This is something new and different – it’s a Loch Ness Monster romcom! There’s a little magic along with a mystery around how to lift a family curse and it has enemies to lovers and grumpy/sunshine tropes. I was interested to see how the author would make the romance work and, other than some pacing issues, I found it to be a light, pleasant romcom.

Keyanna (Key) traveled to Scotland to visit family after the death of her father who had Alzheimer’s. Her father came over to America with Key’s mom, who later died when she gave birth to Key. Key’s father had a favorite story he liked to tell Key about when he was growing up in Scotland and something reached out and saved him from drowning when he slipped on some rocks near a loch. It all happened so fast, he was never sure, but he believed it was the Loch Ness Monster that saved him. Key was convinced there was more to the story and she needed to find out more about where her father came from and if there really was a Loch Ness Monster. Her father’s side of the family was estranged – she wasn’t exactly sure why – but he parted on bad terms with them and they haven’t kept in touch. She decided it was best to just show up at her grandparents’ farm and surprise them.

Key’s rental car broke down when she got close to her grandparents’ home in Skallangal Cove. A kind sheep herder told her he’s a friend of her family and will get her car to the repair shop. He gave her directions to walk to her grandparents’ home and on the way, she saw the water glitter and sparkle on a beautiful loch. She decided it would be the perfect place to scatter her father’s ashes. When she got out the urn, she slipped and started to fall when a thick arm reached around her and grabbed her to keep her from falling. A beautiful man, who turned out to be named Lachlan, got mad at her for getting near the water, and pointed out the Keep Out and Danger signs. He called her a ‘clumsy tourist’ (which made her mad) and told her she had trespassed on his land. When it started to rain, he begrudgingly offered her a ride to her grandmother’s place, where he was a farm hand.

Her grandmother was not pleased to see Key – she said when Key’s dad left, it hurt her badly. I didn’t fully get why she wasn’t happy to see Key, but her grandpa was glad she was there and they decided she could stay if she helped out on the farm. Lachlan showed her how to do some farm chores, including how to feed the cows which she was scared of, and she and Lachlan had fun banter and became friends.

Lachlan was independently wealthy from a family trust but worked at the farm because he was looking for clues about lifting an ancient curse on his family. The first son of each generation of his family changed into a loch ness monster at sundown (and transformed back to human form at dawn). One hot night when Key can’t sleep, she decided it was a good time to spread her dad’s ashes and went to the loch. While she was there, some wild things happen (which I won’t reveal but there is some magic involved) and she found out that Lachlan is a loch ness monster! (This isn’t a spoiler because you can see it in the picture on the cover.) He told her about the curse and how he was searching for a way to lift it. She offered to help him learn more about their family histories – they explored an old rundown castle owned by Lachlan’s family and attended the town’s Highland Games where they talked with the locals.

I wondered how the author would pull off the spicy scenes between Lachlan (the loch ness monster!) and Key and I’m happy to say I thought they were done well – they were hot and steamy and not at all cringy.

My main flaw with the story was with the pacing. It slowed down when they were researching old family records and looking for history about the legend. Also, they went from enemies to lovers pretty quick but the banter between Key and Lachlan had me smiling and the scenery was gorgeous.