I didn't realize the book was narrated by the author, Evie Alexander, until the very end and wow what a stellar job! I thought the romance was cute, I enjoy enemies to lovers and the addition of the hidden identity definitely added depth and intrigue. Overall it was a great audiobook!

Thank you to author, Evie Alexander, for the gifted ALC!

I just finished Highland Games by Evie Alexander audiobook - Narrator Evie Alexander and here are my thoughts.

Zoe needs a change, so when she inherits a cabin in a remote area of Scotland, she leaves her big city life and takes off for the Scottish Highlands. Her expectations do not meet the reality and even sunshine Zoe can see this is much more than she was anticipating. The roof needs to be replaced, the door… well what door…is just the tip of the iceberg. Her uber hot neighbor has taken an instant dislike and wants her gone.

Her neighbor is a grump of a bear… Rory has the weight of the world on his shoulders trying to get Kinloch castle solvent. Now that the cabin on the land is free, he can see a place for himself except there is now a woman living in it.

Rory wants her out and he will do whatever it takes except Zoe isn’t going anywhere and he is in for the fight of his life.

Firstly, I try not to listen to books narrated by the author. I find they don’t do a great job of it… Evie Alexander is the exception. Her voice is magical and sucked me right in from the first sentence. She has high energy and I loved her as a narrator.

Who doesn’t love grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers in a small town. That is literally the winning combo for all good romance books. This book had something else too…. It’s hilarious! The witty banter had me wiping the tears from my eyes. The things they get up to… comedy gold.

So Rory wants the cabin. He’s been working on fixing it up but he has no idea it was willed out. The cabin is on leased land. The things he does to try and get Zoe out… LOL!!! Zoe isn’t giving in and Rory has met his match.

I love watching their feud turn to understanding, friendship then some seriously steaming scenes… oh yes, there is some beautifully crafted spice right here too. This book should check all your boxes.

I loved the writing, everything was balanced with expert skill. I am definitely gunning for book 2 now.

4.5 stars

Thank you to @eviealexanderauthor @netgalley and #emlinpress for my gifted copy!

I received an audiobook copy of this for my honest review

I loved how the narrator was the author - I think this gives such insight into how they really feel about the story and how it progresses!

The FMC in this story inherits a small cabin in Scotland after her great uncle passes away. It's a very remote structure that doesn't have electricity, running water, or even a proper door when she gets there, but she is determined to fix it up and make it hers. This would be a lot easier if our MMC didn't want to live there himself. He keeps his true identity hidden, but works to try and persuade her that she doesn't really want to stay, she will miss modern conveniences, but she is tougher than he thinks. The bigger problem is that his mother doesn't want him involved with her, and wants that land. Will she be able to make the cabin a functioning place to live or will she be driven out?

3.5 stars

I enjoyed the story and plot, I liked the MCs and even the side characters. At times the dialogue (especially during spicy scenes) felt cringey or just off but it might have actually been because of the narrator. While there are some really good things of having the author do the narration like getting the tone right, there are also some downfalls. The biggest one being the narrators voice for Rory (MMC). It felt she was so focused on sounding like a man that all emotion or tone was lost in his dialogue. He was always sounding mean or gruff or all out yelling. The yelling when the writing said “he hissed” or “he growled” really threw me off and made me dislike the MMC at times. It was worst during the spicy scenes too when he would yell things he should be saying sexily. I think a practiced audiobook narrator may have been a better choice. The narrators female voices were actually quite different and distinct and well done though!

3.5⭐️ Cute Rom-Com!

On his death bed, Zoe’s uncle tells her to do something for her - to live her life - and leaves her a small cabin in the Highlands of Scotland.

After his death Zoe packs up her things and heads to the Highlands where she discovers the cabin has no electricity, running water, a leaky roof, or a front door.

To make matters worse the grumpy neighbor Rory has plans of his own for the land the cabin sits on so he starts a plan to try and drive Zoe out of the cabin and back home.

