Under Loch & Key

by Lana Ferguson

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.

Praise for Lana Ferguson

'Addictive, epically smutty and the breath of fresh air the romance genre didn't know it needed' ELENA ARMAS

'Like if Ali Hazelwood and Tessa Bailey had a smutty baby. I devoured every page' RUBY DIXON

'Smart, fun, sexy, and sizzling with romantic tension' SARA DESAI

'Funny, sweet, and very hot' Shondaland

• ISBN10: 0349441421
• ISBN13: 9780349441429
• Publish Date: 3 December 2024 (first published 1 December 2024)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
• Imprint: Piatkus Books
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 416
• Language: English
• URL: https://hachette.co.uk/titles/lana-ferguson/under-loch-key/9780349441429/

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Kayanna “Key” MacKay is on a quest to find her family - the family she lost long before she was born. Following the death of her father, Key is determined to find his family and forge a connection. It’s her only hope if she doesn’t want to be alone in this world.

Meanwhile, Lachlan Greer is desperately searching for an answer, and he only knows one thing - avoid the daughter of MacKay. So imagine his frustration to see this woman show up, practically on his doorstep, in the middle of the night.

My Review:

Let me preface this review by saying that I read and enjoyed The Fake Mate, so I went into Under Loch and Key with slightly higher expectations than normal. I knew it wouldn’t be a serious story or anything like that, but it felt like a perfect break from reality.

That said, I was slightly disappointed with Under Loch and Key. The forced proximity romance was fairly obvious, with readers being told immediately how and why this relationship formed.

The whole grumpy sunshine bit was cute, but the enemies-to-lovers felt more like annoyance-to-bed-buddy if you know what I mean. And on that note, I must admit that the spice was not for me.

On a happy note, the mystery and family lore were a delight. I wish Ferguson had leaned heavier into this. The Lochness Monster in a romance is a first (for me, but I’m sure there are many out there), and I thought it was a creative take on this paranormal creature.

Highlights:
Paranormal Romance
Lochness Monster Lore
Enemies-to-Lovers (sort of)
Grumpy/Sunshine

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