Honestly, I am loving Lana Ferguson's willingness to try anything when it comes to romance subgenres. She's written realistic, paranomal, hockey, and now monster romances, and it makes me feel like she's just a huge romance fan turned writer who wants to explore it all. I really liked this - there's a solid enemies-to-lovers thing going on between Keyanna (Key) MacKay and Lachlan Greer. Key shows up in Scotland after her father's death, looking to make connections with the grandparents she's never met and to scatter her father's ashes in the loch where he swore a monster saved his life. She has a rocky start not only with her grandmother but also with Lachlan Greer, who saves her from falling into the water, berates her for her stupidity, and turns out to be living and working on her grandparents' farm. Key and Lachlan are attracted to each other but are both big mad about it until they start to share some secrets with each other, leading to a curse between their families that goes back generations. A really interesting blend of pretty realistic romance writing with a thread of monster romance running through it, along with some other supernatural stuff for good measure. A fun read that has me wondering what Lana Ferguson will try next??

so i didn’t know what i was expecting from this one and it wasn’t bad but wasn’t a fav. the writing was good and the overall plot i liked, but the romance was hard for me to follow

*Under Loch and Key* by Lana Ferguson is a gripping romantic mystery that skillfully weaves together suspense and heartfelt romance. Set against the evocative backdrop of a Scottish loch, the story follows a determined protagonist who uncovers long-buried secrets while navigating a tangled web of family drama and unexpected love. Ferguson's vivid descriptions and well-crafted characters create an immersive reading experience, blending intrigue with emotional depth. This novel is a must-read for fans of romantic thrillers and those who enjoy a compelling blend of mystery and romance.

4 stars

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

Keyanna "Key" MacKay is thrown into a world of secrets and magic after her father's death leads her to Scotland, searching for answers about her family’s past. What she doesn't expect is to be saved by the brooding, handsome Scotsman, Lachlan Greer, who just so happens to be harboring some family secrets of his own. Key’s struggle to navigate her strained family dynamic and uncover the truth about her father’s childhood bedroom story that brought her to the Loch kicks off a whirlwind of adventure, curses, and unexpected romance.

Okay, I enjoyed this, but I did not *love* it in the way that normally leaves me devouring a Lana Ferguson novel. After thinking about it long and hard, I can’t seem to pinpoint exactly why, though in the vaguest way possible I will say that there was simply something missing between Lachlan and Key. I’m not sure if the slow burn needed to simmer just a little bit longer, or if Key’s (petulant) “witty” comments wore me down, but I didn’t really buy the tension between them. Bottom line, I think if Ferguson had been given more time with this, we would have seen the plot execution that we know she is capable of. For such a significant jump from hockey romance to Scottish cryptids, I think she would have benefited from a longer research and development period. All of that said, I really did like this book and I admire the author’s tenacity and commitment to trying new things. I can’t wait to see what she does next!

I was so excited to read a Rom Com set in Scotland.....just maybe not this one. Descriptive sex with the Loch Ness Monster just made me put the book down. There were some interesting parts, like solving a family mystery and old castles with stories to tell, but they were nearly buried for me. Maybe I'm just not one for hot monsters.

I love Lana Ferguson and will buy/recommend whatever she writes. I can't tell you pleased I am to see moster-lover romance in the mainstream. This is going to be a big hit and I will definitely be adding to my collection.

Another banger by Lana! Lana is always the author I got to and recommend when I am needing a fun, fast paced and an absolutely swoon worthy romance. I think this also has such a fun and unique twist to it since it is a monster rom-com (not a lot of those around in trad publishing hehe) so so excited for all of her upcoming books & release as I am a Lana fan til the day I die!

Another fun read from Lana Ferguson. Key and Lachlan clash when they meet but sparks start to fly when she finds out his secret and offers to help him break his curse. A unique take on the Loch Ness myth with some more unusual Scottish mythology thrown in.

I did not realize that this was a monster romance upon requesting it from NetGalley. I am a romance girlie to my very core, but I was expecting a fun Scottish love story with some action, adventure, and mystery. I did get those qualities from this book, don’t get me wrong, but I was profoundly shocked to discover some of the intimate scenes in the story. Great plot, lots of fun, but I will not read monster romances in the future (just not my thing)!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars

Spice: 🔥🔥🔥

Tropes: enemies to lovers, paranormal romance, banter, magic and mystery, only one barn, spicy, monster romance


This book was so good! I’ve come to learn that Lana writes the most addicting characters and storylines. I can’t seem to stop reading when it comes to her books.

This book follows character Keyanna (Key) MacKay, a young woman who has travelled to Scotland following her father’s death. For her entire life, it’s been her and her dad, and per his last wish, she wants to bring him back to his homeland. Throw in the emotional aspect of losing a loved one, trying to connect with family you’ve never met before, and barely tolerating the hot farmhand who has secrets you couldn’t begin to believe, this book makes you want to read nonstop.

We also meet Lachlan Greer, aka the hot farmhand, who is unwelcoming to Keyanna and seems to have a huge chip on his shoulder about the MacKay’s in general. I really loved Lachlan’s character. He comes off as grumpy and rude, but when you learn of his history and what he goes through, he grows on you.

I loved reading about Key and Lachlan, especially how feisty they were with each other and watching their control snap 🔥 not the mention the magic this book includes. This book has so much to offer to a reader.

I loved this book and highly recommend it!


