Thank you so much to the publisher for the e - arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

unfortunately, I am DNFing this book for now. There are ALOT of characters to keep track of, in different parts of America, and I am having a hard time keeping it all straight in my head. I haven't read the first two books in this trilogy from this author, so I think that contributing to my struggles. I will be reading the first two books and then I will revisit this book again! I do really enjoy historical fiction, do I'm looking forward to giving this one anther try.

I received an advance Kindle copy of this book from NetGalley for a fair and honest review. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity.

Having read “Lilac Girls” and having attended a book signing almost two years ago with Martha Hall Kelly when “Lost Roses” was published, I was delighted to hear Kelly inform us at the book signing that her next book and last book in this series would be told from the viewpoint of Caroline Ferriday’s great-aunt Georgeanna Woolsey during Civil War times. The many historical circumstances in the chapters featuring Georgy were discovered in the Woolsey family letters and memorabilia to which Kelly had total access at the Bellamy-Ferriday House and Gardens in Bethlehem, Connecticut. She had started visiting the house even before the writing of “Lilac Girls”, spent ten years researching the book there and in Europe, and continued to study the archives for her new book, ‘Sunflower Sisters”.

Just as Kelly knew she wanted to write three main characters and entwine their stories in “Lilac Girls”, she has continued this format throughout “Lost Roses” and now “Sunflower Sisters”. It is also useful to know that each of these books in this Woolsey-Ferriday series is a standalone historical fiction novel.

We first meet Jemma, age sixteen, an enslaved girl in Southern Maryland on the Peeler Plantation, who has learned to read and write because a former mistress although cruel, did encourage her education. However, slavery is still in existence in Maryland and Jemma knows first hand about racial brutality and at an opportune moment escapes.

Anne-May Watson is the current mistress and slaveowner of Peeler Plantation. She is left in charge when her husband leaves the plantation to join the Union army. Extremely ruthless, Anne-May prohibits Jemma from reading and writing unless she needs Jemma’s knowledge to pursue her own interests.

The third perspective comes from Georgeanne (Georgy) Woolsey, the great-aunt of Caroline Ferriday of Kelly’s first historical fiction novel, “Lilac Girls”. Georgy, from a wealthy northern family becomes a Union nurse at a time when women were not accepted in the U.S. military. She and her sister Eliza are unwavering in their attempts to help soldiers on both sides of the war but are treated derisively by the doctors as they travel with the army from New York to Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg.

I have looked forward to this new offering by Martha Hall Kelly for two years and it does not disappoint. Of particular interest is the historical detail included in the chapters featuring Georgy that Kelly was able to glean from all the letters now archived at the Bellamy-Ferriday House while actually seated at Caroline Ferriday’s desk!

Thank you and five stars to you, Martha Hall Kelly, for bringing the history of three generations of Woolsey-Ferriday women to a conclusion for your devoted readers!

I enjoyed the previous books from Martha Hall Kelly's series, Lilac Girls. I was excited to have the opportunity to read the newest, Sunflower Sisters. I was far from being disappointed. It was a great read and a new favorite of the series. Five stars.

Alternating between the perspectives of three female characters, this book gives insight into the Civil War time period. Based on real-life figures, this book is well-researched. The story was engaging and gives voice to the women who played a role in the Civil War.

Sunflower sisters is the third and the final book in the Lilac Girls series. Just like Lilac Girls and Lost Roses which were both set in the time of World War II and I respectively, Sunflower sisters is the story of three different women all impacted by the Civil War going on and how their paths merge with each other. Georgy, our MC aids the Union Army as a nurse volunteer during civil war. Jemma is a sixteen year old slave at Peeler Plantation based in Maryland.The third protoganist Anne-May Wilson Watson is the owner of the said Peeler Plantation.Martha Hall Kelly is a genius at bringing the historical fiction to life and this book didn’t disappoint.
You will be astonished when you read the author’s note to know the amount of research that had gone into making this book.The story is very much inspired by the real life Woolsey sisters and the letters they wrote to others and the ones written to them.Even though it dates back to an era which was so backward in its own ways, I just loved how the author gave these women their own voices. Their strength and resilience shines through even Anne-May who seemed very deplorable. Since the Peeler plantation was located at the border state of Maryland , it didn’t secede from the Union.Some events at the Plantation narrated in the book was such a hard pill to swallow but knowing that it obviously wasn’t all fictional but very much something that could and would have happened to innocent lives was gut wrenching and made me so angry and sad for them. Overall this is a beautiful story of courage and how women can find their voice in a country thats war torn as well as fighting to end slavery. Inspite of being a rather long book, this book didn’t slow me down at all. If you love historical fiction and haven’t read stories set in the Civil war era , you have got to pick this one up and I’m super sure it won’t disappoint.

Such a great piece of historical fiction! So well researched and well written. Loved it! It stays with you long after the last page. A very welcome, if hard to stomach sometimes, account of the Civil War period. Told by 3 very different, very dynamic woman. An abolitionist, a slave, and a slave owner. A story of bravery, determination and unfortunately man's inhumanity to man.. Martha Hall Kelly is definitely one of my favorite authors! Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy..

This may be the best of Kelly’s 3 books. Sunflower Sisters was written with an incredible amount of research, including using real letters within the story. Because of this research, I feel that she absolutely nailed the personalities of the characters, even the ones that came from her imagination.

Much like her previous books, this story is told from 3 points of view, all in very different walks of life during the Civil War. You have a daughter from aYankee high society family who wants nothing more than to become a nurse, a slave born into a life she didn’t ask for and didn’t deserve, and lastly, the plantation owner who is as despicable as you would think she is.

Martha Hall Kelly tells each story truthfully, sometimes painfully so. It can be hard to read the injustices people have gone through, the hate spewed from the mouths of others. The whole time reading, I kept saying to my husband, “I can’t fathom this! I simply cannot wrap my mind around this kind of hate, this disregard for another human life!” And you know what? I say that now too.

Though taken place during the Civil War, Sunflower Sisters has some amazingly poignant messages that translate over 150 years later. Think about that.

While this book might be hard to read at times, we need to pay attention, internalize, and learn from it. The history of the Civil War is a fascinating one if you look past the traditional history books. At the end of Sunflowers, Kelly goes in depth regarding her tremendous research.

I think this may be one of the best historical fictions I have ever read.

I received an advanced copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

Set during the Civil War, this is a terrific novel of dynamic women. Georgey, an abolitionist who forces her war into a position as a nurse, Anne May a plantation owner, and Jemma, a slave owned bu Anne May all tell their stories. This is the third in a series of historical novels centered around the remarkable women of one family and, oddly enough, this last is actually the first chronologically. Georgey, one of six sisters (and one brother), comes by her activism naturally. Her family has helped the poor, refused to buy cotton, and contributed to the greater good so when war is in the offing, she takes Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell's course for nurses and convinces Frederick Olmstead to hire her for the Sanitary Commission. Anne May, in Southern Maryland, is a vapid woman who will compromise herself and the information she gains about the north for snuff, among other thing, It's Jemma's story that will stick with you as hers is one of resilience and determination. A card handed to a woman at a slave auction by Georgey's mother will echo down the line and, no spoilers from me on how. There's a bit of romance for Georgey (she's quite conflicted) and a rather warped relationship fir Anne May. On a personal note-this is the only time I've seen a maisoneuve fracture- which I suffered in conjunction with a broken ankle- in a novel good thing the physician had trained in France! Don't miss the afterward which provides some details about the Woolsey family (as well as some photos) and background on Kelly's research. Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc. This is solid historical fiction with a big emotional heart, Highly recommend.

Another solid historical fiction from this author! It was clearly well-researched, and she seamlessly tied the three storylines of these women together in one cohesive book. Fans of historical fiction will love this one!

Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Sunflower Sisters” by Martha Hall Kelly, Ballantine Books, March 30, 2021. On Tour With Suzy Approved Book Tours

WOW! I loved everything about “Sunflower Sisters” by Martha Hall Kelly! I had trouble putting this remarkable, memorable, intriguing, and captivating novel down. This is the third book in the series of the Woolley- Ferriday Family. The genres for this novel are historical fiction, sister’s fiction, and literary fiction. The timeline for this story is set during the Civil War. I love the way the author vividly describes the characters, the scenes from the North and the South, the events, and landscape. The author describes her dramatic characters as complex and complicated. Some characters are courageous and brave. Some characters are mean-spirited and evil. This is a terrible war pitting brothers and sisters against one another. Some people went to extremes to get what they wanted. Slavery was a big issue, and the author takes us on a journey to see what happens to many of those who are slaves and their families.

