The story started off a bit slow but picked up pace the farther you went along. The narrators did a great job with the audiobook. Once you connected to the characters, you began rooting for Brooke and Jack. It's a great combination of second chance and forced proximity that will keep you motivated to read just a little bit more. I would love to walk parts of the Skye Trail and see all the sites in Scotland.

I wanted to love this audio as I adore a Scottish character but this one felt a little flat. It was okay but nothing memorable. The premise had a lot of potential, ghost writer, second chance romance set in Edinburgh sounded great. The execution was lacking. I adored the MMC and the audio of his accent was fantastic. The story however was lacking in depth and forgettable.

I really wanted to like this but it kind of missed the mark for me. The romance between our MC’s was too instalovey for my liking which sometimes work but I didn’t enjoy it here. Also our MMC basically ruined the FMC’s life and she forgave him so fast. I don’t even know if he apologized? I did enjoy the narration with the Scottish accent and the descriptions of the scenery. Thank you to NetGalley and HTP for this ALC.

This book is a second-chance romance with all the good stuff: forced proximity, only one tent, dual timelines, and emotional slow-burn tension. Brooke and Jack are exes who end up hiking 80 miles through the Scottish Highlands together and the journey forces them to deal with everything they left unresolved.The setting is seriously magical—think moody Isle of Skye vibes and cozy Edinburgh charm.
I loved the chemistry between Brooke and Jack—it’s tense, nostalgic, and so heartfelt. There’s grief, growth, and a good mix of humor too, plus some thoughtful LGBTQ+ rep woven in.
If you’re into second chances, a bit of angst, and a love story that makes you feel things, this one’s worth the read. You’re in for a romantic, emotional hike (literally and figuratively).

what a beautiful story of second chances! told in a then and now perspective, the two MCs learn to rekindle a tender love for one another. I loved the Scottish setting so so much! detailed and immersive and matched the narrators accent so well! this was my first read for the author but won’t be the last.

I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

I loved this Scottish romance with heart! This book made me want to write again and share my stories with the world or at least my friends. Something I haven't really wanted to do since my mom died. The walk and their past were interesting but it was Marnie and her influence on them both and the trail that really put extra heart into the story. I cried at the end it was so bittersweet. I will read more by this author.

3.5 stars

I took a chance on this one on audio, and the dual narration between American ghostwriter Brooke and Scottish photographer Jack was enjoyable, and the accents not too heavy to be unintelligible at 2x speed. The slow burn, second chance romance was heavy on the emotion, perhaps a little more than I typically enjoy, but I did enjoy this story a little better than the first, featuring Jack's brother. After a forbidden collegiate romance when Brooke was an undergrad and Jack a TA, resulting in disastrous consequences for them both, the two haven't seen each other in years. They're brought back together by Jack's aunt Mhairi, a former writing professor of Brooke's, to work on her memoir of founding a hiking trail on the Isle of Skye. The two rekindle their romance on the trail, though I personally found that frustrating, thinking Jack's initial betrayal was too big to forgive. Even after Brooke forgives him, it felt like Jack still didn't take ownership of what he did and how wrong it was to make a decision that cost Brooke far more than it did himself. The author does tend to write characters that are well meaning yet still unlikeable, which is probably very realistic, and therefore a little frustrating to read.

The book follows Brooke, who is asked to write her mentor Mhairi’s memoir about discovering Scotland's Skye Trail. To add authenticity, Brooke decides to hike the trail herself, accompanied by Mhairi’s nephew, Jack—Brooke’s recent heartbreak. As they trek through the rugged landscape, they try to rekindle their relationship while reflecting on their past.

While the storyline has potential, I struggled to connect with the characters. Brooke and Jack lacked personality, making it hard to invest in their emotional journey. The setting of the Skye Trail was beautiful but didn’t feel as integral to the character’s development as it could have been. Ultimately, the story lacked the emotional depth and "spice" needed to make it genuinely engaging, leaving me wishing for more.

Thank you Harlequin Audio for allowing me to read and review this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

🎧 Audiobook Review: Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley ❤️

Okay, I wanted to love this one, but… nope. This audiobook just did not work for me. The premise? Cool. The plot? Decent. The execution? 🚨 Major letdown.

