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.

I had so much fun reading this book. Loved the mythological shifter aspect and that she discovered more about her family roots and found her place in the world. The romantic plotline was well done. I would call this book monster-lite romance.

The magical elements were a whimsical collection of soft magic that worked well for the story and setting. I really loved the Loch Ness monster tie in. It felt fresh and something I definitely haven't read before.

I loved the unfolding of the family secrets and how her relationship with her grandmother especially grew. Just a magical and fun story.

Content: language, explicit

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.

This book was such a fun read and I loved every second!

This is not a Christmas romance, but Lana Ferguson really gave with both hands this holiday season! Not only does she gift us a book that has Scottish accents (def listen to the audiobook), but it also has monster peen. I was shocked and soooo pleasantly surprised. I was already giggling and enjoying the banter between the characters, but when the spice hit and then THAT scene occurred I was beyond sold.

To the girlies that have been thinking of maybe trying a shifter monster romance book, this one is for you!!! It’s a nice entry point into the genre while being a feel good book. If you are a seasoned shifter monster romance lover like myself, I think you’ll still enjoy this one because it has a good balance of all of the tropes and the story is sweet.

Also, I highly encourage listening the audiobook while you read for a full on immersive experience and because Samantha Summers and Flint Park do an amazing job! No matter how you do it though, definitely get a copy of Under Loch and Key!

Ugh, I LOVE Lana Ferguson. The first time I read The Nanny, I was hooked on the banter and writing style. I equally enjoyed The Fake Mate, but this book I didn't love AS much. Now it was still a decent read, but a bit too long for me. I think the premise was golden and hilarious, but there is only so much plot that can happen between the two main characters. Overall, I would recommend one of Lana's other books first, but I still love her and cannot wait to see future projects!

After her father’s death, Keyanna (Key) MacKay travels to Scotland to find her estranged grandmother and better understand her father’s past. However, she’s stymied by Lachlan Greer, her grandparents’ sexy Scottish farmhand, who right off the bat despises her for seemingly no reason. When Lachlan exposes his deepest secret to save Key’s life, they both come to realize their relationship may be the *key* to unraveling family mysteries and ensuring that everyone has a happy ending.

Supernatural romance, Scotland... we all know where this one is going. As usual with Lana Ferguson, the chemistry between Key and Lachlan is off the charts. Keyanna’s relationship with her grandmother starts off rough but is tender and sweet as it evolves. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story, but it wasn’t mind-blowing; I knew where it was heading. I thought it would be hard to beat werewolf romances in the supernatural romance world, but Lana may have changed my mind!

This one started out strong for me but ended up being a bit of a slog. I liked the chemistry between Lachlan and Keyanna, and the magical realism element was fun, but it did get a little over the top after awhile. The duet style audio narration was excellent though. Definitely the way to read this one!

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley and the LibroFM ALC program for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Lana Ferguson has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I don’t care if it’s humans, wolves, or the lochness monster I want it! This one was such a fun read, with an element of mystery I could not get through this one quick enough. A little monster erotica was super steamy and honestly I loved Lachlan and Key, how their relationship evolved as well as Keys relationship with her grandparents. Parts had me tearing up. Overall it was a fantastic found family, supernatural, mysterious and steamy read.

Thank you to the publisher and author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5⭐️ rounded up.

This was a solid book, but not a favorite for me. I thought the premise was really unique. I just found the middle to really lag and I didn’t like that we didn’t have a full resolution with Brodie. I really enjoyed Key and Lachlan as characters. I thought the mythology and history was super fun. The epilogue was so cute!

“𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘦’𝘷𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥, 𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯. 𝘼 𝙈𝙖𝙘𝙆𝙖𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣…”

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson was everything I needed and more! Key just became my favorite Lana Ferguson heroine to date!!! There were several scenes where I felt bad for her, but then she amazed me by how she didn’t let that bring her down!!

Lachlan…. I LOVE HIM!!!!! He was broody, moody, but oh so yummy!! The scene where… well a *certain scene* had me giggling and kicking my feet!

Can I just say, I loved Rhona and Finlay so much!!

This was a paranormal romance, paranormal romance like no other. Have you heard of the Loch ness monster before? Well, grab a cup of coffee and dive into this new story that will have you on the edge of your seat, unable to put down the book for even a second!!!

Lana gives us another great monster romance that feels contemporary and not entirely fantastical! The twist of a Hatfield vs McCoy family feud feeding the curse of the Loch Ness Monster makes for a fantastic starcrossed lovers romance story!

Under Loch and Key was such a great story and I had so much fun reading it! This had a delightful mix of entertaining moments with a romantic comedy vibe, blended with a bit of fantasy and paranormal romance, plus a touch of mystery. I loved the characters and the excellent build to learning their secrets. Everything all together had me excited while reading.

I loved both Keyanna and Lachlan. I felt for Key as she put herself out there to connect with her estranged family. She was strong-willed and I loved her determination. Lachlan was fantastic. He’s grumpy and has secrets but underneath it all, he had a big heart. Together they took verbal sparring to a whole new level thanks to the enemies-to-lovers vibe between them, I loved the animosity and bickering. There is a fine line between love and hate and I was thrilled when the feelings between them bubbled over into more. When that banter changes, it's flirty and playful, and I really enjoyed it. I loved watching their feelings grow as they got to know each other and started to let their guards down. There was a nice amount of heat as well. When Lachlan releases the beast so to speak, holy wow!

I was excited when Keyanna found out about Lachlan’s secrets and everything was revealed. I liked learning about the curse, the magic, and all the mysteries surrounding loch-ness. It creates a bit of drama and intrigue but mostly it was just fun. There were a lot of heartfelt moments mixed into it too. I love the characters involved. Lachlan has friends at a bar that are twins and they were a crazy pair that added a good amount of humor. Key had a sketchy cousin that I had a million questions about. I liked her grandparents and loved the evolution of Keys' relationship with her grandmother.

This was an awesome escape and I enjoyed it all. I love a grumpy guy with a secret and Lachlan’s was a doozy but I liked how Key was there for him and discovered secrets of her own, which brought them to a wonderful happily ever after.

3.75⭐
This was more a me problem, not the book's. While I was expecting just a Scottish story, there was too much of the story focused on the Loch Ness monster. Storytelling and spice were great, I just wasn't that interested in the monster part of it.