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