I picked up this book because I enjoyed Kiley's last book and turns out it's a ton of things I'm a sucker for -- mc who is a writer and trying to write, mc who is a photographer, taking a 100% bucket list trip through part of Scotland, duel narration and multiple timelines. It was an interesting story in that it felt lighthearted but the content wasn't -- I'd love to elaborate but no spoilers. The story was built on turmoil and while there was a lot of fun and romance-y, there's also a lot of the story that's showing where the MCs started and unraveling how they got to where they are.
The backdrop is lovely, the language captures it all, the imagery is great. It was an enjoyable read.

#arc
#netgalley
#scotandbothered

Not only do we get the full story of Jack and Brooke meeting and falling the first time with the "then" part of this story but we also get to see them find their way back to each other with the "now" part of this story. Brooke has always wanted to be an author but is currently a ghostwriter. Brooke is helping her mentor/friend, Mhairi McCallister, write her memoir about Scotland’s most challenging trek/hike. Brooke agrees to do the hike herself so she can better understand the journey and emotion that Mhairi wants to get across in her memoir. She decides she will join the photographer on the hike so they are not alone, not knowing that Jack is the photographer. Jack is the man that shattered not only her writing career but her heart seven years ago. Their hike is filled with a few challenges and tons of angst and pining on both their parts. I loved the progression of how they went from strangers to friends to lovers and then to sorta enemies to hike partners to lovers. We get the good, the bad, and the not so great parts of both of them and I loved it all. The narration for the audiobook really brought it to life in such a great way. and yes, the audiobook has a Scottish accent! I can't recommend this one enough and im definitely looking forward to more Alexandra Kiley books in the future.

Read is you like:
-Scottish setting
-Then/Now timeline
-Forbidden (then)
-Second chance (now)
-College shenanigans
-Lots of pining and yearning and angst
-Only one tent
-Open door but not explicit

Thank you to both Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC in advance for an honest review.

Brooke is working as a ghostwriter in Scotland after she was expelled from university. When her draft of her mentor's memoir that she is co-writing comes back with a less than enthusiastic reception, she decides to travel to the Isle of Skye to do the trail that her mentor created. She will be joined by the photographer for the book, her mentor's nephew and the reason she was expelled from university. Throughout the trail, the two are drawn back together like magnets, but can their attraction and mutual feelings overcome the past?

This is a fun romance. I really enjoyed it and recommend it to romance readers. It is not my favorite of all time but I think it deserves a solid four stars. I would read more by this author.

It was well narrated. The Scottish accent doesn't hurt. I recommend it as an audio.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

**⭐⭐⭐½**

*Scot and Bothered* by Alexandria Kiley is a fun, engaging second chance romance with a strong heroine and a swoon-worthy Scottish hero. The banter is great, and the romance is sweet, but the pacing drags at times, and the plot feels a bit too busy. The chemistry is solid, though the spice level is around **2 stars**—just enough to add some heat but not overly steamy. Overall, an enjoyable read for second chance romance fans, even if it doesn’t fully stand out.

Reread 3/5 in audiobook.

A decent second chance romance that festers over 7 years when the MMC wrecks the FMCs career over something he thought was right to do.

Brooke and Jack had it hot in Edinburgh University until it all fell apart. Now, years later, Brooke is back in Jacks orbit to record Mhairi, Jacks aunts life. Jack is repentant, still in love, and their trail hike is a chance for him to win her back.

The book goes back and forth between then and now, so we get the backstory.

I thought Brooke was just an emotional wreck. She's happy to blame everyone else and quick to make decisions. Honestly, I don't think she deserved Jack. The romance build-up the second time was realistic, though. It's the same but not as before, so we see that growth.

Narration was good. The accents and tones were done well by both narrators.

Overall, a solid 3*

#netgalley #ScotandBothered

Thank you so much Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this one!
I was lucky enough to be able to read it last year as an ARC and I have to say the audiobook made me love this story even more! The Scottish accents are to die for!! Amazing narration done by Angus King, WOW! I also enjoyed Savannah Davies' voice!

He nearly didn't think this was anything new or unique. A fine read/listen but overall just pretty average for me.

4.5 stars! A thoroughly enjoyable second chance romance told in dual timelines-- On one timeline we follow Brooke and Jack's budding relationship when Brooke is a student and Jack is a grad student/TA (aka a forbidden romance!) at the University of Edinburgh -- we see their romance grow and eventually the reasons it ended back then. On another timeline we follow Brooke and Jack as they are unexpectedly forced to work together on a project that requires them to hike through the Scottish wilderness on the Skye Trail, and navigate through years of built up emotions.

The Scottish wilderness shines brightly as the backdrop for the current day timeline. Fans of second chance romance, forced proximity, and forbidden romance will all enjoy this. Both of our main characters have depth and backstory that makes you want to root for their relationship.

The audio is perfect if you love a dual narrator or want the delightful Scottish accents!

While I don’t love then/now format, this book did it really well! I was chomping at the bit to understand what had happened to Brooke and Jack. But honestly, this format made the resolution that much sweeter. And getting to watch them fall in love again was SO SWEET.

Brooke and Jack wanted to be together again so badly but Brooke was hurt and Jack wasn’t sure. Through forced proximity while they hike the Skye Trail, we get to see stolen glances, quiet confessions on whispers, and barely-there touches. I loved how Jack made Brooke pursue what she really wanted and didn’t just follow her because he loved her.

There was an underlying plot of a pretty heavy topic so be sure to check the trigger warnings. But it was handled is a really well and I might have shed a little tear.

4.25 stars

I love a second chance romance and this one did not disappoint. These exes were thrust together on a week long hike to finish working on a memoir for their shared connection. On this trip is where they come to terms with their past and find hope in their future. The yearning (especially from Jack) is top tier throughout the book. I loved the dual timeline aspect so we could see how their love started and where it went wrong. Should he have talked to her before the “betrayal”? 100% because it was very stupid not to but I get why it happened and why Brooke felt betrayed. The only thing I had trouble with was it felt like the getting back together on the trip was a bit sudden (yet understandable). And the 3rd act conflict also made sense given the situation but again that resolution also was very quick in the writing if not in the timeline.

The narrators were great and I felt did the accents well. I did feel at times the acting wasn’t as good as it could be during dialogue.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!

3.75 rounded 🌟
Spice: open door

While I found this one cute enough to keep listening, but several things about it just didn't work for me. The dual timeline was a major flaw for me. I didn't feel much of their chemistry in the present, so jumping to the past so much really pulled me out of the story. I just found myself not caring.
This book is also 3rd person, so it was just hard in general for me to connect to the story. I don't mind 3rd person, but it has to be executed in a way that draws me in. This book didn't do that.
The end was a huge downer, too, with what was happening, so it took away from their HEA.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the alc in exchange for an honest review.

🎧 Audiobook +📗eBook: Scot and Bothered

✍🏾 Author: Alexandra Kiley, I read Kilt Trip & gave it 4 ⭐

📅Publication date: 3/4/25 | Read: 3/3/25

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult Fic

Tropes: travel, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, 2nd chance romance, 1-tent, forbidden romance, workplace romance

🗣️Narrator: Angus King and Savannah Davies voice all the characters with standouts from Brooke, Jake, and Mhairi. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrators worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrators paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

🏃🏾‍➡️Run Time: 10:11

🌎 Setting: Edinburgh, Scotland

👆🏾POV: 3rd person dual-Brooke and Jack & 2 timelines "Then" and "Now"

⚠️TW: cancer-not H/h, grief

Summary: Brooke is asked to co-write her mentor Dr. Mhairi's memoir about Scotland’s most challenging trip, Skye Trail. She agrees to hike the rugged trail and is surprised to find Jack is the nature photographer. He's Dr. Mhairi's nephew and the man who broke her heart and ruined her writing career.

👩🏾 Heroine: Brooke Sinclair-an aspiring author turned ghostwriter after being expelled from University of Edinburgh

👨🏾 Hero: Jack Sutherland-a photographer whose family expected him to join the family tour-guide business

🎭 Other Characters:
*Mhairi McCallister-Brooke's mentor/college professor and Jack's aunt
*Logan-Jack's brother co-owner and lead tour guide at family's business The Heart of the Highlands.
*Jack's parents-Gemma and Neil and another brother Reid
*Rohan-Jack's roommate
*Charlotte-Brooke's editor

🤔 My Thoughts: I loved the accents and descriptions of Scotland itself. Jack did some serious groveling and pining for Brooke, while she tried to resist falling for him again. Their careers were important as Brooke wanted to write her own stories and Jack to shoot his photography without approval from his family.

Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice level 4/5🔥🔥🔥🔥

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press, Harlequin Audio, and Alexandra Kiley for this ARC and ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

Whooo boy this book made me very emotional. Jack and Brooke have both found it difficult to believe in themselves and take the risk on an artistic career (photography for him and writing for her). As someone who also has a passion for art I felt very seen by their individual journeys and found it so healing to see them support and believe in each other whole-heartedly. Putting pieces of your soul out into the world for strangers to evaluate is such a vulnerable thing. I totally related to Brooke's hesitation to be truly herself. It was so sweet to see Jack be so unbelievably tender with Brooke in her anxiety and self-doubt. I had a great time with this story and I recommend it to anyone looking for a soft, emotional romance.

