Fat Chance

Rating:
Summary: Timeless Tales 4 star review
Review: by Amy Turpin

Lindsey Michaels is tired of fad diets and exercise machines that simply don't work. Using the excuse to help her boyfriend, Kenny, uncover what he believes is a scam, she volunteers to be a test subject for a revolutionary weight loss/weight gain system. The idea being that the people who want to lose weight will be fat donors to those who want to gain weight. Trying not to let Kenny know her real motive in helping him, knowing that her best friend, Sam, will see right through her, she manages to get herself in the program.

Hal Randall is the mastermind behind the weight control program. But the picture he painted for the test subjects is anything but what will really happen once they arrive. Instead of the plastic surgeon he claims to be, he is a psychiatrist studying behavior modification for the government. This is how he plans on getting the test subjects to lose weight, not by surgery. He finds out his own behavior needs a little modification as soon as he meets the voluptuous Lindsey Michaels.

To say the two are instantly attracted is an understatement. But Hal has arranged for his assistant to pose as his wife to avoid any unpleasant entanglements, although the thought of being entangled with Lindsey is not unpleasant. Unfortunately, doing so would be unethical since he is her doctor for the remainder of her stay at his facility. But since when has a little thing like ethics gotten in the way of true love?

The idea for this story was top notch. The main characters were very developed. I could see each individual personality and they were not stock. They each had a distinctive touch that I found refreshing. The hero and heroine were very good together, alike yet different enough to compliment each other. The secondary characters were just as developed. The villain was extreme and wonderfully antagonistic. The problem I had was with the lose ends. This story had several: the villain's thirst for revenge, the reasons behind lies told by both hero and heroin were never explained, and Lindsey's part in the scheme to expose the project as a fraud. Also, there seemed to be very few sexually tense moments, no defining moment, and no tension to the climax. Given the fact that it really bothered her that he lied, both her lies and Hal's should have been addressed by both parties. Over all, I really liked this story, but feel that it needs more in order to fulfill its potential.

Rating:
Summary: Romancing the Imperfect Heroine
Review: Fat Chance is that rarity in romance novels--1930's-style screwball comedy where the absurd and incongruous make you laugh, but also make you think. Lindsey, the heroine, is convinced she is too fat to be lovable, which causes her to become involved in the weight loss program Hal, the hero, is heading.

But it becomes clear that fat is not the real issue in Lindsey's life. Self-worth is. Whether she (or the reader) has 20 pounds to lose or 200 (or even none), in the course of the book she develops the self-worth to accept the right man for her.

The writing team of Terry Campbell has written a delightfully funny book reminiscent of a 1930's screwball comedy or English farce. Funny things keep happening to Lindsey and Hal as they become tangled in their attraction and the oddball steps they take to avoid that attraction. A very quick and enjoyable read; even if you don't have a handheld electronic book reader, this one is worth spending a couple of laugh-inducing hours reading on your computer monitor.

Rating:
Summary: Don't miss this one!
Review: I just read FAT CHANCE-what a gem in a sea of same-old, same-old. Any woman who's ever had to diet and diet over and over again can identify. This book had me laughing from the first line. Lindsey Michaels, the heroine was a breath of fresh air, saying what she felt without thinking the consequences. Hal Randall, her hero, was a great foil beside the strong-willed, pizza-munching Lindsey. This book reminded me of some of the old Lucy Shows. Bravo to Terry Campbell.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely a fun read!
Review: If you're looking for a fun read, it's Fat Chance. This book is written with a wonderful sense of humor and I really enjoyed the heroine's ability to see herself honestly and keep life and losing weight in the proper perspective. If you've never read Terry Campbell, I recommend you start here.

Rating:
Summary: Shut ME in a closet with Hal... or this book, next best thin
Review: Setting: Dickens, Texas ( a small town) Time Period: Modern Day Contemporary romance with humor

Lindsey Michaels is a voluptious woman, only she thinks she's too fat. No matter what she tries she can't seem to lose weight. Lindsey's psuedo boyfriend, Kenny Kramer, plans to build his political career by exposing the FRAT progam which promises women easy weight loss, as a fraud. He enlists the aid of Lindsey to undercover, though she has her own reasons for joining in his subtefuge. She really wants to have her breasts and butt reduced by lipsocution and hopes the program is for real. FRAT is actually a secret military project to study behavior modification and headed by a psychologist, Hal Randall. His goal is to win a "Lone Star Award" for his work. When Hal first sees Lindsey bending over with the top of her thigh high hose showing, he's so flustered he stutters. The attraction is mutual and threatens to sink the doctor's plans. Lindsey has two things on her mind, Dr. Hal, and food. Through a series of amusing incidents and foiled plans, the two are drawn together. Other characters help to complicate the lives of Hal and Lindsey and add to the comical scenes which make up this book. I related very easily to Lindsey and her wish to lose weight despite her desire to eat chocolates and other tasty treats. Her roommate Hilda adds additional humor to the story. This is a light, quick, read which gave me a few chuckles as I sped through the pages. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys humor with their romance and who understands the fight against flab. It was delightful.

reviewed by Bea Sheftel

Rating:
Summary: Fat on Fun
Review: This is a great book to take to the beach-the hero and heroine are delicious and sweep you along through the story. Warning-- diet or no, the food descriptions will make you hungry. So stop worrying about your size and enjoy a romp with Lindsey and Hal.

Rating:
Summary: Mildly entertaining
Review: This was a very predictable and easy read. Originally published on the internet, it is easy to see why it was difficult to find a publisher to print hard copies of this book. As quick and easy as it was to read, it seems like it was just as quick and easy to write. It doesn't seem like much time or effort went into plot or character development at all. Its like the authors found the formula on how to write a cheesy romance novel and followed it with no deviations.