🤍Book review 🤍

Scot and Bothered
by Alexandra Kiley



This was a sweet and atmospheric second-chance romance set against the stunning backdrop of the Isle of Skye. The descriptions of the landscape were so vivid that I felt like I was right there, hiking alongside the characters. The dual timeline worked well, weaving past and present together to show how Brooke and Jack’s relationship unraveled and how they found their way back to each other.
I really enjoyed the career struggles both characters faced—it felt relatable and added depth to their story. The chemistry between them was strong, and there were some really great romantic moments, especially the bathtub scene! Mhairi was such a memorable character, and the final line of the book truly got me emotional.
While it wasn’t my favorite in the series, it was still a beautiful read. If you love books with a strong sense of place and a touch of nostalgia, I’d recommend it!
NetGalley arc

The second book in this series just happened to be a second chance romance that takes us back to Scotland but in the Isle of Skye. Having visited Skye before, I had no idea that there is an 80 mile trail that you could hike! I loved the author’s description of the area and the beauty of that region is presented so well.

What I loved in this book:

📖 The career uncertainties that the main characters faced was relatable. I remember being that age and facing similar struggles

📖 I loved seeing Scotland through the eyes of a photographer and the descriptions of him capturing light and the elements in a beautiful way.

📖 The chemistry between the two characters was so cute yet forbidden. I was anxious with them sneaking around, knowing that what it would lead to.

📖 I really liked Mhairi’s character, who is Jack’s aunt. No spoilers but the very last sentence in the book made me tear up.

Overall, this was a cute book. Not my favorite, but when you bring me to Scotland in a book, it’s hard to go wrong.

I loved the setting of this book but found the rest to be lacking. I felt like the conflicts never really got fully talked about or resolved, the characters just got over it and moved past it. I did like the flashbacks to the past and felt like it helped to expand and make Jack and Brooke's relationship feel more tangible and real.

I feel like I just took a trip to Scotland after reading this, it was so atmospheric that I truly felt transported to the Scottish Highlands!!!

Scot and Bothered is the story of a second chance romance! And it’s the perfect rom-com with a really well done duel timeline!!! And the pining in is something else!!!

Thank you HTP and NetGalley for early copy!

💕 ✦ 𝓢𝓬𝓸𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓑𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓭 ✦ 💕

Author: Alexandra Kiley
Series: Second book in a connected standalone series
Pages: 340
Genre: Adult romance
𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 - 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮
🗓️ This sizzling romance hits shelves on March 4! ✨

✨️

𝓥𝓘𝓑𝓔𝓢

•dual timeline
•Scottish setting
•second chance romance
•writer + photographer
•forced proximity/slow burn
•hiking trip on the Isle of Skye
•one tent

✨️

𝓣𝓗𝓞𝓤𝓖𝓗𝓣𝓢

Such an enchanting love story!! 📸Photographer Jack and his ✍️writer ex-girlfriend, Brooke, hike the rugged Skye Trail (in Scotland) to help their ill mentor finish her memoir. Scot and Bothered is a dual timeline, second-chance romance, with lots of pining. I thought the story had the perfect blend of adventure, banter, slow burn, and sweet romance. Captivating storytelling, wonderful character depth, and descriptive imagery that make you feel like you are in Scotland. 🏕️ If you want to be swept off to the Scottish Highlands then check out 𝓢𝓬𝓸𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓑𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓭!! I would 100% recommend this book to romance readers.

✨️

𝓠𝓤𝓞𝓣𝓔𝓢

“𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚏*𝚌𝚔 𝚞𝚙 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚘 𝚒𝚝 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝.” 🤣 💯

“𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥.” 💕

✨ Thank you @netgalley, @canarystreetpress, @htp_hive, and @akileybooks for the gifted eARC! ✨

"SCOT ON THE TRAIL!" is a heartfelt and emotionally charged journey through the rugged Scottish landscape, beautifully capturing both the physical trek and the inner emotional landscapes of its protagonists. Brooke Sinclair's quest to co-write a memoir while facing unresolved issues from her past with Jack Sutherland makes for an engaging and relatable narrative. The backdrop of the Skye Trail offers a stunning and immersive setting that enhances the depth of the characters’ emotional journeys.

Brooke’s growth as a character and her struggles with the loss of her dream of becoming a published author are poignant and well-explored. Jack, with his own burdens and family expectations, adds a layer of complexity that makes him more than just a love interest. The chemistry between them is palpable, and the tension from their shared history keeps the story moving forward.

