I went into this book blind and that made it even more interesting and fun for me! I really enjoyed learning about the ancestry and lore of the families in this book as well as some Scottish slang, etc!! The book hooked me from the first chapter and I was definitely into it the majority of the time! Also let me just say.. the spice? It was SPICING! Give it a try, y’all!

4/5

One thing about Lana Ferguson is she is always going to deliver a riotously good time. Under Loch and Key is her latest paranormal romance with a little bit of Scotland and a whole lot of Lach (see what I did there). A forgotten family secret and the death of a family member lead a young woman to turn to the family she never knew back in Scotland where hidden lore and animosity with a handsome stranger intersect with staggering romance. Under Loch and Key keeps the romance and action hand in hand with a mystery spanning generations connecting back to two families. I really loved our two leads and the push and pull between Lachlan and Keyanna as they got off on the wrong foot and struggled to move forward in pursuit of the truth. This is as steamy as you’d expect from a Ferguson romance but I loved all of the twists she implemented here that had my jaw hanging open in disbelief. Just so much fun and certainly one of my favorites from Ferguson so far!

Honestly, if Lana writes it, I am going to read it & I am going to devour it. The thing I love most about Lana’s writing, is that it opens my eyes to different genres of romance. This was my first monster romance & it certainly won’t be my last!

This was so fun. I couldn’t stop smiling. I loved the whimsical angle to it, but it didn’t overshadow the romance or overdo it in a way that felt too much. Just the right blend of the fantastical while still keeping to contemporary dialogue and plot. It was a joy to read and I hope to check out more from Lana Ferguson soon.

Never thought I’d be so taken by a romance around the Loch Ness Monster but here we are! Keyanna “Key” MacKay is reeling from the death of her dad and travels to Scotland to meet her family for the first time - getting a chilly welcome from her grandparent who had a falling out with her dad years before. She’s there for a fresh start but as she works to bond with her family, she also must deal with the grumpy farmhand Lachlan who has a big secret of his own. They’re constantly at odds and she can’t understand why he harbors such a grudge for someone he just met. What Key doesn’t realize is that she may have the answers Lachlan needs to undo a centuries long curse, but she also may be the end of him, in a battle that goes back generations, proving that fairy tales are not just for the books.
This novel is full of humor, biting sarcasm, and high stakes, with a side of spice. I loved the dialogue and felt like I was in the midst of the Scottish countryside watching the entire story play out. Would love to see more stories taking twists to old lore (maybe the referenced Bigfoot next?!)
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Berkeley for including me in the blog tour!

I really like this book, it’s a winner! The premise is unique and I love the characters and the Scottish setting. There are some very steamy love scenes, so a warning if that’s not for you.

Key MacKay (Keyanna) was raised by her Scottish father who didn’t talk about growing up in Scotland. Now that he’s died, Key goes to Scotland to find her family. She also finds Lachlan Greer, an extremely gorgeous guy who works on the MacKay farm. Their respective families have been in the area for centuries, and Lachlan’s dad knew Key’s father, but Key can’t figure out what made her dad leave Scotland and move to the US.

Lachlan has been searching for something, but he won’t say what he’s looking for or why. I don’t want to give away any plot twists, you’ll have to read the book.

I highly recommend this book, 4.5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I give this 2.5 stars. An entertaining read, but it didn't really capture me beyond that. I had an enjoyable time reading it, but it wasn't necessarily for me. I thought the villain came a bit out of nowhere and was especially villain like. I enjoyed the romance between Lachlan and Key, but would have enjoyed more yearning between them.

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson is a fun, lighthearted mystery with a dash of romance, but it didn't fully hit the mark for me. The premise—a treasure hunt set in the Scottish Highlands—had a lot of potential, and the setting was beautifully described, but the plot felt a bit predictable at times. The chemistry between the two leads was sweet, though at times it felt rushed, and some of the characters' motivations weren’t fully developed.

While the book has its charms, especially for fans of cozy mysteries and adventure, the pacing was uneven, and I found the resolution a little too neat and convenient. Still, it’s an enjoyable enough read for those looking for a light, easy escape, just not as gripping or memorable as I’d hoped.

This was a fun and unique mystery. Loved these characters. Great banter. Also, set in Scotland-yes!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced digital copy - all thoughts are my own.

Thank you for Netgalley and Berkley publishing for giving me access to this Advance Reader Copy! Happy release day to this book! This book surprised me greatly. I'm not one for paranormal romances and non-human romance novels, but I adored The Nanny and The Game Changer so I decided to give this one a shot. Perhaps The Fake Mate is a future read of mine since I didn't mind this book??

Alright, time for a review:
This book was phenomenal. It was so much FUN, and sometimes that's all a book needs. The characters had depth and the plot was really unique, although somewhat predictable. That being said, I had different theories for the ending so I was still surprised with how it turned out. I didn't love the overuse of "Och," Can someone let me know if this is actually something that is frequently said in Scotland LOL. The spice was *chefs kiss* but it did get a little weirder than I typically like in my spice, likely due to my lack of experience with paranormal romances. While this book was heavily focused on the romance, there was so much character development and the different types of relationships represented added something to the book. Overall, I highly recommend it. When I picked this book up I didn't expect it to be a 5 star read, but I'm so happy I've been proven wrong.

I love Lana and her books so much so I was beyond excited for this Monster romance featuring Nessie!!! I thought it was so fun and was certainly an enjoyable and entertaining read!!! And Lana always delivers with humor and spice in her books and this one did not disappoint in those areas.

I did feel like it was a tad too long and the and the last minute panic conflict was a bit predictable and silly.

But overall I had a great time reading this one.

Thank you Berkley for the earc for review!

Lana Ferguson's writing is imaginative, sweet, and spicy. It grabbed my attention and was a wonderful world to escape into. The banter and bittering with the two main characters had me laughing throughout the story. The author did an amazing job with the Scottish town setting, found family, opposites attract, monster romcom. While this is the first novel I've read by this author, it has sealed the deal and I can't wait to read her other books and see what she writes next.

After her father's death all Key wants to do is reconnect with her remaining family... and if that means traveling all the way to Scotland to find her grandmother and possible fall in love with a Loch ness monster/very grumpy Scotsman, so be it! Keyanna "Key" MacKay has grown up with secrets all her life, especially with a single father who never talked about his past. Yet when he dies she is determined to find out and so she travels to Scotland to connect with her only known remaining family, her grandmother. Yet while there she finds herself repeating her father's mistakes and being rescued by an angry Scotsman who may or may not be related to all the stories her father told her growing up about being rescued by a loch ness monster. Lachlan Greer does not need Keyanna in his business, especially when his great secret is that he is a Loch Ness creature and that he's been cursed... his entire family has and the only answer to breaking the curse comes from the MacKay family. Yet the more time Key and Lachlan spend together the more they are beginning to realize just how entwined their families and their fates are... and that they'll need each other if they want to break the centuries curse before it's too late and Lachlan is permanently turned. Romance, adventure, and family secrets, this was a delightful read! I loved the romance between Key and Lachlan and their dynamic was just adorable. They love to tease and banter with one another and it just made such a cute relationship to read. The story had me getting ready to pack my own bags to go visit Scotland in hopes of meeting a Loch Ness creature myself haha. I've been a long time fan of Lana's books and this one was an absolutely delightful read and I can't wait to read what she comes out with next.

Release Date: December 3,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Under Loch & Key by Lana Ferguson is an incredibly intriguing & interesting monster romcom set in Scotland. Lana Ferguson writes exceptionally imaginative & wonderfully emotionally romances that combine sweet with the spice & enough sarcastic banter to amuse any reader. This novel also adds in the charm of Scotland, the mysterious & magical elements along with the familial rivalry to create a one of its kind story.

This is the third book I’ve read by this author & I’ve enjoyed them all. They are all incredibly different but I think that’s also really neat & speaks to the cleverness & creativity of this author.

Under Loch & Key is great for those looking to read..
🩷 Monster Romcom
🩷 Enemies to Lovers
🩷 Magic & Mystery
🩷 Close Proximity
🩷 Only One Barn

I ended up reading this in 2 days because I was so curious to see where this was going. I didn’t have a Loch Ness monster romance on my bingo card but I enjoyed every page of this read!

After reading & loving three of this author’s stories, I cannot wait to see/read what they are writing next!

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

Under Loch and key was so cute and funny! I was giggling and kicking my feet. It truly just read like a romcom/contemporary romance but with a little monster twist. I think it’s a perfect gateway for those who want to get into monster romance but isn’t quite ready for the real thing!

Well this was a fun and lighthearted story with excellent tropes and characters. I was hooked from the dedication, and loved how the story came together. The mystery and curse, while predictable, was still fun to watch unfold. There’s a bit of a third act breakup/fight that felt out of character and unnecessary, but overall it was well done.

Lana Ferguson’s books are so fun! She can definitely write a range of romance and I love it! This was a good one and I was excited to read it! 3.5 stars from me, rounded up to 4.

Thanks NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc!

4/5 stars

This was fun, sweet, cute, and predictable, just what I needed! It started to veer too far into the monster romance territory in the end but thankfully it didn't go too far PHEW 😂😭 I reallynliked all the family dynamics and character growth that went on, for the main and secondary characters! I'd love a spinoff book about the twins finding love next tbh, they're so funny!

Starting off my December reads with a splash! I absolutely adored this book. Sarcasm as flirting is one of my favorite things in books and it was done so well here. I thought this was such a cute and interesting take on the story of the loch-ness monster. I loved the characters, the story, the banter and of course the spice (it was actually a lot spicer than I expected it to be, definitely not complaining🤭)!
Highly recommend to anyone looking for a lighter monster romance!

I really enjoyed the Fake Mate. i like a contemporary setting with a paranormal creature just inserted. I find is so fun since where did all these beasts go. I like the spin and the folklore around the loch ness monster and kelpies. The feuding families and the missing histories there were always new questions that were uncovered. And the romance between Keyanna (Key) and Lachlan was very enemies to lovers. And love how their names are basically the title of the book. The monster part of the romance was a freaking delight.
Definitely a fun ride!

Tropes:
🌿 enemies to lovers
🌊 grump X sunshine
🌿 monster romance
🌊 found family
🌿 dual POV
🌊 solving a mystery

Thank you berkley romance for the gifted copy.