Listen, I went into this blind and did not know what I was in for...but I kind of liked it? On the surface, you get a enemies to lovers story set on an idyllic Scottish farm and you think there is some underlying family drama. What you actually get is a monster romance and a family curse going back generations...and I loved it?

The monster romance aspect of the novel can definitely throw you off if you're not prepared - particularly the spicy scenes - but they weren't too absurd that it distracted from the romance and the plot around trying to break the family curse.

The cast of characters is fun, the fantasy element is expertly woven in so it still feels realistic, and you get a fun adventure through family lore and history!

This book was so much fun! I really enjoyed the loch ness monster plot and the curse causing it. I really enjoyed Lachlan and Key together. They started as complete opposites, but I loved how they ended up together. This book was fun and a magical adventure.

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson is a charming and cozy mystery that combines light romance with a strong sense of place, set against the scenic backdrop of the Scottish Highlands. The book’s premise, centered around a hidden treasure and a small-town investigation, is intriguing, and Ferguson does a lovely job of creating an atmosphere filled with quirky characters and local intrigue. However, the pacing at times feels uneven, with certain sections dragging on without significant plot progression, while others feel rushed. The romance, while sweet, follows familiar tropes and could benefit from a bit more emotional depth to truly make the connection between the leads feel earned. Despite these minor flaws, Under Loch and Key is an enjoyable read for those who love cozy mysteries with a touch of romance, offering plenty of warmth and charm.

I didn’t like this very much at all. I’m confused how a book about um banging the Loch Ness monster… is boring. I actually ended up listening to most of the book on PRH Audio and the audiobook saved the book for me. I would have DNFd the book. The narrators were excellent. The book was so so underwhelming though.

I'm gonna be honest, I picked this up because I love Lana Ferguson's books. I didn't read the synopsis and barely looked at the cover. Am I the only one who didn't put the 2 & 2 together to realize this was a monster romance? I mean looking back it's so clear! It's literally on the cover I just didn't look close enough.

I enjoyed the mystery subplot of breaking the curse and figuring out the real story behind Key and Lachlan's entwined family history. The spice was spicy y'all. Lana is not afraid to bring up the heat. No matter what kind of book she's writing whether it's in a magical realism book or her straight romances, the steam is always on point. Am I a converted monster romance reader? Probably not. But I still enjoyed the book as a whole. Another enjoyable read by Lana Ferguson.

Read if you like enemies-to-lovers romance with magical realism/fantasy aspects. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 12/3!

This unfortunately was just not for me. I feel like Lana Ferguson might have been a one hit wonder for me at this point. I apparently am not a fan of monster smut and honestly her smut scenes just are too much. They don’t feel sexy they just seem extremely over the top every time. Not for me.

Lana Ferguson really delivered on an fun, adventure packed, steamy, monster adjacent romance! It was such an enjoyable ride. I enjoyed the various twists that happened and the book pacing definitely kept me intrigued and interested the whole time.

While reading it, it absolutely gave me “Do Your Worst” by Rosie Danan vibes - Scotland, curses, enemies to lovers, magic. Overall, I really enjoyed it and think it will appeal to a lot of readers.

This was so unexpected! I went into this book thinking it would be a cute small-town romance with found family and a grumpy x sunshine dynamic. I avoided reading the synopsis to keep things unspoiled, so you can imagine my surprise at what I found! It was such a pleasant twist. I had so much fun reading this, the banter, the story, and the unexpected paranormal vibes were all absolutely fantastic.

I haven’t read any Lana Ferguson books, so I went into this with no expectations other than a fun paranormal romance involving Scotland and the Loch Ness monster.
I thought it was fun and cute. I enjoyed the enemies to lovers aspect, as Lachlan was an utter dick to Keyanna and also their families were enemies.
I enjoyed the mystery aspect.. why was Lachlan trying to uncover secrets on the MacKay farm? Why did Key’s dad move her to the US? Also why was Brodie so weird? I was here for the mystery and the romance.
Like most cartoon cover romances lately, this definitely had some ramped up spice and it took awhile to get to it, but it was there. I can see why some reviewers felt it was jarring, particularly on the shore, where the author decided to dabble in some monster romance tropes out of nowhere. I didn’t mind, but the pacing did seem off between the rest of the book and the spice, so if it is important to you for everything to mesh well, be warned.
I loved the concept of the book and I had so much fun reading it, so I definitely recommend, especially if you’re the type of reader who enjoys various subgenres of romance, some comedy, some enemies to lovers, some puzzle/mystery vibes, some monster romance, and a little bit of family drama to spice it up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this book.

Lana Ferguson does it again: she blends the real with the fantastical, the mythological with the modern, and does it with a plot twist that kept me eagerly coming back for more. There were a few times where the action dragged a bit, but overall, a great read with just enough *unique* spice to provide something new.

Lana Ferguson always delivers on the steamy paranormal romance and this latest set in Scotland involving ancient curses and shape-shifting monsters had me from the very start!! I didn't realize I needed monster smut in my life but I can wholeheartedly attest to embracing my monster romance era after reading this book!! Great on audio narrated by Samantha Summers and Flint Park and just a fun enemies to lovers, dual POV, forbidden romance that gave me all the feels, excitement, action and spice!! HIGHLY recommended for fans of authors like Ashley Bennett, Ruby Dixon or Kimberly Lemming. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!!

After Key's father dies, Key travels to his family's land in Scotland to spread his ashes in the loch that featured in his greatest bedtime story. Besides the mythical loch where her father was supposedly saved by a monster in the lake, he never spoke about or to his family. The country and his family are a giant mystery to Key. Key has never spoken to her father's family, but hopes to forge a connection with his estranged mother and father.

However, before she can accomplish her task, an angry man, Lachlan, calls her stupid and chases her away from the loch. He does help her out by driving her to her family's farm, but the man is infuriating despite his good looks. Key isn't exactly welcomed with open arms, but she is determined to stay in Scotland and figure out why her father left on such poor terms.

Lachlan doesn't trust Key, but he can't deny that she's gorgeous. Key and Lachlan become closer, reluctantly at first, but they each may hold the answers the other is seeking. Time is running out, and the two must work together to figure out a fix for an ancient curse.

I had such a fun time reading this book. It really hits you in the feels in regards to the various parent-child relationships. Lachlan is a giant dick at first, but when he starts falling for Key, their chemistry is obvious. The fact that Keyanna had magic really surprised me for some reason, but the supernatural slant to the book was a lot of fun.

My library has already purchased a copy of this book, and I can't wait to recommend it during readers' advisory.

Honestly this was so much fun but dare I say, too much spice?

I know that's kind of sacrilegious to say; however, I feel like it took away from the plot at times and took me out of the story.

I did enjoy the plot and I loved how creative the premise was. Keyanna and Lachlan were a fun mix of dislike to lovers, working together to help break the curse that their families have suffered through for ages. I liked the historical elements and the dialogue was a blast.

I listened to this on audio and I was so enamored with the audio narrators throughout!!! The Scottish narration had me OBSESSED and it brought a fantastic authenticity to this story.

Overall a fun, sexy time with an interesting premise and fantastic audio narration.

Thank you Berkley Publishing, Lana Ferguson, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

“There will always be things in this world that remain unknown to me, but one thing I can know for sure is the way I feel about her. And I know that whenever I’m unable to find my way, she’ll be there with an outstretched hand, ready to show me.”

I’ve really enjoyed Lana Ferguson’s other books so I was excited to get to this one. Admittedly, paranormal romances aren’t something I generally seek out, but I was into this story from the beginning.

I loved the dynamic between Keyanna and Lachlan. There is a lot of development that happens in their relationship that feels genuine and realistic, despite the paranormal aspects of the story. Key is searching for the history of her family after being estranged from them for her entire life, and her overall journey is fun to read. It's satisfying to see her discover her heritage while connecting with her grandparents. It adds a really heartwarming layer to the story, especially with the paranormal romance aspect and helps the story stay rooted in reality.

Lachlan is such a swoon. He is a little gruff at the beginning and the tension he has with Key is off the charts. Their banter is written so well and the build up of their relationship works perfectly. It also feels well-balanced against the mystery Lachlan’s family curse and the animosity between their families. It feels like two complete plot lines that complement each other really well. It just feels a tad long, but the payoff at the end and the epilogue make it worth it.

Cute story once I got past the shape changer concept. Too many questions filtered through my mind about how that relationship would work. But the basic story was well done.: historic family feuds, small communities, and girl meets boy who needs saving.

This was just the quirky and unique read I needed. It was sexy, fun, and such a great twist on the story of the Loch Ness Monster.

Things to expect:
- a curse and mystery
- magic
- family reunions
- forced proximity
- grumpy sunshine
- a sexy Scotsman with a secret
- ridges and a forked tongue ;)

Lana Ferguson always brings the heat and this was no exception. These sexy times nearly melted my earbuds! Fans of monster romance will be happy and if you’re new to the genre, these scenes will give you an idea of what you’ve been missing ;)

The story did meander in the middle, which made the book feel a bit too long. Some of the magic and tangled family history also got a little confusing, but I liked how the story came full circle in the end. The epilogue was so sweet and I loved getting that peek into the future.

The audio was narrated superbly by Samantha Summers and Flint Park. I loved that the heroine was always voiced by Samantha Summers and the hero always by Flint Park. So while not quite a traditional duet narration, it still achieved a similar effect. Do yourself a favor and check this one out on audio!

Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 3.5-4 stars

CW: grief, death of parent, parent with Alzheimer’s, bites/injuries, parental abandonment, kidnapping, fighting/stabbing, mentions of past imprisonment (secondary character)

*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*

If you thought Lana turned up the heat with knotting in The Fake Mate, you don’t know what you’re in for with Lachlan as Nessie!

I loved how Lana returned to paranormal romance with this one and explored the concept - what if the Loch Ness monster all this time was really a man cursed to become a dinosaur-like figure from sundown to sun up? Can’t say that this idea ever crossed my mind but I was all for it, especially since it revolves around a Scottish hero with the best Scottish brogue. Swoon!

Keyanna is an American who travels to Scotland with the goal of dispersing her father’s ashes in the place where he grew up and the place where he supposedly was rescued by the Loch Ness monster many years ago before fleeing his homeland after an altercation with his family.

Arriving unannounced, Key is not received with the warmest of welcomes from her grandmother or the grumpy neighbor staying in the guesthouse. She’s grieving the loss of her dad and looking for family and answers about his past and is about to throw in the towel given her cold reception until she meets Nessie himself.

Lachlan is a Scottish hero who is totally book boyfriend worthy. He’s a man with a curse and completely comes off as a jerk but has his reasons for giving Key the cold shoulder. You never have to twist my arm to read about a hot Scotsman, and I loved how Lana threw in her version of Scottish games with Lachlan in a kilt. LOVED IT.

And Lana – girl you can write some serious dirty talk. But writing dirty talk in a Scottish brogue just about set me on fire! What I wouldn’t give to have Lachlan whisper to me “That’s a good lass. Feels so good inside you. You’re going to take everything I give you, yeah?” OMG!!!!
I adored the scene where Key comes to realize that he’s Nessie and how it bonds them together.

Another fun aspect to this paranormal romance that was a surprise is that Key discovers that she’s developing supernatural powers—like opening windows without touching them, stopping rain, and creating fire from her hands. Realizing she can possibly help Lachlan break the family curse, was empowering and yet she realized she must also confront the risk of losing her heart to him as well.

As I said, if you loved The Fake Mate and its knotting scenes, then you’ll love Key discovering that she’s turned on by Lachlan’s monster characteristics. Is it super spicy? I don’t think overly so but Lana does make sure Key enjoys a bit of the monster before the book is over. 😊
I highly recommend this to all the paranormal romance, monster romance and shapeshifter romance lovers out there and especially those readers who have been reluctant to try those romance categories. This is the perfect entry book!

I'm a big fan of Lana Ferguson's other publications and I was really looking forward to this book.
It had some of my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers, grumpy v. sunshine, Scotsman.
I can't wait to re-read when the audiobook comes out. Maybe the accent will help bump my rating up a star with all the Scottish brogues.
Unfortunately, it wasn't everything I hoped it to be. While it was an interesting take on the Nessy legend, I thought the conflict around the story could have been done better rather than the slow build up and lack luster conclusion. I also hate the poor communication trope (even experienced btw the FMC and her grandmother). The family conflict didn't make too much sense for me and I found it annoying and frustrating. While it's probably my least favorite books from the author, it was a pleasant enough book to enter into the monster romance space.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced copy.

I didn't think I'd ever be swooning over a Loch Ness Monster, but here we are. 😍 It's certainly the first Loch Ness romance I've read, and I really enjoyed it! Lachlan and Key meet, and it's almost instant dislike, especially when Lachlan discovers they're from centuries old feuding families. However, he's also her families farm hand and on the hunt for answers, just like Key. The two end up working together to learn the answers to their family history. This was full of adventure, the perfect combination of banter, flirting, spice, and, of course, magic. Now, can we take a second to swoon over the Scottish lingo? 💗

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
➼ Monster Romance
➼ Paranormal Romance
➼ Magic & Mystery
➼ Enemies to Lovers
➼ Grumpy x Sunshine
➼ Only One Barn
➼ Touch Him and 💀
➼ Close Proximity
➼ Scottish Folklore

📍 𝑺’𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒈𝒐𝒅𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍.

📍 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑰 𝒎𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖.

📍 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒌?

📍 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆.

Enemies to Lovers
Grumpy x Sunshine
Urban Legend - Loch ness Monster
Scottish Mythology
Monster Romance

Under Lock and Key is one HOT, STEAMY, heartwarming romance novel. Lachlan Greer, a monster in disguise, is tall, muscled, and often found working shirtless on the farm. He is also harboring a secret that has ruined his life, and wants to keep hidden from Keyanna "Key" MacKay.

Kay is in Scotland to fulfill her late father's wishes of having his ashes spread in the lake where a monster resides that saved his life. This story is one that was told to her from the young age of bedtime tales. While in Scotland, Kay undercover powers, and finds that these maybe key to helping Lachlan break his family curse.

What a fun magical tale! This book is a MONSTER SMASH

Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley