Jack and Brooke’s journey is both a physical and emotional one. As they travel the Skye Trail, they navigate self doubt, past hurts, and fear of failing. Scot and Bothered may seem like a cute second chance romance. In reality , it is a story about reclaiming who you authentically are and setting your feet on the life path of chasing your dream.

Publication Date: March 4, 2025

#ScotandBothered
#AlexandriaKiley
#SecondChances
#NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book!

This story had a compelling premise - a second-chance romance set against the breathtaking backdrop of Scotland’s Skye Trail - but ultimately, it didn’t fully deliver for me.

Brooke Sinclair, an American ghostwriter, has been living in Scotland for years despite being expelled from the University of Edinburgh due to an inappropriate relationship with her teaching assistant, Jack Sutherland. When her former mentor, Mhairi, offers Brooke a chance to co-write her memoir about hiking the rugged Skye Trail, Brooke jumps at the opportunity. What she doesn’t expect is that Jack will also be joining the hike as a guide and photographer, forcing them to confront their unresolved past.

While the book explores themes of redemption, forgiveness, and chasing your dreams, much of the story is weighed down by the characters’ lack of effective communication. Brooke and Jack seemed stuck in a cycle of rehashing old grievances without truly addressing them. Although they encouraged each other to take risks and pursue their goals, their interactions often felt frustrating rather than romantic. Their chemistry felt inconsistent, and I struggled to believe in their long-term compatibility.

Some plot holes also distracted from the story. For instance, Brooke’s ability to remain in Scotland after losing her student visa stretched believability. The logistics of transitioning from a revoked visa to legal residency in the UK are not addressed, and simply being a ghostwriter would not meet the strict requirements. This lack of realism made it harder to fully engage with her story.

That said, the vivid descriptions of Scotland’s landscape were a highlight. The sweeping views, rugged terrain, and immersive details of the Skye Trail added a sense of adventure and introspection that kept me reading. The subplot involving Mhairi’s health and her personal legacy added emotional depth and provided some of the book’s most compelling moments.

Overall, Scot on the Trail is a mixed experience. While the scenic setting and intriguing premise shine, the romance itself falls a bit flat, and some inconsistencies in the plot make it less convincing. If you enjoy second-chance romances with stunning settings and don’t mind overlooking a few details, this could still be an enjoyable read.

Scot on the Trail is available for preorder at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Target, and Books-a-Million! It will be released in stores on March 4, 2025!

I was blown away by this book. I read Kilt Trip by the author, which was a (mostly) lighthearted, sweet romcom, so I expected this to be the same. What I was not prepared for was such a beautifully written second-chance romance filled with yearning, angst, grief, regret, and hope - told with a dual timeline and dual POV with Brooke and Jack, the main characters.

I deeply appreciated the way Brooke was written and found her to be very relatable. I could get past the miscommunication in the past timeline, because I found Brooke's reaction believablefor a university-aged student who felt as though her life's purpose was snatched from her.

I also loved the Skye Trail in all its harsh and gorgeous glory becomes a character throughout this story. I desperately wanted to visit before, and my urgency to get there has now doubled.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for the chance to read this ARC.

I read Alexandra Kiley's first book, Kilt Trip, and loved it, so I was hoping for more of the light-hearted RomCom traipsing through Scotland vibe. This wasn't quite it. There's a lot more angst in this book because it's told from a Then and Now perspective, and the Then is rife with issues. Brooke and Jack met when they were at the same university. Jack was a Ta and best friends and roommates with Brooke's TA. They are both well aware that it's against guidelines for them to get together. They are adults when they decided to get together, and they go against what Jack's best friend asks him to do, which is to wait until another semester when there isn't a conflict of interest. Lots of words of betrayal are thrown about, but honestly, I don't get why either of them felt betrayed. They knew what they were doing was complicated, and they got burned by it. Also, as someone who has studied in Scotland, I had a hard time getting over the fact that Brooke just stayed in Scotland after losing her student visa. That's really hard if not impossible to do, especially as a ghost writer. The Now sections of the book are a bit better, but honestly, there's very little Com to this book. They pine for each other, they help each other camp and all, but it's like this book is missing all the fun parts of a Romance. (And I also find it unbelievable that on a famous walking trail there could be a town that sells zero tents.)

Maybe the descriptions of scenic Scotland and a little steaminess will be enough for you.

