Key was raised by a single father who very rarely spoke of his past. Other than a story about how a monster saved his life and the name of her grandparents she doesn't know much about her fathers history. After his death Key decides to travel to Scotland to scatter his ashes and meet her estranged grandparents. The last thing Key expects is to be rescued by a handsome Scotsman who clearly thinks she is an idiot. Lachlan Greer is no stranger to secrets and is keeping quite a large one especially from the girl he pulls to safety off the slippery rocks of the loch who bares the last name McKay, a name that he has been told to be distrustful of. Both Key and Lachlan are searching for answers and while they get off to a rocky start it seems that neither of them can deny their attraction. Maybe if the two can work together they can both find the answers they are seeking.

Keyanna MacKay was raised in the United States by her single-Scottish father. Her Dad was tight-lipped and didn't share a lot about his past, family, or where he came from. One of his final wishes before passing was for Key to bring him home, to the country he left decades before. Thus, with this wish weighing heavy on her heart, Key decides she must make it happen, no matter the cost.

Her only real info is the name of the area in Scotland he is from, as well as her estranged Grandmother's name; a Grandmother she's never met.
Even though she's scared and it may blow up in her face, Key is still determined to find out where her Dad came from and return him there. Maybe it will help fill the void in her heart he's left behind. Unmoored by his passing, this could be exactly what Key needs to help her move forward.

What she doesn't expect is the run-in she has on her very first day with the handsome, Lachlan Greer, who stops Key from tumbling down the slippery rocks of a loch-side cliff. Lachlan has answers of his own he's searching for, and Key may be just that, the 'key' to finding them. That'll only be possible though if the two can stop fighting long enough to work together.

The longer the pair spend together, the more buried secrets come to light and that's when the real magic happens.

I've read a lot of cryptid-focused stories in my life, but certainly nothing like this. I'm in all new territory here and I had such a fun time taking it all in. While I can recognize that this isn't a perfect book, and for more experienced Romance Readers, maybe it's not great, IDK. For me though, I gotta give props to Lana Ferguson for creating likable characters, a unique plot, as well as hard-hitting, emotional moments.

I loved both of the MCs, particularly Key and the journey she was on to find a sense of place after the passing of her father. That hit me hard and I respected the hell out of the risks she took in making that trip. It was a big deal. I was also surprised and pleased by the direction the romance went in. I'm not sure if all of this author's works are a bit fantastical like this one, but I'm definitely interested in picking up more. This was just so cute.

Admittedly, the steamy bits weren't 100% to my tastes, but I was willing to overlook some moments that made me cringe due to all the moments that made me swoon. The banter between Key and Lachlan made it worth it. I also liked that the author included a bit of a mystery that the two have to work together to solve. I thought that was a nice touch, instead of focusing solely on romance.

Additionally, I adored the setting and the side characters. The audiobook featured dual narration that was a perfect match for how I pictured Key and Lachlan. I absolutely recommend that format. Overall, I found this to be a pleasant surprise. It's much more than just a gorgeous cover.

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm excited to pick up more from Lana Ferguson!

I do think that at some point Lana Ferguson should be stopped and I think that point may have been two books ago.

Did I know that my life and the paranormal romance genre were missing a spicy yet heartwarming tale where the Loch Ness monster is actually a cursed hot Scotsman? I sure didn't, but boy am I happy Lana Ferguson's brain in all it's infinite creativity and wisdom knew . Her whimsical and banter-filled tale is utter perfection!

Overall, the premise was really cool but I did find it a little tedious to get through. For those who are looking for a fun, smutty read; this might fit the bill. But the characters and the romance between them did fall a little flat for me.

A supernatural romance featuring a Scottish highlander who shapeshifts into the Loch Ness Monster is a wild yet fun concept. I was hoping to be entertained and for the first half of the book I was. But then I stopped being entertained. The main issue I have with Under Lock & Key is that the supernatural plot was not a consistent through line in the narrative. Oftentimes, the monster and the mystical lore of these two families would not arise until it was convenient for the characters. Rather than a cheeky, modern fantasy set in Scotland, this felt more like the author lost track between the supernatural and the contemporary, resulting in a disruptive pace and inconsistent narration. Overall, a disappointment.

Oh, Lana. May you forever be an auto-buy author for me! Give me all the enemies to lovers and grumpyxsunshine vibes, please!!! Such a fun read.

I loved the way this was a light monster romance. I think Lana does an excellent job building tension and romance. I think her paranormal worlds are ones I’d love to be part of

One Sentence Summary: Spicy enemies to lovers fairy tale monster romance.

