So happy to have had the chance to read this third book as an ARC from William Morrow and Net Galley. The Woolsey family is fascinating and this book, Sunflower Sisters, didn't disappoint either. The story takes place in the Civil War era and combines info on abolitionists, slavery, the war and women’s roles as nurses. Definitely enjoyed this book!

This is easily the best book of 2021. Hands down Martha Hall Kelly's best work and that is a feat considering "Lilac Girls" and "Lost Roses" are some of my favorite book. I am going to deeply miss the stories of Caroline Ferriday's family and stories of Caroline's own philanthropic work. This book takes you into the depths of the Civil War where you read the real words of letters and poems from the hands of the actual people who inspired the story. You fall in love with sweet and courageous Jemma, you adore the hard-work and tenacity of Georgy, and you absolutely loathe Anne-May. The story of slavery, abolition, and war time is sure to send a chill down your spine. I can't recommend this book enough.

If you love true Historical Fiction, you will definitely enjoy Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly. This was a truly amazing piece of work. The research that went into this book was above and beyond what you might expect.

Have you ever been blown away by a book, read the author notes at the end and come away with more appreciation for the book? I have and this is one of them. The first book in the series called Lilac Girls was the same way for me. It is one thing to read a novel you know is based on historical facts and whole new experience when you find out the characters existed and their letters and family history were a huge part of the story.

Martha Hall Kelly did a fabulous job putting her research together to give us a story that entertains, teaches and inspires us to learn more. I have highlighted in her notes books that I want to go back and read. I'm not sure I've done that with any other book.

I found the time period of the Civil War interesting and heartbreaking. She told of life in the slave community so vividly it made me cry. Then there were cities that continued on as if a war was not being fought on our homeland. That was mind boggling!

I highly recommend Sunflower Sisters. You have to read the book to find out where the Sunflowers came from. I will never look at them the same.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author and Netgalley for a fair and honest review. Thank you!

I am a little bit tired of this type of historical fiction, yet I was excited to read this as Lilac Girls is one of my favorite historical fiction reads of all time. While Sunflower Sisters wasn't as good for me, it was still interesting. I was overwhelmed by the cast of characters at first, but after giving it some time, I was able to fully sink in.

The final book in the trilogy of the inspiring women of the Ferriday-Woolsey family, Sunflower Sisters takes us back to the Civil War. Like the first 2 books, this one unfolds from the perspectives of 3 very different women whose lives intertwine unexpectedly. Their expectations are upended and each one is forced to make difficult, sometimes unthinkable, choices. Kelly does not shy away from the atrocities of the Civil War and the inhumanity of the institution of slavery. She also gives us an inside look at the war - and the ongoing war effort - from the distance of New York City, where it’s citizens were somewhat removed from the bloody battlefields and burned out south. I am absolutely mesmerized by the women Kelly has written about in this series and appreciate her extensive notes at the end of each book detailing fact from fiction as well as her research process. A beautiful end to a sweeping historical saga. Many thanks to the publisher, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.

This is Martha Hall Kelly’s third book in the Lilac Girls series that follow the same family starting in WWII, then WWI and lastly this one during the civil war. Kelly has found the perfect trio of women who were heroes in each of their times.

This story centering around Georgey Woolsey, who would become one of the first female nurses to serve the injured men of the civil war. Jemma a runaway slave and Anne-May, a cruel woman who owns Jemma.

Kelly weaves together this harrowing story at times of these woman, that paints a vivid picture of this war from a very different perspective. I have to admit the civil war is not one of the parts of history that I enjoy reading about (with a few exceptions), but Kelly is masterful in picking the right stories.

