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He Loves Lucy
Marketing exec Lucy Cunningham is thrilled when her firm lands The Palm Club account. The campaign concept for Miami's hottest fitness club was Lucy's idea: take one fitness-challenged woman, put her in front of TV cameras, and into the hands of the club's top personal trainer, Theo Redmond. And there's a big cash reward for each pound shed. It seems like a brilliant idea-until Lucy gets picked to be the guinea pig. It's obvious she needs to drop the pounds, but the idea of letting it all hang out in front of some Malibu Ken jock has her choking on her Milk Duds before she even begins!
After one meeting, Theo knows Lucy will be his toughest client and one of the most unforgettable women he'll ever meet. Smart-mouthed and stubborn, it's clear she isn't fond of marching to anyone's drumbeat but her own. But she shocks Theo by rising to the challenge like a pro. And he finds his heart in jeopardy long before Lucy starts to slim down and turn heads.
As Lucy sweats her way into a whole new life, things start to heat up between her and Theo. But trust doesn't come easy for either of them. They've both been burned by romance in the past. Now Lucy and Theo are about to discover that appearances can be deceiving-and in the end, true love lies somewhere between pizza and Pilates...
After one meeting, Theo knows Lucy will be his toughest client and one of the most unforgettable women he'll ever meet. Smart-mouthed and stubborn, it's clear she isn't fond of marching to anyone's drumbeat but her own. But she shocks Theo by rising to the challenge like a pro. And he finds his heart in jeopardy long before Lucy starts to slim down and turn heads.
As Lucy sweats her way into a whole new life, things start to heat up between her and Theo. But trust doesn't come easy for either of them. They've both been burned by romance in the past. Now Lucy and Theo are about to discover that appearances can be deceiving-and in the end, true love lies somewhere between pizza and Pilates...
351 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 15, 2002
78 people are currently reading
5639 people want to read
About the author
Susan Donovan
46 books935 followersSUSAN DONOVAN's novels have won accolades for being witty, sexy, and entertaining. A former newspaper reporter with journalism degrees from Northwestern University, Susan is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author whose novels have been translated into dozens of languages. Susan is a two-time RITA Award finalist, and her novel TAKE A CHANCE ON ME was named Best Contemporary Romance of 2003 by RT Book Reviews magazine. She lives in New Mexico with her family and dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews
January 8, 2015
5+ stars – Contemporary Romance
WOW...there just aren’t sufficient words to express how much I loooved this book! This is one of those books where everything just clicked and came alive for me and makes 5 stars seem wholly inadequate. I loved absolutely everything about this: the heartwarming emotion, the laugh out loud, sometimes sarcastic humor, the fantastic, relatable characters, the witty, honest dialogue, and the inspirational life lessons imparted. It made me fall off the couch with laughter one minute and then wipe my eyes with tears the next.
Lucy is such an adorable, genuine, funny heroine, and I felt like I was struggling right along with her on her journey of personal discovery, emotional healing, self acceptance, and love. And OMG, Theo, there just aren’t enough adjectives or superlatives to describe how utterly delicious he is...both inside and out! He’s without a doubt one of the most heart-stoppingly sexy, sweet, caring, attentive, honorable, sensitive, tender, swoon-worthy, and husband-worthy heroes ever! I just flat-out loved him! I found myself rooting for Lucy and Theo’s romantic relationship, individual growth and contentment, and HEA like a bubbly, sappy cheerleader.
Most women cope with self-esteem issues of some kind in their lives, and it seems like we waste so much time and effort hoping and striving for unrealistic, unattainable perfection. Lucy’s insecurities and personal battles are poignant and realistic, and He Loves Lucy is a delightful, touching, sweet, and romantic story that will have you smiling, cheering, laughing, and crying (especially if you’re mushy like me)! Big 5 stars!
WOW...there just aren’t sufficient words to express how much I loooved this book! This is one of those books where everything just clicked and came alive for me and makes 5 stars seem wholly inadequate. I loved absolutely everything about this: the heartwarming emotion, the laugh out loud, sometimes sarcastic humor, the fantastic, relatable characters, the witty, honest dialogue, and the inspirational life lessons imparted. It made me fall off the couch with laughter one minute and then wipe my eyes with tears the next.
