“Maybe it wasn’t so easy to edit in real life, to delete and revise and correct, but she was so grateful for the grace to fail and make mistakes and still find a happy ending”

Thank you Canary Street Press and HTPHive for the free book! #hive #htppartner All opinions are my own.

Scot and Bothered is a beautifully told story filled with longing and carefully crafted discussions of grief and second chances.

I was lucky enough to have been gifted both an audio and digital copy of the story and enjoyed both immensely. Angus King and Savannah Davies were flawless in their dual narration so if you are an audiobook listener then this is one that I would highly recommend!

Brooke is a ghostwriter who is afraid to step into the spotlight after being expelled from the University of Edinburgh seven years before. But when her college mentor needs a co-writer for her memoir about the Skye Trail, Scotland’s most challenging trek, she has no choice but to lace up her hiking boots and set out to experience the trail for herself. Unfortunately she soon learns that she will be hiking alongside the man who destroyed her writing career all those years before and left her brokenhearted. Brooke isn’t sure that she can face the hurt she has felt for years in order to open herself up to a second chance to live her dreams but she is willing to try and find common ground.

I am a big fan of second chance romances and I loved how the author wove together Jack and Brooke’s points of view. There is heartache and plenty of messy moments but in the end their love for one another holds true. I will also note that while their love story was beautiful, my favorite part of the book is the messages of grace and the importance of finding the confidence within yourself to fully chase your dreams and find your happy.

The immersive atmosphere and all things Scotland is also a huge plus so if you are fan of travel romance and enjoy emotional stories filled with love and second chances then this is a perfect pick!

Scot and Bothered is available now

Read if you like:

Dual POV
Dual Timeline
Slow burn
Forced Proximity
Travel Romance
Second Chance
Some Spice

The hairy coo on the cover drew me in, but the love story made my stay🥰

I have nothing but great things to say about Scot and Bothered. The way Kiley weaved such vivid descriptions made me feel as if I was actually immersed in the hills of the Highlands! I studied abroad in Scotland at the University of Glasgow, and one of the few things I didn't do while I was there was take the trek to the Isle of Skye. After reading Scot and Bothered, I felt like I was truly there, hiking along with Jack & Brooke. I could feel the soft, squishy, boggy soil beneath my feet; could hear the soft buzz of the serenity that is Scotland. I could almost taste the briny ocean, and I certainly felt the angry pelter of the tumultuous rain (that I always tended to get caught in unknowingly myself when I ran to the library!). Kiley really brought Scotland & the relationship of Jack and Brooke to life on the pages.

This second chance romance, split between past and present POVs, really tugged at my heartstrings. Jack and Brooke were each trying to overcome the past, overcome the fears of what had happened and what could still happen. And that celebration at the end? It was the perfect way to complete this book❤️ I would recommend this to anyone who loves reading about characters chasing their dreams!

If broody Scotsmen, second-chance romance, and a healthy dose of forced proximity are your thing, Scot and Bothered is here to deliver.

Alexandra Kiley takes us straight into the heart of the Scottish Highlands, where ghostwriter Brooke and photographer Jack are thrown together for an adventure neither of them is emotionally prepared for. Their history? Messy. Their chemistry? Still very much alive. Their accommodations? One tent. You see where this is going, and it happens in dual timelines with a ton of juicy detail.

Between the rugged landscapes, the small-town charm, and the spot-on Scottish accents (seriously, reading them was half the fun), this book was a win. I loved Mhairi—Jack’s aunt and Brooke’s mentor—she steals every scene she’s in. She’s the wise, stubborn, hiking-obsessed battle-axe that is the center of gravity in this novel.

There’s a good bit of angst, some grief,some well-earned swoon, and the kind of romance that makes you want to book a one-way ticket to Scotland. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the e-copy—this one was a delight!

Scottish and Bothered by Alexandra Riley is an adventurous stay away story that is quirky ans charming. This book has the feel of a 2000s rom com for sure!

Scot and Bothered

An emotional second chance romance set in Scotland! Told in alternating chapters between 'Then' when Brooke and Jack were at University together, and 'Now', seven years later, when they are forced together on a hiking adventure. There is so much tension between them - before, when their relationship was against university policy because Jack was a TA for Brooke's class, and now, with the simmering tension of how their lives turned out after they got expelled.

Honestly, this one was heavy. It was hard to feel the chemistry and romance between Brooke and Jack because of the intense tension and secrets. This one was ultimately not for me but I think it could be great for someone looking for:

- Second Chance Romance
- Scottish outdoorsy adventure
- Emotional, pining romance

Thank you to Canary Street Press for the ARC! My opinions are my own.