The pacing is a bit slow at times, particularly when the focus shifts from the romance to their internal reflections, but the beauty of the Scottish scenery and the emotional weight of their reunion makes it worth the read. The ending offers a satisfying resolution, leaving readers with a sense of hope and the possibility of redemption for both characters.

Overall, "SCOT ON THE TRAIL!" is a heartfelt, romantic, and visually stunning read that will appeal to fans of second-chance love stories and travel-inspired adventures. It’s an enjoyable escape that will stay with you long after you’ve reached the end of the trail.

2.5 - I really wanted to like this, but unfortunately I lost interest in this so quickly. I just didn’t connect with or care about any of these characters.

Second chance with dual timelines and a TA/student taboo adjacent romance that was very insta-love in the past. Their relationship basically ruined the FMC’s career and her chance at a fellowship, but she forgave the MMC so fast. The best part was probably the male narrator with the Scottish accent.

*I didn’t read Kilt Trip, but honestly don’t think that would have added anything to this for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed reading this one. I really love anything set in Scotland, especially more remote areas that sound cool. The FMC was not my favorite as she seemed to really hold a grudge against the MMC without giving a lot of grace for what happened. Obviously we wouldn't have a story if this wasn't the case, but I still struggled with something about the FMC's attitude. I like the MMC and the family that was established in a previous book. I still would recommend this book, and you might not find the FMC annoying.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

Enemies-to-lovers? Second chance romance? Forced proximity on a grueling Scottish hiking trail? Sign me up. Scot and Bothered is the kind of rom-com that makes you want to buy a plane ticket to Scotland and dramatically pine over your ex while gazing at misty cliffs.

Brooke and Jack are both deliciously stubborn, emotionally bruised, and absolutely meant for each other—even if they refuse to admit it. Their banter is top-tier, the yearning is dialed up to maximum agony, and the forced teamwork on the Skye Trail? Chef’s kiss. You will want to yell at them to just kiss already, but in the best possible way.

If you love a romance with a rugged, outdoor adventure setting, some deep emotional wounds to heal, and a swoon-worthy Scottish love interest (who may or may not deserve to be punched once or twice before redemption), then this book is for you.

The best part of this book was the way the setting felt so present. Every moment was visceral, and it made me want to go hiking. Something about the characters didn’t hit exactly right with me and I ended the book wishing I’d felt more connected, but that frankly could have been the circumstances under which I’m reading the book! I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, and this one had a lot of fun moments. I’ll definitely keep reading in this series and more from Riley.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc. I really enjoyed the second chance dual pov story of Brooke and Jack. The setting added such much to the story and made me want to go to Scotland right away. Kiley has true talent in balancing comedy and prose.

The Scottish countryside and the trail came alive in this love story. It truly overshadowed the second-chance romance.

The duel timeline provides a glimpse into what went wrong many years ago, taking us to the now. The cover is misleading as it is NOT a RomCom, rather its a contemporary romance. I did not expect it to be so heavy.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press

Scot and Bothered
•
This was such a simple, cute romance and I mean that in the best way. It was so easy to get lost in this story, I thought the past and present chapters weaved together beautifully. I absolutely loved the setting and Kiley was so descriptive in her writing I felt like I was hiking alongside Brooke and Jack. Nature is so therapeutic and gives us an opportunity to feel again. To take a deep breath, to dive into cold waters, to ground ourselves, and to find pieces of ourselves that maybe we lost. I really connected with those pieces of the story.
🌳
“It’s key that we capture the essence of how transformative it is to be out there, connected to the Earth and the ghosts of the pasts and the hope for the future.”
🍂
It’s dual POV and we do get some spice…the bathtub moment though 🤗 I thought that build up was really good in this one! If you like any kind of roadtrip type romance I would definitely give this one a try! This is pretty much how my husband and I met (it didn’t play out this way lol but it is how we met) so I was totally able to relate to the story and there was a bit of nostalgia for me, reminiscing about that time for us! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•
“I’m a ghost. This faded version of myself.”
“You’re still so bright to me.”
“You want to help me broaden my horizons, Jack?”
“Badly.”
💚
Thank you @akileybooks @canarystreetpress and @netgalley for this e-arc, you don’t have to wait long! Scot and Bothered comes out March 4th!

