I don’t know what to say about this book. I listened to 40% of the audiobook and I couldn’t even tell you what I listened to. There was no plot. The narrator wasn’t very engaging but that could be a function of the plot…

I listened to this audiobook of Scot and Bothered and was super enticed by the title, cover, Scottish vibes, dual POV, slow burn, and forced proximity.

Sometimes when I read (in this case listen) to a book - it just gets that middle of the road feeling. This was how this book was for me. It is not a bad read, by any means, but it didn't put me in a chokehold either. The characters are good overall, but sadly they are not taking up rent free space in my brain. The back and forth timeline sometimes fell flat for me and for some reason just didn't love it. Again, this book was not bad and I'm sure if you've been to Scotland or love that second change romance vibe you may actually truly enjoy it!

3.25-3.5⭐

This was a good palette cleaner book!
Sweet story of two people who found each other again after previously trying to make a relationship work at the wrong time.
While it has a bit of a sad premise (pancreatic cancer representation), the story is so sweet.
A second chance romance. Finding yourself and finding love.
Love that the FMC is a writer and the MMC gave me all the cozy teddy bear vibes.
Scottland as the backdrop!
Plot is well written in both places of time. Pace is done well throughout.
Characters are well developed.
Quick read!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

Story about second chances; not just in love, but in yourself and following your dreams. Learning that sometimes you just have to take the risk and travel the journey, even if you go a little off course. Listened to the auto book, narrators did well with going between voices. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the chance to listen to this story.

Rating: 4 Stars

Narrators: Angus King and Savannah Davies

I enjoyed this book. It is more Women's Fiction than Romance, but it was still pretty good. It follows an American who is working on becoming a writer and has some hiccups along the way and fell into ghost writing and a Scottish trail photographer. This books jumps back and forth between now and 7 years ago and shows the relationship between Brooke and Jack as they get a second chance while working on Mhairi's Memoir.

The narrators both did really well narrating Scot and Bothered.

Text-
Duel timeline and duel POV

I’m not a huge fan of second chance romance but this has pretty good. The reason they broken up in the past, and that whole scenario, was really frustrating. I felt like it really could have used some groveling.

You get some nice character growth but they probably both could have done with some therapy. I did get a little emotional there at the end with one of the side characters.

I’m not outdoorsy so the hiking/camping aspect didn’t speak to me but the setting was nice. It really makes you want to go to Scotland experience it.

Overall I didn’t hate it but it wasn’t a 5 star read for me. I probably wouldn’t do a re-read but I would read the author again.

Audiobook-
I love when you get two narrators for a duel POV book. You got a bit more acting with them. And the MMC accent was pretty good.

I really enjoyed this book. I listened to it on audio and the two narrators brought this story to life. This story flows between time periods that slowly unravel the relationship between or two main characters. The authors writings transports you to the Scottish highlands making you feel like you are the one on this epic once in a life time adventure.

I loved this audiobook. It did have a slow start for me. I really liked how the narrators made it feel like we were hiking the trails with them in the way they described the scenery and views. It felt almost magical hearing some of the descriptions. I loved the barter between the fmc and mmc as they started to work through some of their past troubles. I love a second chance romance and this was well done. I did keep finding myself wanting more of the now and less of the past at times because I was so caught up in their current story. I see why we needed both views though so as a reader/listener we could have the whole picture which I loved. I also truly enjoyed that not only was this a second chance romance but a journey for both main characters finding out about their own path and what they want from life. Learning and growing as they worked to overcome their issues and hurt from the past was something that is very relatable. I think the narration brought the story to life! I loved getting to see little bits and pieces of characters from Kilt trip as well and seeing more of the family dynamic carrying over from that book. I really enjoyed finally finding out who was the great love of jacks! I do wish that this book would show as book 2 in the series or related to the first book as an interconnected stand alone grouping so that others who may not have read kilt trip can fully enjoy the cross over moments and follow all the brothers stories! Over all I truly enjoyed this audiobook.

I plan on posting a review on Goodreads, and Amazon. as well as TikTok within the next few days!

This was such a good book! I love the second-chance romance and the heartfelt family vibes in the story. I also really liked that the second chance wasn't so dramatic like they sometimes can be. Maybe I am too forgiving, but I hate when a character is trying to make up for a mistake and the other character is not having it. So I really appreciated that the characters didn't have such a dramatic getting back together story. There was the perfect amount of tension. I also loved the dual timeline.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the audio ARC!