Take a journey to Scotland and traverse the renowned Skye Trail with Jack & Brooke. Alexandra Kiley once again transports readers directly into the vast landscape of Scotland. I felt like I was journeying alongside characters seeing all the sites so expertly described. This is what truly sets Kiley’s stories apart, the connection to the land and to the heart. I adored Jack & Brooke’s story and revisiting the Sutherland family. The family bond here is strong and knowing how lost Jack felt within his family, it was wonderful seeing his connection to Mhairi and how she understood him. We all need that family member who sees past what we put out in the world, that sees the truth beneath the carefully crafted facade. Mhairi truly became a huge character, not just in her person but in the lasting impressions and guidance she left. Watching Jack’s vlog videos throughout the journey, my heart squeezed every time he started. Aching for the loneliness and loss he was feeling. I truly appreciated the back and forth in timeline, to be able to see into Jack & Brooke’s past in real time allowed us to connect to their troubles and mistakes and built a hope for their future. This story is packed with with heart, some lasting life truths and a journey of discovery between two people who thought they’d lost their chance. In the end finding that timing is everything and sometimes we have to live that old adage, “If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it was meant to be.”

𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙖 𝙆𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙮
Thank you, Canary Street Press, for the free advanced copy. This is out now!

Heartfelt, adventurous, and filled with a hope that instantly draws you in 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 is a perfect second chance romance.

Jack Sutherland and Brooke Sinclair are instantly drawn to each other in university, but like most young people, they fall apart.

Years later, they remain connected through their connection to Mhairi McCallister, Jack’s aunt and Brooke’s mentor. Mhairi taps the two to capture her memoir and sends them on a trek through the Scottish Isles.

Jack and Brooke's perfect blend of yearning and tension tugged the reader through the story. I needed a second chance to be angsty, and this slow burn really delivered.

Told in dual timelines, I adored witnessing their beginning and their reunion. The anger and hurt on both sides felt believable, yet the flitters of love were palatable in both timelines.

I so appreciated the way Kiley weaved the past into the present. My favorite thing about a second chance is when the reckoning (to borrow from the great Eli Mora) seems inevitable. Both Jack and Brooke had grown and matured in between, yet they both harbored a lot of hurt. I felt the past moments helped to cement why they were so taken by each other yet set up a believable conflict!

It is my first of her books (I will be back to read more about Logan), and I instantly fell for her writing. Descriptive without being fluffy, I truly felt I was experiencing the Skye Trail right along with them.
While mostly off-page, Mhairi is an influential secondary character, and her wisdom shapes both Jack and Brooke.

Finally, I loved how Jack and Brooke blamed each other for their career struggles when, in fact, both feared taking risks. I found this highly relatable; growth is scary!

I truly enjoyed this second chance tale!

I liked this book! Light, frothy, and DEFINITELY makes me excited for my upcoming trip to the UK! I related so much to the heroine’s struggle, and I loved the voice, but ultimately it was a little forgetful of a book for me. I would recommend to a friend looking for an escapist romance.

Scot and Bothered is guaranteed to give you the travel bug.

Two exes must hike a trail on the Isle of Skye as they partner together on a project, writing and taking photographs for a mutual loved one’s memoir. Along the way, we get glimpses into their past together and see them both strive to prove themselves in the present.

Once upon a time, giving into their chemistry was off-limits. Now many years after breaking each other’s hearts, can they withstand those sparks still sizzling under the surface?

At a glance:
- Dual POV
- Second chance
- Dual Timeline
- Forced proximity
- Travel Romance
- Forbidden / off-limits romance
- Only one tent
- Only one bunk

This book is dripping in want. Want in the past. Want in the present. Brooke and Jack know how to yearn, y’all.

I received an advance copy of the ebook from Harlequin Trade Publishing and HTP Hive. All review opinions are my own.

Brooke is an American expat writer living in Edinburgh who has lost her own story and has been hiding behind ghostwriting gigs for the last several years. She is currently working on a memoir for her mentor, a full-of-life English professor who once helped create a rugged hiking trail through a remote island off the cost of Scotland. In order to bring this story to life, Brooke decides to hike the entire trail herself. Unfortunately, she must accompany the photographer for the memoir - Jack, who broke her heart 7 years ago and crushed her desire to write her own stories. As they battle nature and themselves on this harrowing trek, they find that they cannot escape their shared history, and that there may be a future for them after all. There is delicious yearning and tension set against a beautiful backdrop of Scottish scenery. Their journey through the cliffs is broken up by flashbacks to their burgeoning romance, where it is clear that their love, then and now, is inevitable. Thank you for an ARC of this gorgeously written book!

