Scot and Bothered is a cute story about a ghost writer Brooke who goes on a trail that was founded by the woman Mari she is helping write her memoir. Jack is Mari's nephew and the photographer for her book. Both Brooke and Jack have a steamy history, but their trist did not end well. A d now they are walking Mari's trail and old feelings and emotions start coming back.

The narration on the other hand is not great. Jack's character is great and voices are perfect for each character. However, Brooke's character could be better. First, Brooke is supposed to be American and there are so many Scottish accented words that it is not believable and you can tell the voice actor is not American. Second, there are lots of mouth noises that it gets distracting, such as swallowing either from drinking water or clearing her throat. Those need be edited out before it is released.

Story is great, but would be better not listening as an audio book. That's the only reason I'm only giving 2 stars.

This second-chance romance, narrated in a “now” and “then” format, featured forced proximity and a “one tent” trope. I was drawn to this book because of its Scottish setting and witty title. I also enjoyed Alexandra Kiley’s previous book, Kilt Trip. While the setting of Scot and Bothered was lovely, and the Scottish references were a great touch, I struggled to connect with the story.

Thank you, Alexandra Kiley, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this audiobook! The sound quality was excellent. The narrators, Angus King and Savannah Davies, did a great job bringing the characters to life. They especially did a nice job of switching between Scottish and American accents depending on who was speaking in their perspective chapters.

I attempted to listen this book on audio but it was too difficult to follow. The story felt muddled and was dragging. DNFed at 34%

3.5 stars.

"Scot and Bothered" by Alexandra Kiley isn't quite as amazing as "Kilt Trip," but it's still a really good follow-up! This second-chance, forced-proximity, forbidden (college T.A./student), past-versus-present, only-one-tent/bed romance set in Scotland will certainly make you want to drop everything and fly over to the land of the Gaels. The Scottish setting plays an important role in this book, too. You can almost feel the mist hitting you in the face as it rolls off the moors, sense the squishing of mud at your feet, and feel the wind whipping in your hair as you read this novel. You can see craggy rocks, uncharted paths, and trees and mountains galore. As for the main characters, Brooke and Jack do have excellent banter with one another, though I wasn't totally sold on their romance until about halfway through reading this book. I could have used a bit more chemistry between them beyond the physical. There is also an emotional undercurrent running through their story as Jack's aunt Mhairi wants Brooke to ghostwrite her memoir and seems to be on a tight and quick timeline to get it done. Brooke doesn't exactly know why, but Jack does, leading to a lot of conflicted emotions for him as they trapse across Scotland taking pictures and writing, respectively.. The story also has a lot to say about legacy and what you leave behind when you're gone. This story is very similar to "Kilt Trip" in many ways, but without a lot of the emotional punch and chemistry between leads. Still, this story is definitely worth reading. I did like the dual audiobook narration by Angus King and Savannah Davies. Angus King, in particular, makes this story shine with his voiceover work.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alexandra Kiley, and Harlequin Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I could not finish this one. The narrators were fantastic, however, the storyline just was dragging and had little movement after 25%

Synopsis: Ex-lovers are forced to spend a week together hiking through the Scottish Highland

Thoughts: Scotland, specifically the Isle of Skye is my favorite place I have ever visited, so this was such a lovely journey through this beautiful landscape! Jack and Brooke are both captivating characters with a very believable will-they-won’t-they love story. This is a second chance romance done right! I really enjoyed the audio narration as well!

Read this if you like:
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 camping
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 second chance
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 found family
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 forced proximity
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 dual timeline

“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!

Read if you like:

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

Second chance romance with a dash of it’s always been you.

This story ended up having a much darker tone than I originally imagined. As light hearted as their journey to Skye seemed it was often over shadowed by the looming loss of a loved one.

Brooke got involved with a TA and subsequently lost her scholarship at the university of Edinburgh and also lost the love of her life. She seems to have let this one incident define her career and instead of writing for herself she ghost writes for other people. When she lands her dream memoir and a chance to have her name finally in the credits she jumps at it. Unfortunately this job also involves her former fling who she blames for ruining her life.
The isle of skye brings them together until they are confronted with the loss and it forms a wedge once again. Can Jack and Brooke figure themselves out and find their way back to each other? That’s the question.

Thank you HTP for the ALC, I really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrators were fantastic.

Duel timeline allowed us to see the MCs history and current storyline. The narrators were great at telling the story while also exploring the natural beauty of Scotland. It was an enjoyable read, but did include some previous trauma and grief.

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 adored Angus King’s narration for Jack. Let’s be honest: I love a Scottish accent. This audiobook gets bonus points for Jack’s POV, not just his dialog, being done with the Scottish accent. While the narration from Savannah Davies is pleasant, I wish she had infused more energy into her portrayal of Brooke.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Harlequin Audio and HTP Hive. All review opinions are my own.

