This story begins at the brink of the first World War, a New Yorker named Eliza goes to St. Petersburg Russia to visit a friend, who is a Romanov cousin. Once war breaks out and the Romanov dynasty falls, Eliza is able to return to America while Sofya and her family flee to their country estate. Eliza tries to help her friend and other Russians, and when she stops hearing from Sofya she fears the worst.

Lost Roses is a beautifully written novel. Lilac Girls was one of my favorites of 2018, so I was very excited to get an early release of Lost Roses. In the beginning, the characters are somewhat confusing and hard to keep straight, but as you keep reading, it all becomes more clear as the story unfolds. 1/4 of the way through, I literally could not put this book down and read for hours straight. It is beautifully written and I highly recommend.

Martha Hall Kelly has delivered another powerful story of loss, love, and resilience. Lost Roses is set during World War I, and is the prequel to her novel Lilac Girls. The three main characters all have different perspectives and experiences, and each an important place in history. Their stories are intricately woven together with superb writing, and fascinating detail. Once again, Hall Kelly has given us Historical Fiction at its finest!

Lost Roses is a prequel of sorts to Lilac Girls. In Lilac Girls we met Carolyn Ferraday, Lost Roses is the story of Carolyn's mother, Eliza Ferraday and two other women. Sofya Streshnayva is a Romanov cousin and friend of Eliza's, and Varinka is a young peasant girl that ends up working for Sofya. These three ladies have very differing paths through World War I and the Russian Revolution. Lost Roses travels from the US and Russia to Paris at the end of World War I. It is mainly the story of the Russian Revolution and how the tide turned against Little Father and anyone associated with him. In the chaos that ends at the end of the war and the revolution some friends are mourned and some are found. Another beautiful story By Martha Hall Kelly.

Martha Hall Kelly has done it again with Lost Roses. It took me a couple of chapters to get the relationships down between the three main characters and their relationships. during the Great War. Sofya, Russian aristocracy and her loss of status without understanding completely why but knowing change must be made. Varina, Russian peasant, being caught up in the Revolution through her relationships and then Eliza, the wealthy New Yorker being life long friends with Sofya and how this change affects her life. This is about amazingly strong women who deal with death, hardship and come out on top through hard work and standing up for what is right. #LostRoses, #NetGalley.

Eliza Ferriday and Sofya Streshnayva have been friends since girlhood, meeting in Paris and spending months at a time visiting each other in St. Petersburg and New York. On her last visit to Russia, Eliza feels the discontent of the Russian people and sees signs of brewing unrest to which her Russian friends seem completely oblivious. Eliza and Sofya have written each other daily since school and once WWI breaks out, followed by the Russian Revolution, the two lose contact. In the US, Eliza sets up refugee centers for Russians fleeing their homeland, hoping that Sofya will have fled. In Russia, Sofya fights to survive and find refuge somewhere. From there, she can contact Eliza and escape Russia.

Martha Hall Kelly writes a compelling story of a friendship tested through adversity and world uproar. There's lots of action and excitement with minimal horror in a time of widespread terror. She keeps the story taut until the end, when it slumps to a resolution.

However, "Lost Roses" will inspire me to seek out "Lilac Girls." Using the example of multiple strong women in one family to explore seminal events in history is certainly appealing. I look forward to more from Martha Kelly.

First, Thank you to the publisher and author for gifting me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I am in the minority with my review of this title. I liked it, but I didn't love it like everyone else has so far. I really wanted to love it. I did love Lilac Girls and was so excited about the opportunity to read the newest novel by Martha Hall Kelly. I had a hard time getting in to the story and feeling a connection or interest in the characters. I felt like the main characters were a little shallow and flat in the beginning. I was enjoying the history, but wasn't sure why I cared about these characters and what happened to them particularly. I really did not like Varinka and her creepo "guardian". He was so disturbing and I couldn't figure out why there story was being included. I am glad I didn't quit from my first impressions. You do see how Varinka becomes entwined with the family and how her choices greatly affect their lives. I did grow to like an respect the other two female characters more as well as we saw them grow and stand taller through very difficult times. I liked them a lot more by the end of the book and was pleased to see how they turned to look towards others and how they could benefit those in need. I was glad to see Eliza become a better role model and support to her daughter Caroline as the novel wrapped up. It still was not my favorite read, but I did like it more after seeing how the characters and the story developed.

This story takes place during the time of the Great War, WWI, but the focus is primarily on Russia and the Revolution. This beautifully written and oh so riveting novel is based on true characters and actual places although it is a far cry from being a history book or diary.

The three main female characters include Eliza Woolsey Ferriday, who lives in Manhattan – along with her mother, Caroline, and her daughter, Caroline. There is also Sofya Streshnayva, a cousin of the Russian Romanovs, who has become very close friends with Eliza, and Varinka, who becomes a nanny to Sofya’s son, Max, and eventually kidnaps him.

When the Russian dynasty falls, Sofya and her family flee but are seized and imprisoned. After a year Sofya manages to escape and, amid endless mayhem and danger, is determined to find her way to Paris, which is some 1400 miles away. Her hope is to find her son who has been taken to Paris. All the while, Eliza is relentless in her attempts to find Sofya and to aid Russian female emigres to the United States.

