If you like The Swan Princess but sexy, here ya go.

I started out really unsure how this was going to go, but I had all the faith and trust in Lana. If anyone can do paranormal, she can. And it worked out! Somehow, she made me fall in love with the Loch Ness monster, scales and all.

Key and Lochlan were two fantastic characters. They were both tenacious and complex, but in different ways that complement each other so well. And the tension in their relationship built in the most delicious way. I was ready to revolt if they didn't kiss by a certain point in this book.

I loved the mystery of it all. Figuring out why Key's dad left Scotland, what was going on with Lochlan and what he was looking for, etc. It all built up to this culmination of until the secrets and answers were spilling out. And it was so fun to see Key and Lochlan investigating together.

The family dynamics were another great part of this book. Both Key and Lochlan had complicated relationships with their Scotland family members. Key was trying to learn more about who was there while Lochlan was trying to hold onto what he had. It was all very touching in the end when I was able to see how far everyone has come.

Overall, I loved this book! I think this might be Lana's best book to date, which is kinda crazy to say about a nessie romance, but here we are.

I really enjoyed this enemies to lovers story with some fun supernatural fantasy elements. It completely transported me to Scotland.

I loved the legend and back story of the mystical family, which was quite emotional at times.

I loved this book! The story was different and intriguing. The fact that the MMC turns into the Loch Ness monster instead of the regular vampire or werewolf trope was really interesting. The banter between the two main characters kept me wanting to read more and more. I kinda wish it was a little longer because I would’ve liked more information on the fantasy aspect (seriously who doesn’t want more information on the Loch Ness monster?!) such as the background and old history that was passed down through the years. Lana did an amazing job making it all seem so real and pulling you in with the characters. Also the FMC was one of the sweetest ever, at one point I wanted her to be a bit meaner and hold a grudge more as I was angry on her behalf. Seriously if you see a Lana Ferguson book just buy it, it’ll be great and it’ll make you smile.

POV: Dual
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

I didn’t know that I needed a Lochness Monster romance, but Lana knew and wrote a book that I am now obsessed with and has me wondering why this wasn’t really a thing until now!

We find out that Nessie is actually passed down to males, thus giving us Lachlan in all his glory. Perhaps the best surprise of the book was Key, in her journey to Scotland to connect with her family, she finds out so much more about her history than she could’ve ever expected.

It’s hard not to give too much away, but these two literally and figuratively save each other, and I even teared up in the end. It’s funny and heartwarming and full of spice (some that includes some monster-ish parts) and I really wish it never ended. Is this being made into a movie yet?!

Love, love, love. The banter, the atmosphere, the monster. What’s not to love. It is the fun and spicy writing I have come to expect from Lana Ferguson, a guaranteed good time.

I like that this one you really know what you are getting. The Fake Mate... I really thought was about veterinarians when all of a sudden they knot and turn into wolves. This one I knew what I was getting out the get-go. It delivers on the premise.

Keyanna’s father never told her about his life before her, so when he dies, she sets out on an adventure to learn more about him and her family. She arrives in Scotland where she meets Lachlan. Their family histories are intertwined in a way they never expected and they come together to help each other out.
Somehow I missed that this was a paranormal/monster romance (that’s what I get for not ever reading a synopsis) so that was a bit of a surprise for me. Once I got past that major surprise, this was a fun story with the mythology woven in seamlessly. Lachlan and Key were great together and I loved watching them heal from their traumas in the process of helping each other.
Thanks to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the advance copy.

Under Loch and Key is a small town romance following a woman determined to find closure for herself and her late father as she returns to his hometown, only to find that her dad's recount of the Loch Ness monster may not just be a bedtime story but instead a happening of magic, curses, and adventure. This romance was so unique and charming, I loved the Scottish setting and tone, not to mention all the fun banter between Lachlan and Key! The hate-to-love trope is one of my favorites, and they played it out so well together, their chemistry was unmatched. The plot was very engaging and I loved the lore and history behind the story and magic. I think this would be a perfect beginner monster romance for anyone wanting something a little light and fun with the added bonus of some monster smut!

We love a sexy paranormal romance!

Key and Lachlan don't exactly have a meet cute but that doesn't stop them from forming an unlikely romance.

Key returns to her fathers home in Scotland to honor his wish of returning home after his passing. It is there that she is reunited with her estranged grandparents and cousin and also meets a mysterious man named Lachlan Greer who works on her families property.