First off, the constant switching between past and present was so confusing in audiobook format. Like, I’d spend the first two minutes of every chapter trying to figure out when I was. If I missed the little "past" or "present" heading? Forget it. And since the timeline really mattered in this story, it totally wrecked the flow. Not to mention the many years in between the two time settings that are just blipped out of the plot entirely.😩

Then, we have our main characters, Brooke and Jack. They had potential at the beginning, but over time, I lost my connection to them. I felt like Brooke was confusing as a character. One second, she’s 100% about chasing her dreams, the next, she’s prioritizing Jack above everything, and then… she doesn’t seem to put in any real effort toward either?! Like, girl, pick a lane!🚦Meanwhile, Jack’s behavior? 🚩🚩🚩 Total red flags. He’s constantly pushing his expectations on to Brooke in the past and in the present, and the final act reads like him telling her what she should do with her life... and she goes, “Oh, I guess I was wrong and you’re right”?!? EXCUSE ME?!? That’s a hard pass from me for a man who repeatedly doesn't communicate well (no learning from his lessons) and repeatedly doesn't let our heroine make her own choices. 😵‍💫

🔥 Spice Level: Mild (🌶️🌶️/5) – There were a few steamy moments, but nothing super intense. If you're looking for a light spice, this serves its purpose well.

And then there’s the narration. 🫠 Angus King’s Scottish accent? ✨ Chef’s kiss. ✨ Lively, easy-to-understand, and full of personality. But Savannah Davies? Not equal to him. Her delivery felt dull and kinda whiny tbh, which made it even more painful when switching between the two narrators. It was like going from a warm, cozy bonfire to a wet matchstick. Would this book have been better in print? Maybe. But as an avid audiobook listener, I really wanted more from the female MC voice. 😤

And can we please talk about what this book does to the character of Mhairi?! 😤 It was predictable from a mile away and still made me mad. She felt like a complete afterthought, set up for the sake of helping Brooke and Jack have a reason to be in the same room at the end. Like, seriously?! I've never read a "lighthearted" romance like this that randomly throws in a diagnosis as a way to trauma-bond the two MCs. That’s not deep or meaningful—it’s just rude to the reader. 🚫

🌿 The best part of this book was the absolutely gorgeous descriptions of the Scottish countryside. It will give you Scottish wanderlust in the best way. I am ready to book a flight to Scotland ASAP after listening to this audiobook. If you enjoy Scottish romances ala Outlander and can disregard some red flag behavior, this book will be a pleasant read for you.✈️💙

But yeah, overall? Not for me. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook copy. 🎶

Brooke Sinclair has dreamt of becoming a published author for years, even attending University of Edinburgh to work with her favorite author. Seven years after her plans were derailed after an expulsion, she writes other people’s stories as a ghost writer. When her college mentor Mhairi McCallister needs a co-writer for her memoir about Scotland’s most challenging trek, Brooke is eager for the opportunity, even though she must hike the rugged Skye Trail for authenticity’s sake. However, she is less thrilled by her company, nature photographer Jack Sutherland, the man who shattered Brooke’s writing career—and her heart.

This is a road trip romance following two main timelines, Brooke and Jack seven years ago, and their present hike along the Skye Trail. With a dual timeline and dual povs, I felt like I sometimes lost the plot, but overall enjoyed the highly reflective story that focuses primarily on our main characters’ obligations and passions. I loved their journey along the trail, and thought the ending was beautiful, but I could have had a few less chapters that focused on their initial conflict from their college days.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for the chance to read and review this book!

I received an ARC audiobook of Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley from NetGalley, and while I really wanted to enjoy it, there were a few aspects that didn’t quite work for me.

The description of Scotland and the Isle of Skye was stunning. The scenery was beautifully described and made me want to travel there. I like the story idea of Brooke and Jack falling in love at university in Scotland and wind up separated mainly due to miscommunication. The book follows them on a week-long hike through the Isle of Skye as they reconnect, rebuild trust, and rediscover their love.

I wanted to fall in love with this story, but something about it just didn’t flow well for me. There were moments where the writing felt a bit overdone, and the characters came across as overly dramatic.

In the end, Scot and Bothered has a lot of heart, but the pacing and the dramatic tension between the characters made it harder to connect with. If you're a fan of second-chance romance and beautiful settings, you might still enjoy it, but it wasn’t as smooth of a read as I’d hoped.

This book did exactly what it set out to do. Lovable characters, tender second chance romance, and so much sweetness surrounding main characters’ family- both biological and found. The setting was my favorite part. I found myself googling the Isle of Skye and all the hiking landmarks and seaside villages it mentioned. 5 stars for a cute spring romance!

