Addie takes a consulting job for a small travel agency in Scotland where she has deep family ties. But she does not receives a less than warm welcome from head tour guide Logan, who believes the true beauty of Scotland lies beyond popular tourist destinations. Regardless of their clashing ideals, sparks fly between Logan and Addie. Slowly Logan convinces Addie there is true value to the lesser known parts of Scotland while she helps him see the relevance of popular destinations. Logan takes Addie on an adventure throughout Scotland to follow in her late mother’s footsteps. Will they be able to save the travel agency in a way both Logan and Addie are happy with? Or is their romance destined for disaster?

I enjoyed this book for many reasons. Scotland and the locations mentioned were wonderfully detailed and makes me want to visit there even more! The main characters deal with some deep emotions, such as grief and familial obligation making them very relatable. Lastly, the supporting characters bring in some hilarious Scottish humor that you can’t help but laugh at! What a wonderful debut!

Heat Factor: It’s a slower burn, that’s for sure

Character Chemistry: Both of them are a bit stubborn with some simmering past pain that makes them a little emotionally clumsy

Plot: Addie works as a travel consultant who has been hired to overhaul Logan’s family business of providing heartful tours of Scotland. She wants to overhaul it based on data and analytics and he wants to keep everything exactly the way it was. Much bumping up against one another verbally and then finally physically…

Overall: It was slower and more plodding than I anticipated but it wasn’t a dud by any means

I have gone through many reading phases. There was the “cranky lord meets squishy lady” phase, then the “I have too much money, and I only want you” phase. Now I find myself in a phase I’d like to lovingly call “he’s an emotionally constipated kilt wearer.” So when I saw this little number show up on NetGalley, I snagged it.

I will say this: it took at least 54% of the book for me to get into it. Addie and Logan start off really strong, but then while their enemies phase is building it’s almost like there’s a complete vacuum of chemistry. The setting is well-developed and Addie’s backstory is fully established, but while Logan is setting up pranks in their office and Addie is trying to avoid facing the emotional baggage of losing her Scottish-born mother, there’s just flat out nothing happening between the two of them.

Also, (and this is probably the most important part of this review) some people get REALLY feisty about the rules regarding an enemies to lovers book. Some people really want the characters to be sworn enemies and for the hate to be palpable. You won’t find that here. Logan is, at best, childish in his efforts to drive Addie off, and Addie’s stance is so practical it’s hard to find fault with it. You don’t actually get any insight as to WHY Logan is being so resistant until about halfway through the book, so unfortunately he looks kind of silly, which isn’t something I usually consider very attractive.

The book really starts cooking when Addie and Logan go on his tour of Scotland (so that Logan can change Addie’s mind about how the tours should be revamped) and Addie decides to ask for Logan’s help in finding the locations of the photos she has of her late mother. And again, that’s halfway through the book.

It’s not like the plot isn’t interesting, or the characters aren’t engaging—they are. I think the plot flow is just too stretched where it needs to move and the tension is lacking a little bit.

This book would be best for readers who love falling into a scenery, especially if that scenery is ethereal Scotland, and readers who like their books to meander. Also, I did well up with emotion more times than I could count because of how beautifully the author depicts Addie’s grief at the loss of her mother and the little moments of longing for family and a home. It really was beautifully done. (But again, there’s parent loss in this book and it’s a huge part of the plot, so definitely don’t read it if that’s something that will derail your week and mental health.)

I certainly didn’t lose my taste for highlanders though, and I hope to have more kilt-wearing heroes for you soon.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

This made me want to visit Scotland. The whole plot was about trying to bring in tourists, and if this were a real company, I’d be there! All joking aside, this was super fun to read! I loved the combination of exploring the Highlands and watching Addie and Logan explore their feelings for each other. I love when a couple isn’t expecting to develop real feelings. I also love when there’s a combo of great tension and banter, both of which this book has in spades!
This book also balances some heavier topics like grief and abandonment very well, which made the characters feel very real.
I highly recommend anyone picking up this book!

This book was adorable! Between the book making me feel like I’m on a trip through Scotland too and the really cute romance between Addie and Logan, this book was so much fun!

There was so much heart and chemistry between Addie and Logan! I loved how they had instant chemistry on that first tour, which would devolve into fun pranks and a great love story!