After learning a secret about Lachlan, Key makes it her mission to help him in any way she can and to make old wrongs right between their families.

I loved this story so much. It was magical and dangerous with the perfect amount of spice. I like that the main characters don't instantly fall in love and they take time to understand each other before jumping into a relationship. I think they are a really great match and I was rooting for them the whole time.

The pacing of the story was perfect and I LOVED the setting! It was so atmospheric and made the story even better.

I recommend this to anyone who likes paranormal romances and rom-coms!

4.5/5!

Review will be posted on 12/11/24

Keyanna MacKay's father has died and she doesn't know much about their family in Scotland. Key decides to go to Scotland to get to know her father's family, and in turn, honor his memory a bit more. But when she gets there, her father's family, including her grandmother, is not exactly welcoming. She also meets Lachlan Greer, who works for the MacKay's and that got off to a bumpy start. He thinks she is an annoying American, but slowly he starts to feel bad for her as she is a fish out of water in Scotland. Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson isn't just a contemporary romance; there is also a paranormal twist involving a family curse that is explored throughout the novel.


I do think Ferguson did a good job with the grumpy/sunshine trope between Lachlan and Key; I enjoyed their romance in addition to the memorable setting. The Scottish setting made me want to plan a trip to Scotland ASAP. The paranormal twist was also a lot of fun and involved The Loch Ness Monster. However, I will say that I felt there was a bit too much going on in the story. The "monster romance" portion, the family estrangement, the death of a family member, and the family curse made for a lot of different story threads. That's pretty ambitious in a romance novel and I can't say that Ferguson entirely pulled it off. Nonetheless, a fun romance unlike any I've read this year.

Is this my new favorite paranormal yet contemporary romance of all time? I'm leaning towards yes. Such an unexpected five star read!

I liked it more than other paranormal romances because it focused on folklore and various themes besides just the romance. When her father passes, the FMC travels to the small Scottish farm, where he grew up, to reconnect with his side of the family. She initially has a tenuous relationship with her grandmother—the complex family dynamics added so much to the story. And one of the farmhands is hiding a big secret...

I absolutely LOVED (it's a long list): the folklore element, the uniqueness, the emotional depth, the pacing, the familial relationships, the curse/mystery element, the small Scottish town vibes, the grumpy sunshine, and the spice. The concept of going back to her familial roots and the history between the FMC and MMC's families was so intriguing. Under Loch and Key is one of those books where I read the Kindle version, and now I absolutely have to buy the paperback because it's going to be a reread for sure.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for sending me an ARC of Under Loch and Key. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)

The plot gave just as much as the spice. I love Lana and everything she does turns to gold. She has proven she can write anything, and it'll be amazing

Are you into Scottish MMCs? Do you know what the word cryptid means? Have you ever found yourself wondering, oh I’m sure the Loch Ness monster must be an angsty, anxious man who craves love? Well wonder no more, and go get yourself a copy of Under Loch and Key.

🦕 Loved the story, the character growth of both MCs, and the depth each side character had. The plot made sense, though a tad bit predictable at times. The pacing was fast while not being overwhelming. The love story had all the feels. The winter Scottish vibes were perfection itself. Oh and the third act breakup? It only lasts like a page and a half. Phew!

The only reason I’m taking away a half star is because I really wanted the end twist to more.. just more? The character arc of the villain (yes there’s a villain in this romance) progresses a bit too fast, and without too many details to their back story it’s not an obvious path to how they ended up where they did. Having said that, I read this as a romance so this extra mystery/villain arc was a lovely bonus with minimal expectations!

Definitely recommend for a fun and spicy vibe this winter season!

Thank you to PRHAudio for the ALC and Berkley for the free book via their influencer programs

After the death of her father (CW early onset Alzheimer’s, non-graphic/no flashbacks) Keyanna goes to his homeland in Scotland for the first time, a place shrouded in mystery and low key animosity from her estranged grandparents and a family that’s got HISTORY with hers.

An unlikely duo emerges when, after meet disaster upon meet disaster, Lachlan (from the ~other~ family) agrees to help her uncover more of their family secrets when she discovers one of his own.

This is billed as a monster romance but as a connoisseur of that subgenre I would really call this magical realism instead, especially with the secrecy and subplots with Keyanna. Or maybe this is for the people who found the 🪢 in Ali Hazelwood’s Bride to be the maximum omegaverse they can handle, this would be a super soft place to start when it comes to monster romance (no shame either way, the rules are made up and the points don’t matter, it’s just my opinion on a more accurate label for expectations).

