Sunflower Sisters brough the Civil War right into your home. Excellent novel with marvelous characters who make you feel like you are living the experience. Wonderful read!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Parts were slow (especially Georgy at the beginning), but got much more interesting with time. I also appreciate all the research that went into this book, and the connections to the author's prior two novels (though I would have appreciated a little clarification on this earlier on in the book). I haven't read a lot of historical fiction about the civil war so this was a great learning experience!

Sunflower Sisters takes place during the Civil War and follows Jemma, a slave girl in Maryland, her mistress Anne-May, and Georgeanna Woolsey, abolitionist and U.S. Army Nurse. The contrasts between these 3 characters brings me back to the love I felt for Lilac Girls. Anne-May is a vile and nasty mistress. Jemma is smart and wholesome. Georgeanna is strong and uninterested in the glitz of society life.

On Peeler Plantation in Maryland Jemma and her family live in constant fear of the Overseer, LeBaron. With Anne-Mays blessing he takes what he wants and rules with an obscenely cruel whip. When her husband leaves to fight for the Union and her brother leaves to fight for the Confederacy she is left to run the plantation and she does, into the ground. Focused more on drawing the attention of vile shop owner, Jubal Smalls, than ensuring a viable harvest. She steals from the slaves and spends every penny on snuff and dresses. She is rather simple-minded, for how nasty she is. She can't really read or write and is completely worked by Jubal Smalls who has more in mind for her.

Jemma experiencing unimaginable loss time and time again on Peeler Plantation and the fields of Gettsyburg. Will she ever get what she wants, which is her family, or what is left of it, all together and free?

In New York City, The Woolsey Women are all doing their part for the war effort by raising money, gathering, and sending supplies to the troops. But it is Georgeanna that is set on making a direct impact by being a U.S. Army nurse and what she wants she gets! From Maryland to New York she performs her duties and eventually her duties take her to the battlefield of Gettysburg.

These three women will cross paths and it is a journey not to be missed.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a FANTASTIC historical fiction set in the civil war told from 3 perspectives: Georgy, Jenna and Anne-May. I loved Jenna the enslaved black girl and how smart and resourceful she is. Anne May plantation owner is awful and brutal in every way. I felt like there was a lot of foreshadowing by Ma and Euogemia about Anne May and June that didn't come to pass and I really wanted it to! pheme, Harry, Frank Bacon were fabulous secondary characters!!!! Wonderfully researched and historically accurate. I had no idea this was connected to lilac girls storyline until the authors notes section. Definitely a 5 star read and would highly recommend.

I loved Lilac Girls and Lost Roses, was excited to read this ARC.

This is the third book book in trilogy series of Caroline Ferriday's incredible family.
Go back to Civil War,
the battles, hospitals/hospital ships,
slaves, and the lives around the plantations.
Become a part of the working/helping, the suffering, and the power.

This is really more like a 3.5. Based off of actual events during the Civil War and aided by the familial letters of the Woosley women, Kelly weaves a powerful story. Told through narrative chapters dedicated to 3 distinct women (Georgy a northern nurse and abolitionist, Jemma an enslaved girl, and Anne-May the plantation mistress) Kelly embarks on a multi-year journey through civil war battles and cities up and down the east coast. While some liberties have been taken in regards to history, for the most part it is surprisingly accurate. You can definitely see the care she took to research her subject.

It took me a few chapters to really get into it but by Part II I was hooked. I really appreciated the care Kelly took to make our heroines feel real. Remarkable story about remarkable women. Any fan of Historical Fiction will appreciate. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC for review!

A historical fiction told from the heart of author. Those are the best and when you have good material in characters and during the civil war, you will not be disappointed. Told in 3 narrations- Georgeanna Woolsey has dreams of becoming a nurse and building her own school of nurses. She is met with disregard by others but her family of sisters and her beloved mother keeps her centered. When her family witnesses an auction slavery, her family becomes opposed to slavery and joins the fight to end it. Georgeanna is a fighter. Fighting on two fronts. The North regards to female nurses and the cruelty of slavery.

