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    The Key
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    The Key
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    The Key
    Ebook364 pages5 hours

    The Key

    By Lynsay Sands

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Return to the wild beauty of Scotland in The Key, a classic historical romance novel from New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands. Married to a barbaric laird in order to escape a worse fate, Iliana Wildwood is determined to remain a chaste wife...until her warrior husband plunders the marriage bed, awakening her to pleasures she's never known before! If you love the quirky, loveable heroines of Julie Garwood's historical romances, then you’re going to love award-winning author Lynsay Sands. Featuring Sands's trademark humor and sexy alpha hero, The Key is a sensual historical romance you won't want to miss!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJul 20, 2010
    ISBN9780062024886
    Author

    Lynsay Sands

    Lynsay Sands is the nationally bestselling author of the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter vampire series, as well as numerous historicals and anthologies. She’s been writing since grade school and considers herself incredibly lucky to be able to make a career out of it. Her hope is that readers can get away from their everyday stress through her stories, and if there are occasional uncontrollable fits of laughter, that’s just a big bonus.

    Read more from Lynsay Sands

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    Reviews for The Key

    4/5

    62 ratings25 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I love Toyne's Sancti series, in exactly the way that I do NOT like Brown's Da Vinci Code. it is a more than fitting sequel to Sanctus, which I also loved, and was the reason for me reading this book in the first place. Toyne has a very 'visual' rather than 'cerebral' way of writing, which draws the reader right into the action and tension of the story. This was a book that was hard to put down. The pace is fast, the plot imaginative, and even those moments that can be predicted, don't detract from the enjoyment and the thrilling climax. I will certainly be looking for the third book in the trilogy.
    • 5/5
      Wonderfully entertaining sequel to Sanctus. Am looking forward to the next book!
    • 4/5
      The Sancti story continues with the same pace and intrigue. Its another entertaining novel.
    • 2/5
      Why 2 stars? Because to me, 3 stars is a good solid read. It means that I was glad I read the book. I am not glad to have read this one. I enjoyed The first book in this series quite a bit. The story was tantalizing and and there actually was a story there. To me, much of The Key was nothing but one brutality after another. It didn't hold up to the promise of Sanctus.I have read many books, well over a hundred, since Sanctus. The Key jumped right into what there was of a story, with no retrospective, no reminder of what happened in the first book. It took me until page 60 or so to really get a firm memory of what had happened in the first book. I don't think this book would do well as a stand alone, so I'm not sure why it was done this way. If you haven't read Sanctus then you have no idea why these folks are running around, torturing and killing each other and committing random atrocities. I continued reading only because this was a Vine request and it was my responsibility to do so.Finally, things started looking up in part VI of the book. There was a nice twist there that finally piqued my interest and made me care how the book would end. I often use the word story in my reviews, but this time, there seemed to be so little story, I feel that would be misleading. I stopped caring about the characters as the chapters dragged on and on. I didn't even care about the good guys, if they lived or died or managed to grab the gold ring. Until part six.The ending boosted the book in my esteem from a single star to two. I was very sorry about this, because The Key, and the first book in the trilogy Sanctus, are just my kind of book. A little bit thriller, a little bit religious shenanigans, a person or two who come to save the day. Things evened out and sped up a bit as the book came to and end. It held my interest enough to keep me reading, but not enough to read book three.
    • 5/5
      I won this book on booktrib which is second in a trilogy, so I went out and got the first book “Sanctus” and I am so very glad I did.I knew I would love and give both books 5 stars along with my mother who has read and loved them both as well!“The Key” is a crazy twisted ride all over the world everywhere evil religious men lurk. It starts out right where “Sanctus” left us off, heart thumping and mind just a whirling….I will quote a dust jacket blurb… Hunted, Hounded, Haunted she is the most important person in the world, she is KuShiKaam, “The Key”… and she is journalist Liv Adamsen.The first book deals mainly with her brother who was a monk and his horrific and strange death in the ancient city of Ruin where Liv has just made an escape from the famed and very secretive Citadel She now lies in isolation in a hospital room that she must leave very soon as the people who were after her brother are after and will continue to hunt her and the secret she holds inside her. There is only one person she can trust, Gabriel Mann and they must go back to Turkey and find a stranger who is called simply “The Ghost” to unravel this mystery as old as time itself.This book will keep you up all night turning page after breathtaking page, I am on pins and needles waiting for the third book in this rip roaring, mind bending Trilogy!
    • 4/5
