This is the kind of book that fans of well written, well researched, compelling historical fiction do not want to miss. Belinda Alexandra did such a great job of creating an engaging narrative and beautifully convey once women's single minded drive to find her mother. Though somewhat of a slow burn this was nevertheless quite a quick read!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

In a district of the city of Harbin, a haven for White Russian families since Russia’s Communist Revolution, Alina Kozlova must make a heartbreaking decision if her only child, Anya, is to survive the final days of World War II.
WHITE GARDENIA sweeps across cultures and continents, from the glamorous nightclubs of Shanghai to the austerity of Cold War Soviet Russia in the 1960s, from a desolate island in the Pacific Ocean to a new life in postwar Australia. Both mother and daughter must make sacrifices, but is the price too high? Most importantly of all, will they ever find each other again?
Rich in historical detail and reminiscent of stories by Kate Morton and Lucinda Riley, WHITE GARDENIA is a compelling and beautifully written tale about yearning, longing, and the lengths to which a mother will go to protect her child.

First off, let me say that if the blurb was the only thing I had to go on, I would never have chosen this book. Doesn't really tell me anything about the story at all, really.

This story hit a number of high spots along the way for me. Firstly, a well-written historical fiction novel will always win me over and this book has certainly done the historical aspects very well. While I understand this story is partly based on her family's history, there is still an awesome amount of research that must have gone into getting all the details right. To span continents - and decades - that would have taken a lot of work and I complement the author on that.
Secondly, Anya was a stunning character (with a few flaws, it must be said) and I delighted in her story. The other cast - let's face it, there are quite a few people in this novel of good and not-so-good intentions - are a pleasure to get to know.
Finally, the plot itself is a bit of a slow burn but is so worthwhile in the end.

Definite recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of well-researched historical fiction novels.


Paul
ARH