Jemma is enslaved on the Peeler Plantation in Maryland. Her life at first is sheltered by her mother and father and the first owner of Peeler Plantation. She teaches her slaves to read and sums but when she passes, her Plantation is inherited by her niece Anne-May. You take a quick liking to Jemma. She is strong, clever and resourceful. She is rooted in her family.

Anne-May is extremely flawed and she is the train wreck that you can't keep your eyes off. Hooked on snuff and selfish, she is the one you love hate.

These 3 women are fated together when Jemma runs away from her mistress and joins the civil war as a drummer disguised as boy. When she is injured, she is under the care of Georgeanna and her mother at Gettysburg. With Anne-May on Jemma's trail, the Woolsey family takes Jemma in. The story line is filled with tragedy, triumph and redemption. Each of these women also had relationships that added to their character development.

The most interesting of this historical fiction is where the story originated. The author's family letters. Some are actually used in the story line and makes the story so vibrant. This by far is a favorite of historical fiction!

A special thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

This story is a historical masterpiece. I thoroughly enjoyed the immersion into the Civil War era, and I appreciate the author's talent in showing the truth of many horrible things that occurred in that time period. Based on historical documents, the characters were very well researched, and I was more impressed upon learning that this story was part of a trilogy - I had not read anything from this author before, so I will now have to go back and read the others.

This story follows three women from different backgrounds: an abolitionist, a slave, and a plantation owner, and shows how their stories interact and intertwine with one another.
The way the author switches between the women is good without being clunky, and I enjoyed her prose immensely. The characters are well written, and I really liked how she gave each character her own voice - I could really picture each woman in my mind. I learned a lot about the nursing profession, as well as slave owning in that time period. If you are interested in historical fiction, the Civil War, or intrigue, I highly recommend this book.

I saved this novel to read as a gift to myself during the holidays. I loved Kelly’s earlier novels about the Ferriday women, so I was excited about this newest book; I was not disappointed. This is an extraordinary novel of historical fiction which masterfully tells the story of women, black and white, swept up in the Civil War.

The story centers around Georgy who is the brilliant abolitionist heroine. It is her dedication to both the anti-slavery cause and the role of professional nursing that propels Georgy in her actions during the war.

The voice of Jemma is used to beautifully represent the life of a slave. She is a young, very smart woman who personifies the story of heartbreak, cruelty and humiliation of the enslaved.

This novel is extremely timely. I would urge book groups to select this novel. since It is valuable as both a piece of historical fiction and a jumping off point for understanding many issues that plague our nation today. Of course, I would urge readers to read the earlier novels as well. These books will provide valuable insights that can drive women’s study seminars.

Thank you Netgalley for this wonderful novel. What a special opportunity you have given me!

Based on a real-life family, we meet Georginna, her family as Civil War breaks out. Strong abolitionist, that rally to the cause. Told in alternating chapters, we also meet a fictional slave, Jemma, and her owner, May Anne. An excellent look at life in the 1860s from 3 very different viewpoints. Highly recommend.

Fast paced book and I really enjoyed it. Good story line and I think people are gonna love it. I would definitely read again and recommend

I really love Martha Hall Kelly's writing style and the detailed research she does for each book. Sunflower Sisters was similarly accurate and engaging.

I enjoyed the story and characters of the Woolsey sisters and Jemma. I do believe the number of core characters needed to be pared. There are just too many to keep track of--add in the fact that slaves and women characters also changed their names, and it gets overwhelming.

Great story but needs some serious editing. This is a loooong book. Approximately 200 pages could be cut and it would enhance the readability of this work.

A solid 4. I liked The Lilac Girls by this author so was glad to receive an advance copy of this book. This historical novel centers around the Civil War times and is told from the perspectives of three strong young women: Georganna Woolsey (a nurse in the Civil War and a member of the New York Woolsey family who were strong abolitionists, philanthropists, and totally devoted to charitable causes for the betterment of all); Jemma (a slave on the Eastern shore of Maryland who later became conscripted to the US Army),and Ann-May Wilson Watson (a self-centered Maryland plantation owner and slave holder, including of Jemma and her family). A very poignant tale of the abject inhumanity of plantation owners, the horrors of the battlefield (through the caregivers and doctors), as well as a rising tide of nationalism. However, the novel also showed the strength and fortitude of two of these women, Georganna and Jemma, to overcome the odds against them and fought for what was right, whether through Georganna's passion for nursing or Jemma's courage to save her family. Characters were all well developed. A very well researched novel. A good read although the ending was a little too contrived. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I loved reading the history of these women and their efforts to make their world a better place. The writing was excellent and was very interesting.
Many thanks to Random House publishing Group and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for the ARC of Sunflower Sisters.