      Like the first title in the series, Simon Toyne's The Key is a fast-paced religious thriller, easily read in a single sitting even though it's quite long. By no means great literature, this is nonetheless a fun read, perfect for a quiet weekend day when you need a nice distraction.
    • 5/5
      For thousands of years the monks, of the Citadel in Ruin, Turkey had hidden the Sacrament from the world. The freeing of the Sacrament fulfilled the first prophecy. The explosion in the Citadel resulted in the outsider survivors Liv Adamsen, Kathryn Mann, and Gabriel Mann, removal from the mountain. The monks of the Citadel want Liv Adamsen back. The various multi-national CEOs, the Vatican and the Turkish police want her dead. Gabriel Mann wants only to protect her. But Liv knows she must fulfill the second prophecy she must return the Sacrament home, or die. So begins a harrowing tale of danger, suspense and love while time is running out.A story of greed, envy and survival. The greed of the corporations, the envy of religious and the simple desire to survive, all packed in a fast paced thriller racing against the clock to fulfill a prophecy. This is a page turner so be prepared to sit down and not to want to stop reading until it is done.  Five stars!
    • 2/5
      Second in a trilogy (pleas, not a series) The Key discusses in an action-y sort of way the myths and legends of humankind and the money-and-power corruption at the top of society today. The monks of the Citadel in the city of Ruin have guarded a secret from the Garden of Eden. That secret has escaped and slowly we see the whole infrastructure of the Citadel and the Catholic Church start to sway and topple. The book ends with a cliffhanger threat to all humanity.Written in a very cinematic style - as are many books these days - I found the narrative drive here very hard to believe in. The characters seem a little sour, as if they were not embracing what they were doing. If the characters don’t like the story, what chance do we readers have?Core to the atmosphere of the book is huge brooding Citadel, built inside an active volcano and occupied by secretive monks for thousands of years. There was not enough mystery and magic in the use of this venue; it ended up as just another themed mall.At the heart of this book is a a view of misogyny: are women all Eves, bringing destruction and sorrow on the heads of men; or, are women the true heart of humanity that can lead mankind to a new harmony with the world? Pity the book never made me care one way or the other.
    • 4/5
      The Key is the second book in Simon Toyne's debut trilogy. I was hooked by the first book - Sanctus (my review) - and have been eagerly waiting to see what happens next. If you have not read the first book and plan to, you may want to skip this review - I don't want to spoil it for you. And really, to fully appreciate The Key, you should read Sanctus first. Liv Ademson has escaped from the Citadel - the enclave of an ancient sect of secretive monks known as the Sancti. She's in the hospital, unable to remember what happened before the explosion..... Something momentous did occur, but there are those who are determined that Liv should not live.... (sorry, couldn't resist)... the Vatican, the monks and a mysterious man known as The Ghost. But she must survive..... "The fate of man lies in the hands of one woman." I won't go into much more detail than that. In The Key, we get to know more of the history of The Citadeland past characters such as Gabriel, Inspector Arkadian and more return. Toyne kept my interest from first page to last. He successfully combines history, mystery, intrigue, action and yes, romance in a fast paced page turner. And again, he has left us with a wonderful cliff hanger ending. I can't wait to see where book three goes - although I have an idea. Although I read the first book, I chose to listen to The Key in audio book format. The reader was one of my favourites - Simon Vance. He has a rich, powerful voice - just perfect for this type of book. His English accent is quite easy to understand and the different voices he provides for each character are believable. Listening to this type of book brings the tension and action to life. I was hard pressed to shut it down and head inside to work! Readers with strong religious beliefs may not enjoy Toyne's alternative views. But fans of James Rollins, Steve Berry and of course, Dan Brown will enjoy it.
    • 5/5
      I am rating this book with five stars not because of it's literary value but because this book was packed with action, drama, mystery and intrigue and packaged into a face paced thriller. Don't get me wron, it was very well written, but it is geared more toward the mass market. The plot lines in this book were excellent and the characters were very well formed. Once you start reading this is a book you won't want to put down. It has excellent descriptions of a number of places across the globe and thoroughly scary evil forces and equally good forces as well. Overall,a great summer read!Although I have not read Sanctus yet, I had a very easy tine getting into the story line and reading this book as a standalone. Of course this means I am now going to have to read the first book and the third when it comes out! Reader received a complimentary copy from Good Reads First Reads.
    • 3/5
