Short, sweet perfect Scottish highland romance. I really enjoyed this book, the characters felt realistic and there was no unnecessary drama. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a cosy story to read this autumn! But be warned it’ll make you want to find your own Scottish village to fall in love with a forester.

Summary: City girl Harper’s escape to the Scottish Highlands turns romantic when she’s stranded and stays with Fraser, a gruff woodcutter.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.

This book was not meant to be read in August, in the peak of a summer heatwave with no AC. Kindling was meant to be read in the cosiest place you can imagine: cuddled up with a blanket in an old leather armchair by the crackling fire, in your fluffiest pyjamas, and sipping a warm pumpkin spice latte with a rainstorm as your background soundtrack.

I am not a big romance reader, but I do enjoy a good romance novel here and there, as a palate cleanser between crime/thriller novels. Just to remind myself that there is still some good in the world. Kindling was for me like the first PSL of the autumn season. It was sweet, a bit spicy, and delightful until the very last sip.

We follow the story of Harper and Nathan. Harper has just been fired from her marketing job, dumped by her girlfriend and betrayed by AirBnB. She comes to Scotland looking for a break from her old self. She wants to write a bestselling novel, become famous, and show her girlfriend (and her instagram followers, of course!) what she’s capable of. However, her idyllic getaway soon turns into a complete, muddy nightmare.

Harper is not a damsel in distress but… she is a damsel and she’s in serious distress! Nathan could not care less though, he just wants to be left alone. He wants to do his thing in peace. Chop some trees, plant some more. His community needs him, he cannot get distracted by this gorgeous blonde woman with a Mancunian accent, or can he? *wink wink*

Overall, Harper and Nathan were a very enjoyable, cute pair to read. The setting is perfect (autumn in Scotland, what else?), the story is fresh and uncomplicated, and you will not be disappointed by the quirky ensemble of side characters. Shoutout to Jack, who has a very small part but made me laugh the most. And, if you still needed to be convinced, please know that there is a super cute dog called Bernard and he tends to get his snoot where he shouldn’t!

This was a cute story and I enjoyed the autumnal Scottish setting.
I'm always wary of a Scottish accent being portrayed on page by an author who I believe isn't Scottish, but I do think this was relatively well done.

It did feel a little forced at times, and I would have liked more build up to the relationships and more depth to the characters

The wider characters were great and I would love to see more about them! I would love to hear more about the B&B and the MMCs sisters!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book

(3.5 stars) A cute and cosy read, perfect for the autumn. Whilst it could have perhaps been a bit of a slower burn, the romance was gentle and sweet, with plenty of spice, and the way the FMC and MMC accepted each other and helped each other to grow was so heartwarming!

Thank you for the ARC!

I was lucky enough to have been able to read the ARC of this steamy fall romance via Netgalley

I loved this book, it was filled with differnt types of love, laughter and steamy romance!

Fraser is one of the most wholesome and down-to-earth guys I have read. I’m not just saying due to him being very much ‘I Love Nature’ ‘Live in the woods’ ‘Why do people need social media’ types. Although he has some of these traits that make the foundation of his early character as the story goes on you see layers and layers of the man he is- right down to that gooey centre. There were so many times that I felt I wanted to reach into the story and give him a hug. He’s that man who helps absolutely everyone around him, to his family, neighbours- even a lost woman who falls into his garden. Although he plays everything off as being a big grump, he never allows anyone to get close, believing people leave and that he needs to focus on those who need him and not his own happiness. It was hard to see him make some silly decisions due to his own thoughts and pain. I’m glad he had such a supportive network around him to make him see sense.

Harper- I Struggled with this character for some time. I felt at times that for a person who understands what it is like to be at the mercy of hurtful words- she sure snapped at him and assumed he was thinking/saying something he wasn’t. I understand that this is a reflection of her own inner monologue and troubles but there were times where I was like ‘whoa, he's literally not done anything wrong he’s just trying to help.’ Once I got over that initial hurdle I really enjoyed how she got involved with the community. Her volunteering, her friendship with Cam, Sorscha and Eiley. Her help and support towards Andy was a nice touch and I enjoyed that she decided to continue consulting, tailoring to small businesses.

