It's hard to follow a novel as wonderful as Lilac Girls, however this author was able to pull it off! I will admit that initially it was harder for me to get into it, and I struggled to keep all the characters straight. Once I got through that, I really enjoyed the story. One of my favorite aspects is that this book followed Russia during WWI, which is not as common in historical fiction novels of this time period.

The book alternates between perspectives of three female characters, each with their own story but all intertwined. There was so much depth to each, but I could have used even more. At times I felt like I would've like more attention on some of the bigger events.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Martha Kelly’s debut novel Lilac Girls was one of my favorites. So, it was with much anticipation that I dove into Lost Roses.

Set on the precipice of World War I, Lost Roses is the prequel to Lilac Girls. It follows the life of Eliza Ferriday, mother to Caroline, the heroine from The Lilac Girls. Suffice to say, Caroline got her iron will, strong sense of purpose, and dedication to service from her mother.

Eliza’s life story was fascinating. Her stateside and international efforts to help displaced Russian royalty was nothing short of heroic. Equally interesting were the backstories of the other two main characters, Sofya and Varinka.

Kelly weaves a spellbinding story, taking the readers along Eliza, Sofya and Varinka’s harrowing journeys throughout the east coast of the US, St. Petersburg and Paris.

Although by no means a historian, I was astonished by Kelly’s command of time, place and social and economic climate with rich descriptions of people, challenges, and topography. I especially enjoyed Kelly’s use of period language and culinary details.

I am jealous of those who can read Kelly’s creations in sequential order, however, each stands on its own. An enthusiastic five-star rating.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books for an ARC of Lost Roses in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

I was a huge fan of Lilac Girls even though I have never been a huge fan of history fiction. Lost Roses is a prequel to Lost Roses and while Lilac Girls dealt with Caroline Ferriday, the Lost Roses is Caroline's Mother's story and what a story it is.

This is the beautiful story of Eliza, Sofya and Varinka and how they want to help others. Set in Russia and US Such a wonderful book!.

Happy to have snagged an advanced copy of this prequel to Lilac Girls. I loved it so so much. I found reading about the fall of the Romanov’s and the Russian Revolution so satisfying and it left me aching for more. I don’t always do non-fiction well, so having a novel bring these events to life (and also manage to leave me craving to do my own research) is such a gift.
Also: I am completely stoked that the author will be writing another novel about the Woolsey women, this time during the Civil War. I can’t wait!

Popsugar Challenge: A book with a two word title

Lost Roses is historical fiction that follows the lives of three women, Sofya, Varinka, and Eliza, during the years immediately preceding and throughout the Russian Revolution. Told through the alternating POVs of these three women, we see how the Russian Revolution affected them and their families, following them from New York to St. Petersburg to Malinov, Russia to Paris, to New York. Much of the story centers around Max, Sofya’s son, born in New York, taken to Russia as an infant, and brought to Paris as a toddler. It is in Paris where the issue of his custody is ultimately decided.

These are three strong women who, at times, are forced to make difficult decisions that can mean the difference between life and death. I found this to be a fascinating story and is a prequel to Lilac Girls. I loved this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Lilac Girls and Lost Roses, which is a prequel to Lilac Girls, did not disappoint. I highly recommend reading the Author’s Note at the end to learn more about the characters and suggested further reading. From well-developed characters to a building storyline with intrigue and suspense, the novel was excellent. And I learned more about WWI. Looking forward to her next novel!

Lost Roses is a WWI story that switches between several strong female characters in Russia, the US & Paris. It is a story of sisters and friends who are faced with harsh circumstances in their fight to survive their circumstances and be reunited with family and friends. I enjoyed this book. I previously read Lilac Girls and enjoyed that the characters tie into that book. It was different from many World War stories because it focused on the Russian aspects of the war.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for an advanced digital copy of this book for review.

I predict that this book is going to be very popular this spring. As the follow up to Martha Hall Kelly's incredibly popular historical fiction novel, Lilac Girls, it's sure to be a hit with historical fiction lovers. And overall, I really enjoyed this book too. I am a lover of historical fiction and this book while not without its shortcomings (more on that in a minute) is a beautifully written and researched account of human resilience and love. For the most part it's well paced, the writing is digestible and overall the book is one that I'll remember. It would have been nearly perfect five star read if not for one little thing.

I'm sure that I'm being a little nitpicky with this, but there's one thing about this book that's been nagging me since finishing it. At 448 pages, I can't help but think this was a little too long. It's a tri-narrative that could have easily been a dual narrative and I know this is going to be a very unpopular opinion, but this story could have been a dual narrative focusing only on Sofya and Varinka that would have been incredible. I read the author's note, I get that her intent was to feature Eliza Farriday - but in my opinion, Eliza was boring. Her chapters felt forced and while I understand that she has a pretty big role to play, everything she does could have been just as effective in the background of the story. I found myself skimming her chapters so much that I think they could have been cut out completely. I know it's pretty bold of me to suggest that the entire POV of a character be wiped out from a book, but her activities felt completely detached from the heart of the story, which was Sofya and Varinka's experience with the fall of Imperial Russia and the rise of the Bolshevik Revolution.

Where I found Eliza's storyline lagging and dull, Sofya's and Varinka's were fascinating. I was invested in both of them. One a socialite with royal bloodlines and the other a peasant girl who finds herself attached to the bloody Bolshevik revolution, their intersecting stories were captivating. I only wish that we would have had a little more detail on their respective journeys to Paris because I think it would have added some more tension to the storyline.