Lucy is such an adorable, genuine, funny heroine, and I felt like I was struggling right along with her on her journey of personal discovery, emotional healing, self acceptance, and love. And OMG, Theo, there just aren’t enough adjectives or superlatives to describe how utterly delicious he is...both inside and out! He’s without a doubt one of the most heart-stoppingly sexy, sweet, caring, attentive, honorable, sensitive, tender, swoon-worthy, and husband-worthy heroes ever! I just flat-out loved him! I found myself rooting for Lucy and Theo’s romantic relationship, individual growth and contentment, and HEA like a bubbly, sappy cheerleader.
Most women cope with self-esteem issues of some kind in their lives, and it seems like we waste so much time and effort hoping and striving for unrealistic, unattainable perfection. Lucy’s insecurities and personal battles are poignant and realistic, and He Loves Lucy is a delightful, touching, sweet, and romantic story that will have you smiling, cheering, laughing, and crying (especially if you’re mushy like me)! Big 5 stars!
June 1, 2017
The reason why I picked up this book was because I was told that the heroine's a plain jane and it's very up my alley. I love plain heroines and quite frankly I'm sick of attractive white heroines with blue eyes, and blond hair. I've been reading for almost 10 years now and it just got old.
However, I hate reading this kind of trope where it took the heroine changing her look in order for the Hero to pay attention to her. I know, I know. I should have expected it from the plot but the Hero only started noticing her after she lost a bit of weight and even then the only think he cared about was her looks.
It's so incredibly shallow. It feels fake. Not at all authentic. If the heroine stayed an overweight woman, that golden boy would have never gave a shit. So thanks, but no thanks.
However, I hate reading this kind of trope where it took the heroine changing her look in order for the Hero to pay attention to her. I know, I know. I should have expected it from the plot but the Hero only started noticing her after she lost a bit of weight and even then the only think he cared about was her looks.
It's so incredibly shallow. It feels fake. Not at all authentic. If the heroine stayed an overweight woman, that golden boy would have never gave a shit. So thanks, but no thanks.
December 18, 2009
From the author's website:
"Lucy Cunningham is a smart-mouthed couch potato hooked on Milk Duds. Theo Redmond is a hottie personal trainer to the stars. When they team up for a makeover publicity stunt that could make them both rich, they learn that nobody's perfect, beauty is more than skin deep, and true loves lies somewhere between pizza and Pilates."
Lucy is full of sass and sizzle. She is my kinda girl. I couldn't help but admire her when she agreed to do monthly weigh-ins on a live morning TV show. I admired her even more when she put on a swimsuit in front of Theo so that he could measure and track her true body-fat index. Lucy is not your typical chick lit heroine - a size 12 who needs to lose a couple of pounds. No, Lucy is a size 22. A swimsuit is not exactly her best friend. Snaps to the author for giving us a true, plus-sized heroine with a can-do attitude and geniune self-esteem issues! I felt myself relating to this character over and over again.
Lucy's goal is to give up the Milk Duds, cheese pizzas and Butter Brickle ice cream and exercise like crazy until she reaches a healthy size. Earning a thousand dollars for every pound that she loses is her incentive. Her ultimate plan is to leave her psycho boss and open her own marketing firm with her share of the money.
Theo melts more than pounds. Oh my! It is so easy to see why Lucy fell in love with Theo. The man is a super buff, totally tan exercising machine who is adored by all. He has a great personality. Lucy's first impression of Theo, however, is not a good one and leaves her nicknaming him "Trainer Ken". Other's call him "Theo-dorable". But there is so much more to Theo than the stereo-typical dumb jock persona. He is a drop-out med school student, struggling to raise his 16-year-old brother, Buddy, after their parent's death. (Buddy has Down's Syndrome. Theo coaches him in the Special Olympics in addition to his job as a personal trainer.) If Theo can help Lucy achieve her weight-loss goal, he plans to take his share of the winnings and re-enroll in medical school.
