I've read many of Lynsay Sands books and loved them all! The Key has great characters, villains, family, love, lust, and much frustration for the hero Duncan Dunbar. Lynsay Sands is witty, mysterious and does much research for her novels. I am in awe, when authors work so hard on research for their novels and Lynsay is top notch!

Iliana Wildwood is taken to the Scottish Highlands to marry Duncan Dunbar, the Laird of Dunbar Keep. Iliana is taken back when she meets her future husband, and father-in Law Angus Dunbar, for both father and son are wearing dirty clothes and smell worse then goats. Reluctantly, Iliana goes through with the marriage to Duncan, but on their wedding night she has a big surprise for Duncan and he would need a special key to unlock her chastity belt and a good bath, if he wants to find pleasure and lust with his new wife, but his stubborn ways keep them from consummating the marriage.

I especially enjoyed the humor between Duncan and his father Angus which made me laugh out loud at times. Angus believes that the marriage has been consummated and he gives Duncan so much grief for chasing after his new wife, and it's quite funny at times. The fun is over when a mystery behind a murder attempt comes to the Keep. Duncan and most of his men are called away to do battle, leaving Iliana in charge of the Keep when it's attacked by a mad man and his men. Angus is hurt during the battle and Illiana stands alone giving the orders and trying to save all who live in the Keep. Will she lose the battle before Duncan comes home? It's rough going during the battle and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how she would handle this crisis. Sorry, I will not tell how she made out, you must read to find out the answer to all. And that also means if Duncan ever finds the key to unlock his wife from her chastity belt!

THE KEY is an excellent read!