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.

While part of an interconnected series, Scot and Bothered reads firmly as a standalone. The novel itself is full of unrequited yearning courtesy of Brooke and Jack’s second chance circumstances and forced proximity hiking endeavor. This book was perfect for the dual timeline/POV format, providing readers with the scope of hurt and weight of passion these two characters endured. I do wish that the details of Brooke and Jack’s prior breakup were given to us sooner, but their rekindled affections and mutual pining kept me engaged throughout the plot.

Surprisingly, the character of Mhairi — Brooke’s mentor and Jack’s aunt — wound up being the beating heart of the story. Brooke and Jack’s mutual love for Mhairi bolstered their attachment to each other, acting as a bridge for their reconnection. Through Mhairi, we also get incredible insight into Brooke’s fervor for writing, along with her self doubt and musings on success. These passages were very relatable and endeared me to Brooke as a character.

Alexandra Kiley’s writing oozes tenderness, creating characters and settings with clear affection. Scot and Bothered is a heart-affirming adventure where two unmoored souls are able to forgive the wounds of the past in order to maintain a harmonious reconciliation in the present.

What You’ll Find:
-Dual POVs
-Only one tent
-Forced proximity
-Past/present timelines
-Scottish highland setting
-Second chance romance
-Ghostwriter x photographer
-Taboo student/TA relationship

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

How could I NOT pick up a book with a Highland Cow on it?

Scot and Bothered is the second book in a series following Kilt Trip. But don't worry, they can stand on their own. You don't have to read the first to understand this one--though I would recommend it, since the first one was so much fun!

Brooke is a ghostwriter working on a book for her mentor, Mhairi. After her editor gives her feedback that she needs to find the soul of the book, she decides to hike the trail on the Isle of Skye that her mentor was key in creating. It's the perfect opportunity for the new photographer to come along and snap some shots for the book. Only the new photographer ends up being her ex from college--Jack! Jack who was her TA before it all blew up. Jack who makes a Pantagonia jacket and hiking pants that zip off into shorts look amazing. That Jack.

Brooke and Jack's chemistry is A+. And their dialogue is fun and engaging. The book is told in dual timelines so we get to experience their initial meeting (he's a pirate-I was sold) AND their hike through the scenic trails of Skye, which I love. I'm there for all the romantic tension--even more so if I can get it twice!

One of my favorite parts of this book was that the Isle of Skye was a character in its own right. Alexandra does a great job of creating a picture and pulling us in. Scotland is one of my favorite places on earth, and it was great 'experiencing' it from my own couch!

I took off one star because there were a few moments where I felt I lost the pacing a bit. Nothing drastic, just enough to take off a star. I whole heartedly recommend this book. It's perfect for fans of second-chance romance, Scotland, and fun dialogue.

I received ann arc of this book to give an honest review, I absolutely loved this book! Jack and Brooke were probably my favorite couple so far this year! This book had so much depth and I truly enjoyed the flashback scenes. I cannot wait to read more from Alexandra!

I loved the Scottish setting! The descriptive writing brought me along the hiking trail with the characters.

There was a lot of growth for both characters. Each gaining the courage and accepting the support to chase their dreams.

The dual timeline POVs were perfect for seeing the MCs’ relationship develop in the past and present.

I really loved this one! Seeing Jack and Brooke rekindle their romance was a joy.

Second chance romance. Forbidden romance. Forced Proximity. Road trip (sort of) romance.

This book solidified my love of Alexandra Kiley’s writing. I read Kilt Trip last year and loved it so much that it inspired a Scotland trip. Getting to read Scot and Bothered and revisit some of the characters and the city I loved so much was so fun. I genuinely didn’t think I’d love this more than Kilt Trip but immediately fell in love with Jack and Brooke.

I love the way Kiley brings Scotland to life so vividly and allows the reader to experience its beauty as if firsthand.

I saw so much of myself in Brooke and related to her experience of feeling directionless and a bit lost. I love how no matter how much time has passed, Jack has no problem admitting how he still deeply cares (and loves lol) for her, and the way he still truly sees her.

This book had me giggling and kicking my feet and I desperately want more of these characters.

There are so many things I loved about this book! First, I loved Brooke and Jack! Each character on their own was very likable and strong. Put them together and you have the cutest little romance. It wasn’t all fluff though and I loved how their background added depth to their relationship. The dual timeline was the perfect way to tell their story.

