What do you think?
Rate this book
Deed #2
The Key
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...
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...
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1999
179 people are currently reading
2127 people want to read
About the author
Lynsay Sands
124 books12.2k followersLYNSAY SANDS is the nationally bestselling author who is known for her hysterical historicals as well as the popular Argeneau/Rogue Hunter vampire series. With her witty and charming personality, Sands describes books as, “Waking dreams or stories, tales to amuse, entertain and distract us from everyday life.” She’s been writing stories 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. Visit her official website at www.lynsaysands.net.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
October 6, 2021
Its a story about a woman who wore a chastity belt because her husband stinks and he refused to take a bath, plus other stuffs
No one said the author lacked imagination 😉
No one said the author lacked imagination 😉
May 16, 2019
I haven't read anything by this author before, and lucked out that all 3 (it's a trilogy but each book could stand alone) were at a library sale.
The first book in the trilogy "The Deed" was great, good story line, characters, and had me laughing.
So...thinking book two "The Key" would be just as good.
Well we all know sometimes that just doesn't happen lovely cover and all.
In this book the reason the Heroine wore the chastity belt and wouldn't give the key to her husband (Duncan) was because he..stunk.
Don't blame her, but there you have the story/plot line .
But what dropped it to a 3 star was the Hero Duncan.
That is all he seemed throughout the story to want..in her pants or in this case the "belt."
And because he couldn't have his way he raged, stomped, and pouted.
And almost took up with another maiden but was only stopped by her...smell.
Yes, all these Scottish characters stank in the story.
Not very flattering being half Scot myself *sniff* ya I'm good.
Oh and the typing errors galore!
I cant forget those as well, as one scene the heroine is caught in a fire and her hair..melts?
As well as her eyebrows were no longer there because of it.
Yet the next pages that followed, in a sentence it was used "she raised her eyebrows at that"
How does one raise an eyebrow that isn't there? Do they grow back that fast?
But there was a part where you had to guess who the bad guy is that sort of saved the story.
So bottom line here is if you have The Deed, The Key, and The Chase you may want to leave well enough alone at the first one.
But since I have only the Chase to finish..I may or may not continue to see what happens with Duncan's sister.
This one just didn't work as well for me sorry to say.
The first book in the trilogy "The Deed" was great, good story line, characters, and had me laughing.
So...thinking book two "The Key" would be just as good.
Well we all know sometimes that just doesn't happen lovely cover and all.
In this book the reason the Heroine wore the chastity belt and wouldn't give the key to her husband (Duncan) was because he..stunk.
Don't blame her, but there you have the story/plot line .
But what dropped it to a 3 star was the Hero Duncan.
That is all he seemed throughout the story to want..in her pants or in this case the "belt."
And because he couldn't have his way he raged, stomped, and pouted.
And almost took up with another maiden but was only stopped by her...smell.
Yes, all these Scottish characters stank in the story.
Not very flattering being half Scot myself *sniff* ya I'm good.
Oh and the typing errors galore!
I cant forget those as well, as one scene the heroine is caught in a fire and her hair..melts?
As well as her eyebrows were no longer there because of it.
Yet the next pages that followed, in a sentence it was used "she raised her eyebrows at that"
How does one raise an eyebrow that isn't there? Do they grow back that fast?
But there was a part where you had to guess who the bad guy is that sort of saved the story.
So bottom line here is if you have The Deed, The Key, and The Chase you may want to leave well enough alone at the first one.
But since I have only the Chase to finish..I may or may not continue to see what happens with Duncan's sister.
This one just didn't work as well for me sorry to say.
March 25, 2022
1.5 stars (extra .5 for the belt)
I don't like it. He cheated on her. That's my main issue. Plus the fact that the book refused to admit that he cheated, made me dislike it even more.
Plus, I don't think these two main characters even like each other. They fought a lot and then they have sex a lot, now suddenly they're in love? Pshh, I don't fucking believe it. I don't even think they have a proper conversation with each other without it ending in a fight or fucking.
I just don't like it.
I don't like it. He cheated on her. That's my main issue. Plus the fact that the book refused to admit that he cheated, made me dislike it even more.
Plus, I don't think these two main characters even like each other. They fought a lot and then they have sex a lot, now suddenly they're in love? Pshh, I don't fucking believe it. I don't even think they have a proper conversation with each other without it ending in a fight or fucking.
I just don't like it.
May 25, 2024
CHEATING - WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND
DNF @62%. The male lead cheats on the female lead (husband and wife). I actually was enjoying this book. Lyndsay Sands unabashedly disrespects her female characters and readers. There can be no happily ever after. This is not romantic. He is not a good guy. Gross!
DNF @62%. The male lead cheats on the female lead (husband and wife). I actually was enjoying this book. Lyndsay Sands unabashedly disrespects her female characters and readers. There can be no happily ever after. This is not romantic. He is not a good guy. Gross!
November 27, 2017
Re-read.
August 18, 2022
2,5 stars
WHY IS THE MAIN STORY OF THIS BOOK WETHER OR NOT THE HUSBAND NEEDS TO TAKE A BATH 😂
WHY IS THE MAIN STORY OF THIS BOOK WETHER OR NOT THE HUSBAND NEEDS TO TAKE A BATH 😂
June 14, 2022
Duncan e Iliana:
Ella muy refinada, el muy descuidado y barbaro, ella una Lady inglesa, el un barbaro escoces, la pareja perfecta ja ja ja a que si.
La tematica me gusto bastante, hay un artilugio nuevo que no habia visto en ningun otro libro, ella fue inteligente el es muy muy terco y cabezota pero al final ya saben el amor y las ganas nos hacen cambiar y dar nuestro brazo a torcer cuando realmente esos cambios son necesarios.
