scot and bothered – GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Alexandra Kiley
Publisher: Canary Street Press
Release Date: March 4th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

SCOT ON THE TRAIL!

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?

I AM FRUSTRATED.

And honestly I am writing this review days after finishing and I can’t even think of the specifics because of how much I have blocked it out already.

The flashback chapters didn’t add anything for me. I was not swooning over the first chance they had in a relationship and by the epilogue I still wasn’t convinced this couple actually made it that far.

I watched many characters struggle with miscommunication and that took away from what I thought were originally good bones of the story. I am getting exhausted from how often I am coming across books with a main plot of miscommunication. It feels like a weak plot device for 85% of situations.

Overall audience notes: