August 04, 2004
 Red, Red Rose is a well-researched tale set in the midst of the Penninsula Wars with Napoleon. Marjorie Farrell takes great effort and succeeds admirably at weaving the story of the bastard son of an earl who rises through the ranks of the military on his own, and the daughter of a lord who has close ties to the military. Her characters - both primary and secondary - are well crafted, multi-faceted and realistic.
Farrell gives us a glimpse at military camp life and the separation between the lords at war and the common men. Our hero, Lieutenant Valentine Aston, falls somewhere in between, allowing him to interact and identify with average soldiers, the washing women and camp followers, as well as the titled lords who so often had little experience in battle compared to their own men. The love between Val and the young lady he rescues, Elspeth, is slow to grow, but this makes it more believable. Val has to find his place in the world as well as to solve a mystery involving a traitor within their camp. The story is bittersweet, for the characters must bare death and hardship of loved ones, and learn to open their hearts and trust in family.
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