Me encanto el suegro Angus, y tambien un poco la Madre de ella que aparece casi al final para ayudar un poco a su hija y para complicarle al igual la vida.
El final perfecto para mas de una parejita....me gusto bastante no le doy el maximo porque no me apasiono que digamos mucho pero al igual que el primero de esta serie tiene sus toques de humor que le quedan muy bien a estas historias.
Me la lei en 4 dias, todo un record para mi ya que ando muy lenta y dispersa para la lectura.
Ella muy refinada, el muy descuidado y barbaro, ella una Lady inglesa, el un barbaro escoces, la pareja perfecta ja ja ja a que si.
La tematica me gusto bastante, hay un artilugio nuevo que no habia visto en ningun otro libro, ella fue inteligente el es muy muy terco y cabezota pero al final ya saben el amor y las ganas nos hacen cambiar y dar nuestro brazo a torcer cuando realmente esos cambios son necesarios.
Me encanto el suegro Angus, y tambien un poco la Madre de ella que aparece casi al final para ayudar un poco a su hija y para complicarle al igual la vida.
El final perfecto para mas de una parejita....me gusto bastante no le doy el maximo porque no me apasiono que digamos mucho pero al igual que el primero de esta serie tiene sus toques de humor que le quedan muy bien a estas historias.
Me la lei en 4 dias, todo un record para mi ya que ando muy lenta y dispersa para la lectura.
February 20, 2025
Илиана Уайлдууд и Дънкън Дънбар
📣🚨🛑РЕВЮ СЪДЪРЖАЩО СПОЙЛЕРИ🛑🚨📣
Това е най-абсурдно забавната книга, която съм чела през живота си.
Илиана е английска наследница. След смъртта на баща й, злият лорд на съседното имение принуждава с бой майка й да се омъжи за него. Лорда смята да държи Илиана в плен, за да контролира майка й, и все пак, майката успява да изпрати вест на краля за случилото се и той урежда Илиана да се омъжи за могъщия син на леърд дълбоко в шотландските планини.
Дънкън е неформалният лидер на клана си. След смъртта на майка му, малко по малко баща му му прехвърля всички отговорности за клана и макар официално да не е леърд, Дънкън е именно водач на клана си. Съгласявайки се да се омъжи за англичанката той вярва, че ще сбъдне мечтата си, благодарение на зестрата й ще вдигне по-високи стени и ще разшири крепостта... дори ще направи ровът около дома си по-широк и по-дълбок. Младия мъж е очарован от перспективата и е готов да се прежали, като си вземе съпруга.
Илиана се оказва неподготвена за положението в което се намира новият й дом. Всички са мръсни и дрипави. Крепостта е потънала в боклук, храната е отвратителна, а новият й съпруг е супер възмутен от желанието й да се изкъпе... все пак е началото на юни, а той... и всички в клана.... се къпят в края на януари и края на юли.
Честно до сега не бях срещала такъв главен герой. На главната й се насълзяваха очите от вонята му, беше потресена от мръсните му дрехи. Отказвайки да позволи на "мръсното прасе" да се въргаля в новите прекрасни чаршафи, които с майка й са подготвили за първата й брачна нощ, Илиана решава да действа твърдо и си слага Пояс на непорочността, който баща й преди години е донесъл от далечни земи, и отказва да позволи на съпруга й да консумира брака им, докато той не се изкъпе. От тук идва и името на книгата. "Ключът", защото Дънкън правеше всичко по силите си да намери ключа за колана й.
Книгата представлява една непрестанна борба за надмощие между главните ни герои. Илиана иска да е чисто, хората да са чисти, да имат нови дрехи и подправки за по-вкусна храна. Дънкън от своя страна, не иска нищо да се променя, все пак, преди да дойде съпругата му, всичко е било наред. И още по-малко иска жена му да харчи парите, които смята да вложи в стената, крепостта и рова, за да купува дрехи и подправки. Имаше една част в която просто се смеех с глас
Цялата ситуация покрай мръсния клан стана и по-забавна, когато бащата на Дънкън, реши, че сина му изтощава Илиана, като все й се нахвърля (а всъщност завалийката просто се опитваше да консумира за пръв път брака си) и постоянно крещеше по него, преследвайки го по петите и прекъсвайки опитите му да я прелъсти, като дори пускаше останалите членове на клана след Дънкън нареждайки им ако го видят да отнася на някъде жена си да го спрат.
Сега вече знам за какво ще е и следващата книга, преди да съм я почнала. Сестрата на Дънкън решена да не чака повече годеника си, след години чакане, и тъй като не мисли, че може да се справи като съпруга, хуква да бяга и сега на Блейк му се налага да хукне да преследва избягалата си годеница. "Преследването" смятам, че е наистина перфектното заглавие за следващата книга.
📣🚨🛑РЕВЮ СЪДЪРЖАЩО СПОЙЛЕРИ🛑🚨📣
Това е най-абсурдно забавната книга, която съм чела през живота си.
Илиана е английска наследница. След смъртта на баща й, злият лорд на съседното имение принуждава с бой майка й да се омъжи за него. Лорда смята да държи Илиана в плен, за да контролира майка й, и все пак, майката успява да изпрати вест на краля за случилото се и той урежда Илиана да се омъжи за могъщия син на леърд дълбоко в шотландските планини.
Дънкън е неформалният лидер на клана си. След смъртта на майка му, малко по малко баща му му прехвърля всички отговорности за клана и макар официално да не е леърд, Дънкън е именно водач на клана си. Съгласявайки се да се омъжи за англичанката той вярва, че ще сбъдне мечтата си, благодарение на зестрата й ще вдигне по-високи стени и ще разшири крепостта... дори ще направи ровът около дома си по-широк и по-дълбок. Младия мъж е очарован от перспективата и е готов да се прежали, като си вземе съпруга.
