UNDER LOCH AND KEY by Lana Ferguson

Publication Date: December 03, 2024

Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Romantic Comedy

A woman discovers that not all monsters are her enemy—the opposite, in fact—in this new paranormal romance by Lana Ferguson, author of The Fake Mate.

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.

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This book was a lighthearted paranormal romance set in Scotland. Full of legends, curses, and mysteries. I enjoyed the different take on the normal paranormal genre. (If you’ve read my reviews, you know I don’t like to give away anything that isn’t on the author’s blurb. So, I may sound vague.) Key is searching for information on her father’s life and why he left Scotland. That coincides with Lachlan searching for clues on his family’s curse. This story is about their collision course.  I like how they came to bolster each other’s confidence – once the distrust was rectified.

I didn’t feel the connection between Key and Lachlan. Lust, yes…love? Not until the very end. I liked them but was never truly invested. Perhaps because the book dragged in some areas. More talking about looking for clues rather than fully searching. A large part of the book was also about Key finding her grandparents and forging a relationship. It wasn’t exactly easy, but it was real. The romance part was pretty hot, so not lighthearted like other parts of the book. All in all, it was an interesting story and makes me curious about Lana Ferguson’s other books.

*Review copy provided by Pengiun in exchange for an honest review.

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Kindle | Paperback

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Lana Ferguson is a sex-positive nerd whose works never shy from spice or sass. A faded Fabio book cover found its way into her hands at fifteen, and she’s never been the same since. When she isn’t writing, you can find her randomly singing show tunes, arguing over which Batman is superior, and subjecting her friends to the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings. Lana lives mostly in her own head but can sometimes be found chasing her corgi through the coppice of the great American outdoors.