Dear Fellow Reader,

I have signed myself up to read more than I can read. I don’t know how I got in this position, but I don’t like it. I hate feeling that I am behind with my reading. Between the book clubs and the Library Adult Reading Challenge, I would be reading plenty. But there are so many books that I want to read. The reading life isn’t a box of chocolates, it is a never-ending smorgasbord. I have decided that I am going to read my TRB pile that is staring at me in the living room. I will complete those books this year. Do you have a pile of books to read staring at you?

This is a long explanation that I did not read my book club book for last month. It was Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly. I understand that it is to be very good, but I ran out of time. It is on my TBR pile and I will get to it this year. But while I didn’t get to Lilac Girls, I did receive a promotional copy of Lost Roses and I read that. Lost Roses is the new book by Martha Hall Kelly and today is its publication date. Happy new book day to Martha Hall Kelly!

The story, Lost Roses, starts in 1914. Sofya Streshnayva is in New York visiting her friend, Eliza Ferriday. The two friends are about to leave to go to St. Petersburg. The two friends met in Paris years ago and are happy to continue their friendship. Sofya is a cousin of the Tsar of Russia. She lives with her husband, son, father, step-mother, and sister. They are wealthy and have always been wealthy.

The two friends get to St. Petersburg, but times are turbulent for the Tsar and his supporters. Then as it had been threatening, World War I starts. Eliza Ferriday rushes home to New York. In the meantime, Sofya and her family flee to their summer home to escape the violence that is overtaking the city. The family needs domestic help and hires the daughter of the local fortune teller, Varinka, to help with the care of Maxwell, Sofya’s son.

The story follows how the friend’s friendship survives turbulent times. Eliza loses contact with Sofya and is anxious to find her. She goes to Paris as soon as it is safe to search for her friend. She doesn’t know if Sofya is alive, but she knows that she has to find out.

I found that it was a very entertaining tale of friendship, family bonds, and how war can bring out the best and the worst in people. It is a book worth reading. (And I promise to read Lilac Girls and let you know what I thought of it.)

Thanks for reading!