I have to say that I probably enjoyed Buddy's character more than any other character in this book. He was so sweet and innocent, yet still acted like your average teenager. Wouldn't it be awesome to see Buddy get his own story? I'm not sure that any romance author has ever undertaken a story like that before ...
And big snaps (again!) to the author on her male dialogue. The man-to-man dialogue that I usually read leaves me scratching my head and wondering what the heck the author was thinking. Do most romance authors even spend time around real men? This author knew what she was doing.
My only gripe about this book was Lucy's big hang-up, also a point of conflict between her and Theo. Lucy suffered public humiliation back in her college days because of her weight. Lucy held onto that and couldn't get over it, which didn't quite jive with me. She was supposed to be a smart, sassy character who didn't care what people thought of her. She had a witty comeback for every smart ass comment thrown her direction. Yet she hangs onto a nasty joke that happened almost 11 years prior? The result was that Lucy blew hot and cold with Theo. Annoying as hell! Some of the secondary characters were pretty much useless too, but didn't affect my overall opinion of this book.
"Lucy Cunningham is a smart-mouthed couch potato hooked on Milk Duds. Theo Redmond is a hottie personal trainer to the stars. When they team up for a makeover publicity stunt that could make them both rich, they learn that nobody's perfect, beauty is more than skin deep, and true loves lies somewhere between pizza and Pilates."
Lucy is full of sass and sizzle. She is my kinda girl. I couldn't help but admire her when she agreed to do monthly weigh-ins on a live morning TV show. I admired her even more when she put on a swimsuit in front of Theo so that he could measure and track her true body-fat index. Lucy is not your typical chick lit heroine - a size 12 who needs to lose a couple of pounds. No, Lucy is a size 22. A swimsuit is not exactly her best friend. Snaps to the author for giving us a true, plus-sized heroine with a can-do attitude and geniune self-esteem issues! I felt myself relating to this character over and over again.
Lucy's goal is to give up the Milk Duds, cheese pizzas and Butter Brickle ice cream and exercise like crazy until she reaches a healthy size. Earning a thousand dollars for every pound that she loses is her incentive. Her ultimate plan is to leave her psycho boss and open her own marketing firm with her share of the money.
Theo melts more than pounds. Oh my! It is so easy to see why Lucy fell in love with Theo. The man is a super buff, totally tan exercising machine who is adored by all. He has a great personality. Lucy's first impression of Theo, however, is not a good one and leaves her nicknaming him "Trainer Ken". Other's call him "Theo-dorable". But there is so much more to Theo than the stereo-typical dumb jock persona. He is a drop-out med school student, struggling to raise his 16-year-old brother, Buddy, after their parent's death. (Buddy has Down's Syndrome. Theo coaches him in the Special Olympics in addition to his job as a personal trainer.) If Theo can help Lucy achieve her weight-loss goal, he plans to take his share of the winnings and re-enroll in medical school.
I have to say that I probably enjoyed Buddy's character more than any other character in this book. He was so sweet and innocent, yet still acted like your average teenager. Wouldn't it be awesome to see Buddy get his own story? I'm not sure that any romance author has ever undertaken a story like that before ...
And big snaps (again!) to the author on her male dialogue. The man-to-man dialogue that I usually read leaves me scratching my head and wondering what the heck the author was thinking. Do most romance authors even spend time around real men? This author knew what she was doing.
My only gripe about this book was Lucy's big hang-up, also a point of conflict between her and Theo. Lucy suffered public humiliation back in her college days because of her weight. Lucy held onto that and couldn't get over it, which didn't quite jive with me. She was supposed to be a smart, sassy character who didn't care what people thought of her. She had a witty comeback for every smart ass comment thrown her direction. Yet she hangs onto a nasty joke that happened almost 11 years prior? The result was that Lucy blew hot and cold with Theo. Annoying as hell! Some of the secondary characters were pretty much useless too, but didn't affect my overall opinion of this book.
November 9, 2012
Can a romance book get any better than Susan Donovan's HE LOVES LUCY? I think not! From true-to-life characters, deep emotion, witty dialogue, and red-hot sexual tension, this book has the one thing that contemporary romances should have-everything!
Lucy Cunningham is a marketing executive for the advertising firm of Sherrod & Thoms. And she's hit upon the absolutely perfect idea for a gimmick for the Palm Club of Miami Beach, Florida-bring in an overweight woman, throw her into the capable hands of a personal trainer, vow to lose one hundred pounds in a year, and let the television show WakeUp Miami detail each achievement and setback. It was an excellent idea, until the powers-that-be decided that Lucy-and her two hundred and thirty some pounds-be the human guinea pig in this marketing campaign.
Threatened by the fact that she'll have to give up Milk Duds, extra-cheese pizza, and butter brickle ice cream, Lucy is overwhelmed by the task ahead of her. Sure, ever since the debacle of being the slump buster for Pitt State's football team, she's been eating herself into oblivion, and something obviously needs to change. But working with a Ken look-a-like named Theodore Redmond was never part of the deal!
From the first time Theo is forced to perform CPR on a candy-choking, overweight loudmouth by the name of Lucy, he's smitten by her courageous attitude and brave strength in the face of adversity. As for Lucy, being in the presence of Theo's male perfection is taking a toll on her already fragile hormones.
As Stephan Sherrod, her boss, comes close to having a mental breakdown over Lucy's sudden stardom and weight loss; as Theo's rebuffed coworker Lola DiPaolo attempts to bring down the Palm Club; as Lucy's brother, Dan, falls in lust with her new model friend, Gia Altamonte; as Lucy's sister, Mary Fran, goes through a marital crisis, you just know that HE LOVES LUCY is heading toward one heck of an ending!
Susan Donovan has taken a premise that might have failed, and turned it into a funny, poignant, truly romantic story. I love romance books that feature real-sized characters, and Lucy is definitely that. I have to admit that I was at first worried about Theo's feelings for Lucy-was he only going to fall head-over-heels once Lucy was a stick-thin version of her former self? As I learned, there was nothing to fear! At the end of the story, Lucy is still not a beanpole, and Theo shows that behind his gorgeous exterior lies a heart of gold.
Theo is the kind of hero I love the best, a mix of alpha male. Theo dropped out of medical school to care for his brother Buddy. Sixteen years old and born with Downs Syndrome, Buddy, is the kind of brother anyone would want. An athlete in the Special Olympics, his antics and no-holds-barred advice to his older brother are not to be missed.
The supporting cast of characters only adds to the charm of Lucy and Theo's story. An excellent book by an excellent author, HE LOVES LUCY goes onto my keeper shelf, in the to-be-read-again category.
Lucy Cunningham is a marketing executive for the advertising firm of Sherrod & Thoms. And she's hit upon the absolutely perfect idea for a gimmick for the Palm Club of Miami Beach, Florida-bring in an overweight woman, throw her into the capable hands of a personal trainer, vow to lose one hundred pounds in a year, and let the television show WakeUp Miami detail each achievement and setback. It was an excellent idea, until the powers-that-be decided that Lucy-and her two hundred and thirty some pounds-be the human guinea pig in this marketing campaign.
Threatened by the fact that she'll have to give up Milk Duds, extra-cheese pizza, and butter brickle ice cream, Lucy is overwhelmed by the task ahead of her. Sure, ever since the debacle of being the slump buster for Pitt State's football team, she's been eating herself into oblivion, and something obviously needs to change. But working with a Ken look-a-like named Theodore Redmond was never part of the deal!
From the first time Theo is forced to perform CPR on a candy-choking, overweight loudmouth by the name of Lucy, he's smitten by her courageous attitude and brave strength in the face of adversity. As for Lucy, being in the presence of Theo's male perfection is taking a toll on her already fragile hormones.
As Stephan Sherrod, her boss, comes close to having a mental breakdown over Lucy's sudden stardom and weight loss; as Theo's rebuffed coworker Lola DiPaolo attempts to bring down the Palm Club; as Lucy's brother, Dan, falls in lust with her new model friend, Gia Altamonte; as Lucy's sister, Mary Fran, goes through a marital crisis, you just know that HE LOVES LUCY is heading toward one heck of an ending!
