Lachlan shuts off the tractor, taking a moment to reach above his head and remove his cap so he can wipe the sweat from his brow. The action makes his biceps bulge and his pectoral muscles pull taut, and if he hadn’t already proven himself to be a royal jerk, I might not be able to control my drooling.
We do not lust after assholes, dammit.
Under Loch and Key is a spicy and fun monster love romp.
Keyanna “Key” MacKay is used to secrets. Raised by a single father who never divulged his past, it’s only after his death that she finds herself thrust into the world he’d always refused to speak of. With just a childhood bedtime story about a monster that saved her father’s life and the name of her estranged grandmother to go off of, Key has no idea what she’ll find in Scotland. But repeating her father’s mistakes and being rescued by a gorgeous, angry Scotsman—who thinks she’s an idiot—is definitely the last thing she expects.
Lachlan Greer has his own secrets to keep, especially from the bonnie lass he pulls to safety from the slippery shore—a lass with captivating eyes and the last name he’s been taught not to trust. He’s looking for answers as well, and Key’s presence on the grounds they both now occupy presents a real problem. It’s even more troublesome when he gets a front row seat to the lukewarm welcome Key receives from her family; the strange powers she begins to develop; and the fierce determination she brings to every obstacle in her path. Things he shouldn’t care about, and someone he definitely doesn’t find wildly attractive.
When their secrets collide, it becomes clear that Lachlan could hold the answers Keyanna is after—and that she might also be the key to uncovering his. Up against time, mystery, and a centuries old curse, they’ll quickly discover that magic might not only be in fairy tales, and that love can be a real loch-mess.
Under Loch and Key is perfect for bookworms interested in dipping their toes into the monster love sub-genre. This is a rom-com monster love story. The monster elements are there, and they are also lightly sprinkled into the spicy scenes. But this book isn’t overly batshit weird, bonkers crazy. What I mean is that it doesn’t dive into the deep end of this subgenre. This story lives in the shallow end of the monster-love pool, making it a great read for those keen on reading a book from this sub-genre.
I adore this book. It was everything that I had hoped it would be. It’s fun, flirty, and spicy. It’s a quintessential Lana Ferguson book with a Scottish monster twist. Lana’s writing is so wonderful. She creates these stories that are so easy to sink into and are bursting with great characters, witty banter, and lots of drama. I was instantly hooked on this book. I fell in love with Key and Lachlan’s characters and quickly became invested in their love story. I also was incredibly curious about the folklore, curse, and rivalry that existed between the Greer and MacKay families. Lana did a great job at taking those traditional Scottish myths, aka the Loch Ness Monster, and making it her own. She weaves those monster/myth elements into this contemporary rom-com and creates something that is super entertaining and enjoyable to read.
I loved all the characters in this book. The secondary characters were quirky and sweet, adding charm to the story. Lana did a great job at capturing that small-town Scottish vibe. Key and Lachlan are great MCs. Key’s relationship with her father and family is going to tug at those heartstrings at times. Her journey at learning more about the place that her father grew up in and connecting with her grandparents was beautifully done. I really liked her as a character. She is fierce, spunky, and, at times, very vulnerable. Lachlan is that typical broody Highlander who tries to be gruff with the heroine to hide the growing lusty feelings he is experiencing. Lachlan is an interesting character. He has a lot of those typical alpha male characteristics, but underneath that prickly exterior is a man who is alone and terrified of what the future may hold for him. He has demons that he needs to learn to deal with before he can really move on in his life.
The romance in this book is typical Lana Ferguson romance; I mean by that, it’s witty and very spicy. Key and Lachlan have this dislike-to-lovers trope vibe to their love story, which is right up my alley. I love the sharp, witty banter that often exists in a dislike/enemies-to-lovers romance. In the beginning, Key and Lachlan go out of their way to aggravate each other while trying to ignore those lusty feelings that pop up whenever they are around each other. The relationship between Key and Lachlan was so delicious. I enjoyed the chemistry and sparks between these two. The spice is pretty spicy, and there are a few sex scenes when that monster element gets thrown in. The main hurdle between these two is Lachlan’s lack of trust. He has grown up thinking that the MacKay family are the enemies, and even though deep down inside he knows Key is trustworthy, he has a hard time giving up his secrets.
Under Loch and Key is a spicy Scottish romance with a monster twist.
Thank you, Berkley Publishing, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
