Much thanks to Evie Alexander, Emlin Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm relieved to report this book is great! I was leery of the cover art that, while funny, lacks finesse, as well as the narration by the author. But it sounded fun, so I gave it a shot.

We could have used a glimpse of Zoe's life before she moved to the cabin; we're told she needed a change, but not shown. Not vitally necessary, but it might have helped me understand her baffling determination to live in the cabin, which sounded little better than a cardboard box under a bridge. I know she had fond memories of her uncle, but still....yikes.

Rory was a great grumpy hero; his POV helps the reader understand why he was treating Zoe so poorly, why he was resisting her. Meeting Lucy and being shown, not told, what she was like might have helped me decide how to feel about her. I didn't know if she was supposed to be a "bad guy" or a good person who was just getting pushed around by Rory's mom. I didn't feel like I quite had closure on the Lucy conflict at the end.

As a character Zoe was a bit ridiculous, and I rolled my eyes at her a few times. Mistaking the man for a bear and throwing a loaf of bread at him? Ramming his truck because he'd omitted one aspect of his identity? Immediately assuming the worst without asking for an explanation? Yeah, she could be dramatic, but other traits redeemed her---her instant love for the rat, her good relationships with her friends and family, her determination to live in that hovel. So, immature at times, but also endearing.

I'm left with questions at the end, and I really hate when that happens. The audiobook ended and my first thought was, Wait, what happened with the castle?? The conflict Rory's entire subplot revolved around? Nada. Also, more minor, how did his mom know Zoe rammed his truck? No one saw it, and Rory wouldn't have told her.

If it didn't say on the cover that the author was also the narrator, you wouldn't guess it. She sounded like a professional to my ear. Maybe she has a background in voice acting, I don't know. The only thing that was weird was a couple times she pronounced something awkwardly as if she wasn't familiar with the phrase, and I sit there thinking, You wrote this, right? Why didn't you know how to inflect it? But it's a very very minor complaint.

All that said, this really was a fun, charming story with likeable, endearing characters, a classic setting, and delicious smut. And hilarious animals---the highland cattle, the rat, the dog. Zoe's very lucky that those highlands weren't as playful as my mini, or she'd have been either skewered or trampled, entirely by accident.

Reality sets in when Zoe arrives at the remote cabin her uncle had left her in his will. No water, power, phone, or Wifi. This is really roughing it. But she is bound and determined to make it. Then she meets Rory, and she is completely enamored.


Many thanks to Net Galley and Emlin Press for an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This has all the cliches you can imagine, in the best possible way. It’s sweet, smart, funny and definitely more than a little bit raunchy.

Zoe, our English city girl, an accountant who is less than enamoured with her life gives it all up when she inherits a remote cabin in the Scottish highlands. Unfortunately when she arrives the cabin is literally that, a cabin with no electricity, no bathroom, no kitchen, a roof that is going to offer nothing in the way of protection from a Scottish winter and to top it all off it doesn’t even have a door!

Enter Rory, Rory has been coveting the cabin for himself, and is more than a little put out at Zoe’s arrival, in fact, he sees no other option than to force her out, what ensues is a little madcap, enemies to frenemies, frenemies to lovers situation.

I loved Zoe, with her quirks and her kindness and Rory with all his brooding charm and secrets, let me tell you my heart melted when that beautiful bed was discovered. Please don’t tell my children but the Rat won a piece of my heart too.

Written and narrated beautifully by Evie Alexander, I’d definitely pick up the next in the series.

4 🌟
Infact no, I’ve changed my mind.
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends

Special thanks to Evie Alexander and Emlin Press via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audio arc.

What’s better than a great romcom listen? Not much! This was such a cute book! I loved it! Pick this up on pub day!