4⭐️

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

Brooke Sinclair is a ghostwriter in Scotland and longing for the day that she writes her own story. Jack Sutherland is a former guide and current photographer. When Brooke needs to do more in depth research for her mentor’s memoir, she must also travel with Jack who is taking the photos for the book. One problem: Jack is her former love from University who caused her to loose out on her dreams.


Scot and Bothered is a heartwarming tale that paints a beautiful picture of Scotland. It’s about second chances and following your heart and not what logic tells you is best. I enjoyed the way the book is structured with flashbacks in the middle of present day. It really helps you to understand the characters and their motivations. I found it well written and paced. You can’t help but fall for Jack and his kindness that shows throughout the book.

3.5 Stars rounded up! I loved Alexandra Kiley's last book so much and was so pumped to get to read her latest romance. I loved that this book takes place in Scotland as well and has a second chance romance. One of my favorite tropes is second chance love. However, I felt the love between the two characters felt off, flat, or maybe a little rushed. I loved the beautiful descriptions of the hike through beautiful wild Skye. I felt like I was back in Scotland. The cover with the addition of the highland cow is too adorable and perfect for the story. I loved the character of aunt Mhairi. She brought a lot to the novel and was a great addition. She reminded me of my own aunt and I think lots of people will resonate with her character. Give this one a read if you like romance books.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital arc in exchange for my. honest review.

A second chance romance with dual timelines and an adventure through Scotland! I am a sucker for an American falling in love in Scotland, but I didn’t really believe the chemistry between the MCs, it felt so off between the present and the flashbacks for some reason. At any rate, just like Kilt Trip by the same author, there is an emotional subplot that really hooks you and keeps you until the end!

Alexandra Kiley's books have been such a treat! We need more romcoms set in Scotland! While I love the settings, this one mainly alternating between the Isle of Skye and Edinburgh, I find that the characters in her stories lack emotional depth. I don't find myself invested in the relationships like I do other romance novels. That being said, I'll continue reading her books as they're a wonderful escape to experience the beauty of Scotland.

Scot & Bothered
By Alexandra Kiley

🐮highlands
🐮second chance
🐮forces proximity

Brooke. I mean, I didn’t pick this book because the FMC’s name is Brooke…. But Should I tell you all the ways we are similar? B, holding on to things, did not kiss anyone under the high school bleachers, hates thunderstorms, impatient, clumsy.

This follows Jack, Logan’s little brother. You might remember Logan from Kilt Trip.

Jack and Brooke end up at Uni together. She meets him at a party through a friend. Instant connection. But what happens when he turns out to be a TA, and now it’s forbidden?

7 years later, and Brooke finds herself stuck with Jack for a full week on a hiking trip.

I absolutely laughed. I absolutely cried. Everyone should have an auntie or person like Mhairi in their lives.

So, as I’ve just mentioned in my thoughts to the publisher, the title “Scot and Bothered” in no way represented the very quality romantic tale I just read. It’s so silly or so casual, while the story is rich and well-wrought and thoughtful. I thought I was getting fluff (and that would have been fine), but what I got was some substance. I really love the characters, even the secondary folks. And of course, the settings were exquisite. The only reason I won’t buy it is I work in a high school library and the on-page sex is too much. I will, however, be recommending it to friends.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5

The premise: Two exes are brought back together to work on a memoir project that is important to them both (both professionally and personally). And that project required them to hike the Skye Trail. Together.

I definitely related to Brooke. What late 20 something/30 something hasn’t questioned the direction their life went?

And Jack? A swoon-worthy Scot? Who’s a photographer academic type that wears glasses? And falls first? Say less.

I really liked the flashbacks to their past (even if candidly, I was more invested in the present day story). The journey of self discovery and growth that the FMC went through was excellent.

Read if you like:
- Second Chance Romance
- Dual POVs
- Dual Timelines
- Forced Proximity
- “There’s Only One Tent”
- Forbidden Romance
- Travel Romance

Thank to Canary Street Press/Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for the eARC.

