I wasn't sure what I was getting into with this book, but I ended up really enjoying it! I love a second-chance romance. Reading Brooke and Jack's story was so sweet, and I liked the two timelines to better understand their backstory.

4.25⭐
Scotland proves to be as much of a character as Jack and Brooke in this lovely second chance story. And the lyrical and evocative descriptions of it elevated my enjoyment. I could feel the wind whipping, the scent of the sea and the impossibly beautiful landscape. After the disastrous end of their graduate school relationship, Jack and Brooke have gone their separate ways. However, his beloved aunt, Mharari, and her writing mentor needs them work together on her memoir. Brooke will co-author while Jack takes the photos as they trek the trail that Mharari established. And will it lead them back to each other.

Thank you for the eArc! This is a second chance romance set in Scotland between our FMC Brooke and MMC Jake. The story has dual timelines, alternating between the past and present. The past highlights when Brooke and Jake were first together in a forbidden relationship that ultimately ended. While the present, focuses on how they are forced to be back together as partners on a project that involves a writing and a hiking experience. I really liked the atmosphere and setting for the book. It made me want to go to Scotland ASAP! The timelines really highlighted the angst and tension from Brooke and Jake's past. Though the two were definitely conflicted and had issues communicating, I felt like the yearning and chemistry was there all along. It's a good read for those that like rom-coms, second chance romance, and UK setting.

I loved this!! Everything except the third-act breakup was perfection. The dual timeline was fun. It was pretty clean for language and spice.

A second chance romance, an atmospheric setting, themes of grief, a dual timeline, and self discovery.

Seven years after breaking each other’s hearts, Brooke Sinclair and Jack Sutherland are thrust back together to work on a project together that requires them to hike through the highlands.

Alexandra Kiley did such an incredible job bringing the story to life with her vivid descriptions of Scotland. It made it easy to feel immersed in the plot.

I enjoyed getting to know Brooke and Jack in both the past where they first fall for one another to the present where they struggle to be around each other again after the fall out. But I do wish we explored their connection a bit more.

The stand out parts of the book to me were definitely the characters personal journeys. How they pursued their dreams and started truly living a life worth documenting.

Overall this was a good story! Thank you to the author and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for the ARC!

“Maybe it wasn’t so easy to edit in real life, to delete and revise and correct, but she was so grateful for the grace to fail and make mistakes and still find a happy ending”

Thank you Canary Street Press and HTPHive for the free book! #hive #htppartner All opinions are my own.

Scot and Bothered is a beautifully told story filled with longing and carefully crafted discussions of grief and second chances.

I was lucky enough to have been gifted both an audio and digital copy of the story and enjoyed both immensely. Angus King and Savannah Davies were flawless in their dual narration so if you are an audiobook listener then this is one that I would highly recommend!

Brooke is a ghostwriter who is afraid to step into the spotlight after being expelled from the University of Edinburgh seven years before. But when her college mentor needs a co-writer for her memoir about the Skye Trail, Scotland’s most challenging trek, she has no choice but to lace up her hiking boots and set out to experience the trail for herself. Unfortunately she soon learns that she will be hiking alongside the man who destroyed her writing career all those years before and left her brokenhearted. Brooke isn’t sure that she can face the hurt she has felt for years in order to open herself up to a second chance to live her dreams but she is willing to try and find common ground.

I am a big fan of second chance romances and I loved how the author wove together Jack and Brooke’s points of view. There is heartache and plenty of messy moments but in the end their love for one another holds true. I will also note that while their love story was beautiful, my favorite part of the book is the messages of grace and the importance of finding the confidence within yourself to fully chase your dreams and find your happy.

The immersive atmosphere and all things Scotland is also a huge plus so if you are fan of travel romance and enjoy emotional stories filled with love and second chances then this is a perfect pick!

Scot and Bothered is available now

Read if you like:

Dual POV
Dual Timeline
Slow burn
Forced Proximity
Travel Romance
Second Chance
Some Spice

The hairy coo on the cover drew me in, but the love story made my stay🥰

I have nothing but great things to say about Scot and Bothered. The way Kiley weaved such vivid descriptions made me feel as if I was actually immersed in the hills of the Highlands! I studied abroad in Scotland at the University of Glasgow, and one of the few things I didn't do while I was there was take the trek to the Isle of Skye. After reading Scot and Bothered, I felt like I was truly there, hiking along with Jack & Brooke. I could feel the soft, squishy, boggy soil beneath my feet; could hear the soft buzz of the serenity that is Scotland. I could almost taste the briny ocean, and I certainly felt the angry pelter of the tumultuous rain (that I always tended to get caught in unknowingly myself when I ran to the library!). Kiley really brought Scotland & the relationship of Jack and Brooke to life on the pages.

This second chance romance, split between past and present POVs, really tugged at my heartstrings. Jack and Brooke were each trying to overcome the past, overcome the fears of what had happened and what could still happen. And that celebration at the end? It was the perfect way to complete this book❤️ I would recommend this to anyone who loves reading about characters chasing their dreams!

If broody Scotsmen, second-chance romance, and a healthy dose of forced proximity are your thing, Scot and Bothered is here to deliver.

