Asia

4.25/5

I loved it, it's one of my favourite books I've read this year. I love all things mythical, and while I'm not the most knowledgeable about Scottish folklore (even if I know of Nessie), I find it magical and inviting.

All characters were well-written and I loved them. Especially Lachlan - a sassy man in a kilt and a divine accent? Yes, please And he's a monster too? That just makes it better!. And Key was a great character too, I loved how she grew into herself and her magic and I love that she saved the day at the end.

I loved all the relationships. It was as much as a romantic love story, as a platonic one. Key reconciling with the family she didn't know about was amazing and heartwarming and heartbreaking and warm and I loved it. Finlay, who loved her immediately and was excited to get to know her, Rhona who was very cold but she wasn't a villain which I found refreshing, Brodie who kept to himself but accepted her too - utill the end where he completely lost it. Lachlan and the twins, who had always accepted him for who he was and who were always there for him, even when, or maybe especially when they made jokes to make him feel better. And then we have Lachlan vs McKays, with Lachlan finally accepting all of them.

And of course, the love story between Key and Lachlan. They had so much in common and so many differences and they learned to work together. I loved their bickering and their chemistry, and how they couldn't help but be drawn to each other.

I loved the paranormal side of things too, Nessie, and kelpies, and curses and how it all came together at the end.

The book wasn't perfect; I predicted some things and while it's not bad, I have to say I'm disappointed in Brodie. I was hoping that he was a red herring and he only wanted to help. I didn't think the book needed a villain - the curse was bad enough as it was.

And speaking of curse, I didn't really feel like Lachlan was in any danger of never turning back into a human? I don't know, I wasn't exactly on the edge at the end, wondering how they're going to save him. It didn't feel like it was something so urgent, maybe because Lachlan's father was the only person they knew that it happened to? I'm not sure if it was the way it was written, or something else, but I didn't really feel that suspense and anxiety at the end that Key and Lachlan did. Also, what happened with the bridle was anticlimactic and I didn't feel like the tension about whether or not they found it.

Also, the way Key broke the curse felt really weak for me. So she had to forgive him that he lied to her? I thought she'd have to forgive his ancestor for the way he abused and treated her ancestor. That she'd have to use the bridle in a ritual to reverse the curse. idk, something about it felt anticlimactic and weak to me.

But the last few chapters were a tearjerker for me. I got emotional about reading how everything ended and overall, I loved it.

I loved the epilogue too. With all the elements from the book making an appearance (all important characters, even the windows from the castle, and their daughter's name).

And, can I just say, now that I read this book, I love what it looks like. The cover (although part of me wishes they kept the original where his shadow in the water is Nessie), him wearing a kilt and her in her pink wellies (although I wish THAT was a scene in the book, come on, Lana, so close), and the violet lettering and graphic. I LOVE it. And the hardcover as Tavis's journal was just brilliant.

And I love the drawings inside the book, they're so pretty and show those scenes really well!

my favourite quote is still definitely:

"Yeah, but I just thought you were being a dick."

"No, I was trying to tell you that Nessie has a dick."

4.25/5

I loved it, it's one of my favourite books I've read this year. I love all things mythical, and while I'm not the most knowledgeable about Scottish folklore (even if I know of Nessie), I find it magical and inviting.

All characters were well-written and I loved them. Especially Lachlan - a sassy man in a kilt and a divine accent? Yes, please And he's a monster too? That just makes it better!. And Key was a great character too, I loved how she grew into herself and her magic and I love that she saved the day at the end.

I loved all the relationships. It was as much as a romantic love story, as a platonic one. Key reconciling with the family she didn't know about was amazing and heartwarming and heartbreaking and warm and I loved it. Finlay, who loved her immediately and was excited to get to know her, Rhona who was very cold but she wasn't a villain which I found refreshing, Brodie who kept to himself but accepted her too - utill the end where he completely lost it. Lachlan and the twins, who had always accepted him for who he was and who were always there for him, even when, or maybe especially when they made jokes to make him feel better. And then we have Lachlan vs McKays, with Lachlan finally accepting all of them.

And of course, the love story between Key and Lachlan. They had so much in common and so many differences and they learned to work together. I loved their bickering and their chemistry, and how they couldn't help but be drawn to each other.

I loved the paranormal side of things too, Nessie, and kelpies, and curses and how it all came together at the end.

The book wasn't perfect; I predicted some things and while it's not bad, I have to say I'm disappointed in Brodie. I was hoping that he was a red herring and he only wanted to help. I didn't think the book needed a villain - the curse was bad enough as it was.

And speaking of curse, I didn't really feel like Lachlan was in any danger of never turning back into a human? I don't know, I wasn't exactly on the edge at the end, wondering how they're going to save him. It didn't feel like it was something so urgent, maybe because Lachlan's father was the only person they knew that it happened to? I'm not sure if it was the way it was written, or something else, but I didn't really feel that suspense and anxiety at the end that Key and Lachlan did. Also, what happened with the bridle was anticlimactic and I didn't feel like the tension about whether or not they found it.

