What a dream of a second chance romance. The yearning! I loved the way the two timelines dovetailed with each other. The ‘now’ timeline gave you just enough information that you could understand what clouded Brooke and Jack’s past and made them the way they are was so well done. Seeing them fall back together again over the course of the trail was so beautiful. As were the arcs that Brooke and Jack went on. The way they both always supported each other and held such great belief in one another was so touching and was such a good foundation for their relationship.

oh Brooke and Jack im so glad we get to watch your second chance unfold.
this has all the key parts. and is the reason and definition of why we love and need this kind of romance books. step away, step out, perhaps unrealistic for most of us but myyyy do we need to read it and have it in our heads as we plod through these winter days.
the author has a talent for writing the lilt and flow of Scotland so i feel like im hearing it in the accent. so i feel like im in the landscape.
i was watching an episode of Escape to the country this week on this isle of Skye and then planning my escape. so this book came at the exact right time. and i dove in head romantic me first.
brilliant read. loved it.

‘Scot And Bothered’ by Alexandra Kiley is another Scottish gem from this author, following Jack (the brother of Logan from ‘Kilt Trip’) and Brooke as they hike the Skye Trail together, seven years after their secret relationship - and Brooke’s life - fell apart. Forced to confront old feelings on the rugged hike, will time together heal old wounds or end in disaster?

This book has ALL my favourite tropes - second chance romance, only one bed (tent!), travel and slow burn. It took me on an emotional rollercoaster and immersed me in the sweeping Scottish wilderness. The scenes set at Edinburgh University made me yearn for student life and felt addictively nostalgic. Brooke and Jack were both loveable and relatable, and had SO MUCH chemistry… I was absolutely rooting for their HEA the whole way through!

This was truly a five star read for me - I liked it even more than Kiley’s ‘Kilt Trip’, which I loved, and I’d recommend to anyone who loved ‘Under Loch And Key’ by Lana Ferguson, ‘You, With A View’ by Jessica Joyce or ‘Road Trip’ by Beth O’Leary.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Bonnier Books UK via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Alexandra Kiley has a real talent for bringing Scotland to life, and Scot and Bothered is no exception. From the historic charm of Edinburgh to the rugged beauty of Skye, her descriptions are so vivid that I felt as if I were hiking the Skye Trail myself.

Brooke and Jack’s second-chance romance is engaging, with a great mix of tension and nostalgia as we see their past and present unfold. Their initial university romance is full of youthful excitement, and the contrast with their more mature, complicated reunion makes for an emotional journey. The forced proximity of their hiking trip only adds to the tension, making their rekindled relationship feel organic and rewarding.

That said, the book did lose some momentum in the latter half, with a heavy focus on descriptions rather than deepening the characters. While the atmosphere was beautifully crafted, a little more development in the present-day storyline would have strengthened the emotional impact. Additionally, the ending felt a touch rushed, leaving me wanting just a bit more closure.

Overall, this is a heartfelt and immersive read, perfect for fans of slow-burn second-chance romances, breathtaking settings, and a touch of adventure. A solid 4-star book that makes me want to pack my bags for Scotland!

Thanks NetGalley for the E-Arc

Alexandra Kiley writes Scotland in such a way, that it makes me want to visit! It happened to me with Kilt Trip, and happened again while reading Scot and Bothered. She does that so beautifully that I felt like I was hiking through Skye Trail from the comfort of my home.
Brooke and Jack's story is a second-chance romance - one of my favorite tropes. I loved seeing how they fell in love the first time, with the feeling of butterflies of a first love, and seeing them reach out again for that love when they go on the hike together.
Personal preference, I would have loved a little more angst in the "now", however, I enjoyed every bit of this story!

Thank you to Bonnier Books UK for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

So, I personally really enjoyed 'The Kilt Trip' by Alexandra Kiley, however 'Scot and Bothered' wasn't for me. I was really hoping I'd love this book, but it didn't meet the mark for me.

I'll talk about the positives first! I really loved the plot of Brooke being a ghostwriter and going on this huge multi-day hike to fully understand what she's meant to be writing about. I also loved the way Jack was able to choose his own path, that he didn't allow himself to be forced to be a guide.

