The setting is sublime, the burn is slow, the proximity is forced, and I was so here for it all.

Read for:
⛺️ Only one tent
⛺️ Dual timeline
⛺️ Second chance
⛺️ Photographer x Writer
⛺️ Hiking
⛺️ ANGST
⛺️ Beautiful writing

Thank you to @canarystreetpress and @akileybooks for the #gifted copy to use as a traveling book. All thoughts are my own.

Second chance
Dual timelines
Forced proximity
Hate to love

This had me obsessed the first 30% then things really leveled out for me. The book is not long but definitely felt it. There were some chunks that were a very slow pace. I did tear up towards the end a couple times and enjoyed how things came together.

Thank you for this ARC Harlequin Trade Publishing/ Canary Street Press

I was really excited for this book! The premise had everything I love: second-chance romance, a stunning setting, and a journey, both physical and emotional, that promised deep character growth. A ghostwriter and a photographer forced to confront their past while trekking the rugged Skye Trail sounded like the perfect setup for a heartfelt story.

But unfortunately, this one just didn’t hit for me. The plot felt repetitive, with Brooke and Jack constantly reflecting on their past, wanting to move on, but struggling with the same lack of trust. While I understand that healing takes time, their internal struggles felt like they kept going in circles rather than evolving. I kept waiting for a moment that would truly shift their relationship forward, but it never quite landed in a satisfying way.

That being said, I did love the concept and the setting. The Scottish backdrop was beautifully described, and the premise had so much potential. I really wanted to love this book, but in the end, it felt more like walking the same emotional path over and over rather than an engaging romantic journey.

I was very excited to read Scot and Bothered based on the advance praise it was garnering and the fantastic cover art. Alexandra Kiley does an excellent job at describing places. She captures the architecture of Edinburgh and the natural beauty of Skye and puts the reader right there with her characters. I wanted more of that in this book.

Unfortunately, for me, the overall pacing of the story didn't work. The Then/Now dual timeline was unnecessary because it was clear what caused the big issue at the university very early on. I also didn't care for how much of the Now relationship was each character just fantasizing about the other as they hiked. If these two soulmates just had a conversation now and then, I wouldn't have been so frustrated.

Because the narrative constantly bounces back and forth between Then/Now, the characters and their woes become repetitive. "I want to be a dentist, I mean a photographer." "I have to graduate from this specific writing school to be an author." I never really learned why these two are soulmates because the Then relationship mostly focused on physical attractiveness. I also don't understand how an American on a student visa can be expelled but land a freelancing gig to stay in the UK for 7 years? Or does she do all her writing in the US and was on a tourist visa to attend the book signing and have some meetings? I also expected there to be a bigger reveal about the thunderstorm while camping.

I loved Mhairi McCallister and would have liked more of her story <spoiler> (I love that she attended her own celebration of life!)</spoiler>, more Scotland, more of the hiking on the trails and less of the past.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.
#scotandbothered #netgalley

Again, not as invested in this series as I was hoping to be. I did enjoy the characters going on this hike. Through the isle of sky and learning about connecting with nature.

I do wish that they had brought up why Brooke was so upset and mad at Jack for the past 7 years earlier in the story. Most of it was alluded to, until, like 80% of the way through the book.
And I feel like honestly, they were both at fault for having a student/ta relationship and not disclosing it or before starting the relationship discussing, what the ramifications could be if they were found out.

Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy

3.5 stars

Scot and Bothered was not everything I wanted it to be but it was sweet, fast-paced, and set in Scotland so enjoyable all the same. Unfortunately, it felt a little insta-love at times and I wasn't entirely convinced by Jack and Brooke's feelings for each other since it seemed to be built on one interaction and never really grew from there.

Miscommunication is a huge no for me when it comes to a plot device and a lot of this story could have resolved itself without all of the miscommunicating - not to mention the seven years it took for them to come back together. I had also hoped for some more banter between the two of them because, when reading a romance novel, I want to giggle and kick my feet. Alas, there was very little giggling and no feet kicking to be had.

I love a second chance romance and I greatly enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the Scottish setting. I wish I had enjoyed every other aspect just as much but this fell a little flat for me. Despite that, I would recommend it to anyone looking to cleanse their palate with a cute, low-stakes romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this one! I love the setting and the characters and the accents, oh my! Another great book from Kiley. Thank you for the opportunity to read this early!

So, this book? Total surprise in the best way. I went in expecting a light, fluffy second-chance romance—something cute and easy, you know? But turns out, it’s way more than that. Sure, it’s got all the charm and feel-good vibes you’d hope for, but there’s this sneaky depth woven into the story that hits way harder than you’d think. The author somehow nailed that perfect blend of humor and heartbreak, and it just works.

The chemistry between the main characters? Absolute fire. But the real hook is how messy and complicated their history is. There’s all this raw tension and vulnerability as they try to sort through their past while still being pulled toward each other like magnets. Watching them try to juggle all their baggage while figuring out how to make it work? It’s addictive.

