She had such a different, hard upbringing. Varinka was strong, but in a different way. I couldn’t help but feel for them when they suffered and smile when they achieved something. They fought not only for their families but for others, taking a stand to do what was right. The characters in Lost Roses were one of the book’s strengths. The writing was beautiful, the descriptions transporting the reader to a different time and often a different place – be it New England, Paris, or Russia. Lost Roses was another historical fiction book that I thoroughly enjoyed. At the time of writing this review, I had not yet read Lilac Girls, although I’m planning to start it as soon as I finish this post. Lost Roses, released in April of this year, is the second book in the Lilac Girls series, but is actually a prequel to the first book, Lilac Girls. Review/Recommendation: I’ll start my review with a caveat.

Her life is a hard one, and as a result, she doesn’t make the best decisions. Varinka is brought to Sofya’s family estate where she cares for Sofya’s son Max. Varinka lives with her mother and her guardian, a cruel man named Taras. Russia is now very dangerous for them.įinally, there is Varinka – a peasant and the daughter of a local fortune-teller. But as a White Russian, Sofya’s family faces huge challenges during the war – they become separated and they no longer know who to trust. The family lives in Petrograd (the city known today as Saint Petersburg) and has a second home on the outskirts of the city. Married with a baby/toddler, Sofya remains close with her father, stepmother, and younger sister Luba. Sofya is the daughter of Russia’s Finance Minister and a cousin of the ruling Romanov family. As soon as it’s safe to travel, she plans to go look for Sofya and her family. When communication from Sofya ceases during the war, Eliza fills her time as an advocate for the White Russian population who emigrated to New England, mostly women and children. In fact, one of her closest friends is Sofya Streshnayva, a Russian noblewoman she met while in France.

It is the story of their experience during and just after World War I – and the 1917 Russian Revolution – their stories entwined in very different ways.įirst there is Eliza Ferriday, a New England socialite who loves to travel. Lost Roses is the story of three strong women who live worlds apart.

Book lost roses