Also, the way Key broke the curse felt really weak for me. So she had to forgive him that he lied to her? I thought she'd have to forgive his ancestor for the way he abused and treated her ancestor. That she'd have to use the bridle in a ritual to reverse the curse. idk, something about it felt anticlimactic and weak to me.

But the last few chapters were a tearjerker for me. I got emotional about reading how everything ended and overall, I loved it.

I loved the epilogue too. With all the elements from the book making an appearance (all important characters, even the windows from the castle, and their daughter's name).

And, can I just say, now that I read this book, I love what it looks like. The cover (although part of me wishes they kept the original where his shadow in the water is Nessie), him wearing a kilt and her in her pink wellies (although I wish THAT was a scene in the book, come on, Lana, so close), and the violet lettering and graphic. I LOVE it. And the hardcover as Tavis's journal was just brilliant.

And I love the drawings inside the book, they're so pretty and show those scenes really well!

my favourite quote is still definitely:

"Yeah, but I just thought you were being a dick."

"No, I was trying to tell you that Nessie has a dick."

2/5

Take a shot every time Bram complains about being a man, or calling himself a real man, or telling himself that all Susanna wants is a real man, or complains about not feeling like a real man. Toxic mascilulinity at it's highest.

EDIT: 21/2/2025 - okay, this book wasn't AS bad. I still wanted to shoot Bram half the time he opened his stupid mouth, but hey, progress! Also, this book is now 3/5

2,5/5

It wasn't horrible but it was boring and felt unfinished, good thing it was so short.

Liam's bet was supposed to be important but I didn't feel any urgency from his to win it. Also we don't know how the bet came to be: were they all drunk or something? He threw the deeds for his favourite place of Earth and yet still he was just fine losing it? His brothers apparently sabotaged his efforts but we're never met them so idk if they dicks just because or was there something more sinister going on.

I hated that Holly never told Liam about her being a leprechaun. He deserved to know, damnit. He deserved to know what she was, what her magic was, even if she was going to lose it, he deserved to know. I hated that she lied to him and didn't seem to care whether or not he should know. Even when she said she accepted their bond he still asked what did she meant and she just brushed him off.

You don't do that. Tell him, damnit.

The whole book felt rushed and unfinished. The story was cute but was expecting more - I didn't really care about the characters because the whole book felt incomplete. I couldn't connect with Holly being afraid of te bond - why would she? She hated that magic, It felt more like a curse and when she suddenly got an option to accept a soulmate bond to get rid of the magic she ran??? Make it make sense.

It didn't feel like there were any stakes. It's was just rushed and the plot and characters were very superficial. We don't know anything about Liam's brothers or what Holly's father did that he was considered the worst?? I've no idea. It was all empty underneath. All surface, no filling.

Thank you, NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

2/5

I was going to give it 3 stars, but that PUBLIC proposal on LIVE TV took me out and not in a good way. I HATE public proposals, WHY do they have to always be there?? Especially since Elu HATES publicity, it was so out of character for him to do???? Hate it, hate it, hate it.

And OW drama was just weird. It's like the ex-wife was a real antagonist in the first 40%, being bitchy for no reason only to stop??? Out of nowhere??? So stupid.

And seeing as I haven't read the previous books in the series I was so lost about who each character was. There were way too many background characters I didn't give a fuck about, and it was hard to keep track of. It's not a good book to read as a standalone because there are too many characters that don't do anything and have no purpose to be in that story, but they're still there and I don't know them. And it was just so boring to read about them.

2/5

I was going to give it 3 stars, but that PUBLIC proposal on LIVE TV took me out and not in a good way. I HATE public proposals, WHY do they have to always be there?? Especially since Elu HATES publicity, it was so out of character for him to do???? Hate it, hate it, hate it.

And OW drama was just weird. It's like the ex-wife was a real antagonist in the first 40%, being bitchy for no reason only to stop??? Out of nowhere??? So stupid.

And seeing as I haven't read the previous books in the series I was so lost about who each character was. There were way too many background characters I didn't give a fuck about, and it was hard to keep track of. It's not a good book to read as a standalone because there are too many characters that don't do anything and have no purpose to be in that story, but they're still there and I don't know them. And it was just so boring to read about them.

3/5

That book was mostly boring. I didn't care about either character except for Hazel, she was precious.

The jokes weren't funny to me at all, the story was meh although certainly not the worst. The ending just pissed me off. So he didn't tell her he pulled out as her manager, she found out from other people, ignored him and it was all done at 96%?? And the next chapter takes place a month later and they're suddenly okay? I hated that. Show, not tell. I hate when authors tell and not show.

Also the epilogue was so bad. Why almost every author thinks that being married and being a mother is a woman's happy ending - especially that nothing in the book indicated it? Sure, Fee loved Hazel and she was already a mother figure. And she loved Meyers. But nowhere in the book was it said that she wants to be his wife or give birth to his child. That was his fantasy, not hers, one he didn't even tell her. Seriously the whole epilogue is out of character, out of place, and completely unnecessary.