The Woolsey family is real, but other characters are based on a mixture of people from that time. This is a powerful unforgettable story of the power of woman in a time where they were not necessarily welcome.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine Books for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Set during the American civil war, this a beautiful story of survival and the remarkable bonds of family. The plot focuses on the lives of Georgy Woolsey, a nurse for the Union army, Jemma, a young woman enslaved in Maryland, and Anne-May, a cruel and despicable slave owner. The character development of these primary figures was exceptional and I found myself feeling many complex emotions as their stories unfolded . I especially loved how their stories eventually branched out to overlap with one another. Although the pacing started out somewhat slow in the beginning, it picked up towards the midway point and the plot progressed rapidly. It’s amazing how much is packed into this book and yet it never feels overdone. Martha Hall Kelly has created a truly poignant historical fiction novel that rounds out the Lilac Girls series beautifully. Thank you to Random House - Ballantine and NetGalley for providing me with an e-galley in exchange for an honest review!

Having read both Lilac Girls and Lost Roses I was so looking forward to this read and found it to be just as enthralling. Martha Hall Kelly has the ability to bring her characters to life resulting in strong emotional connections, both positive and negative. Since the setting was during the Civil War and several of the characters were on a plantation in Maryland, there were definitely characters portrayed as evil -Anne May, Jubal, and LeBaron. There were also characters you grew to love - Jemma, Sally, Euphemia, and Fergus. Although I admired the Woolsey characters surprisingly I never developed strong connections with them, although Mary’s story left me in tears. Loved the ongoing interaction between Georgey and Frank. The ending left me feeling satisfied that most characters received their just reward.
Told from several perspectives and including sections of actual letters written at the time, this powerful read shares the horrors of the time - the inhumanity of slavery, the inhumanity of the Civil War, and the devastating effects of each on families. Kelly’s words brought both horrific scenes such as the piles of limbs near the operating areas and moving scenes, especially of the Rauch boy’s passing.
My favorite part of the book was the afterward where Kelly shared the actual historical connections. Knowing that much of the emotional story was based on real characters and actual facts made it much more powerful for me as a reader. Loved that she shared that she used qualities of her own children and family members to flesh out characters in the story.
Many many thanks to Martha Hall Kelly, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for affording me the pleasure of reading this emotional historically factual book, to be published on March 30th. I will be recommending this one to everyone.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to do an advanced book review of this book!

Martha Hall Kelly is such an amazing author of historical fiction. I learn so much when I read her books and my bucket list grows after doing research. I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys wartime historical fiction or stories about strong women.
This story is based on wartime letters passed through various friends, family members and business partners of members of the Woolsey family and slaves during the Civil War. We meet some great characters such as Georgy and her sisters, Jemma, Frank Bacon and Nathan and some not so great characters such as Anne-May, Jubal Smalls and LeBaron. We bear witness to the struggles and strife of war. We see Georgy and Jemma grow in their ventures to help others. We see love come and go and feel for those who pass.

I find I won’t be able to finish this book. Martha Hall Kelly’s previous books have interested me, so I was excited to give this one a try. But the idea that it centers Black trauma, even if it does simultaneously vilify the white plantation owner, put me off, as I’m not sure if this is Kelly’s story to tell; even if it intersects with the ongoing over-arching generational narrative.

What an amazing story! I am going to have a book hangover for days. Sunflower Sisters is a wonderful ending to the Caroline Ferriday trilogy. Georgeanne “Georgey” Woolsey is Caroline Ferriday’s great aunt. The story is told through her eyes, along with two other narrators. Anne-May Wilson, who has inherited a plantation in Maryland, and Jenna, A slave on the plantation.

Much of the story is based on Woolsey letters and research about the Civil War. Martha Hall Kelly allowed me to feel so many emotions while reading. Jenna and Ann-May are fictional characters. The story starts in 1961 and ends at the end of the war. Georgey is one of eight children (7 girls and 1 boy). We follow her efforts as she travels to several field hospitals at the start of the war with her sister, I definitely felt like I was an eyewitness to what it was like. The reader definitely sees life as a slave through Jenna’s eyes and definite hatred toward Anne-May.

The story has many minor characters who are fictional and non-fictional. I really enjoyed reading about the extensive research Martha Hall Kelly did at the end of the book. Make sure you read this section. My thanks to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

This is the third installment of the Woolsey family history. Sunflower Sisters is a haunting story of family, both blood relatives and the family we make for ourselves, and perseverance in the midst of the horrors of slavery and the American Civil War. This story shows humankind at its brave best and at it's brutal worst. This is an epic story and one that will linger in your mind.