I really enjoyed this! Fabulous yearning by Jack and Brooke. The dual timeline setup really built the tension and exhibited why their relationship didn't work the first time around, although some scenes felt laborious. I liked the hike as a sort of physical and emotional journey for them both as they learned to forgive each other and themselves. Though again, some of the nitty gritty details of her writing and his photography felt like they dragged the plot down. While I would have liked to see Jack and Brooke really hash out their issues more clearly, this made for a really emotional read!!

Thank you for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

Thanks @netgalley @htpbooks and @akileybooks for the chance to read Scot and Bothered. It releases on March 4, 2025.

This is a swoony, second-chance romance that doubles as the perfect armchair travel book. Alex writes with so much heart and with such immersive details that you'll feel like you're hiking alongside Jack and Brooke on the Skye Trail.

Ghostwriter Brooke never got the career she'd planned on after she was expelled from the University of Edinburgh years earlier. Her mentor, Mhairi, gives her a chance to break out of the shadows by being her credited co-writer on her memoir. The only problem is that the sections on the Skye Trail aren't vivid enough, so Brooke agrees to hike the trail with a photographer to fully capture it. The only issue is that the photographer is Mhairi's nephew Jack--the man who shattered her dreams and heart years ago. Can this hike be a second chance for both of them?

Steam: 🔥🔥
Tropes: forced proximity, Scotland, only one tent, second chance romance, enemies to lovers

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ - 4.5 stars! This was such a sweet tale of second chances, and the descriptions and the setting in Scotland made the story all the more magical. The weaving of timelines was so well done, and I was hooked by the first chapter. If you’re on the hunt for a cozy, tension-filled romance that will leave you wrecked in the absolute best way, look no further. But fair warning… you may find yourself booking a trip to the Highlands ✈️ ⛰️

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advance copy!

I am being generous and saying it's two stars. I couldn't even make it halfway though I was so bored. Some books I can make myself read them and it starts picking up but this just didn't for me at all. I really tried and I really wanted to like it. I saw the title and cover and was excited for a cute little romance. For me that is not what I got and I hate the time jumps so much. This book was just not for me.

3.5/5 stars

Thanks to Net Galley for the eARC for review

Firstly, this book has made start a Pinterest board for a dream trip to Scotland.

Second chance romances are normally very hit or miss for me but I thought that Scot and Bothered did a pretty good job handling it in a way where it made you believe that the characters could get over their past issues I think the duel timeline was a big part of that and helped to not only give context but flesh out the characters as well.

If you love a second-chance romance packed with yearning, unresolved tension, and the kind of forced proximity that makes you want to scream (in the best way), Scot and Bothered is for you. Brooke and Jack’s story unfolds on the rugged and breathtaking Skye Trail, where they’re forced to work together on a memoir project that just so happens to be deeply personal for both of them. As they hike through Scotland’s moody landscapes, we’re treated to a dual timeline that slowly unravels their past, showing us how they fell in love—and how it all fell apart. The big reveal of their breakup isn’t shocking, but the emotional weight behind it lands perfectly, making their journey back to each other feel that much more satisfying.

Jack is the ultimate book boyfriend—thoughtful, devoted, and completely gone for Brooke, even after all these years. And Brooke? She’s stubborn, guarded, and so deeply relatable in her fear of failure and desire to play it safe. Their dynamic is filled with longing and stolen glances, and while the book isn’t overflowing with spice, the tension is off the charts (seriously, the shared tent scene?!). Beyond the romance, Kiley weaves in meaningful themes of personal growth, creative passion, and finding the courage to chase what you truly want. And of course, the Scottish setting is its own kind of magic—I could practically feel the mist rolling off the Highlands. Whether you’re here for the slow-burn romance, the emotional depth, or just an excuse to mentally transport yourself to Scotland, Scot and Bothered is a trip worth taking

Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐
Spice Rating: 3/5 🌶️

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW BELOW:

This book spoke to my soul on so many levels. Walking the line between following a dream and working to live—because sometimes they aren't synonymous—can be heartbreaking to navigate, especially when other voices are louder than your own, influencing your decisions.

To find someone who understands you exactly is so beautiful and rare, but adds and extra layer of complications to your journey of dream chasing. How can you live for yourself and for someone else?

Alexandra Kiley told Jack and Brooke's story brilliantly, seamlessly switching between narratives and timelines to give the reader the full picture, even when the characters didn't have it themselves. It was the perfect follow up to her debut novel, Kilt Trip, which I absolutely fell in love with last year.

Now I just have to sit patiently and wait for Reid to get his own happily ever after! 💚