This story was a masterfully written second-chance slow burn. The flashbacks were such a clever way to set up the current timeline and they truly heightened every touch and every glance. If you enjoyed Kilt Trip, then this is a must read!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Alexandra Kiley's second Scottish romance is a bittersweet joy.

"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 co-writer for her memoir about Scotland’s most challenging trek, Brooke would do anything for the opportunity—including agreeing to hike the rugged Skye Trail for authenticity’s sake... not knowing the nature photographer who’ll join her is Jack Sutherland, the man who shattered Brooke’s writing career—and her heart."

We meet Brooke as she's in a funk. She's barely living, just existing and long ago gave up her dreams after a betrayal by Jack. Jack isn't in a much better place and together they take on the hike to fulfill their beloved aunt/mentor's wish.

It's on the trail that the book takes elements from "Wild" and some delightful romance tropes for the reader to track the growth that they each go through.

Interspersed are scenes from their history-- ways to help see what went wrong and what needs to change to go right for them.

It's a more somber and serious romance than the first in this series, but it's such a moving journey.

This second-chance romance told over the course of two different timelines (similar to Julie Soto's Forget Me Not) was a more serious entry than the first in this series, which felt more slapstick. I did really like the set up of the two timelines, but felt like, at some points, the back and forth creating some wonky pacing that made it harder to get into the story. For me, the biggest issue was that the current timeline remorse and apologies for the big *break up event* in the past came before we really knew what the event even was, which left me feeling like a) they lacked impact, and b) I got all angry at the MMC at a time when the FMC had already forgiven him, so I felt frustrated and out of sync.

Overall, though, I enjoyed the writing, setting, and characters. This was not as fun for me as book 1, but I would definitely pick up another book either in this series or by this author.

Read If You Like:
- Second-chance romances
- Stories set in the Scottish Highlands
- Narratives involving outdoor adventures
- Explorations of past relationships impacting the present
- Romantic comedies with emotional depth

Brooke Sinclair's aspiration to become a published author was derailed seven years ago when she was expelled from the University of Edinburgh.

Now working as a ghostwriter, she seizes the opportunity to co-author a memoir for her former mentor, Mhairi McCallister. The project requires Brooke to hike Scotland's challenging Skye Trail for authenticity, accompanied by nature photographer Jack Sutherland—the man responsible for her expulsion and heartbreak. As they traverse the rugged landscape,

Brooke and Jack are compelled to confront unresolved feelings and past misunderstandings. Amidst breathtaking scenery and shared challenges, they explore whether two weeks and eighty miles can mend years of hurt and offer a second chance at love.

This novel weaves a heartfelt tale of redemption, personal growth, and the enduring power of love set against the enchanting backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.

Thanks so much to the publisher for my ARC!

Massive thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for an eARC of this book so I could provide my own review.

I absolutely loved reading Brooke and Jack's story! I am such a sucker for a second-chance romance, and this one was perfect! We get a dual timeline/POV and I love the backstory as much as I love present day. As someone that has always been a bit obsessed with Scotland, this one made the travel itch that much worse, and I need to be on this trip (even though I'm not a huge hiker/outdoorsy girl). I loved seeing the growth in both of our MCs.

If you love any of the below, this might be a great book for you:
- Second-chance Romance
- College romance
- Gorgeous scenery
- Dual Timeline
- Longing

So thankful to be apart of the HTP Hive and to have had the opportunity to read this one <3

The formatting was really messed up and I will just have to wait for release day! Doesn’t copy over well to kindle from netgalley so I won’t be reviewing at this time.

3.5-4 stars. Brooke Sinclair is living adjacent to her original dream of being a published writer by working as a ghostwriter. The trajectory to her original path was derailed seven years ago in somewhat of a scandal that lead to the loss of her scholarship at her university. Jack Sullivan, the reason for that predicament, is finally living out his dream as a photographer. His beloved aunt Mhairi is Brooke’s longtime mentor and now these two will have to collaborate together in Mhairi’s upcoming memoir about the Skye trail.

Brooke and Jack have this incredible chemistry that leads them through a lust fog of sneaking around and stolen touches back in the day. Now, Brooke cannot even bear to look at him and Jack is beyond remorseful. I liked this dynamic because Jack really did screw up, but he is a well intentioned guy and not an actual jerk, yet he was way overdue to apologize to Brooke.

