This is described as the prequel to The Lilac Girls, and it is to the extent that Caroline Farraday is a character in both books. Beyond that, I didn't feel that there was much connection between the two books. This was disappointing to me.

I really wanted to like this as much as The Lilac Girls, but I just did not connect with any of these characters nor with the story line. Part of it was that I have little interest in the Russia of the period - Revolution and end of the aristocracy - or, really, any time, nor am I overly fond of reading about the wealthy and privileged families in the US of the era. While the latter was part of The Lilac Girls, I was able to get past it there, inexplicably not so much here.

There were parts of the plot that felt improbable to me. It's hard to enumerate without giving away too much of the story, but the reunion between Sofya and Varinka just didn't seem likely to me. I realize that this is based on some historical facts, and maybe what I perceived as coincidence and far-fetched story lines are actually part of the things that happened.

One aspect I DID find intriguing was how the wealthy American contingent undertook to help the Russian emigres by purchasing hand made crafts and icons and then selling them in sort of "Tupperware party" events to their friends. Apparently, this really did occur, which is quite amazing when you consider how difficult communications would have been between the US and France, for instance. No internet or email then!

I understand another book, a prequel to Lost Roses, is planned but I doubt I will read it based on how I feel about this book, but I will check it out when it is released. I like the author's style, just didn't care for the subject this time around.

A great historical fiction read! I highly recommend this, and was excited to read it after Lilac Girls! Martha Hall Kelly is truly amazing

I was thrilled to receive this title from Net Galley, as I had loved reading Lilac Girls, for which this book is a prequel. To be honest, it took me a bit to get into it. I did better reading at a stretch because each chapter is the point of view of one of the three main characters, and it kept switching, so if I waited too long, I couldn’t remember what had been happening! However, I settled in and read it over the three day weekend (it is almost 450 pages).

I loved the characters in this book, especially tragic but resilient Sophya. While I feel familiar with the story of the Romanovs, I did not know how much Russian aristocracy (“white Russians”) suffered during WWI. Parts of this story were hard to read and disturbing (due to violence) but the overall historical facts made for really interesting reading (such as American society’s attempt to help displaced Russian women). I loved that this story feeds into the next generation story of Lilac Girls and has Caroline as a young girl. I read that the next prequel will focus on Eliza’s grandmother in the Civil War (and again – the Ferridays are real women!).

If you enjoy WWI stories and stories of strong women, pick up Lost Roses today!

Thank you again for my review e-copy!

Kelly (Lilac Girls) journeys back to pre-World War I where New York socialite Eliza Ferriday becomes friends with Sofya Streshnayvas, a Russian cousin to the tsar. Sofya tells of the unrest in Russia as the Bolsheviks take over the government and arrest the artistocrats. Eliza’s narrative switches from garden parties to acquiring properties to eventually assisting Russian emigres who are able to leave their country with very few possessions.

What is most striking about each woman’s story is that they both come from privileged backgrounds, but their views are quickly changed as they are forced to face the realities of the circumstances of their lives. Sofya especially faces tragedy as she is able to escape the horrors of Russia when the Bolsheviks keep her young son Max and take him to Paris. Sofya struggles to make her way from Russia to Paris with little money but with a determination that she will get her son Max back from the Bolsheviks.

Kelly imbues this novel with a sense of realism that is given a very personalized view from the various characters in the story , bringing to life a period in history. Fans of historical fiction will adore this novel especial those who understand that historical figures are often shaped by their circumstances which they face and the people they encounter.

Lovers of Martha Hall Kelly's debut book The Lilac Girls will be mesmerized once again by her prequel Lost Roses which features Caroline Ferriday's mother Eliza Ferriday. Similar to The Lilac Girls, this book features trio story lines - Eliza Ferriday, Sofya Streshnayva (cousin of the Romanov's), and Varinka (a Russian peasant girl hired to watch Sofya's young son Max.) Many of the chapters end on cliffhangers which kept me reading way longer than I should each night. I felt like I enjoyed reading the chapters about Sofya and Varinka more than the Eliza chapters (just because there is more action.) However, Eliza's place in the story is essential and it's interesting how all three story lines connect in the end. I love reading historical fictions books that are filled with real history. It is very evident that this book was well researched. A sign of a good historical fiction book to me is when it sparks my interest enough to want to learn more about a topic or visit the places talked about in the story. Lost Roses does exactly that because both of Martha Hall Kelly's books have teased me into wanting to visit the Caroline Ferriday home in Connecticut. Can't wait to read the next prequel book which is supposed to be set during the Civil War era. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Lost Roses. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinions of the book.

For me, this book is a 3.5 star rating. I absolutely loved Lilac Girls, couldn't put it down. It instantly grabbed me and held onto my heart so tight until the very end. Even after I was finished reading that book had a hold of my heart. So when I heard about Lost Rose's, I jumped at the chance to read it.

Unfortunately this book did not have the same affect on me as Lilac Girls. Here is what I did like about the book - it is clearly obvious that Martha Hall Kelly did extensive research for this book. I really admire that in an author, and her research shines through in her writing. I loved that she highlighted again a very real and important aspect of the war that we don't neccesarily read about in history books. The characters are somewhat memorable, but it takes awhile for the book to get you there.

