Kilt Trip by Alexandria Kiley

This book is so emotional, it has all the feels. Addie is still riddled with grief from when her mother died 13 years ago. She never grieved, she pushed all her feelings away. Scotland, and Logan, break down her walls and help her heal. The third act breakup was a doozy. But we get our happily ever after.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Addie finds herself in Scotland, exactly the place she didn't want to be. It held too many memories of her mom, and too much pain to deal with. She had never stopped grieving her mom and being mad at her dad. Addie was determined to do her job and leave ASAP. That was until she met Logan. He was the only one in his family's tour business that was against change. He wanted to keep doing the same tours, but he also needed his business to succeed. Logan and Addie are rivals, but they are also very attracted to each other. Watching these main characters learn to compromise while not keeping their eyes off one another was addictive.
 I loved being swept away in the magic of Scotland almost as much as I liked the chemistry between Addie and Logan. They have both been hurt in the past by people the love and they will do whatever they can to not be hurt again. I love that Logan is strong and levelheaded most of the time and very patient with Addie. He takes the time to listen, and he wants to know all of her, not just the parts she's willing to show him.

Addie is a consultant for a business that helps travel companies update and make changes to help increase their revenue. She goes to Scotland to help a specific company and it brings up the grief she’s harbored after her mother died. Logan is a part owner in the business, and he is at odds with Addie every step of the way, until he isn’t. Sparks fly…

There was a lot to like about this novel. A lot of great banter, beautiful language and descriptions of Scotland, and ultimately a very happy ending. Makes me want to visit. Logan’s family was so great. Enjoyed them a lot. The spice was spicy! I may want to find a Scottish man of my own now ;).I also really, really loved how much Logan wanted to help Addie with finding the spots her mother loved in Scotland.

I did not love the conflict in the latter part of the novel. It felt a little forced, but the grand gesture more than made up for it at the end. I also felt like Addie felt pretty sorry for herself quite a bit, but her friend and Logan shook her out of it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh I loved this so much!! Alexandra Kiley calls this book her "love letter to Scotland" and believe me, does that shine though!! I've been lucky enough to visit Scotland (primarily the Highlands) 3 times and honestly it's a place that lives deeply in my heart really at all times. It's the place I think about running away to when this country frustrates me and is certainly the first place I would consider living if I moved out of the US. In lieu of living there, I absolutely love exploring the country again through books, so I was so excited to get to read this early!

I am a sucker for a grumpy man who is actually the softest and falls first for the FMC and my goodness did that just get SERVED up to us here! Logan was my favorite character (though I loved Addie too!)

Addie's backstory and reticence to get close to anyone felt really realistic and I loved getting to see her explore the country that her mother loved so much. I was also so glad to see her stick up for herself in the end when it came to her boss.

Read this for:
- SCOTLAND!
- He falls first
- Workplace Romance
- Grief Rep
- Found Family
- Forced Proximity

I would wholly recommend this and I'm definitely now wanting to plan another trip back to Scotland!

Thank you to Canary Street Press for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I would like it noted for the record that I’ve officially claimed Logan Sutherland as my book boyfriend. Alexandra Kiley has created the perfect man in her beautiful, moving, sexy debut KILT TRIP! Make sure you preorder so you can read as soon as it releases on March 5th!

Addie Macrae has lived a life of excitement and wanderlust, using her job as a travel consultant to discover a new country every few weeks without ever having to put down those pesky roots. She’s gone everywhere. Well, everywhere but Scotland, which holds too much of the past she’s try to outrun with each new flight. So when she’s assigned to a struggling family tour company in Edinburgh, she has to figure out how to put aside her baggage and get the job done.

Logan Sutherland knows the beauty of the land and culture—the true culture of Scotland—are what his family company brings to the crowded Scottish tour market. He has no interest in the touristy suggestions of an American travel expert, but his father disagrees. He and Addie make a deal: give each other’s tours a real chance, and then figure out the future of the company. But through flirting thinly veiled as fighting, adventures in the Highlands, and the exploration of Addie’s late-mother’s connection to the country, their relationship deepens.