My only wish was for this to have leaned in even more to the romantic suspense and family mystery. Quests aren't my favorite in romance so if we're doing it let's make it interesting. But the romance, spice, writing, atmosphere still had me enjoying this to be clear.

THE AUDIO IS AMAZING. The accents. The dual narration. If I had to pick audio is the way to go with this one. Both voice actors did an amazing job with the side characters as well. I really can’t recommend the audiobook enough.

Sooooo.
This started off with an interesting beginning but dragged so much that honestly i put the book down because i got bored and almost forgot to come back to it. Finally i did because i really wanted to know how it ended Which was pretty good if you can hold on.

The love story was actually pretty great if you look past everything else, but then everything else is really a part of the story so there is that.
This is my second book by this author and I think even though the story ideas are good, the execution just isn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

I have eaten up everything Lana Ferguson has written and this novel was no exception! Under Loch and Key is a playful paranormal romance, set in Scotland, between a cursed Scottish farmhand and the boisterous American woman who has returned to her homeland after her father’s death. It’s an enemies to reluctant allies to lovers story full of magic, lore, and tension-filled sequences that will ignite any romance lovers heart.

When I first read the synopsis, I wondered how Ferguson was going to pull off a Loch Ness monster romance. Now, after reading it, I can attest that this premise totally worked. There is a mysterious curse at the center of Lachlan and Key’s adventures that made for a highly entertaining plot. My theories kept changing as we learned more and more about the ancient curse and I was excited to see various elements of Scottish folklore included.

Key and Lachlan’s relationship was exactly the type of enemies to lovers I crave and their banter highlighted their insane chemistry. Lana Ferguson is a pro at writing spicy scenes and I always look forward to the moment when her characters give into their desires. The circumstances of Lachlan’s curse made navigating intimacy very interesting and I was obsessed with the places that Ferguson took these sequences.

The entire time I was reading Under Loch and Key, I contemplated booking a trip to Scotland. The descriptive setting gave me the itch to travel and see this beautiful land for myself, and perhaps sneak a peak at a fairytale legend or two!

Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

As usual, Lana Ferguson has made a great story out of a bananas plot idea. There is no reason this one should work, but it manages to be charming, funny, and spicy, with great characters and is genuinely a lot of fun to read.

I’m so torn about this review. Ferguson’s writing is good and her characters are well fleshed-out individually, however, I struggled with the pacing. There was just not enough going on for me in the first 50% of the book and not much tension or chemistry between the FMC and MMC. I have been eagerly anticipating this book since Ferguson announced it, and perhaps I had simply built up my expectations too high. I really, really want to love this book and I’m so disappointed that I just don’t connect with it. I know most people will likely love this one, so I encourage you to read it and find out for yourself if this Lochness monster story is for you.

After loving FAKE MATE, I couldn’t wait to dive into this author’s next “monster smut” adventure! The premise of UNDER LOCH AND KEY was intriguing, but I’ll admit—it’s a bit of a slow burn at first. I almost set it aside, but thankfully, things really picked up around the 30% mark.

The mystery of solving the family curse kept me hooked, and I definitely shed a few tears near the end 🥲

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC 💚 🦕

4.5 Stars
Keyanna “Key” MacKay has come to Scotland to her father’s family farm after he dies, searching for a connection and roots. She doesn’t receive the warmest welcome from her grandmother or their farmhand, Lachlan Greer, but she’s determined to stick it out. However, things slowly thaw as Key gets to the bottom of her family history. There’s a mystery and an ancient curse involving both Lachlan and her family and it becomes Key’s mission to uncover the truth and break the curse before it ruins her newfound happiness and love.

Under Loch and Key is my favorite Lana Ferguson to date! I loved the combination of mystery, adventure, romance and a little danger! I’m pleased that the romance had chemistry and buildup! Yes, it was spicy, but it didn’t feel like it was just thrown in there for the sake of having spice. And the epilogue was so touching!

I alternated between an audio and e-copy and recommend either version. I loved the fact that not only did we get a female and male narrator for Key and Lachlan, but they also performed their own parts throughout the story, even when the story switched POVs! Samantha Summers and Flint Park did an excellent job with all the voices and accents! Flint Park’s Scottish accent was wonderful and sounded authentic!

I voluntarily read/listened to an advanced readers copy courtesy of the publishers. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.