Lost Roses cover art

Lost Roses

A Novel

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Lost Roses

By: Martha Hall Kelly
Narrated by: Kathleen Gati, Tavia Gilbert, Karissa Vacker, Catherine Taber
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About this listen

The million-copy best seller Lilac Girls introduced the real-life heroine Caroline Ferriday. Now, Lost Roses, set a generation earlier and also inspired by true events, features Caroline’s mother, Eliza, and follows three equally indomitable women from St. Petersburg to Paris under the shadow of World War I.

“A nuanced tale that speaks to the strength of women.” (Kirkus Reviews)

It is 1914, and the world has been on the brink of war so often, 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 Romanovs. 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: the church with the interior covered in jeweled mosaics, the Rembrandts at the tsar’s Winter Palace, the famous ballet.

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 fortune-teller’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 and aristocratic countryside estates to the avenues of Paris where a society of fallen Russian émigrés live to the mansions of Long Island, the lives of Eliza, Sofya, and Varinka will intersect in profound ways. In her newest powerful tale told through female-driven perspectives, Martha Hall Kelly celebrates the unbreakable bonds of women’s friendship, especially during the darkest days of history.

Audiobook cast of narrators:

  • Sofya, read by Kathleen Gati
  • Eliza, read by Tavia Gilbert
  • Varinka, read by Karissa Vacker
  • Luba, read by Catherine Taber
  • The author's note read by the author
©2019 Martha Hall Kelly (P)2019 Random House Audio
Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction World War I France
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Critic reviews

“Epic.... [Martha Hall] Kelly’s gift is bringing to life and to light the untold stories of women and families far away from the war front yet deeply affected by the decisions of leaders and the efforts of fighters. Fans of historical fiction...and viewers of period dramas will want to clear their calendars when Lost Roses comes out.” (Booklist, starred review)

“The writing is rich and vivid with detail about the period.... A nuanced tale that speaks to the strength of women.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“In an era crumbling under the weight of war, hatred, and devastation, the bonds of women not only endure but offer sustenance and hope in Martha Hall Kelly’s stunning depiction of the lives of Eliza Ferriday and the women she fought to save. Lost Roses is not only a brilliant historical tale, but a love song to all the ways our friendships carry us through the worst of times.” (Lisa Wingate, New York Times best-selling author of Before We Were Yours)

What listeners say about Lost Roses

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Most enjoyable.

Narration was easy to listen to, tones of the voices were depictive of the story

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Lost Roses Slightly Lost Its Way

Lost Roses is a sweeping story set in and around the time of WWI in Russia, Paris and New England.

Eliza is a New York socialite (based on an incredible real character) and the mother of Caroline, a character familiar to those who have read Lilac Girls. The initial focus is on Eliza’s friendship with Sofya, a wealthy Russian who mingles in the Tsar’s circles. The pair have a life of privilege and parties but that falls away as the war touches on each of them in very different ways. Alongside we also join Varinka. One time nanny in Sofia’s house, she is compelled to Paris with her Red faction companions.

I enjoyed Lilac Girls and have had Lost Roses on my TBR pile for a while. However, I am ambivalent. I didn’t hugely warm to any of the characters and the 3 plots didn’t necessarily home well together, particularly that of Varinka. Overall it needed an injection of pace more engaging characters.

I listened to the audiobook which was very professional but had a touch of over acting.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A really wonderful book excellent narration a

great insight into Russian aristocrats and Bolsheviks alike . Looking forward to the next book

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Difficult to differentiate narrators

In my opinion, all of the narrators for this book sound quite similar. Throw in a bit of background noise (traffic, public transport announcements, etc.) and you have a fabulous recipe for getting lost and forgetting who was talking or which character was doing what. I was so frustrated, I couldn't even finish the book.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

So Disappointing

I enjoyed Lilac Girls and expected a reasonably good story It was poor Extremely disappointed

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1 person found this helpful