I loved this book and never wanted it to end. As someone who has been to four countries in the two years since my dad died, Addie's character spoke to me on a soul level. Full of wanderlust tinged with the heaviness of grief and great banter. Will make you want to hop on a plane to Scotland immediately. But, if you can't, this is the next best thing. Wonderful, atmospheric writing that transports you to the heart of the story. Logan is everything to me. A cinnamon roll hero with big dreams, afraid of messing up. I bought every second of their relationship, which isn't always easy for an author to make me do. I already want to reread and will be picking up the audiobook when it comes out for all the Scottish accents.

I need to visit Scotland and fall in love with a Logan.

Adored this sweet romance between Addie and Logan. Logan sees Addie even when she doesn't see herself. This tells an emotional story of two people finding love and themselves.

Addie is a travel consultant who is tasked with helping Logan's family's tour business in Scotland.

Addie seems to enjoy the freedom of her job but what is she running from?

Logan is set in his ways with his business and wants to avoid the touristy route, stick with making meaningful connections to his hertiage. Can he convince Addie to keep true to his business plan? And can Addie finally accept love?

Highly recommend! Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and author for this ARC in return for an honest review.

I read this book while traveling and it fit the mood perfectly. Light enough but it still had heart, good banter and a happy ending, sprinkled with the spirit of world exploration. Now I want to plan a trip to Scotland! I loved the family dynamics at play. Logan’s steadfastness was admirable. I was rooting for them to get together the whole time. I’m glad that a combination of vulnerability and belief in yourself is what brought them back together in the end. Add this book to your TBR for when the wanderlust strikes!

"Kilt Trip" by Alexandra Kiley takes readers on a journey through the landscape of Scotland. It is a tale of love, discovery, and healing. Addie Macrae, a travel consultant, is put in charge of turning around a failing Highland tour firm. This job puts her in direct conflict with Logan Sutherland, a tough Scotsman committed to not selling out by doing what is popular on the Heart’s tours, instead of what he believes to be the real wonders of his home country.

Kiley's descriptive prose transports readers to the misty Highlands and quaint villages of Scotland. Addie's personal connection to the country is explored through her mother's old Polaroids. The dynamic between Addie and Logan crackles with tension and chemistry, as any good romance novel does. Their journey from adversaries to allies felt predictable and a bit clichéd. I also struggled with the pacing of the story about a third of the way through. Kiley’s reliance on familiar tropes like the clash of cultures and a reluctant romance between opposites will work for readers looking for the standard feel-good romance, but may not be for readers looking for something different than the typical romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Canary Street Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to love this story. It started out strong, I was getting very invested in the enemies to lovers plot, and then I feel like the 3rd act breakup just ruined the story for me. I was super disappointed and just could not root for them getting back together after such silly miscommunication. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you are at all into Scotland, and romance, THIS is the book for you! Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley will take you to Scotland and make you want to return IRL ASAP! No author has done as good of a job describing a place, IMO. I need to go there. I want to check my 23andme because did I misread? I have to be a *little* Scottish and part of a clan, don’t I??

Having lost my mother, I related to so much of the grief Addie Macrae was going through and I cut and pasted many excerpts to keep forever. I don’t see this as a TW; instead, it helps me to not feel alone in my thoughts. I nod and say “YES, this is what it feels like!” and “I have thought this exact same thing!”

This was such a great read for me, I loved the setting, the characters, the romance and the story. This book publishes March 5, 2024 but I got to read it early due to receiving the ebook from @netgalley (thank you)! All opinions are my own.

QOTD: Have you read a book that makes you want
to travel to the location and if so, what book and what location? Do you
appreciate the kilt? This book will have you appreciating it.

4/5 stars
Door: Open (and I had a weird first-time-ever experience of picturing the CARTOON PEOPLE on the cover doing it)
Location: Scotland, mostly Edinborough

I’ve desperately tried to finish this book straight through. I end up skipping around hoping to find something that I can connect with, but the way these characters fit didn’t work for me. Addie was grating, and I couldn’t connect with the flow of the story. This book had me hooked on the blurb. Scotland? Check. Meet through adorably awkward circumstances? Check. Saving something? Check. So, though I thought this would tick all the boxes, I feel sad saying I’ve struggled to get through this. I loved the premise. But just couldn’t find the love for the story as a whole.

What is it about those Scottish men that just works for a romance? The kilts? The accent? Or Scotland itself?

For Kilt Trip, from debut author Alexandra Kiley, the answer seems to be “all of the above.”

Addie, an American travel consultant, has landed in Edinburgh with the task of helping failing tour company The Heart of the Highlands retool its business so it won’t go bankrupt. Too bad The Heart’s co-owner and lead guide Logan has no interest in the kinds of tourist traps Addie has been sent to force into his itineraries. When the two clash, sparks begin to fly. Maybe Addie can convince Logan that he can learn to love modern or popular things, and Logan can show Addie that personal and meaningful can be good for business. That’s if they can keep their hands off each other long enough to get any work done…

This is the kind of story for which I make the distinction between ‘rivals to lovers’ rather than ‘enemies to lovers.’ Addie and Logan may be at odds professionally (and know how to push each other’s buttons accordingly) but the thing that keeps them apart at first is more professional distance than their philosophical differences. Logan’s family is so lovely that Addie can’t help but fall for him, and them, and we fall right along with her. Plus, Kiley treats us to an absolutely gorgeous tour of both the famous Scottish landmarks and some wonderful off-the-beaten path places, as Addie explores important locations in her family story and Logan shows her the side of Scotland he loves, making it hard not to immediately book a plane ticket (and sent me diving into my photos from my trip a few years back).

