3.75 ⭐️
2 🌶️

Kindling is a cute autumnal romance for anyone who dreams of cozy cabins, crisp forest air, and the magic of the Scottish Highlands. Fans of The Pumpkin Spice Café will adore this one—it’s got lochs, cabins, trucks, queer rep, and a romance that feels both believable and swoony.

Harper, still reeling from heartbreak, escapes to Scotland for a fresh start but finds herself stranded when her rental cabin turns out to be unlivable. Enter Fraser—the grumpy, hard-headed woodcutter who reluctantly offers her a place to stay, as long as she doesn’t distract him from his work. Of course, that rule doesn’t last long, and the chemistry between them sparks like kindling to flame.

I loved the grumpy x sunshine dynamic here. Harper and Fraser bring out the best (and sometimes the worst) in each other, making them feel incredibly real. Fraser can be mean-spirited, Harper stubborn and impulsive—and while frustrating at times, their flaws made their growth and eventual love story more rewarding. Add in some wonderfully diverse side characters, and this small-town Highland setting truly shines.

The spice caught me off guard—it was hotter than I expected but written beautifully, adding depth to their connection (and yes, Fraser calling her sunshine lives rent-free in my head).

Overall, this was cozy, inclusive, and heartwarming with just enough bite to keep things interesting. Kindling is the kind of book that makes you want to curl up with a blanket, sip a latte, and maybe even plan a trip to a Scottish loch.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins Canada, & Bonnie Woods for the ARC!

Kindling by Bonnie Woods

This is the perfect cozy fall romance! It has just the right amount of enemies-to-lovers tension and yes, they’re going to be living in forced proximity… eeek!

I’m a sucker for stories where the heroine escapes the city to write her novel and ends up in the hero’s small town, and Kindling delivers beautifully. The moment he brought her to a bookstore? Come on. Instant heart-melt.

I adored the “rescue in the woods” scene it was so sweet how much he cared and worried about her. And when he showed her what was in his shed, despite being insecure about it, it added such depth to his character.

The writing corner/desk scene had me grinning. And when he discovered the book she was writing, a fairytale version of them? My heart.

Even the acknowledgements were special to me as a chronically ill reader, I deeply appreciate supporting chronically ill authors. It made me feel seen in the most unexpected way.

If you’re looking for a warm, heartfelt romance to curl up with this fall, Kindling is it.

Kindling promises a cozy, autumnal romance set in the stunning Scottish Highlands, but unfortunately, it never fully ignites. The story of city girl Harper, stranded in the forest and offered refuge by the gruff but irresistible Fraser, has all the right ingredients for a heartwarming romance. The setting is beautiful, and the promise of a slow-burn romance between the two characters is enticing.

However, the pacing of the story felt a bit off. While the atmosphere of the Scottish Highlands and the fiery chemistry between Harper and Fraser are central to the plot, it felt difficult to connect with the characters. Harper’s city girl persona and Fraser’s brooding, gruff exterior were predictable tropes that didn’t allow for much depth, making it hard to stay fully engaged.

That being said, if you’re looking for something light and easy, with an autumnal setting and a dash of romance, Kindling may still scratch that cozy romance itch. It just didn't quite live up to its potential in terms of pacing and character development.

Harper and Fraser and a remote Scottish small town? A recipe for the sweetest cozy fall romance. Filled with diverse characters, believable flaws, and the cutest grumpy/sunshine duo, you’re sure to fall in love!

I LOVED THIS NOVEL! Harper is one of the most relatable characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Fraser is what every man should be: sensitive, kind, responsible and understanding. The spice was PERFECT. I loved seeing Harper grow as a character, and confront the negative beliefs that she had built about herself. Truly this novel was a treat, and anything Bonnie Woods writes is immediately going on my TBR.

Rating: 4/5

Kindling was a great book overall. The small town/cozy vibe was perfect. The main characters are interesting and lovable (I really liked Fraser!). I found Harper to be relatable and I enjoyed how her character evolved through the book. The side characters were fun as well and added a lot to the story. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery. It was a nice and fun read and I can't wait to read more from this author!

What to look for:
-Scotland
-Small town
-Autumn vibe
-Cozy
-Great characters

I received an ARC for this book, thank you NetGalley!

3.5 rounded up

Harper has been made redundant in her career, as well as in her relationship. Ready to start anew with a new career and a life of relaxation and Instagram-worthy content, she books a trip away to a remote cabin in Scotland. Everything that could go wrong does, and she quite literally falls into the land of a brooding Scotman who's unknowingly set to change her life.

*****

I really wanted to love this one, and I did start out fully invested in the characters. I could understand their insecurities, their trauma's and how they chose to cope. As the story progressed I found that it all started to feel a bit undeveloped and almost pandering. As a queer, bisexual woman, I found it strange how many characters were part of the community at random in a tiny Scottish town. They were all underdeveloped but thrust into the story in a way that felt odd and like an effort to have the novel be inclusive without actually developing solid inclusive characters.

I also found myself wondering why Harper was planning to use all of her savings to write a book she had zero planning on, while paying for lodging in another country. It just seemed wildly irresponsible for a character that wanted people to take her seriously. Add on Fraser being constantly at everyone's beck and call, giving wood and labour away for free, and toiling away his days in the forest, I wondered how anyone could afford anything.

