Keys to the Castle is a contemporary romance novel by Donna Ball, who actually uses a long list of pseudonyms. She’s known mainly for her Raine Stockton Dog mystery series.
In this one, two snobby and hoity-toity individuals unexpectedly find love under the most unusual and melodramatic of circumstances.
Sara Graves is now a widow, but her late husband—an artistic, bohemian Frenchman—has left her a magnificent, expensive castle in France she had no idea existed until now.
Ash Lindeman, lawyer and best friend of Sara’s late husband, is in charge of managing the estate. It’s not long before Ash and Sarah find themselves falling in lust with one another.
Over time, Sarah also learns that her late husband had many secrets. Thus, drama ensues and Sara must cope with the unexpected challenges being thrown her way as she balances mourning with love-lust.
The story and writing in Keys to the Castle aren’t very good, I’m sorry to say. Sara and Ash were so conservative and boring to the point it was difficult to connect with them, and also difficult to turn the pages. Sara seemed too serious and uptight, while Ash was written to have zero sex appeal.
There’s also a lot going in this book. It’s rife with custody battles, parenthood stuff, death, and the love-lust romance…and it’s also too far-fetched to be enjoyable or relatable. It starts out like a fairy tale, but then veers off into weirdness and so much negativity. I lost interest in this book and almost couldn’t finish it.
Other titles by Donna Ball include:
- Night Flight (2011)
- Sanctuary (2011)
- Shattered (2012)
What did you think about Keys to the Castle?
Last Updated on January 27, 2026 by Sarah Ann
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