I feel like it's 1-2 edits away from being a 5 star book for me.

I didn’t even really mind the reason for their breakup, I minded the timing of it. I think if the author revealed it to us at the start of the hike and gave us a few more chapters from Jack's POV it would've worked a lot better. The “why” happened so late and then the additional conflict happened, it felt like a piling on instead of resolutions. I left this feeling like the story wasn’t truly settled.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

3.5 stars

as i get closer to my upcoming trip, i find that i keep stumbling upon romances taking place in scotland… definitely not complaining, especially with dual narrators with accents 😉

despite guessing where this was going, i still enjoyed the read! as for the alc, i always love a dual narration

This book was so cute!! You knowwww I love a second chance romance! But a SCOTTISH second chance romance????
😍🥰❤️😍☺️😊🥳🤩🥰

I loved the dual timelines and POVs. It really helped build the tension! The audio is well done and Angus King’s Scottish accent 😮‍💨 I LIVEEEDDD for the pain they felt for their original breakup. AK always throws in a couple funny one-liners too, huge fan of those.

“Jack in a kilt? Damn, who knew that was on my bucket list.” 🤣

This was a beautiful 4⭐️ for me!!

Read if you loved: You, With a View, PS: I Hate You, Wanderlust, and/or A Thousand Miles.

Thank you to Harlequin Books for the ALC! It was fantastically done!

ARC BOOK REVIEW

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley

Thank you, @HTPbooks @thehive @canarystreetbooks and Harlequin Audio, for the #free eARC and audiobook of this one! I’m so grateful to be a member of The Hive! #hiveinfluencer #HTPpartner #htpbooks #htphive #canarystreetpress #ScotandBothered

SYNOPSIS: “Brooke Sinclair’s dream of being a published author derailed when she was expelled from the University of Edinburgh seven years ago. Now a ghostwriter, she sticks to other people’s stories. But when her college mentor Mhairi McCallister needs a co-writer for her memoir about Scotland’s most challenging trek, Brooke would do anything for the opportunity—including agreeing to hike the rugged Skye Trail for authenticity’s sake... not knowing the nature photographer who’ll join her is Jack Sutherland, the man who shattered Brooke’s writing career—and her heart.

Between getting sacked from the University and walking away from his family’s tour-guiding business to follow his photography dreams, Jack is desperate to prove he didn’t disappoint his family for nothing. And he can’t ignore his Aunt Mhairi’s final wishes for her memoir. Even if it means acting as guide and storyteller for the one who got away. Even if it means keeping secrets about Mhairi’s health.

As Jack and Brooke head into the solitude of the sweeping Scottish landscape, they’re forced to confront old feelings that haven’t disappeared with time. But can two weeks and eighty miles heal years of unspoken hurt and offer a second chance at the end of the trail?”

REVIEW: Romantic tension. Second chances. Idyllic locations. Long hikes with your ex. I’m here for every single romance set in the Scottish Highlands!

Brooke and Jack have had an ELECTRIC connection from the beginning, and that is no different when they see each other again. However, Brooke cannot stand Jack and never imagined seeing him again. But now that they two are forced into a week-long hike together, tensions get super high. One bed? Try ONE TENT!

I really loved these characters! They are so very tender together, and I loved watching their journey…from the beginning to seven years later.

I was lucky enough to get the audiobook of this one, and it was such a delight to listen to. Angus King as Jack and Savannah Davies as Brooke do such an amazing job bringing the characters (and their accents) to life!

Publisher: Canary Street Press
Pub date: 3/4/25

This was a beautiful story about finding yourself and finding love! I loved the journey that both Brooke and Jack make both physical and emotional on an eighty mile hike in Scotland!

This book is told from both Jack and Brooke's point of views in a mixture of timelines between the past and the present. I really enjoyed seeing both point of views of the highs and lows of their relationship.

I listened to the audiobook and absolutely loved the dual narration by Angus King and Savannah Davies!

This book was just ok in my opinion. I wish there had been more descriptive details about Scotland. I listened to the audiobook and read the book and both were entertaining -- especially together. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc/alc.

I was so excited to read this book. I love European settings. The scenery was not discussed ….it was assumed we knew what Edinburgh is like. I understand the story does not have anything to do with the scenery and the characters were the main focus. The characters were developed and relatable. I was rooting for them to get back together. The book is predictable and very much a slow burn. Scot and Bothered was a sweet and cozy love story through the ages unfortunately parts of the story will not be memorable to me.

A second-chance romance full of emotion, adventure, and tension. Brooke agrees to ghostwrite a memoir and go on a tough hike with Jack, a broody Scottish nature photographer—who also happens to be her ex. He knows a secret about her mentor’s illness but can’t tell her.

Instead of one-bed, we get one-tent for them to share. Old feelings resurface as they navigate the hike and their past. Spicy, 🌶️ 🌶️

A heartfelt story of love, forgiveness, and second chances.

Read this if you like:
•only one tent
•second chance
•Scotland

This is dual POV and also past/present timelines. I enjoyed learning what happened years ago as well as seeing the current day play out. The descriptions of the island and their hikes were beautiful. This book WILL make you want to go to Scotland asap. Thank you Harlequin for ALC

I absolutely loved this second-chance romance set in Scotland! The setting alone was enough to make me fall in love, with the beautiful landscapes and the rich, atmospheric backdrop. The characters were so well-developed, and I really enjoyed seeing their journey from past heartbreak to rediscovery. There’s just something so heartwarming about a second-chance love story, especially when it unfolds in such a picturesque location. Honestly, do I need to say more? It was everything I wanted in a romance novel—emotional, charming, and just the right amount of swoon-worthy moments.

Another beautiful, transportive story from Kiley!

I love a second chance romance with all the big, messy, unresolved feelings, and oh man, if you want a second chance with pining and angst, Scot and Bothered is for you, dear reader. There were moments my heart ached but do not fear, Kiley holds your hand and heals your heart in the end. Brooke and Jack’s love story is tender and will give you double the dose of warm fuzzies and butterflies as they fall in love, find their way back to each other, and allow themselves the gift of a second chance.

Kiley excels at penning stories that are both incredibly immersive not only with gorgeous vistas but also filled with experiences that speak to our humanity and how our lives are enriched when we build community and foster connections. Like with Kilt Trip, Kiley dives into meaningful conversations around grief, failure, and second chances where we are not only afforded the chance to see our own experiences on page, but are gifted with the opportunity to have our hearts healed and filled with hope through Jack and Brooke’s characters. Kiley’s work reminds us that we’re all evolving and in some stage of healing and to always give ourselves grace and the freedom to start again.

I had the privilege of reading along with a digital and audio copy and what a delight both formats were. Listen, the story is fantastic reading a physical copy, but if you have the opportunity to get the audiobook, please do! The dual narration from Angus King and Savannah Davies is a TREAT.

If you wish you could pack your bags and head to Scotland like yesterday and your heart longs for a romantic adventure, Scot and Bothered is the book you need to pick up!

A second-chance romance full of emotion, adventure, and tension. Brooke agrees to ghostwrite a memoir and go on a tough hike with Jack, a broody Scottish nature photographer—who also happens to be her ex. He knows a secret about her mentor’s illness but can’t tell her.

Instead of one-bed, we get one-tent for them to share. Old feelings resurface as they navigate the hike and their past. Spicy, 🌶️ 🌶️

A heartfelt story of love, forgiveness, and second chances.

Kiley's sophomore romance is another great dual POV love story set in Scotland that sees two former university flames getting a second chance when they are forced to hike a trail on the Isle of Skye in order to help finish a dying Professor's memoir.

Brooke is a ghostwriter struggling to find her own voice and wants to make her mentor, Mhairi proud but when she learns her ex, Jack, is the new photographer assigned to take photos for the book, she's less than pleased. Jack betrayed her in University and she's never forgiven him. Full of second chances, forced proximity and flashbacks to their time at Edinburgh, this was a deliciously sweet and spicy romance that is sure to deliver all the feels.

I especially enjoyed it on audio and highly recommend it for fans of other ghostwriter romance books like The dead romantics by Ashley Poston, Business or pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon, The perfect rom-com by Melissa Ferguson or Love at first book by Jen McKinlay. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

CW: side character with pancreatic cancer