Lessons with the Mothman

    

Title: Lessons with the Mothman

Series: Monster Smash Agency #3

Author: Kathryn Moon

Publisher: January 14, 2025

Pages: 295

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy Romance

Elias - freelance consultant to Monster Smash Agency, and prestigiously rare moth fae - has never been in love. Granted, he's never been interested in the emotion, but with his friends mating with their clients, the new curiosity is keeping him up at night. If only the act of loving made any logical sense. And if only he could find someone to draw him in like the moth to the flame.

Victoria is looking for facts not feelings. She wants to understand why the monster species are so much more satisfied than humans, than her. But the handsome mothman who volunteers to aid her study wants to stimulate more than her intelligence. She's willing to explore their physical chemistry, but she wants no part of his designs on her heart.

Some lessons can't be taught, and love is certainly one of them.

Elias and Victoria are so perfect. For being so smart, they're exceptionally dim about feelings. They could benefit from watching Inside Out. But they are fascinating, and seeing them figure each other out was very hot.

I loved how she handled Victoria's bedroom needs. I guess I loved how Elias handled them. :) The consent is impeccable, per usual. And getting to see and talk to all of the other monsters through the lens of Victoria's thesis research was really fun.

Elias's plan for finding love was fascinating. And the idea of making himself be in love no matter what was also very relatable. Their ending is perfect for them as well. UGH so good. I want to squeal about it but I don't want ultra mega spoilers in here.

Ratings

Stars: 4/5

Spice: 5/5

Under Loch and Key

      

Title: Under Loch and Key

Author: Lana Ferguson

Publisher: Berkley, December 3, 2024

Pages: 416

Genre: Paranormal Romance

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.

I am beginning to believe that angst is just Lana Ferguson's thing. I know that two instances don't make a pattern, but dang the angst was angsting! 

Really bold take to make the Loch Ness monster a man. Love that for her. There was quite a bit of grief in this book. Unsurprisingly, Key is traveling, ultimately, to scatter her dad's ashes. And I just had to use all of the whimsy in my soul to allow me to overlook all of the red tape that I can imagine is involved with transporting ashes internationally. But it was also a reclaiming of family, and identity which was beautiful. 

And there was hijinks and shifting and Highland Games. It was all pretty cozy, and I'd read Blair's and Rory's books for sure! Even if they would have too much angst in them.

Ratings

Stars: 4/5

Spice: 3/5