If you love all things Scottish, the legend of the Loch and believe in romance this story is captivating. A twist on the stories we've read this is filled with magic, mystery in an enemies to lovers story that has plenty of tension, banter, and secrets.

I love the storytelling, the pacing, the imagery, and the spice. What a great way to spend a few hours being transported into a world that I wish existed.

So excited to have read an early copy and can't wait to see what Lana Ferguson brings us in 2025

I requested this for consideration for Book Riot's All the Books podcast for its release date. After sampling several books out this week, I decided to go with a different book for my review.

I wasn’t expecting to love this so much, but Lana made me fall in love with the Loch Ness Monster! If you’re a fan of Erin Sterling’s Ex Hex series, you’ll love this book. I loved all of the magic and fantasy elements that were so easy to follow along with but made it more fun than your typical rom com. It’s silly & predictable but I enjoyed it for a quick feel good

Under Loch and Key is the second novel I have read by Lana Ferguson. This book checks the boxes of several tropes I enjoy reading - enemies to lovers and forced proximity. This book also has the grumpy sunshine trope which I haven't read much of. This book is the first monster romance I have read. There are steamy parts in this book.

Under Loch and Key is written in dual POV alternating back and forth between the perspectives of Key and Lochlan. I liked the back and forth banter between these two characters and the history and magic woven through the book was an interesting touch with the poem. The magical element to the story did get a bit over the top at one point, but it was short lived.

Under Loch and Key is about found family, family history and long kept secrets that are finally unearthed and revealed.

I look forward to reading more by this author including her next book, Overruled.

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢; 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤.”

This book was a lot deeper than I was expecting and I loved it so much more for that. It’s not just a cute rom com but it’s also about recognizing who you are and how choices are really what shape us.

I loved Key so much. She’s vulnerable and strong and not afraid to stand her ground although she feels things so deeply. And I resonate with that a lot. Lachlan has secrets and he’s rightfully secretive with anyone and yet it’s adorable to watch him fall so hard for Key while proclaiming that he hates her when it’s so obvious he doesn’t. 🤣

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for fans of fantasy, paranormal and enemies to lovers!

Book Review: Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson

Looking for a quick, binge-able read to break up your towering TBR? Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson might just do the trick! This book brings a delightful mix of paranormal shenanigans, grumpy-sunshine banter, and swoony romance—what’s not to love?

The Scottish lore adds a charming twist that feels like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day. Sure, it’s not the kind of story to rock your literary world, but who says every book has to be? Sometimes, you just need a little magic, a little love, and a lot of fun.

The paranormal element gives the story its unique edge, and the grumpy-sunshine dynamic keeps the pages turning. The romance? Sweet, swoony, and paired perfectly with a backdrop of broody castles and misty lochs.

While it didn’t leave me breathless, Under Loch and Key was a solid palette cleanser—an ideal escape between those heavier, brain-melting reads. If you’re in the mood for something light, quirky, and charming, give it a go!

Thank you, Netgalley and Berkley Publishing, for allowing me the opportunity to enjoy this advanced reader copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

As far as I know, this is my first Lana Ferguson - seems like folks already have strong feelings about her writing, which I didn't going into it - and it was definitely an experience. Monster/shifter romances are hit or miss for me, and this one was more of the latter than the former unfortunately. Most of the things that irked me I might've found charming on another day, so I think this is more user error than issue with Ferguson as an author. From the first page I was annoyed by the shoehorning in of a character called "Key" (Keyanna) to fit into the title scheme. The characters ostensibly had compelling backstories but in reality fell a bit flat for me. The plotting/pacing were off for me, and I think really she could have cut out about 100 pages in the middle and made this better paced and more digestible. I do admire Ferguson for really going there with the monster aspect of it in the steamy scenes. But overall, this one was just okay for me.

After loving The Fake Mate, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Lana Ferguson’s newest book. Unfortunately, this one didn’t grab me in the same way. The premise was undeniably fun—girl moves to Scotland, gets saved by the Loch Ness monster, and discovers that Nessie is actually the sexy/grumpy farmhand who’s been driving her crazy. Together, they’re breaking curses. You know, classic romcom vibes.

But for me, the execution fell flat. A big issue was how mean many of the supporting characters—and the MMC, Lachlan—were to Keyanna in the beginning. She was grieving the loss of her father and was constantly mocked, pranked, and made to feel unwelcome. It left a bad taste in my mouth and made it hard to root for them later on.

I also struggled to feel the chemistry between Keyanna and Lachlan. It didn’t have enough heat for an enemies-to-lovers arc, but they were too mean to each other for it to be anything else. If that makes sense? On top of that, none of the cast really stood out to me, except maybe the grandfather.

That said, I didn’t hate the book—it was fine. I just didn’t feel invested in it. If you’re into paranormal romcoms, it might work for you! I just found myself getting through it, rather than truly enjoying it. I’ll still continue to look forward to more of Ferguson’s work!

I’ve read all Lana Ferguson’s books and liked them all, so when a new one became available, it was a no brainer to pick it up. Unfortunately, this book didn’t have the same spark as her other books. The plot was predictable and slow. I felt myself getting tired/bored of the story. The antagonist reveal was far too obvious and the hidden secret at the end was kind of lame. No magic to undo the curse, just love. So if she already felt it, then why didn’t the curse end earlier? Why wait until they were in a graveyard? The ending felt poorly planned out. Any why would he hate the sight of a McKay woman when he KNEW that she could break the spell? He should have convinced her to come to Scotland as soon as he knew she existed. Too many plot holes. What even was Key’s magic? Flames and turning electrical items on and off are not the powers of the mythological Kelpies. They were said to be tricksters who would drown humans. Just didn’t make a lot of sense.