The “Side” Characters- Frasers family take the cake with this. I loved Cam’s humour, personality and how she was that sister/friend that can be there when you need them most, while also not being afraid to tell you when you’re being an idiot. She’s blunt, no nonsense but not in a hurtful way. I absolutely loved her. We didn't get to see much of Sorscha but she was a brilliant addition too. Two characters that I ABSOLUTELY loved and I hope Bonnie Woods reads this- EILEY AND ANDY. GIVE ME THEIR BOOKS. Eiley has had a tough time and I would love to read more about her stepping out on her own, the struggle and success of her now being a single parent and picking up the pieces of her life. I want her to meet a Primary School or SEN teacher who loves kids and always wanted their own. But they just never found the right person or couldn’t physically have themselves (adopting when single is difficult) . I would love for that person to fall in love with the kids first then find out how utterly amazing she is. Bonus if they’re a southerner- I’m a fan of PG Tips and have had that argument over which Tea is best with a northerner and their love of Yorkshire Tea. I loved that tidbit in the book, so I want some Tea-controversy

Honestly, I have a million ideas- please DM me Rachel/Bonnie.

Why Should Andy get a book? That heart-to-heart with Fraser. That little peek into who Andy is, was amazing. They have more to give - I just know it.

I loved this book. I savoured it and would read it again and any following books *cough* give me those books.

Bonnie Woods should be proud of their work. The descriptions of the setting both made me feel like I was there and made me wish that I was! The characters were fully realised people-with history, personality and array of thoughts and feelings.

Kindling is a lovely cosy read, perfect for the approaching autumnal evenings.
Harper is a city girl who has just been let go from her job and has just been dumped by her girlfriend. She decides to take some time off and goes to the Scottish highlands with the intention of writing a book.
Upon arrival Harper finds that due to unforeseen circumstances, her Air B&B has fallen through and she is left with no where to stay and alone in rural Scotland.
After stumbling through the woods in the rain she meets Fraser, a local woodsman who has always put his family and community before himself. He offers for Harper to stay in his woodcutters cabin temporarily as long as she keeps out of his way and lets him get on with his work.
At first Harper and Fraser are about as different as two people can get, but they soon start to catch feelings for one another.

I really enjoyed this book, the scene was set nicely, this would be a perfect book to read in the autumn months. The characters were lovable and the author had created a town full of diverse, inclusive and relatable characters and all bring something to the story. it really felt like a community.

This book has plenty of spice.
Tropes include: Forced Proximity, Grumpy x Sunshine, Opposites Attract, Small Town/Rural Setting.

𝘾𝙤𝙨𝙮 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜.. on the 29th August 🍂

I think it's fair to assume that Autumn is the elite season for a lot of us readers; cosy blankets, jumpers, fluffy socks and hot drinks just to name a few reasons. 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 by Bonnie Woods is the perfect book to get you in the mood for the changing seasons!

Set in a small town in Scotland, we meet Harper, a city girl that's trying to escape her disaster of a life and write the novel she's always dreamed of. She falls - quite literally - into the presence of Fraser, local lumberjack and grumpy recluse.

I have to give a standing ovation to the wonderful cast of diverse characters we meet along the way. Harper herself is a plus-size, bisexual queen who acknowledges the occasional bias she faces when she's in a hetero-facing relationship.

Fraser is a sweetie, an ally and a family man almost to a fault and would do anything for anyone. His kindness is also his weakness, but Harper can't help but fall for his charm.

There were times I laughed out loud and parts where I couldn't get the grin off my face. It was emotional too, Harper definitely suffers with anxiety and low self-esteem and I loved how Fraser uplifted her and showed her full acceptance. I also had to smile at Frasers nephew who has autism because honestly, I saw my daughter reflected off the pages.

Get your blankets, your hot chocolate and settle down for a feel good, toe curling Scottish romance!

What in the hallmark movie is going on here? I absolutely loved this and couldn’t put it down. I would actually love to see it turned into a film but no Americans please. Fraser was full of heart with a good amount of grumpy in him. Harper is someone who is rethinking her life and makes a huge leap of faith to be a writer. She’s talented and funny and the perfect amount of clumsy. I lied, I had to put the book down and walk away laughing at the rose 🌹 scene with the dog. So cringe so funny so relatable!

I really loved harpers interaction with the village as well, and the relationships she made with his family so easily. I know it’s just a hallmark chick flick book but I love them and I loved this! Well done Bonnie Woods/ if that’s even your real name 😂

4/5 🌟

I loved this cosy autumn read and I can not wait to own a physical copy and be able to re read it.

It definitely put me in the mood for the season to come and loved the story that was well written. For sure an author I want to read more from.

Thank you, Harper north Publishing & NetGalley, for approving an ARC of this book.

