A sweeping story of love and ambition from England to the Manhattan of the 1920s and 1940s by the author of A KISS FROM MR FITZGERALD
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.
| 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.  
Natasha Lester worked as a marketing executive for cosmetic company L'Oréal, managing the Maybelline brand, before returning to university to study creative writing. She completed a Master of Creative Arts as well as her first novel, What Is Left Over, After, which won the T.A.G. Hungerford Award for Fiction. Her second novel, If I Should Lose You, was published in 2012, followed by A Kiss From Mr Fitzgerald in 2016. The Age described Natasha as "a remarkable Australian talent" and her work been published in numerous anthologies and journals.
In her spare time Natasha loves to teach writing, is a sought after public speaker and can often be found playing dress-ups with her three children. She lives in Perth. For all the latest news from Natasha, visit www.natashalester.com.au, follow her on Twitter @Natasha_Lester, or Instagram (natashalesterauthor), or join the readers who have become Natasha's friend on Facebook.
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