🎧𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌🎧

𝑺𝒄𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 by @akileybooks

🗓️ March 4th - 𝕆𝕦𝕥 ℕ𝕠𝕨

📄 336

4⭐️

𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥:
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Second Chance
📖Former Lovers turned Enemies
📷Dual Timelines
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Slow Burn
📖Forced Proximity
📷Scottish Setting
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Highland Cows

Brooke had dreams of becoming an author but now she ghostwrites for others after a forbidden relationship wrecked her plans. When her former mentor asks for help, she can’t say no. Determined to write authentically, she must now trek the Skye Trail - Two weeks and 80 miles. When she learns the photographer that will be joining her is her former lover, Jack, she wonders if this is even possible. Now she must learn to work closely with him while also sharing a tent. What will come of the time spent together and miles traveled?

𝕄𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
Scot and Bothered was a beautiful story of self-discovery, forgiveness, and the beauty of letting go. The Scottish setting made for an unforgettable reading experience. I added Scotland to my bucket list so fast! The narration of this audiobook brought this book to life and the ascents were spot on. I also really enjoyed the dual timelines, a glimpse into the past had me cheering for them even more in the present. Brooke and Jack were such great characters - real, relatable, and raw. The growth and maturity throughout their journey was great. One tent, need I say more?!?!
Scot and Bothered is so beautifully written - this was my first book by Alexandra Kiley but it will definitely not be my last!

@htp_hive @htpbooks @netgalley

Kiley makes you wish you were in Scotland with Brooke and Jack. As the two trek along Scotland and has out their past, you get to know what lead them to this second chance. Brooke being a ghost writer and Jack being a photographer made them the perfect pair for the famous author Mhari's memoir. Told between the past and the present, this second chance romance is swoonworthy and makes you want to go visit Edinburgh. The dual authors are amazing! I love that Jack's narrator has a scottish accent. Would recommend.

This was such a strong sophomore novel by Kiley. It’s well-written, it’s a love letter to Scotland, and the dual points of view are really well structured. It’s about being vulnerable, about confronting your past, and about finding your happiness. I can’t wait for Kiley’s next one.

Scot and Bothered tells the complicated story of Brooke and Jack through a dual timeline of “then” and “now”. A forbidden TA/student relationship between the two of them causes consequences for them both, but they reconnect years later to write and photograph Jack’s aunt (Brooke’s mentor)’s memoir. With feelings unresolved and emotions at an all time high, they navigate this second chance.

I enjoyed how this story captured the rugged nature and beauty of Scotland. I was interested in how the story between the two would unfold. Personally, I would have loved a bit more chemistry between our lovebirds (both then and now) and a deeper dive behind the emotions of their past. It also would have been nice to get a bit more backstory of Brooke and her life in the US, but the book was enjoyable nonetheless.

A huge thank you to HTP Hive, Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the ALC copy of Scot and Bothered for my honest thoughts! Grab your copy now!

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

Audio: Dual narrators for dual POVs is always a good idea. Jack’s POV is performed by an actual Scot! Angus King nails the Scottish accent, of course, but more impressively, his American accent is flawless (no cringey fake American voice here). Brooke’s POV is performed by Savannah Davies — I can’t find much about her online, so I’m wondering if it’s a pseudonym. Either way, she delivers a fabulous performance. Definitely a great one to pick up on audio!

Thank you Harlequin Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: Forced to hike Scotland’s rugged Skye Trail together, a ghostwriter and the man who broke her heart must confront their past and rediscover love in *Scot and Bothered*.

My review: Scot and Bothered delivers a heartfelt contemporary romance set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Scottish Highlands. With vivid descriptions that bring the setting to life, the story is packed with beloved romance tropes—strangers to lovers to enemies to lovers, insta-love, forbidden romance, second chances, and forced proximity—all wrapped in the undeniable pull of "it's always been you." The dual timeline adds depth, allowing readers to witness Brooke and Jack’s love in its purest form before heartbreak and then follow their journey toward forgiveness and rekindled love. Filled with emotion, scenic beauty, and the promise of true love, this story is a journey worth taking. I absolutely loved it!

Fiction / Romance - Romantic Comedy / Romance - Contemporary / Family Life

Scot and Bothered is scheduled for publication on March 4th, by Harlequin Audio.

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.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC of this novel!

3.75/5 ⭐️

I’m glad I was browsing NetGalley, otherwise I probably wouldn’t haven’t known about this book! It’s a cute and also emotional story of second chances and writing (literally and figuratively)your legacy. Also it takes place in Scotland , one of the most beautiful countries!

For the audio: The narrators were great and the pacing was good.

Give this book a shot if you love
- second chance romance
- books about creative jobs (writing, photography)
- hiking
- Scotland
- HEAs

Thank you so much, Netgalley and Harlequin Romance for the ebook and audio ARC of Scot and Bothered! My favorite thing about this book was the setting. I felt like I was transported to Scotland and loved hearing about each adventure. I loved the aspect of forbidden love and then the enemies to lovers in the later timeline. The one bed trope being one tent was great as well!

Overall, a fun quick read! The audiobook is dual narration, not duet. But it had a male narrator with a Scottish accent which was great!

Thank you to Netgalley and #harlequinaudio for an advance listening copy of this book. I loved it. 5 stars.