Sunflower Sisters is the long-awaited conclusion to the Woolsey family saga featured in Martha Hall Kelly’s Lilac Girls and Lost Roses. The Civil War and the issue of slavery in the North and South becomes the backdrop for this final and epic drama.
Sunflower Sisters unfolds from three points of view. Representing the Woolsey family is Georgy, Caroline Ferriday’s great-aunt; a patriotic Union nurse, determined to “rid the country of the scourge of slavery.” Georgy’s father, part of the Underground Railroad, died leaving 7 children for Mother Woolsey to raise. Georgy’s chapters are woven with details of the lives of each of the six girls and son Charley. Martha Hall Kelly’s impeccable research using family letters gives realistic insight into daily activities and feelings of family members. A Woolsey family tree helps readers keep the siblings in order as the descriptions are read with “eyes peeking through fingers” of battles raging between armies, surgeries and diseases fought in hospitals.
Juxta positioned to the Woolsey family is Jemma, an enslaved girl on the tobacco growing Peeler Plantation, in the border state of Maryland. Jemma’s twin sister, Patience, works at neighboring Ambrosia, an indigo plantation. Readers will be breathless reading of the sisters’ escape plans and routes through the swamps, involving the monster overseer, LeBaron. Jemma’s skills came from her brave Aunt Tandy Rose who taught her manners, and how to read and write. Housemaid Sally Smith, the “root doctor,” shared her wealth of knowledge regarding herbs, healing plants, vegetables, and especially making jelly! The trials and tribulations of Jemma are difficult to read, but her tenacity and courage, along with her creativity and wit help her survive the brutalities and family traumas. Readers are blessed to know Jemma learns to love and be loved.
The third voice is that of Anne-May Wilson Watson, age 25, the Peeler Plantation mistress. Anne-May is a snuff addicted, self-centered, “mean as a witch” woman that readers will immediately move to the “character to hate” pile! MHK gives a vicious, spiteful, nature to this woman who deserves all she gets. Enough said about this awful woman. One more word: greedy.
From the opening scene of a slave auction in 1859, Charleston, South Carolina through battles at Richmond, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Vicksburg, Chickamauga and Gettysburg-readers will experience the emotional toll of the Civil War. Between 1859-1864 there will be balls and weddings, hangings and battles, fairs and funerals. But in the end, there are reunions to soothe the soul and mend broken hearts. The Sunflower symbolism is a hidden secret for readers of Sunflower Sisters. 5 stars. GR

Sunflower Sisters was a heartbreaking, beautifully written story of three very different women during the Civil War. Jemma is a slave at a plantation in Southern Maryland, Anne-May is the owner of the plantation, and Georgy is a nurse from New York who is against slavery. Jemma and Georgy's worlds collide and they form a beautiful friendship. Jemma's drive and perseverance in midst of everything she has gone through is inspiring and heart shattering at the same time. I didn't know that Lilac Girls, Lost Roses and Sunflower Sisters were all based on and inspired by women of the Woolsey family. The format of the book was very similar and I loved seeing the different perspectives and experiences of three different women. I haven't read a lot of historical fiction from this time frame and I am very interested in reading more from the Civil War. Books that educate me are my favorite types of books and this book did that. The Peeler Plantation was in a town about 30 minutes from where I currently live. Hearing the towns named throughout the novel made me realize how much of a border state Maryland really was during the war. The way Martha Hall Kelly writes each of these characters is remarkable and I appreciated how the novel was both character and plot driven.

🌻 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 / 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝗪 🌻⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Title: #SunflowerSisters
Author:@marthahallkelly1
Publisher: #ballantinebooks
Pub Date: 3/20/21⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Type: #Paperback #ARC⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Genre: #HistoricalFiction
On Tour: @suzyapprovedbooktours
Must Read Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⁣⁣⭐⁣⁣⁣⭐⁣ (plus a hundred more!)