Alexandra Kiley takes us straight into the heart of the Scottish Highlands, where ghostwriter Brooke and photographer Jack are thrown together for an adventure neither of them is emotionally prepared for. Their history? Messy. Their chemistry? Still very much alive. Their accommodations? One tent. You see where this is going, and it happens in dual timelines with a ton of juicy detail.

Between the rugged landscapes, the small-town charm, and the spot-on Scottish accents (seriously, reading them was half the fun), this book was a win. I loved Mhairi—Jack’s aunt and Brooke’s mentor—she steals every scene she’s in. She’s the wise, stubborn, hiking-obsessed battle-axe that is the center of gravity in this novel.

There’s a good bit of angst, some grief,some well-earned swoon, and the kind of romance that makes you want to book a one-way ticket to Scotland. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the e-copy—this one was a delight!

Scottish and Bothered by Alexandra Riley is an adventurous stay away story that is quirky ans charming. This book has the feel of a 2000s rom com for sure!

Scot and Bothered

An emotional second chance romance set in Scotland! Told in alternating chapters between 'Then' when Brooke and Jack were at University together, and 'Now', seven years later, when they are forced together on a hiking adventure. There is so much tension between them - before, when their relationship was against university policy because Jack was a TA for Brooke's class, and now, with the simmering tension of how their lives turned out after they got expelled.

Honestly, this one was heavy. It was hard to feel the chemistry and romance between Brooke and Jack because of the intense tension and secrets. This one was ultimately not for me but I think it could be great for someone looking for:

- Second Chance Romance
- Scottish outdoorsy adventure
- Emotional, pining romance

Thank you to Canary Street Press for the ARC! My opinions are my own.

Take a journey to Scotland and traverse the renowned Skye Trail with Jack & Brooke. Alexandra Kiley once again transports readers directly into the vast landscape of Scotland. I felt like I was journeying alongside characters seeing all the sites so expertly described. This is what truly sets Kiley’s stories apart, the connection to the land and to the heart. I adored Jack & Brooke’s story and revisiting the Sutherland family. The family bond here is strong and knowing how lost Jack felt within his family, it was wonderful seeing his connection to Mhairi and how she understood him. We all need that family member who sees past what we put out in the world, that sees the truth beneath the carefully crafted facade. Mhairi truly became a huge character, not just in her person but in the lasting impressions and guidance she left. Watching Jack’s vlog videos throughout the journey, my heart squeezed every time he started. Aching for the loneliness and loss he was feeling. I truly appreciated the back and forth in timeline, to be able to see into Jack & Brooke’s past in real time allowed us to connect to their troubles and mistakes and built a hope for their future. This story is packed with with heart, some lasting life truths and a journey of discovery between two people who thought they’d lost their chance. In the end finding that timing is everything and sometimes we have to live that old adage, “If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it was meant to be.”

𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙖 𝙆𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙮
Thank you, Canary Street Press, for the free advanced copy. This is out now!

Heartfelt, adventurous, and filled with a hope that instantly draws you in 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 is a perfect second chance romance.

Jack Sutherland and Brooke Sinclair are instantly drawn to each other in university, but like most young people, they fall apart.

Years later, they remain connected through their connection to Mhairi McCallister, Jack’s aunt and Brooke’s mentor. Mhairi taps the two to capture her memoir and sends them on a trek through the Scottish Isles.

Jack and Brooke's perfect blend of yearning and tension tugged the reader through the story. I needed a second chance to be angsty, and this slow burn really delivered.

Told in dual timelines, I adored witnessing their beginning and their reunion. The anger and hurt on both sides felt believable, yet the flitters of love were palatable in both timelines.

I so appreciated the way Kiley weaved the past into the present. My favorite thing about a second chance is when the reckoning (to borrow from the great Eli Mora) seems inevitable. Both Jack and Brooke had grown and matured in between, yet they both harbored a lot of hurt. I felt the past moments helped to cement why they were so taken by each other yet set up a believable conflict!

It is my first of her books (I will be back to read more about Logan), and I instantly fell for her writing. Descriptive without being fluffy, I truly felt I was experiencing the Skye Trail right along with them.
While mostly off-page, Mhairi is an influential secondary character, and her wisdom shapes both Jack and Brooke.

Finally, I loved how Jack and Brooke blamed each other for their career struggles when, in fact, both feared taking risks. I found this highly relatable; growth is scary!

I truly enjoyed this second chance tale!

I liked this book! Light, frothy, and DEFINITELY makes me excited for my upcoming trip to the UK! I related so much to the heroine’s struggle, and I loved the voice, but ultimately it was a little forgetful of a book for me. I would recommend to a friend looking for an escapist romance.

Scot and Bothered is guaranteed to give you the travel bug.

Two exes must hike a trail on the Isle of Skye as they partner together on a project, writing and taking photographs for a mutual loved one’s memoir. Along the way, we get glimpses into their past together and see them both strive to prove themselves in the present.

Once upon a time, giving into their chemistry was off-limits. Now many years after breaking each other’s hearts, can they withstand those sparks still sizzling under the surface?

