I just found my new favorite second chance romance!
Brooke and Jack must embark on a journey across Scotland 7 years after their break up. There's tension, flashbacks and so much emotion!!! It was an emotional Rollercoaster but in the best way!
They way the author described the trail of Skye had me feeling like I was hiking it with them!
Tropes:
Forbidden love
Second chance love
Family drama
One bed/tent
Scottish Highlands setting
American Author
Scottish photographer

A beautiful second chance romance that was worth every minute!

I have to be honest, I was unsure going into this book. It wasn't until around the 15% mark where it hit me that I was falling in love with book, and there was no stopping me. This book was a wild ride of emotions, and it felt very very relatable. This book felt very human, and I found that to be quite refreshing. I will say there were some logistical imperfections, but it's also a work of fiction so do with that information what you will.

Brooke and Jack were such emotional characters who compelled me into their love story. I don't always love a second chance trope, but I think it worked really well between these two individuals. I feel like they didn't just fall right back into love. I feel like there was a nice subtle slow burn aspect and forgiveness that had to earned.

I really enjoyed this read, and it was definitely one that jerked on my heartstrings and made me feel. 100% recommend this book to my fellow romance lovers. This one will have you in your feels!

I would like to give a big thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 4.7/5

3 stars. This one didn’t hit the way I hoped. The dual timeline kind of bored me and took me out of the story, and the romance didn’t feel very strong.

I don’t DNF books because I’m one of those people who NEEDS to know how the story ends.. but I almost did with this one. I absolutely LOVED the first book in this series but this one just felt like it was trying too hard. Every chapter had multiple insightful moments/thoughts and it just got to be too much. 🤷🏻‍♀️ HOWEVER… the last like 30% of the book saved it, in my opinion. The palpable longing, the obvious heartbreak, and inevitable reunion was done really well.

So would I recommend it? Not to my dark romance girlies, but to my fluffy romance fans? Absolutely. 👍🏻

I think this book will be for a lot of people, but unfortunately, it was not for me.

I am super picky about a second chance romance, and I just did not believe in Jack and Brooke. I didn’t feel the chemistry between the two and I just did not care if these two really got back together or not.

I was so excited to get approved for an ARC for the sequel to Kilt Trip, which I adored. I love Alexandra Kiley's writing; it's so poetic and atmospheric, and her descriptions of Brooke and Jack's journey on the Isle of Skye was incredibly evocative. The vibes were fantastic. Unfortunately, I just could not get fully bought into Jack and Brooke's love story. This could be a "me thing" -- I don't always love dual timeline second chance romances just because I can sometimes find the reading experience to be a little disjointed. But I also just struggled to connect with the two characters in the way that I connected with the MCs in Kilt Trip. Their early timeline felt a bit too insta-love for me; as a reader, I personally felt like I wanted to better understand what initially drew them to each other and what continued to pull them back to each other.

I am very grateful to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC. If you want to follow Brooke and Jack on the Isle of Skye, Scot and Bothered releases on 3/4.

A second chance, forced proximity, dual time line novel set on the Isle of Skye, Brooke was bounced from Uni thanks to her relationship with Jack but she's built a life as a ghostwriter, although always missing what might have been. Jack's a travel photographer and now his aunt Mhairi has engaged the two of them to hike Skye for her memoir. This moves between their time at uni and the present, with Mhairi uniting the parts. There's all sort of tropes here, including miscommunication, but it's got a good heart. And Scotland! Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Good storytelling makes for a good read.

Scot & Bothered is a beautiful story of intertwining journeys of self discovery and perseverance. The dual timeline narrative style takes the reader along on this second chance adventure that elevates the moments of forgiveness, grief, and love in just the right ways to evoke all of the emotions. As almost all of this story takes place hiking on Isle Skye or in Edinburgh, it’s abundant with stunning scenery that made me feel like my feet were back on the paths staring up at Scott Monument.

I really enjoyed the writing style and tone, especially the humor that was embedded throughout a lot of the internal monologue. I think my only hesitation was that there were some components that felt oversimplified but as is the way of modern fiction in our overly complex world! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Scot and Bothered! What a lovely follow up to Kilt Trip!

