Althea's family is in dire straights. Her great-grandfather foolishly built an elaborate castle on a cliff in Yorkshire, and now the whole family's fortune as been lost to the castle's upkeep. Althea is determined that her family will keep the castle at any cost so that her young brother will have something to inherit when he comes of age, and so she is determined to marry anyone who is rich enough to help repair the crumbling building. Unfortunately there simply aren't very many suitors to be had in the area. Things change quickly when the young and wealthy Lord Boring moves to Lesser Hoo, and Althea soon finds herself plotting ways in which she can tempt Lord Boring to propose. But Lord Boring has brought with him his friend and business manager Mr. Fredericks, and the meddling Fredericks keeps getting in Althea's way. Patrice Kindl's Keeping the Castle is a light, easy read that is perfect for summer. The plot is fairly predicable, but in this case predictability is not a problem. Instead it becomes easy for readers to simply fall into the Regency setting and become absorbed in this comedy of manners. Comparisons to Jane Austen are inevitable given the book's subject and setting, and unfortunately (inevitably?) Keeping the Castle lacks the cleverness and drama of Emma or Pride and Prejudice. Still, anyone looking for a historical comedy will likely be pleased as the book has plenty of funny moments. This is also a quick read that may appeal to reluctant readers despite the period language.
Overall Grade: B
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