4 الإجابات2026-06-23 22:29:42
If you're after the paperback or hardcover of 'Lost Roses', Amazon usually has stock with Prime shipping, and their 'look inside' feature lets you check a sample first. I've also seen it on the shelves at Barnes & Noble, though you might want to call your local store to confirm it's in.
A place people sometimes forget is Bookshop.org—it supports independent bookstores, and I've had good luck finding titles there when they're out of stock elsewhere. The pricing is competitive with the big retailers, too.
For a digital copy, Kobo or Apple Books are solid choices if you're not tied to the Kindle ecosystem. I ended up getting the audiobook version on Audible because the narration is really well done for the historical setting.
4 الإجابات2026-06-23 17:49:44
Martha Hall Kelly's 'Lost Roses' digs into the lives of three women just before and during the First World War, focusing on Eliza Ferriday and her mother Caroline—wealthy New Yorkers who are philanthropists—and a young Russian aristocrat, Sofya Streshnayva. The heart of the story is Sofya’s perspective, as the novel explores the complete societal collapse she faces during the Russian Revolution. While 'Lilac Girls' concentrated on WWII and the Ravensbrück concentration camp, this prequel shifts to a more domestic, but no less brutal, conflict.
It gets pretty dark. We see Sofya lose everything: her family's estate, her status, any sense of safety. The narrative contrasts her desperation with Eliza's relatively stable, though worried, life in America, as Eliza tries to help Russian refugees. Honestly, I sometimes felt the American chapters dragged a bit, like I was just waiting to get back to the chaos in Russia. But that contrast is probably the point—showing how the war shattered one world while another watched from a distance, trying to understand.
2 الإجابات2026-04-08 02:18:15
I adore historical fiction, and 'Lost Roses' by Martha Hall Kelly is one of those gems that stays with you long after the last page. If you're looking to buy it online, I've got some great options! Amazon is probably the most straightforward—they usually have both paperback and Kindle versions, often with Prime shipping. Barnes & Noble’s website is another solid choice, especially if you prefer physical books and want to support a dedicated bookstore chain. For ebook lovers, platforms like Kobo or Apple Books often have competitive pricing.
If you’re into secondhand books or want a more unique copy, check out AbeBooks or ThriftBooks. They sometimes have older editions or gently used copies at a lower cost. I’ve found some real treasures there! And if you’re outside the U.S., Book Depository offers free worldwide shipping, which is a lifesaver for international readers. Just a heads-up—prices can fluctuate, so it might be worth comparing a few sites before hitting 'buy.' Happy reading, and I hope you love 'Lost Roses' as much as I did!
4 الإجابات2026-06-23 09:48:36
Reading 'Lost Roses' is one of those experiences where you finish the last page and immediately start Googling the real people. Martha Hall Kelly based it on actual historical figures, specifically her ancestor Eliza Ferriday and her friend Sofya Streshnayva. The backdrop of World War I and the Russian Revolution isn't just a setting; it's the brutal, factual stage these fictionalized characters move through.
That said, it's not a strict biography. Sofya's storyline, for instance, is heavily dramatized from fragments of real accounts—you get the emotional truth more than a documentary's precision. The novel uses the skeleton of history to flesh out the personal, intimate cost of those enormous events. It made me go down a rabbit hole reading about the real 'Little Mother's' societies and the Romanovs.
So, yes and no. The foundations are true, but the house Martha built on them is a meticulously researched work of historical fiction, aiming for emotional resonance over a strict chronology of facts. It definitely sent me to Wikipedia more than once.
2 الإجابات2026-04-08 05:58:53
Lost Roses' is this gorgeous historical fiction novel by Martha Hall Kelly, and while it isn't strictly based on true events, it's deeply rooted in real history. The book follows the lives of women during World War I, particularly focusing on the Russian Revolution's impact. What makes it feel so authentic is how Kelly weaves real historical figures and events into the narrative. For instance, the Romanov family and the fall of the Russian aristocracy are backdrop elements, but the main characters—like Eliza Ferriday—are based on real people. Eliza was a socialite and humanitarian, and Kelly took her letters and diaries to shape the story. The research is impeccable, and you can tell the author spent years digging into archives to get the details right. It's one of those books where fiction and history blur beautifully, making you Google things mid-read because you can't believe they actually happened.
That said, the emotional arcs and some side characters are fictionalized to drive the plot forward. The friendships, betrayals, and personal struggles are crafted to give us a visceral sense of that era. If you love historical fiction that feels like a time machine, this is a perfect pick. I finished it with a stack of history books beside me because it sparked such curiosity about the real women behind the story.