Thank you for the arc! 😊

Lana Ferguson is just the best, Under Loch and Key has so much going for it. The mystery is fun. The romance is steamy. The tropes are tropey. I cannot wait to order this for my library and tell my romance book club all about it.

Absolutely loved this grumpy-sunshine; enemies to lovers paranormal romp. The banter was white hot as was the tension between the main characters. Throw in a family curse and you've got me swooning!

I received a free copy of this e-book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

A monster romance from Lana Ferguson? I'll follow wherever she leads.

The mythology behind this novel was new and interesting to me. I'm familiar with the story of Nessie, and I can't say I ever thought about that story being woven into a romance novel. Lana Ferguson did it, and readers looking for something different should give this one a try.

I must admit this is my first foray into monster romance, and some of the spicy scenes are <i>unique</i> in a way that only a monster romance could be.

Recommended for readers looking for something sweet, spicy, and paranormal in a way that doesn't include the typical supernatural creatures.

Reader: it is monster porn. 🫣 I was too invested before I realised and my coworker will attest to me yelling in the break room "oh gross I'm out".

But mostly I just wish we could have left Nessie alone, swimming in HER Loch. Because Nessie is a girl and did not deserve what I just read.

If you need me I'll be in therapy.

Besides all of that, it was an okay read, I was invested with finding out how to end the curse and that was about it.

Another book I wanted to really love but found it fell flat in different ways.

The pacing was off on this one. I felt like the action was ramping up and the romance was pretty stalled until almost halfway through.

The concept was cute; the family dynamics heavy but also uplifting.

Overall I struggled to finish, which is why I coudln't love it more.

After Keyanna’s father passes away, she journeys to his homeland of Scotland to meet his estranged parents and figure out what is next for. She meets an incredibly grumpy man named Lachlan (of course) and the two fight at every turn. Suddenly, readers are dropped headlong into a mystery - both Key and Lachlan are awash in familial secrets centuries-old - and the paranormal comes into play.

I mean, maybe warn a girl? There are aspects of this novel I definitely did NOT see coming, and while i know they are a thing online in mainly fanfics or indy-published novels, I was not prepared for shapeshiftery-romance and all the trappings that go along with it. I feel like this book was a lot of things, and I don’t know if that is a good thing: a Scottish romance, grumpy sunshine, mysterious family issues, paranormal romance/erotica, and enemies-to-lovers. I felt like a lot was going on at once and it wasn’t tied together very well. Lachlan is about as exciting as a wet pile of leaves. Seriously, when did grumpy come to mean wooden? And Key is headstrong in some ways and then reserved and unsure around her grandparents and uncle. It wasn’t a very consistent book: in plot, characterization, and overall delivery. I love a Scottish romance but lately, I haven’t read a lot of good ones.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Lana Ferguson books are always a good time. Her characters are always horny so heads up, and she surprised me this time with a monster peen. I am very glad I wasn't reading that scene in public because I couldn't keep a straight face.

The setting of Scotland was beautiful. I am so glad that Loch and Key actually did some exploring, and I loved the castle. The mystery surrounding their families was really engaging, I love a family feud, and that is a common type of story from history. There was also some folklore mixed in which got an immediate yes from me. Even if you are a diehard "Nessie is a girl" person, I think you would still enjoy this book.

Overall Under Loch and Key is a fantastic, slightly mystical, romantic mystery, and I think a lot of people will have a fantastic time finding out that Nessie might have a dick 😂

I received this as an advanced reader copy and I kinda want to know what happens. But not enough to keep going. I am sooooo bored. I am trying to flip through this book as fast as I can and it's just not worth it anymore.

This book should be fun. I like books set in Scotland. I haven't been but I've read a lot of them. But this book doesn't feel right. The author keeps flipping around random slang that feels kinda Scottish like "och" and "hen" and then has everyone drinking coffee and the dude calling her "princess" (which I absolutely hate as a nickname in any book).

I know there's a mystery and there's magic but I could not care less. I tried but it's not worth the effort.

Pub Date: 12/3/24
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Lana is 4 for 4 with these spicy romances! And the paranormal aspect is just enough to be intriguing but not full on sci-fi.

This story is nothing like the stories you’ve heard of the Loch Ness Monster. Nessie… is a full on hot dino-man. Keyanna lost her dad and travels back to Scotland to find the last bit of family she has left. What she didn’t know she would find is a grandmother that wants nothing to do with her, a clan rivalry curse, a hot farmhand and a dangerous encounter with Nessie himself. Lachlan lost both his parents, in very different ways. His dad was lost to a family curse, while his mom abandoned him after being unable to cope with the loss of her husband. And because the Mackays are at the root of it all, Keyanna doesn’t stand a chance of becoming his “friend”.
Thankfully she’s able to use her witchy woman powers to entrance him. Just kidding, she doesn’t use her magic to make him love her… but she does set his pants on fire!

Lana created a mystery of sorts with this one, which is a new aspect to her books that makes them that much more enjoyable! The characters, not just the main ones, are all so lovable, despicable, hilarious and the spice. is. spicy. (Like literal monster dick spicy!) plus all but one character have Scottish accents and the use of actual Scottish slang is hysterical!

Favorite quotes:
Keyanna: “So have you always been a…” “a monster?”
Lachlan: “No” “a witch gave me a magic apple after I pissed in her roses”

Keyanna: “You are not who you are because of where you came from; you are who you are because of where you choose to go.”

First off, I love Lana Ferguson! This book was so much fun. This was such a neat spin on the Loch Ness Monster. I absolutely loved Key and Lachlan and especially Finlay. Highly recommend!