I really enjoyed the descriptions and details of the hike itself, talking about the nature. I loved Cat & Nat, I loved the side characters we got to meet - especially Mhiari, I think she might be my favourite.

Now, onto the more negatives; as a Scottish person, this book felt very stereotypically Scottish - not in a good way. I just felt like the amount of Scottish slang was unnecessary. As far as I'm aware, the author isn't Scottish and may not realise that it is unrealistic. Although, the greedy seagulls was very accurate; I strongly dislike our seagulls.

One thing I disliked was the relationship between Jack and Brooke early on. Jack may not have been her teaching assistant, however he was still in a position of power and authority. He should never have accepted a relationship with her when she was in University. If I knew it was in the book, I wouldn't have read it.

There were two different types of chapters; "Then" and "Now" - all of the student/teacher happened in the "then" chapters. Although I did find the "Now" chapters very enjoyable. I liked the relationship between Jack and Brooke during the "Now" chapters.

I would recommend this book if you don't mind the teacher/student trope and the unrealistic portrayal of Scotland. It is well-written and I do think she captured the beauty of Scotland; it truly is a beautiful country.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an E-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Quite possibly one of my favourite books I've ever read! This second chance romance was perfect and stirred up so many feelings along the way. There wasn't a character that I didn't fall in love with, and I would read again in a heartbeat.

Alexandra Kiley's Kilt Trip has also been on my TBR for a long time, this has pushed me to read that too. I hope to see many books from her!

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I expected a cutesy romance but this book was EMOTIONAL!
This had so many tropes that I (and booktok) love - second chance romance, forced proximity, he falls first. Plus, it’s set in Scotland- gorgeous! . I loved the tension between Brooke and Jack, and then seeing that change throughout the book. We are able to get to know the characters which makes them likeable and relatable. Really enjoyable, romantic read.

This book started really strong, with lots of tension between Brooke and Jack as well as flashbacks to their time together at university. It was interesting to see Brooke's struggles with her writing and her confidence, but also I loved how clear it was Mhairi believed in her, and to get a glimpse into their friendship - though I would have loved to see how that grew from what we saw in the past to what it was now. Edinburgh was a charming setting, and Skye even more so, with lots of descriptions of the land and surroundings, and key sights that will be familiar to anyone who has visited either of these places. The clear conflict between Brooke and Jack was evident, or at least Brooke's anger over whatever happened in the past that is slowly unveiled as chapters of the past are interspersed with those from the present. Sadly, for me, after such a good beginning to the book it fell a bit flat and really lost momentum. It felt very slow and a lot of the word count was focused on descriptions of things rather than really developing these characters further and it all became a bit samey to me.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Second chance romance done to the outmost perfection 🙂‍↕️

While we go back and forth between the time our characters met and the moment our story begins in the present, i have to say i was hooked on every part pf the story. I usually am not really a big fan of reading about “then” in books, but something about this one made it really really enjoyable to read. Those times in the past, I LOVED THOSE PARTS SO MUCH. But not as much as the present. There’s always something about the way the MMC is desperate for even an ounce of the FMC attention, that he’ll do anything for it…. And boy, Jack did not disappoint me at all, he was flawed but so real and i could feel every emotion when he and Brooke were talking. Brooke was such a realistic character, i love how she was portrayed.

The easiest 5⭐️ of the year i could say

Thank you to the publisher for the arc
This one is out on March 4th, i highly recommend it

I was surprised by this book as from the cover I expected a cute, funny maybe slightly spicy romance but what I got was a heart-felt, thoughtful, touching and quite lovely second chance love story. The setting was beautifully described (more Scottish romances, please!) and it absolutely inspires you to pull on your boots and get out walking. I loved the two main characters, both believably flawed, but trying to be their best selves. The chemistry between them was well done. genuinely quite emotional at times, and with just the right amount of spice. The story rolled along nicely, the past and present beautifully entwined and the secondary characters added a lovely touch. This isn't an author I've read before but I will definitely be picking her up again.

Thank you NetGalley for the E-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This had so many tropes that I love; second chance romance, forced proximity and it’s set in Scotland. I loved the tension between Brooke and Jack, and then seeing that change throughout the book. I do think the ending felt a bit quick but this was still a really enjoyable read.