      Book Info: Genre: Historic-religion thriller/alternate historyReading Level: AdultRecommended for: Fans of historic/religion-based thrillers, conspiracy theories, etcTrigger Warnings: murder, violence (including domestic violence: a man strikes his pregnant wife), conspiracies featuring the Catholic churchMy Thoughts: It has been almost two years since I read the first book in this trilogy, Sanctus (review linked here where formatting allowed); I really wish I could have re-read it before starting this one, but I can't find it. I do remember I really enjoyed it, was entertained and excited, and have been looking forward to reading this one. The delay came about because I wanted to re-read the first one and couldn't find it... which is pretty typical. It's part of the reason I've been buying e-book versions of books I already have and enjoyed so I can find them more easily.I was a little amused by Sgt. Ski, whose real name was “Godlewski” but he thought it was unpronounceable so changed it in practice to make things easier. My hometown was full of Polish people. Let me give you a few real crazy names: Syvinski, Witkowski, Peplinksi, Goroski, Sokoloski, Jablonski, Kukoski... does this give you an idea? These are the ones I remember off the top of my head, but the vast majority of my hometown was Polish, so there were a lot of -ski names. Not to mention some of the great Norwegian names I've run across, like Mjolsness or Sjoquist. So Godlewski? Par for the course.This book suffered from “middle-of-the-trilogy-itis”. The first book set up the characters and the action and this book is mostly them being variously thwarted at things they need to do. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I had re-read the first book before I started this one, but as it was, I had forgotten too many things and wasn't as invested in the characters as I had been initially. I really do recommend for maximum enjoyment that you plan to read all three books of the trilogy together. (The third book, The Tower, is scheduled for publication in June 2013)In the end, fans of historic/religion-based thrillers or conspiracy theories should enjoy this series, but I recommend you try to read the whole thing as close together a possible for maximum enjoyment. This one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger—while the main story is finished, a new one starts—so while I had originally thought I might skip the final book, now I want to know what happens. We'll see.Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.Synopsis: Hunted. Hounded. Haunted.She is the most important person in the world. She is The KeyJournalist Liv Adamsen has escaped from the highly secretive Citadel at the heart of the ancient city of Ruin and now lies in isolation, staring at hospital walls as blank as her memory. Despite her inability to recall her past, something strange is stirring within her. She feels possessed by a sensation she can't name and plagued by whispers only she can hear: "KuShiKaam," the key.To others the meaning is clear. For a mercenary operating in the Syrian Desert, a man known only as "the Ghost," Liv may hold the key to one of history's most powerful secrets. For the brotherhood of monks in the Citadel—now cursed by a terrible plague—her return to Turkey may be the only way to ensure their survival. And for a powerful faction in Vatican City, her very existence threatens the success of a desperate plan to save the church from ruin.At the center of events that defy explanation and hunted by someone she believes might be trying to kill her, Liv turns to the only person she can trust—a foundation worker named Gabriel Mann. Together they must elude capture and journey to the place where all life began. From New York to Rome to the deserts of the Middle East, worlds collide in a race to uncover a revelation dating from the creation of man in this electrifying follow-up to the international bestseller Sanctus.
    • 4/5
      "The Key" is the second act of the Sanctus trilogy. While I don't think it was a strong or mystical as "Sanctus," this was still a good read.Liv Adamson can't exactly remember what happened in the Citadel (the events at the end of the previous book), but she slowly begins to realize what she carries...or rather, who she's become. And it's because of this that the monks in the Citadel want her back inside the mountain.At the same time, a dig in Iraq is occurring with the secret consent of a high-ranking member of the Vatican. This person knows Liv cannot be allowed near the site as all of his plans will crumble. Yet Liv, with the help of Gabriel Mann, is being drawn to this place. In fact, her very life depends on their discovery of the site although they're not exactly sure why.Again, "The Key" isn't quite as clever as "Sanctus," but it's well worth continuing the story.
    • 4/5
      Second in series of three. I hate having to wait for he the next book to be published! This was as good as the first and kept me interested. Just a fun action mystery along the lines of Dan Brown books.
    • 3/5
      This is the second book in a series, and I feel that I am missing something for not having read the first book before this one. It doesn't explicitly require it, but I did get the strong feeling a lot of it would have made more sense. This might also explain why, despite decent character development, I failed to invest emotionally. I was along for the ride, but I really didn't care too much about the outcome.
    • 4/5
      Amazing sequel to Sanctus. I thought it was every bit as good as the first book. At the beginning I got a bit bogged down with all the new characters introduced and trying to remember who was who but I settled into the story easily after than and thoroughly enjoyed it. I am eager to begin the third installment 'The Tower'.
    • 5/5
      Book Description Simon Toyne’s breathtaking international bestseller, Sanctus, had critics everywhere cheering, calling the author the new Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code) or Steve Berry (The Jefferson Key), while praising Toyne’s debut thriller as “remarkable,” “thrilling,” “provocative,” “haunting,” and “spectacular.” The adventure continues with The Key, returning readers to the dark world of a sinister religious order older than Christianity and their Vatican-like secret citadel high in the Turkish mountains—as one courageous woman must fulfill an enigmatic prophecy that could determine the ultimate fate of humankind. James Rollins, Raymond Khoury, and Chris Kuzneski fans will not want to miss this one.

