Lipstick and Lullabies – Emma Whittaker

The blissful image of having a child is a far cry from Leah’s reality. While other mums are loving life, she feels like a shadow of her former self, and every day is a struggle to cope with her screaming one-year-old daughter, Kiki.

Urged by her family to find a release, Leah starts a new job at iconic skincare company, EdenCore. For two days a week, she finally gets a break, swapping nursery rhymes for nail polish and spaghetti hoops for serum. Soon, she is whisked into a world of decadence that is miles away from motherhood.

But behind the glossy packaging and the promise of miracle potions, the pressure to be perfect unveils some ugly truths. And as Leah’s bond with Kiki starts to bloom, she questions whether happiness really comes from a bottle or if there is true beauty in parenting after all.

Read the first chapter here.

Emma Whittaker

Emma has had a lifelong obsession with words, composing poetry and stories from a young age. With a BA (Hons) in English and Creative Studies, she has enjoyed a career in magazine journalism as the Editor of various craft and hobby publications.  

In her novels, Emma explores emotions, behaviour, and relationships, bringing a voice to the issues we encounter in life that all too often go unnoticed. She blends these themes with descriptive settings, fuelled by her passion for nature, and as an avid reader of romantic fiction, she champions sweeping love stories.  

Her home in West Sussex, sandwiched between the coast and the countryside, provides endless inspiration for her writing. She lives with her husband, two children, and a houseful of dogs and cats. 

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