This book was a really enjoyable read. I thought the dual timeline and uncovering the past as we went was very well paced and helped really develop the characters. The love for Scotland and its natural beauty tied in with how harsh the reality of hiking through that land made it feel so real. Despite dealing with really sad subjects including death, grief, regrets and lost love - it felt so easy and comforting to read. Definitely will be reading anything Kiley releases based in Scotland in perpetuity!

3.75 stars ⭐️ This was a great second chance romance! I loved the Scotland setting. However, I do not love third act breakups! I don’t feel like it was needed here!

I LOVE second chance romance, and this one takes place in Scotland so what more could you ask for. I love dual timelines, and this book switched between the past and the present to explore how their relationship fell apart the first time and how they are rebuilding it now.

My one qualm was that they built the reason for their breakup to be sooooo huge (I thought she got expelled or something) and it was a small thing that did have bigger consequences, but they weren’t the MMC’s fault. This does make it easier to understand how she forgave him so quickly in the present moment, but after all the build up it was a bit of a let down.

I loved the plot line of the memoir and each of their relationships with Mhairi. There were parts that made me cry. Overall I really enjoyed this!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a review copy of this book. All opinions my own!

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley is an absolutely delightful romance filled with charm, humor, history of their relationship, and heart. From the very beginning, the story captivated me with its witty dialogue and engaging characters.

The romance was incredibly sweet with just the right amount of tension and longing. I especially loved how the relationship developed naturally, making the connection between the characters feel authentic and deeply rewarding. The storytelling was engaging, with a balance of humor, emotion, and swoon-worthy moments.

The ending was perfect—so satisfying and heartwarming. It wrapped up the story beautifully, leaving me with a big smile. If you're looking for a cute, well-written romance with a fantastic payoff, Scot and Bothered is definitely worth picking up!

4/5 stars
2.5/5 peppers

*thank you netgalley for the arc*

Listen there's something about a man in a kilt and when there is a whole sibling/family of them. If you read Kilt trip you know who was coming next.

What's not to love about a Scottish man and the woman in his life, I mean full of banter, longingness, and fighting more than just love and dreams. This was a roller coaster of heart-warming, laughter, maybe some misty eyes, and steaminess.

If you're a sucker for:
- second chance romances (duh)
- "oops only ONE tent" trope
- destination
- Dual POVs and dual timelines
- confronting the past and healing the present

Then this is for you!

Seven years after being expelled from the University of Edinburgh, Brooke Sinclair, now a ghostwriter, gets the chance to co-write a memoir with and about her idol and her adventures on Scotland’s Skye Trail. For her research, she must hike the trail, but must hike it alongside the hired photographer, Jack Sutherland—the man who broke her heart and derailed her writing career. Jack, struggling to prove himself after leaving his family’s touring business, agrees to guide her while keeping secrets about his aunt’s health—the same woman Brooke is writing the memoir for. As they navigate rugged landscapes and unresolved emotions, old wounds resurface. Can eighty miles of breathtaking solitude mend years of pain and offer them a second chance at love and redemption?

Pub Date: March 4, 2025

5 stars!

A huge thank you to Alexandra Kiley, Canary Street Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this absolute stunner of a book. Don't let the cutesy title fool you - this book has a HUGE heart. Similar to after I read Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, I finished this book last night and just felt changed.

Kiley has created such an incredible story that has the plot strength and writing to match. The writing is so lyrical, evocative, and immersive, weaving words together in a way that paints vivid imagery and stirs up deep emotions. She awakens the senses, tugs at the heart, and leaves an imprint on the soul, making the reader not just see or hear the words told of the Skye Trail and of the main characters, but feel the surroundings and their experiences.

This story often gave me Wild by Cheryl Strayed vibes - the cleansing renewal of being in nature, experiencing it at an intimate level. When the winds blow, you feel it and it affects you and everything around you. When the rain pours, it seeps through your belongings, your clothes, your skin. When the sun rises and sets, the colors that dance across the sky fill your soul with questions, answers, emotions and memories.

Brooke and Jack's story is breathtaking and beautiful. If you like second chance romance, one tent (and one bunk and one bed), forbidden love and dual timeline, you will adore this story of romance, courage, growth, acceptance and unbreakable bonds.

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley completely surpassed my expectations. While the title and cover initially caught my attention, it’s the story itself that left a lasting impact. The tension between the characters was palpable, and the dual timelines kept me hooked from start to finish. This story definitely brought out the emotions (and tears!) - diving into love, second chances, discovering your passion, leaving behind your legacy, and dealing with the rawness of grief.