Knocking a point off since some of the plot around The Heart (why Logan’s brothers aren’t involved, why Addie’s boss is pushing her the way he is) gets a little convoluted. When those things come to a head in the third act, resulting in the expected climatic conflict for [reasons], I mostly just shrugged and saw it as plot mechanics showing through the story. It didn’t work, exactly, but it didn’t ultimately get in the way of the romance.

CW: Death of a parent (in the past, off-page)

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“It’s not about how many places you’ve been but how they make you feel."
•

Addie Macrae lives a life full of travel and wonder. she takes pride in the fact that she’s not tied down by any place or person. when work takes her to Scotland, she sees it as an opportunity to connect with the memory of her late mother. what she doesn’t expect is to find a place she could make home and a man that could help her plant roots.

equally unexpectant, Logan Sutherland is doing his best to keep his family business afloat when a selkie-like woman saunters in with ideas that are completely opposite to everything he’s worked for. all he wants to do is be rid of her, but before long he’s visualizing a whole life with her.

can Addie trust Logan enough to let down her walls to make room for him in her heart, and if she does, is he willing to work for it?

Kilt Trip reads like a love letter to Scotland filled with the magic of the land and the laughter of the locals. if this doesn’t immediately make you want to back your bags for that bonnie place, then I don’t know what will!
•

this and that:
♡ ancient castles
♡ family businesses
♡ folktales
♡ Highland adventures
♡ men in kilts
♡ off the beaten path
♡ office pranks
♡ open door
♡ Rick Steves depreciation
♡ Scotland
♡ secret romance
♡ sick / comfort
♡ skipping stones
♡ suitcases with names
♡ tour guides
♡ travel consulting
♡ wanderlust
•

triggers:
☞ absentee parenting
☞ death of a parent
☞ grief
•

notable quotes:
・For someone who traveled light, Addie carried a hell of a lot of baggage.

・shock wears off pretty quickly when the grief isn’t yours to bear.

・life was a collection of small moments.

・“I’m not ready for this to be over”

・She was tossing up walls faster than he could break them down.

・while he loved kissing her in dark corners, all he really wanted was to hold her hand in the light.

・She’d been unmoored for so long, this tug was a parachute opening, ripping her back from the free fall.

・life was waiting to surprise you if you went looking for it.

・“Does your heart feel like mine?”

・“I will never change my mind about us.”

・“I’m not chasing you around the globe.”

・“I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

・A selkie always returns to the sea.

・"giving someone the power to hurt you is scary.”

・It’s not about how many places you’ve been but how they make you feel.

・"You brought my heart back to life.”
_

thank you Canary Street Press for sending me an early copy of this book!

What a beautiful story about learning to let go of the grief and anger that has come to define you and taking a risk in the hopes of finding love and a sense of home.

The juxtaposition of Addie's desire to keep her feelings locked away and Logan's way of connecting through sharing, makes this journey of taking risks and trusting someone else to shoulder the pain or fear that you have absolutely beautiful. The banter between Addie and Logan was great and their connection is fantastic throughout the story (even when they are more rivals than lovers).

If you are a fan of Scotland or connecting through history and surroundings, this book will suck you in!

Kilt Trip is a beautifully written rivals to lovers slowish burn romance that will make your fall in love with Scotland, men in kilts and highland coos! Addie and Logan’s banter and love story had me kicking and giggling from chapter one. There is also a lot to relate to in Addie and Logan’s personal struggles and journeys and it’s beautiful to watch them come together to help and learn from each other. Crying in the club, this book was so tender to read.

Addie Macrae is a travel consultant who's job is to improve struggling tour companies itineraries. Since losing her mom around 13 years ago, Addie has tried not to hold down roots anywhere, making her non-stop traveling job perfect. However, she's always avoided Scotland, as this country is filled with memories of her mother.

Logan Sutherland is looking to take over The Heart of the Highlands, his family business. The Heart of the Highlands focuses on off-the-beaten path tours of Scotland, preferring to bypass the super touristy parts of Scotland, giving a more intimate tour.

Addie and Logan have an electrifying first meeting when she poses as a tourist to see how his tours are ran. Both she and he are gobsmacked when she learns he is the son of the owner of The Heart of the Highlands and when he learns that she may completely turn the script of the tours he loves so much. This leads to a lovely office enemies to lovers romance.

Somewhere along the way, Addie sees what makes The Heart of the Highlands so special and Logan helps Addie reconnect to her mother. However, she has a duty to do her job, which may ruin everything.

