I really enjoyed Scot & Bothered. It was a little bit of adventure and hiking and a little Bir romance, with a side of writing and photography - so most of my favorite things.

There was a lot of great detail put into detailing Edinburgh, but I wish there had been more detail and world building put into describing the Isle of Skye trail.

You know the story is good when the reader wants to know more, and I found myself googling photos and videos from the actual Isle of Skye trail - like the Bad Step. Unfortunately, the richness of the landscape that I got from the videos and pictures was definitely not represented in the book. I wanted more from the portions on the trail.

This is a second chance romance that I didn’t hate - although I don’t think we needed the third act break up in this one. Also, only one tent (and that situation, definitely made me laugh.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Canary Street Press for the review copy!

A story told between now and then, a format that can some times not work, but was wonderful here. As we meet Jack and Brooke getting a second chance at love, we learn slowly how things broke the first time. Set on the Skye, the romance is mirrored by this beautiful place. A great read.

A delightful romp through Scotland that will fulfill all of your armchair travel dreams! I love reading about writers and people in creative professions, so I adored Jack & Brooke’s journeys (both physical and emotional!)

One again Alexandra Kiley wrote an amazing book. Instead of the usual dual POV between two characters, the story unfolds through a then/now timeline, which made the character growth and relationship evolution feel even more compelling. Jack and Brooke’s journey is more than just a romance; it’s a stunning portrayal of love, growth, and second chances. The emotional depth and heartfelt moments kept me captivated from beginning to end.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publication and Alexandra Kiley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Scot and Bothered has another book in the same world although I didn’t read that one first (oops!). I don’t feel like I lacked any necessary info although I do plan to read it coming up.

The entire story is told in third person and told back and forth in two timelines - then and now. “Then” goes through how they met and eventually gets you to their conflict. “Now” covers the present (7 yrs post conflict).

I was a little underwhelmed once I got to the conflict - it was such a frustrating example of bad communication.

I appreciated the conflicted feelings of wanting to talk/touch/connect but being hurt and afraid to open up again. The stolen glances, the support and the touches were fantastic.

Admittedly communication issues are one of my least favorite storylines so I didn’t love it coming up again but I’m happy with the timing of the HEA.

Tropes:
Forbidden love
Miscommunication
Second chance
Only one tent/bed
Slow burn
Then and now timeline

i really wanted to like this, but the characters were insta-love in the past and i couldn’t even really see why? also, i don’t really get the whole “taboo” around dating a TA who isn’t even a TA for a class you’re teaching? a lot of the plot elements just didn’t work for me. also, this man ruined her life - blegh!!! second chance is hard for me to like, but i just read a really good one, so i thought maybe i actually do like it?

i usually love having POVs from different points in time, but i feel like it hindered this story. i really struggled finishing the book, not sure if it was bc of the constant then/now perspectives or what. i can usually finish any contemporary romance, but this was… boring. which is harder to read than bad writing.

one positive: the author has definitely hiked/has experience with nature because the atmospheric descriptions felt so real!

netgalley provided me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏻

Brooke met Jack when she moved to Scotland for university, and they embarked on a whirlwind romance which unfortunately ended in heartbreak and broken dreams. They never expected to see each other again until years later their shared love and admiration for Mhairi McCallister, Brooke’s college mentor, forces them to reunite.

Jack and Brooke must confront hurt feelings and the reasons neither are living the lives they hoped to live while embarking on a journey through the gorgeous Scottish landscape.

I really enjoyed the dual POV and timelines in Scot and Bothered, which allowed us to see how Jack and Brooke fell in love before they ultimately fell apart. It made me even more invested in their second chance at romance.

Brooke has become a ghost of herself - feeling unseen, unmotivated, and unrecognized as a ghost writer for many books; just never her own. So when her mentor, Mhairi, offers her the chance to cowrite her memoir Brooke jumps at the chance. To give the story more heart, Brooke commits to hiking he Skye Trail that was founded by Mhairi. The catch? Mhairi's nephew Jack will accompany her and photograph the journey. For Jack, Brooke is the one that got away. But after he shattered her heart (and career...) all those years ago, Brooke isn't so sure they can move on. Being forced to work together to help Mhairi is one thing, but reconciliation? As they navigate the trail though, they find that their feelings for each other may have always been there.

You probably know by now that I love a second chance romance, and this one did not disappoint! The dual timeline added to the tension, and hearing both characters' sides of the past was insightful. Brooke was so driven, creative, and thrived in her list of accomplishments. Going on the Skye Trail for her helped her to be free in a way she hadn't allowed in the past. For Jack it meant processing some grief, and exploring what his dream job could mean for his family's business. I liked them together - they encouraged each other to live a "big life"- even though it was scary and hard. I also will now find ways to use "wee beebawg" in daily life 😆. This was tender, uplifting and romantic! Sprinkled with important life lessons, growth, and kilts.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Continue to be a fan of Alexandra Kiley. Sign me up for anything she writes.

This was such a great follow up to the first book. It was clear in that first book that Jack needed a story, and his story has lived up to my expectations.

One thing this author does so well is to really describe the scenery and sights of Scotland in a way that makes you feel as if you’re there. Her books really do transport you to the setting. I just wanted to be in Scotland the entire time I read this.

I loved the dual timeline and really appreciated around chapter 23 as the sort of turning point in Brooke and Jack’s present day, which I recognized because it was the first time I wanted to stay in the now rather than jump back to “then.”

This book was sweet and full of yearning and regret and love. The spice was good, as well. I enjoyed the chemistry between Brooke and Jack, I was rooting for them the whole time.

As with the first book, I truly loved about 95% of this book. But I could’ve done without the third act breakup. I found Brooke’s behavior around this breakup—and quite frankly their original breakup in the past—quite irritating. It just felt unnecessary. That said, it didn’t ruin the book for me, and I still plan to buy it and I highly recommend it.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Scotland, ghostwriting, hiking, and a second chance romance? I was sold. This is a cute and emotional read and I loved the dual timeline and how their past and future came together.

This was such a good read, I received it as an arc copy from NetGalley. Second chance love, forced proximity, forbidden touches agh I loved it! One of my favorite tropes is second chance because it’s so innately human, we all make mistakes. I loved Jack as the MMC, he was such a sweet even though flawed man but he was written so realistically that it made you love him more in the end. The story of Jack & Brooke is messy to say the least. Miscommunication, heartbreak, and angst all lead to finding one another again. I also loved how the author wrote the dual timeline allowing the reader to fully fall in love, get their heart broken, and fall in love all over again.

Read if you enjoy:
🌿 Scottish Imagery
👒 Second Chance love
🌿 Miscommunication
👒 Only one tent
🌿 Third person POV
👒 Forced Proximity

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7331595702

This book EXCEEDED every expectation I had for it. It was the most beautiful second chance romance I have EVER read. I loved the play on a dual POV in place of it being two different characters; it was a then/now time shift. This showed character development and relationship evolution in such a compelling, unique way. Jack and Brooke’s story was more than your average romance; it truly is a work of love. The emotional depth and heartfelt moments had me completely captivated from start to finish. Alexandra Kiley’s writing is stunning, making every scene feel intimate and deeply moving. This needs to become a must-read for any romance reader!!

4.25

“𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒽𝒾𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎, 𝐵𝓇𝑜𝑜𝓀𝑒. 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒻𝓊𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝑜𝑜”

Spoiler alert: I didn’t expect this to happen, but I cried.

This is a story of second chances—the chance to rediscover yourself, to reignite your passion, and to rewrite a love story that ended all wrong the first time.

I went in expecting a light, cutesy Scottish romance, but this book had so much more depth. Yes, it’s a love story, but there was nothing easy about it. Brooke and Jack had to fight for their happiness, to unlearn, to grow. As a child of Asian parents, I deeply understood Jack’s struggles. And Brooke—she spoke to every lost part of me, from her fear of not being enough to her need for security.

By the end, I wasn’t just reading about these characters—I was right there with them. This book was unexpectedly moving, and I loved every heartfelt moment of it.

This book was a beautiful story of second chance romance and facing your fears. I am usually not a fan of second chance romance because I have a hard time forgiving, but I was a fan of Brooke and Jack from the beginning. I was on Brooke’s side through her anger and sadness. The trials of the Skye Trail coupled with Brooke’s introspection made for an impactful story. I felt like I really knew Brooke and Jack. Especially with the flashbacks interspersed throughout the book. It was a beautiful and emotional story. I can not express that enough. I recommend this book for romance lovers who are looking for an emotional story about facing fears and reaching for your dreams.