Their initial antagonism because of Brooke’s grudge was actually entertaining, especially with Jack trying to come to a truce. There’s nothing like forced proximity out in nature where the weather is unpredictable and Brooke, who is unaccustomed to the elements, has to rely on Jack and to decide if she is willing to forgive and reconcile. While I felt Jack’s regret, I’m not sure he expressed it well enough for Brooke even though he was doing everything else right, but I was still looking for the actual words. While time is limited and Brooke understands that, it was too easy for her to simply let go of her grievances the way she did for the sake of Mhairi. I enjoyed the beginning of their journey on Skye Trail and the flashbacks, but lost a little momentum towards the end of the trek and looping Mhairi in as the reason for having new perspectives because that came off formulaic and cliche despite wanting the rekindled relationship

Thank you NetGalley for this arc! For some reason this just didn’t quite meet my expectations. I was really looking forward to reading this, but it felt very repetitive in the beginning/half way through the book. I also didn't feel like I could relate to the female main character at all. It was a cute love story, but just wasn’t my cup of tea.

4.5 stars rounded up. This was a tender, emotional dual-timeline second chance romance and I ate it up.

I loved the immersive experience I felt while reading Kilt Trip last year, so I was very excited to travel back to Scotland with Alexandra Kiley and another Sutherland. Jack and Brooke’s trek across the Isle of Skye together was healing in ways for them both, individually and together. Alexandra Kiley also has a way of describing the scenery and vistas in a way that made me feel like I was right there and often enough made me look up photos to feel it even more.

Brooke and Jack’s ‘Then’ timeline was fraught with secrecy, discouraging outside influences, and the fear of indecision or making the wrong choice. At the same time, it was that fizzy feeling of young love and letting oneself enjoy life even when it’s a risk. I don’t usually love a dual timeline but it worked so well here. It was done in a great way where the timelines started at the opposite ends of the “feelings” spectrum but built the tension in a paralleling way to the fallout and peak of both ‘Then’ and ‘Now’. This was also true with the choices Brooke and Jack had to make for their independent lives as well as the impacts on the chances of their relationship together.

There was a deeply emotional element to this book with a secondary character. (I don’t read blurbs often enough to remember if it’s mentioned in there and I don’t want to inadvertently spoil anything.) It was touching and helped craft the narrative of the story and the importance of living the life you’re in while you’re in it and going after what you value and hope for.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

While the story is framed within a second chance romance, the heart of the story truly is about finding one’s dreams and having the courage to live them. I loved the format of this book where we have the journey through the Isle of Skye the main characters, figuring out what their dream is independently and together, but also having flashbacks of their first romance, and how those life events change the trajectory of their lives. The ending had me in sad and then happy tears.

That the main characters needed to heal from past heartbreak and current heartache while dealing with the impending death of a family member/mentor/role model. The hiking trip on Skye allowed both characters to take a step back and reevaluate what has happened in their life since their first break up. This was a trip meant for soul-searching and deciding what was most important to each character. That living your dream is the best way to live life.

Who could resist an only one tent and a second chance romance trope? Not me! I enjoyed Kilt Trip and was so excited to dive back into Scotland at the hands of Alexandra Kiley. Brooke and Jack’s chemistry jumped off the page. The beautiful setting of both Edinburgh and The Isle of Skye had me longing to be back in one of my favorite countries. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. Be sure to check out this book when it’s released on March 4th, 2025.

Alexandra Kiley is a masterful storyteller. Especially with this dual-timeline, dual point of view second chance almost adventure romance. I loved her first novel, Kilt Trip, and I loved the expansion of that universe with Brooke and Jack's story. Seeing them heal and grow and come together again while finding their passions was an absolute tear-jerking delight. I truly hope that she writes a novel for the last Sutherland brother, but either way, I'm so excited to get to read more of her books!

I should start by saying I really enjoyed Kilt Trip and was really excited about this one. While I enjoy Kiley’s writing I just had a hard time falling in love with the characters in this one and it never really pulled me in. The initial betrayal felt very anticlimactic once it was revealed. Plus I needed a little more to understand the deep connection with a side character.

First of all, Alexandra Kiley has some of the best book titles out there. Kilt Trip and now this? Gold ⭐ for titles, ma'am!

I read Kilt Trip a little while ago and was excited to receive this eARC since they both take place within the same world. (I do enjoy a series with rotating main characters!) Granted, there wasn't a whole lot shown of Jack in Kilt Trip to get a great reading on him, but I felt instantly drawn to him and Brooke and their story (both past and present) as soon as I started this one.