Thank you so much to Alexandra Kiley for the gifted finished copy of Scot and Bothered, and for HTP/Canary Street Press for the eARC via NetGalley! These are my honest thoughts!

I'm obsessed with this universe + the scenery + adventure makes me want to hop on a plan to head to the Scottish highlands, stat.

I've loved returning to Jack's family, and this second chance/dual timeline romance has the perfect balance of reveal + tension to keep me coming back for more. Just like Kilt Trip, this book ripped my heart out. There's some seriously deep emotional turmoil that happens between these two characters. Jack and Brooke had an epic ending back in college, and in the years since, both have regretted how things went down. The slow way they fell in love the second time, reminiscent of adventures from the first time, made me fall head over heels for their love story. The echoes and callbacks between timelines was well-written, and when the tension finally released, I was both relieved and still worried for their future, which is the BEST kind of slow burn!

Read if you love:
- HE FALLS FIRST
- dual timeline
- second chance
- photography x writer
- travel
- only one tent ;)
- Scotland
- hiking adventure on the Skye Trail
- forced proximity
- reconcile the past
- re-discovering yourself + what you want
- caring and grieving for people who are SUPER important to you

LOVED this story. Hoping we get a third book from the Sutherland boys!

For many, times feel rather troubled. Sometimes, in that situation, a bit of escapist fun is called for. That is what this title offers.

The glue in the story is a woman named Mhairi. She brings together the book’s protagonists. They are Brooke and Mhairi’s nephew Jack. Both have had some bumps along the road. Brooke was expelled from university while Jack, who was also forced to leave university, has turned his back on a family business. The two are brought together when they hike the Skye Trail at Mhairi’s request for her memoir.

These two have some past history. The question now is what will their future hold?

I loved visiting Skye with this couple. Readers will want things to work out for them.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Canary Street Press and Harlequin Audio for the gifted copies of Scot and Bothered!

I listened to this on a whim without even reading Kilt Trip first and OMGGGGGG you guys, this book is SO good. You cannot read this book and tell them this author isn’t an expert at her craft. The writing, the romance, the character development — it’s all executed flawlessly. Chef’s kiss. Perfection.

Set mostly on the Isle of Skye during a hiking trip, Scot and Bothered is highly atmospheric and will make you feel like you’re in Scotland! The scenery is so vividly described that it engages all five senses, completely immersing you in the setting. The author also uses dual timelines to set the scene, alternating between present day and eight (I think) years ago, when the characters first met and fell in love. I don’t usually enjoy books set in college, but this one nails the balance between then and now, giving us just enough history to establish their past without making it feel like a “college romance.”

But the best part of this book is Jack and Brooke’s relationship. If you’ve ever read a review where someone said the chemistry was off the charts, this is what they meant. It’s not about steam, it’s about how perfect they are for each other. Their love feels fated in a way that’s rooted in deep emotional connection, not just lust. From their forbidden romance in college where they try (and fail) to stay away from each other, to their present day reunion, still grappling with the hurt from years ago, every part of their journey felt real. Rom com writers should study these two. Readers, prepare to kick your feet with giddy delight.

Read for:
Second chance romance
Atmospheric setting (Scotland!)
Books about writers
Forced proximity
Well-developed characters on a journey

I really enjoyed this second chance romance. The setting is Scotland and the author does a fantastic job of bringing it to life with her words. Her descriptions of it made me feel as though I was there. I really enjoyed the alternating timelines as well. The conflict of the book was a little frustrating as it could have been so easily solved with a little communication but that is often the case in these types of books. I have previously never read anything by this author but will definitely check out her other stuff now. I am so thankful for a chance to read this arc.

Second chance romance set along a beautiful Scottish hiking trail. Brooke and Jack met and fell in love when she was a student and he was a TA. The forbidden romance crumbled and caused a scandal. Now they are forced together as she ghost writes goes aunt’s memoir and he takes photos for the book. Lots more tropes, forced proximity, just one tent, etc. The way it was written made me want to hike though Scotland.

A second-chance romance between an American writer and a Scottish photographer as they hike the Isle of Skye.

