Rae Roadley is a NZ journalist not long back from the US when she meets and falls in love with Northland farmer Rex Roadley at Table for Six, a rural dating service. Rex farms on the family property at Batley, on the Kaipara Harbour, where these days the only evidence of the spot's fascinating historic past is a magnificent two-storeyed villa standing alone on the point. Neither Rae nor Rex are youngsters, and their love affair and developing relationship goes through many twists and turns before eventually five years later they marry - on their own, in the Whangarei Registry Office.
Meanwhile Rae, the ultimate city girl, has to cope with the mud, the animals, the locals, the often back-breaking work, and the frustrations of life in New Zealand's backblocks.
Rae's charming story is beautifully written from the heart and, not only does she find love with Rex, but she finds out more about herself than she ever knew. Woven through her account is the story of the great house itself at Batley and the history of the surrounding countryside.
