Share
Imprint
- Hachette Australia
- Hachette Australia
Fiction, Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945), Historical romance
A sweeping story of love and ambition from England to the Manhattan of the 1920s and 1940s by the author of THE PARIS SEAMSTRESS
1918, England. Armistice Day should bring peace into Leonora's life. Rather than secretly making cosmetics in her father's chemist shop to sell to army nurses such as Joan, her adventurous Australian friend, Leo hopes to now display her wares openly. Instead, Spanish flu arrives in the village, claiming her father's life. Determined to start over, she boards a ship to New York City. On the way she meets debonair department store heir Everett Forsyth . . . In Manhattan, Leo works hard to make her cosmetics dream come true, but she's a woman alone with a small salary and a society that deems make-up scandalous.
1939, New York City. Everett's daughter, Alice, a promising ballerina, receives a mysterious letter inviting her to star in a series of advertisements for a cosmetics line. If she accepts she will be immortalized like dancers such as Zelda Fitzgerald, Josephine Baker and Ginger Rogers. Why, then, are her parents so quick to forbid it?
HER MOTHER'S SECRET is the story of a brave young woman chasing a dream in the face of society's disapproval.
'If you enjoy historical fiction (and even if you don't) you will love this book' SALLY HEPWORTH
'Had me at page one. This book should come with a 'Do Not Disturb' sign' VANESSA CARNEVALE
'Lester's storytelling is truly captivating; her voice an essential addition to Australian fiction' AUSROM TODAY
'the vivid detail of the narrative has the ring of authenticity and is utterly compelling' Good Reading
'A delightful and multi-faceted romp through the jazz era ... HER MOTHER'S SECRET is a sweeping historical saga about an inspiring woman tackling society's expectations head on, war paint and all' NATALIE SALVO
Praise for Her Mother's Secret
-
Hot on the heels of her well-deserved success with A Kiss from Mr. Fitzgerald, [Lester] again offers readers a strong-willed, determined heroine whose journey is as interesting, as it is inspiring - Jodi Gibson
-
[Lester's] engaging writing style and ability to create characters that connect with readers make her a welcome addition to the historical fiction market. - Herald Sun
-
I'm calling it, Natasha Lester is our generation's Louisa May Alcott. - Tess Woods
-
Australian author Natasha Lester is adept at immersing readers in the lives of characters from a bygone era. - Courier-Mail
-
This slice of romantic fiction also stars a strong female heroine who dreams of making her own cosmetics in a place that is undeniably a man's world, New York City during the roaring twenties. What follows is a story brimming with as many layers as the war paint itself. - 100% Rock Magazine
Reader reviews (1)
-
4.5 Stars It has been quite awhile since I've picked up a historical romance, and Her Mother's Secret did not dissapoint. Natasha Lester has created a beautiful and emotional tale of sacrifice, heartbreak and love. Underlying this story of perseverance and following your dreams, is an engaging and captivating tale with details of this era interwoven and wonderfully and vividly described. Leonora 'Leo' is an incredibly endearing, resilient, tenacious, and determined character. She faces many hardships and heartbreak throughout this story and her strength of character, kept me completely enthralled. I read this book in one sitting and look forward to reading more of Ms. Lester's work in the future.
Rated 5
Natasha Lester
In the early 2000s, Natasha Lester made the move from marketing manager for Maybelline cosmetics to writing novels, and she regrets nothing - except that she no longer gets free lipstick. She is now a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of ten books that have been translated into 21 languages and published all around the world. Her eighth novel, The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard, was longlisted for the 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize. While she loves to travel, she also loves returning to her home in Perth, where her favourite thing to do is to go for a run beside the beautiful Swan River. Her latest novel is The Chateau on Sunset.
Find a book you’ll love, get our Word Up newsletter!
.png?auto=compress&w=150&h=60&fit=crop&fm=jpg)
.png?auto=compress&w=150&h=60&fit=crop&fm=jpg)
Hachette Australia acknowledges and pays our respects to the past and present Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our head office is located on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.