Which leads me to what I didn't like about this book - it has a very slow start and takes too long to gain momentum and hold your attention. A little too long for me for the stories to meld together. Once you get there, you will want to know what happens to each of the characters in the end. On her first book the author successfully alternated chapters between the three main characters. She uses this set up again for Lost Rose's, but I don't feel it worked as well here. In some areas the story was very rushed and choppy.

Overall, the story is a good one. And definitely one I think all historical fiction fans will like. Is it as good as Lilac Girls? In my opinion no. It's not until the 60% mark in the book that it becomes really interesting and moving. Having said all of that, the story is good, the author is extremely talented in her writing and this is a book I would recommend. But for my reasons above is why I rounded down to 3 stars. Had I been grabbed from the beginning, I would have rounded up. I will still jump at the chance to read anything by this author in the future.

My thanks to Netgalley, Random House Publishing House - Ballantine Books, and Martha Hall Kelly for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Even though it is a long book, it drew me in and kept my attention. The character development is so well done that even though there are a lot of characters, I never once had to back up to figure out who was who, or what their relationship was. This was highlighted when I picked up another book right away and was instantly struggling with who was who. This is a character driven AND plot driven novel that is well researched and well written. The story is of the fall of the tsar and the aristocracy in Russia around the first world war, told by viewpoints of those in that aristocrasy, some in the poorer class and some Americans. It made me feel frustrated by the inability of the upper class to even have a hint of a clue of what the working class dealt with on a daily basis, but the characters were still likeable. There was a theme of family and motherhood that is universal. I would highly recommend this book. You'll enjoy it even more once you read the Author's notes at the end and find out how many of the characters are historical figures.

I had high hopes for this book because i love Lilac Girls but I found that it was too slow. i also learned that for me the Russian front is not right for me. It's my least favorite topic in historical fiction,

I loved the Russian history and how it was told through both Sofya and Varinka’s POV. The story of Eliza was interesting as well.

LOST ROSES by Martha Hall Kelly is the prequel to LILAC GIRLS, which I read earlier this year in February. LOST ROSES was a solid 4-star read for me and I really enjoyed it!⁣ I’ve seen a lot of folks compare the two books but to do so is like comparing apples to oranges...or lilacs to roses!
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LOST ROSES takes us back a generation from LILAC GIRLS and centers on Caroline’s mother, New York socialite Eliza, as well as two other women: Sofya (cousin to the Romanovs - the Russian royal family - and friend of Eliza) and Varinka, a Russian villager and maid/nanny to Sofya’s family.⁣
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This book made me realize how very little I know about WWI and the fall of the Russian imperial dynasty. In the book, Sofya and her family are in danger as the Bolsheviks rise up and dismantle the Tsarist autocracy. The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, overturned the government, imprisoned (and subsequently murdered the Tzar and his family) and seized lands and businesses. Many skilled Russians, intellectuals and business owners, who escaped the Bolsheviks and the Communists fled to safety of America and are referred to as the White Emigre. ⁣
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Although a bit slower to start than LILAC GIRLS, I was quickly wrapped up in the story line and found many of the chapters ended with cliff hangers that kept me turning the pages.⁣
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In the author’s note, Kelly mentions that her next book will be about another of Caroline’s ancestors and take place during the civil war. I’ll definitely be reading that one!⁣
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This Prequel to Lilac Girls gives you insight to how things were before the story of Lilac Girls began. It was right at the beginning of the war you see how things go from good to bad so fast. The author obviously did much research to have such accurate facts. This book is not sugar coated as to be expected. You can read this without reading lilac Girls, however I wish I had read this first as it might have made Lilac Girls easier to read.

** I have received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Just like Lilac Girls, Lost Roses has quickly become one of my all time favorite pieces of historical fiction.

4.0 - I went in hesitant because it was a "prequel" to the Lilac Girls character that I liked least, but the Russia/France angle was interesting

First and foremost, I did not read the previous book by the same author, but I saw how popular it was at our library. I gave this one a try because of the popularity of the first one. While historical fiction is not my genre of choice, I respect the quality of writing in this book. Readers of historical fiction are voracious, and I would easily recommend this one.

This prequel to Lilac Girls tells the story of Caroline Ferriday’s mother, Eliza and her amazing charity work in the years during and after World War I. The story opens just before World War I as Eliza prepared to travel to the home of her friend, Sofya Streshnayva. Sofya had been visiting New York with her family, all relatives of the tsar, so they planned to travel together. Eliza is hoping to see the splendors of Russia, but also sees the growing unrest in the county. Just as war is declared, Eliza flees back home and Sofya and her family leave St. Petersburg for their country estate.

The war is a different experience for them both. For Eliza, she champions the cause of the White Russians fleeing the communist uprising. She helps find them homes and employment while also leading assorted fundraisers. Sofya, on the other hand, starts the war having found relative peace in the county. That changes the day she hires Varinka, a local girl, to help care for her son Max. Varinka is connected to the communists and sets off a chain of reactions that alter Sofya’s life forever. Both dedicated letter writers who pen letters to each other daily, Eliza fears the worst when Sofya’s letters quit coming. Will she see her friend again? For Sofya, she is forced to flee, but will she survive? What will happen to her family, including sister Luba who also features prominently in the novel?

