Seven years ago, Brooke had her dreams and heart shattered by Jack. She now has to hike 80 miles along the wild Highlands of Scotland with Jack. She is helping her mentor, Mhairi, write her memoirs, and Jack is Mhairi’s nephew, who is taking the photos for her book. The two have to work together and spend hours and miles together, giving them time to talk about their past and learn about their current lives.

This book is a great example of how to do a second-chance romance. The chemistry builds through the book with all touches, glances, and inside information. This made me want to go explore the Scottish Highlands. I would even consider going on a SHORT hike. I liked the dual timeline of this book.

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley is a second chance romance with all the feels. Brook and Jack knew each other during their university days. Until it all blew up and they parted and have not seen each other in many years.

There is something about a second chance romance that always resonates with me. This dual POV and dual time-line story comes together seamlessly and draws you in. I enjoyed watching Jack and Brook figure out who they were, to love themselves, and realize the gift they had in each other. It was fantastic to visit Scotland through the pictures the author so eloquently painted and get to walk and adventure on beautiful trails. There are few thing I love better than highland coos.

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley is a second chance romance that will bring you hope. I recommend.
I received advance copies of the eBook from Harlequin Trade Publishing, and HTP Hive. All review opinions are my own.

I like almost everything about this book except the title, which doesn't really match the book but feels like a situation where the author was found a title they liked separately and just related to Scotland. But there's a lot going on here that's really great - the familial relationships, the obvious chemistry between the main two leads, the Isle of Skye. I do think that the book would have been better if the back and forth main conflict had been sped up a little, because there probably should have been more time pacing wise spent on resolving the conflict and less just helping us figure out what happened.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley.

I was really excited for this book and really enjoyed the first one in the series. But this book just kept going on and not giving me much.
The two POVs and the time switches were too much. The author should have just picked one.
I really liked Jack in the last book so, he was the only reason I hung on for so long

Back to Scotland we go with Alexandra Kiley's latest book, Scot and Bothered! This time, we're following Jack's quest for a second chance with Brooke, featuring only one tent and a whole lot of longing. What more could you ask for?

This dual POV and dual timeline romance is a masterclass in tension. The past timeline unfolds with Brooke as a student and Jack in grad school. They're not supposed to date since Jack is TA for a class Brooke is taking (but not her TA). In the past timeline, we see their forbidden romance and eventual breakup.

In the present, we have a front row seat to Brooke's lingering resentment toward Jack for derailing her dreams of becoming an author. The suspense around the exact cause of their breakup builds beautifully.

In the present, Brooke and Jack must navigate the Skye Trail together, collaborating on a book for Mhairi, Jack's aunt and Brooke's mentor. Their chemistry is electric, and Jack's determination to make amends and his feelings shine through. They both learn things about themselves as during the two week trek.

Audiobook Narration
I did an immersive read, experienced this story through both the audiobook and ebook formats, and let me tell you, Jack's Scottish brogue is pure perfection. I highly recommend the audio! You don't want to miss out on hearing Jack's chapters.

I started off intrigued and excited - I enjoyed being plopped down into Brooke's world, but sometimes the flipping back and forth between past and present throws me off. I'm also not normally a second chance romance fan, but I did enjoy their story in the end!

Definitely recommend this sweet story between Brooke and Jack. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for a copy of this book to review!

I really liked the premise of this second chance romance. In Scot and Bothered, Brooke reunites with her college boyfriend to hike the arduous Skye Trail. After his betrayal resulted in her leaving the University of Edinburgh without a degree, she has nursed the pain of their breakup for years. And Brooke is a writer! I love stories about writers and publishing.

Unfortunately, this book didn’t live up to my expectations. I listened to the audiobook and toward the end I struggled with boredom. At first, I couldn’t put my finger on why. Eventually I realized that I simply wasn’t interested in the characters. And when the reason for their college breakup was revealed, I was annoyed with their choices.

I don’t think was the fault of the narration. I enjoyed listening to the story. In fact, I suspect I would’ve lost interest earlier if I had been reading the book in print.

thank you to netgalley for the e-arc. i read kiley's debut of kilt trip and was excited to see she wrote a follow up. this one was just as good, with the beautiful descriptions of scenery to make you feel as if you traveled there. the romance was excellent with well-written characters.

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley is a cozy, emotional second-chance romance set in the stunning Scottish Highlands. Brooke, a ghostwriter trying to find her own voice, ends up on a hiking trip to co-write a memoir—only to discover her travel partner is Jack, the guy who broke her heart (and got her kicked out of school) years ago.

Told in both past and present timelines, the book slowly unpacks their messy history while throwing them back together in close quarters. There’s a lot of longing, unresolved feelings, and beautiful scenery along the way.

It’s a thoughtful, slow-burn story about healing, forgiveness, and figuring out who you are. Some parts move a little slow, but the emotional payoff and the swoony setting make it worth it—perfect for fans of introspective love stories with gorgeous vibes.