Илиана се оказва неподготвена за положението в което се намира новият й дом. Всички са мръсни и дрипави. Крепостта е потънала в боклук, храната е отвратителна, а новият й съпруг е супер възмутен от желанието й да се изкъпе... все пак е началото на юни, а той... и всички в клана.... се къпят в края на януари и края на юли.
Честно до сега не бях срещала такъв главен герой. На главната й се насълзяваха очите от вонята му, беше потресена от мръсните му дрехи. Отказвайки да позволи на "мръсното прасе" да се въргаля в новите прекрасни чаршафи, които с майка й са подготвили за първата й брачна нощ, Илиана решава да действа твърдо и си слага Пояс на непорочността, който баща й преди години е донесъл от далечни земи, и отказва да позволи на съпруга й да консумира брака им, докато той не се изкъпе. От тук идва и името на книгата. "Ключът", защото Дънкън правеше всичко по силите си да намери ключа за колана й.
Книгата представлява една непрестанна борба за надмощие между главните ни герои. Илиана иска да е чисто, хората да са чисти, да имат нови дрехи и подправки за по-вкусна храна. Дънкън от своя страна, не иска нищо да се променя, все пак, преди да дойде съпругата му, всичко е било наред. И още по-малко иска жена му да харчи парите, които смята да вложи в стената, крепостта и рова, за да купува дрехи и подправки. Имаше една част в която просто се смеех с глас
Цялата ситуация покрай мръсния клан стана и по-забавна, когато бащата на Дънкън, реши, че сина му изтощава Илиана, като все й се нахвърля (а всъщност завалийката просто се опитваше да консумира за пръв път брака си) и постоянно крещеше по него, преследвайки го по петите и прекъсвайки опитите му да я прелъсти, като дори пускаше останалите членове на клана след Дънкън нареждайки им ако го видят да отнася на някъде жена си да го спрат.
Сега вече знам за какво ще е и следващата книга, преди да съм я почнала. Сестрата на Дънкън решена да не чака повече годеника си, след години чакане, и тъй като не мисли, че може да се справи като съпруга, хуква да бяга и сега на Блейк му се налага да хукне да преследва избягалата си годеница. "Преследването" смятам, че е наистина перфектното заглавие за следващата книга.
September 28, 2013
I don't like this one as much as the others by sands. I have a huge problem liking the H. A odiferous man does not a H make in my book. There is only another one I remember of being willfully smelly, kurland's Colin, but even he is not as bad as this one, who practically rolls around in waste everyday for at least half a year...I guess I am shallow that way, I have a thing with scents, I don't mind looks and disabilities, in fact Heath's Houston is one of my favorite H.
I really have a hard time looking past this issue and am really distracted to pay any heed to his better qualities. Though an explanation of some sort is given, besides being stubborn and not bowing down to the h, I don't see any reason for this problem to be a problem ad nauseum. Though knowing it's really common for old time people not to wash themselves much, I sort of want to suspend my disbelief here and the author reminding me day in and day out about this really quite ikky practice just bugs me no end.
Besides the major hygiene issue, the H is a brute and a randy goat, jerking the h around just to have his wicked way with her. I'd have felt better if he shows anything besides lusting after her, like when she overworked he'd have felt a need to protect and help her out, but nope, he never even notices, except to take advantage of her being abed.
Half of the book is wasted on his trying to get her to bed and locating the key. I understand the title's about that but still I didn't enjoy the first half much. There's supposed to be some humor in it but I cannot find myself even smiling over it as I seriously was too grossed out by whatever is supposed to be amusing...
The only reason I have any stars here is because I find the plot intriguing. I was a bit surprised when the villain is revealed. I actually enjoyed the last part a lot more because the H is out of the picture for a good portion towards the end. OK if I'm reading a romance and happy that the H is not around so I can enjoy the other parts of the book better, then this definitely is not a romance that I like.
Another star is for the h. She was literally dumped in a hostile environment. I've read enough books about the scots to know how difficult the scots accept the english, so I do know that this is a huge struggle for the h day in and day out to work towards a better home, with the main force of resistance being the H, whom should have been her main source of support like in other scots books I read, this again just turned me off the H a lot. By the time he turned around, it's just too little too late in my book as she's practically done what she set out to do all on her own and a bit of support from the father in law. I also love the battle scene. Though it's inconceivable that she would be able to defeat or hold off a well seasoned and well armed english army, I am willing to put my disbelief on hold and just enjoy her trouncing the villain soundly.
All in all, disappointing, I saw a review saying the first book is better, so let's hope it is the case as the last book's h is not endearing to me either from what I've read here...
I really have a hard time looking past this issue and am really distracted to pay any heed to his better qualities. Though an explanation of some sort is given, besides being stubborn and not bowing down to the h, I don't see any reason for this problem to be a problem ad nauseum. Though knowing it's really common for old time people not to wash themselves much, I sort of want to suspend my disbelief here and the author reminding me day in and day out about this really quite ikky practice just bugs me no end.
Besides the major hygiene issue, the H is a brute and a randy goat, jerking the h around just to have his wicked way with her. I'd have felt better if he shows anything besides lusting after her, like when she overworked he'd have felt a need to protect and help her out, but nope, he never even notices, except to take advantage of her being abed.
Half of the book is wasted on his trying to get her to bed and locating the key. I understand the title's about that but still I didn't enjoy the first half much. There's supposed to be some humor in it but I cannot find myself even smiling over it as I seriously was too grossed out by whatever is supposed to be amusing...
