Thursday, March 27, 2025

Review: Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley

 
Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley
Publication Date: March 4th 2025 by Canary Street Press & Harlequin Audio
Pages: 336
Audio Book Length: 10hrs 27 mins
Narrators: Angus King & Savannah Davies
Source: Publishers
Rating: ½
Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:
Brooke and Jack met and fell in love in college but it ended badly since they were TA and student, both reprimanded when the relationship was discovered. Brooke blamed Jack, as it derailed her writing career.
 
Now Brooke is co-writing her mentor, Mhari McAllister’s memoir, a dream job. She’s set to take the same hiking trail on the Isle of Skye to infuse the story with Mhari’s experiences. Little does Brooke know that Jack, being Mhari’s nephew and a photographer, has been assigned to catalog it all.
 
I enjoyed Scot and Bothered, trekking through the wilds of Scotland’s Isle of Skye with Brooke and Jack as they sorted through their feelings of hurt and yearning. I did find it a little unbelievable, given how they felt about each other in the past, that they just cut off all ties for seven years. Still, I did enjoy seeing them mend fences and discover their intense attraction never faded. I rooted for their HEA. Their hike sounded arduous, but breathtaking and was a highlight for me!
 
Angus King and Savannah Davies narrated. Angus had a nice Scottish accent which fit Jack’s character perfectly and Savannah performed Brooke’s parts wonderfully. I thought their performances breathed life into the characters and enhanced my enjoyment of the story!

3.5 Stars


Book Description:

Brooke Sinclair’s dream of being a published author derailed when she was expelled from the University of Edinburgh seven years ago. Now a ghostwriter, she sticks to other people’s stories. But when her college mentor Mhairi McCallister needs a co-writer for her memoir about Scotland’s most challenging trek, Brooke would do anything for the opportunity—including agreeing to hike the rugged Skye Trail for authenticity’s sake... not knowing the nature photographer who’ll join her is Jack Sutherland, the man who shattered Brooke’s writing career—and her heart.

Between getting sacked from the University and walking away from his family’s tour-guiding business to follow his photography dreams, Jack is desperate to prove he didn’t disappoint his family for nothing. And he can’t ignore his Aunt Mhairi’s final wishes for her memoir. Even if it means acting as guide and storyteller for the one who got away. Even if it means keeping secrets about Mhairi’s health.

As Jack and Brooke head into the solitude of the sweeping Scottish landscape, they’re forced to confront old feelings that haven’t disappeared with time. But can two weeks and eighty miles heal years of unspoken hurt and offer a second chance at the end of the trail?

14 comments:

  1. Glad you enjoyed it. I'm not reading as much romance.

    Anne - Books of My Heart

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't been in the mood for it much lately either, but this sounded nice.

      Delete
  2. I love a good second chance romance. This one sounds good.

    ReplyDelete
  3. A hike on the Isle of Skye would be a great backdrop and, ha, a good way to force them to face their past. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. That sounds good and the title is cute.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's the trekking through the wilds of Scotland that really makes me want to read this one!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I liked this a lot more than you. I don't know, I am a sucker for adventure and a second chance romance. The Mhari storyline tugged at my heartstrings too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do like both of those features in a romance, as well. I was attracted by the hiking through Scotland part. I think the many flashbacks slowed the pace and were a drawback for me. I think enough backstory could've been accomplished with less. I was mostly interested in what was going on with the present.

      Delete
  7. Pun titles are a controversial topic at my store. Some of us love them (me) and others hate them. I'd absolutely love to hike on the Isle of Skye myself!

    ReplyDelete