Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson – a Review

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson – a Review

 

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Description:
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.

 

 

Review:

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson is standalone romantasy novel set in Scotland.  We meet Keyanna “Key” MacKay, who recently lost her father, and wants to honor his last wish, to spread his ashes in Scotland.  Key flies to her father’s hometown in Scotland, and is determined to meet her estranged family, where he had never returned to Scotland; and needing to learn more about his past.  Key will meet her grandparents, as they learn that her father passed away; her grandfather welcomed her with open arms, but her grandmother still held grudges, having never seen her son again; in time her grandmother will openly love Key. Key will try to mend the broken ties between them; and her cousin, Brodie.

Lachlan Greer has his secrets, which he keeps quiet, with only two friends at the pub, who have known his secrets for years.  He meets Key, and tends to be nasty to her, with Key not liking him at all.  Lachlan, works for Key’s grandparents, gets a view of the lukewarm welcome from her grandmother. When Key attempts to spread her father’s ashes, she slips and comes face to face with the Loch Ness monster.  

Key learns that Lachlan is affected by an old curse that affects all Greer men in a Scottish urban mythology revolving around the Loch Ness monster. Key begins to understand that Lachan has been trying to find clues to end the curse. They will begin to work together on trying to find the clues behind the curse; and their attraction brings them even closer and they fall very much in love.  Key needs to help save Lachlan and find a way to break the curse.  She also discovers that she has been developing strange powers, such as fire from her hands, as well as opening windows and stopping rain.  

I really loved Key, as she was great heroine; and learning to love her grandparents.  Lachlan turned out to be great, as he had fallen hard for her.  I will say I thought there was a lot of smut throughout the last half of the book. Under Loch and Key was fun, lighthearted, family oriented, heartwarming, forgiveness, with a mystery that Key might be able to solve. Under Loch and Key was very well written by Lana Ferguson

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood – Review & Giveaway

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood – Review & Giveaway

 

Description:
A forbidden, secret affair proves that all’s fair in love and science.

Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she yearned for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down.

Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through – and he’s a man who gets what he wants. With one burning exception: Rue. The woman he can’t stop thinking about. The woman who’s off-limits to him.

Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business – one that plays for keeps.

 

 

 

Review:

Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood is another one of her wonderful standalone romance novels. We meet Rue Siebert, our heroine, who is happy in her job, as a successful biotech engineer at Kline; well-known in the field of food science. Rue has two best friends, her childhood friend, Trish (they work closely together); and her loyal boss, Florence. Rue had a rough childhood, and is determined to keep her heart closed, not comfortable in any kind of relationship, only allowing some one-night stands. She is content in her life, until she learns that a hostile takeover threatens her calm and confident world.

Eli Kilgore, our hero, is part of the Harkness group doing the hostile takeover. Eli and his business partners plan to takeover Kline, for various past reasons. To his shock, he sees Rue, whom he met the night before, during a wild sexy evening. Despite Rue ignoring him, Eli finds himself drawn to her, as he can’t stop thinking about the night before.  Eli goes out of his way to visit or interview Rue, as their feelings for each other escalates, with the chemistry between them becomes sizzling. 

They do begin a secret no-strings attached affair, with Rue making sure that Florence doesn’t find out. Rue will learn from Eli, what happened 10 years ago with Florence, and why they are determined to fix what she did to them.  She has every intention to team up with her boss Florence, only to learn more about the past truths, and the lies of her boss.    

 Eli was perfect for Rue, helping her through her emotional past, revealing little pieces of herself which she hid away for years.  Rue could not resist her feelings for Eli, who was hot, charming and very sexy. They made a great couple, very steamy together.  I will say that this book had so much sex, it was very different then previous Hazelwood stories.  I did like Trish, Rue’s best friend, who was totally loyal to her and a terrific bff.  Rue will learn that though she thought she was close to Florence, she will discover secrets that could cause Rue to lose her job.

As we get closer to the end, with the hostile takeover, it will be Eli, who will do everything he can to protect Rue; as he knows he has fallen in love with her.  Rue is entangled in a secret affair, that though she too has fallen for Eli, it does challenge the foundations of her past.  Can she find a way to act on her feelings and desires?

Not in Love is wonderful love story, very steamy, as well as emotional. I really like the end and epilogue, which was great.  Though, I do say there were too many sex scenes. Not in Love was very well written by Ali Hazelwood.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

`Ali Hazelwood’s publisher, Berkley, is offering a paper copy of NOT IN LOVE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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A Sinful Gift by Emma Castle – a Review

A Sinful Gift by Emma Castle – a Review

 

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Description:
Kidnapped by one man and given to another…to be shared…Feisty, brave and intelligent, Hazel Callahan isn’t afraid of many things in life. Until she’s kidnapped while leaving a bar by a gorgeous mountain man. Her mysterious captor tells her that she’s to be a gift to his friend. When she meets the man who will be the master of her fate, she never imagined she would actually be tempted to surrender to him, or that she’d be willing when he tells her he plans to share her with the mountain man who first took her. A game of seduction begins and soon Hazel fears she may never want to leave…

 

 

Review:

A Sinful Gift by Emma Castle is a spicy novella. Hazel Callahan has just won her law case, against her rival, Blake.  She celebrates her win at a bar, and meets a hot sexy man; but decides to go home alone.  As she leaves to her car, she is kidnapped by her mysterious captor, and he tells her he is bringing her to a friend as a gift.  Hazel isn’t afraid of anything, as she is intelligent and feisty, able fight off anyone, but this hunk of a man carries her to the house where she will meet the man who is to be her gift.

To Hazel’s surprise, the man who was gifted, turns out to be her rival, Blake; as they had a relationship years ago, and Blake has never forgotten her. Blake tells her he plans to share her with her captor, Mason, who is his best friend.  Hazel finds herself totally attracted to both men, and a game of seduction begins. They tell her that she would be worshipped like a goddess, with both sharing her.  Hazel willingly knows she will love the attention and all the steamy sex; especially with two men who are swoon worthy.  Blake & Mason (best friends) were determined to win her over, with an overload of pleasure; and Hazel worries that she may never want to leave.

What follows is a very steamy and sexy story, that was constant sex from start to finish. I liked each character individually, as they were loving and caring. Blake having not forgotten about Hazel, was going to do all he could to not let her get away again.  I did think this was a bit too much constant sex scenes.   For those of you who like this steamy storyline, you probably will need to take a cold shower.  😊    

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

 

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