This was actually such a silly, goofy, fun time! I did not really know what to expect from this book & honestly did not have very high expectations but I flew through it! It was very much unserious most of the time with a few deep moments throughout. The characters were enjoyable & I loved watching them progress from disliking each other to becoming so important to each other. I actually would recommend this one for funsies!

Under Loch and Key was one I was excited to read, especially with the current hype surrounding "mystical creatures" in romance novels. However; with the recent allegations coming out of the wood work concerning Lana's fanfiction (Holocaust museum erections), I have chosen to not review/finish this book.

I want to start off by saying thank you so much for the arc of this book! I really just don't think this one was for me. I don't think I have every really read monster romance before and i'm not sure yet if it is for me because I unfortunately did dnf. I was intrigued at the beginning but as time when on I became uninterested. This might be for others but I just don't think it was for me! Thank you again for the arc!

Keyanna is yearning to uncover her past, but with her only connection now lost, the only path to reconnecting leads her to Scotland—toward a family that might not welcome her with open arms. "Under Loch and Key" beautifully intertwines Scottish lore with gripping family drama, crafting a mystery love story that tugs at the heartstrings. Keyanna, a fierce and determined protagonist, embarks on a quest to bridge the gap with her father and unexpectedly finds love along the way. Lachlan, with his brooding presence, serves as a perfect counterbalance to Keyanna’s fiery spirit, creating a dynamic that resonates deeply. The side characters add richness to the narrative, infusing it with humor and emotional depth. However, there’s a slight absence of depth in the lore and a rushed conclusion that leaves one longing for more clarity. A deeper exploration of the family rivalry would have added even greater intrigue to this compelling journey.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson!

Another hit for Lana Ferguson! I loved this novel and all of its cute Scottish charm.
Following Key as she travels to her fathers homeland after his passing to attempt to bridge the gap between her estranged family, she discovers a handsome (annoyingly so) Scotsman named Lachlan who is *gasp* actually the Loch Ness monster! Oh- and he hates her…. Lachlan and Kenyanna start attempting to solve a centuries old curse that put their families against each other, but find love instead.
This was so adorable, and although it took a while to get there, very steamy! The setting felt lush and real, and the culture was bursting off the page.
My biggest critique was that it felt a tad long.
4 stars

I have really liked both of Ferguson's romance paranormal/fantasy-esque books. I love how they are rooted in the real world but have their unique otherworldly/magical elements.

I read this very quickly in two days and it was a great escape from reality. I liked the enemies-to-lovers trope (my favorite) and the dash of mystery too. The ending with the cousin was a bit reaching, but I was able to get over it.

Some things happened regarding Lochlan and the Loch Ness Monster that weren't ever really explained. At times it felt like they were included for a bit of shock factor. I wish there had been clearer reasoning behind some of the things that happened, or some explanation as to how it worked.

At the end of the day, I'll keep reading these paranormal books Ferguson writes. They never fail to be entertaining.

This is great on audio – the male narrator and his Scottish accent were A++++.

I'm reading minimum one unhinged book a month and this one definitely fit the bill. There are lots of reallly interesting themes throughout this book with family dynamics and tracing your roots that are extremely well done, which doesn't take away from the fact that Key is sort of sleeping with the Lochness monster? I really did enjoy Lachlan and Key's relationship and the twist of the curse was really good.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

Who needs vampires and werewolves when you have the Loch Ness monster? But seriously, I love seeing such creative romance. Lana Ferguson is a talented writer who helps you suspend your disbelief and get sucked into a magical world. I loved Lachlan and Key. They were adorable together and their banter was so relatable. I highly recommend to any monster romance lovers. Sweet and spicy.

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for the ARC!

I did not see it going there. I know that probably makes me a little slow considering the name. But just the same I like when a book takes me by surprise. I’ve become a fan of the light or cozy fantasy. And maybe this is one of my first Romantasies?

Key and Lachlan are characters I just naturally rooted for. I connected and wanted them together from the start.

Enemies to lovers combined with grumpy sunshine kept me wanting more. And I loved the Scotland setting.

I’m not normally a fan of mythology but it works here.

This is the one to choose if you are looking for a little something different in your rom com.

4.5⭐️

This one was so good!! I loved the Scottish MMC and the mystery/suspense that the plot had. The spice was also HOT. Never in a million years did I think a Lochness monster romance would be so enjoyable but it was. It gave beauty and the beast vibes and the Scottish slang reminded me of outlander, so how could I not love it!

This is my second Lana Ferguson book and I really enjoyed it. I love how different each book has been. Under Lock and Key is definitely like no other romance I have read. There were some things I just did not see coming, and I would love to ask the author some questions. I look forward to more of her books.

Thank you to Berkley and PRH Audio for the advanced reader/listener copies of this book. All thoughts are my own!

I went into this with little expectations and an open mind as I very rarely read monster romance. And I was shocked by how much I absolutely loved this!

Lana writes such fantastically smutty books with just the right amount of romance. I thought this was such an interesting and fun concept; never would I have thought to make Nessie a man! It made for such an unique read and I loved how the family rivalry between these two really tied things together.

I listened to this via PRH Audio and I HIGHLY recommend it. Samantha Summers and Flint Park did such a fantastic job with the narration. They say sometimes you can't put a book down, but I couldn't stop listening to this one and I truly think the narrators played a big part in my overall enjoyment of the book.

This book was everything??? Was such a unique concept, pulled at my heartstrings while also making me blush. I love the two main characters so much as well as the plot. It made it more than your typical romance. The family drama had me hooked and the ending had me on the edge of my seat.

I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.

I feel like this was a cute story overall, but there were certain parts where the pacing was a bit lacking. I love the setting against Scotland, such a beautiful place, and the inclusion of a well known Scottish legend. This book could have definitely benefitted from a change in pace or some added scenes to liven it up a bit. Overall a cute storty.

This was my first Loch Ness Monster romance and it was fun! I’m a sucker for good banter and this had it in spades plus a little mystery to keep things interesting. Lana Ferguson is becoming one of my auto-buy authors.

I listened to the audiobook, and I definitely recommend the dual narration for this one. The Scottish accent for Lachlan was lovely. I also think the narrators did a great job capturing tone and emotion. This is a fun rom com exploring the possibility that the Loch Ness monster is real- and a result of an ancient curse that only our main characters can solve together. If you can suspend reality for a bit, it was a really fun book.

This was honestly really disappointing. The lack of character development! I am really tired of an "enemies to lovers" relationship built on the man saying one thing one time to the woman in a tone she did not like. And I never got a sense of any deep attraction to them. And the book really dragged. Honestly a struggle to finish.

I was intrigued by the paranormal premise of Under Loch and Key, but it was a miss for me. Keyanna MacKay travels to Scotland to spread his ashes and uncover her father’s past. She meets Lachlan Greer, a brooding Scotsman with secrets of his own... of the Loch Ness variety. This is my first time reading Lana Ferguson, so I'm not sure if it's her normal style, but I found the story started to drag in the middle. Too much internal monologuing slows down key moments. I picked the book up and set it down several times before finishing.

If there's one cryptid I believe in whole heartedly, it's the Loch Ness Monster. I rock with Nessie because she is truly my girl. So I knew I had to read this book, though it surprised me that Nessie was a boy.

This book had great enemies to lovers banter along with a fun romance. Sometimes I had trouble imagining how some of the monster part of this book worked but the romance stayed the focus point which I appreciated.

Lana Ferguson has such a gift for writing unique but fun romance books.