Susan Donovan has taken a premise that might have failed, and turned it into a funny, poignant, truly romantic story. I love romance books that feature real-sized characters, and Lucy is definitely that. I have to admit that I was at first worried about Theo's feelings for Lucy-was he only going to fall head-over-heels once Lucy was a stick-thin version of her former self? As I learned, there was nothing to fear! At the end of the story, Lucy is still not a beanpole, and Theo shows that behind his gorgeous exterior lies a heart of gold.
Theo is the kind of hero I love the best, a mix of alpha male. Theo dropped out of medical school to care for his brother Buddy. Sixteen years old and born with Downs Syndrome, Buddy, is the kind of brother anyone would want. An athlete in the Special Olympics, his antics and no-holds-barred advice to his older brother are not to be missed.
The supporting cast of characters only adds to the charm of Lucy and Theo's story. An excellent book by an excellent author, HE LOVES LUCY goes onto my keeper shelf, in the to-be-read-again category.
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June 4, 2012
2 Stars - Maybe. A big DID NOT FINISH for me.
I was looking for light and fluffy and have almost completely exhausted my "go to" authors; Gibson, Shalvis, James, etc. I've heard quite a bit about this author; fairly good reviews, my daughter reads and likes her ... The book blurbs never really attracted me, but what the hay, I'll give it a go. Yuck. The boredom factor got to me. It was only a little over 200 pages, but by the 60th page, nothing much had happened and I had to let it go. Just yuck. And the worst part, I took up my Sunday figuring it out!!
Not my cuppa, but others seem to like her. May be me, but either way, I'm outa' here .. thank you very much =)
You may be happy reading this one, but I was just bored!
I was looking for light and fluffy and have almost completely exhausted my "go to" authors; Gibson, Shalvis, James, etc. I've heard quite a bit about this author; fairly good reviews, my daughter reads and likes her ... The book blurbs never really attracted me, but what the hay, I'll give it a go. Yuck. The boredom factor got to me. It was only a little over 200 pages, but by the 60th page, nothing much had happened and I had to let it go. Just yuck. And the worst part, I took up my Sunday figuring it out!!
Not my cuppa, but others seem to like her. May be me, but either way, I'm outa' here .. thank you very much =)
You may be happy reading this one, but I was just bored!
July 13, 2012
I can merely, or at most, partially empathize with the book being hailed as another one of "the rise of the underdogs". More specifically, "the rise of the temper of the underdogs". Or even more accurately, the plot can be summarized as "the rise of the temper and the ego and the ass-ness of the underdogs". Frankly, I think "the rise of the asses/should be bitchy prom queen and popular cheerleader in pretend underdog's clothing into (what else) bitchy prom queen and popular cheerleader" sums up the book best.
I am feeling a bit bad-tempered and daring today. Please forgive my language and meanness, which will be exhibited throughout the review, which shall be entitled "I Despise Lucy".
Smart-mouthed? Stubborn? Stoic? Tough? Unforgettable? More like dumb, clingy, needy, weak and one-dimensional. Lucy is totally overrated. Or should I say underrated. Underrated in terms of her ego. Just because you initially were an underdog doesn't mean that you get to parade around and expecting every guy to attend to your petty desires. Ironic, but I feel that nowadays underdoggity is celebrated because underdogs evoke a sense of empathy and support of the commons. But Lucy herself does not inspire any form of, well, model inspiration whatsoever.
And I absolutely loathe how Lucy becomes a celebrity just because she looses weight. How unrealistic is that? Sure, maybe one would check up on Lucy's progress every month when her show airs, but other than that, how can anyone remember Lucy beyond that, let alone celebrate her? Frankly, (please forgive this very snarky evaluation her if you don't happen to agree with me), Lucy reminds me of Kim Kardishian. Why? Because she is just like her, celebrated for no talent at all.
Dear author, please don't use all the flowery adjectives to describe Lucy's qualities in the blurb. Please let the readers discover for themselves what a (supposedly) smart-mouthed, stubborn, stoic, tough and unforgettable person Lucy is. This means of trying to convince readers of Lucy's qualities even before readers start the book, betrays an insecurity of the author that Lucy may be inadequately portrayed in the book, who hopes we can have a positive impression of Lucy so we may come to like the book just as readers may have been unwittingly doped into liking Lucy.