The only reason I have any stars here is because I find the plot intriguing. I was a bit surprised when the villain is revealed. I actually enjoyed the last part a lot more because the H is out of the picture for a good portion towards the end. OK if I'm reading a romance and happy that the H is not around so I can enjoy the other parts of the book better, then this definitely is not a romance that I like.
Another star is for the h. She was literally dumped in a hostile environment. I've read enough books about the scots to know how difficult the scots accept the english, so I do know that this is a huge struggle for the h day in and day out to work towards a better home, with the main force of resistance being the H, whom should have been her main source of support like in other scots books I read, this again just turned me off the H a lot. By the time he turned around, it's just too little too late in my book as she's practically done what she set out to do all on her own and a bit of support from the father in law. I also love the battle scene. Though it's inconceivable that she would be able to defeat or hold off a well seasoned and well armed english army, I am willing to put my disbelief on hold and just enjoy her trouncing the villain soundly.
All in all, disappointing, I saw a review saying the first book is better, so let's hope it is the case as the last book's h is not endearing to me either from what I've read here...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2020
*some minor spoilers below*
I do not understand how this book has such a high rating. This book is awful.
Our main guy, Duncan, is a selfish, brutish, idiotic, jerk. I could get over him not wanting to bathe (for a while) and I actually kind of enjoyed that their relationship wasn’t an insta-love story.
But what I couldn’t stand is that 1/4 of the way through, Duncan threatens to beat Iliana. I don’t care that he later says (only to himself) that he wouldn’t actually beat her. He still threatens her and she rightfully believes him! She’s scared of him. After that, I just couldn’t root for him. Then later, Duncan cheats on Iliana. The small kindnesses that he shows her do not make up for his horrid behavior.
IT IS NOT OKAY TO THREATEN YOUR SPOUSE.
IT IS NOT OKAY TO CHEAT ON YOUR SPOUSE.
I do not understand how this book has such a high rating. This book is awful.
Our main guy, Duncan, is a selfish, brutish, idiotic, jerk. I could get over him not wanting to bathe (for a while) and I actually kind of enjoyed that their relationship wasn’t an insta-love story.
But what I couldn’t stand is that 1/4 of the way through, Duncan threatens to beat Iliana. I don’t care that he later says (only to himself) that he wouldn’t actually beat her. He still threatens her and she rightfully believes him! She’s scared of him. After that, I just couldn’t root for him. Then later, Duncan cheats on Iliana. The small kindnesses that he shows her do not make up for his horrid behavior.
IT IS NOT OKAY TO THREATEN YOUR SPOUSE.
IT IS NOT OKAY TO CHEAT ON YOUR SPOUSE.
August 12, 2020
Lmao I remember this story from back in the day and the chastity belt shenanigans. Lynsay Sands always writes crack romances (at least I’m assuming this is on purpose) but even nostalgia cant elevate this novel for me. No rose-colored glasses here because I vividly remember the sheer absurdity.
December 10, 2017
I didn't really like this book. I was fine with the initial premise of a unhygienic husband. It could be a fixer upper story and I thought this was the first time I encountered a smelly hero. It had the novelty factor going for it. What I didn't expect was that it went on for far too long. There is a third of the book left and they're still on this issue. My god man, take a fucking bath already.
It also didn't help that his issue was resolved after he talked about it with his father. He didn't really change because of her, he was more or less advised into it by his father. If his father didn't berate him about not taking a bath and taking Iliana's side on the matter, I'm not entirely sure he would bend.
Perhaps the worst part of this book is his hypocrisy. He wouldn't have sex with her unless she took a bath. He knew that he didn't like it when she smelled of manure so why would he expect her to like it when he smelled like horse dung. I thought the issue should have resolved by then. It seemed like a logical end to their problem. He experience things from her end. He insisted she wash herself before they had sex so he isn't blind to the issue that it kills the mood to have a reeking partner. What does he do? He doubles down and makes it an issue of his way or no way at all. He was pretty despicable after that. It didn't help that her mother didn't take her side of the issue and suggesting that marriage is a partnership. I felt bad that the blame for their marriage not working was shared among Iliana and Duncan when it was pretty clear Duncan was the issue.
I couldn't really find this book humourous despite the absurd premise, mostly because the hero is gross. I don't care how good looking or how chiselled his abs were, an ugly good smelling man wins over an adonis who smells like horse shit.
I didn't like this book because the hero is gross physically and in his manners.
The story revolves around Iliana and Duncan. Iliana married him to have a safe haven from an ambitious Englishman. This man forced Iliana's mother to wed him so he could gain their properties. He took Iliana hostage and beat her when she tried to escape. Her presence was used against the mother in order to make the mother compliant. The first step in thwarting the man was to get Iliana to safety, escape the englishman, and petition the king for an annulment.
Duncan agreed to marry her because she came with a hefty dowry. He also negotiated his sister's marriage settlement. Her betrothed hadn't fetched the sister and she had been turning into a spinster.
The marriage was disastrous. The keep was filthy and the people were filthy. They had biannual baths and were belligerent when she insisted they take more. Iliana took to cleaning and sprucing up both the keep and the people living in it.
Sex was a problem. She couldn't bring herself to bed him because he reeked. He hadn't taken a bath for five months and he had another month to go. She wore a chastity belt to prevent the consummation of their marriage. He was pretty angry about it and thought she wouldn't fulfill her wifely duties. In truth, she would on the condition that he take a bath, which he wouldn't do.
He insisted that it was all to toughen the people. If they weren't used to comforts, they wouldn't crave it when they miss out on it. However, the influx of money made their frugal lifestyle unnecessary. He just wouldn't change the way things were run.
They consummated their marriage when he finally took a bath after she tricked him into it. He wouldn't have taken it if it were up to him. He tried to have sex with her again after a week but he started reeking by then so she started to wear the chastity belt again. He was angry and he turned to another woman. He couldn't go through with it because the woman was pretty unhygienic herself.