Brooke's life is not exactly where she hoped she would be. She dropped out of the University of Edinburgh without graduating (she missed the cap and gown - I hope no one tells her Edinburgh grads have monastic robes instead), instead of writing her own books, she's ghostwriting for others, and her love life is non-existent. So when she and her ex, Jack, have to hike together on the Isle of Skye, it's the last place she wants to be....and wants even less to deal with the chemistry still between them

As an Edinburgh grad, this book was right up my alley - obviously with the exception of one dig at Philly sports fans in the book (go birds!). I love the trope of American girls meeting Scottish highland farmers as much as anyone, but Scotland is a thoroughly modern place. I really enjoyed the Jack, our male main character, is a photographer and professor, showing a diverse perspective of what Scotland is today. It was nice to see a book that showed both the beauty of Skye, and how frustrating the midges can be! A pivotal scene is set in the train station at Edinburgh, which is an incredibly beautiful and thoughtful spot...but not one that shows up in a lot of romance novels written by Americans.

I also really enjoyed how the main characters bonded over art. Brooke is a writer and Jack is a photographer; one of the questions the book asks is how we can use art to show people the places we love. This book was not only a great read, but made me want to buy a photograph of my old university to hang on my wall - which I judge as a great success.

One note is that the book does contain a relationship between the TA and student. This is a trope I tend to be skeptical of, but I really appreciated that the book acknowledged that there can be power imbalances

Would recommend to anyone who enjoyed Lana Ferguson's Loch and Key or Outlander, but wants to get to know another side of Scotland

I didn’t know i loved second chance romances until i read this arc!! The story of Brooke Sinclair and Jack Sutherland on a long trek through Scotland was well paced and packed with intense chemistry and suspense. This was such a feel good read, and the ending was particularly emotional and satisfying. I hope everyone gets a chance to read this when it’s published on March 4th!!

Brooke has been stuck ever since she was expelled from college. Rather than continuing to pursue her dreams, she's taken to ghost writing. Now she's working with her old mentor, Mhairi, on her memoirs and has agreed to hike the Skye Trai to make the book feel more authentic. There's just one catch. Mhairi’s nephew Jack is taking pictures for the book and going along on the hike with Brooke. He's the man who got her expelled seven years ago and broke her heart in the process. All she has to do is not fall for him again.

Read if you like:
-Dual Timeline
-Second Chance Romance (Now)
-Forbidden Romance (Then)
-Forced Proximity/Only one Tent
-He make her feel Safe/Calms her in a panic attack
-Slow Burn
-Finding Inspiration & Courage

Alexandra Kiley has done it again! I loved Kilt Trip but Scot and Bothered might be my new favorite from her. It is seriously so good. The dual timeline worked so well for this story. The looks at the past followed the pacing/progression of present storyline, complementing it rather than distracting or derailing it. And the emotions were so good. I was crying real tears by the end. Alexnadra really ripped my heart out in the third act. I loved that Brooke and Jack were flawed but fell for each other anyway. They complemented each other so well.

Highly recommend this one!

This was everything a second chance should be!! The angst, the heart shattering recounting of the heartbreak that broke Jack & Brooke apart the first time and how they come back together. I loved everything in this; the realistic emotions that are so deep the reader has no choice but to FEEL everything. I loved seeing how their shared relationship anchored them together, while still shining light on the anchor of their love from the past. A strong plot, beautifully done writing that wraps you up in the characters from the start have created a highly recommend read for 2025 that will break you, just to wrap you back up by the end.

I’m a simp for the Scottish scenery, food, vibes, etc in this book. Then I became obsessed with Brooke and Jack’s relationship. The pair survive Isle of Skye and its seagulls. I know personally they are RUTHLESS with chips… Featuring an adorable twist on some tropes.

I really enjoyed the overall storyline of this book and that it was set in Scotland. Often though I found myself feeling like it was moving a bit slow. Mhairi's character and liveliness was wonderful! The character development was spot on. I felt connected to each one.

Brooke is a ghost writer who is struggling to find and be herself. In university, she meets Jack, who then happens to be a TA in the course she is taking. [not her TA, this is a crucial point] Brooke and Jack are thrust back together to complete a project for their mutual connection. Something I loved about this book was the time jump from then to now! Getting to know the backround of their story was both heartbreaking and sweet at the same time. The adventure in such a nice setting was so fun to read. I loved getting to read their story of past, present, with a glimpse into their future. If you enjoy slow-burn, second chance, forbidden romances, this book is a good choice!

I love second chance but unfortunately I just couldn’t get into this one! I didn’t feel the chemistry between the characters and it felt too focused on the parts of the plot not the plot as a whole if that makes sense!

This is a second chance romance about Jack and Brooke who meet at university and reconnect years later via their shared connection to his aunt, which is her old professor. They spend two weeks together hiking in Scotland and their love is rekindled.

This book really wasn’t my cup of tea. I think I would have been more emotionally attached to the story without the “then” parts of them at uni, it just seems to slow the story down for me.

