I read this after seeing Kay/Miss Bates' positive review of it at her blog. I've enjoyed Fielding's books but haven't read one for a while. Despite the SEO-level title, this is a warm, thoughtful romance about reunited lovers and despite being set in a castle, it's quite unromantic about the aristocracy. Agnes Prideaux is the heir to a real castle but hasn't been left the resources to maintain it, let alone restore it. Bad business decisions have left her with few ways of raising money. Enter Kam Faulkner, her childhood friend who has become a multi-millionaire and wants to buy the castle where he spent an idyllic childhood before Agnes' horrible grandfather kicked his mother and him out.

Agnes and Kam still have feelings for each other, but Kam has to get over his anger, and it turns out that buying the castle isn't easily accomplished. As they slowly rekindle their friendship and deeper feelings, Kam and Agnes learn more about what happened in the past (recent and distant) and find their way to a shared future.

In addition to the clear-eyed perspective on what it's like to have custodianship of an old listed pile of a building, I appreciated the way the main couple actually talked to each other (although the need to stretch out the path to the HEA became a bit forced at the end). At times the story and dialogue reminded me of an early Rosamunde Pilcher novel, which is a compliment. For a category-length romance, there's quite a bit of substance and depth.

There is a secondary (tertiary) story involving Suzanna, a refugee from Sudan who is Agnes' friend and colleague, which is handled lightly and without feeling too exploitative. The last chapters veer into more melodrama than the rest of the story, but that's a minor flaw. ( )