Martha Hall Kelly takes us back in time to the Woollsey family and shows us how they are abolitionists and want freedom for all slaves. The sisters work together, and two of them are nurses taking care of the wounded soldiers.

The author also introduces us to Jemma and Patience, sisters that are slaves and separated, and the toll that it takes on their family.

Kudos to Martha Hall Kelly for the hours of research that had to go into making this novel so wonderful. I would highly recommend this thought-provoking and memorable book to all readers.

At this time, I mentally can’t handle the subject matter of this story. I thought this was about pioneer life, not slavery. Thank you so much for the opportunity to review. I appreciate the opportunity and will definitely purchase a copy when I am mentally able to read this subject matter.

This is everything a historical fiction book should be! Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly is the third standalone title in the Lilac Girls series. It takes place during the American Civil War, and tells the stories of three women: Georgy Woolsey, one of the first female nurses to serve in the Union Army; Jemma, an enslaved woman in Peeler Plantation; and Anne-May, the owner of Peeler Plantation.

I honestly loved everything about this novel. All three characters were interesting and well rounded. The story was entertaining with many twists and turns, and no lull in the action. It was also beautifully researched, and very accessible. Most surprising to me, the love story in this book reminded me so much of Lizzy Bennett and Mr Darcy. The back and forth tension was delightful.

This was my favorite of all three books in the Lilac Girls series. I highly recommend you pick up a copy.

Thank you to @netgalley, and @randomhouse for this eARC!

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Martha Hall Kelly concludes her trilogy about the real-life heroines of the Woolsey family in <i>Sunflower Sisters</i>. When the Civil War breaks out, Georgeanna “Georgy” Woolsey signs up to become a nurse to help tend to wounded soldiers, despite the antagonism of male doctors who believed women should not be there. We also follow the tales of Anne-May Wilson, a plantation owner in Maryland and Jemma, one of of Anne-May's slaves. The lives of the three women overlap over the course of the war, as each tries to do what she thinks is best.

This book is the third in the Lilac Girls trilogy but comes first chronologically and can be read without having read without having read the first two. <i>Lilac Girls</i> is my all-time favorite book, and <i>Sunflower Sisters</i> can't quite reach that high bar, but it is an excellent book in its own right. Georgy and her sisters are quite remarkable women! They definitely all left their mark on society, making the world a better place for them having been in it. I love that Eliza preserved so many of the letters between members of the Woolsey family, so that Martha Hall Kelly was able to learn so much of their lives to help make this book possible. She did a fabulous job researching information for this book, not just for the Woolsey family but to make her fictional characters, Anne-May and Jemma, true to life. You won't want to miss reading this story!

I was so glad to get a chance to read this book, the third, by Martha Hall Kelly. I read “Lilac Girls” and “Lost Roses,” but this one may be my favorite!

Again, based on three female characters, each telling their stories until the culmination when their tales come together.

The first woman, Georgeanna “Georgy” Woolsey, is one of seven sisters and a brother that comprise the Woolsey family, along with their mother, their father having passed away in an accident many years prior. Georgy, Caroline Ferriday’s (Lilac Roses) great-aunt, becomes a nurse during this Civil War era book, and is stationed at many different battlefields, including Gettysburg.

Next is Jemma, a slave in Maryland at the Peeler Plantation, along with her mother, father, and sister. She is very smart, literate, and headstrong -- three ingredients that get her into trouble and always have her thinking about how to get out from under the heavy hand of slavery.

And lastly, the owner of Peeler Plantation, and Jemma, Anne-May Wilson Watson, who is willful, spoiled, and a cruel taskmaster. Jemma is usually in some kind of trouble with Anne-May, but is usually smart enough to get out of it -- but not always. Anne-May (married to Fergus, a Union soldier) has her own troubles that include her wandering eye set on Jubal Smalls, a local businessman, who entices Anne-May to help spy on Union troops and send the information to the Confederate army. It is no spoiler that this probably won’t end well!