WOW. How does it she do it? This was another beautifully written, incredibly poignant, beautifully romantic and highly descriptive second chance romance. I loved it so much - the characters, the scenery and the plot were equally stunning and I would give this more than 5 stars if I could!!!

I really appreciated the Scottish setting of the book – the descriptions of the landscape were captivating, and I enjoyed immersing myself in that scenery. However, the romance storyline left me feeling underwhelmed. Unfortunately, it just didn’t resonate with me, and ultimately, I found it wasn’t for me.

The book took me a lot longer to finish than expected, not because it was overly long, but because the plot felt quite tedious and overwritten. It just wasn’t gripping enough to maintain my attention.

As for the romance, I struggled to connect with the characters, particularly Brooke. I didn’t feel any real emotional depth beyond physical attraction or the idea of rekindling an old flame. Perhaps if there had been more context about what transpired with each of them during the years they were apart, I would have been able to invest more in their relationship. Without that, it just didn’t have the weight I was hoping for.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you SO much to Bonnier Books for issuing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a feel-good book!

I felt so immersed in the scenery and the journey. It brought back so many memories of sticking out a rainstorm in my tent, laughing despite blistered feet, and sharing stories with strangers round a camp stove in many a bothy! I loved the way Kiley captured the spirit of these hiking in Scotland so perfectly. Being brought along Brooke, Jack AND Mhairi’s story was so heartwarming!

I initially found it quite hard to look past some sometimes clumsy but well-intentioned attempts as Scottish dialect and slang. Though, being an east coaster myself, I appreciated the representation of Jack’s family being in Fife!

This book made me laugh, yearn, cry and most of all, feel incredibly nostalgic. I really enjoyed it!

Though, if Alexandra Kiley ever needs an addition to the Scottish beta-reader team to avoid easy mistakes like the specificity of the word “quid”, count me in!

Sweet and adorable second chance romance! I loved the chemistry between Jack and Brooke, and the softness in the emotional relationship each of them had with Mhairi really helped to pull the story through those initial antagonistic stages. The wild swimming descriptions were spot on, and the whole thing was just a really enjoyable, atmospheric romance.

4 ⭐

Arc review

After stumbling across Kilt Trip in a bookshop in Edinburgh (fitting I know) I was delighted in fining out there would be a sequel to this series.

Following the story of Brooke and Logan's brother Jack they must hike the Skye trail to bring to life Jack Aunt and Brookes mentor Mhairi to life. As someone who has travelled a lot of Scotland, born in Glasgow and who's family is Scottish this book was so beautiful at describing how incredible the Highlands are and the walks you can do.

I enjoyed Jack and Brookes developing story through the book even though if at times I wanted to scream at them, I am happy they both got a happy ending.

💚 Second chance romance
💚 Forbidden romance
💚 Dual timeline
💚 Forced proximity
💚 “Its always been you”

After thoroughly enjoying Kilt Trip, I was thrilled to receive this ARC, and it did not disappoint!

Jack is a Scottish landscape photographer and Brooke is a ghost writer. They met at the University of Edinburgh where Brooke is a student hoping to get accepted into an esteemed fellowship with Mhairi McCallistair (who is Jacks aunt), and Jack is a TA getting his Masters so he can help his family business. Circumstance (and maybe slight immaturity) tore them apart 7 years ago. Now Brooke is helping Mhairi write her memoir, and they are sent to hike the Skye Trail together after zero contact for 7 years.


While I found this a little slow to get going, but once I got about half way through I couldn’t put it down! I absolutely loved getting to see how their initial romance came about, and having that understanding made the main timeline so much more heart wrenching.
The ending of this story was heartbreaking and emotional, and I’m so happy the pair were able to face their fears and get their HEA.

I love a Scotland setting, although I found I wasn’t quite as immersed in the world as much as in Kilt Trip. It kind of felt like this story could have taken place anywhere and it would have been the same, whereas kilt trip had a certain magic to the setting.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and I look forward to reading more from Alexandra!

Sorry but this was disappointing.. I found I had to suspend disbelief so many times as I read this - the ease with which the heroine was able to stay in Scotland? No that did not ring true. The way she blamed Jack all the time? Was she not an adult who’d gone into it with her eyes open?
Sorry but I didn't,it feel the chemistry.
This wasn’t a bad book but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I’ll keep my eye out for more books from this author as I like her style.