This book isn’t just a romance—it’s a whole rollercoaster of forgiveness, growth, and taking another shot at something real. I couldn’t put it down, and honestly, I loved every single second of watching these characters stumble their way back to each other.

This isn't "just another romance" book, but has life and feeling and pushes you to look inward as you read as well. I was immediately able to tell I would enjoy this book based on the skill of the author's writing. She evoked a sense of familiarity with the FMC, Brooke, for me - like she and I would have been close friends due to trauma bonding and our occasional self pity. Her flashbacks vividly portray the stereotypical college experience and fledgling first love that I feel like a lot of readers could relate to.

The initial jump to the MMC, Jack's, POV was a little jarring for me, but I quickly found it delightful. The dual POV kept reminding me that how we interpret someone's speech or actions does not change their intention behind them. I liked that I would be completely invested in the portion of the story I was reading, and then be pulled and thrust into another POV. I could NOT stop reading, and found myself googling all of the places mentioned so I could imagine their experiences more in the moment.

There were also several surprises sprinkled throughout to warm your heart. If you've ever been hiking or had a profound experience with nature that set your heart aglow for the world or the people in it, this is definitely for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an e-arc of this book!

Hollywood take note, this would make for a very cute, rom-com! Scot and Bothered is a second-chance romance with time jumps from our lead couple's history to present day. We get to see how things unfolded in the past to separate them while watching them get to know each other again. I am not crazy about miscommunication as a break-up trope, but in this case it made sense especially for the age Brooke and Jack were when they met the first time in college. The couple comes back together to hike the Skye Trail on the Isle of Skye and oh, boy will it have you Googling and maybe even booking your own stay on Skye. I love to hike and knew next to nothing about this trail, but now it's a bucket list item for sure! A couple of romance trope things I really liked in this: there is a big reveal of a secret kept, but after the initially reactive feelings around the news, the couple actually communicates well about the situation and with understanding. That said there is a 3rd act break-up, but it is done well too and leads to a very satisfying conclusion. There is dual narration on the audiobook and I will never say no to a good Scottish accent! This was my first Alexandra Kiley novel and now I'm off to read about Jack's brother, Logan!

Thank you to HTP Hive, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy and to Harlequin Audio for the advance listener copy. These opinions are my own.

I had been so intrigued by who Jack's great love was when I read Kilt Trip. Scot and Bothered is their story and a second chance romance.

In this book, Jack and Brooke get thrown together into forced proximity for a hike along the Skye Trail on the Isle of Skye. And their journey becomes both literal and metaphorical.

I appreciated all of the themes about going after dreams and who gets to make the choices that shape your life. I found the book deeply emotional, in part because of its plot and in part because of where I'm coming from. It handles a storyline about grief and loss incredibly authentically. I cried a bunch while reading it, but in a good and cathartic way. I highly recommend the story.

Angus King and Savannah Davies made listening to this audiobook a delight. I was completely enthralled by their performances.

4.25 stars

This was super sweet and so unexpectedly tender. I loved the true second chance romance and how we got to be a part of their story so intimately both times. I was honestly so touched and emotional at the end! Loved loved loved!

Well first off this book has me dreaming (and planning) a trip to Scotland asap. It was such a fun read and I loved how descriptive it was of the scenery. Beyond the scenery, I went back and forth between physical and audio and the narrators were perfectly casted.
I was a big fan of the time jumps with the build up to the betrayal that led the Brooke's expulsion. I'm a sucker for a second chance romance so obviously this checked all the boxes. Both in the present and in the past Brooke and Jack had amazing chemistry and it made it seem like the story just flew by.
Highly recommend picking this one up!

Brooke Sinclair has always dreamed about being an author. After her dreams were derailed, she focused on writing other people's stories as a ghostwriter. When her mentor offers her the opportunity to co-write her memoir, Brooke knows she has to get this right, even if that means hiking the Skye Trail with the one person who destroyed her dreams and her heart. Can the adventure of a lifetime bring these two back together?

I love second chance romances and the blend of romance with the adventure of the Skye Trail made this a great story to listen to. Brooke and Jack's chemistry was perfect in both present day as they travel the Skye Trail and when Brooke first met Jack at the University of Edinburgh. I enjoyed how they each pushed the other to pursue their dreams while rediscovering their love and trust in each other. This was a very enjoyable read, and I am excited to go back and listen to the first book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trading Publishing and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to review Scot and Bothered. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved the writing of this book!
Brooke (FMC), and Jack (MMC), are former lovers whose paths cross after years of not seeing one another and are immediately thrown into each other’s personal space by being tasked to work together on Brooke’s mentor’s memoir. The two have an amazing chemistry and are both longing for their former relationship to not matter anymore.

The yearning, dual timeline & dual POV establish an amazing comfort within the universe that you can’t help but idealize as you read.