Well, it didn't work.
I hope my evil temper does not infect those who read this review. Honestly, I can go on and on about how much I dislike Theo because of his unwarranted sappiness, and the predictability of the romance. But what annoyed me the most is Lucy's character. I would be more ok if the title went Theo Loves Her. Or better yet, He Loves Her. Boring and weird, yes, but at least not irksome. But then again, given that the romance in He Loves Lucy is so flat, I'm not even sure if love is what you'll call the feeling between Lucy and Theo. Hmm. He Lusts After Her, anyone? Hell yeah. A much, much more precise title.
I am feeling a bit bad-tempered and daring today. Please forgive my language and meanness, which will be exhibited throughout the review, which shall be entitled "I Despise Lucy".
Smart-mouthed? Stubborn? Stoic? Tough? Unforgettable? More like dumb, clingy, needy, weak and one-dimensional. Lucy is totally overrated. Or should I say underrated. Underrated in terms of her ego. Just because you initially were an underdog doesn't mean that you get to parade around and expecting every guy to attend to your petty desires. Ironic, but I feel that nowadays underdoggity is celebrated because underdogs evoke a sense of empathy and support of the commons. But Lucy herself does not inspire any form of, well, model inspiration whatsoever.
And I absolutely loathe how Lucy becomes a celebrity just because she looses weight. How unrealistic is that? Sure, maybe one would check up on Lucy's progress every month when her show airs, but other than that, how can anyone remember Lucy beyond that, let alone celebrate her? Frankly, (please forgive this very snarky evaluation her if you don't happen to agree with me), Lucy reminds me of Kim Kardishian. Why? Because she is just like her, celebrated for no talent at all.
Dear author, please don't use all the flowery adjectives to describe Lucy's qualities in the blurb. Please let the readers discover for themselves what a (supposedly) smart-mouthed, stubborn, stoic, tough and unforgettable person Lucy is. This means of trying to convince readers of Lucy's qualities even before readers start the book, betrays an insecurity of the author that Lucy may be inadequately portrayed in the book, who hopes we can have a positive impression of Lucy so we may come to like the book just as readers may have been unwittingly doped into liking Lucy.
Well, it didn't work.
I hope my evil temper does not infect those who read this review. Honestly, I can go on and on about how much I dislike Theo because of his unwarranted sappiness, and the predictability of the romance. But what annoyed me the most is Lucy's character. I would be more ok if the title went Theo Loves Her. Or better yet, He Loves Her. Boring and weird, yes, but at least not irksome. But then again, given that the romance in He Loves Lucy is so flat, I'm not even sure if love is what you'll call the feeling between Lucy and Theo. Hmm. He Lusts After Her, anyone? Hell yeah. A much, much more precise title.
August 3, 2012
I can't say I really liked this book. Something about Lucy just irritated me til the point I wanted to start popping Benadryl. She was very... shallow. I expected a little more depth from someone who'd been so completely traumatized and she didn't live up to my expectations.
Theo was also missing something. He wasn't very charming and seemed to have more emotional baggage than Lucy. The only aspect I enjoyed was his relationship with his brother, though, it was really just another thing to add to his 'perfect' list.
Overall, I found myself skimming the book so I wouldn't have to listen to Lucy's whining and Theo's boring inner monologue.
Theo was also missing something. He wasn't very charming and seemed to have more emotional baggage than Lucy. The only aspect I enjoyed was his relationship with his brother, though, it was really just another thing to add to his 'perfect' list.
Overall, I found myself skimming the book so I wouldn't have to listen to Lucy's whining and Theo's boring inner monologue.
November 10, 2016
Unexpectedly good and with more depth than I thought there would be.
August 13, 2009
I don't know what I didn't like about this book, but I did not put it down with that happy feeling that I wished there were more and was so happy to have read this story. Right off the bat I will say that for me the romance scenes were a bit crass and that was a bit of a turn off for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a good romance scene, but her terminology made the scenes ugly to me, not romantic and exciting. I may be revealing myself as overly prude, but I abhor the use of the p-word.
The story was also extremly formulaic: boy is beautiful and perfect, girl starts out fat with low self-esteem, girl loses weight, they fall in love but it has nothing to do with how her body looks, it's her inner strength and beauty; the weight loss is just a bonus.
Maybe I've read too many romances lately and have become jaded and picky. Maybe now that I'm reading more classics and novels with some meat these all seem formulaic to me. I don't know exactly what it is that I didn't like b/c this seems like exactly the kind of story I used to love, but this one didn't do it for me.
The story was also extremly formulaic: boy is beautiful and perfect, girl starts out fat with low self-esteem, girl loses weight, they fall in love but it has nothing to do with how her body looks, it's her inner strength and beauty; the weight loss is just a bonus.
Maybe I've read too many romances lately and have become jaded and picky. Maybe now that I'm reading more classics and novels with some meat these all seem formulaic to me. I don't know exactly what it is that I didn't like b/c this seems like exactly the kind of story I used to love, but this one didn't do it for me.
June 18, 2017
**2.5 Milk Duds Stars**
[Reto 2017, libro #24: P. Con problemas de peso]
Bonita historia, entretenida, y algo romántica.
[Reto 2017, libro #24: P. Con problemas de peso]
Bonita historia, entretenida, y algo romántica.
February 6, 2021
Marketing exec Lucy Cunningham came up with the idea for the Palm Club account where they would track the monthly progress of a person needing to lose a hundred pounds. That person just so happens to be Lucy and she finds herself being trained by Theo Redmond, a trainer who oozes confidence, good looks and completely unattainable. At the end Lucy and Theo will get $1000 per pound shed. What happens though when not everyone is as supportive about the weight loss venture, family dynamics come into play and the attraction between Lucy and Theo becomes difficult to deny?
I am a sucker for weight loss heroines. I thought this was a wonderful portrayal of someone who has struggled with weight and the outside influences that frequently come into play. Lucy finds herself, it is not instant it is a work in progress and I loved to see how she flourished through out the book. Theo has so much more to his character then what I expected. The one thing I truly appreciate about this book is how in depth with the characters this author goes. Terrific story.
I am a sucker for weight loss heroines. I thought this was a wonderful portrayal of someone who has struggled with weight and the outside influences that frequently come into play. Lucy finds herself, it is not instant it is a work in progress and I loved to see how she flourished through out the book. Theo has so much more to his character then what I expected. The one thing I truly appreciate about this book is how in depth with the characters this author goes. Terrific story.
September 13, 2014
I can see how this is a fun and lighthearted read. The overweight to beauty plot is just not for me. The heroine is too insecure and it's not enough a plot to keep me interested. I went for it anyway, because I saw a list with this book ranked for its witty dialogue. I didn't get any witty dialogue from this book. The heroine is self deprecating in a funny way, but I didn't get any witty banter. I found it all to be over the top from the sneaky boss to the model as a best friend. Theo is a gorgeous personal trainer who is the sole caretaker for his Down Syndrome brother and paying his way through med school. It's a bit much. As for Lucy, she's OK but I get annoyed by the insecure, overweight heroines. I should have passed on this one. And Theo saying that a size 14 and 175 lbs is "average". Now that's totally over the top.
August 14, 2008
I don't think I have ever laughed so hard while reading a book. It was hilarious throughout the entire book. I loved Lucy's sarcasm and quick wit - even when she was large. I completely related with her self esteem issues when it came to her body. I think anyone who has ever been overweight (whether it be 20lbs or a 100lbs) would be able to relate to what she was going through. Watching her relationship with Theo change was definitely a pleasure to read. I wish Ms. Donovan would write a story about one of the secondary characters so maybe we could get a glimpse of Theo and Lucy now. I really can't say enough about this book! I will most likely go out and buy it (I borrowed it from the library) so I can have it on standby when I have a really bad day.
March 22, 2010
I had a lot of mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, I loved the character of Theo and his flirty behavior when motivating Lucy. On the other hand, I found the entire story to be very unrealistic. