I actually did not realize this book was a continuation of Lilac Girls in the sense that it goes back one generation to the history of Caroline's mother. Some things seemed vaguely familiar but didn't realize till the end and then was really impressed how Kelly managed to tell the story of Eliza as well as concurrently the story of her friends Sofya and Luba. In Lost Roses, Martha Hall Kelly follows the progression of WWI in both the US and in Russia and Paris. She chooses as one of her main characters a member of the Russian aristocracy close to the royal family and shows the way that the war of the Reds vs the Whites and the downfall of the tsar and his family came about in horrifying fashion. She also follows the Russian elites who manage to escape to Paris and the US and the fates that befell them as they struggled to assimilate and find a way to make money with sadly little skill given their place in society in Russia.

I loved how this book showed a part of history I was less familiar with - particularly the fates of so many of the Russian aristocracy being hunted down even in different countries with fervor. The lack of connection with the people of his country definitely led to the tsar's downfall, but it was interesting to see how it all came about from one character's perspective. There was one additional character representing the working class of Russia and her story was sad, but it was difficult to bond with her and pity her given her choice against Sofya, however that may just have been me - I would have liked to see her story separate from Sofya's to see her in more detail as a person and not dislike her so much. Martha Hall Kelly as always does an amazing job at bringing specific areas of history to life in personal detail so the reader really feels they are there. My only issue is that again, the romances seem at times contrived and unnecessary. SPOILER HERE: I did not research whether Eliza did remarry, but the situation with Sofya who was admittedly a work of fiction seemed odd that she would just step from one relationship into another so quickly and seemed too pat for the ending. Otherwise though, an enjoyable read.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this even more than Lilac Girls. What an interesting look at history that I knew very little about. I appreciated how the author humanized both the red and white side of the conflict in Russia. I also enjoyed the glimpse into high society in the US during WWI. A great story of brave women doing courageous things to help their families, friends and fellow man. Highly recommend for lovers of historical fiction with some real life characters.

Ten years after college graduation, Ambrosia gets her invitation to her reunion as well as an ominous note saying "We need to talk about what we did that night." Turns out, her best friend got the same note. And the book continues from there with alternating between "then" and "now" timelines that slowly lead the reader to actually learn what they did that night.
This book is full of secrets and mean girl drama and there aren't many characters you are rooting for, especially not the main characters. The ending makes you question your definition of justice.
I wasn't really a fan of this book. I didn't really like any of the characters and the story line seemed predictable and drawn out. Sadly, I will probably not recommend this book and forget about it quickly.

This was a wonderful addition to Kelly's other books centering around the same family and their activism in war efforts, It was wonderful to get to see the older characters as their younger selves. I hope to see more from this author in the future.

It's strange to be wandering the world. Unable to go home.

I have enjoyed all 3 three books of the Woolsey women in different times in history. These women have made such an impact in history and the author brings it personally. The setting is World War 1 and it is centered around Russian nobility. Friends of the Woolsey, they are terrorized in their own homes and separated. It is easy to care about Sofya Streshnayva and even the woman Varinka who betrayed her. Her child was taken from her and she is determined to find him again. It was very brutal during this time.

Varinka's shows another side to Russia's history. She and her mother are bound by an evil man that doesn't come to light to the very end. It gave her character justification and redemption when all is revealed.

The beginning of the book emphasizes the friendship of the Eliza Woolsey and Sofya. The losses they both endured during the war and how their friendship deepened during great suffering.

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

I really loved this book in a new to me author. The characters and location really and to the story. I can't wait to read the next one. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

Kelly continues the story of the Ferriday women in this sweeping novel. Eliza Ferriday (the mother of Caroline from Kelly's Lilac Girls) experiences the first hints of the Russian Revolution while visiting her friend and Romanov cousin Sofya. Remaining behind in Russia, Sofya fights to survive the backlash of the people's uprising and save her family. When Eliza can no longer contact Sofya she travels to Paris in hope that her friend escaped and traveled to safety in the West. But old resentments, personal and political, follow Sofya to Paris and she may still be in danger. In a companion thread, peasant girl Varinka also struggles to escape her life of servitude and submission. But is the Red Army her salvation or just another form of control over her life? Highly recommended, especially for those looking for multiple viewpoints on the Russian Revolution.

Wonderfully written historic fiction. Although, it was a difficult read at times based on the story line, the writing was excellent. A difficult book to put down. You won't be disappointed.

Not as good as LILAC GIRLS, but still gripping historical fiction set during a time period I know little about. Kelly writes so beautifully about the power of female friendships. However, the last third of the book didn’t seem as strong - as though the author was rushing to tie up all the loose ends. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #netgalley

After reading Lilac Girls, I was honestly a bit hesistant to read another story by Kelly. Lilac Girls while a harrowing and accurate story of WWII made my stomach roil. However, I had heard this story took place during WWI and was instantly excited. For far too long, there has not been near enough historical fiction about WWI. I had hope going in that Kelly's ability to craft an intriguing story would lend to WWI and decided to give this a chance.

Lost Roses tells the story of three women's lives that are intermingled on the eve of WWI. First, there is Eliza's mother, Caroline Ferriday, who is also a friend of another of the characters in the story, Sofya. She travels with Sofya to Russia, but once unrest begins to thicken, escapes back to America. Sofya takes refuge in one her families country homes. Once there, she births her son, Max. In looking for assistance to help run the home, Sofya's mother hire a local girl, Varinka, the third main character of the story. Varinka is supposed to be a serving girl, but quickly takes a liking to Max. Varinka comes into the scene with her own problems. Living out in the forest outskirts, she has little money and takes the job to get by. She also has an arranged betrothal with Taresk that helps keep her mother and she safe, but only keeps her safe to some ends. Just as things don't seem they can get any worse, WWI is declared after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in Austria and the world is at war.

As with Lilac Girls the characterization was the strongest point. Each of the main characters had a strong voice, motivations, etc. The connection between these three women was much stronger than it had been in the previous book, which I believe drew the reader into the plot and how things progressed for each character. If I were honest, I would say Varinka's storyline was the most intriguing. I was always waiting to find out the exact arrangement between she and Taresk. I knew there had to be something weird in their relationship for things to be arranged as they were. When I did find out, I kind of wanted to throw things at both of them. And their father. Things should have never been arranged the way they were.

Beyond the characterization and this revelation, I had some issues with the plot. Firstly, Caroline almost felt like an afterthought. for how developed her character was. Granted, this was almost how Eliza was in Lilac Girls too. She showed up every once in a blue moon it felt sometimes. Maybe this is the intent of the book? Also, I feel as if this should have been labeled a book of the Russian Revolution or the fall of Tsarist Russia and not WWI. It just didn't feel like much of the book focused on WWI at all. I was so disappointed with this aspect. I also found the ending a bit disjointed.

It's hard to give this book less than three stars because the narrative for what it was was very solid, it just wasn't what it was marketed as. I have another one of Kelly's book on my to-read and I am kind of anxious about it. Hopefully it goes well! Thank you for the ARC!

Lilac Girls is a book that has been recommended to me any time I ask for "favorite book" recommendations, so I was very happy to get my hands on Lost Roses. Lost Roses is a prequel of sorts- this one follows Caroline Ferriday's mother, Eliza. This one follows events during WWI- and as before, it's based on real families. I thought this was a really thoughtful examination in the world of Russian aristocracy and the downfall of the Romanovs. This was an epic ride- both heartwarming and suspenseful and held my attention in a very satisfying way. The characters were complicated and well drawn out- overall, a very satisfying his fic read!

I very much enjoyed Martha Hall Kelly’s book “Lost Roses”—so much so that I was loathe to put it down. The characters were fascinating as was the plot and setting which ranged from the pre-World-War-I world of the upper crust denizens of the Eastern Seaboard to the Russian Revolution to World War I and Paris. Kelly is a witty and lyrical writer and a master at getting historical details just right while presenting characters you quickly care about. This novel is the middle one of a series of three which feature different members of the Ferriday family. The novels are based on real protagonists. The first book—“Lilac Girls”—was about Caroline Ferriday. This one features Caroline’s mother, Eliza.

The novel begins in Southampton, US, in 1914:

“It was a spring party like any other held in Southampton, with the usual games. Croquet. Badminton. Mild social cruelty.”

Eliza is a young wife and mother, hosting her aristocratic Russian friend Sofya Streshnayva in New York, and looking forward to her own trip to glamorous St. Petersburg. When she arrives, Eliza is fascinated by Tsarist St. Petersburg and thrilled to meet members of the royal Romanovs, but also grows uneasy with a country full of unrest and violence. She worries about Sofya and her family when she returns back to the US.

Sofya is also a fully developed character and it is fascinating to watch the Russian Revolution unfold through her aristocratic eyes. She has an endearing baby son, and her husband is a member of the Tsar’s calvary. She worries about her husband as World War I breaks out and Russia becomes involved, but also as the Russian Revolution begins and the brutal struggle for power begins between the citizens of her own country. Her father, cousin to the tsar, is his finance minister. The dangers in the city soon force the family to retreat to their country estate, but, of course, they aren’t safe there either. And a riveting story ensues.

Varinka, a Russian peasant girl who is a servant to Sofya’s family at their country estate, becomes affiliated with the Communist Reds, is the third character whose eyes the story is told through.

I highly recommend this historical fiction novel!

Thank you Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book and for allowing me to review it. (Publication date: 9 April 2019)

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The best selling-author Martha Hall Kelly delivers the prequel to "Lilac Girls" with a fascinating story of three very strong women and what they will do at all costs to safeguard their families while their men are at war. Kelly delves into just what it takes to make it through not only day-to-day survival, but what it takes of these women to ensure that they will come out the other side of the war. Financial security and friendship does have its privilege but being hungry, dirty and scared are described so literally you ache for the story's characters. Thank you to the author, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC. It was a great read. I can't wait for "Sunflower Sisters!"

I adored The Lilac Girls and was so looking forward to this book - luckily, it did not disappoint! It was just as good, if not even better. Kelly is definitely an auto-read author for me moving forward.

Set a generation prior to Lilac Girls (which I loved, loved, loved), this book takes us back in time and is a tragic yet beautifully written book. I loved it at times and at others I had a difficult time with what was happening. In this book Eliza Woolsey is in Paris at the time the war breaks out and heads home. She fears for her friend, Sofya.

This book is written with warmth and compassion as well as the atrocities that come with war.

5 stars

Lost Roses features the mother of Caroline from Lilac Girls. Going back to World War I and getting immersed in Russian culture at the time was really fascinating. I love a story featuring strong women, but overall I didn’t like this one as much as Lilac Girls.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Historical fiction is fast becoming one of my favorite reads and this one was excellent. I was captured from page one and kept turning the pages!

I adored Lilac Girls and was thrilled to learn of its sequel. Set in 1914 it focuses on the Lost Generation of WWI and we met Caroline Farraday's mother and a cousin of the ill fated Romanov family. Lilac Girls hooked me right away; this one didn't seem to move as quickly and never quite captivated me the same way. Kelly has a beautiful writing style and presents such strong female characters, looking forward to her next novel.

Thank you to Net Galley for the advance copy.

Unfortunately I was unable to finish this book. I usually enjoy this author’s writing, but I had a really difficult time getting into the story.