There were some contrived drama about her almost getting killed. He started treating her better.
The englishman came back to take back the mother. The mother arrived by then, she was beaten black and blue. They defended the keep. The cousin was in cahoots with the englishman, relaying information from the inside. He wanted to take over as the new laird. The englishman and the spy died.
The book ended with them taking a bath.
It also didn't help that his issue was resolved after he talked about it with his father. He didn't really change because of her, he was more or less advised into it by his father. If his father didn't berate him about not taking a bath and taking Iliana's side on the matter, I'm not entirely sure he would bend.
Perhaps the worst part of this book is his hypocrisy. He wouldn't have sex with her unless she took a bath. He knew that he didn't like it when she smelled of manure so why would he expect her to like it when he smelled like horse dung. I thought the issue should have resolved by then. It seemed like a logical end to their problem. He experience things from her end. He insisted she wash herself before they had sex so he isn't blind to the issue that it kills the mood to have a reeking partner. What does he do? He doubles down and makes it an issue of his way or no way at all. He was pretty despicable after that. It didn't help that her mother didn't take her side of the issue and suggesting that marriage is a partnership. I felt bad that the blame for their marriage not working was shared among Iliana and Duncan when it was pretty clear Duncan was the issue.
I couldn't really find this book humourous despite the absurd premise, mostly because the hero is gross. I don't care how good looking or how chiselled his abs were, an ugly good smelling man wins over an adonis who smells like horse shit.
I didn't like this book because the hero is gross physically and in his manners.
The story revolves around Iliana and Duncan. Iliana married him to have a safe haven from an ambitious Englishman. This man forced Iliana's mother to wed him so he could gain their properties. He took Iliana hostage and beat her when she tried to escape. Her presence was used against the mother in order to make the mother compliant. The first step in thwarting the man was to get Iliana to safety, escape the englishman, and petition the king for an annulment.
Duncan agreed to marry her because she came with a hefty dowry. He also negotiated his sister's marriage settlement. Her betrothed hadn't fetched the sister and she had been turning into a spinster.
The marriage was disastrous. The keep was filthy and the people were filthy. They had biannual baths and were belligerent when she insisted they take more. Iliana took to cleaning and sprucing up both the keep and the people living in it.
Sex was a problem. She couldn't bring herself to bed him because he reeked. He hadn't taken a bath for five months and he had another month to go. She wore a chastity belt to prevent the consummation of their marriage. He was pretty angry about it and thought she wouldn't fulfill her wifely duties. In truth, she would on the condition that he take a bath, which he wouldn't do.
He insisted that it was all to toughen the people. If they weren't used to comforts, they wouldn't crave it when they miss out on it. However, the influx of money made their frugal lifestyle unnecessary. He just wouldn't change the way things were run.
They consummated their marriage when he finally took a bath after she tricked him into it. He wouldn't have taken it if it were up to him. He tried to have sex with her again after a week but he started reeking by then so she started to wear the chastity belt again. He was angry and he turned to another woman. He couldn't go through with it because the woman was pretty unhygienic herself.
There were some contrived drama about her almost getting killed. He started treating her better.
The englishman came back to take back the mother. The mother arrived by then, she was beaten black and blue. They defended the keep. The cousin was in cahoots with the englishman, relaying information from the inside. He wanted to take over as the new laird. The englishman and the spy died.
The book ended with them taking a bath.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2022
Great wild ride.....very steamy.
September 8, 2011
The Deed series resmi jadi salah satu series favoritqu...
The chase tetap numero uno, dan mnyusul the key trus the deed...
Abis baca ini nvl, aq lgsung inget kata2 Seonaid ttg Duncan yg jd demen mandi setelah married ma Iliana ;D
Pfiuuuuuh, kesimpulan abis baca trilogy the deed, medieval versi Lynsay Sands trnyata seruuu, rameee, n lumayan horor... Alesannya:
1. Bride di jaman ini mesti vi ;) krna abis wedding night seprei yg ada bukti vi nya si cwe mo di pamer di kastil spy org2 tau si cwe msh suci..
2. Jangan kaget kalo tiba2 raja jadi matchmaker ;) urusan politik slalu aja ada hubungan nya dgn menjodohkan anak...
3. Yg paling penting klo di jodohkan dgn cowo dr Scotland, sebaiknya tanya dulu ke raja klo cowo itu rajin mandi apa gak, dan jika raja nolak mnjawab, brarti chastity belt itu harus kudu mesti di pake terus.. Thanks to Lady Iliana for the lessons ;)
4. Sebaliknya jika diri mu cwe Scotland yg menolak dijodohkan dgn salah satu bangsawan Inggris, jgn takut utk kabur ke biara.. Jika tunanganmu menemukan mu, tetap lah semangat krna kau pasti bisa berhasil kabur lagi, dengan syarat kau memiliki otak, semangat, dan stamina Lady Seonaid...
5. Yg trakhir kalau kau dan tunanganmu sama2 orang Inggris, jangan biarkan dia meremehkan mu krna menganggapmu cuma seorang lady yg tidak bisa apa2. Satu dua anak panah keknya bisa membuat tunanganmu yakin kalau seorang lady jg bisa melindungi diri nya sendiri, tidak peduli kalo diri nya itu naïve dan tahu artinya consummate wedding itu adalah tidur 1 ranjang.. Salute buat Lady Emma ;)
The chase tetap numero uno, dan mnyusul the key trus the deed...