With the bottom line—and the future of BOTH their companies—at stake, can two headstrong people find a way to compromise?

This is a bold statement on my part, but this may be my favorite enemies-to-lovers book!Alexandra sets it up perfectly! The two meet without realizing who each other are, and we get this quick but wonderful glimpse into just how well suited they are before the anger and snipping starts. Then, of course, we get the brilliant banter and attraction-fueled anger that we all know and love in the trope, all wrapped up in a stunning exploration of Scotland. Just absolute chef’s kiss!

I adored this book, the characters, the setting, just every single aspect of it! It’ll definitely be an annual reread (let’s be real, a monthly reread, because I love my man).

Logan and Addie had me swooning from the very first chapter. Every word like a slow, seductive perusal from bottom to top and landing on Logan’s piercing and soulful eyes.

What starts out as a sort of #workplaceromance and #enemiestolovers turns into the most emotionally beautiful, soul searching journey.

#hefallsfirst and Addie fights her emotions all the way, just like she’s done her entire life.

I would say there is a bit of a #griefjourney #triggerwarning here so be prepared for some deep wounds to be explored but it was also so healing. Logan supports Addie at every turn and never pushes her to give more than she can, no matter how badly he wants all of her.

I finished this yesterday and last night I dreamt of Scotland and kilted tour guides. I dreamt of dreamy and dark castles and passionate kisses in hidden alcoves. I dreamt of fluffy white sheep and shaggy cows. I dreamt of comfort and warmth and #happilyeverafter

@akileybooks tells a wonderful story full of #foundfamily adventure and love in her debut novel. This has instantly turned into a top read of 2023.

4.5✨
“She pulled Logan’s hand to her mouth, placing a kiss in the middle of his palm. Then she settled his open hand over her heart. It thundered under her skin. “Does your heart feel like mine?”

Kilt trip utterly captured my heart since the very first moment. A beautiful story about connection, forgiveness and falling in love. A love letter to the magic of Scotland. Absolutely atmospheric and immersive.

Alexandra Kiley wrote a wonderful debut. One that I’d one hundred percent read again and absolutely recommend.

The only reason it didn’t get five glowing stars, was that it felt that some scenes that were, in my opinion, needed to fully blend the story, were glossed over. A fact that didn’t diminish in the very least, the absolute joy it was to read. So I’m really excited to see what the author comes out with next.

✨ALL THE THINGS✨
•Everything Scotland •Tours, tales, whiskey and kilts •Forced proximty •Work rivals to lovers •He falls first •Dual pov•Dimples •The magic of traveling •Found family

“There’s a peace in the permanence of the hills. A reminder that all will go on with the world. To appreciate the beauty of the moment we’re in, no matter how long we get to enjoy it.”

📚 Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Oh my goodness, what a swoony novel! 🥰 I'm a huge fan of 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 and men in kilts, and I wish I had this book during my trip to Scotland this September. This rivals-to-lovers romcom has fantastic Scottish settings, stories, spicy scenes, and laugh-out-loud moments. I loved Addie and Logan's great chemistry. Logan is for sure on my fictional boyfriend list.

I would recommend this book to all my friends.
(Release date: 05 March 2024 )💖

I look forward to reading the next Alexandra Kiley novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC.

#bookishcommunity #bookish #bookishvibes #readingislife #bookclub #readmorebooks #romancebooks
#bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookblog #KiltTrip #Alexandra Kiley

This was a cute and easy read. I originally requested it for my trip to Scotland and while I didn't have time to read it then, I still enjoyed it after the fact!!!

This book made me feel like I was watching a Hallmark movie, and I mean that in the very best way possible. Kilt Trip had me feeling like I needed to head to Scotland STAT! Like I needed to venture out and take a tour, or go meet some new friends and fall in love with the backroads of the country.

I fell in love with Addie and Logan, and now I’m just really sad it’s all over 😭

10/10 recommend this book. I cried several times, and it was just so unbelievably cute.

Reading this book was a trip to Scotland! I loved the settings and the characters! I would highly recommend!

