while the premise of this was super cute and i LOVED the cover - i just didn’t feel drawn into the story. i found myself forcing myself to pick it up. i will say i did enjoy the scottish setting and the chemistry between brooke and jack

A raw, beautiful story about second chances and the journey to self discovery. I loved that these characters were in their late 20s-early 30s and struggling to figure out what they wanted to do with their lives. It was so realistic and beautifully written. Thank you Alexandra Kiley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC!

This review was shared to Goodreads on 3/21/2025.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book.

Unfortunately, I just really couldn’t get into it and DNF early on. There was just too much telling and not enough showing in the early chapters and it felt tedious when I just wanted to escape into a romance.

Last year, I read The Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley and when her newest book popped up on NetGalley, I knew I needed to request it. I absolutely loved the characters and their journeys of self discovery while also coming back to one other 🤍🤍

Nice follow up to Kilt Trip. Scot and Bothered was a bit slower with many flash backs to tell the story of Brooke and Jack. Second chance, slow burn romance.
Parts of this book were so sweet, parts of the book were drug out and a bit dull. Even so, I’m glad to have gotten to know Jack and Brooke! I look forward to another Kiley adventure!

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

romance? Yes, please! That’s one of my absolute favorite tropes, and this book delivered in spades. But wait, it gets better—add only one tent into the mix (cue the delicious tension), and then throw in the stunning backdrop of Scotland.
Jack and Brook are perfect for each other. They’re the kind of couple who don’t just love each other...they genuinely support each other. Their dynamic is so real and heartwarming. They both carry each other’s burdens, lift each other up, and really champion each other’s growth. It’s so rare to see characters with such an authentic and balanced relationship. I absolutely loved watching their bond evolve as they navigated their shared journey. The setting in Scotland added so much magic to this book. This book was the perfect blend of humor, heart, and adventure. If you're a fan of second-chance romances, only-one-tent situations, and swoon-worthy couples in beautiful places, this is your kind of book. Trust me, you won't want to miss this one!Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my opinion and review!

I only got about half way through this book and determined that it was not for me. If you like second-chance romance, this may be for you but I found their re connection implausible and could not get past that. The reason behind their break-up in the first place made it hard to believe that she could forgive and get back together with him. If you like travel books, one bed, and international scenery you may like this book but it just was not for me.

I somehow loved Scot and Bothered even more than Kilt Trip—I didn’t know that was possible!!

I actually chuckled out loud multiple times reading it (e.g. Brooke writing about the bugs). Also—the hiking/camping setting was EVERYTHING. AND ONE TENT. The tension was SO GOOD. I also just loved Brooke and Jack so much. Everything just came together in a such a perfect and satisfying way.

This book tugged at my heartstrings in a way a romance book hasn’t done in a while and I suspect will be one of my top romance reads this year.

Thank you so much to the publisher and to the NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc, it was fun and funny. The banter and characters were very enjoyable. I highly recommend reading it.

Scot and Bothered created an ambiance that made me feel like I was trapsing through Scotland. The lyrical descriptions of the landscape and the constantly changing weather transported the reader to this magical land.

Expat Brooke with an ‘E’ and native Jack first meet at the Uni in Edinburgh, where they have a quick and intense liaison. When the forces that be drive them apart, they heartbrokenly part ways, until once again crossing paths seven years later. Focused on a common goal, Jack and Brooke are forced together on a backpacking trip across the highlands. With proximity comes unresolved feelings and resentment. With every step of this journey, we are given insight into the inner turmoil of these two, with chapters jumping back in time to show the events that led to this hike.
This story was rife with longing. From the first moment Brooke and Jack meet, you begin rooting for them to be together. As the chapters change between the two timelines, there are moments of frustration being left in the dark about what big event took place that caused this heart-rending rift. As the story continues, much like the characters along their highland trail, we are privy to their evolving feelings, in both timelines. This acts as a balm to the frustration of the not knowing.