I had such a great time with this story. I love the voice actors- they both perfectly encapsulated their characters and it brought a little extra to the story. I've always been interested in the Isle of Skye so I'm glad I got to learn about the area while reading this!

Brooke and Jack met and fell in love in college, but it ended badly since they were TA and student, both reprimanded when the relationship was discovered. Brooke blamed Jack, as it derailed her writing career.

Now Brooke is co-writing her mentor, Mhari McAllister’s memoir, a dream job. She’s set to take the same hiking trail on the Isle of Skye to infuse the story with Mhari’s experiences. Little does Brooke know that Jack, being Mhari’s nephew and a photographer, has been assigned to catalog it all.

I enjoyed Scot and Bothered, trekking through the wilds of Scotland’s Isle of Skye with Brooke and Jack as they sorted through their feelings of hurt and yearning. I did find it a little unbelievable, given how they felt about each other in the past, that they just cut off all ties for seven years. Still, I did enjoy seeing them mend fences and discover their intense attraction never faded. I rooted for their HEA. Their hike sounded arduous, but breathtaking and was a highlight for me!

Angus King and Savannah Davies narrated. Angus had a nice Scottish accent which fit Jack’s character perfectly and Savannah performed Brooke’s parts wonderfully. I thought their performances breathed life into the characters and enhanced my enjoyment of the story!

Scot and Bothered is a romance set in an idyllic Scotland setting. It is told in dual POV and dual timeline, capturing the romance from its initial shot when the two were in college, and in the present timeline when they are brought back together.

This story is well written, flowing well over the course of the story. The characters are believable. This is an open door romance, which brings some heat.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which was well done by two narrators, Angus King and Savannah Davies. They did a great job bringing the characters to life, and the two voices worked well together. I listened at 1.75x speed (which is my normal audiobook listening speed).

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this advanced listening copy.

Brooke and Jack are truly fated. But one misunderstanding 7yrs ago made Brooke question, doubt anything that requires risk is it even worth doing, when the safe route had served her well even though it’s soul crushing.

Reuniting, Jack thinks maybe they can at least be friends? But Mari (Jack’s aunt/Brooke’s mentor) has other ideas. She is terminally ill and want Brooke to write her memoir, except the draft is not to her liking and sent Brooke & Jack out on a 7 day hike. You have them, nature, occasionally other hikers and bad weather, what else can go wrong?

The story is cute second chance kinda story. The flashback flip worked in some spots, dragged on in others. Ultimately, the pacing stalled in some spots but you can still feel their tension.

I got the audio, and both of the narrators did a great job. Both voices joined together nicely to create the suppoetive frame Brooke & Jack has. Great job!

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin audio for the ARC.

I’m really on the fence with this one. On one hand, I liked the premise and the plot, but I got the ARC as an audiobook and I feel like that somehow is the reason I rated it how I did. I kept getting confused if what was happening in the book was present day or if it was in the past. Also, I didn’t feel any sort of connection with the MC’s, and I had a hard time feeling the MC’s connection too. It was more of an insta-love than anything meaningful. It all just felt very forced and not really believable.

The idea behind this book is really sweet. Brooke and Jack fell in love during their college days in Scotland, got their hearts broken, and then decided to go on a week-long hike in the Isle of Skye to find trust and love again. I really wanted to love it, but there's something I just can't quite put my finger on. Sometimes, it feels a bit too wordy and drawn out, and the characters seem overly dramatic, which messed with the flow for me. I liked Jack, but Brooke got on my nerves sometimes. I don't get why they didn't just talk things out back in college—people who are that in love don't just ignore each other. But the way Scotland and the Isle of Skye are described is beautiful. I am ready to fly to Scotland and explore.

The narration was great and I thoroughly enjoyed the accents! Overall, I would recommend this book as it had some amazing qualities. Being a mood reader sometimes, I am just not in the right mindset and would definitely read Alexandra Kiley again!

I decided to try something different—took a break from my usual routine of speed-reviewing every book the second I finished it. Just let myself read without the pressure of slapping words together right away. Trying to kick that weird anxiety that pops up when I sit on a review for more than five seconds. And, yeah, the break was nice. But I missed rambling about the books I’m devouring, so here I am—back at it, this time with way less stress and zero pressure.

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.

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!