LOST ROSES Should Be Found By Readers As Soon As Possible

LOST ROSES by Martha Hall Kelly

Let me say at the start I have never read LILAC GIRLS by Martha Hall Kelly, and in some ways I am pleased I haven’t. That is because LOST ROSES, Kelly’s newest novel, is a prequel to LILAC GIRLS and I want to read the books in order. However I do wonder how I ever managed to overlook a writer as talented as Kelly. I should have grabbed a copy of LILAC GIRLS as soon as it was published.

LOST ROSES tells the stories of three female characters – Sofya, Eliza and Varinka. Eliza is a wealthy woman who lives in America. Sofya is a wealthy woman who lives in Russia, Varinka is a young woman who comes into the employ of Sofya’s family. All of this takes place in a period shortly before America entered World War I.

Martha Hall Kelly brings each of these three women totally to life within the pages of her book and she does it with such sweeping grandeur that the novel can not be called anything less than epic. Although the story of these women reads like fiction it is based on true characters and events. Kelly must have so immersed herself in research that she is able to relate the stories in a style that is naturally readable.

And what a story it is. The whole downfall of Russia is the backdrop for most of the events in the book. Sofya and her family are among the wealthiest in the country and thus have the furthest to fall. Sofya is such a vulnerable heroine for this book, yet in some ways she is a force to be reckoned with in any situation. One thing that pulls her through even the toughest times is her knowledge that if she can reach Eliza she will be safe.

Eliza however is having her own problems. Just at the height of her happiness she faces a family tragedy that almost wrecks her life. She must summon all of her inner strength to make her life worth living again. And she uses this strength to help others and that saves her.

Martha Hall Kelly tells this story with such passion and dedication to detail you feel you could be reading one of the Russian classics. She describes the buildings, clothes, manners and mannerisms of all the characters and locales she visits. It is a magnificent display of talent and one that is sure to make this book as successful or more than LILAC GIRLS was, and that was one long running best seller.

So get yourself a copy of LOST ROSES and let yourself be lost in the world(s) of Sofya, Vanika and Eliza. Once you step into this world on the first page of the book you will not want to return to reality until you have read it all.

LOST ROSES is published by Ballantine Books. It contains 448 pages and sells for $28.00.

Jackie K Cooper

www.jackiekcooper.com