Abis baca ini nvl, aq lgsung inget kata2 Seonaid ttg Duncan yg jd demen mandi setelah married ma Iliana ;D
Pfiuuuuuh, kesimpulan abis baca trilogy the deed, medieval versi Lynsay Sands trnyata seruuu, rameee, n lumayan horor... Alesannya:
1. Bride di jaman ini mesti vi ;) krna abis wedding night seprei yg ada bukti vi nya si cwe mo di pamer di kastil spy org2 tau si cwe msh suci..
2. Jangan kaget kalo tiba2 raja jadi matchmaker ;) urusan politik slalu aja ada hubungan nya dgn menjodohkan anak...
3. Yg paling penting klo di jodohkan dgn cowo dr Scotland, sebaiknya tanya dulu ke raja klo cowo itu rajin mandi apa gak, dan jika raja nolak mnjawab, brarti chastity belt itu harus kudu mesti di pake terus.. Thanks to Lady Iliana for the lessons ;)
4. Sebaliknya jika diri mu cwe Scotland yg menolak dijodohkan dgn salah satu bangsawan Inggris, jgn takut utk kabur ke biara.. Jika tunanganmu menemukan mu, tetap lah semangat krna kau pasti bisa berhasil kabur lagi, dengan syarat kau memiliki otak, semangat, dan stamina Lady Seonaid...
5. Yg trakhir kalau kau dan tunanganmu sama2 orang Inggris, jangan biarkan dia meremehkan mu krna menganggapmu cuma seorang lady yg tidak bisa apa2. Satu dua anak panah keknya bisa membuat tunanganmu yakin kalau seorang lady jg bisa melindungi diri nya sendiri, tidak peduli kalo diri nya itu naïve dan tahu artinya consummate wedding itu adalah tidur 1 ranjang.. Salute buat Lady Emma ;)
February 12, 2010
'Begin as you mean to go on', Iliana's mother had always told her. So when Ileana's new husband refused to bathe until the end of July (after all, he'd just bathed in January!), she donned her chastity belt and hid the key.
This was a cute premise, and Sands handled it with her trademark humor, but this one just didn't have the same punch as Love Is Blind or The Perfect Wife. The humor didn't flow quite as well here, and I just couldn't accept the idea that Iliana would have been able to wear that blasted device day and night (she unlocked it only to relieve herself), so that premise just didn't work for me in the long run.
But I did enjoy the verbal interactions between them - and between Duncan and his father, where Angus berated him for being 'a randy bastard' for bedding Iliana day and night when he hadn't even been able to get past the belt!
The mystery behind the murder attempts soon became pretty obvious to the reader, and I was sitting here pretty wide-eyed at Iliana's leadership in repelling a siege and saving the castle. But the characters were appealing enough to make it better than average - to me, it's 3.5*, but that option doesn't exist yet, so I gave it 4*
This was a cute premise, and Sands handled it with her trademark humor, but this one just didn't have the same punch as Love Is Blind or The Perfect Wife. The humor didn't flow quite as well here, and I just couldn't accept the idea that Iliana would have been able to wear that blasted device day and night (she unlocked it only to relieve herself), so that premise just didn't work for me in the long run.
But I did enjoy the verbal interactions between them - and between Duncan and his father, where Angus berated him for being 'a randy bastard' for bedding Iliana day and night when he hadn't even been able to get past the belt!
The mystery behind the murder attempts soon became pretty obvious to the reader, and I was sitting here pretty wide-eyed at Iliana's leadership in repelling a siege and saving the castle. But the characters were appealing enough to make it better than average - to me, it's 3.5*, but that option doesn't exist yet, so I gave it 4*
January 1, 2016
*3.5 stars*
July 30, 2024
This is probably one of the most bonkers romance novels I have ever read (and I have read some weird books).
Lliana has to marry in order to escape her cruel stepfather’s grasp. Her assigned husband: Duncan Dunbar. A Himbo Scot who only agreed to the marriage for the money, but upon seeing his bride is pleasantly surprised and ready to fulfil his duty in conceiving an heir. To his predicament: Lliana is not ready to lay with her new husband. Why? He refuses to take a bath. So, she does what any proper lady does, she puts on a chastity belt, hides the key and gives her husband the ultimatum of he either baths or the belt stays on. And for some reason Duncan refuses to take a bath…
Overall, this novels was hella funny. I think Lynsay Sands writes some of the funniest books ever. The dialogue, the plot, and the conflict, there are only a few authors that can pull off a bonkers stories, and make it compelling.
However, I felt the romance between Lliana and Duncan was a little neglected. I'd definitely categorise them as slow burn, but I wished there was a bit more of a steady progression of their feelings for each other. The shift from marriage of convenience to a love match was very sudden. I liked that they found each other attractive and somewhat willing to share a bed, yet I wished there would have been more sweet moments and more exchange of thoughts and feelings between them. Even during the last chapter I couldn't help, but think that these two still barely knew each other, and had a long way to go. Almost like there was need for a second book.
Also, in case some people care, while married to Lliana, Duncan visits his mistress after his wife's refusal to share her bed with him. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this as at this point their romance wasn't very developed yet, and Duncan actually doesn't end up sleeping with the other woman, but to me it was a set back for their romance instead of a leap forward (I guess that was Sands' intention as after visiting his mistress Duncan realises he is in love with Lliana). Sorry.
What I thought was very sweet, was the relationship between Angus, Duncan's father, and Lliana. I mean the Dunbars won my heart with their loyalty, but I felt Angus truly carried the story. With Lliana joining his family, he truly faced the wrongs he did after his wife passed away, how his decisions affected his land and people. It is heartwarming to see the man heal through Duncan and Lliana's marriage, and finally get a chance at love himself at the end. Team Angus all the way!
My biggest issue with the novel was the last third. Up to this point I saw lots of potential and had lots of fun with these characters, but once Duncan left to save his sister and the castle was under siege, I just got very bored. At this point the romance was still underdeveloped, and Duncan was mostly gone for most of the time only returning to save Lliana's life at the end.