What to me is so fascinating about this story is that there truly was a real life Eliza Ferriday, a Sofya, the two Carolines, Henry Ferriday, actress Julia Marlowe and her beautiful home Wildacres, The Romanovs, The Hay in Bethlehem, CT, the American Central Committee for Russian Relief and its bazaars held at the Plaza Hotel, Hildreth’s Store in Southampton, and even the centuries old A la Mere de Famille candy store in Paris.

What a story! I am ever grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Lost Roses. It was truly my pleasure, and I highly recommend it. Well done, Ms Kelly. I look forward to your next book which will take us back in time to the Civil War and Jane Eliza Woolsey.

If you loved The Lilac Girls, you will love Lost Roses (by the same author). Set in New York just before America enters the so-called Great War, it's the story of Eliza Ferriday, her best friend, a Russian named Sofya Streshnayva, and a Russia peasant girl named Varinka. We see the impact of the war on Russia from Sofya's point of view, an aristocrat and relative of the Romanov's, but also from Varinka's point of view, as someone who sees Sofya's family as a servant, and later as an oppressor. As the war drags on, Eliza does her best to help the Russian refugees who make their way to America, continuously seeking to maintain contact with her Russian friend through the chaos and death of war.

The story is told from the individual points of view of the three women. We see the difficult choices they have to make to survive the brutality of war, especially for women, and at the same time maintain their humanity, and compassion. Its a wonderful story, with well written characters, easy to read and hard to put down. Highly recommended!

Lost Roses is an engrossing read. I liked it even better than The Lilac Girls. What I really liked the most was so much of the content dealt with Russia and the Revolution. The characters are engaging, the settings are vividly described and readers feel as if the events were happening to themselves. The one character I did not care for was Varinka, she made my skin crawl. I admired her mother, Zina, and her pluckiness and craftiness. Lost Roses surpassses Kelly's first book and I look forward to her next prequel installment.

Lost Roses by Martha Hall Relly
Since I enjoyed Lilac Girls very much, I appreciated receiving this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lost Roses is a prequel to Lilac Girls and it takes place from 1914 to 1920 and centers around WWI and the Russian Revolution. It follows Eliza, an American woman (Carolyn ‘s mother) Sofya, a relative to the tzar’s family and Varinka, a Russian peasant girl hired to take care of Sofia’s son, Max. Chapters alternate from each of these women’s point of view. The horrors of the war, the Russian revolution and its effects on three families are authentic and true to history. Of the three women, I liked Eliza and Sofya most, less so Varinka. I found the author’s note at the end very helpful and made me appreciate the novel more as it was based on real persons and events. Overall, an excellent read, strongly recommend. I took off one star, as I found the events after he war in Paris a little contrived, too many coincidences that were not believable for me.
Thanks NetGalley, Random House and the author for this advanced copy.

I loved this authors first book and loved this one too.
This author has a way of writing historical fiction that draws you in and makes you love the characters.
I loved this one as much as the first book and loved learning about this time period
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

I liked Lilac Girls and I liked the prequel, Lost Roses, even more. I enjoyed the story of Caroline's mother, Eliza and her relationship to Sofya. Lost Roses begins in 2014 and tells the story through the friendship of Eliza Ferriday, daughter of prominent, wealthy New Yorkers, and Sofya Streshnayva, St. Petersburg, Russia royalty. Steeped in history, you follow their stories and that of a Russian commoner and servant, Varinka. Their stories unfold as we live through WW1 between the pages, whether in New York, Russia or Paris. Fans of Lilac Girls and historical fiction should put this one on their list. I am looking forward to the author's next book as well, which will take place even further back in time, same family, more courageous and strong female characters, Civil War era.

I really enjoyed reading this book! The pace moved quickly between the main characters, and I liked the first-person perspective.
While "Lost Roses" is a novel, it includes enough historical details to make it seem like the story could have actually happened. I actually did more research on the Russian Revolution as I read, and that's a sign I use to identify a good book.
I would recommend "Lost Roses" to readers who are interested in history, Russia, women, or WW1.
Note: it includes war-related violence, sexual and physical abuse, and sexual content.

I see I’m in the minority here as I had a hard time getting into this book. I think it must be the time period it is set in as I just couldn’t relate to any of the characters. I have enjoyed other books that date back to then, but this one not so much. Maybe if I would’ve read Lilac Girls prior to this one, I would’ve enjoyed this more. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book for my honest review.

3.5 stars I really enjoyed this book and was excited to spend more time with the family and women from Lilac Girls. The book is incredibly researched with so many characters that at first was a bit over whelming for me. Once I really got into the story, each character fell seamlessly into place and you get sucked into the story. The pace of the book moves pretty quickly and I found myself excited to see what was coming next. Well written! The prologue and authors note provide so much to the book as well.

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 for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

For those that love historical fiction, particularly the Russian Revolution you will love Lost Roses. Kelly has woven in fictional characters with actual historical figures really bringing the book to life. The different settings from city to countryside in Russia to Paris to Manhattan and the Hamptons in the United States made me feel that I was there. I particularly liked the way each chapter was about a specific character. If you are looking for a book you can’t put down this might be it.

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 known 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. 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.

I was lucky enough to get this book from NetGalley and wow what a book! I was absolutely transported to a different place and time. The writing was so vivid I felt I was right there with the characters sharing their experiences. The storyline was fascinating. I highly recommend this book having given it 5 stars which I give to very few books. I will publish this review in Goodreads.