THE LOST ONEAuthor's Best Seller!Spanning three generations, The Lost One begins during the Russian Revolution, as Kyril Komarov flees Moscow - entrusted with keeping two of the imperial family's priceless Fabergé Easter eggs from being lost forever.Balanced between the past and the present, The Lost One is a romantic family saga focusing on the lives of Kyril's three female descendants; Marguerite, a refugee, Tamara, a young woman with a terrible secret, and Purdie, an orphan seeking answers about her unknown heritage.History, intrigue and priceless hidden treasure - an internationally set story unfolding one family's legacy and one woman's discovery of her identity.What Amazon readers are saying about The Lost One★★★★★ "Great read! I read it in one sitting, so glad I did not start late at night. Great story lines, very well written. Realistic telling of period of history I like to read about. Very satisfying realistic characters and an ending that fits!"★★★★★ "Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Unexpected at some points. One of those books you finish and half hope there will be a sequel to. Recommended if you're looking for an interesting, well written read."★★★★★ "If you enjoy historical fiction, this is a good read. Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Fast paced, well presented characters, and well written. Historical backstories were fascinating, and woven through, from beginning to end. Fairly easy read, and I couldn't put it down till finished."★★★★★ "Intriguing! The story had several layers of intrigue and depth. I found it nicely crafted and my interest never lagged. I enjoyed the viewpoints of different generations and the actual storyline unfolded well between them as we read it. I found the characters interesting, believable and very genuine. It was a good read with lovely information about Russian culture and the assimilation into Poland and England."★★★★★ "I got carried away...in a great way! I like novels set in different periods but grow impatient with long detailed descriptions of the times and places. Not so with The Lost One, which seamlessly went back and forth between the struggles and joys of several generations. I found nothing predictable, and that is saying a LOT coming from me. I never really noticed the writing itself --- it was that good! Thank you for carrying me away for hours!"★★★★★ "An egg hunt of the highest quality. While I was reading this book, I marvelled at the creativity of the story. It was no surprise to find that it was based on the author's family story, the escape of the family from Russia, only to encounter more difficulty. The revelation of the family is astonishing. The lost egg is a significant character. The book is beautifully written. The adventures are gripping, both of the original family and the present members. I do not want to give away the story, but I highly recommend it"
Penelope came to NZ as an eleven year old after a childhood spent in India and Pakistan. She was an only child, and reading was her hobby. She read everything that came her way, a habit which has continued lifelong. On leaving school she trained as a nurse, without fully considering that a brisk default attitude of "pull yourself together and stop whining" might not be an ideal pre-requisite for the industry. Conceding at last that nurturing might not be her dominant characteristic, she changed career path and after graduating with a BA (Hons) in English Literature, moved into management consultancy which better suited her personality type. After some years of family life she worked as a commercial pilot and flight instructor, spending her days ferrying clients into strips in the Marlborough Sounds and discouraging students from killing her as she taught them to fly. Currently she operates a company providing rehabilitative care for accident victims. Her debut novel 'The Lost One' was released by Kindle Direct Publishing in February 2015. Her second novel, Helen had a Sister, is a retelling of the story of Clytemnestra from Homer's Illiad. It is due out in December 2015. Penelope lives with her husband, dog, cat and horse in Otaki, New Zealand. Contact her at: Email: p_haines@xtra.co.nz. Facebook: www.facebook.com/penelopehainesbooks Twitter: @PenelopeHaines
