Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly

Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly – Audio

Book Blurb:

It is 1914 and the world has been on the brink of war so many times, many New Yorkers treat the subject with only passing interest. Eliza Ferriday is thrilled to be traveling to St. Petersburg with Sofya Streshnayva, a cousin of the Romanov’s. The two met years ago one summer in Paris and became close confidantes. Now Eliza embarks on the trip of a lifetime, home with Sofya to see the splendors of Russia. But when Austria declares war on Serbia and Russia’s Imperial dynasty begins to fall, Eliza escapes back to America, while Sofya and her family flee to their country estate. In need of domestic help, they hire the local fortuneteller’s daughter, Varinka, unknowingly bringing intense danger into their household. On the other side of the Atlantic, Eliza is doing her part to help the White Russian families find safety as they escape the revolution. But when Sofya’s letters suddenly stop coming she fears the worst for her best friend. From the turbulent streets of St. Petersburg to the avenues of Paris and the society of fallen Russian emigre’s who live there, the lives of Eliza, Sofya, and Varinka will intersect in profound ways, taking readers on a breathtaking ride through a momentous time in history.

My Review: 4 stars

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Lost Roses, the prequel to the best-selling Lilac Girls, took me to St. Petersburg pre-war and during the Austrian takeover. Just like Kelly’s first book, this story follows three completely different women whose lives converge in unimaginable ways. Each of them had their own crosses to bear – love and loss, men at war, rich and poor, healthy and sick.

Just as I did in Lilac Girls, I learned a lot from this book. Eliza Ferriday was a woman to be reckoned with. Her determination, tenacity and strength made her a formidable opponent, which allowed her to get whatever she set her mind to. Her worry and dedication to her soul sister, Sofya, a cousin of the aristocracy, was incredible. How she helped the Russian refugees, White Russians, was admirable.

Sofya, stuck in her family’s Russian country home, had the strength, physically and mentally, that knew no bounds. Her love for her son, sister, father and deceased mother were the fuel to her fire. She risked so much for them and continually put herself in harm’s way. To help care for her son, she hires Varinka as a nanny. Varinka’s story brings many plot twists with it. She’s a multi-faceted character that inspires both love and hate. 

Themes that ran through the book were friendship, war, romance, mother-daughter relationships, revolution and historical learnings. Kelly’s attention to detail, affected all my senses. I visualized their homes, castles and churches, smelled the sick and the horrific burnings, and heard the despair in their voices. Having Caroline in both books was a nice connection, as we see where Caroline got her compassion and altruism. I’m looking forward to the pre-prequel, that covers Caroline’s grandmother during the Civil War.

Quotes I liked:

Men may leave, but books will always remain true.” 

“We call that guilt, dear. It’s the foundation of some of our most popular religions.”