🎧AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🎧

3 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

For the audio I loved the narrators. I am sucker for dual narration so this made me happy. Both narrators did a great job at embodied the characters and it flowed nicely.

The story super cute! It made me wanna hop on a plane to Ireland! I love second chance romance stories so of course this one had me invested. Brooke and Jack are adorable and I loved them!

I listened to a third of this, and I do not know what is going on. I am not sure if it is the accent or the story, but I have not been able to connect with the story.

I haven't gotten around to reading Kilt Trip yet, but I definitely need to now that I have finished Scot and Bothered! This was such a sweet second chance romance, and I loved the way Alexandra Kiley brought Scotland (especially Skye) to life. While I don’t want to hike this rugged trail she talked about, it did bring a wonderful sense of wanderlust to the story and made me more anxious than ever to plan a trip to Scotland! I was rooting for Brooke and Jack to get back together, and I really liked the way Kiley handled the two timelines in this book. We have our current one with Jack and Brooke hiking the trail as well as when they went out the first time and what made it end so badly that they broke up.

I enjoyed the audiobook performances of Angus King & Savannah Davies, and there is nothing I love more than a Scottish accent, so I was pretty smitten with King. I will say I wish I wouldn’t have been able to hear Davies swallowing at times (these are the issues I really hate in audiobooks), but besides that I thought her narration was great. We have some excellent forced proximity throughout as well as an ‘only one tent’ which made for a fun only-one-bed situation at one point. There is a little bit of spice, but it is written in a way that wasn’t overly descriptive, so it doesn’t come across as all that spicy. I also loved the ghostwriting aspect! It was my second time recently reading a book with an MC who had that for a job, but I loved that this was being done for someone as amazing as Mhairi’s character.

Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Spice Rating: 🌶️

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'm no expert on Scottish accents, but I thought the narration was so good! It brought so much life to this story!

Yes Yes, Yes!
I laughed, I cheered, I cried, I sobbed,...
I was so invested in Brooke and Jack and their second chance, but also wanted to learn more of what happened that tore them apart and their relationships with Mhairi.
These narrators were so much fun - and the Scottish accents.... Mmmm hmmmmm....
I loved the dual timelines - seeing how their relationship began.... and the present, and wondering if they would have a second chance.....

There was some tension, there was some pining, there was some forced proximity.... I found myself sitting in the car longer than I needed just to hear more!!

The story started off a bit slow but picked up pace the farther you went along. The narrators did a great job with the audiobook. Once you connected to the characters, you began rooting for Brooke and Jack. It's a great combination of second chance and forced proximity that will keep you motivated to read just a little bit more. I would love to walk parts of the Skye Trail and see all the sites in Scotland.

I wanted to love this audio as I adore a Scottish character but this one felt a little flat. It was okay but nothing memorable. The premise had a lot of potential, ghost writer, second chance romance set in Edinburgh sounded great. The execution was lacking. I adored the MMC and the audio of his accent was fantastic. The story however was lacking in depth and forgettable.

I really wanted to like this but it kind of missed the mark for me. The romance between our MC’s was too instalovey for my liking which sometimes work but I didn’t enjoy it here. Also our MMC basically ruined the FMC’s life and she forgave him so fast. I don’t even know if he apologized? I did enjoy the narration with the Scottish accent and the descriptions of the scenery. Thank you to NetGalley and HTP for this ALC.

This book is a second-chance romance with all the good stuff: forced proximity, only one tent, dual timelines, and emotional slow-burn tension. Brooke and Jack are exes who end up hiking 80 miles through the Scottish Highlands together and the journey forces them to deal with everything they left unresolved.The setting is seriously magical—think moody Isle of Skye vibes and cozy Edinburgh charm.
I loved the chemistry between Brooke and Jack—it’s tense, nostalgic, and so heartfelt. There’s grief, growth, and a good mix of humor too, plus some thoughtful LGBTQ+ rep woven in.
If you’re into second chances, a bit of angst, and a love story that makes you feel things, this one’s worth the read. You’re in for a romantic, emotional hike (literally and figuratively).

what a beautiful story of second chances! told in a then and now perspective, the two MCs learn to rekindle a tender love for one another. I loved the Scottish setting so so much! detailed and immersive and matched the narrators accent so well! this was my first read for the author but won’t be the last.

I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

I loved this Scottish romance with heart! This book made me want to write again and share my stories with the world or at least my friends. Something I haven't really wanted to do since my mom died. The walk and their past were interesting but it was Marnie and her influence on them both and the trail that really put extra heart into the story. I cried at the end it was so bittersweet. I will read more by this author.