The Key [Mass Market Paperback]

Lynsay Sands (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2003

A Highland laird unlocks the heart of an English beauty in this historical romance from the author of "The Deed". Ms. Sands has been nominated for the Best Historical Romance Award by "Romantic Times".

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 313 pages
• Publisher: Leisure Books (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 084394482X
• ISBN-13: 978-0843944822
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #353,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Southern Ontario, Lynsay Sands is the New York Times bestselling author of the Argeneau Vampire series. She has written more than 34 books and anthologies since her first novel was published in 1997. Her romantic comedies span three genres--historical, contemporary, and paranormal--and have made the Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, USA Today, and New York Times bestseller lists. Lynsay's books are read in more than twelve countries and have been translated into at least six languages. She's been a nominee for both the Romantic Times Best Historical Romance Award and the Romantic Times Best Paranormal Romance Award, was nominated and placed three times in the RIO (Reviewers International Organization) Awards of Excellence, and has several books on All About Romance's Favorite Funnies list.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo Lynsay Sands, July 7, 2001

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Key (Mass Market Paperback)

Just finished reading The Key... an absolute breath of fresh air. Iliana and Duncan are perfect together. I love the way they both came to appreciate one another. The dialog was so fresh, bright and spontaneous, I found myself laughing throughout. Not only at Duncan and Iliana, but Angus, Elgin, and all the other minor characters, whose wit added to this lively tale of the lovely English Lady Iliana forced to marry the Scotsman Duncan in order to remove her from a wicked step-father and thereby pave the road for the eventual release and annullment of her mother. Both had to learn the ways of the other, but Liliana's use of the chastity belt to keep her foul smelling husband away just led to so many moments of pure hilarity. I especially liked Ms. Sands description of the passed out Duncan and what Liliana thought of his manhood parts! I just about fell on the floor with that one...and enough cannot be said about Angus, that lovable bear of a father-in-law. His misunderstanding of what his son was going through was pure joy! I LOVED this book! Definitely a keeper to reread again! Bravo Ms. Sands...can't wait to read your other novels which I will be ordering en masse shortly.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What is so sexy about a man who hasn't bathed in six months?, January 29, 2007

By 

Gemma "bookworm" (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Key (Mass Market Paperback)

From the back cover:

Iliana Wildwood would do anything to escape from the depraved baron who sought her lands--including marrying a barbarian. Fleeing to the Highlands, Iliana was wedded to Duncan, laird of Dunbar Castle. Certainly, there was something about the virile warrior that made her weak in the knees--but something stank in the state of Scotland, and Iliana would not trust anyone until she'd discovered the source.

Determined therefore to resist her handsome husband, Iliana found a way to keep her secrets safe. Employing a belt of chastity, the spirited beauty managed to thwart the thane's advances. But then her husband changed his tactics and began a sensual assault that sent her intentions up in smoke. And as the air cleared, Iliana found that it had been her heart she had locked away, and that this stubborn Scot had finally found the key.

And my review:

This book started off so well. Lynsay Sands has a wonderful, flowing writing style that is easy and a joy to read. She can really draw the reader into the story, and has a great feel of history. I really felt like I was back in Medieval times, but never felt like I was reading a textbook.

And the conflict between the hero and heroine was also well done. I really liked Iliana. I felt that she was strong and spirited without being a shrew. I really admired and identified with her. But the hero was a bit of an immature child, in my opinion.

But really turned me off this story was the constant reminders of how much he stinks, since he only bathes twice a year (January and July). And since it's June, he's pretty ripe. Is he supposed to be sexy? Because that's just gross. (Yes, I know, historically accurate, but still gross.) As a minor theme, it might have been interesting, even amusing. But there seemed to be a mention about how much he stank (and everyone else except for the heroine, apparently) on every single page. It was really tedious. And with such an image in my head, every time the hero started kissing the heroine, I wanted to gag from the idea of having so much horrible body odor that close up. (Wouldn't most of us be disgusted by our husbands if he went even two days without a shower, let alone six months. I shudder to even think of it.) It just got to be ridiculous. Instead of this being a romance novel, or a story about a Scottish keep, it was just a story about a man's disgusting, reeking body. How is that romantic or sexy? Again, it was just gross, and not something I really want to read about.

And then the heroine lands in a big pile of manure, and while trying to get out, falls into it again and again. I'd had enough. Was this author obsessed with things that stink, or something? Enough already! As if I hadn't been overload with the million mentions of how much the hero reeks, now I've got to read about a heroine covered in animal crap. Lovely. I read romance for romance...not to bring to mind memories of changing dirty diapers or shoveling doggy do.

I guess this doesn't bother everyone (given the rave reviews on this page), but it sure bothers me. I'll give this author one more try, as it's obvious that she has writing talent. I just wished she hadn't wasted it here.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book will make you laugh so hard you'll cry., September 7, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Key (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the first book I read by Lynsay Sands. And I absolutely loved it. The Highland setting and the Scottish hero and the heorine with her chastity belt all equalled one of the funniest books I've ever read. If you want to smile, if you need a laugh, and if you like Amanda Quick's books, you'll absolutely adore this one. I think Lynsay Sands is going to be a great new author.