Kilt Trip

Happy publication day to Alexandra Kiley‘s debut novel, Kilt Trip! This is a book I’ve been eagerly anticipating for months, and I was so happy to be able to join the ARC team for it. Kilt Trip is a contemporary romance between two workplace rivals, set against a backdrop of scenic Scotland and the tourism industry.

Special thanks to Alexandra Kiley, Canary Street Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Summary

Addie Macrae is a travel agent who has helped tourism companies around the world. But she’s avoided Scotland, the beloved country where her late mother honeymooned with her dad decades ago… Until now, that is. Addie is officially in Edinburgh to help a family-run tour guide business improve their numbers, but secretly she intends to visit the places her mother once did. Addie has a bit of a workplace nemesis in the form of Logan Sutherland, the man who’s taking over the family business once his dad retires. Logan and Addie don’t see eye to eye on how to change the tours on offer, but they do have some undeniable chemistry. And Logan could be the key to helping Addie retrace her mother’s steps and finally find a sense of home.

Review

Kilt Trip is exactly the kind of romance I was hoping for. I went into it expecting Scottish sights and culture, which are delivered in spades, but it also offers emotional depth and characters you want to see together.

Though I haven’t yet had the chance to visit Scotland, I do love to travel, and I’m consistently drawn to books that will whisk me away to amazing locations. Kilt Trip starts off in the lovely city of Edinburgh, but soon enough Addie joins Logan on a tour around the country, visiting famed castles, Highland cow farms, and, of course, Loch Ness. I enjoyed getting a sense for all the sights not to be missed in Scotland, from the major destinations Addie is pushing for to the hidden gems Logan specializes in. Speaking of Logan, he is a wealth of knowledge on Scottish history and culture throughout, great not only for his tourist customers, but also for us readers!

This book is a great workplace rivalry romance, too. Addie and Logan are forced to work together, even if he is particularly resistant to all of her ideas. They don’t get along in the office… but they do pretty much everywhere else. Their chemistry is believable, and I enjoyed seeing these two butt heads in the workplace while inching closer to connecting other body parts when, for example, touring the Scottish Highlands.

Beyond their professional differences, Addie and Logan also have some other complications to work out. First of all, Addie’s based in Boston and has made it her career to travel constantly. Logan is firmly attached to Scotland and the family business there. This is more than just a long-distance relationship they’re considering. On top of that, Addie is emotionally closed off due to her mother’s death and her father’s subsequent shutdown. Can Logan help her overcome those traumas and her lingering grief? Can she let him in enough to have a real shot at love with him?

Final Thoughts

Kilt Trip is absolutely delightful, balancing plenty of fun, Scottish tourism, and some emotional weight. It has a wonderful cast of characters, from Addie and Logan to the Sutherland family and co-workers. This seems to be the first in a series, because Alexandra Kiley’s second book, Scot and Bothered, is due next year! According to a December Instagram post, excerpted below, it will be Logan’s brother Jack’s book!

[Jack] and his ex, Brooke, hike the 80-mile Skye Trail on the Isle of Skye to help their ailing mentor finish her memoir. It’s dual timeline and second chance and yes, there is only one tent. 

I cannot wait! Stay tuned for my review of Scot and Bothered as soon as that’s available. In the meantime, Kilt Trip is a must-read if you love romance, Scotland, Highland cows, and secretly cinnamon roll heroes.

Get the Book

You can buy Kilt Trip here – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley
Series	Yes (#1)
Audience	Adult
Genre	Contemporary Romance
Setting	Scotland
Number of Pages	336
Format I Read	Ebook (NetGalley ARC)
Original Publication Date	March 5, 2024
Publisher	Canary Street Press

Official Summary

Ready or Scot…

Globetrotter Addie Macrae always follows her wanderlust. As a travel consultant, she jet sets around the world—anywhere but Scotland. But when she’s sent on assignment to help a struggling family-run tour company in the Highlands—and save her own job—Addie packs away her emotional baggage and turns on the professional charm.

Rugged as the land he loves, Logan Sutherland’s greatest joy is sharing the beauty of Scotland’s hidden gems…even if it means a wee bit of red ink on the company’s bottom line. The last thing Logan wants is some American “expert” pushing tourist traps and perpetuating myths about the Loch Ness Monster—especially when Addie never leaves her desk to experience the country for herself.

As they wage an office war, Logan discovers Addie’s secret connection to Scotland: a handful of faded Polaroids of her late mother. Hoping for a truce, he creates a private tour to the places in the pictures to help Addie find closure and appreciate the enchantment in less-traveled destinations, never expecting the off-limits attraction sparking between them. But Addie’s contract is almost up, and magic won’t pay the bills. They can’t afford distractions, but how can Addie do her job if she hasn’t explored all Scotland—and Logan—have to offer?