All in all, it's a funny story and certainly unforgettable, but I wished there was a bit more heart in this story.
Lliana has to marry in order to escape her cruel stepfather’s grasp. Her assigned husband: Duncan Dunbar. A Himbo Scot who only agreed to the marriage for the money, but upon seeing his bride is pleasantly surprised and ready to fulfil his duty in conceiving an heir. To his predicament: Lliana is not ready to lay with her new husband. Why? He refuses to take a bath. So, she does what any proper lady does, she puts on a chastity belt, hides the key and gives her husband the ultimatum of he either baths or the belt stays on. And for some reason Duncan refuses to take a bath…
Overall, this novels was hella funny. I think Lynsay Sands writes some of the funniest books ever. The dialogue, the plot, and the conflict, there are only a few authors that can pull off a bonkers stories, and make it compelling.
However, I felt the romance between Lliana and Duncan was a little neglected. I'd definitely categorise them as slow burn, but I wished there was a bit more of a steady progression of their feelings for each other. The shift from marriage of convenience to a love match was very sudden. I liked that they found each other attractive and somewhat willing to share a bed, yet I wished there would have been more sweet moments and more exchange of thoughts and feelings between them. Even during the last chapter I couldn't help, but think that these two still barely knew each other, and had a long way to go. Almost like there was need for a second book.
Also, in case some people care, while married to Lliana, Duncan visits his mistress after his wife's refusal to share her bed with him. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this as at this point their romance wasn't very developed yet, and Duncan actually doesn't end up sleeping with the other woman, but to me it was a set back for their romance instead of a leap forward (I guess that was Sands' intention as after visiting his mistress Duncan realises he is in love with Lliana). Sorry.
What I thought was very sweet, was the relationship between Angus, Duncan's father, and Lliana. I mean the Dunbars won my heart with their loyalty, but I felt Angus truly carried the story. With Lliana joining his family, he truly faced the wrongs he did after his wife passed away, how his decisions affected his land and people. It is heartwarming to see the man heal through Duncan and Lliana's marriage, and finally get a chance at love himself at the end. Team Angus all the way!
My biggest issue with the novel was the last third. Up to this point I saw lots of potential and had lots of fun with these characters, but once Duncan left to save his sister and the castle was under siege, I just got very bored. At this point the romance was still underdeveloped, and Duncan was mostly gone for most of the time only returning to save Lliana's life at the end.
All in all, it's a funny story and certainly unforgettable, but I wished there was a bit more heart in this story.
April 4, 2018
"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark"...
Well, we're in Scotland and there are no ghosts in this novel, but stench and betrayal certainly play a part in the plot. So I jumped on my only chance in a lifetime to quote Shakespeare, even if it's not quite accurate, sorry about that ;).
I liked this novel it a lot, even if I needed a long time to warm up to the hero, I think you'll quickly get why if you read it. Humor, not the laugh out loud kind, but still good, tips about how to make an arranged marriage work, a bit of adventure and even a siege await you in The key.
Fair warning : our modern sensibilities get sometimes quite roughed up in this one ;).
Well, we're in Scotland and there are no ghosts in this novel, but stench and betrayal certainly play a part in the plot. So I jumped on my only chance in a lifetime to quote Shakespeare, even if it's not quite accurate, sorry about that ;).
I liked this novel it a lot, even if I needed a long time to warm up to the hero, I think you'll quickly get why if you read it. Humor, not the laugh out loud kind, but still good, tips about how to make an arranged marriage work, a bit of adventure and even a siege await you in The key.
Fair warning : our modern sensibilities get sometimes quite roughed up in this one ;).
September 5, 2011
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..
I have to say that the book is certainly unusual.
Our hero, Duncan is a strange hero. Oh, he has all the characteristics of a one, he's handsome, brave, honorable. But the thing that sets him apart: he baths only twice a year - and as a result he stinks. Even when we're aware that most people in medieval times didn't bath regularly, the characters are usually uncommonly fond of bathing in most of the books. This one isn't.
And then there's the chastity belt. Haven't read something like it yet. Although I have to give it to Illiana - she has courage enough to stand up to her husband, even though he's the one with the power in their marriage.
The book is a good read, but a bit too silly for my taste. I know that's the point -it's supposed to be funny and light - but it's just too much. I found myself more annoyed at some points than truly amused.
And one more thing that bothered me is the big battle at the end. There was just something off about the whole thing.
Rating:
3.5 stars
February 17, 2010
When was the last time you read a book where the Hero smelled not of cedar,cheroots,fine scents,expensive brandy etc.But of sweat ,horses,manure and plain old body odour????Well grab this book.
This is the second book following "The Deed" and "The Chase" is next.
This is the story of a lovely English Lady Iliana Wildwood who is forced by the King to marry the Scotsman Duncan laird of Dunbar Castle in order to remove her from a wicked step-father ,and thereby clear the way for the eventual annullment of her mothers marraige to an abusive Lord. Sounds pretty deep and serious,well that was the beginning and this being a LS book the fun (and smell) begins now.
The castle is filthy,the people are dirty and dress in rags and wash twice a year as is their tradition.The gist of the story is Ilana will not let Duncan touch her until he bathes so she puts on a chasity belt and hides the key. OK so this is not a serious tale with a believable deep plot but it is a great witty book that is funny and enterttaining.The secondry characters in this book are brilliant especially Duncans father.If you are in the mood for a laugh then give it a go.
This is the second book following "The Deed" and "The Chase" is next.