I also loved each of the main characters’ backstory. Addie’s story with her mom and connection to Scotland made the feel more special and unique, like I could sense the special journey Addie was on. I enjoyed watching Logan change his mind on his family business, learning that Addie’s ideas could be special and unique too.

I didn’t really love how the book wrapped up too easily, with some things like the business’s financial situation and Addie’s dad were not fully discussed, but I guess that’s kind of how life works?

I kept seeing this book get a lot of love leading up to its release and for good reason! I was stoked when I was finally able to get this sent to me.

Kilt Trip is a love letter to the beautiful settings of Scotland as we follow Addie, a globetrotting travel consultant in town for her next gig. Addie has made it so her life has no attachments and she likes it that way. In Edinburgh, she meets a handsome, kilt-wearing tour guide named Logan and sparks fly. However, once Logan learns that Addie is in town to turn his father’s failing tour business upside down, they butt heads on what path is the direction towards success.

I really liked this! As someone with Scottish lineage, I appreciated this book in how well researched and vivid the details were with the places, people and sights Addie encountered during her time in Edinburgh. The chemistry between these two was fantastic and I loved the banter at times. But a romance is also great when there is some fantastic character growth and I loved that Logan and Addie just wanted to support each other’s dreams and well-being. This was a well-rounded romance and a great debut for Alexandra that makes me excited to see what she comes out with in the future.

Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for this arc! All thoughts are my own.

This was an enjoyable read, quite predictable, but nice with Scotland as the backdrop for the story. Enjoyed the descriptions of places and the historical elements of the guided tours. The love story was okay, but feels like it lacks something to make it a real page turner.

4⭐️
1.5🌶️

The title and cover sold me. Addie is a travel consulted sent to revamp the business of a family-run tour company in Scotland. Addie is there for business, with the secondary goal of possibly learning about her mother since Scotland is one of the places her late mother loved. When dealing with business, she meets the owner's son, Logan, who is not enthused to have Addie changing things.

This story tackles grief of losing a parent as well as running from depression. It was an emotional tale that was interwoven with the budding romance. I really enjoyed the concept of Addie helping the business and becoming invested in it for her own reasons. Falling in love with Scotland much like her mother did, with Logan's help.

I loved the setting and scenery, I need to go to Scotland, but the author's imagery helps to envision these sites, castles, kilts and coos. Despite never seeing them in person, I felt the energy they put off in the story. I think that was honestly the reason I kept reading on because of the feelings of wanderlust it gave off. I will admit, the romance itself was a hard sell for me. I didn't see the chemistry between Logan and Addie. They weren't initially looking for the same thing, which put me off when Logan kept trying to ask for more and expected Addie to "give into her feelings" and realize she wanted him too.

💚 wanderlust at its heart
💚 men in kilts
💚 opposites attract
💚 he falls first
💚 Scotland setting
💚 contemporary romance
💚 delightful & swoonworthy

CW: grief, mentions of death of a parent, depression

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing & Canary Street Press for the eARC of Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley.

*4.5⭐️
Do you love and miss Outlander? Do you wish to picture Sam Heughan for most romance books that you read? Well then READ THIS BOOK!

This book was so much fun! Addie and Luke had AMAZING banter, especially when they were in their pranking stage of their strangers with attraction to hate to love relationship! They also had really good chemistry and once they got together, they just felt so right together!

I also loved their backstories. Addie’s story of following in her mom’s literal footsteps in Scotland was both sad and heartwarming. I didn’t really love how her story with her dad was never really given closure (yes, it’s in the epilogue, but that didn’t seem like enough for me), but I guess life doesn’t always have closure. It just really annoyed me (on behalf of Addie) that her dad never takes accountability.

I really liked the side characters in this book! I’m really hoping that we get to see more of this family with Luke’s brother getting books!

If you love Scotland this is a fun read. Lots of chemistry and scenic views. Be sure to add this one to your spring reading list.

Looking for some literary travel plans? Come visit Scotland with a romance novel that will leave you with butterflies in your stomach.

Addie Macrae is a travel consultant coming to Scotland to save Logan Sutherland’s Scottish tour business. He’s resistant to change, she’s trying to prove herself in her new job and sparks are flying in the office as they try to sabotage each other with ridiculous pranks.