The writing was fun and witty and the audio was read by the author herself - which makes for a great listen. I didn’t feel really connected to the characters, which is probably just a me thing. I would have loved a little more back story and depth on them.

Overall it’s a quick, fun read with great banter - perfect for summer.

Romance content: 3+ open door scenes with language.

This was my first book by the author, and really liked it.

The setting was beautiful and the characters made everything come alive so much more.
The banter was great, and there were definitely some scenes that made me laugh out loud.... Around people. No regrets.

The book was great and something I do recommend for others to check out as well.

Thank you to Netgalley for offering me this book for my review.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book for my honest review.

This book is read by the author which I really liked. This was a fun book set in the Scottish highlands which I love and while I felt the book was a little slow to start I ended Up really enjoying the book!

This was wonderful! It was the perfect weekend read for a weekend full of chores. It kept me laughing and the dialogue was fabulous. I'm not a rodent fan, but Basil sounds lovely! The setting and characters couldn't have been more perfect. It was a delight!

Zoe inherits a remote ramshackle cottage in Kinloch and abandons her London life to take advantage of it, little realising that her nearest neighbour Rory has had his eyes on it and would like nothing more than for Zoe to go back where she came from - but Zoe has no such intentions!
I love the cover of this book, it's hilarious and the book is a rollercoaster of a ride. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook. The book is described as 'steamy' well, baby it's on fire!

Highland Games is a small town, Scottish com rom. Zoey and Rory were cute together. The plot was interesting, but the third act break up was because of a lie and a crappy mom. The audiobook was narrated by Evie Alexander, the author. It was a solid debut novel, and Evie Alexander did a great job narrating.

Thank you to Evie Alexander and Netgalley for an ALC. All thoughts are my own..

City girl Zoe inherits a dilapidated cabin in the Scottish Highlands, dreaming of a peaceful escape. But the roof leaks, there’s no door, and her grumpy neighbor, Rory, wants her gone. Gruff but charming, he’s struggling to modernize a nearby castle and needs the cabin for his own quiet refuge. As Zoe stubbornly refuses to leave, their clashing personalities ignite an unexpected attraction, turning their battle for the cabin into a fight for their hearts.

I LOVED this. Funny and charming, it has all the feels. Zoe and Rory are delightful. They may be opposites, but they fit perfectly together. This novel is an absolute joy to read, and I loved the narration as well.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I absolutely loved this book.

Zoe has just lost her uncle who left her his cabin in Scotland where she spent an unforgettable summer with him when she was a child. She decides to pack up her life and move there. However when she gets there it is in worse condition than she expected.

All Rory wants is to forget about his responsibilities and move into the cabin that he spent a very memorable summer in with crazy Willy. He is shocked to find a woman there. Now he is going to try everything he can to get her to leave.

This is a cute enemies to lovers romance. The narrator did a great job portraying the emotion that both Zoe and Rory felt. Their banter was great. The pace was good and I was able to easily follow when there was a character change. The text messages were handled well and I could always tell when a text was being read. Chapter changes had sufficient pauses.

This was my first audiobook read by the author and I could not have been more pleased. The emotion came through very well. Overall I think the author not only did a great job writing the book, but narrating as well. I look forward to finishing the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Emlin press for this audiobook in exchange for my very honest review.

Highland Games
A Grumpy Sunshine, Enemies-to-Lovers, Steamy Romcom. The Kinloch Series, Book 1
by Evie Alexander
Narrated by Evie Alexander

I received a digital copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely delicious. Like soaking in a steaming bubble bath with one’s preferred sweet baked good. Enveloping you in sweetness and steam.

This is a dual POV enemies to lovers grumpy sunshine madcap contemporary Scottish romcom. Open door steam with a huge godlike man who is let’s say very giving in his affections.

Vivid descriptions that truly paint a picture of the setting and environment. The audiobook is read by the author and therefore without a doubt read in the intended inflection, personality and speed.

A very self possessed heroine with real world skills and a pragmatic outlook. Loved her love of spreadsheets and that she is confident in her abilities. Quirky sense of humor and the ability to take a step back and not catastrophize her problems.

