Sisters Meredith and Nina have grown up within somewhat non-traditional parental dynamics. Their father is warm and loving, their mother cold and standoffish. Though the sisters were somewhat close in childhood, they've grown apart as adults and live totally separate lives: Meredith staying near home to help run the family business, and Nina working as a photographer traveling the world. When their father becomes ill, Nina returns home and as he lays dying, her father asks his wife to finish "the fairytale" -- the story she told them as children but never finished, about a young girl falling in love in Russia.

I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about this one. I tend to prefer the writing of Kristin Hannah's newer novels to those of her older ones, and this one falls somewhere in the middle. As a lot of readers have noted, the second half of this novel is much more compelling than the first half. It's a tear-jerker, though I didn't feel the character development was the greatest. Some aspects were predictable and some were a little unbelievable (primarily with the characterization), with an ending that was wrapped up a little too neatly for my liking. But the historical side of this story was compelling and is what carried this novel. ( )

What a heartbreaking and inspirational story

I thought this book was slow at first. Please continue reading! it is a beautiful story of hardships, courage and loss. It shows you the power of a women and protecting her children. It includex all the terrible things that happened in Russia during the war. This story will stay with me. ( )

Another Kristin Hannah book that broke my heart and made me enjoy it so much. With every book of hers I am traveling a little bit in time, and this time was Petersburg, Russia. It is a lot to process after reading this story, but as always, was beautifully written and will stay with me for a while, like all her books so far. ( )

So many pages, so little plot! ( )

The first part and middle were a good read but it was the last third of the book that was amazing. I cried and cried. Very well done...how the past helped the present day. And to learn of Leningrad was captivating and eye opening! I love to read historical drama/fiction and this is definitely one of my favourites. It was loaned to me but I want to get my own copy so I can loan it to others! ( )