I had no idea that this novel is part of a series and set in the same universe as Kilt Trip. I devoured Scot and Bothered in just 24 hours, and I am eager to dive into Kilt Trip and learn Logan Sutherland's story.

While the title fits the tone, I can’t help but wonder if there’s an even better one out there that would still draw readers in just as effectively. Regardless, this book delivered, and I’m excited to see what else Alexandra Kiley has in store!

Thank you, Net Galley, the author, and publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ugh. I reallllllly wanted to love this book. The writing is good and the story is compelling but this took me twelve days to read. Twelve. I’m a finish a book in three hours type of girl. I think my main issue with this was the immense amount of miscommunication that occurred on every single page. I hate that. TALK TO EACH OTHER!

Review also found on goodreads.

This was an enjoyable story set in the Scottish country side in the present and university in Edinburgh in the past. Where the first book in this series was packed with facts about Scotland and felt like you were touring the country hitting all the highlights, Scot and Bothered looked to the shadows and the calmer, quieter areas of Scotland, in a slow hike through the highlands, stopping to look at the flowers. The pace of each book actually fit each of the brother's personalities perfectly too.

A second chance romance, Brooke was ghost writing Jack's aunt's memoir and he was the photographer, where they set out to hike the Skye Trail, to get more inspiration for the story she was writing. Learning their reasons for why they broke up all those years ago was so sad, and the ending just sad in general, but this was also a lovely read with them reconnecting back together in the Scottish countryside, both pursuing their dreams, to be a writer and a photographer, both professions that are hard to profit or get started to make a living in.

Thank you Net Galley and Canery Street Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for my opinion.

4.5 stars! A thoroughly enjoyable second chance romance told in dual timelines-- On one timeline we follow Brooke and Jack's budding relationship when Brooke is a student and Jack is a grad student/TA (aka a forbidden romance!) at the University of Edinburgh -- we see their romance grow and eventually the reasons it ended back then. On another timeline we follow Brooke and Jack as they are unexpectedly forced to work together on a project that requires them to hike through the Scottish wilderness on the Skye Trail, and navigate through years of built up emotions.

The Scottish wilderness shines brightly as the backdrop for the current day timeline. Fans of second chance romance, forced proximity, and forbidden romance will all enjoy this. Both of our main characters have depth and backstory that makes you want to root for their relationship.

Punny title, beautiful cover, second chance romance, only one tent? Sign me up!

This was such a cute romance and exactly what I needed for Valentine’s Day. Especially given it was a second chance romance paired with dual timeline, I’m a sucker those!

Kiley does such a beautiful job describing the Skye trail, it made me want to see it in real life.

This was my second by Alexandra Kiley and I’m sold, sign me up for whatever book(s) come next!

Read if you love:
❤️ Second chance
🕑 Dual timeline
⛺️ One tent
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish setting

Alexandra Kiley's storytelling in this novel is nothing short of breathtaking. Brooke Sinclair's journey to co-write with her idol, Mhairi McCallister, is beautifully intertwined with her unexpected reunion with Jack Sutherland the ex-boyfriend who once shattered her heart. The way this story unfolds is captivating, especially as Brooke faces the emotional challenge of hiking Mhairi's trail with Jack by her side.
The vivid descriptions of Scottish landscapes are so immersive that I felt transported there. PLANNING MY NEXT VACATION IMMEDIATELY! Kiley’s attention to detail brought the scenery to life, making me long to explore the trails myself. The setting is more than just a backdrop; it becomes a character of its own, adding depth to Brooke and Jack's journey.
Everything was masterfully handled/ written. I found myself equally invested in both, eager to see how Brooke and Jack’s relationship evolved from a forbidden romance filled with tenderness to a present-day dynamic tinged with unresolved heartache. It all felt incredibly authentic and relatable, making their story all the more compelling.
Mhairi was the standout character for me. Her wisdom, humor, and role in shaping Brooke and Jack's relationship. She’s the type of character you can’t help but wish were real, just so you could sit down and listen to her stories for hours. Honesty, the book is a heartfelt exploration of love, forgiveness, and self-discovery. It’s the kind of story that lingers. I can't recommend it enough especially if you’re craving an emotional, beautifully written escape to Scotland. Huge thanks for the advance copy! I’m already planning to grab a physical copy for myself and my bestie!