NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The million-copy bestseller Lilac Girls introduced the real-life heroine Caroline Ferriday. Now Lost Roses, set a generation earlier and also inspired by true events, features Caroline’s mother, Eliza, and follows three equally indomitable women from St. Petersburg to Paris under the shadow of World War I. “Not only a brilliant historical tale, but a love song to all … historical tale, but a love song to all the ways our friendships carry us through the worst of times.”—Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours
It is 1914, and the world has been on the brink of war so often, many New Yorkers treat the subject with only passing interest. Eliza Ferriday is thrilled to be traveling to St. Petersburg with Sofya Streshnayva, a cousin of the Romanovs. The two met years ago one summer in Paris and became close confidantes. Now Eliza embarks on the trip of a lifetime, home with Sofya to see the splendors of Russia: the church with the interior covered in jeweled mosaics, the Rembrandts at the tsar’s Winter Palace, the famous ballet.
But when Austria declares war on Serbia and Russia’s imperial dynasty begins to fall, Eliza escapes back to America, while Sofya and her family flee to their country estate. In need of domestic help, they hire the local fortune-teller’s daughter, Varinka, unknowingly bringing intense danger into their household.
On the other side of the Atlantic, Eliza is doing her part to help the White Russian families find safety as they escape the revolution. But when Sofya’s letters suddenly stop coming, she fears the worst for her best friend.
From the turbulent streets of St. Petersburg and aristocratic countryside estates to the avenues of Paris where a society of fallen Russian émigrés live to the mansions of Long Island, the lives of Eliza, Sofya, and Varinka will intersect in profound ways. In her newest powerful tale told through female-driven perspectives, Martha Hall Kelly celebrates the unbreakable bonds of women’s friendship, especially during the darkest days of history.
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fNot as entertaining as Lilac Girls. Predictable at times.
I have not read Lilac Girls, but wanted to read this book because of the connection with the Romanov’s. The story takes place between 1914 and 1920 and follows two young women through the devastating days during the Russian revolution and the German conflict. Eliza Ferriday is traveling with her dear friend from her home in New York to her friend’s home in St. Petersburg where she hopes to visit some of Russia’s iconic landmarks. The friend, Sofya, is a cousin of the Romanov’s and Eliza has the honor of meeting the family during her visit. Eliza ends her visit when it becomes too dangerous to remain in Russia, but the friends exchange frequent written correspondence. When Sofya’s letters stop arriving, Eliza becomes worried and the scene unfolds among Eliza, Sofya and a nursemaid Varinka who’s hired to help care for Sofya’s young son. That ends up being a big mistake which results in the separation of mother and son. I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit long but the writing, the characters, the settings and the historical events made it fascinating and atmospheric. I love the cover and I look forward to reading the next book that dates back to the Civil War and features Eliza’s grandmother (Caroline’s great-grandmother).
A very good prequel to Lilac Girls
1914: Tensions are rising; war is in the air. It is during this uncertain time in history that Lost Roses, written by Martha Hall Kelly, begins. Despite the simmering unrest swirling through Europe, Eliza Ferriday, a New York socialite, travels to St. Petersburg, Russia to visit with her friends, Sofya and Luna Streshnayva, cousins of Tsar Nicholas II. All seems to be going well until, more than 1,500 miles away, something horrible happens, sending shock waves throughout Europe.
For the complete review, go to https://kindredconnection.wordpress.com/2019/04/18/lost-roses/.
Eliza is visiting Sophya’s family in Russia. Then the imperial dyansty starts to crumble. Eliza makes it home but Sophya and her family are trapped. They make it to their country estate. This does not offer the safety they expect.
Sofya’s life during the revolution was almost too dreadful to take. I don’t want to give anything away…so you must read this to find out. Then there is Varinka. She has her own calamity. And you don’t realize how deep her trauma is until the end of the book. She is a tragedy walking. And Eliza. She is the savior in this story. She and Sofya are friends and Eliza is determined to find her.