I'd take a romance with a burly, devoted scottsman wearing a kilt anyday. Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley is a cute story about overcoming one's past on the emotional journey of life with the help of a handsome partner who helps you grow & learn to love. Addie & Logan have funny banter, plenty of passion, & great chemistry as they both overcome their own issues with the help of family, friends, & excellent whiskey.
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC & if Alexandra is looking for recommendations on a next book, I'd be overjoyed to read a story about Elyse, James, or Reid. On top of a good story, this books REALLY makes me want to visit Scotland. Maybe even book a tour to see all the castles, moors, & skylines mentioned in Kilt Trip.

I la-la-loved this book so much!! I generally don't pick up romance books because I find the writing to be a bit simple/fluffy, but Alexandra's writing was incredible. The character development was amazing and I was sucked hard into the story. Also, the spice was....spicy :)

Thank you, I really enjoyed this!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/5

There was so much about this book that was so beautiful, and deeply emotional. All of the Scottish scenery and sights were dreamy, the kissing in castles *chefs kiss* BUT- I feel like this book has important chapters just flat out missing.
Maybe the editor just needed the book to be shorter for some reason 🤷🏻‍♀️

I wish we would have heard some about Jack and Addie’s roommate relationship- and the sense of time in this book was strange. Randomly days had passed and it wasn’t quite clear that it wasn’t the same day.
However this story has five star potential, the characters just weren’t given enough moments for the development they deserve!

Kilt Trip is a wonderful and unexpected book that came along to cast a beautiful ray of sunshine on my TBR. Extremely well-written and lovely tribute to Scotland, Kilt Trip is a fabulous and funny romance that really shines light on what it means to build meaningful relationships and find a place to call home.
You can feel the writing and enjoy the book in a day or two. You won't want to put it down!!

In this is a fabulous debut book from Alexandra Kiley, we get enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and hot Scottish men! Kiley writes a wonderfully cozy story about letting go of the past, believing in yourself, and connecting to your roots. The immediate attraction between Addie and Logan is so compelling, you can feel it coming off the page. As Logan and Addie must navigate their complex work-rival relationship to find themselves and their way to each other. I loved the secondary characters and the focus on found family. The detailed description of Scotland makes the country come to life on the page and definitely has me buying a one way ticket!
Fans of Sarah Adams and Carley Fortune will love this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. As a fan of romance and Scotland, I was really excited to read this one. Unfortunately, I nearly gave up on it after the first quarter of the book. It felt like I was reading an early draft of the novel. There were confusing elements and odd things that were either overly emotional or 'quirky' without any connection to the story. And there were sooo many names! Frank, Gigi, Brian, Heather - and then everyone in the tour company.

I stuck it out and have to say that the sex scenes are well written and flowed pretty well with the development of the main characters. Although, Addie's choices as a professional consultant are sort of a HR department's nightmare. There were definitely good moments and there was a good resolution between the two main characters. But there were also a lot of things that either weren't really explained or were so OVER explained that it was annoying.

Sadly, this one just felt like a very good idea that was poorly executed (or not well edited??)

This was a lovely romance set in Scotland. I really enjoyed Logan and Addie’s love story. And the setting was just so beautiful. It makes me determined to visit Scotland soon.

Kilt Trip is a delightfully charming debut that captures the magic of traveling the globe and the adventures that come with it. Addie and Logan are such wonderful characters with strong/unique voices that make this book stick out. I can't wait to own a physical copy!

If you’ve got wanderlust and are looking for a cute romance to match that vibe, this is the book for you 💫 I will admit that the cover drew me in (who doesn’t love a man in a kilt?), but I stayed for the sweet slow-burn romance.

This book has:
-A travel consultant heroine who is assigned to help out a struggling Highland tour company where she meets our charismatic tour guide hero
-Rivals to lovers
-A slow-burn romance with tons of fun banter between the leads
-Swoon-worthy locations and plenty of travel dates 🚗

Now for the cons: There was a lot of back and forth between the leads, so much so that it felt like overkill sometimes. If you’re looking for a low angst/conflict story, this may not be for you. Also, I feel like this book could have been way shorter. Overall, this was a fun debut, and I’m excited to see what the author does next.

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

3 stars