Thank you @bookswithnopictures @just_talking_to_my_shelf @htpbooks @alexandrakiley and @htp_hive for this wonderful opportunity! Scot and Bothered is out March 4!

Brooke dreams of being a published author, but an incident at university leaves her ghostwriting other people’s stories. She is beyond excited when she is asked to ghostwrite her mentor, Mhairi McAllister’s memoir. Mhairi discovered the Skye Trail, a famous hike in Scotland. To get in the headspace to write this book, Brooke decides to hike some of the trail for inspiration. Along with her is a nature photographer who happens to be Mhairi’s nephew… and Brooke’s ex boyfriend who broke her heart and was part of the aforementioned incident.

As they travel and hike together, lots of the past is brought up. But so is there amazing chemistry. Can things be different the second time around?

The book is told in flashbacks to Brooke and Jack’s university days and I loved to see the beginning days of their relationship. The book features some heavier topics such as cancer, but the book also has some lighter moments.

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Riley

I've seen some readers refer to this novel as a rom-com... And I just need to know... Who's *laughing*?? The longing is so thick, you'll choke on it.

This is a dual timeline, second chance romance written in 3rd person pov. The writing is so descriptive you'll feel like you're on this journey with Brooke and Jack. It's a beautiful, at times heart wrenching, love story that slowly unfolds as they trek across the the Highlands.

This was my first Alexandra Kiley book but it will not be my last.

Thank you Alexandra Riley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I had high hopes going into this book as I enjoyed Kilt Trip so much and it did not disappoint. This story is emotional, heartbreaking, sweet and such a good read. I love a good rom com but this was so much more. I love how it used both dual POV and dual timelines to explain Jack and Brooke's story. I loved not only seeing them come back together but learning what set them apart as well. From r me it made a more satisfying and heartfelt second chance romance.
Oh and just like Kilt Trip this book makes me want to book a trip to Scotland and just stay! One day I will get there!!!

🏔️🥾Scot and Bothered🥾🏔️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars

✨Available March 3rd ✨

🏔️Forced Proximity
🥾 Second Chance Romance
🏔️ Dual timeline and Dual POV
🥾 Only one tent

I really enjoy books that take place in a hiking setting apparently. Especially if it’s a place I want to go. I may have googled Skye hikes while reading this. This story was so cute and heartwarming and also so fun. The perfect follow up to Kilt Trip. Thank you Netgalley and Canary Street Press for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

“After this year, life will no longer have a syllabus, there will be no grades to measure your success. You will have to define that for yourself.”

“Apparently, her desire to impress him outweighed her will to live.”

“You’re still so bright to me.”

“But how long was she going to hold on to the past? How long would she let it affect her? How much did it get to define her?”

This book made me want to book a trip to Scotland asap. It’s a dual POV, dual timeline second chance romance. The dual POV and dual timeline add some depth to the book that you don’t always get with contemporary romance. In addition to the romance, this book has beautiful scenery that will make you feel like you’re really hiking through the Isle of Skye. The story also tackles tough issues like broken trust, grief, and the fear of following your dreams. Some tropes to look forward to: forced proximity, only one bed/tent, “it’s always been you”, slow burn.

Scot and Bothered is a heartfelt, windswept adventure on the Isle of Skye! Seven years after a messy breakup at uni, Brooke and Jack are unexpectedly reunited and stuck hiking the Skye Trail together. There’s tension, tough terrain …and only one tent.

I was completely immersed in this book and finished it in a day! Some of the landmarks were tricky to picture, so I found myself looking up travel photos and watching videos of the infamous Bad Step crossing—making me appreciate the journey even more.

The dual timeline added unexpected depth to the characters while keeping the story moving at a great pace. One of my favorite lines perfectly captures Brooke’s struggle to forgive, forget, and never let go:
"He was old and new at the same time, and she couldn't reconcile the two. … It wasn't now or never, but if it wasn't now, would she ever?"

While Scot and Bothered stands on its own, as a fan of Kilt Trip, I loved catching up with the Sutherland family.

A perfect mix of adventure, emotion, and romance, Scot and Bothered is a must-read. I can’t wait to grab a paperback when it comes out on March 4!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, and Alexandra Kiley for the complimentary ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.