The book alternates between their past, building up to something that clearly happens to drive them apart, and the present, where years later circumstances have brought them together again in a bit of a forced proximity capacity (one of my favorites). I felt the sparks between these two instantaneously in the flashbacks and couldn't wait till they started to hash things out in the present. There was an undeniable pull between them in both timelines, and it was impossible to not root for them. I loved them both as individual characters, and the chemistry between them absolutely sizzled off the pages.

Scotland takes center stage in this one as a main character as well, and there will never be a complaint from me for that. I truly felt like I was traveling the Skye Trail with Brooke and Jack. The setting was so rich and vivid and immersive.

No offense to Kilt Trip, but I loved every aspect of Scot and Bothered even more. From the core characters to their back stories to their dreams to their romance to the plot in both past and present; Alexandra's writing is sharper than ever with this one as well, and now I can't wait to see what she writes next!

I don’t know what I was expecting from this book, but it was an emotional and inspiring read. This is a second chance romance; the two main characters were together in a forbidden relationship in college, and now they are working together to write and photograph a book. I thought the author did a great job with the sensitive topics, especially grief. I actually teared up a little while reading this one. I loved the character development in this one and how it was about going after your dreams and passions instead of hiding behind something that is secure. I liked that the FMC was a writer and that the MMC was a photographer and had a YouTube channel. As someone who has a husband that is on YouTube, I know it takes a lot of work and dedication to edit and make those videos. I also loved that this book mainly took place in an outside setting with a lot of backpacking. The situations that these two characters got into along with the slow burn made it worth the ending for them. This is an open door romance with emotional topics. The past and present chapters showed these characters stories in a great way. This is my first book by this author, and I already know I will be reading more.

cute and fun romance with some cool characters and interesting themes. would definitely recommend. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

This was so hard to read and I feel ridiculous saying that. Not 3% in and there's about 12 errors. I'm not sure if it's a formatting issue with it transferring to Kindle or what, but it was constant 'def lated' 'ref lection' 'f lask', or part of a conversation would be italicized but other wouldn't be so it was really hard to follow while having to stop constantly to figure out what I'm trying to read.

Scot and Bothered🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⛺️🥾

I had such a good time reading this! The Scotland setting was everything. It was so clear that the author took the time to visit Skye and hike the trails that were described in the book; everything felt so vivid! This book has me itching to visit in real life😍

Although this book is a second chance romance, it almost felt like a slow burn too. The emotional edging had me gnawing at the bars of my enclosure (I loved it, give me more👁️🫦👁️). I’m not always a fan of dual timeline, but in this book it helped me see how Jack and Brooke got to where they are, and how much it meant for them to heal and move forward. Although they both had work to do emotionally, and some growing up to do, I think in the present they were able to communicate well with each other even if they didn’t always agree.

I think Jack and Brooke work because they both experience so much pressure to succeed that they know how to help carry each other’s load. They are each other’s biggest cheerleaders, while also being each other’s safe place to land.

Scot and Bothered is out March 4, 2025!🤍

*Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely loved Scot & Bothered! Alexandra Kiley delivers a heartfelt second-chance romance filled with stunning Scottish scenery, emotional depth, and just the right amount of spice. Brooke and Jack’s chemistry is undeniable, and their slow-burn tension had me hooked from the start. The forced proximity of the Skye Trail adds to the intensity, making every interaction feel meaningful. I also appreciated how the spice wasn’t overdone—it added to their connection without overpowering the story. With themes of ambition, forgiveness, and personal growth, this book was everything I wanted in a romance. Highly recommend!

Brooke's path to writing has been rocky; she is currently a ghostwriter after her dreams of being a known author were dashed when she was expelled from college years ago. But then Brooke sees an opportunity for her career - her mentor needs a co-writer for a piece on hiking Scotland's Skye Trail, and Brooke decides she wants to hike the trail to get a better understanding of it. Joining her will be Jack, the photographer and also the person responsible for dashing her dreams years ago, in more ways than one. But there is a side to Jack's story that Brooke doesn't know, and it includes his own rocky path as he pursued his dreams of photography, but also, in his mind, lost Brooke, the one who got away.

I enjoy reading books by this author; she captures the atmosphere perfectly, but also writes relatable characters with palpable chemistry. I loved the story of this second chance romance, and the chance to go back in time and learn about their history. I also loved how the country of Scotland itself was a character in this book. Superb.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.