Scotland itself was a character and the details give made me feel like I was there while reading.

I’m usually not a second chance romance gal, but I loved this and can’t recommend it enough!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Canary Street Press for an arc of this book.

I absolutely loved Kilt Trip! So to say when I seen a new novel by Kiley I jumped at the opportunity to read and review it!
Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley is a delightful and captivating romance novel that will leave readers enchanted and yearning to pack their bags and experience the magic for yourself.
Kiley's writing is both entertaining and insightful, making this book a must-read for fans of the genre.
I absolutely loved this book. It had a good pacing, it was really cute, and the chemistry and sweet romance parts were truly beautiful.
I loved Jack and Brooke’s chemistry! Just so amazing.
The story grabbed me from the beginning and never let go. I laughed and cried and it was one of my absolute favorite romances of the year.
A fun and exciting second chance romance!

As someone married to a man whose family comes from the Isle of Skye, I absolutely had to read this one. Also, I love the title! I stayed up reading this story; it was such a lovely comfort sort of read with its descriptions of Skye and characters I enjoyed.

Brooke's dreams of being a writer suffered a crushing setback after losing her chance to complete the writing program of her dreams at The University of Edinburgh. Jack's wish was to connect people to the land he loved through photography, but his family expectations and pressures to enter their business felt overwhelming. The two had a scorching forbidden romance (teaching assistant/student) that ended spectacularly badly, after which they didn't see each other for seven years.

Brooke becomes a ghostwriter, setting aside dreams of her own writing voice after feeling frozen in her heartbreak. She agrees to help her writing mentor with a memoir, not knowing that the assignment of researching while hiking on the Isle of Skye means working with Jack. As they hike across the gorgeous, challenging landscape they are forced to confront both their unresolved feelings and the need to find their authentic selves.

I enjoyed this so much. The Isle of Skye almost seemed like a character itself, with all the vivid descriptions and tidbits included. There wasn't a ton of spice but it was well-written and the chemistry was sparking off the page. I loved the secondary character Mhairi, Jack's aunt who was also Brooke's mentor; it made me want a magical adventurous aunt full of life wisdom!

Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing / Canary Street Press for this ARC!

Something I love about romance novels is that it seems like a lot of people think they are just silly little reads for silly little women but to me so so many of these books allow the reader to learn things about themselves by recognizing similarities between themselves and the characters on the page, process their thoughts and feelings in a safe way, and give a person hope that things will get better.

Scot and Bothered is one of those novels. By the 2nd page I was already realize that there are parts of myself that desperately need fixing and that this book was going to take me places within myself that haven’t been examined in a long time. This book had me in my feelings, and has caused me to seriously question what feeds my soul.

On a lighter note, Alexandra Kiley once again has me dreaming of traveling to Scotland, and taught me the only thing I love more than a highland cow is the adorable “hairy coo” nickname for them.

I LOVED this book! It was filled with heartbreak, yearning, tension and a love that felt predestined. This book made me feel comfortable and adventurous. It made me giggle, cry and smile uncontrollably at the infectious joy leaping off the pages.

Scot and Bothered is a second chance romance that jumps between 7 years ago and present day. A lot of times I have trouble staying absorbed in flash backs but not with this story. I was just as invested in the “then” as I was the “now”. This book gives us two mesmerizing, deep love stories in one. I could feel Brooke’s and Jack’s pain, longing and hope for forgiveness and a future and my need to find out how their love story ended made it impossible to put down.

In classic Alexandra Kiley form, this book shines a spotlight on Scotland, its history and its adventures waiting to be explored. The imagery Kiley conjures of this beautiful country has me yearning to jump on a plane and experience it myself. I can’t recommend this book enough!!!

Another book set in the Scotland in the same world as Kilt Trip? Sign me up! Also, fair warning that reading this will make you want to visit Scotland!

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley is an interconnected standalone book following Kilt Trip (which is SO GOOD), and it didn’t disappoint. Through dual timelines we get a peek into the lives of photographer Jack and writer Brooke, as they navigate grad school drama and their lives seven years later. Jack and Brooke are exes that begrudgingly agree to go on a rugged 80-mile hike along the Skye Trail to help their mentor finish her memoir. The hiking adventure not only takes you on a journey through Skye, but we also get to see what comes of Brooke and Jack as they navigate their way through a second-chance romance (and ending up with only one tent). It is impossible for me to sum up the journeys they took in this book, you’ve got to read it yourself - trust me, it’s worth it!

