Read Lost Roses A Novel edition by Martha Hall Kelly Literature Fiction eBooks

Product details File Size 6226 KB Print Length 448 pages Publisher Ballantine Books (April 9, 2019) Publication Date April 9, 2019 Sold by Random House LLC Language English ASIN B07FBYYX75

Lost Roses A Novel edition by Martha Hall Kelly Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews

• This is the story of a lifelong friendship between two strong women - and, despite a dangerous war that intervenes - is strengthened. There is almost nothing either will do to protect their families and each other - even though one, Eliza, is in the US most of the time and the other, Sofya, is in war-torn Russia. The era is pre- World War I.
  
  A well-researched historical novel which gives a clear account of life in Russia under the Tsar for those affiliated or related to him - and how their lives change when all that has kept them safe has been destroyed. Through it all, Sofya, is determined to first, keep her family intact - and second, somehow to reach her friend, Eliza. At the same time, Eliza is making plans to leave her family in safe hands and find her friend.
  
  It was not easy to put this book down for any length of time. It accounted for some very late nights! The novel is beautifully written, and although we move back and forth between Eliza, her family, and Sofya and hers, we are able to maintain the threads that connect it all.
  
  Highly recommended. I haven’t read The Lilac Girls, which inspired this prequel - but I have it on order!
• 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 surpasses Kelly's first book and I look forward to her next prequel installment. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance read.
• After the first couple of chapters I Loved this book. The characters, the plot and the writing were exceptional! I read Liliac Girls and loved it. You do not need to read Liliac Girls to thoroughly enjoy this book. I have recommended to friends who have not read Liliac Girls to start with this one first. Can't wait for her next book about the Civil War. So far this is the best book I read this year!
• I love this book. It is similar to Lilac Girls, and in fact, one of the main characters is Caroline Ferriday's mother Eliza. The time frame is World War I and the Russian Revolution, and the other two main characters are Eliza's Russian friend Sofia, who is a member of the Tsar's family, and Varinka, who is hired by Sofia's household as a nanny for her son. While Eliza forms a group to support the Russian emigres to the US, Sofia tries to escape the revolutionaries who want to kill her, and Varinka kidnaps her son. There is a lot of history as well as truth in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
• A prequel to Lilac Girls, Lost Roses takes us back a generation to the start of WWI, following three different women Eliza, Sofya, and Varinka.
  
  Eliza Ferriday is excited to visit Russia with her best friend—a cousin of the Romanovs—Sofya Streshnayva. Eliza has always dreamed of visiting Russia from her home in the US, but not long after she arrives, political tensions are high in Russia and she departs back home to her husband and daughter, Caroline. But not long after her return, she becomes a widow and is forced to find something else to occupy her grieving mind. And what better way to occupy herself than help a cause she is passionate about helping Russian refugee women.
  
  Meanwhile, Sofya and her family leave the city to find a safe shelter in the countryside. Sofya’s husband is enlisting in the Russian army while Sofya takes care of their toddler son, Max. But as WWI breaks out, bandits are overtaking estates of the bourgeois. The Bolsheviks are overthrowing the royalty, putting Sofya and her family in danger.
  
  A Russian peasant, Varinka Kozlov, took a job at Sofya’s estate to care for Max. Varinka needs to the money to care for her sickly mother. But before long Varinka learns that her mother’s live-in apprentice plans to overtake the Streshnayva estate. So Varinka takes Max and doesn’t reveal his true identity, in the hopes to save him from the bandits. If no one knows he is of royal blood, maybe he can remain unharmed.
  
  Although these three women come from different backgrounds, they are all facing the perils of WWI, specifically the revolution in Russia. They’re doing whatever it takes to survive, whatever it takes to protect their families during such a bleak period in Russian history.
  
  Martha Hall Kelly’s Lost Roses has been on my radar for quite a while and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. Although Lost Roses connects to Lilac Girls, the subject-matter is completely different. A much slower-paced novel, Lost Roses mainly focuses on Russia during WWI. I had a hard time connecting to this story since it was so slow-going. And what’s more, I’m not as familiar with Russian history. I both appreciated getting to learn more about Russian history, while also feeling a slight disconnect to the content. But one thing is for sure Martha Hall Kelly clearly did her research and it is always evident in her writing how historically accurate it is. Lost Roses is no Lilac Girls, but it was moving and eye-opening nonetheless and by the end, I became attached to these fearless, empowering women. 4/5 stars.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and Martha Hall Kelly for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
• I was hooked the first couple of chapters then boredom set in. I am half way through and contemplating whether to finish. Lilac Girls was wonderful, Lost Roses not so!
• This reads like a completely different author. The book needs a better editor. Very disappointing after the success of the Lilac Girls.