I enjoyed this book more than I did Lilac Girls, which was also a wonderfully-written book. I felt more drawn to the story of Eliza, her friendships, and her work. It was amazing what the determination of one woman can do to help others, even after the sorrow she faced after her husband’s death. I was even more drawn to the heartbreaking story of her friend, Sofya, who had to endure the worst the world had to offer and learned more about herself on her flight to freedom than she ever dreamt. Sofya’s plight also added an element of adventure and the classic survival story a la Jack London. Then the depictions of Russia as it fell to the Bolsheviks illustrated the terrors of living during that era, something I would not have wanted to do. Then the desperation of those of former wealth that fled Russia show the unimaginable hardships they faced. The author’s note at the end pointed to Kelly’s sources, which were varied and very much primary source-based. This authenticity probably helped to drive the story home.

This story begins in 1912 with Luba [young Russian aristocrat] in Paris. But the main three narrators are Eliza, American, Sofya, Russian aristocrat, and Varinka, Russian maid/nanny, The story moves through the years of WW I, Russian revolution and the effect it has on these three. You will want to read it because of the setting in Russia, NYC, Southhampton, Paris and how the time periods shapes these 3 women lives. Read and ponder the facts given.

Kelly’s Lilac Girls was a great book that explored the lives of three women during and after WW II. Caroline Ferriday was one of the characters and in this prequel, it is Caroline’s mother who takes center stage. Elizabeth Ferraday is a wealthy young NYC woman who is best friends with Sofya Streshnayva, a Russian girl who is cousin to the Romanovs. The girls try to keep in touch as the political situation in Russia becomes ever more dire. The Bolsheviks are taking over the government and even confiscating the homes of the wealthy and privileged. Varinka is a Russian peasant hired by Sofya’s family. Her life is harsh and she is present as the family’s future becomes imperiled.

In NY Eliza hears of the situation in Russia and is distraught when her dear friend Sofya loses contact. Just as her daughter helps the women and children affected by WW II in the first novel, here Eliza fights to help the disenfranchised Russian elite who have fled to America bereft and desperate. This is a story of decency, of standing up for what is right, of women demanding help for people in need. It’s also a story of resilience, of loss and of brutality as readers follow the plight of Sofya and her family.

Here Kelly shows us women suffering under the Russian Revolution. The ugliness and vindictiveness of the revolt is laid bare. She depicts a world thrown into chaos with many just trying to survive and a few dedicated to helping the survivors move forward. Though this is not quite as powerful as the first in the series, it is another outstanding title from an author to watch.

Lost Roses is exquisite! I read Martha Hall Kelly's Lilac Girls and was underwhelmed by it, but this, set largely in pre-Revolutionary Russia (one of the most fascinating historical eras, imo) was so good! Definitely for historical fiction fans and women's fiction fans.

I had been in a reading slump until I decided that another historical fiction book would be just what I needed. And I was right! "Lost Roses" is a beautiful, tragic story set in pre-World War I Russia, Europe and the United States. The reader is swept from the Russian aristocracy to the wealthy elite of the early 1900 US. The story is magical, yet tragic. It is a wonderful historical novel! Martha Hall Kelly is an author who has researched her book thoroughly!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House-Ballentine for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

"Lost Roses" is a prequel to a previously published "Lilac Girls" novel that I have not got a chance to read yet. New novel tells us a story of three characters: Eliza, Sofya, and Varinka. Three women that came from three different classes trying to survive the war and revolution.

An American socialite, Eliza Ferriday has a perfect life: two beautiful children, a husband that she adores. But after a tragic event, Eliza completely throws herself into a philanthropic work to help White Russian refugees to survive after fleeing their country, following Russia's Imperial dynasty fall. Eliza has a connection to the Romanov family, her dear friend Sofya Streshnayva, whom she met in Paris many years prior. Feeling the guilt of being able to escape Russia right after Austria declared war on Serbia, Eliza looks for a way to rescue Sofya's family. However, when the revolution begins to expand, Streshnayva family flees to their country estate from St. Petersburg in hope to find peace and protection. While in Malinov, Sofya meets and hires a village girl, Varinka, to look after her young son, Max. Unfortunately, shortly after their arrival, Sofya and her family are captured and imprisoned by Bolsheviks. As Streshnayva family kept imprisoned, their youngest member and heir Max is kept protected by family's maid Varinka. Although once a loyal servant, Varinka grows to love Max as her own son and when the time comes to give him up, Varinka turns against the family. Driven by a desire to reunite with her son and husband and save her immediate family, Sofya escapes but only to learn of the collapse of the Romanov dynasty.

"Lost Rose" is a great book that describes the fall of Romanov's Empire, it's sad aftermath for the royal family, and takes the reader on a thrilling ride from St. Petersburgh to Paris to New York.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books Publisher for an advanced copy of the book and to Martha Hall kelly for an astonishing story.