The different characters throughout this story bring flashes of brightness to the page, where the Scottish weather creates an environment of damp fog. The Uni friends had some amusing moments, but their characters lacked depth, leaving me knowing almost nothing about them. Jack’s family, who were only on page for a brief time, had more depth and breadth compared to the Uni friends and roommates. Jack’s Aunt Mhairi (Brooke’s mentor) is this more robust side character, being important to both Jack and Brooke. She is a free spirit floating on the breeze, until she is not. Their unique and close relationships with Mhairi help drive the story, with both wanting to perform a specific task for Mhairi.

I struggled with several of the larger plot holes in this story. How were both characters so close to Mhairi yet so clueless about the other for the seven years they were apart? How was Brooke able to stay in Scotland for SEVEN YEARS as an expat without being in school or a specific work situation requiring her to be there? What happened during those seven years apart? There is shockingly little filled in for that timeline. Lastly, where are Brooke’s family? She comments on growing up in Colorado with her parents, but there is little to no mention of them after she is in Scotland. She does not travel home for the holidays. She does not move home after school. There is no reference of her ever emailing or calling them. It came off as a little bizarre compared to the constant haranguing from Jack about his family’s expectations of him.

Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely. The descriptions of the landscape. The deep and persistent longing… and the PINING. It was delicious.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for a copy of this book.

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley is a charming, feel-good romance set in a small Scottish town. It follows Olivia MacLeod, a woman hiding from her past, and Alec Campbell, a rugged Scotsman who challenges her emotionally. Their chemistry is undeniable, with witty banter and heartfelt moments that keep the story engaging.

Kiley's writing captures both humor and emotional depth, making the romance feel natural and fun. The Scottish setting adds a picturesque backdrop that enhances the story, though it occasionally relies on familiar romance tropes. Overall, it's a delightful, lighthearted read for fans of contemporary romance.

This was an enjoyable read for me. Realistic, likeable characters, dual POVE and timeline, and a wonderful setting that was a character in it's own right. Second chance romance is my favorite and it was done well here. Fun read!

Choosing to DNF this one 50%. Thank you Canary Street Press for the free eARC and ALC. I started this book reading the physical copy and couldn’t quite get into it so decided to tandem read with the audio which I quite liked! I love a dual narration in an audiobook because it makes it very clear to me on whose chapter we are listening to. I also loved that we had a Scottish male narrator and American female narrator which fit our characters!

Where I personally struggled with this book is I just couldn’t quite get into it. I feel like I didn’t know much about our characters and felt I was told not shown about their relationship. For me second chance romances are a fine line and I feel what Jack did crossed a line for me in what is forgivable. Between the lack of insights into our characters and the nature of the conflict that separated them in the first place this one is a miss for me.

Alexandra Kiley is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me. This is her second book featuring the Sutherland brothers and I loved it just as much (if not more) than the Kilt Trip.

I am so impressed with her ability to immerse the reader in the setting. I am dying to visit the Isle of Skye after reading this! The setting is almost like its own character.

I love a dual POV, dual timeline, second chance romance. This was done so well. I loved diving into both timelines and I loved that these characters made mistakes, owner those mistakes, and learned from them. A+ character growth and development!

I cannot wait to read the next book in this series about the mysterious Reid Sutherland!!!

I loved how we got Jack and Brooke’s story told to us in dual timeline giving us their past so we could feel for them in the present and hope for their happily ever after in the future. The miles are long and the journey is hard but the feeling of accomplishment is worth it in the end.

Jack and Brooke were like magnets to each other when they met in university knowing they shouldn’t be together but couldn’t imagine not exploring and really living. But uncertainties about their futures and an imbalance of power caused a riff throwing them both off course until their mutual connection calls them back together. Being out together hiking in Skye forced them both to reevaluate the past, their choices and the future they want to have and if they are willing to trust each other again.

Brooke and Jack always seemed to be the only people who truly understood each other and saw what they couldn’t see about themselves. Every time they truly pictured their futures there was always one constant in it and it was each other they just had to figure out how to get there again and a few heart to hearts and miles on the trail were just what they needed to make it a reality.