Give me a book about the Russian revolution and I am riveted. This one did not disappoint. However, I did feel it is a little too long. It also has a good many characters to keep up with. However, each character has their own story. I just couldn’t help my heart breaking over what these people went through. No author can take you to the depths of your feelings like Martha Hall Kelly.
Lost Roses was an engrossing look at three womens’ lives during the early 1900s. The story is about the close friends Sofya from Russia and Eliza from New York, and their families. The story is set in New York and Russia during the Russian Revolution time period. The story alternates between these two women’s stories, along with another woman, Varinka’s story. While Sofya and Eliza are from wealthy familes, Varinka lives a rough peasant life. Their lives will intersect as the story goes on. All three of these women are strong and determined to protect their families. The story is a portrayal of what everyone experienced during this time.
Martha Hall Kelly drew us into WWII with the Lilac Girls and Caroline Ferriday. Now with Lost Roses, Ms. Kelly shows where Caroline learned compassion and her sense of responsibility to do the right thing when we are introduced to her mother, Eliza Woolsey Mitchell Ferriday.
The friendship between Eliza Ferriday and Sofya Streshnayva, whose family is related to the Tsar of Russia, is the impetus for the story. Sofya and her family visit with Eliza at Gin Lane, the summer home of Eliza’s mom, Caroline Carson Woolsey Mitchell.
The return of Sofya and her family to Russia during a time of turbulence not only due to World War I but the increasing unrest of the masses in response to the Tsar’s rule. The uprising against the “White Russians”, the rich and royal people, endangers Sofya and her family. This is the start of Eliza’s worry and her philanthropy to aid and assist those displaced by the war and revolution. This story demonstrates the strength of women in adverse times. Ms. Hall provides an insight into the struggles of women displaced by war.
I had looked forward to reading this book and was not disappointed. The characters are so well written that you love, admire, despise, or pity them. It was the character descriptions that drove much of my sense of foreboding. As the action occurred, I found myself holding my breath and hoping that everything would turn out well.
I highly recommend this book to historical fiction fans as well as any one who wants to read a great book. It is not necessary to read the Lilac Girls, although I recommend you do, to read this book. I heard that there might be a third book and I really hope it’s true.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #BallantineBooks for approving my request. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
A more complete view of the Romanovs and the Russian revolution. Story is told in 3 views…..1 cousin to the Tsar, Villager, and American friend of the Tsar. The different voices really worked for me. I was pulled into this crazy time in history. The Reds, The Whites, USA……..really makes one stop and think and learn.
What amazing writing by Martha Hall Kelly
Lost Roses is a prequel to The Lilac Girls. It is a stand-alone story of Caroline Ferriday’s mother, Eliza, a cousin to the Russian czar, Sofya, and a young Russian peasant, Varinka. Sofya visited Eliza in the U.S. and Eliza returned with Sofya to Russia on the brink of WWI. I was swept away by their stories. I also see where Caroline learned from her mom the importance of using her position in society to help others.
I cannot say enough about Martha Hall Kelly’s writing and the research she did to write Lost Roses. I will definitely be reading this beautiful story a second time. Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This heartbreaking World War 1 book is told by 3 different perspectives. Eliza living in the US doing everything in her power to help, Sofya living in Russia and is a Romanov cousin, and Varinka Sofya’s servant. I love Ms. Kelly’s historical books as she gives you multiple points of view as to the suffering of the wars. At the beginning of the book you see the beauty and splendor of Russia then the devastating effects of the war. The characters are so very real, strong women who do everything they need to for survival. I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Ballantine Books. All opinions are my own.
And this time she takes us to the era of World War I.
Martha Hall Kelly’s Lilac Girls was a phenomenal hit and her new prequel, Lost Roses, holds on to that esteem. When that first novel is such a hit, it makes you wonder…can the next one be as big? Is it possible to wow us as much as the first time?
