Holly‘s review of The Key by Lynsay Sands
Historical Romance released by Leisure Books 1 Feb 99

Lynsay Sands is a fairly new-to-me author. The first full length historical of hers I read was Devil of the Highlands, and that was just a few weeks ago. I found that novel to be lighthearted and engaging. I was looking for more of the same when I picked up this book, and I’m happy to report that it delivered. 

One of the things I liked best about this novel is that both characters were in need of growing and settling into the relationship. When one of them would do something wrong, the other would call him/her on it. It wasn’t that Duncan was always in the wrong and Iliana always right, or vice verse.

Iliana was a really spirited heroine. Generally I hate seeing that as a description of a heroine because its usually synonymous with TSTL. In this case she wasn’t TSTL but she truly was spirited. Even though the Englishwoman was forced into a marriage with a Highlander, she didn’t let it get her down. Not even when, upon arrival to his keep, she finds him mostly drunk, dirty and smelling like a pile of horse dung. The keep itself was in even worse repair, and all his people were filthy and smelly.

Duncan was stubborn and unbending for the most part. In the 20 years since his mother died his father let things fall apart, but that’s the only thing Duncan knows. He figures if it’s worked for twenty years, why change now? He doesn’t understand why Iliana wants his people to have clean clothes and good tasting food. Nor does he understand why she refuses to sleep with him until he bathes. He’s always bathed twice a year and none of the other women he’s been with have complained. I loved seeing Iliana disabuse him of his notions. The way they reacted to each other and their situations could have become annoying, but instead they’re written in a believable way.

As I said, it wasn’t that one of them was always in the wrong and the other always in the right, they both had growing and changing to do. My only issue with this story was the evil step-father plot. Although it wasn’t done badly, I feel like this plot has been done too many times. I am giving some leeway, however, because the book was originally released in 1999. Otherwise this was a great read. Light and fun, with just the right touch of tenderness.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Iliana Wildwood would do anything to escape from the depraved baron who sought her lands – including marrying a barbarian. Fleeing the highlands, Iliana was wedded to Duncan, laird to 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 it had been her heart she had locked away, and that this stubborn Scot had finally found…

Read an excerpt.