This is the story of a lovely English Lady Iliana Wildwood who is forced by the King to marry the Scotsman Duncan laird of Dunbar Castle in order to remove her from a wicked step-father ,and thereby clear the way for the eventual annullment of her mothers marraige to an abusive Lord. Sounds pretty deep and serious,well that was the beginning and this being a LS book the fun (and smell) begins now.
The castle is filthy,the people are dirty and dress in rags and wash twice a year as is their tradition.The gist of the story is Ilana will not let Duncan touch her until he bathes so she puts on a chasity belt and hides the key. OK so this is not a serious tale with a believable deep plot but it is a great witty book that is funny and enterttaining.The secondry characters in this book are brilliant especially Duncans father.If you are in the mood for a laugh then give it a go.
August 21, 2015
Cute story, with a different problem to get through: body odor and general hygiene. I have been reading historical romance for 20+ years now and I often wondered about how could these people living in those times NOT be stinking with their lack of Crest toothpaste and daily showers. So it was fun to read about a story actually tackling this problem. :)
July 7, 2023
Rating: 2.3 / 5
I'm sorry, but just....ew. All I could think of the entire time was how much everyone and everything probably stank.
For someone with a nose as sensitive as mine, that's HUGE turnoff. Just NOPE.
I'm sorry, but just....ew. All I could think of the entire time was how much everyone and everything probably stank.
For someone with a nose as sensitive as mine, that's HUGE turnoff. Just NOPE.
October 22, 2017
Another enjoyable book in the series.
This time we’re in Scotland with a Scott who believes that baths should be taken twice a year and that a clean home is not a necessity. Until he is forced to marry by the king and everything around him begins changing.
Lighthearted and fun, this is a great follow up to The Deed.
This time we’re in Scotland with a Scott who believes that baths should be taken twice a year and that a clean home is not a necessity. Until he is forced to marry by the king and everything around him begins changing.
Lighthearted and fun, this is a great follow up to The Deed.
May 24, 2022
A very good book.
January 31, 2015
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.
April 4, 2013
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!!!
April 26, 2020
I can’t believe I just read a romance where the sole thing keeping the hero and heroine apart was the fact that he smelled. Sure, there was the underlying plot with the mother’s psycho of a ‘husband’, but the majority of the story focused on the relationship between Iliana and Duncan. If this man had taken a bath or practiced some better personal hygiene, there would have been no drama or obstacles whatsoever. It was all so utterly ridiculous, but I was strangely into everything happening.
This had the typical silly sense of humor that I’ve come to expect from Lynsay Sands’ books. I laughed so much at the different character interactions. In particular, Duncan was kind of a blockhead. He was so socially inept and oblivious when it came to women. Also, his father Angus was great. The constant misunderstandings every time he walked in on Iliana and Duncan or passed them by had me cracking up. I was feeling that little side romance between him and Iliana’s mother as well.
Overall, for what it was, I loved this. The first book in the series started out strong and fizzled out, but this time around I was fully invested from start to finish. This was just a funny, lighthearted romance that’s not meant to be taken too seriously, so I honestly don’t have any complaints.
This had the typical silly sense of humor that I’ve come to expect from Lynsay Sands’ books. I laughed so much at the different character interactions. In particular, Duncan was kind of a blockhead. He was so socially inept and oblivious when it came to women. Also, his father Angus was great. The constant misunderstandings every time he walked in on Iliana and Duncan or passed them by had me cracking up. I was feeling that little side romance between him and Iliana’s mother as well.
Overall, for what it was, I loved this. The first book in the series started out strong and fizzled out, but this time around I was fully invested from start to finish. This was just a funny, lighthearted romance that’s not meant to be taken too seriously, so I honestly don’t have any complaints.
May 24, 2013
I've not read many historical romances by Miss Sands since she has been more well known for her vampire romances. I readily admit to loving her luscious vamps though. This Scottish romance of hers did not live up to its paranormal cousins, and left something to be desired. Maybe my expectations were too high coming from my previous experiences of her other romances? The hero and heroine did not inspire real passion. Maybe that's because I had just as hard a time as the heroine in finding any attribute in the hero strong enough to overcome his "rankness" from steadfastly upholding his tradition of only two baths a year? A rather unique characteristic to encounter in a hero, and one I don't think I like at all. Unfortunately, the memory of the stench lingered long after his change in personal hygiene habits. While this side of the tale and a few other encounters between the hero and heroine were amusing, the two just could not make the reader feel the chemistry that should exist between them. I think I will stick to Miss Sands' paranormal storytelling.
July 16, 2021
I read this a long time ago and I've always loved Lynsay Sands.
A beautiful English lady, Iliana, met the Highland Laird, Duncan.
This was a bit of a funny one, never have I ever read a story about a smelly - albeit handsome, tall, you know the likes of a regular highlander - laird.
Yes, he refused to take a bath (a bit of a turn off for many, including myself but soldered on).
A huge chunk of the story stemmed from this issue.
Iliana refused to let Duncan into her bed until he took a bath.
So what did a girl gotta do? Use a chasity belt, of course (literally with a lock and all).
Overall, it was a nice story. I loved the characters, the hero a bit less due to his body cleanliness issue in the beginning. However, all worked well. A HEA.
A beautiful English lady, Iliana, met the Highland Laird, Duncan.
This was a bit of a funny one, never have I ever read a story about a smelly - albeit handsome, tall, you know the likes of a regular highlander - laird.
Yes, he refused to take a bath (a bit of a turn off for many, including myself but soldered on).
A huge chunk of the story stemmed from this issue.
Iliana refused to let Duncan into her bed until he took a bath.
So what did a girl gotta do? Use a chasity belt, of course (literally with a lock and all).
Overall, it was a nice story. I loved the characters, the hero a bit less due to his body cleanliness issue in the beginning. However, all worked well. A HEA.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews