1: 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.
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