Lana is one of the few authors who can truly get me to read outside of my genre preferences.

No matter what she writes, she writes gold. This story is rooted in loss, family drama, seeking out answers, and discovering who is worthy of your truths. And beyond that, we have a steaming enemies-to-lovers, monster romance, surrounded by family mystery and found family.

Like I said: a masterpiece.

I have truly been loving the Scottish setting for romance books lately—maybe because I recently traveled there myself, maybe because it’s truly just the most gorgeous place to imagine while reading. But this book could have no other setting, since the Loch Ness Monster, Nessie, is one of our main stars.

The banter kept me hooked from one chapter to the next, and the mystery made it so I couldn’t put it down no matter how important a deadline might have been.

Key and Lochlan are the perfect opposites-attract pairing. I loved it when they hated each other, when they started to trust each other, and when they found comfort in one another.

I also have to note that the audiobook is pure 🔥! The narrators absolutely nailed it and listening to Scottish accents in my ear might just be my new favorite romance preference. Well, that and Lochlan’s special…uh…abilities 👀

Pick this one up if you enjoy:
- paranormal/monster romance
- Family mystery
- Found family
- Enemies to lovers
- Family curse
- Opposites attract
- Only you

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson. This is the second of Ferguson's paranormal romances that we have covered on the podcast.

Key McKay ventures to her deceased father's homeland to meet the estranged family she's never met. Her goal is to connect with her only living family while discovering her father's secrets that she once believed to be only fairytales. Lachlan Greer is cursed. The "Key" to lifting this family misfortune may lie with the one woman he wants but can't have. Both put aside fears to work together to discover the answers - and some may not be the happy endings for which they hoped.

What we liked about the book:
- The charm and magic of Scotland and its mythical history.
- A strong female heroine who stands her ground with the hero.
- The connections between friends that surpass time

What we didn't like as much:
- Pacing through the middle section
- Needed more information on how Key develops her magic
- One very long and built-up scene could be removed to delve into the magic themes.

Overall, we enjoyed the book quite a bit. Rae, in particular, found it to be very emotional. Trigger warnings for parental death, grief, and estranged/found family drama.

Phenomenal! Lana is quickly becoming an autobuy author for me. I have read every single one of her books and I think this might have taken my top spot for favorite book of hers. I’m a sucker for anything Scotland and the fact Nessie is a hot cursed Scot? Say less.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: I have mixed opinions about this one. Some of the things I really enjoyed were the supernatural elements, folklore and magic. I felt like Lana Ferguson did a great job developing that, it was much better than I expected. The family story and character development was also more entertaining and satisfying than I thought it might be (I have not enjoyed the authors previous works but really love cryptid stories). My only real complaint about this book isn't even a complaint but more of a personal taste. It was a bit too smutty for me.

My favorite elements by far was the family history aspects and the cryptid incorporation. All in all this was better than I expected.

Perfect Romantasy for those that don’t usually gravitate to the genre! Absolutely ate this up and was one of my most anticipated reads! Lachlan is that bearded, broody, & beautiful book boyfriend you need in your life! A little first chance meeting from the grumpy man after clumsy Key bumps her head is the start of a fun relationship!! It’s a perfect romance with some paranormal vibes, family drama, angst and secrets!

Not many notes. Id recommend this to anyone who likes the idea of fantasy and adventure but actually prefers romance and drama with a side of mystery and spice. Unique enough in plot but also a very easy story to follow.

DNF @ 16%. I’m excited to see more paranormal romance being traditionally published, and was excited to read this. The writing’s fine, but unfortunately everything about the FMC made me grit my teeth. From her dumb name (Key McKay) to her selfishness and defensiveness (flying to Scotland unannounced to spring herself on her estranged grandparents, then getting mad when the MMC saves her from falling in a lake that’s on his property that she’s been trespassing on). I just can’t take this premise for an enemies-to-lovers romance and the instalust seriously.

Love, Love, Love this book! I won't stop recommending it. The author did such a cute job writing it. I love the chemistry, the characters, and the plot line. It was absolutely perfect. I will admit I did have to purchase this one because it was just so dang good. I highly recommend it.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Berkley Publishing Group

While monster romance isn’t my go-to sub-genre, I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Lana Ferguson. So I was willing to suspend my disbelief at the idea of the Loch Ness Monster being a hunky dude who shapeshifts into the infamous Scottish legend…

I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into Under Loch and Key but, of course, Lana Ferguson didn’t disappoint, delivering a mythical, mystery-filled, mind-blowing, atypical love story. The romance is fiery and passionate and outrageously steamy, and the respective journeys taken by both characters kept me riveted from start to finish.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f monster romance
-frenemies to lovers
-rival families
-a family curse
-Grumpy/sunshine

Listen, we all know I'm trash for everything Lana writes and somehow I was lucky enough to read this one early. Did I read it again when I got the ARC? You bet I did. I love this story so much. Monster fucking, family mysteries, and two people with incredible chemistry who are just tried to figure out more of who they are and you know accidentally fall in love all at the same time.

I loved the pacing in this one so much, making it unputdownable. Loch alone I don't have words other than I may go buy myself a plane ticket to Scotland at this point. Somehow both tender and steamy all in the same well written breath, Lana is a favorite of mine for a reason.

I really enjoyed this author's writing. I haven't read anything by them before, but I really got into the story and the pacing of it. The characters were well developed and lovable.