This book is definitely one that I would recommend to my friends who enjoy historical fiction. This book is well researched and written - and the parts set in Russia completely engrossing. And while I think it could easily have been a dual narrative, it's still a fantastic story. I think fans of Martha Hall Kelly will appreciate this as much as Lilac Girls.

4.5 stars

I absolutely loved Lilac Girls, and so I was really excited to see that this was the prequel to that novel.

This book follows Caroline Ferriday's mother, Eliza, and her involvement during WWI with Russian emigres. It is a fictional account based upon her life, and the novel also introduces two other narrators: Sofya, who is a cousin to the Romanovs, and Varinka, a peasant girl who finds herself mired in a nightmare situation with a Russian Reds bandit.

I absolutely could not put this one down. I found it just as interesting and moving as Kelly's Lilac Girls. I do think the ending was a tad rushed, but that's probably just because I didn't want the book to end.

4.5 stars. I really, really loved this book. I am now just as fascinated about the Woolsey women as the author is and cannot wait to read her next book. I read a lot of historical fiction, but tend to focus on WWII not WWI. This book wove between the lives of 3 women in Russia and the United States and how their actions and decisions impacted each other lives and families. I learned so much about that time in Russia that I didn’t know (shame on me since my parents are from there). I would highly recommend this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for the ARC!

An historical novel based on the experiences of two wealthy women, one American and one Russian, during World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution. Although I was fascinated by the historical aspects and the accuracy of the portrayal of the historical events, I found it difficult to empathize or even care about the main characters. Having read the afterword and recognizing that Eliza and her family were "real" people who did invest time and money in assisting "White Russian" immigrants, I felt a bit more sympathetic. I still found the story overly predictable and melodramatic. This is not to denigrate the experiences of the Russian aristocracy during the Revolution (they were treated cruelly and inhumanely), but in this novel everyone is either really good or really evil. There are few shades of gray.

I'm sure this novel will appeal to fans of historical fiction that does not explore the depths of those "shades of gray", but for my taste I prefer more depth. Despite that, I did enjoy learning about the Woolsey/Bellamy/Ferriday family and their humanitarian efforts. In addition, I enjoyed the peek behind the walls of the Russian aristocracy. For that reason, I found this a pleasant diversion.

Rounding up to a four from a 3.5. Lost Roses may have suffered a bit from the inevitable comparison to The Lilac Girls, which I loved. It took me a while to get into the story, to keep all the characters straight in my mind, only to have the last 12% or so of the book zoom to the conclusion for each character. Once again, Kelly’s afterword, outlining her research and giving more historic detail on the people involved, was as interesting as the book itself.

I really enjoyed several aspects of this prequel to The Lilac Girls. I enjoyed the rich descriptions of the scenery and settings in Russia, East Coast of US, and Paris. I also enjoyed learning about some of the customs and cultures during pre WWI. However, I did not really enjoy any of the characters, except the horse.

Such a fantastic book! Just as good if not better than Lilac Girls. It was one of those books that I could not put down. Kelly knows how to create character development! It is so well written and each chapter leaves you on the edge of your seat wanting more. I really loved this book and hope Kelly continues to write books based off of these characters.

If you haven’t read Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly, do it now. It was very good historical fiction and will get you in the literary mood for Lost Roses which is coming out in April. From the first few pages, I was hooked and eager to see how the story would play out with the three main characters.

Here’s what you need to know:

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.

I liked learning more about Russian history through this novel. The story was interesting and intriguing, with multiple points of view from Eliza- a wealthy New Yorker, her friend Sofya- cousin to Tsar Nicholas, and Varinka- a poor young Russian woman.

I kept turning the pages to see how everything was going to end for the brave women. This is the prequel to Lilac Girls (Caroline Ferriday’s mother is Eliza Ferriday) and I have heard the author is working on another novel that features the same family but in the days of slavery- what is a prequel to a prequel called? I am looking forward to that book!

LOVED this book!!! Starting prior to WWI, this sumptuous novel takes you in to a gilded world of American wealth and Russian wealth and the historical tragedies that changed everything. The characters were each so fascinating and rich in detail that by the end, all the nuances make sense. So well written and researched! This is going to be one of the best books of 2019.

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

I learned so much from reading The Lilac Girls. This book just lacks the same depth. It strays too far into a romance novel for me. The ability of the characters to find each other in big cities like Paris doesn't ring true. I don't usually have to like characters to like a book, but these characters don't even spark interest. Maybe the lives of the incredibly rich and pampered who suddenly have to struggle in the real word was not for me. I emded up skimming to the end.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. As an avid fan of historical fiction, I was so excited to see that Martha Hall Kelly had written a prequel to her lovely book, 'The Lilac Girls'. Kelly is a wonderful storyteller and captures the essence of the time period so well. 'Lost Roses' includes well-developed, strong female characters! I love the various POVs - it's one of my favorite writing styles but it also added to viewing the war from multiple perspectives. I look forward to her next book! She's just wonderful!

Martha Hall Kelly has done it again with this prequel to Lilac Girls. This story goes back one generation and introduces us to the mother (Eliza)of Caroline Ferriday. The story follows Eliza, her friend Sofya Streshnayva and a host of strong women as they navigate the beginnings of WWI. The story unfolds in New York, St. Petersburg and Paris.

This book is definitely well placed in the historical fiction genre, however it is so much more than that. This book is the story of women - their strength, their loyalty, their devotion, their fortitude and their friendship with one another. It is a story of mothers and daughters, of sisters and of friends, both old and new. The characters are deep and well defined. The stories within the pages are taken from actual events. The reader is transported to another time and place and becomes part of the story. One feels every heart break and and every victory as if they were actually there. Kelly has once again created a masterpiece of epic proportions.