Operation Babe Magnet/Operation Beauty

by Kristin Gabriel

Duets 2-In-1 by Kristin Gabriel released on Sep 24, 2001 is available now for purchase.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373441274
• ISBN13: 9780373441273
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Harlequin Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Lots of fun!

I enjoyed the common thread that tied these two tales together. It's important to read them in order, as certain events and characters are in both books.Two brothers are challenged by their eccentric grandfather to complete a certain task (hold down a unique "career" for a month). Whoever does the best gets the family business.In the first tale, "Operation Babe-Magnet", Dexter is the super-achiever geek bookworm. He must take on the "career" as a male escort--certainly the last job this uptight, shy fellow wanted to undertake! He ends up being hired to impersonate a popular self-help love author. In order to play the role, he is transformed into a super-fabulous hunk ("babe magnet"). He learns a lot along the way, and falls in love with the book's publicist.In "Operation Beauty" Dex's brother Sam has to go "undercover" in a lingerie company. Sam's job requires that he go in drag, however, which mortifies this super macho babe magnet greatly. And things get more complicated when a beautiful coworker asks Sam's "female counterpart" to share an apartment with her, and talk about "girly" things!Sam hides behind a charming facade--he is a happy-go-lucky high school drop-out who has a "love 'em and leave 'em" attitude about women. The most charming part of this tale is when we discover why Sam is the way he is, and how he isn't really a superficial playboy, but rather a guy who is fervently trying to prevent anyone else from discovering his "secret".I especially liked the way the author told both Sam and Dexter's story-- each brother has their own set of insecurities and world views. Each brother thinks the other has some special "advantage". In reality, both brothers are special and unique. Their tales are different and both equally charming. (I must confess, though -- I found Sam's story--and his deep dark "secret"--to make him particularly endearing.)The two stories are wrapped up masterfully with a short little epilogue. Author Kristin Gabriel has written two sweet and funny tales, and has tied them together in an exceedingly charming way.

Two brothers in a wacky competition

As you probably know, Harlequin Duets consist of two books in one. In this case, the two books are by the same wonderful author, Kristin Gabriel, and they are linked by a strong, common thread. The crazily control-freak uncle of two brothers has decided that he will pick one of them to succeed him in running the family business by this means: each is assigned a weird scenario to act out, and the one who sticks to the script best is the winner. The two competitors begin the contest by parachuting from a plane into the outskirts of the city where the action is to take place--and the stories are off and running!Operation Babe-MagnetFrom the back cover: "From geek to gorgeous....Dexter D. Kane will do anything to take over the family business--even if it means masquerading as a gigolo! But when publicist Kylie Timberlake offers him a job, Dexter happily jumps into his new role. Kylie desperately needs a man to impersonate Harry Hanover, the reclusive author of numerous sexual self-help books. She wants to make everybody wild about Harry. But Dex would settle for Kylie being wild about him...."Dex and Kylie make quite a pair in this fun Pygmalion story. By the time Kylie makes over Dex into a sensuous Babe-Magnet, he's haunting her wildest dreams more than any man ever has! This is a hot read as well as a fun one!Operation BeautyFrom the back cover: "He had to get in touch with his feminine side....Sam T. Kane loves women-but he doesn't want to be one! Unfortunately, Sam's mission is to infiltrate Ladybug Lingerie and steal their newest, top-secret bra design. So Sam reluctantly dons a wig and panty hose--and ends up falling for Lauren McBride, his new boss. But how can he convince Lauren he's the man of her dreams--when she considers him 'just one of the girls'?"If you love comedies with men in drag (I don't know about you, but Tootsie and Mrs. Doubtfire are two of my favorite movies!), you'll really have a ball with this book. Really well done!