I have read the other books in this riveting “based on real life” story, so was eager to read this one as well.

Civil war era is not my favourite genre to read but this book was so engaging I read it in less than 2 days. I was drawn in to the 3 storylines of Gemma, Anne-May, and Georgy. Racing through each chapter to find out what would happen next in their individual storylines.

Set between a tobacco plantation, battle grounds and New York City as the civil war is unfolding. I was saddened by the sheer hate and decrepit behaviour of Anne- May and her treatment of Gemma and Gemma’s family, it was tempered by Georgy and her family and their constant fight for socialist causes and what was right.

Martha Hall Kelly beautifully manages to capture each of the different characters and their particular plights. Causing the reader to feel genuine heart break and frustration on Gemma’s behalf, anger towards Anne-May, and hope from Georgy and the Woolsey sisters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend wholeheartedly.

Beautifully told story from Martha Hall Kelly. This book was emotional, heartbreaking, uplifting, and hopeful all at the same time.

This book was told from 3 perspectives. Georgy Woolsey, one of 7 children who is in her late 20's and wants more out of her life, she wants to become a nurse and eventually run her own female nursing school. Jemma is a 16 year old slave working on the Peeler Plantation in Maryland. She is thankful to be with her Ma and Pa, but they have dreams of being free and are working towards making that happen. Anne-May runs the Peeler Plantation and owns Jemma and her family. She is supportive of slavery and doesn't view her slaves as people, but her property.

These 3 women's live intertwine together and the choices they make end up impacting one another in ways that will change their lives.

This story takes place during the Civil War. The characters tell the story from their own perspectives. Jemma and her family are slaves and living on a plantation with everyday cruelties and abuse. Anne-May, the mistress of the plantation, is the worst of all. Georgy is a nurse and is sent to Gettysburg. The story intersects the lives of these characters and the backdrop of the civil war and slavery makes for a compelling read. This is an interesting and well-written piece of historical fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy to read and review.

Sunflower Sisters uses several points of view showing how slavery operated and how slaves were mistreated. It is very clearly an anti-slavery book as it details how poorly slaves were treated.

Some of my favorite passages of the book dealt with Miss Georgeanna Woolsey as she trained as a nurse and made her contributions. Some of my least favorite passages concerned Miss Anne-May and the plantation portion of the book.

I guess this is a compliment to the author, Martha Hall Kelly, whose writing brought home in novel form the contrast between those who live in freedom and those who do not.

Recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley.

Engaging and immersive; the author tells the riveting story of one family during the Civil War era. I love historical fiction and it was great to see this time period selected as the setting for this novel. The author does a great job integrating different points of view within the story. It seems to be well researched and is well written with my only criticism being that the story is a bit lengthy with some pacing issues.  It was still a good read and I was not disappointed. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

After reading Martha Hall Kelly's other books, I was excited to get the opportunity to read and review her newest book, Sunflower Sisters, from NetGalley. I was excited because I enjoy reading about the Civil War period. Sunflower Sisters is a story shared by three different characters. Georgy Woolsey wants more out of life than giggling with friends and searching for a husband. She wants to be a nurse and at the start of the Civil War she manages to be chosen as one of 100 women trained to be nurses and is sent to Washington D.C. and eventually Gettysburg. Jemma and her family are enslaved on a plantation in Maryland. Jemma has to make a difficult decision to save herself or try to help her family. Anne-May is the mistress of the plantation and is most unlikeable. She's just cruel for no reason and gets worse when her beloved brother is killed while fighting for the Confederacy and her husband returns from the Union Army wounded. I enjoyed seeing the same story from Jemma and Anne-May's point of view, but sometimes it was difficult to keep up with some of the side characters. Make sure you read he author's note at the end of the book. It's very interesting to read where the ideas and primary sources for the characters came from.