Description
“Historical fiction at its finest! This is one of those books that makes you say ‘Wow!’ when you've finished it. From breathless descriptions of Australia to love and sacrifice, this story had big moments that still felt intimate. I was very engaged with the characters and genuinely cared about what happened to them. I look forward to reading more from this author.” —Camille Di Maio, bestselling author of The Memory of Us and Before the Rain Falls “An absorbing tale that kept me turning the pages! Set in two time periods, I found the 1940s section fascinating, learning about the modernist art movement in Australia post–World War II with its interesting characters. The novel alternates between this bohemian way of life and the corporate pressured world of publishing in 1980s New York. It portrays well the experience of a woman in such a world. The story kept my interest by switching back and forth between the two romantic storylines and—with a satisfying twist towards the end—it was an enjoyable pacey read. Stunning cover too!” —Janet MacLeod Trotter, author of The Tea Planter’s Daughter “Ella Carey’s Secret Shores flies off the page as the intricate plot points dance together to perfection. I couldn’t put it down. A must-read!” —James D. Shipman, bestselling author of It Is Well “Ella Carey’s Secret Shores is an irresistible setup—the singular passion of true love, the complicated pressures of inheritance and the value of struggle. Insightful, full of historical drama, and with a stunning twist that will keep you turning the pages, Secret Shores earns a spot on the shelf of Ms. Carey’s bestsellers.” —Consuelo Saah Baehr, author of Three Daughters and Fortune’s Daughters “Ella Carey’s Secret Shores is a poignant, star-crossed love story that spans decades and distance and offers a fascinating glimpse into the challenges and cultural clashes of post–World War II Australia. It is a compelling dual-narrative story with immersive historical detail and a plot that will keep you guessing until the very end. Devout readers of Carey’s stories will be thrilled and she is sure to create new fans with this latest novel!” —Jane Healey, author of The Saturday Evening Girls Club Ella Carey is the international bestselling author of The House by the Lake , From a Paris Balcony , and Paris Time Capsule . A Francophile who has long been fascinated by secret histories set in Europe’s entrancing past, Ella has degrees in music, nineteenth-century women’s fiction, and modern European history. She lives in Australia with her two children and two Italian greyhounds.
Features & Highlights
- In 1946, artist Rebecca Swift’s dreams of love and a life free from convention are crashing like the waves of the Australian coast below her. And it’s into those roiling waters that she disappears.
- Forty-one years later, Tess Miller’s dreams are crashing, too. The once-successful New York editor has lost her most prestigious author to the handsome new golden boy of publishing. Meanwhile, she’s stuck with Edward Russell, a washed-up Australian poet writing a novel about some obscure artist named Rebecca Swift. But Tess may have underestimated Russell. His book is not only true—it’s a searing, tragic romance and a tantalizing mystery set in a circle of postwar modernists. When Tess uncovers a long-hidden secret, she’s drawn even deeper into Rebecca’s enigmatic life and death.
- As Rebecca’s past intertwines with the present, Tess finds herself falling for the last man she thought she’d ever be drawn to. On the way, she discovers the power of living an authentic life—and that transcendent love never really dies.