I really enjoyed Scot & Bothered. It was a little bit of adventure and hiking and a little Bir romance, with a side of writing and photography - so most of my favorite things.

There was a lot of great detail put into detailing Edinburgh, but I wish there had been more detail and world building put into describing the Isle of Skye trail.

You know the story is good when the reader wants to know more, and I found myself googling photos and videos from the actual Isle of Skye trail - like the Bad Step. Unfortunately, the richness of the landscape that I got from the videos and pictures was definitely not represented in the book. I wanted more from the portions on the trail.

This is a second chance romance that I didn’t hate - although I don’t think we needed the third act break up in this one. Also, only one tent (and that situation, definitely made me laugh.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Canary Street Press for the review copy!

A story told between now and then, a format that can some times not work, but was wonderful here. As we meet Jack and Brooke getting a second chance at love, we learn slowly how things broke the first time. Set on the Skye, the romance is mirrored by this beautiful place. A great read.

A delightful romp through Scotland that will fulfill all of your armchair travel dreams! I love reading about writers and people in creative professions, so I adored Jack & Brooke’s journeys (both physical and emotional!)

One again Alexandra Kiley wrote an amazing book. Instead of the usual dual POV between two characters, the story unfolds through a then/now timeline, which made the character growth and relationship evolution feel even more compelling. Jack and Brooke’s journey is more than just a romance; it’s a stunning portrayal of love, growth, and second chances. The emotional depth and heartfelt moments kept me captivated from beginning to end.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publication and Alexandra Kiley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Scot and Bothered has another book in the same world although I didn’t read that one first (oops!). I don’t feel like I lacked any necessary info although I do plan to read it coming up.

The entire story is told in third person and told back and forth in two timelines - then and now. “Then” goes through how they met and eventually gets you to their conflict. “Now” covers the present (7 yrs post conflict).

I was a little underwhelmed once I got to the conflict - it was such a frustrating example of bad communication.

I appreciated the conflicted feelings of wanting to talk/touch/connect but being hurt and afraid to open up again. The stolen glances, the support and the touches were fantastic.

Admittedly communication issues are one of my least favorite storylines so I didn’t love it coming up again but I’m happy with the timing of the HEA.

Tropes:
Forbidden love
Miscommunication
Second chance
Only one tent/bed
Slow burn
Then and now timeline

i really wanted to like this, but the characters were insta-love in the past and i couldn’t even really see why? also, i don’t really get the whole “taboo” around dating a TA who isn’t even a TA for a class you’re teaching? a lot of the plot elements just didn’t work for me. also, this man ruined her life - blegh!!! second chance is hard for me to like, but i just read a really good one, so i thought maybe i actually do like it?

i usually love having POVs from different points in time, but i feel like it hindered this story. i really struggled finishing the book, not sure if it was bc of the constant then/now perspectives or what. i can usually finish any contemporary romance, but this was… boring. which is harder to read than bad writing.

one positive: the author has definitely hiked/has experience with nature because the atmospheric descriptions felt so real!

netgalley provided me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏻

Brooke met Jack when she moved to Scotland for university, and they embarked on a whirlwind romance which unfortunately ended in heartbreak and broken dreams. They never expected to see each other again until years later their shared love and admiration for Mhairi McCallister, Brooke’s college mentor, forces them to reunite.

Jack and Brooke must confront hurt feelings and the reasons neither are living the lives they hoped to live while embarking on a journey through the gorgeous Scottish landscape.

I really enjoyed the dual POV and timelines in Scot and Bothered, which allowed us to see how Jack and Brooke fell in love before they ultimately fell apart. It made me even more invested in their second chance at romance.

Brooke has become a ghost of herself - feeling unseen, unmotivated, and unrecognized as a ghost writer for many books; just never her own. So when her mentor, Mhairi, offers her the chance to cowrite her memoir Brooke jumps at the chance. To give the story more heart, Brooke commits to hiking he Skye Trail that was founded by Mhairi. The catch? Mhairi's nephew Jack will accompany her and photograph the journey. For Jack, Brooke is the one that got away. But after he shattered her heart (and career...) all those years ago, Brooke isn't so sure they can move on. Being forced to work together to help Mhairi is one thing, but reconciliation? As they navigate the trail though, they find that their feelings for each other may have always been there.