These three women’s stories wind together to tell a compelling tale set during the Civil War which is more personal than many stories of this era I have read. And since Georgy and Jemma are both based on real people (as are many others in this book), it feels very real.

This is a book I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys history, but also, anyone who just likes a well-written story about people who do their utmost to care for each other during very trying times.

I'd like to thank NetGalley, Martha Hall Kelly, and Ballantine Books for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Sunflower Sisters
By Martha Hall Kally

Sunflower Sisters is a stunning, captivating and a tour de force! Though it is the third and final book of the Lilac Girls series, each book is a stand-alone. Based on real life events, a fantastic author’s notes with photos from Kelly’s research form the basis of this historical fiction novel. ⁣
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In Sunflower Sisters, Kelly takes us back to the latter part of the 1800’s where the story is told in three parts and in three very distinct voices. Georgeanna “Georgy” Wolsey, a civil war nurse who trained under Dr Blackwell, the first female physician; Jemma the Peeler Plantation slave in Maryland; and Anne-May the cruel, loathsome and despicable mistress. ⁣
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The Civil War is told through these women’s stories and perspectives as Kelly takes us though first hand, these characters’ harrowing experiences from New York to Washington, and then to the battlegrounds of Gettysburg and a hospital ship as Georgy tends to the wounded. ⁣
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The writing was immersive, and the novel’s readability was fantastic. The progression of the story even with the alternative view points was easy to follow, and what made this book shy of 500 pages feel like a short read. I could not get enough of it. I highly recommend! ⁣

3.5 stars

Sunflower Sisters is the third book in the Lilac Girls series however it easily can be read as a standalone novel. This historical fiction book takes place during the Civil War. It's one of those historical fiction reads in which some of it is fact based while some parts were created from the author's imagination. I highly recommend checking the Author's Note when you are finished reading the book as it provided great context into the writing process.

Georgeanne aka "Georgy" is part of the affluent Woolsey family and lives in New York. She has 6 sisters and a brother and has a desire to contribute to the war effort as a nurse.

Jemma is a slave on a Maryland plantation. Ann-May Wilson recently inherited that plantation from her deceased aunt. The story alternates between Georgy, Jemma, and Ann-May.

At over 500 pages, it's a lengthy novel and the pacing at times was slow. Jemma is the heart of the story and my interest level was the highest while reading her chapters in the book. I was initially drawn to read this book because Georgy trained to be a nurse under Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman in the United States to receive a medical degree. Unfortunately Dr. Blackwell does not have a huge role in the story. I'll admit I did start to lose interest in Georgy's work as a Union nurse and the challenges she faced with not being taken seriously by men. For the most part, the character fell flat in my eyes although I'm not sure why that is the case.

I wouldn't say there's anything significantly wrong with the book but it does feel like I've seen this story play out time and time again. I'm not even a frequent reader of historical fiction but I've watched many movies and tv shows tackling the Civil War and the stories kinda blend into one another. It's the same problem I have run into with World War 2 historical fiction. You have to search high and low to find a story that is unique.

With that being said, it was a decent read and the fact the author was able to write three historical fiction books featuring different generations of a family is pretty neat.

Sunflower Sisters is the story of three very different women who happen to interact during the same critical point in America's history, the Civil War. This book tells the stories of Jemma the slave, Georgy the abolitionist socialite, and Ann-May Jemma's owner. Each of these women has their own minds, motivations, and stories behind what they do and how they do it.
I enjoyed this story. It took a while for me to get fully drawn in, but once I was in it was difficult to put the book down. I don't tend to read much set during the Civil War time period so it was nice finding a story that was set then and I enjoyed reading.

I’ve read all of the books in the Lilac Girls series and I think this latest may be my favorite.
Set during the Civil War, Martha Hall Kelly presents the views from three very different women to tell the story of one of the most pivotal times in US history.

Jemma, a young slave girl, is unique in her time due to the fact that her previous owner taught her to read and write. In a time when many slave owners thought literate slaves were dangerous, Jemma’s owners found this useful, although in different ways.

Anne-May, Jemma’s second owner was a Southern woman and not of good character. When her husband leaves to fight for the Union, Anne-May is left to oversee the running of the plantation and instead spends money unwisely and lets the tobacco crop go to ruin. She also becomes drawn into a spy network and uses Jemma to convey information to the Confederacy.

Georgey, a Northern woman, was raised with a passion for good works and becomes drawn to nursing in order to help the war effort. Through her work nursing wounded soldiers, Georgey crosses paths with Jemma and the two women become close, with Georgey offering to help Jemma reunite with her family that has been separated by slavery.

I loved that this story was based on actual letters from the author’s ancestors. I also loved that the story showed the difficulties of family separation and of having family that was fighting on opposite sides, as well as the hardships that both North and South suffered through because of the war.

I highly recommend this to readers who love historical fiction and engaging stories.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

What am amazing story on the civil war. I love Martha Hall Kellys books You can always guarantee that it will be a well researched and well written novel.

This story takes you to the Civil war and is from the perspective of three women. A nurse, a slave and a plantation owner. Although I got a full perspective of the war, it was just a little hard to follow with the changing of perspectives at first

What I enjoyed most about this novel was the history of nursing. As a nurse myself, I found the story intriguing. I love Georgey and her fire personality.

Overall, a great story overflowing with well researched beautiful writing and amazing characters.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy

4.5 Stars

Do you like stories about nurses?
Are you curious about the first female nurses in the U.S.?

Thanks, #NetGalley @RandomHouse for my complimentary e ARC of #SunflowerSisters upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Third in the “Flowers Trilogy” (as I affectionately think of them), Sunflower Sisters precedes Lilac Girls and Lost Roses in a historical timeline and altogether the three books involve three wars. First, Lilac Girls is set during WW11 and features heroine Caroline Ferriday; next, Lost Roses, a prequel to Lilac Girls, features Caroline’s mother, Eliza Ferriday, and is set in the pre-WW1 era; finally, Sunflower Sisters is the prequel to Lost Roses and is set during the Civil War. All the stories in the trilogy can be read as stand alones.

In Sunflower Sisters, Georgeanna Woolsey, a great aunt of Caroline Ferriday, is a Union nurse at a time when the medical field was dominated by men. She crosses paths with Jemma, a young girl who was enslaved, sold off, ran away, and was conscripted into the army. Jemma has a sister, Patience, who remains enslaved on the plantation next door. 🌻🌻🌻 In this story, sunflowers are a symbol that slaves used to warn each other of danger. Sunflower Sisters describes Civil War experiences and plantation life, and it includes family drama.

One of the most interesting aspects of Sunflower Sisters is the description of nursing experiences during the Civil War and Georgey’s training under Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman in America to obtain a medical degree. At this time, the medical field was a man’s profession, so determined and ambitious women had to break this barrier to become real nurses. Georgey is a pioneer in nursing and works hard to gain the trust of doctors and encourages and teaches other women who also want to be nurses. As part of her nursing duties, she cares for and compassionately befriends Jemma and becomes involved with the rescue of Jemma’s sister, Patience.

Readers can always depend on Martha Hall Kelly for well-researched and ambitious historical fiction. Her characters are well-drawn and the historical details are vivid and descriptive.

Sunflower Sisters is a compelling and complex story of the Civil War and it’s told from multiple perspectives: Georgey is a determined nurse from a privileged, abolitionist family; courageous Jemma (and her sister) are enslaved (before Jemma joins the army); and Ann-May is a mean and possessive plantation owner who fancies herself as a spy in her free time. These multiple points of view can also present a challenging reading experience (which I enjoy!) as we rotate points of view and locations. Throughout the reading, I felt more and more connected to the characters and enjoyed a satisfactory conclusion.

Readers who appreciate ambitious and well-written historical fiction will find Sunflower Sisters filled with historical details and references. Don’t miss the author’s notes which mention that this story was inspired by the real life Woosley sisters and their personal correspondence. Recommended for Civil War enthusiasts, for readers who love stories of inspirational women, and for book clubs (although it is a hefty 528 pages).

If I were reading this in book club I’d want to discuss the legacy of the women in this trilogy. In each of the three generations represented in these stories, the women are inspirational in their courage, independence, charity, and service. How is this value passed down to the women in the next generation? Is it through oral history? Do you feel you have internalized values that have been passed down generation to generation in your family?