My thoughts:

-I absolutely, positively, FREAKING ADORED THIS BOOK. I never thought it would be possible for Martha Hall Kelly to write another novel that I loved more than Lilac Girls, but this one blew me away. Historical fiction can be a very difficult, time intensive and depressing genre to write (and read!) and I am continually fascinated by how Hall weaves together a story that is so timeless, haunting and IMPORTANT for readers of all ages and reading preferences alike.

-Up until 2021, I hadn't read many historical fiction books that were set in the 1800's, as that time period had traditionally been "too difficult" and gruesome for me to read. Only a few short months in and I am now enamored with that time period and have read 2 separate books that both captured my heart, made me emotionally distraught and infinitely more educated on how horrific slavery was for everyone - men, women and children. My jaw hit the floor so many times while reading this and I kept saying to myself "this seriously cannot have been part of our history!"

-Weighing in at a whopping 3 lbs and over 500 pages, I was worried that I would find this one too long and slow, but to be honest? I would have read 500+ more pages if she had written them. I was completely and utterly immersed from start to finish. I participated in a #buddyread chat with some of my favorite book club girls and we all said that we wished that the story never ended. This will be a book that I purchase for my bookshelf and read time and time again.

-This book is told from 3 unique, authentic and chilling perspectives. I loved each character for who they were and while Anne-May is going to be hated among many, I appreciated that Hall included her voice because it added such an interesting layer to the narrative. You dislike her because she is the wife of the plantation owner, treats her slaves with disrespect and truly believes they are items that she can use, abuse and toss away when it feels right to her. Yet, she is written SO AUTHENTICALLY and honest that you cannot help but appreciate what it took to write her character. I loved Georgy because she was fierce, loyal, insanely smart when women were not meant to hold jobs and a GOOD person. I loved Jemma's heart, her dedication to family and her will to survive. Without these 3 particular characters in the novel, I don't think I would have loved the story as much.

READ.THIS.BOOK. Buy it for a family member or friend. And most importantly, talk about it it. I'd love to chat with other readers who've been as moved as me by "Sunflower Sisters." This book is an absolute gem.

Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly is a Historical Novel set during the Civil War period. Georgeanna Woolsey, a Union nurse during the Civil War is the ancestor of Caroline Ferriday, a character from the book Lilac Girls. Sunflower Sisters was influenced by true events of the Civil War period. It is the story of a war torn country from various viewpoints Union, Confederate, slaveholders, slaves and abolitionists.
There are appearances of historical characters that take a part in the story. I found the historical medical treatments for injuries and illnesses well detailed and very interesting. Sunflower Sisters is heartwrenching story of human frailties,family divisions for the cause, war, the evils of slavery, medicine during war and on the battlefield. I loved the reality and history of this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars

Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly is a beautiful book packed with the hard truths, historical significance, and keen insight into the Civil War period, following the lives of three women, Georgeanna Woolsey (Union nurse), Anne-May Wilson (plantation mistress), and Jemma (enslaved girl).

Fans of Kelly's Lilac Girls will love the continuing saga of Caroline Ferriday's family and ancestors in Sunflower Sisters. Thoroughly researched and based on the Woolsey family letters and the Sotterley Plantation, the story comes alive with battlefield scenes, the strength of slaves on a tobacco plantation, and family bonds.

Georgie Woolsey comes from a large family of abolitionists and determined women and works as a nurse in the Union Army. Georgie eventually meets Jemma, a slave, sold off from the Peeler Plantation and conscripted into the Union Army, suffering from war injuries. But Anne May is after Jemma, her former slave, for a diary detailing some spying activities and maps. Their three paths collide as the reader comes to a suspenseful conclusion.

I strongly recommend Sunflower Sisters, a colorful depiction with rich details of the Civil War period. Its strong female characters and a gripping plot move the reader quickly to a satisfying ending. I thank NetGalley for allowing me to review this captivating historical novel. I just reviewed Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly. #SunflowerSisters #NetGalley on 3/19/21. #historical novels

This book was really well written. Martha Hall Kelly’s writing is beautiful and the way she develops her characters draws you in and doesn’t let go. This book is told from three alternating perspectives, Jemma a slave, Anne May, a plantation owner, and Georgey a nurse from the North. Jemma is a slave on Anne May’s plantation and you get to see most events from both of their perspectives. Then when their story intertwines with Georgey’s and you want to keep reading to see what will happen next.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in historical fiction during the Civil War.

