KILT TRIP

An American travel consultant finds romance in the Scottish Highlands.

Travel consultant Addie Macrae has been to more than 70 countries, but none has been more important than her latest: Scotland. Her mission is half work, half heritage trip: First, revamp the family-owned Heart of the Highlands tour company and save it from bankruptcy, even if that means adding a few tourist traps to the itinerary. Then, if time—and Addie’s penchant for ignoring her emotions—allows, explore the places her late mother visited and loved years ago, and find a way to finally come to terms with her death. If Addie thought maneuvering through sheep-laden highways and years of repressed grief was hard, dealing with the company owner’s son turns out to be downright impossible. Logan Sutherland, a sexy, kilt-wearing man with a killer brogue, wants nothing to do with Addie’s “gimmicky” ideas and tired tourist destinations. Instead, he’s steadfast in his belief that tours should offer magical, singular moments rather than social-media-ready sights, even if it means losing money here and there. When Addie and Logan agree to take turns attending each other’s proposed tours, though, they find it hard to remain enemies as business mixes with pleasure. While Logan reveals the hidden gems of Scotland to Addie, including the places her mother visited, she struggles to keep him at arm’s length. Will she be strong enough for another goodbye? Kiley’s novel is a tale of love, loss, and the rediscovery of self through nature and reflection. The author deftly weaves Addie’s conflict of head and heart with Logan’s compassion and patience, and it doesn’t hurt that his swoonworthy looks and accent jump right off the page.

With an immersive Scottish setting, historical tidbits, and steamy fun, this is a bonny debut.