Beauty Books

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.

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-Magnet

From 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 Beauty

From 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!

One of the most beautiful books I have ever seen on this passionate and dramatic ballet sans blood and bulls. Rich, gorgeous photos show the intricacies and details of the costumes and provide a view most people are unaware of. Highly recommended. Stunning!

This book is breathtakingly beautiful. It is exceedingly difficult to find any information on the bullfighter's costume. This book doesn't just tell about the work that goes into the design and construction like most other references on the shelf. The photos are so rich in detail and color that just to study one picture leaves one as satisfied as if having read an entire novel on the art. I have spent countless hours just gaping in awe at the remarkable craftsmanship of these objets d'arte. For anyone who has the least bit of appreciation for the clothes we create and the traditions we honor I promise, this book will not only inspire but impassion. As a student of couture, I'd have to say it's one of the best books you'll ever find. Totally worth the price!!!

This was one of the best books I've ever read. I've also read the first three in the series, and you'll love all of them. It's full of mystery, having you wonder who will be the six finalists, plus who will be the big winner. This is truly a great book that I'm sure everyone will enjoy. A word of advice: read the first three first, just so you'll know what's going on.

This is the best of the Pageant books. With the addition to the "cast" of Christy, who is mascarading as a teen to write a tell all about the pageant, the plot is even more interesting. How the girls, especially Heather, Alexis and Lisa fold into Christy's plot, and make her betrayal more painful for her, is very interesting. The overall camadarade of the girls, and the sub plots, such as Fawn and Tyler, Alexis and Justin and all make for a great read!

This is a great book to help you gain knowledge about skin care. It also helped my Daughter with her acne problems. We have also purchased some of the products in the book.The products are great. Good book.

I have purchased the book written by Kenneth Beer MD - Palm Beach Perfect Skin and am so happy that I did. It explained in great detail an easy way to stay looking younger without having to go through major surgery. I have since purchased his products that are described in the book and can tell you the self heating crystals are absolutely wonderful. My skin has never felt so smooth. I would recommend everyone to get this book so they can achieve better looking skin becuase I can already see and feel a difference.

My daughter loves the "chicken" series from Mary Jane Auch, particularly those devoted to dancing such as this one. Here we meet Poulette, a ballet-dancing chicken whose visions of stardom cloud her judgment when a fast-talking fox "talent scout" appears. Some good lessons in friendship, caution, mercy, and self-worth. Excellent illustrations. I strongly recommend the series.

Here is a histarical book about a chicken who dreams of being a famous ballerina and puts herself in danger of a wolf just for her one big chance. My daughter, and mother and I were all just roaring with laughter. My mother can do a wonderful southern accent and applied it to Poulette's voice. It was great! This book is great to do voices with for the different charectors! You're child will LOVE it! My daughter brought this book home from the school library and we got such a huge kick out of it we have told lots of people about it. I just had to buy a copy for my family! It is a "must-have"! You won't be dissappointed! A great one to read to your elementary children's class room! Nice easy reading that isn't too long before bed time too! :)

This book is a real treasure. I bought my first copy in November, when the central Indiana countryside is dormant in shades of gray and brown. During a ten minute walk I found and was able to identify seven plants I didn't even know existed in our overgrown field. I own a small nature and garden shop and have recommended this book many times as an excellent way to identify common weeds and wildflowers when the bloom has faded. I highly recommend "Pods" for the beginning naturalist or crafter using everlasting materials.

Pods - Wildflowers and Weeds in Their Final Beauty by Jane Embertson is one of my favorite books on dried flowers. Great color photos of 144 plants flowering in the field, dried pods and used in an arrangement. The auther gives bloom time, flower description, leaf description and a description of where and when to pick the pods. There is an additional section of 28 black & white photos of grasses and "winter skeletons". This is a marvelous reference work with a total of

460 photos that are each a work of art.

The collection of poems, "Portratis of Beauty" is truly extraordinary. Once I picked it up, I devoured the words and visions on each page. Jason Kirkey is able to articulate into words, those feelings that I too, have felt when walking the land. I am easily transported back to Ireland and Jason's poems express my heart ache caused by the separation I feel from the heart beat of that isle. I highly recommend this book and any future publications from this author.

"Portraits of Beauty" awakens the senses to the depth of life all around, creating a set of poems that challanges, comforts, cleanses, and compells the reader to think about what it means to be human. The poems cover a whole range of topics, but each one shows what it means to not live a life too small for the soul, what it means to embrace joy and loss like a lover, and what it means to feel the beauty of simply being. The approach is one that looks at nature and spirit with a soft gaze and an open palm. For a first publication, Jason Kirkey has set a precedent for his own career, and I am very impressed, from a professional point of view, at what he has put out. He shows a wide range of spiritual and psychological knowledge and experience, and that recommends himself very highly as a poet. I have thoroughly enjoyed my copy, love reading it to my friends and for personal meditation, and find something new and meaningful in it each time I pick it up. Well done!

The title is correct! These critters are gorgeous & the directions are easy to follow.

A wonderfully detailed book of patterns to warm a beader's heart. "...to bead or not to bead..." (a Pristine's amulet), ...there is No Question!

Very positive and inspiring for those who want to try a healthier and more nutrient rich way of eating. Roxy Dillon's recommendation to use broad spectrum amino acids really does work - it even makes rough skin feel soft and supple. The book would be improved by having more recipes and advice for people to make the transition from eating "normal" to more raw food and how to deal with food cravings and how to eat in the "real" world. Lots of ideas and examples and the checklist of what you should be eating as an ideal each day is very useful.

This is one of the best and most inovative books of its kind. I had a copy some years ago, but lent it to a friend who lent it to a friend etc. Now I want a copy and can't get one. I would have thought this would be a good time for a reprint with all the health consciousness around today. Roxy Dillon gives a fantastic coverage of all aspects of healthy living and rejuvenation techniques.

This book never gets old and all your guests will love it! The illustrations are quite entertaining and detailed. All pictures have that anime look with tweeked facial features to resemble some of the world's most flamboyant trendsetters such as Adam Ant, Damon Albarn and Marlon Brando. The translations are quite silly and even point out that marijuana is a pound a week accessory for the fashionable Rasta man. If only the author would do a follow up book to chart recent trends. Book also includes "family trees" of fashion trends and corresponding music trends.

This is an excellent book, chaulked full of wonderfully detailed colour plates. Surrounding the plates are many tid-bits and factoids concerning the period and dress. Periods covered extend from the 1700's Baroque period to the Grunge period of the mid 1990's. Between these examples you will find European peasant-wear [ooh so chic!], Traditional Skinhead duds [non-racist, working class brits], Mods [traditional and neo alike], Flygirls [just like those chicks from 'In Living Color'], and EVERYTHING in between. Many many styles here! If anything ill could be said about this book, it would be that it doesn't have a second edition. Zeshu Takamura did a splendid job here, although some translations come up a tad bit off-kilter. All-in-all, this book is wonderful just for the history that accompanies every tiny fad. A must for all of you punk/ska/thrash types that seem to think that you invented a way of dressing on your own.