Martha Hall Kelly has done it once again, she brought history into the present. Her characters read like real people, you become invested in them and their stories and fates. This time it's the rights of women and African Americans and how the civil war shaped all of them. Jemma struggled as a slave till one fellow slave set her on the path of freedom, Georgey struggled to find her place in helping with the war but wanting to be treated as an equal, but what happens when these two paths cross each other and Anne-May is attempting to be a now-married woman in a state she's not from. Well, Jemma ends up discovering how strong she is even after being separated from the only family she knew and placed on the battlefield only to become acquainted with someone who can help get free of slavery. Georgey wants to do her part to help the soldiers fighting for freedom, she first becomes a nurse but dreams of opening a school to train only females as most nurses are male. She has caught the eye of Dr. Frank, an old family friend but will not accept his hand as he does not see her as an equal but more in a supportive role. She dedicates herself to helping all soldiers on either side of the battlefield. Anne-May married a plantation man in Maryland, she herself is from Lousiana. She has a hard time adapting to the new role and how slaves are treated differently in the two states. She befriends a fellow Louisana man who then supplies her with snuff but wants secrets, this causes problems as her husband fights for the north and her brother for the south and she is caught in the middle. We can see the story from these three points of view but all tell the one story of the Sunflower Sisters.

4.5*
This is the third story centering on the humanitarian efforts of people connected to Caroline Ferriday, the woman from <i>The Lilac Girls</i>. This time the novel moves further back in time to Caroline’s ancestors who were nurses for the Union during the Civil War and who attempted to help former slaves. Similar to <i>Little Women</i>, this is a story of a family of sisters (and one younger brother) with a strong mother.

Georgeanna Woolsey, or Georgey, is the fiercely independent daughter who has no use for fancy parties or luring men. She wants to make a difference and is determined to become a nurse. Unfortunately, nurses are men and it is believed that women are deemed too delicate to work with injured soldiers. When she comes across a slave auction, Georgey is horrified and her abolitionist heart reaches out to the slave women and children who are being torn away from their families and sold like cattle.

Jemma is a slave on a Maryland plantation, the property of Ann-May Wilson. She is subjected to continual abuse at the hands of her mistress but the bigger threat is from the cruel, vindictive man who manages the plantation. Her story is unsettling to read because of the abominable treatment she and her family must endure. Later, her story takes a turn when she is thought to be a boy and is conscripted to be part of the Union Army.

The owner of the plantation, Ann-May, has her own story that involves her allegiance to the Confederacy, despite her husband joining the Union army. She is despicable and her efforts to avenge her brother’s death at the hands of the Union, lead her into dangerous actions. Her conniving efforts are a total contrast to Georgey’s family who tend to the soldiers and work to help former slaves like Jemma.

Similar to her other novels, Kelly includes people who are selfless and generous in contrast to some who are totally self-absorbed and cruel. The women take center stage but there are both good and evil men included too. One is a doctor who pursues Georgey but whose romantic overtures are rebuffed. He encounters her on numerous occasions and always shows his goodness.

For lovers of Masterpiece Theater’s <i>Mercy Street</i> series, the story will remind them of female nurses, families on both sides of the Civil War, doctors treating patients with the limited available resources and knowledge, spies trying to subvert the Union efforts and a bit of romance to balance out the horrors. Families in middle states like Maryland, were often torn by conflicting loyalties.

Each of the three central women are very different and yet their stories are nicely woven together. Kelly has brought the story of the real Woolsey women to life, demonstrating their compassion and commitment to helping those in need. The author has an informative web page detailing the real Woolsey women and their humanitarian work. It’s impressive that these women with their strong convictions had descendants who also acted courageously in the First and Second World Wars, as Kelly’s two earlier books attest. This newest book is an outstanding chronicle of women making a difference.