But Addie is also looking to reconnect with her deceased mother’s past - by trying to find the places in Scotland her mother loved best. As Logan helps her find the hidden sites in a bid to help her see things his way, they both share vulnerabilities and connect in ways they weren’t expecting (but we were because it’s a romance 😜)

I felt like I was traveling around Scotland with these lovebirds - the push and pull between them, the funny pranks, and the cast of secondary characters really made this romance stand out!

Are you planning to read it? If you already did read it, did you love it as much as I did?

KILT TRIP was full of wanderlust and romance. LOGAN: is a hidden gem tour guide in Scotland while ADDIE is a travel consultant with emotional baggage (loss of her Mom). The blend of swoony romance, scandalous kilts & a moving personal journey provided a lovely blend of depth and frivolity. BONUS: Found familyand he-falls-first.

I so enjoyed this book! While it took a little bit for me to get into, around the 20% mark I was totally locked in. Excited to read more from Alexandra Kiley!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Alexandra Kiley and HTP for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a sweet, heartfelt read that would be great for most audiences. The FMC was absolutely adorable and I loved following her journey.

I received this book as an eARC and am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.

The "Kilt Trip" got me out of my reading funk! This book was sweet and adventurous, with just the right amount of enemies to lovers pinning. I couldn't put it down. For those who love the movies "Leap Year" or "Letter's to Juliette" this would be the perfect read for you. I hope Alexandra Kiley will come out with books for the other Sutherland brothers, as I loved the family. By the end of this book, I really contemplated whether I should move to Scotland or not.

The Kilt Trip is everything you need in a rom com - overseas travel, gorgeous descriptions of locations, witty banter, rivals to romance with a little slow burn. This story was heartfelt and steamy but also packed a lunch with emotional depth that you don’t always find in a rom com. Highly recommend The Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley!

I wanted to love this books, but I didn’t connect with the characters. The Scottish element felt hokey, like the tours that Logan was trying to avoid. This was a like, not a love for me.

Thank you to the author and Canary Street Press for my ARC.

I ended up listening to the audiobook, and the narration was perfect! The male narrator had the smoothest and most enjoyable Scottish accent. I enjoyed Addie and Logan's story as they work together in this enemies-to-lovers romance to save the family-run tour guide business.

I would recommend this book, but especially the audiobook version.

Addie has the perfect job that leaves her with no strings to attach. She sweeps in, does her job, has fun with her clients, satisfies her travel lust, and sweeps right back out. With her familial ties to Scotland, she wants nothing more than to whiz through this next project out of Edinburgh, but the magic of a swoony kilt-wearing man and the mysteries of her mother's photographs get under her skin.
I felt for Addie, was smitten for Logan, and dreamed of Scotland. Alex's debut is not one to miss and I'm incredibly eager for her next book.
Thank you to HTP Books for the traveling arc. All thoughts are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up

A romance set in Scotland? Yes please!
Scotland is on my list of places I must visit, so I enjoyed reading this cute story with its descriptive writing and snippets of Scottish history/lore.

- Dual POV
- Addie & Logan both had inner complexities they needed to work out
- Almost all of the side characters were adorable and lovable
- Lots of great banter

I ordered a bottle of Benromach for my husband’s birthday after Addie ordered it in the bar. Hopefully she has good taste!

If you like workplace romance and some spicy scenes, this is a cute read.

Thank you @htpbooks and @Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Romance and rivalry in the heart of the Scotland Highlands. Addie is a globe trotting travel consultant and her latest assignment brings her to Edinburgh to revamp a tour company struggling to get by with “hidden gems” tours bypassing tourist attractions, led by the handsome yet stubborn Logan. While Addie more than has her hands full with the job and taking on Logan for whose ideas are best for the future of his family’s business, she’s also got another goal of this assignment: find the destinations her late mother loved while in the country, documented only by old photos. As Addie and Logan work together more and start scouting out the photo background destinations, the chemistry is hard to deny between the two. However, Addie’s next assignment is always on the horizon, throwing a damper in any sense of a future.
This was a cute story full of great banter, romance, and some lovely anecdotes (shout out to the Sandia Mountains reference!)
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.