The fact that I was focusing on logistics and financial feasibility should highlight how much the pace slowed down to the point of wondering where the plot went. Even the spice was present but lacking depth, and the miscommunication felt really odd for two older characters. Overall, this was a decent fluff novel, but softer on the plot and development than I was looking for.

*****

Thank you to Harper Collins Canada for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a cute, and cozy romance book to dive into! It was fun, cute, and the pacing of it was really well done! I had a great time diving into this book & had so many good representations of characters in this book that I really quite liked it! It's very autumn and fall vibes, so definitely a title I will be revisiting in the fall to read and enjoy a pumpkin spice latte to!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

Kindling is a cozy, spicy romance set in the stunning Scottish countryside.Easily one of the book’s biggest strengths. The autumnal atmosphere is beautifully described and perfect for a seasonal read. I also appreciated the believable character flaws that added realism, even if they made the third act a bit frustrating.

The story is steamy and fun, though a bit predictable. I didn’t fully connect with the characters, and Harper’s big-city-fixes-rural-life arc felt a little too simplistic at times. Still, this is an enjoyable, easy read if you're in the mood for lumberjacks, lochs, and a soft escape into the woods.

When Harper gets dumped by her girlfriend and loses her job, what does she do? Leaves the city and takes a solo trip to Scotland to spontaneously write a book. Does she have any idea what the book will be about? No, but the air bnb she had booked floods and she finds herself without a place to stay for the long three months she’d planned to seclude herself. Quite literally lost & stumbling through the forest she finds herself at a strangers cabin. The owner, Fraser is a walking green flag dressed in a lumberjack outfit. If he’s not working as a carpenter, he’s taking care of his mom, sisters, nieces and nephews or delivering free lumber to help people heat their homes.

When this woman who has absolutely no clue what she’s doing with her life comes into Fraser’s life, what else can he do but fall in love with her? Even if he doesn’t want to.

This book was so cute. The representation alone is amazing, from Harper being bisexual to having characters identify as they/them until their pronouns are known. Also having neurodivergent children, absent parents and relationship struggles. The world building and character dynamics are so well written it is so easy to understand and remember.

Extra love for Bernard.


Bisexual Rep ✅
Grumpy x Sunshine ✅
Plus Sized Rep ✅
Opposites Attract ✅

The MMC totally stole my heart—he’s a gentle and protective of those he loves. The FMC was super relatable in the best way—queer, messy, real, and on this heartfelt journey to figure out what actually makes her happy, not what looks good online. Both characters support in each other's journey to being more authentically themselves after being told that they were not good enough. Add in a charming small town in the Scottish Highlands, complete with fairy trails, quirky but lovable locals, and the kind of cozy vibes you want to wrap yourself in, and you’ve got the perfect escape read.

Love forced proximity romances! This one did not disappoint! Loving the cosy summer to fall cabin romance vibes! It’s okay to fall in love after they say don’t fall in love with me!!

When I got accepted for this ARC, I thought « great, a cute 3 ⭐️ romance to take a break between dense romantasies”, how wrong I was. What a gem of a book. What a love story. What an ending. I saw myself in Harper, her doubts, her lack of confidence, her feelings of not-belonging. She touched a part of my heart. I laughed, I cried, I kicked my feet. I ADORE this book, read it! (Please)

Tl/dr : yes, a cozy autumnal read which smells like PSL, but also a gem of a story of self discovery, healing and learning how worthy of love we all are.

What I like :
Harper is SO relatable. Her path to self actualization is amazingly written. She is not evolving thanks to Fraser, she is evolving with him.
The queer representation 🧡
Fraser is so obsessed with her in a green flagged way! His gifts? ♾️ swoon.
« You don't have to earn love or respect. You're worthy of it just because you're you. » EXCUSE ME?
The Scottish Highlands and the accents!

What I didn’t like :
Nothing? If I really needed to find some flaws, I would like a bit more autumnal vibes?

Bonnie Wood is now on my auto-read author list. MORE PLEASE!

Harper, una chica de ciudad que acaba de perder su trabajo y romper con su novia, por lo que busca un retiro otoñal para sanar. Sin embargo, cuando queda varada en el bosque sin alojamiento, Fraser, un hosco leñador escocés, le ofrece su cabaña... con la condición de no distraerlo. Pero ni ella puede ignorar la intensidad con la que él corta leña, ni él puede resistirse a su calidez. Entre hojas rojas y fuegos encendidos, ambos deberán enfrentar sus heridas y redescubrir quiénes son realmente.


Me gustaron sus interacciones y como se ayudaban entre ellos para ser mejor y lograr sus sueños



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

This was a very cute, fall read! I loved the town and its characters, I found a lot of aspects very relatable.

I've been on another romance roll lately, so this was a great book for me to get into. Get me a grumpy Scottish lumberjack any day.
Honestly, it was just a fun read, that was perfect to help me through my reading slump. You get a sweet sunshine FMC, Harper, who is going through it after losing her job and breaking up with her girlfriend. And you get Fraser, who beneath a harsh exterior, is such a sweetheart. And we get to see both coming to terms in many ways with who they are, and learning to stop listening the to voice at the back of their minds that tells them who they should be.
It was a great find, and I'm glad I got to read this book. I'm looking forward to reading more of this world (if I read correctly, there is a second book coming from the same world).

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun romance novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.