I highly recommend grabbing this book!

'Scot and Bothered' grabbed me in from the very beginning. An American in Scotland going to school is so fun for me, but the emotional turmoil of Brooke and Jack's relationship was anything but fun. The story is one of unrealized dreams and second chances, and most of all forgiveness. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who like to wade through the angst of righting wrongs, resulting in worthwhile love and hope.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I think this was a solid romance, but I will admit both second chance romance and forbidden love are some of my favorite tropes. It took me a little bit to get into, but I really enjoyed the second half. There is good pining/yearning, and I enjoyed the hiking plot line. Ultimately, I think was looking for more from
Jack as a main character. I felt that way in the first book when he was a side character, so I was excited to see him get his main character moment. He fell a little flat for me, however.

Rating: 5⭐️ | Spice: 2🌶️
What to Expect:   
Second Chance Romance
Forbidden
Only One Tent
Found Family
Scottish Setting (Isle of Skye)

“It’s alright to not know what you want, but when you do, don’t let it go. Give it everything you have, or you won’t stand a chance of ever being happy.”

Review Title & Vibes:
{I WON’T BOTHER DENYING HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK} This was a second chance romance WIN! Dreamy Scottish countryside setting, will-they-won’t-they tension, dual timeline, and all the emotion. Jack & Brooke are captivating! This story is both heartbreaking (yes-I cried) and heartwarming (an HEA that left me giddy).

Jack Sutherland (younger brother to Logan from Kilt Trip) is the sexy, slightly aimless, Scot. The family tourist business isn’t his passion - but nothing else seems to capture his attention- until Brooke Sinclair. Her writing aspirations and determination captivate him. The timing of their first meeting wasn’t ideal - their relationship forbidden, and the fall out was catastrophic. Years later they embark on a cross country hike to capture the heart of Skye Trail, founded by Mhairi McCallister (Jack’s aunt/Brooke’s mentor). It’s a second chance at love and realizing their respective dreams.

I’m determined to find a way to have a booksta meetup in Edinburgh-who’s in??

Recommended to...  
All the second chance romance readers - this one is beautiful.

Thank you so much @akileybooks @canarystreetpress @harlequinbooks for the advance paperback and eARC!

Scot and Bothered is the most fantastic second chance romance, set on the magnificent Isle of Skye.
Brooke and Jack’s unresolved feelings from years ago made for incredible tense pining, full of stolen looks and touches throughout, is everything I want from a second chance. As they navigate the various obstacles of Skye Trail, their bond tentatively reforms, revealing several sweet moments and we get to see both sides of their relationship, now and then.
Mhairi was truly special and I loved how she played a role in bringing them back together. Her influence and wisdom was just as beautiful as the Scottish setting.

This was a deeply emotional journey with a sweet romance amidst the gorgeous Isle of Skye. Just like Kilt Trip, I wouldn’t recommend skipping this one.

A huge thank you to Alexandra Kiley for allowing me to be on her street team for this release, and to HTP Hive and Canary Press for providing me with a digital review copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for the ARC of Scot and Bothered!

Scot and Bothered is a dual timeline, dual narrated second chance romance. The timelines bounce between Brooke Sinclair and Jack Sutherland's college relationship and seven years later when they are thrown together to work on Jack's aunt's memoir which Brooke is co-writing and Jack is taking photos for after the previous photographer was forced to bail. After some less than stellar feedback of her first draft of the memoir, Brook and her editing team decide the only way she will be able to get to the heart of the book is to hike the trail that Mhairi (Jack's aunt) founded. But she cannot go alone and Jack needs to get the photos for the book so...the two are thrown together against their wills. Can they survive the terrain and being in each other's company?

This was an excellent romance! Jack and Brooke were each fully developed characters in their own right and their unwavering love for Mhairi gave the book its heart. I was definitely in tears by the end. My only complaint was that it felt there was too much drama leading up to why they broke up in college when the basic cause was pretty easy to guess. Once that part of the story finally came out I didn't really care about the reason anymore.

Happy book birthday to Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley! This is the followup to Kilt Trip, this time following older brother Jack Sutherland and his second chance with Brooke Sinclair. They connected back in college, but a friendship-turned-romance ended badly. So badly that Brooke’s dreams of being an author have crumbled. Now she’s a ghostwriter but will get her first on-cover writing credit when she finishes a memoir for her favorite author/professor (and Jack’s aunt), Mhairi. But to do that, she needs to go on a weeklong hike with Jack. A chance for professional advancement, overdue apologies… and maybe a rekindling of what they once had.