Reminds Me Of: Beauty in the Beast but with SPICE with wonderful Scottish Accents

Three Reasons You Should Read This:
1) I must admit, the cover was a big draw for me
2) Scottish accent - audiobook a must!
3) Cute and spicy and fun!

One Thing You Should Know Before You Pick This Up:
Spicy monster romance for readers 18+. Definitely detailed, open-door romance scenes in this one!

Content Warnings:
Sexual Content, Death of a parent, Grief, blood, violence, kidnapping/confinement

Under Loch and Key⁣
Genre- romance (paranormal)⁣
Rating - 4⭐️/loved⁣
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Thanks @berkleypub for the advanced digital copy! This one is out now🙌🏻⁣
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This is the third book I’ve read from this author and it’s my favorite so far! The Scottish setting was lovely and perfectly described, and Key and Lachlan were the absolute best blend of grumpy and sunshine - the banter! The spice was just right (🔥) and the blend into the paranormal felt almost natural, with the ending coming together so satisfyingly. For sure planning on picking up whatever this author puts out!⁣

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#underlochandkey⁣ #decemberreads #whatiread #bookreview #bookfeature #lanaferguson #berkleypartner #berkleypublishing #readingcommunity #bookstagram #bookish #bookishfeatures #bookishpost #bookishlife #readingoutside #booksoutofdoors

Under Loch and Key is the type of romance that hooks you and doesn't let you go. The chemistry is unexpected but so so good. I will read anything that Lana Ferguson writes -= she is the QUEEN of steamy, slightly strange romances.

Ah this read.

I think this suffers from a case of the vibe of the cover not actually coming to fruition in the book until far too late.

Are there a lot of moments that I liked? Absolutely. I just think that the vibe projected by the cover and the blurb weren't delivered on.

A lot of issues I have come from the presentation of the first 30% of the book. The dual POVs are cute until the MMC has his presented in a way that conceals the most obvious fact about him from the reader (even though it's obvious from the cover alone).

I think the mystery also hinders the romantic development a little too much.

All in all my conclusion is not enough Nessie!

I was a little unsure how the premise of a loch ness monster would play out, but it was very rewarding. Perfect for people who want to dip their town into a monster romance without diving into the deep in. The characters were endearing and easily to fall in love with them!

I'm not normally a paranormal romance girl but Lana Ferguson's enemies-to-lovers Scotland-set romance just might change my mind. Curses, magic powers and a monster in disguise? I was all in. And holy steam!

Thanks to Berkley for the copy to review.

I was pleasantly surprised to have enjoyed this title as much as I have. 5 stars. It was exactly the right amount of romance and spice for me. The characters felt real and relatable. Lachlan and Key have a long history, however, they don't know it. I loved the adventure they create together to untie the family history and it's secrets. There's a nice twist on the Scottish mythology from the author, which only adds to the story. Truly, overall, a lighthearted, wonderful read that kept my attention throughout. Thank you so much to NetGalley for allowing me a review.

This book was an absolute standout. Lana crafted two characters I was rooting for from the start and had me constantly on the edge of my seat. The spice was so good and fit well into the adventurous monster lover genre.

I went into this book blind, and I'm so glad I did - I absolutely loved it, and the shock value of realizing what Lachlan really is made it SO worth it! (I mean, I must have read the synopsis when I requested the book, but in between then and now I forgot).

I never thought I'd enjoy a cursed human/Loch Ness Monster book so much. Adding in the selkie and curse gave it a little bit of a mystery that I really enjoyed, too.

The steam was HOT and not being one for monster erotica, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The writing was good and it was hot without being overly descriptive and cringy.

The banter between Lachlan and Keyanna was fun and entertaining.

I will definitely be buying a copy for my shelf, and eagerly waiting for her next book! She's come a long way since The Nanny, and I'm excited to see what's next.

4.5 stars

Definitely cute but didn’t live up to expectations. I’m learning this author might not be for me. I just find the characters in her books to be not fully fleshed out or that compelling. I loved this premise though!

Overall, it was okay. I didn't love the mystery, and I didn't find myself really rooting for Key and Lachlan. I thought they were interesting characters, and they plot itself was interesting in theory, I just felt like the book took a while to get to the point and I found myself not fully engaged with the story. I liked when we got to see parts of the past when we learned more about the curse, but it seemed to be in and out instead of balanced with the romance elements.

I enjoy Lana's writing.

This was not my favorite.

I will absolutely keep coming back

Im not sure if it's my mood but I wasn't feeling it. But because I enjoy Lana so I'll definitely retry!!!