The answer is a resounding yes. With Lost Roses, Kelly has yet another extraordinary tale on her hands. Also inspired by real events, this novel is set a generation earlier during the brink of the First World War. As with her first, there are 3 sides to the story. You have Eliza, (Caroline from LG’s mother), her best friend from Russia, Sofya, and a servant girl, Varinka. Eliza and Sofya are the best of friends, but as troublesome times come to St. Petersburg, the world as all three of them know it has come to an abrupt end. There’s violence in the streets, high society and the Romanovs are falling, and the proletariat are rising up, taking everything they feel they deserve. And more. All three woman struggle in ways we could never imagine.
Kelly’s novel is heartwarming, heart stopping, and riveting from the very beginning. She draws you in and introduces you to these characters, weaving you into their lives. Whether you come to adore or despise them, you have no other choice but to be a part of it all. Lost Roses is an epic ride. Martha Hall Kelly has done it again.
If you loved The Lilac Girls, be sure to read Lost Roses! Lost Roses is the prequel and tells the story of Eliza Ferriday, Caroline’s mother. The story is told from the viewpoints of Eliza, Sofya, a cousin to tsar Nicholas, and Varinka, a poor Russian woman. I love the multiple viewpoints because I was able to understand each character’s reasons for decisions made. Martha Hall Kelly did an incredible job of describing the Russian splendor before the fall and the devastation and violence after. I fell in love with each of these beautiful characters!
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a free copy of the book.
In Lost Roses, Kelly takes us back one generation from Lilac Girls and introduces us to Caroline’s mother Eliza. I loved that once again, she introduced us to a trio of women who’s lives were vastly different, yet intersected in such interesting and unexpected ways. They were fascinating examples of resilience and strength, but even more so, they were examples of the resilience and strength of women. And I’m always going to be a fan of strong women. In addition to their strength and resilience, their stories gripped me. I loved that each woman narrated her own story, giving us insight into her thoughts and feelings. It really adds an incredible dimension to the story, making it feel more life-like and personal.
Another reason I loved this book so much is my recent interest in WWI. History was never a topic that held much interest for me in school, and when I branched out to the historical fiction genre, I limited myself to mostly WWII retellings. Flash forward to today and my love for documentaries, and I’ve finally started paying more attention to the history of WWI.
So to tie my two points together. . . Kelly does an immense amount of research before writing her books. And it shows. She’s given us another phenomenal historical fiction story that’s also historically accurate to the best of her abilities. It’s a time period that, in my opinion, doesn’t get as much love in the historical fiction world as others, and Kelly has done an amazing job of giving it the attention it deserves. It’s filled with characters that will stay with you for a long time; women you will admire for their endurance and fight. I finished the book days ago, but I can still picture the setting so vividly, and I can still hear the voices of Eliza, Sofya, and Varinka as though they’re in the room with me.
Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly is the prequel to bestseller Lilac Girls. I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel thanks to Ballantine Books, Random House, Suzy Approved Book Tours and Martha Hall Kelly. I was really excited to delve into this one because Lilac Girls is one of my all-time favorite books.
This prequel installment again follows three women except this time we get to know Eliza Ferriday (for Lilac Girls fans – Caroline’s mother.) Eliza is introduced as a young woman living in New York high society married to her husband Henry with their young daughter Caroline. Her dear friend Sofya Streshnayva, cousin to the tsar’s family the Romanovs, spent many summers living with her in Paris during boarding school where the two became close. As unrest begins to develop in Russia, Eliza begins to worry about her friend who has since returned to Russia.
In Russia, as revolution against the aristocratic society begins to intensify, Sofya and her family begin fearing for their safety so they retreat to their family home in Malinov. Soon the Bolsheviks claim St. Petersburg and dethrone the tsar. Every luxury and protection Sofya has ever know is quickly stripped away as she fights to stay alive. Eliza, back in New York, grows increasingly uneasy with worry about Sofya and vows to do whatever it takes to rescue these Russian women from the hands of the Reds.