What’s to love...
- Second chance romance
- Scotland setting (hiking the Isle of Skye)
- dual timeline
- only one tent
- slow burn
- themes of grief & self-discovery
- bookish book (writer FMC)
- detailed atmosphere and descriptions of the landscape

What I didn't love…
- I am personally not a fan of dual timeline so that was a negative for me - but I know lots of ppl enjoy it!
- Also not a huge fan of overly descriptive travel scenery so that was a miss for me - but again, I know some ppl enjoy it!
- overall I felt like it lacked tension and banter, the whole book just felt “fine” - certainly not a bad book but not one I'll be itching to reread soon.

Thank you NetGalley and HTP Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I approached this book thinking "oo, a romance novel in Scotland." And perhaps that is all it is and all the author wants it to be and I should not be looking for more. But as I read, I wanted more. The story happens because the MC is ghostwriting a book on the Skye Trail and she gets sent out to walk it because she doesn't bring the soul of the trail into it. And the same can be said about the book. The backstory is dull and lame and who cares. There's another note on the Skye Trail book that says sometimes a book need a preface that quickly summarizes the back story- that could have been done here as well, The back story is so unbelievable and like all things, once you start picking, you make it worse and it's just totally ugh.
But the present story is good. If she had brough in more of the trail. The book could have happened anywhere- she gives you no sense of the majesty At the end of the Bad Step section, I, like I'm assuming many readers will, googled Bad Step Skey and watched some videos and OMG!
I've done long distance trails in Scotland and they are magical. Like she says in the book, they bring you back to yourself and allow you to reach who you are and who you want to be. She touches that, but more would have been nice. There's a scene in a bothy where you get the connection hikers make on the trail, the depth of comradery. I had to put the book down to cry because of that love, remembering the friends I've met, the absolute warmth you feel for complete strangers who have had the same pain you did. I remember having dinner the night we finished the West Highland Wat and someone said "did anyone else stop at the praying stone and pray this would be over," One of the best laughs of my life that only comes from that experience and comradery.
But back to the book, I wanted more of the way such walks touch and affect your soul. I wanted her to get out of her one track mind and realize the power she holds in the world, whether or not the guy loves her. She is so young in the flashback sections and she has done nothing in the intervening 7 years? Is she ready for this great love she thinks she's getting? I hate hate hate the book Wild, but there she finds the trip a way to find herself and grow. I don't think this character grows much (is that really the purpose of a romance I guess) This character finds the trail a way to refind old love and because of that she feels she can grow, I don't predict long, everlasting love coming out of this

Clearly I wanted a different book than the one that was written. And perhaps I would not pick up that other book, cause I wanted to read a nice romance book that takes place in Scotland and bonus, it's on a trail. But she gives me just enough of that other to want that more than what she gives me. And brings the heart that I cried solidly for the last 20 minutes. I'm happy she brought me to Skye, even if it made me forget I was happy I was reading a romance novel.

Scot and Bothered is an emotional second chance romance between a writer and photographer who are collaborating on a memoir. The cover and title are so fun and cute, but, like an Emily Henry book, the story is deep and focuses on the characters' growth as much as the romance. Kiley's descriptions of the Scottish landscape are beautiful and immersive- Skye sounds like an incredible place.

Scotland's beautiful landscape, in all its glory.

I loved being a part of Alex's Street Team and I loved immersing myself into Brooke and Jack's lives and their trip along the Skye Trail, with all the authenticity of the incredible scenery, as the pair are thrown together once again, as they hike their way along, taking incredible photographs and writing up their travels as they go.

Told in two timelines, then, (seven years ago) and now. We flip between the two with 'then' explaining just what happened between the two of them and in my opinion, the mistake Jack made, all those years ago when he broke Brooke's heart. But now they get a second chance at the love they had for each other, but only time will tell if Brooke can put the past behind her.

Scot and Bothered is another enjoyable read from Alex, and her love and passion for Scotland and all things Scottish is evident through her writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alexandra Kiley for the opportunity to read and review Scot and Bothered.

4.5⭐️ Who doesn’t love a Scottish MMC. Loved the second chance romance and forced proximity. I’ve read a couple books with ghost writers now, I’m so intrigued to know more about the process.

Brooke is working hard to earn a fellowship with her hero, Mhairi McCallister. Little did she know that one party would begin a forbidden relationship with a TA. Despite the fact Jack isn’t her TA, it’s still a big no no. Will this ruin her opportunity of a life time.

Jack is head over heels for Brooke. The only problem. She’s a student. But he can’t help himself. While he can’t say the L word yet, this is real and big. But what will it mean for him and the expectation his family has for him.

Years later, their paths are still blended. Will it be together or apart.

Thank you @netgalley @akileybooks and @harlequinbooks for the advanced reader copy. #scotandbothered #netgalley #romancereader #arcreview #romance