A New York Secret (Daughters of New York, #1) in Aussie Readers

Mar 24, 2021 Helen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: review-copy-from-author

I never miss an Ella Carey book and this one is a beauty of a story taking in New York during World War 2, we get to meet Lily Rose who is working as a chef in one of the top restaurants and she is working her way up to head chef, it is a struggle for woman in this time but the men are away and the woman are doing a fabulous job working. I do hope that you will pick this one up I savoured every word, so beautifully written with emotion, it is a page turner.

Lily is doing what she loves cooking, i I never miss an Ella Carey book and this one is a beauty of a story taking in New York during World War 2, we get to meet Lily Rose who is working as a chef in one of the top restaurants and she is working her way up to head chef, it is a struggle for woman in this time but the men are away and the woman are doing a fabulous job working. I do hope that you will pick this one up I savoured every word, so beautifully written with emotion, it is a page turner.

Lily is doing what she loves cooking, it has been what she loves since her beautiful grandmother Josie taught her as a young girl, Lily struggles with her mother who wants to run her life, pick her husband and ensure that she does well but that is not what Lily wants, she wants to become head chef and is getting closer to another chef Tom Morelli but the war is taking the men away and it is not long before Tom is drafted, Lily throws herself into work and with the help of Gia, Tom’s mother they start a victory garden to keep the restaurant in vegies.

Lily is beautiful and strong and her and her female staff work wonders with rationing they create meals that are thoroughly enjoyed by the customer’s famous ones as well, her boss is thrilled with her but the worry about Tom, her secret and the growing gap between her family is always a constant in her life. Lily continues to move forward and show her resilience in the face of what comes her way.

The war finally ends and the men return and they are changed men with what they have seen and done, but this means big changes for the woman who have worked so hard, what will they do now? Lily is determined to keep going nothing is going to stop her, will she see her true dream come true of owing her own restaurant? What about Tom the love of her life?

I took in every word in this story, it is beautifully written from the heart, the struggle to keep businesses going during war time and the strength that was shown especially by the woman, and Ella Carey pulled me in I felt like I was there in New York with Lily, this is a story that I highly recommend it is moving emotional and a must read, I am looking forward to book two in this series. Thank you Ella Carey for another keeper, I loved it.

My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for my copy to read and review.
...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Mar 07, 2021 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-on-kindle, net-galley, first-in-a-series, aussie-authors, 2021-release, 5000-2021, arc, own-read, historical-fiction

Beautiful and independent, Lily Rose worked hard in the basement kitchen at New York’s upmarket restaurant, Valentino’s. She loved her job – loved to cook – her aim was to eventually be head chef. Her gram, Josie, was her idol. Lily continually clashed with her mother as she manipulated her daughter, demanding she marry the man she – her mother – had chosen for Lily. Childhood friends, Nathaniel was nothing more to Lily. When friction between mother and daughter was at its height, Lily made for ...more

30 likes · Like · see review

Mar 11, 2021 Marg rated it really liked it

Shelves: awwc-2021

I have read a number of Ella Carey books over the last year or so, and I have liked them all, but this one is, in my opinion, her best yet, at least of the ones that I have read.

Lily Rose has grown up in a privileged world. Her mother has her life all planned out for her. She will marry the perfect man who happens to be well connected and wealthy, and most importantly from the right family. There is only one problem. Lily's passion is for cooking and she loves her job as a sous chef at Valentino ...more

2 likes · Like · see review