I truly enjoyed this book and it has heightened my wanderlust for the Scottish Highlands. I learned so much about tradition, such as Hogmanay, as well as places to visit if I'm ever lucky to go to Scotland. Perfect for those who love an enemies to lover storyline and of course, a guy in a kilt.

Kilt Trip and let me tell you…….it’s a MUST READ!!!! It’s deliciously cute with all the swoon worthy romance you love with a sprinkling of some spice. It’s delicious!!!!

I haven’t enjoyed a non-smutty book in some time, but this book held my attention and gave me all the delicious moments of two people falling in love while exploring the amazing land of Scotland and the highlands! This book not only is a love story about two people, but also a love letter to Scotland itself. 🏴

Oh my god what can I even say about this book? Alexandra Kiley, I’m completely obsessed with this story and these incredible characters. I laughed and I cried right along with them! The writing was fantastic and so easy to get lost in. Logan was so sexy and funny and Addie was so relatable and quick! I loved the underlying story about her mom and how important this trip was to her healing. I don’t have enough good things to say about this and I’ll be recommending it to everyone! I absolutely loved it!

This book was fun for the most part. I was impressed with the way the author made me fall on love with a place I’ve never been to. Addie was an annoying main character though. She’s supposed to be 30 years old but acts so immaturely. I absolutely get how people deal with grief in different ways and how it comes in varying levels of intensity but man, Logan deserved so much better. It felt a bit too melodramatic at times, which made me take a break from reading. Overall, it was an enjoyable read even though I felt like the FMC doesn’t deserve the MMC.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC via NetGalley.

I read 80% of the book and just could not force myself to finish it. I absolutely loved the first 60% with the enemies to lovers trope. But once the two went on their tours to try to visit the places that her mother had visited, it lost me. I feel like those places could have been used earlier in the book better for them to grow closer. I did enjoy the book though!

Oh my goodness - truly, I loved reading this book.
Not only was I giggling and kicking my feet to every rom-comesques scene, but also getting teary eyed over unexpected heartfelt moments, and not only between the main characters.

Every character in this book felt real to me. While Addie was finding herself falling for the people she met in Scotland I was right there with her. Would 100% read stories about each Sutherland brother.

Visited Scotland back in 2016 and this book really captured the essence of what it feels like to walk the streets of Edinburgh or wander through the Highlands. If you have never been please Google the places Addie and Logan visit throughout the novel and see the beauty that is being described so wonderfully on page.

Had a fantastic time reading this.

"Kilt Trip" by Alexandra Kiley immerses you in the breathtaking landscapes of Scotland. It's a poignant journey through grief and self-discovery, with a slow-burn romance that will keep you hooked till the end. The banter and workplace rivalry add delightful layers to the narrative, making it a truly enjoyable and engaging read.

Ever wondered what real men really wear under their kilt?

Travel consultant Addie Macrae is used to packing up and moving on. When she’s sent to Scotland to help a struggling family-run tour company in the Highlands, she does what she does best: packs away her emotional baggage and turns on the professional charm.

Logan Sutherland loves sharing the beauty of Scotland’s hidden gems. He’s a gifted tour guide, but lacks the business savvy to keep his company running a profit. He knows the country far better than some American “expert”, who suggests his tours need to hit the tourist traps.

It’s an office war, with Logan determined to let nothing come between him and his kilt…until he discovers Addie’s secret: faded Polaroids of her late mother’s trip to Scotland. Hoping for a truce, he creates a private tour to the places in the pictures to help Addie leave her desk, find closure, and appreciate the enchantment of Scotland’s less-traveled destinations, never expecting the off-limits attraction sparking between them. But Addie’s contract is almost up, it’s time for her to move on to the next city, and magic won’t pay the bills.

-slow burn
-enemies to lovers
-office romance
-found family
-he calls her “lass”
-wanderlust and wanderlove

Spice level: slow burn but then it’s open door and woohoo- once things heat up, it gets hot and consensual.

KILT TRIP was all kinds of cozy, a don’t-want-to-get-off-the-couch-until-I’m-finished kind of read. I could not put it down. I laughed and cried and rooted so hard for Addie to stop running away from life and let love into her kind heart.

Logan is the perfect book boyfriend. He’s all broody in his kilts and sweaters, but underneath it all, he knows how to show love and respect. He’s trusting, trustworthy, and oh-so-swoonworthy. He’s hot, hot, hot in the sheets, but caring, careful, and patient with Addie’s heart.

I got so into this book, I stopped to look up the sights they were seeing. Now I want to go to Scotland. Addie’s story was so heartfelt, I cried in several places. All I wanted was what Logan wanted- for Addie to heal her heart and find happiness. KILT TRIP left me warm all over.

Alexandra Kiley has written a wonderful debut and I cannot wait to read what she dreams up next!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC copy.

Thank you so much to Harlequin for the advance copy. This was an incredible debut novel from Alexandra Kiley. The characters, Audie and Logan, felt very real and I enjoyed reading their development as a couple. But the strongest part of this novel for me was the descriptions of Scotland, it was so rich and really made me want to visit.