For fans of Scottish accents you gotta pick up the audio!! Both narrators bring the setting to life with their vocal talents. Savannah Davies in particular had a lovely voice and I was thrilled to listen to her chapters. Angus King didn't quite fit my image of the character so I preferred to read Jack's chapters with my eyes. But if Scottish accents are your thing you definitely won't want to miss his performance because he really committed!

Brooke and Jack were secret lovers in college due to him being a TA which was against school rules. They had a bad falling out and are reunited several years later when Brooke is cowriting his aunts memoir. This book does second chance really well. Jackson messed up badly several years ago when he was young and stupid and wants a chance to show Brooke he's not that guy anymore. Brooke has been jaded by time and we get to see him chip at her and soften heredges. It is sweet and emotional. It has great scenery as well. I do wish the transitions from then and now were more clear as well. I found my self lost at times trying to figure out where we were in the story. The audio book narrators did a nice job though the accents did get a little hard to understand at moments for the most part it was a really enjoyable listen.

Scot and Bothered is a touching second chance romance brimming with emotion. Told in past/present timelines, the novel follows American Brooke Sinclair, a professional ghostwriter in Scotland, tasked with co-writing the memoir of her college mentor — the founder of one of the Highland’s most daring hiking treks. To get a feel for the story, Brooke agrees to hike the trail alongside the memoir’s photographer, only to discover that the man in question is her ex-boyfriend Jack Sutherland. The two haven’t seen each other since their illicit relationship derailed both of their academic careers and now they must come to terms with old hurts and lingering feelings as they careen through the sweeping Scottish setting.

I personally love when dual POV books have two narrators and thought Angus King and Savannah Davies’ performances were delightful. King’s Scottish accent was perfect for the dreamy Jack and Davies’ Brooke was full of the character’s charm. I also liked how Davies put on her own Scottish accent when reading dialogue spoken by Scottish characters. It kept me imbedded in the story and setting.

Because this book is told in the past and present, the dual narrators also helped me keep these perspectives and timelines in order. The narrators clearly portrayed Brooke and Jack’s vulnerabilities and allowed the heart of the story to shine. I enjoyed listening to this audiobook and would recommend readers experience this beautiful writing with King and Davies’ expert narrations.

Thank you Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 - I really wanted to like this, but unfortunately I lost interest in this so quickly. I just didn’t connect with or care about any of these characters.

Second chance with dual timelines and a TA/student taboo adjacent romance that was very insta-love in the past. Their relationship basically ruined the FMC’s career and her chance at a fellowship, but she forgave the MMC so fast. The best part was probably the male narrator with the Scottish accent.

*I didn’t read Kilt Trip, but honestly don’t think that would have added anything to this for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

SCOT AND BOTHERED is a triumph of spirit! A wild adventure of the heart (and hiking boots!) that takes us into the halls of the University of Edinburgh and through the crags and heather of Scotland, this book is as sexy and swoony as it is heartfelt and thoughtful. Kiley deftly explores the stories we tell about our families, our home, our careers, and more importantly, ourselves. LOVED IT!

Consider me a believer in a second chance at love…Brooke and Jack made mistakes and will most likely continue to make them, but perhaps they’d get a chance to do that together. How sweet is that?! After having to divert her dream seven years ago, Brooke finds herself back in Scotland as a ghostwriter. Her old flame, Jack, is the photographer for the memoir Brooke is helping write. Told in a then and now format with both PoV, their hard earned journey to a second chance at romance is full of truths revealed and trust regained, a bit of spice, heartache and healing, all with a beautiful setting.
I experienced this book in both formats-starting with the ebook but finishing on audio. I couldn’t resist the Scottish brogue of the male narrator, Angus King…so dreamy! Savannah Davies also did a great job with her inflections.

I got to a little more than halfway and realized that I still had no idea what was going on. I couldn’t for the life of me tell you what the main characters names are. It just didn’t seem to hook me the way that I wanted it to. I feel guilty DNF’ing but it just wasn’t hooking me the way I was hoping it would. I did enjoy the narrators though! They did a good job trying to bring the book to life, loved the accents!!

The writing was so good! The vulnerability of the MCs was heartwarming. This was a very well done second chance romance set in Scotland, I loved a Scottish setting. The duet narration was fantastic.