The setting and the way Kiley describes it is beautiful, which I knew from Kilt Trip, so I really enjoyed that part. The romance for me was... okay. I feel like I don't know much about Brooke other than her writing dreams, the random facts that she tells Jack when they first meet, and... yeah that's all I can think of honestly. I don't know. I will definitely read Kiley again- I really loved Kilt Trip and maybe that blew my expectations a little too high for this one.

If you need to know one thing about me, it's that I adore a good romantic book about books, and this one was simply darling. The setting in Skye was enchanting and added so much to the story. Read this if you love: wholesome and slightly spicy romances, yearning, a second-chance romance, dual-timelines and an atmospheric feel.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, NetGalley, and Alexandra Kiley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The perfect book to get me ready for Scotland! So cute and swoony! These little loves had so much passion for each other and I loved the chemistry!

I really enjoyed Kilt Trip so I was excited to read Scot and Bothered.

Vibes:

💕Second-Chance Romance
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Atmospheric Scottish Setting
🥾Hiking on the Isle of Skye
⛺️Only One Tent
🎓University Shenanigans
❤️Deep Love
🫂Found Family
🐮Hairy Coos

What’s not to love?

Net Galley ARC Review:

I really enjoyed Kilt Trip so I was excited to pick this one up! Unfortunately it just didn’t land the way I wanted it to. I normally love a good second chance romance, but this just didn’t quite work for me. The way the main characters got together the second time around was so abrupt. It was like nothing had happened in the 7 years they were apart and they just jumped back into things so quickly. Then the conflict at the end felt so forced to me. I also felt like the female character lacked internal motivation and seemed to need a LOT of validation from the people around her, and that carried throughout the book.

I loved the concept of hiking the trail together, and the book definitely made me want to travel to Scotland! Overall. It was a pretty fun read but it really lacked in a lot of places and I found myself just not really caring about the characters

Yet another cozy, sweet romance from Alexandra Kiley. Having read her previous book I was excited to dive back into this family and world she had created. The build up of the second chance alongside the jumps back and forth in time were handled extremely well, making them easy to follow.

Equal parts emotional and adventurous! A heartfelt second-chance romance set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Scottish Highlands. Brooke and Jack’s chemistry crackles as they navigate winding trails, buried secrets, and the weight of the past. With humor, heart, and gorgeous scenery, this story proves that sometimes love and forgiveness take the long way around. Perfect for fans of slow burns, emotional growth, and misty moors. 💚

This was so well done! I will say, I initially went into the book looking for a silly rom com with highland cows and did not find that. Instead, Scot and Bothered is much more serious and thought provoking than Alexandra Kiley's last book. The writing is improved and the story has so much more depth. I enjoyed Kilt Trip, but this is a very different story.

I did not finish at 72% (audio and reading digital) . I was really excited for this book and really enjoyed the first one in the series. But this book just kept going on and not giving me much.
The two POVs and the time switches were too much. The author should have just picked one.
I really liked Jack in the last book so, he was the only reason I hung on for so long. But he and Brooke just weren't clicking. If she was still so upset about what happened all those years ago why was she even thinking about reconciliation.
I was starting to get so annoyed at the characters that the female narrator started bugging me. But I was probably just tired of Brooke. Lol I'm so disappointed.

This book is a beautifully told story with time hop - from the main characters’ college days to present time. The author skillfully managed this in a way that felt organic, a great feat to do successfully.

Surprisingly, Scot and Bothered managed to break my heart and put it back together again. It’s a second chance romance that makes you work for it - which I loved. I’m not a fan of when the characters forgive right away bc it’ doesn’t feel realistic. This felt so true to life.

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley is a second-chance romance packed with heart, heat, and a whole lot of emotional payoff.

Brooke’s writing dreams crashed and burned years ago, thanks to one person: Jack. Now she’s getting one last shot to tell a real story... but it means hiking Scotland’s Isle of Skye trail with the guy who ruined everything. No big deal, right?

The slow burn between Brooke and Jack is seriously satisfying. They’ve both grown up, but the feelings are still there, tangled up with all the hurt they never really dealt with. The dual timeline showing how they fell apart — and how they’re trying to rebuild — makes every moment hit harder. Plus, their honesty and emotional messiness made their reunion feel earned, not rushed.

Mhairi is an absolute standout in this story. She’s the push both Brooke and Jack need without ever stealing the focus from them. Also, if you love a setting that feels real, Kiley’s Scotland is vivid without ever dragging down the pace.

This book brings all the emotion without feeling heavy, and the characters’ growth is believable and worth rooting for. I’m definitely hoping we get even more stories from this world, because I’m not ready for it to end.

Thank you @akileybooks, @harlequinbooks and @netgalley for the #gifted ebook arc. All opinions expressed are my own.