4 الإجابات2026-06-23 02:45:47
I was actually looking for this myself a few months back after finishing 'The Lilac Girls'. It's a popular one and not always available through the usual library apps. Your best option, if you want a permanent copy, is to purchase the digital audiobook directly from retailers like Audible, Apple Books, or Google Play Books. They have it for sure.
A word of caution though – I've seen some pretty sketchy third-party sites pop up in search results claiming to have free downloads. They're almost always malware traps or pirated copies, which just isn't cool for the author or narrator. Stick to the official platforms. Sometimes your local library might have a CD copy you could borrow, but the digital loan via Libby or Hoopla is way more convenient if they have it in their catalog.
4 الإجابات2025-06-29 12:46:09
I adore historical fiction, and 'Lost Roses' by Martha Hall Kelly is a gem. You can snag it at major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Books-A-Million—both online and in physical stores. Independent bookshops often carry it too; check local listings or platforms like Bookshop.org to support small businesses. Libraries are a great free option if you prefer borrowing. The audiobook version, narrated beautifully, is available on Audible or Libby. For collectors, signed editions might pop up on eBay or author events. The book’s popularity means it’s rarely out of stock, but prices vary by format (hardcover, paperback, e-book).
If you’re outside the U.S., international sellers like Book Depository offer free shipping. Kindle and Apple Books have instant downloads, while secondhand copies thrive on ThriftBooks or AbeBooks. I’d recommend comparing prices—sometimes Target or Walmart has surprising deals. For autographed copies, follow Martha Hall Kelly’s social media for announcements. Don’t forget used-book sales at libraries; I once found a pristine hardcover there for $5.
4 الإجابات2026-06-23 21:19:27
Finally got around to 'Lost Roses' last month, mostly because I loved 'Lilac Girls' so much. Honestly, I found the characters here a bit harder to lock onto at first—the book jumps between three women across World War I, which is a lot. Caroline Ferriday is the link from the previous novel, an American socialite trying to help, but she felt more like a connector than a fully standalone focus for me. The real heart, I think, is with the two Russian women: Eliza, the aristocrat fleeing the revolution with her family, and Sofya, her cousin who stays behind and gets trapped in the chaos. Their sections had this raw, desperate energy that Caroline's philanthropic missions lacked.
Eliza's journey from a life of balls and servants to being a refugee scrubbing floors in Paris was brutal. You see her privilege stripped away layer by layer. Sofya's plot is even darker, hiding from the Bolsheviks in her own country. The book is really about how war shreds these lives in different ways, depending on where you stand. I wish it had stuck with just the Russian perspectives; Caroline's story, while noble, kept pulling me out of the more intense atmosphere.
2 الإجابات2026-04-08 04:38:54
I've spent way too many cozy afternoons curled up with historical fiction, and 'Lost Roses' by Martha Hall Kelly is one of those books that stuck with me. It's actually the second installment in a loosely connected trilogy, but don't worry—you don't need to read them in order. The first book, 'Lilac Girls,' focuses on WWII and the real-life Caroline Ferriday, while 'Lost Roses' jumps back to WWI and follows Caroline's mother, Eliza, alongside Russian aristocrats and revolutionaries. What's wild is how Kelly weaves these real historical figures into such vivid stories. I accidentally read 'Lost Roses' first and still adored it, though catching the subtle nods to 'Lilac Girls' later was like finding bonus content. The third book, 'Sunflower Sisters,' goes even further back to the Civil War era. Each novel stands alone, but together they paint this epic portrait of resilient women across generations. I love how Kelly makes history feel personal—I’d finish chapters and immediately fall down Wikipedia rabbit holes about the real people.
If you're into sweeping historical sagas with emotional depth, this 'series' (more like spiritual successors) is perfect. The books share a DNA of meticulous research and fierce female perspectives rather than a continuous plot. 'Lost Roses' especially wrecked me with its depiction of the Russian Revolution's brutality contrasted with these intimate friendships. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to call your mom after reading.
4 الإجابات2026-06-23 17:07:23
Honestly, the historical backdrop feels genuine but the main characters are entirely fictional, a choice that sometimes left me wanting more connection to the actual events. Martha Hall Kelly did a ton of research on World War I and the Russian Revolution, which shows in the details about the Women's Land Army and the refugee crisis. The novel is part of her 'Lilac Girls' series, though it's a prequel, focusing on Caroline Ferriday's mother, Eliza.
I kept expecting to bump into real historical figures more directly, but it's mostly about the invented Mitford-esque socialites and their personal dramas set against the war. It's accurate in atmosphere—the clothes, the societal shifts, the dread—but if you're looking for a biographical account of specific people, you won't find it here. The 'truth' is in the setting, not the plot.