You probably know by now that I love a second chance romance, and this one did not disappoint! The dual timeline added to the tension, and hearing both characters' sides of the past was insightful. Brooke was so driven, creative, and thrived in her list of accomplishments. Going on the Skye Trail for her helped her to be free in a way she hadn't allowed in the past. For Jack it meant processing some grief, and exploring what his dream job could mean for his family's business. I liked them together - they encouraged each other to live a "big life"- even though it was scary and hard. I also will now find ways to use "wee beebawg" in daily life 😆. This was tender, uplifting and romantic! Sprinkled with important life lessons, growth, and kilts.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Continue to be a fan of Alexandra Kiley. Sign me up for anything she writes.

This was such a great follow up to the first book. It was clear in that first book that Jack needed a story, and his story has lived up to my expectations.

One thing this author does so well is to really describe the scenery and sights of Scotland in a way that makes you feel as if you’re there. Her books really do transport you to the setting. I just wanted to be in Scotland the entire time I read this.

I loved the dual timeline and really appreciated around chapter 23 as the sort of turning point in Brooke and Jack’s present day, which I recognized because it was the first time I wanted to stay in the now rather than jump back to “then.”

This book was sweet and full of yearning and regret and love. The spice was good, as well. I enjoyed the chemistry between Brooke and Jack, I was rooting for them the whole time.

As with the first book, I truly loved about 95% of this book. But I could’ve done without the third act breakup. I found Brooke’s behavior around this breakup—and quite frankly their original breakup in the past—quite irritating. It just felt unnecessary. That said, it didn’t ruin the book for me, and I still plan to buy it and I highly recommend it.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Scotland, ghostwriting, hiking, and a second chance romance? I was sold. This is a cute and emotional read and I loved the dual timeline and how their past and future came together.

This was such a good read, I received it as an arc copy from NetGalley. Second chance love, forced proximity, forbidden touches agh I loved it! One of my favorite tropes is second chance because it’s so innately human, we all make mistakes. I loved Jack as the MMC, he was such a sweet even though flawed man but he was written so realistically that it made you love him more in the end. The story of Jack & Brooke is messy to say the least. Miscommunication, heartbreak, and angst all lead to finding one another again. I also loved how the author wrote the dual timeline allowing the reader to fully fall in love, get their heart broken, and fall in love all over again.

Read if you enjoy:
🌿 Scottish Imagery
👒 Second Chance love
🌿 Miscommunication
👒 Only one tent
🌿 Third person POV
👒 Forced Proximity

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7331595702

This book EXCEEDED every expectation I had for it. It was the most beautiful second chance romance I have EVER read. I loved the play on a dual POV in place of it being two different characters; it was a then/now time shift. This showed character development and relationship evolution in such a compelling, unique way. Jack and Brooke’s story was more than your average romance; it truly is a work of love. The emotional depth and heartfelt moments had me completely captivated from start to finish. Alexandra Kiley’s writing is stunning, making every scene feel intimate and deeply moving. This needs to become a must-read for any romance reader!!

4.25

“𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒽𝒾𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎, 𝐵𝓇𝑜𝑜𝓀𝑒. 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒻𝓊𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝑜𝑜”

Spoiler alert: I didn’t expect this to happen, but I cried.

This is a story of second chances—the chance to rediscover yourself, to reignite your passion, and to rewrite a love story that ended all wrong the first time.

I went in expecting a light, cutesy Scottish romance, but this book had so much more depth. Yes, it’s a love story, but there was nothing easy about it. Brooke and Jack had to fight for their happiness, to unlearn, to grow. As a child of Asian parents, I deeply understood Jack’s struggles. And Brooke—she spoke to every lost part of me, from her fear of not being enough to her need for security.

By the end, I wasn’t just reading about these characters—I was right there with them. This book was unexpectedly moving, and I loved every heartfelt moment of it.