Kim Gruenenfelder

Charlize "Charlie" Edwards certainly knows, in theory, what it takes to lead a successful and happy life. She owns a nice house in Silverlake, LA's trendiest neighborhood. She has glamorous and loyal friends who accompany her to the hottest clubs in town. And she works as the personal assistant to Drew Stanton, Hollywood's sexiest movie star. But she's also turning 30, chronically single, and faced with serving as maid of honor at her younger sister's wedding. Charlie finds herself struggling to juggle the chaos of wedding planning (while wondering if she'll ever wear the white dress herself), her all-consuming job for lunatic boss Stanton, and a serious crush on Jordan, a photographer on the set of Drew's latest feature--a man who might actually return her feelings. A page-turner from start to finish, A Total Waste of Makeup puts a fresh face on women's fiction.

A Total Waste of Makeup

After listening to her closest friends’ latest travails in love, parenting, and careers, superstitious bride-to-be Nicole (Nic) believes she has the perfect recipe for everyone’s happiness: a bridal shower “cake pull” in which each ribboned silver charm planted in her cake will bring its recipient the magical assistance she needs to change her destiny. Melissa (Mel), still ringless after dating the same man for six years, deserves the engagement ring charm. The red hot chili pepper would be perfect for Seema, who is in love with her best male friend Scott, but can’t seem to make their relationship more than platonic. And recently laid off journalist Nic wants the shovel, which symbolizes hard work, to help her get her career back on track. Nic does everything she can to control who gets which silver keepsake – as well as the future it represents. But when the charmed cake is mysteriously shifted from the place settings Nic arranged around it, no one gets the charm she chose for them. And when the other party guests’ fortunes begin coming true, Mel, Seema, and Nic can’t help but wonder…. Is the cake trying to tell them something?

There's Cake in My Future

Charlize "Charlie" Edwards finally has it all: a house in Silverlake, L.A.'s hippest neighborhood, two fabulous best friends who always have her back, and a great (though hectic) job as the personal assistant to Hollywood's hottest movie star, Drew Stanton. But best of all, Charlie has a newly feathered love nest with Jordan, the sexy photographer she recently started dating. Maybe Charlie's journal of smart-alecky life advice--which she's always been better at writing than following--has finally helped put her on the right track. Unfortunately for Charlie, Drew is causing complete havoc on his new movie set, her eccentric family is descending upon L.A. for the upcoming holiday season, and her love life may be back to square one. Jordan has left L.A. to work on a film shooting in Paris, where the women are gorgeous, sophisticated, and possibly after her man. And Drew's handsome new producer, Liam, is an old crush who has reappeared to tug at Charlie's heartstrings. Charlie's torn between the misery of waiting for Jordan and the tingly feelings she has for Liam. But there's nothing misery--or seduction--loves better than a great glass of cabernet.

Misery Loves Cabernet

A follow-up to There's Cake in My Future finds Seema, Nic and Mel adjusting to their new lives as a future bride, an expectant mother and a recently single girl, roles that pose challenges in the form of stressful wedding plans, a possible layoff, residence changes and a cake-pull bridal shower of unexpected predictions. Original.

Keep Calm and Carry a Big Drink

My Ex's Wedding

"Michelle, Zoe and Alexis are friends who have one thing in common. They are all in their 40s and all wondering the same thing: 'Now what?'"--Back cover.

Hangovers & Hot Flashes

Jessie's boyfriend of three years, Kevin, just got cold feet about settling down. Nat is having a passionate affair with her gorgeous British boss Marc, who unfortunately is married. Holly is an actress who still waits tables to pay the bills. After each finishes a particularly awful workday, they meet at their favorite wine bar. In a moment of tipsy brazenness, Jessie suggests that the three of them open their own wine bar in the gentrifying Echo Park area of Los Angeles. Three best friends and a lot of wine. What could go wrong?

A Novel

Love the Wine You're With

Charlize "Charlie" Edwards finally has it all: a house in Silverlake, L.A.'s hippest neighborhood, two fabulous best friends who always have her back, and a great (though hectic) job as the personal assistant to Hollywood's hottest movie star, Drew Stanton. But best of all, Charlie has a newly feathered love nest with Jordan, the sexy photographer she recently started dating. Maybe Charlie's journal of smart-alecky life advice—which she's always been better at writing than following—has finally helped put her on the right track. Unfortunately for Charlie, Drew is causing complete havoc on his new movie set, her eccentric family is descending upon L.A. for the upcoming holiday season, and her love life may be back to square one. Jordan has left L.A. to work on a film shooting in Paris, where the women are gorgeous, sophisticated, and possibly after her man. And Drew's handsome new producer, Liam, is an old crush who has reappeared to tug at Charlie's heartstrings. Charlie's torn between the misery of waiting for Jordan and the tingly feelings she has for Liam. But there's nothing misery—or seduction—loves better than a great glass of cabernet.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOUR EX SUDDENLY REAPPEARED?It's 1998, and Samantha Evans has no regrets about her life. She's one of Hollywood's most sought after ghostwriters of celebrity autobiographies, shares a tranquil house in the hills with her best friend Liz, and is in the throes of a new romance with Eric, a gorgeous doctor. Life could not be better.But Sam's perfectly curated world is about to completely unravel. Her descent into madness begins the night she meets Eric's childhood best friend, international superstar Isabella Robles. A narcissist prone to temper tantrums, "Belle" is in town for her latest (and fifth) "wedding of the century." To make matters worse, she is marrying Dave, Sam's ex-husband. Things quickly go from awkward to just plain weird. Isabella hires Sam to write her memoirs. Then makes her a bridesmaid. Then cajoles Sam to join Dave in Hawaii for his bachelor party. Adding to the chaos, Sam bickers with Joe, Dave's best man and the bane of Sam's existence, receives unsolicited advice from client Vanessa, a diva from the '80s, and tries to stay calm as a series of fortune tellers mess with her head.So maybe no one's life goes according to plan. Maybe some days you gotta suck it up and go to your Ex's Wedding. And maybe finding the love of your life isn't accomplished through a series of steps, but through a really ugly bridesmaid's dress and an open bar.

My Exs Wedding

Nic überlässt auf ihrem Junggesellinnenabschied nichts dem Zufall – kurzerhand manipuliert sie das Orakel, das ihr und ihren Freundinnen eine goldene Zukunft prophezeien soll. Keine gute Idee. Denn so einfach lässt sich das Schicksal nicht austricksen ...

Kim Gruenenfelder

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