At a glance:
- Dual POV
- Second chance
- Dual Timeline
- Forced proximity
- Travel Romance
- Forbidden / off-limits romance
- Only one tent
- Only one bunk

This book is dripping in want. Want in the past. Want in the present. Brooke and Jack know how to yearn, y’all.

I received an advance copy of the ebook from Harlequin Trade Publishing and HTP Hive. All review opinions are my own.

Brooke is an American expat writer living in Edinburgh who has lost her own story and has been hiding behind ghostwriting gigs for the last several years. She is currently working on a memoir for her mentor, a full-of-life English professor who once helped create a rugged hiking trail through a remote island off the cost of Scotland. In order to bring this story to life, Brooke decides to hike the entire trail herself. Unfortunately, she must accompany the photographer for the memoir - Jack, who broke her heart 7 years ago and crushed her desire to write her own stories. As they battle nature and themselves on this harrowing trek, they find that they cannot escape their shared history, and that there may be a future for them after all. There is delicious yearning and tension set against a beautiful backdrop of Scottish scenery. Their journey through the cliffs is broken up by flashbacks to their burgeoning romance, where it is clear that their love, then and now, is inevitable. Thank you for an ARC of this gorgeously written book!

Thank you so much to Alexandra Kiley for the gifted finished copy of Scot and Bothered, and for HTP/Canary Street Press for the eARC via NetGalley! These are my honest thoughts!

I'm obsessed with this universe + the scenery + adventure makes me want to hop on a plan to head to the Scottish highlands, stat.

I've loved returning to Jack's family, and this second chance/dual timeline romance has the perfect balance of reveal + tension to keep me coming back for more. Just like Kilt Trip, this book ripped my heart out. There's some seriously deep emotional turmoil that happens between these two characters. Jack and Brooke had an epic ending back in college, and in the years since, both have regretted how things went down. The slow way they fell in love the second time, reminiscent of adventures from the first time, made me fall head over heels for their love story. The echoes and callbacks between timelines was well-written, and when the tension finally released, I was both relieved and still worried for their future, which is the BEST kind of slow burn!

Read if you love:
- HE FALLS FIRST
- dual timeline
- second chance
- photography x writer
- travel
- only one tent ;)
- Scotland
- hiking adventure on the Skye Trail
- forced proximity
- reconcile the past
- re-discovering yourself + what you want
- caring and grieving for people who are SUPER important to you

LOVED this story. Hoping we get a third book from the Sutherland boys!

For many, times feel rather troubled. Sometimes, in that situation, a bit of escapist fun is called for. That is what this title offers.

The glue in the story is a woman named Mhairi. She brings together the book’s protagonists. They are Brooke and Mhairi’s nephew Jack. Both have had some bumps along the road. Brooke was expelled from university while Jack, who was also forced to leave university, has turned his back on a family business. The two are brought together when they hike the Skye Trail at Mhairi’s request for her memoir.

These two have some past history. The question now is what will their future hold?

I loved visiting Skye with this couple. Readers will want things to work out for them.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Canary Street Press and Harlequin Audio for the gifted copies of Scot and Bothered!

I listened to this on a whim without even reading Kilt Trip first and OMGGGGGG you guys, this book is SO good. You cannot read this book and tell them this author isn’t an expert at her craft. The writing, the romance, the character development — it’s all executed flawlessly. Chef’s kiss. Perfection.

Set mostly on the Isle of Skye during a hiking trip, Scot and Bothered is highly atmospheric and will make you feel like you’re in Scotland! The scenery is so vividly described that it engages all five senses, completely immersing you in the setting. The author also uses dual timelines to set the scene, alternating between present day and eight (I think) years ago, when the characters first met and fell in love. I don’t usually enjoy books set in college, but this one nails the balance between then and now, giving us just enough history to establish their past without making it feel like a “college romance.”

But the best part of this book is Jack and Brooke’s relationship. If you’ve ever read a review where someone said the chemistry was off the charts, this is what they meant. It’s not about steam, it’s about how perfect they are for each other. Their love feels fated in a way that’s rooted in deep emotional connection, not just lust. From their forbidden romance in college where they try (and fail) to stay away from each other, to their present day reunion, still grappling with the hurt from years ago, every part of their journey felt real. Rom com writers should study these two. Readers, prepare to kick your feet with giddy delight.

Read for:
Second chance romance
Atmospheric setting (Scotland!)
Books about writers
Forced proximity
Well-developed characters on a journey

I really enjoyed this second chance romance. The setting is Scotland and the author does a fantastic job of bringing it to life with her words. Her descriptions of it made me feel as though I was there. I really enjoyed the alternating timelines as well. The conflict of the book was a little frustrating as it could have been so easily solved with a little communication but that is often the case in these types of books. I have previously never read anything by this author but will definitely check out her other stuff now. I am so thankful for a chance to read this arc.

Second chance romance set along a beautiful Scottish hiking trail. Brooke and Jack met and fell in love when she was a student and he was a TA. The forbidden romance crumbled and caused a scandal. Now they are forced together as she ghost writes goes aunt’s memoir and he takes photos for the book. Lots more tropes, forced proximity, just one tent, etc. The way it was written made me want to hike though Scotland.