Why I Chose This Book:
I adored Kilt Trip and was so ready for Jack’s story! Though Brooke would be a new character, I knew this would be a second-chance romance and I was already rooting for Jack’s HEA. I was on the ARC team for the first book last year, and I was thrilled to join in again for Scot and Bothered.

What I Liked:
- Brooke’s dreams of being an author! Her career so far has been ghostwriting memoirs, and now she’s working as a co-writer on her literary idol’s memoir. But Brooke is aiming to get back to fiction and writing her own stories.
- Representation of anxiety, self-doubt, and writer’s block
- Hiking across Scotland! Tough trails, unpredictable weather, bothersome bugs… but also the friends made along the way
- Only one tent!
- Dual timeline: College romance vs. now
- Getting to know Scotland, both when they were students and now as they hike the trail. Seriously, Scotland is so beautiful; take me there!
- Grappling with loss and grief
- Makes me want to tackle my own travel bucket list as well as my dreams of writing. #inspiring

Final Thoughts
Scot and Bothered is a poignant novel that combines romance with themes of self-discovery and bravery. I adore Jack and Brooke and the love story that unfolds here, both in college and now, seven years later. As with Kilt Trip, this book comes with a dose of heavier topics, including grief, loss, and career issues. It also does a magnificent job of transporting readers to Scotland, from the streets of Edinburgh to the nature of the Highlands. This novel captured my heart, and I already can’t wait for Alexandra Kiley’s next book.

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley out tomorrow — 5 ⭐️ <3

thank you @canarystreetpress and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for a review 💋

If you’ve been following me, you know how much I loved Alexandra’s debut novel “Kilt Trip”. She instantly became an auto-buy author for me after that one book, and this sophomore novel just cemented that fact further: whatever she writes, I will read and will most definitely end up with the feeling of wishing I would liquify it and ingest it into my bloodstream (is that how that works?).

This is a book for the people who feel stuck even though you know what your passion is; you’re stuck inside of yourself because you can’t seem to decide whether or not you’re good enough. This is for the people who have the worst case of imposter syndrome, who need constant validation, those who have a borderline praise kink that has nothing to do with anything sexual. Spoiler alert: you’re the only one who thinks that. Everyone around you, who knows you, is rooting for you.

Also, Mhairi, I miss you. Please come back. The Marjorie aspect of this book really, Really kicks your ass. I couldn’t love it more if I tried, even if it made me sob so hard I woke up with a headache and had to pop a couple Motrin. But then again, what did I expect going into an Alexandra Kiley book?

I loved this one so much, and I hope you do too! If you’ve read it, please let me know and come talk to me about it. Come talk to me after you’ve read it if you haven’t yet. Sending you all the most love.

I am not usually a fan of second chance romances and I KEEP FINDING REASONS TO READ THEM! And in the case of Scot and Bothered I was so pleasantly surprised that the 2 MCs, after 6 years apart and intense heartbreak they found themselves trapped together in Scotland.

I ansolutely adored that the story follows dual timeline. Theres the before —where Brooke and Jack’s connection first sparks—and the present, where they try and find away to be around each other again. Watching them fall in love again was so real and so raw. I could really relate to both of them at some point or another and it made me want to believe in humanity again. And amongst the climate of the world today that is really saying something.

The slow burn in this book is perfectly paced, sometimes slow burn runs the risk of taking TOO long and losing my interest but this book did it perfectly. allowing us to see them gradually drift back toward each other.

Read this book for:
- Second Chance Romance
-Forced proximity
-Set in Scotland
-Dual Timeline
-Only one tent!
Slow burn to spicy

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Canary Street Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this eARC!

Oh man, this story of second chance romance was one for the heartstrings! Jack and Brooke have been on a long journey of finding not only who they have a chance to be as a couple, but also, who they are as individuals.

When Brook and Jack first meet, the sparks are flying, but little do they know, they will have to keep those sparks dimmed because their professional situation may not allow them to fall in love out loud. As we all know, secret love interests never end well for all those involved and Brook and Jack are no different.

When they are forced into a journey together, both trying to prove themselves professionally and to themselves, this might just be their chance to get it right. This journey of second chance love is heartwarming, heartbreaking, enlightening and just overall a beautiful journey I was so happy and delighted to be a part of!