Thank you publishers and netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

Brooke Sinclair's life has not gone entirely to plan. Instead of being a published author with her own name on books, she's a ghostwriter - sticking to other people's stories. When her college mentor Mhairi McCallister gives her the opportunity to co-write her memoir about the rugged Skye Trail, Brooke will do anything, including hike the grueling trail with the man who broke her heart and ruined her dreams, Jack Sutherland.

The Sutherland brothers are back!! Alexandra Kiley is back with a second-chance romance set once again in the magical world of Scotland. I was so excited to dive back into this world and continue getting to know the Sutherland family and meet our newest FMC, Brooke.

WHAT I LOVED:
- The description of all the parts of Scotland! With the dual perspectives, we were able to dive into Edinburgh during Brooke & Jack's college days, while also being able to explore the Isle of Skye in the present-day. Alexandra does setting SO WELL and I cannot wait to continue exploring Scotland through her writing.
- I thought the miscommunication, conflict at the end was very valid and believable. I saw it coming and was nervous for how it was going to be handled, but was pleasantly surprised.
- I am NOT a big second-chance romance girlie, but this one *chefs kiss*! I thought it was the right amount of yearning and pining and they are able to talk through past hurt to move forward with having a stronger relationship in the future.
- Just like Kilt Trip, I LOVE LOVE LOVEDDDD all of the side characters. They were wonderful and I wanted more from them, as per usual. They definitely added to the storyline and complimented Jack & Brooke perfectly.
- Cancer sucks. I cried. It was captured perfectly.

WHAT WAS A MISS:
- I didn't necessarily feel the connection between Brooke & Jack the entire time. I think we could have used a little more depth between them both in the past and in the present to make their relationship seem believable. It felt like more telling than showing at times.
- I wanted more information about where they both had been between college and present-day. Where was Brooke living? Yes, she became a ghostwriter after she was expelled, but how? Did she need to go back to the U.S.? I wanted more!

Thank you to Alexandra Kiley for an author's copy of this book and to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Canary Street Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a DNF for me. I did not like the FMC at all and found her to be whiney and insufferable. I understand in second chance/dual timeline romances they want to spread the information out rather than giving it all to you up front, but this was too slow for me.

I didn't feel much of a connection between the two main characters, and with the added level of the dual timeline, it still fell like their relationship was missing something. The characters themselves felt fleshed out to me, but their story together seemed forced. I always find second-chance romances a little hard to connect with. If there was a reason it didn't work out in the first place, it likely won't work out again and I feel like this relationship had so many unanswered questions about their time without one another it's hard to trust they can last again.

The setting was beautiful, and I enjoyed the forced proximity of this story. The tension, when it was there, added another great level to their relationship.

Overall, this fell a little flat for me, but it was still an enjoyable read!

4 🌟
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC!

I loved this book. The characters were really well-developed and I could almost picture them (which rarely happens for me). The plot was fun because it involved hiking and camping (sharing a tent anyone?) and the setting (Scotland) was so vividly illustrated. The entire story had me wanting to know what broke Brooke and Jack up seven years ago and whether or not they’d reconnect. I was also curious as to why Brooke didn’t finish her degree.

Thank you @canarystreetpress @htpbooks for the ebook. 4.5 stars, rounded up
What a fun adventure through Scotland! I really enjoyed this Dual POV & Dual Timeline second chance romance story. The past timelines takes place while Brooke is a student and Jack is in grad school. Although he is not her TA, they aren't supposed to date...and cue the forbidden secret romance. As the reader goes back in forth in timelines, there are hints as to why they broke up and that Brooke blames Jack for ruining her potential career as an author, but the curiosity about what exactly happened builds until very close to the end. The current timeline is filled with tension as Brooke and Jack are forced to travel the Skye Trail together to work together on a book for Mhairi, Jack's aunt and Brooke's mentor. The way Jack is trying to be so good to her, apologize, and show her how much he cares...I just loved him. I wanted to highlight everything Jack said.
Since I started this after pub day, I decided to try the audiobook as well and OMG, Jack's sweet words with his Scottish brogue is perfection. I highly recommend the audio, especially Jack's POV chapters.