4.5⭐️

Thank you, HarperNorth Publishing & NetGalley, for approving an ARC of this book. I absolutely loved it!

This is exactly what I love in my autumnal romance, Harper comes to a remote town in Scotland to get away from Machester following the loss of her job & the split from her girlfriend, who is now in a new relationship and seems to have the perfect life.

Harper wants to write a book, and what better way then, booking an air b&b on the water to take some me time out. Shame that the place has plumbing issues and is flooded, so she ends up walking into town and gets lost, ending up falling onto a remote cabin owned by the grumpy but very handsome Fraser.

This had all my favourite tropes, grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, friends with benefits, but they are falling for each other, small town vibes, autumnal, found family, and a dash of spice.

oh my god i adored this book. i adored harper and just wanted to grab her and hug her and tell her she’s more than enough. fraser was the sweetest grump EVER i loved him so much and loved how thoughtful he was, i love this book so much and adored the world and the characters.
4.75!!!

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an eARC of Kindling by Bonnie Woods 🍂🍁

I really enjoyed this book. The FMC is very relatable and super realistic, and the setting is so cute, it’s really giving cosy, autumnal small-town vibes.

It didn’t have the slowest burn ever and I definitely could have waited a little longer for the spice, but I found all the characters were very likeable and well written. It was easy to get to know each character and their personalities and back-stories, and it definitely had me feeling a little emotional at times.

It didn’t take me long at all to read (two sittings) and I would definitely read more by this author in the future. It’s the perfect palate-cleanser and brought me out of a little slump.

3.5 rounded to 4/5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers at harper north for this arc.
The story was well planned and executed there was no confusing plots or side characters that were hard to follow that can be super common with other books and such a lovely cosy autumnal read.

*Bisexual plus size & nothern mc
*Tattooed lumberjack with a cute collie 🐶
*Third person pov- most of my reads tend to be first person so it did take me a little longer to get into but once I was it was a lovely read.
*Scottish getaway
*Friends w/ benefits
*Cute autumnal feels
*Found family

Bonnie Woods' Kindling is an ideal cozy autumn romance, especially for those who enjoy a touch of heat alongside the sweetness. The story follows Harper, a city-dweller in desperate need of an escape after losing her job and being left by her girlfriend, who’s already moved on. Seeking solace in Scotland, Harper hopes to clear her head and finally start writing the book she’s always dreamed about. However, things don’t go as planned, and Harper ends up stranded in the woods without a place to stay. Enter Fraser, a seemingly grumpy woodcutter who grudgingly allows her to stay in his work cabin, on the condition that she doesn’t interfere with his work. Unsurprisingly, Fraser finds Harper both irritating and irresistible, a sentiment that seems to be mutual. They eventually strike up a casual "friends with benefits" deal, but the real challenge is whether they can truly keep things casual.

This book left me with such a warm, fuzzy feeling—I couldn’t stop smiling as I read. Harper is incredibly relatable, with her struggles around self-esteem and body image, which are more about how others have treated her than her own feelings. Many readers will see themselves in her. Fraser, too, has his own issues, carrying emotional scars from his childhood that make him hide parts of himself from even his closest friends and family. Watching these two characters help each other grow and bring out the best in one another was pure joy. The romance has just the right amount of spice—it enhances the story without overwhelming it, and the intimate scenes are tasteful and enjoyable. The chemistry between Harper and Fraser practically crackles, and it’s clear that Fraser is deeply attracted to Harper in all her curvy glory. Their playful banter is another highlight, often making me chuckle.

Though Harper and Fraser are the focus, the story is enriched by a vibrant cast of secondary characters, each adding depth and giving more insight into Fraser’s character. I especially appreciated the well-crafted character development and found myself wishing for spin-off stories about some of the other characters, like Fraser’s sister and her wife, or his best friend.