      My Review This book is a worthy follow-up to the first book in the series, Sanctus. Simon Toyne managed once again to exceed my expectations. It was twisty and very fast-paced and kept the pages turning right up to the end. I looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Tower. I would highly recommend this series to anyone wanting a great plot and fantastic characters.
    • 5/5
      The Key follows on immediately after the end of Sanctus. Liv Adamsen and Kathryn Mann are hospitalized along with the surviving members of the Sancti from the Citadel, who have all suffered massive hemorrhaging as a result of the removal of the Sacrament from the mountain. Kathryn’s son Gabriel has ended up in police custody.

      In The Key, Simon Toyne introduces us to The Ghost, a Bedouin warrior who deals in ancient relics found in the deserts of Iraq and Syria. Meanwhile, over in the Vatican, Cardinal Secretary Clementi has put together a scheme that will help the Church prosper financially, and in the ancient Citadel, located in Ruin, the remaining monks try to adapt to life without the Sacrament. An ancient prophecy found in a notebook belonging to Kathryn Mann’s father. This “Mirror Prophecy” sets Liv and Gabriel on a journey into the Iraqi desert, the fate of the world in their hands and the power of the Catholic Church and the Citadel set against them.

      Just as in Sanctus, The Key provides believable and sympathetic characters in a framework of fantasy, suspension of disbelief, continual plot twists and turns, and plenty of surprises. You will be at the edge of your seat in anticipation of the third installment titled The Tower. The Key is a roller coaster ride of a thriller that builds on the foundations laid in Sanctus, so I definitely recommend this not be read as a stand alone novel. The Key is one the best thrillers you will read this year. Simon Toyne as a man to watch and it's nice to think this young writer has years ahead of him to write books that will captivate us.

    • 4/5
      A worthy follow up to his first book, the Sacrament has been revealed but now there are consequences - and a time limit to accomplish the reunion of the Sacrament with its source - the lost garden of Eden. Toyne's characters are captivating and well developed and they complement his plot development very well. An enthralling read that is difficult to put down and was hard to finish because I want to know what happens next - on to the third book and then I will have to check some of his other books as well.
    • 5/5
      This is the second book in the trilogy and didn't disappoint taking the story that commenced in the Sanctus a stage further. Brilliant punchy action it kept me enthralled. I read all three books in the sequence and believe it to be one of the best stories I have ever read. Plenty of action, plenty of intrigue and wonderfully imaginative. American journalist Liv Adamsen lies in an isolation ward staring at walls as blank as her memory. She knows she entered the monumental Citadel at the heart of Ruin but can remember only darkness. Something strange is stirring within her, whispering that she is 'the key,. But the key to what? For the Ghost, a mercenary operating in the Syrian Desert, Liv could unlock one of mankind,s most potent secrets. For the brotherhood in the Citadel - now cursed by a terrible plague - her return is the only way to ensure their survival. And for a powerful faction in Rome, she threatens the very future of the Catholic Church. Hunted across continents and caught up in events that defy explanation, Liv turns to the only person she trusts - a charity worker named Gabriel Mann. Together their paths lead to a shocking discovery - one that will tear them apart and change the world forever.
    • 5/5
      Unexpectedly, it turned out to be an enjoyable read! Lovable characters
    • 4/5
      it was funny...witty..romantic
    • 4/5
      Really enjoying Sands' historicals. Cute premise with fun characters. I like that both the h/h had growing to do and worked on it together. I am seeing a trend w/ the suspense plot, but I'll reserve judgment for now.
    • 5/5
      Lynsay Sands Has the Key to Historical RomanceThe Key by Lynsay Sands is a wealth of humor, romance, and danger. The tale engulfs readers in a world that is beautiful, but wild. Life is a matter of traditional form and death is mourned, but moreover seen as an annoying part of life that cannot be avoided. Sands breathed the breath of life into each character and the spark not only took, but expanded, creating characters that leap from the page. Each is a full-out personality with pride, strength, care, and insecurities. The main couple is Iliana Wildwood and Duncan Dunbar. Both are strong-willed, complex, and set in the ways of their raising. Though the story revolves around Iliana and Duncan, Sands has created numerous other characters to backup and enhance the story. Each is just as lively and complex as Duncan and Iliana. The work is extremely well planned and written. Some of the interchanges will have readers laughing aloud, while others, just the opposite. The language is straightforward and easy to follow. The plot has a few twists and turns, but nothing extreme. Readers will be thoroughly enthralled, be more invested in the characters, and plot with each turn of the page. One thing is for sure, all will have a good time.
    • 5/5
      Very good book and lots of fun. Iliana knew she had to marry Duncan in order to keep herself and her mother safe. But she was dismayed and disgusted by the condition of the keep and the people. The keep was filthy, the people dirty and dressed in rags and her new husband was the worst of the lot. The first thing she did was to put on the chastity belt she had brought along as a curiosity to protect herself until she could convince her husband to bathe. Then she rolled up her sleeves and got to work cleaning the keep. It was hard at first getting the people to cooperate with her, but she won over the women pretty quickly by be willing to participate in the work herself. Duncan was not very happy about being married without the benefits of it. But he refused to change his ways just for her when it had worked for him for most of his life. He also didn't like the way that everything around him seemed to be changing. I loved the confrontations between the two as both are strong willed and determined that the other be the one to give in. There are also some wonderful scenes involving other people in the keep. I loved the part where Iliana was passing out new plaids and the women lined up to get them and also for a chance to bathe, but the men were still being stubborn and following Duncan's lead. I also loved Iliana's creativity when they were under attack and how she helped defend them all. There was some very good character growth in both Iliana and Duncan as they learned that to have a good marriage involves both love and compromise. I really enjoyed Duncan's father and how he was always ragging on Duncan about his "randy ways" when Duncan wasn't getting any at all. I also enjoyed seeing him and Iliana's mother together and the way they tried to help Duncan and Iliana. I also loved the insights into Duncan's character that came out in various places in the book that helped Iliana see that he wasn't quite the barbarian the she thought he was. The ending was fantastic.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Iliana is desperate to find a way of escape for herself and her mother from a vile baron who desires her lands for himself. So she agrees to marry a stranger and a Scot. When she first arrives she is shocked to discover the place is a disaster zone, and her future husband stinks like he hasn't bathed in six months. She wonders if she has made a mistake but knows for her mothers sake she must stay true to the course that she has set, and must marry this man that seems to live in a pigsty and is totally fine with it. However Iliana is determined to turn her home into something livable even at the wrath of her husbands fury. When he wants to consummate their marriage however, she has a trick up her sleeve, because she refuses to make love to someone without him bathing first so she puts on a 'chastity belt' with the key hidden from him. Here begins the test of wills between the two which will turn into the battle of true love. The Key is the second book in the Deed trilogy. I had previously read a historical by Sands but didn't like it that much, but The Key totally changed my mind about Sands historicals. I just fell in love with this one, even though there were parts of it that would never really happen, but turned out to be humorous and flowed really well with the story. I just loved how creative Iliana is throughout the story, and how blunt Duncan is and at times how much of a hunk he is. I also loved the spark that flies between Duncan and Iliana, there were many moments I was laughing out loud.....a very engaging story, and I have to say as much as I liked Duncan, I was secretly cheering on Iliana's side. I really loved how even though she is shy and reserved, she has a inner strength to be admired, and is a lot tougher than she looks. Overall a fun and witty read, with a magnifiscent plot that engages the reader, and a love story that will bewitch you....A JEWEL OF A ROMANCE!!!