The Crimson Rose

by R. Casteel

Rose Ann Shawnassy hadn't planned on being married by the Justice of the Peace, but being pregnant was a good enough reason for the hasty marriage ceremony to Sergeant Mark Grady of the United States Marine Corp. She certainly hadn't planned on seeing her new husband board a bus to be reassigned to the United States Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. And she never would have thought that within months of her marriage she would be a widow when her new husband died in the attack on the same embassy he was sworn to protect. The only family Rose has ever had is Gunny, a gruff retired Marine who, years ago with his now deceased wife, took Rose in as a runaway. But now Rose has other family, in the form of Mark's parents and his compelling older brother, Dennis, to contend with. Torn between keeping the love of her late husband alive and the growing desire she feels for his older brother, Rose must make some decisions. Meanwhile, someone from her past is out to get her and Dennis is the only man who can protect her.

Genres: Romance, Erotic Romance, Contemporary Romance

244 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2004

About the author

Romance author R. Casteel retired from the US Navy in 1990. He enjoys the outdoors, loves to scuba dive, and is a Search and Rescue Diver. With twenty years of military service, which included experience as flight crewman, search and rescue, and four years as a Military Police Officer, it is of little wonder that his books are filled with suspense and intrigue.

Reviews

[Auntee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but a little uneven for me. A young, pregnant widow (age 18) of a fallen military hero learns to find love again with her husband's brother. The book takes place in 1983, just after the terorist bombings in Beirut of the American Embassy and the airport that the Marines were guarding. This book had a little bit of history, a little romance, and a little suspense. It made me tear up a few times. It had a lot of promise, just a few things didn't quite 'click' for me. I'd give it about 3 1/2 stars.

[Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really 3.5. This was an emotional read and could have been a great book. There were so many sub characters in this book that alot of times I had to go back to figure out where they belonged in this story line. Also this 18 year old just lost her spouse, has not really griefed yet but falls for her brother-in-law. Huh??

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those men-in-uniform fans! A real tear-jerker. I loved it for the most part but there were a few parts in the story that seemed unnecessary to me.