Bombshell

Bombshell
Lynda Curnyn

There should be a four-letter word for beauty.She has more shoes than Sarah Jessica Parker and a skin-care system that could make Madonna swoon, but unlike her celebrity counterparts, Grace Noonan doesn't have it all. Her latest utterly-eligible-yet-maddeningly-unavailable boyfriend has just revealed that having sex with her is one thing and having babies quite another, forcing Grace to move on–again. And now that her employer–a top cosmetics company once devoted to "beauty beyond thirty"–is pursuing a teenaged supermodel as its future face, this thirty-four-year-old marketing exec is starting to wonder if she is going to get it all before the closing credits. Could it be time for Grace to back out of the beauty race and trade the singles scene for the sperm bank? Or is there something even this savvy bombshell has yet to discover about life and love in New York City?

CRITICAL PRAISE FOR LYNDA CURNYN

ENGAGING MEN

“Curnyn delivers another fun and frothy crowd-pleaser.”

—Booklist

“The author of Confessions of an Ex-Girlfriend has done it again with Engaging Men…a truly funny and thoroughly enjoyable read.”

—Romance Reviews Today

“This dose of chick lit features entertaining supporting characters and may inspire readers to think about what they really want out of relationships and life.”

—Romantic Times

“Angie’s emotional adventures will strike a chord with women of all ages. Engaging Men is a great read…”

—Barbara Fielding, The Word on Romance

CONFESSIONS OF AN EX-GIRLFRIEND

“…Curnyn pens an easy, breezy first novel that’s part Sex and the City with more heart and part Bridget Jones with less booze.”

—Publishers Weekly

“A diverse cast of engaging, occasionally offbeat characters, the hilarious sayings attributed to them, and a fast-paced style facilitated by Emma’s pithy sound-bite ‘confessions’ add to the fun in a lively Manhattan-set story…”

—Library Journal

“Readers will eagerly turn the pages.”

—Booklist

“…absolutely hilarious secondary characters. They alone are worth the cover price.”

—Romantic Times

In memory of my father,

James Curnyn

Bombshell

Lynda Curnyn

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book truly wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing people in my life who inspire me endlessly.

Richard Hoelderlin, whose own search for his birth parents first drew me to the idea for this book. You are gone, dear friend, but your good heart is not forgotten.

The story was brought back to me by another friend, Julie Ann Coney, who shared with me the sad, beautiful story of her search for her birth mother, and gave Grace’s story its shape.

Thanks to my dearest friend, Linda Guidi, a true beauty with a big heart, for her generous support and inspiration.

Dora Hoelderlin for providing background on adoptive search. Gerry Zdenek for the scoop on the beauty biz. Javier Castillo, for the scoop on the world of advertising (mistakes are mine). Robert Clegg for showing me some chess moves and for providing the most logical (and amusing) explanation of why people fall in love.

My family, especially my brother Jim, who kept it all together for us during a year when everything seemed to fall apart; my brother Brian, who is my biggest fan; Kim Castellano-Curnyn, Upper West Side Bombshell; Trina K. Curnyn (the Kis for Killer Wit); and Dave Webber, who always seems to have answers to my obscure questions.

Sarah Mlynowski, fabulous writer and savvy editor, for reading my drafts.

My wonderful editor, Joan Marlow Golan, who loved Grace from the very first chapter. All the talented people behind Red Dress Ink, especially Margaret, Laura, Stephanie, Margie, Tara and Tania.

And of course, my mother, the original bombshell, and the best friend this girl could have.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13