Kindling is a book I can easily see myself revisiting whenever I need something comforting and uplifting. Returning to this story would feel like catching up with old friends.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Kindling by Bonnie Woods is the perfect cosy Autumnal romance for readers who like a little spice to go with their sweetness. City girl Harper is in need of a getaway, she has just been made redundant and her girlfriend has broken up with her and already moved on with someone else. A break in Scotland to clear her mind and maybe even get started on the book she has dreamed of writing sounds like the perfect plan, but plans have been known to go awry and so of course Harper finds herself alone in the woods with nowhere to stay. Enter Fraser, a deceptively gruff woodcutter who reluctantly agrees to let her stay in his work cabin, as long as she promises to let him get on with his work in peace, and not distract him. Surprise surprise, Fraser finds Harper equal parts distracting and annoying and it seems like the feeling is mutual. Eventually the pair agree to a friends with benefits arrangement, but can either of them stick to their casual no strings attached arrangement?
This is such a feel good read, I found myself smiling so often while reading. Harper is a very relatable character, from her size to her lack of confidence and the insecurities she carries, which are less about her body than the way she has been made to feel by others, she will resonate with many readers. Fraser is also not without issues of his own, he is carrying baggage from his childhood that causes him to hide parts of himself away from his family and his closest friends. Seeing the pair gradually bring out the best in each other just brought me so much joy. The spice in this book is just enough, it adds to the story without overpowering it and is handled in a tasteful and enjoyable way. The chemistry between the couple sizzles and there is never any doubt that Fergus loves Harper's body in all its curvaceous glory. It is not just the chemistry that sizzles the banter between the pair is also top notch and definitely had me giggling at times. While the focus is obviously on Harper and Fraser, there is a whole village of secondary characters, each of whom add to the story and give us a greater understanding of Fraser as a character while also being interesting in their own right. I was really impressed by the efforts in character creation and development, in fact I would love to see more books about some of the other people we meet here like Fraser's sister and her wife, or his best friend , I can live in hope I guess. The book feels
This is a book I could see myself turning to again and again, whenever I need a pick me up or something cosy and delightful and when I do pick it up again I know it will feel like I am visiting friends.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Kindling is a Spicy Romance story set in the highlands of Scotland. When her Air B&B booking falls through last minute, Harper is left wandering the woods of the highlands. When she stumbles across woodcutter Frasers cabin in the woods, the pair embark on a casual friendship, but could this be more than they both set out for?

This has all the makings of a Hallmark movie, with a fair amount of added spice. Although Harpers character took some warming too, the pairing between the downtrodden city girl and the gruff Scottish family man was well established, growing as the story progressed. It was a refreshing change to have a FMC with curves and wobbly bits, as well as a lack of confidence in themself.

The book is an ideal comfort/cosy read as we begin to step into the Autumnal months.

I really loved this book! The setting, the characters and the plot were all so cozy and well developed. I want Fraser in my life!
I loved the inclusivity in this book, the queer characters, the plus size representation and it just felt like such a nice cosy story. It definitely pulled at my heart strings and I so felt connected to Harper and her story. It was refreshing to have a a FMC who is in such a turning point in her life and needs to make hard decisions, I felt that a lot and I didn’t want to let go of the characters at the end. Really enjoyed it, Thank you for the ARC, I’m very grateful.

LGBTQIA+, fun, flirty, cosy but with some great spice that isn’t overpowering. I really enjoyed reading this and would definitely recommend. Also, can we make some noise for the plus sized queeeeeeen?!

I initially noted this as “not giving feedback” but I would like to share my reasons for DNF. There were elements of this book I enjoyed, the LGBTQ+ rep was great, the host of characters were fun. However, as someone who lives in the Scottish Highlands, I did not enjoy the romanticising of the area especially when combined with inaccuracies. The FMC talks about being far north but also an hour from Glasgow, so the setting must be the furthest south you can get in the Highlands. Regardless of where in the Highlands, Uber does not exist. In remote villages you’d often struggle to get a taxi. It felt like the smallest research could have fixed this, the same is true for calling the MMC a lumberjack, he would be a Forester in Scotland. I know that some local villages are annoyed by AirBnb but I also found this storyline a little off putting. It made Highlander sound completely intolerant to change with no nuance added. The point that I DNF was when the FMC had her Scottish breakfast. Personally I found this really ignorant, again I know haggis is a running joke with tourists but to have it described as disgusting as it was, and so inaccurately, simply came across as rude. I don’t feel like we do this as much with other cultures, nor would it be acceptable, so I don’t think it should be accepted when talking about Scottish tradition either.

I don’t really want to give a star rating but I cannot submit this feedback without it.

I just wanted to say a Thankyou for Netgallery to experience this book with an ARC .
What can i say I throughly enjoyed this book! I loved the setting the world building and the chemistry between the main characters.

I couldn’t put this book down and managed to read it in one sitting! And couldn’t put it down until I finshed this read!
I would recommend this book if you’re in a mood for something flirty and fun with the characters chemistry hitting you off the pages!
A very enjoyable read! Can’t wait to do a re-read of this again!