The hero is a big rough around the edges cinnamon roll with layers of doubts, past hurts and current overwhelm without being too dramatic. The heroine is able to support him in a truly valuable way.

I adored this book and cannot wait to read or listen to the rest of the series!

5/5

Much thanks to Evie Alexander, Emlin Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm relieved to report this book is great! I was leery of the cover art that, while funny, lacks finesse, as well as the narration by the author. But it sounded fun, so I gave it a shot.

We could have used a glimpse of Zoe's life before she moved to the cabin; we're told she needed a change, but not shown. Not vitally necessary, but it might have helped me understand her baffling determination to live in the cabin, which sounded little better than a cardboard box under a bridge. I know she had fond memories of her uncle, but still....yikes.

Rory was a great grumpy hero; his POV helps the reader understand why he was treating Zoe so poorly, why he was resisting her. Meeting Lucy and being shown, not told, what she was like might have helped me decide how to feel about her. I didn't know if she was supposed to be a "bad guy" or a good person who was just getting pushed around by Rory's mom. I didn't feel like I quite had closure on the Lucy conflict at the end.

As a character Zoe was a bit ridiculous, and I rolled my eyes at her a few times. Mistaking the man for a bear and throwing a loaf of bread at him? Ramming his truck because he'd omitted one aspect of his identity? Immediately assuming the worst without asking for an explanation? Yeah, she could be dramatic, but other traits redeemed her---her instant love for the rat, her good relationships with her friends and family, her determination to live in that hovel. So, immature at times, but also endearing.

I'm left with questions at the end, and I really hate when that happens. The audiobook ended and my first thought was, Wait, what happened with the castle?? The conflict Rory's entire subplot revolved around? Nada. Also, more minor, how did his mom know Zoe rammed his truck? No one saw it, and Rory wouldn't have told her.

If it didn't say on the cover that the author was also the narrator, you wouldn't guess it. She sounded like a professional to my ear. Maybe she has a background in voice acting, I don't know. The only thing that was weird was a couple times she pronounced something awkwardly as if she wasn't familiar with the phrase, and I sit there thinking, You wrote this, right? Why didn't you know how to inflect it? But it's a very very minor complaint.

All that said, this really was a fun, charming story with likeable, endearing characters, a classic setting, and delicious smut. And hilarious animals---the highland cattle, the rat, the dog. Zoe's very lucky that those highlands weren't as playful as my mini, or she'd have been either skewered or trampled, entirely by accident.

Reality sets in when Zoe arrives at the remote cabin her uncle had left her in his will. No water, power, phone, or Wifi. This is really roughing it. But she is bound and determined to make it. Then she meets Rory, and she is completely enamored.


Many thanks to Net Galley and Emlin Press for an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This has all the cliches you can imagine, in the best possible way. It’s sweet, smart, funny and definitely more than a little bit raunchy.

Zoe, our English city girl, an accountant who is less than enamoured with her life gives it all up when she inherits a remote cabin in the Scottish highlands. Unfortunately when she arrives the cabin is literally that, a cabin with no electricity, no bathroom, no kitchen, a roof that is going to offer nothing in the way of protection from a Scottish winter and to top it all off it doesn’t even have a door!

Enter Rory, Rory has been coveting the cabin for himself, and is more than a little put out at Zoe’s arrival, in fact, he sees no other option than to force her out, what ensues is a little madcap, enemies to frenemies, frenemies to lovers situation.

I loved Zoe, with her quirks and her kindness and Rory with all his brooding charm and secrets, let me tell you my heart melted when that beautiful bed was discovered. Please don’t tell my children but the Rat won a piece of my heart too.

Written and narrated beautifully by Evie Alexander, I’d definitely pick up the next in the series.

4 🌟
Infact no, I’ve changed my mind.
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends

Special thanks to Evie Alexander and Emlin Press via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audio arc.

What’s better than a great romcom listen? Not much! This was such a cute book! I loved it! Pick this up on pub day!