In Malinov we also meet Varinka, a village girl who is living with her mother and Taras. Taras is a young man they took in long ago who has recently been released from prison and returned to them. Taras provides them with food and protection but Varinka must repay him in the most sinister of ways. Varinka and Sofya’s lives intersect as they both do what they each think is necessary to survive…
I loved this second installment (but actual prequel.) I love Martha Hall Kelly’s writing and character development so much. She writes female characters that are so multidimensional that you begin to understand their motivations for every decision that they make. Even when one of the women makes a choice to do something that makes your heart scream, you understand how they arrived at that choice and why. I love that about these characters. They are flawed and unapologetic about it. Eliza, Sofya and Varinka all make choices and do what they need to in order to survive based on each of their individual circumstances. I so enjoyed going on this journey with them and know that you will to. Readers of historical fiction will love this novel when it hits shelves April 9, 2019.
Historical fiction is at its best when the author seamlessly melds facts with a compelling story and characters with genuine voices from the time period of the novel. Lost Roses ticks off all the boxes; I was transported to the early 20th century of Russia in the midst of the turmoil of both the revolution and the Great War as I became emotionally involved with the characters. I appreciated that the story was told from several viewpoints: Eliza, an American woman who devotes herself to providing for the Russian women and children who emigrated to America after suffering atrocities in their homeland; Sofya and Luba, sisters who were cousins to the Tsar and whose lives were forever changed by events of that era; and Varinka, a young woman whose life becomes intertwined with the sisters’ in unimaginable ways. Hearing each of their points of view added perspectives we would have missed otherwise. This is a heartbreaking story of love and loss, set during a time that was turbulent and at times violent, and the brave women who faced hardships and fear with strength, intelligence and determination.
Lilac Girls is one of my favorite historical fiction reads, and HF is my favorite genre. In Lilac Girls, Martha Hall Kelly gave us Caroline Ferriday as a real life heroine of her time during World War II. Lost Roses is Caroline’s mother’s story, along with two other women affected by World War I.
In 1914, Germany is gaining power and war is possibly on the horizon. Eliza Ferriday travels to St. Petersburg, Russia with Sofya Streshnayva, a Romanov cousin. Eliza and Sofya’s close friendship is formed years prior while the pair lived in Paris.
While Eliza’s in Russia, Austria declares war on Serbia, and Russia’s tsar is likely to fall. She flees safely to the United States but wishes she could have brought Sofya and her family with her.
Sofya’s family must flee the city to the family’s country manor because a revolution is on the brink. They hire Varinka, a young peasant girl, to serve in their household, but she brings danger along with her.
Across the world, Eliza is doing everything she can to help Russians escape the revolution, when suddenly she stops hearing from Sofya.
The book travels between the US, St. Petersburg, and Paris, and illuminates the places and their people during this time of strife, violence, and uncertainty.
Martha Hall Kelly’s storytelling is just as captivating and alluring as it was with Lilac Girls. Eliza Ferriday is a strong, formidable character, and Sofya and Varinka’s stories will break your heart for different reasons.
There was a poignant moment when Sofya looked down at her young son Max after seeing a starving peasant baby, and she reflected on Max’s luck of being born to her into her family of wealth. The tables are turned on Sofya and her family, and I think about that all the time- the luck one has to be born in whatever country- one that has freedoms, or one that is filled with every day war and danger.
Lost Roses is the glorious story of the lives of Eliza, Sofya, and Varinka. Even though Eliza and Sofya are born privileged, they never lose sight of how they can help others, and there is unequivocal beauty in that and honesty in how Kelly depicts it. This is the perfect book to get lost in. The storytelling grabs you and won’t let go.
Thanks to Suzy Approved Book Tours, the author, and publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
I live for strong, female leads so I had very high hopes for Eliza Woolsey MItchell, one of the main characters in this novel. I have not read Kelly’s smash hit, The Lilac Girls, which I thought would work in my favor since this book has been described as the prequel to her successful debut. The Lost Roses follows the lives of three women – Eliza who lives in America, Sofya who is a Russian aristocrat and cousin to the Romanovs, and Varinka who is a Russian peasant struggling to make ends meet. When the Russian Revolution shows up on Sofya’s doorstep, a decision she makes will forever connect and impact the lives of all three women.
I am a huge fan of historical fiction and I have always been fascinated with the story of the Romanovs, so I appreciate the research that the author did to craft her story. Kelly’s writing is vivid and her descriptions of the towns, the despair of the people and the complete lack of compassion and reality displayed by the Russian elite was very well done. However, I had trouble connecting with the characters and the first half of the book moved very slowly. Things pick up when Varinka and Sofya make their escape to Paris, and I was very interested to see how both of their stories played out. If you enjoy period pieces with a heavy emphasis on historical setting, then this book is for you.
Lilac Girls is one of my favorite books. I was hoping that Lost Roses would not let me down, and for me, it did not!
This story is a Prequel to Lilac Girls and follows Caroline Ferriday’s (a main character in LG) mother Eliza and her close friend Sofya, a niece of the Romanov family) and a Russian peasant, Varinka as they navigate the Russian revolution.
Story is told in all three voices….setting the tone of strong women, all needing to do what they must to survive. Eliza, who learned from her Mother that being an aristocrat means using your money and name to help those less fortunate, says goodbye to her friend, Sofya in Russia only to arrive home and lose all contact with her. She helps organize the American Central Committee for Russian Relief. Sofya, who is Russian nobility, loses everything to the Bolsheviks. Varinka, who is the daughter of a peasant fortune teller, has a completely different story to tell.
I devoured this story, I loved it …. even devouring the Author’s Note and acknowledgements. I CANNOT wait for the prequel to Lost Roses, to be set during the Civil War!
Thanks to the Author, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
Martha Hall Kelly writes with such eloquence! This is a beautiful story of Eliza Ferriday and how she helps Russian Aristocrats during World War I. I was captivated from the start with this well researched story to the very end! Her writing brings you right into the culture and time, there are no misplaced ‘modern’ terms or items. This was a time of horrors, but with the skill of a master author, it has become a story that is written with grace and will not soon be forgotten! A masterpiece classic!
Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “Lost Roses” by Martha Hall Kelly
Martha Hall Kelly, Author of “Lost Roses” has written an eloquent, poignant, intriguing, intense and captivating novel. In this prequel to
“Lilac Girls” where we met the heroine Carolyn Ferriday, we step back in time to be introduced to her mother Eliza. “Lost Roses” follows some of the characters from St, Petersburg to Paris and New York, around World War One. The timeline for this story is around 1914 and goes to the past and future when it pertains to the events or characters in the story. The Genre for this story is Historical Fiction. The author describes her colorful cast of characters as resourceful, complex and complicated.
Eliza Ferreday gets the opportunity to travel to St. Petersburg with a good friend Sofya Steshnayva, a cousin of the Romonavs. The two women met in Paris years ago, and have become good friends. Sophia is hoping to show Eliza all the glorious sights of Russia.
When World War One breaks out, and there is revolution in Russia for power, Eliza goes back home to New York, and Sofya and her family go to the family estate. Sofya’s family hires a seamstress/ fortune-teller’s daughter Varinka as domestic help. Varinka has some deep dark secrets, and brings danger with her.
Eliza Ferreday, Sofya Steshnayva and Varinka are three strong willed determined women, especially during this time in history.
Eliza Ferreday helps the Russian women, some once royalty as they escape to America. They are known as the “White Russian Families.”They now are in poverty, having lost everything. Eliza becomes troubled when letters stop coming from Sofya. Varinka sees certain opportunity as devastation and troubling times set upon them.
I appreciate the author’s diligent research into this time period. I highly recommend this amazing and intriguing novel to those readers who appreciate Historical Fiction. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.