This was another DNF for me. I gave it 10 chapters to lure me in and take me to a place. it did not.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this cute romance. It's the second book in a series and I've read the first one - Kilt Trip. It was fun to see the connection to the characters in that first book. The main characters here have a second chance at romance, with hiking and family drama all wrapped up in it. This was a lighthearted read, and my favorite thing about it was reminiscing about the Isle of Skye and traveling in the highlands.

Scot and Bothered is a solid second-chance romance that offers an entertaining journey through the Scottish landscape. The book explores the rekindling of old feelings between Jack and Brooke, set against a sweeping backdrop that adds depth to their story.
While the characters are wonderfully real and relatable, the novel is a typical romance theme. The dual timeline approach keeps the narrative interesting, providing insights into the characters' past and present.
The novel shows promise, with moments of genuine tension and emotional connection. It's a grounded romance that will appeal to fans of the genre, offering a satisfying read without being groundbreaking. If you're looking for a light, entertaining romance with a Scottish setting, this book is worth picking up!

A sweet second chance romance set in the Scottish Highlands with a focus on both characters learning to take chances and follow their dreams...

I'll be honest, as a queer person, I often struggle with 'forbidden love' het romance novels where the forbidden aspect is just.... a lack of professionalism ? Feels very contrived to me. I mean, in this particular case, a romance between a student and one of her classes' TA that fell apart because they experienced consequences from said relationship does make me chuckle a little. Just talk about your feelings and wait 15 weeks yk? But, I will say, even though it is far from my personal favourite trope, this was a relatively well executed version of it. The miscommunications resulting from said relationship being discovered felt realistic, as did the rebuilding of the trust between them. I feel like the dual timeline and dual POV also worked well for this story and was well balanced.

I do think the novel suffers a little from being so short and from the fact that so much of it is spent with only the two main characters on the hiking trail. It makes the world feel a little flat when side characters, aside from Brooke's mentor and Jack's aunt Mhairi, don't get the opportunity to get properly fleshed out.

All of that being said, while the love story was more sweet than overwhelmingly romantic, the true star of the novel is the trail and the immersive descriptions of Skye and the Scottish landscape. Makes you want to pack a bag and go, though I know I need very little convincing. I do wish Edinburgh as a city had received the same treatment. As someone who lived there and fell in love with it, I wish it had been described with the same passion.

Overall a cute story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for this honest review.

This is the second book I’ve read by Alexandra Kiley! I have to say I really enjoyed it, I adore a second chance romance. Jack and Brooke met while in university in Edinburgh. A whirlwind romance that ended in betrayal due to a conflict of Brooke being a student and Jack being one of her teacher’s assistant. It’s been seven years since they last seen each other, now they are stuck together on a hiking trip around Skye for a memoir that Brooke is cowriting for. Jack is the nephew of the author and just so happens to be the new photographer for the memoir.
The chemistry is so good between them! I enjoyed the close proximity trope aspect, it always makes the second chance romance so much sweeter. I’m not usually one to enjoy a past/present timeline, but I found it very enjoyable. Also, I absolutely love Scotland and I really enjoyed reading all the scenery of Skye, it’s one of my bucket list places.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for my honest review and opinions.

3.5 rounded down. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Let's be honest: I requested this book because the title made me laugh and truly I always want to giggle with a romance book. "Scot and Bothered" is a second-chance romance following Jack and Brook through two different eras of their lives, the first during their initial love affair during college and the second, which follows them in the present as they hike the infamous "Skye Trail" now as they have to work together to write the memoir of Jack's aunt who is also Brooks writing partner and idol.

So many aspects of this novel were really great. The setting was incredibly vivid, especially as Jack describes the trail that he so clearly loves. I also loved to watching the characters grow as individuals and learn to cohabitate as they went on this journey. They also so clearly love Mhairi it makes readers love her, too.

I do think that the romance fell a little flat on this one. The initial college timeline had a lot of chemistry and yearning, but it just did not feel fully realized in the present. This book is so short and I think could have benefitted from a little more meat within the present chapters dedicated to filling out their relationship.

Overall, this was cute and sweet, but nothing to write home about.

This book follows writer and photographer, Brooke and Jack. The pair share a past and are forced to work together after years apart. They set out to hike the Skye Trail in an effort to help their mentor complete her memoir. I enjoyed the Scotland adventure aspect of this book. It was such a beautiful setting and very much had me ready to book a flight. Overall, this was a cute book with a sweet second chance romance.

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

ᴛʀᴏᴘᴇꜱ:
💕 Second Chance
✨ Forced Proximity
🫶🏼 Dual POV
⛺️ One Tent
📷 Grumpy Cinnamon Roll MMC
🕰️ Now & Then Timeline

Thank you to Alexandra Kiley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the review copy of 𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙!