It's the mature love story that keeps me reading. It's so different from the kind of Romance normally punted at women, where everything is young and Beautiful, fresh and exciting. Although, I can't really come to terms with a pair in their 60s shagging at the drop of a hat all over the place. Ah well, a middle aged woman can dream. As for the American revolution, I don't know muchabout it, or any American history and, God forgive me, I've never really wanted too. But I can understand why someone with Jamie's background would feel compelled to join with the rebels to break free from the oppressing English.
AKA, as they say around here, gads-a-boak! A nice back rub leading on to something better, aye, that'll do.
Marsali is awesome. She hasn't had the chance to grow as a character yet, but she will. Claire puts up with the guff for Jamie's sake, because he loves Marsali and also because she (Claire), in a rare display of empathy, understands that in the eyes of the girls, she has stolen Jamie away from their mother and wrecked their family.
Marsali has had a difficult life, in common with most Highland folk at the time - hunger, danger, violence - Jamie was a small source of stability and safety and Claire took that away. So, she is understandably furious. And remember, in the books she is only 15, so just a wee lassie really. She goes on to become a strong, capable, independent pioneer woman and a great role model. Apart from the way she puts up with Fergus and his garbage. Although, he is clearly depressed and has a breakdown over his inability to be a "proper" man, as he sees it.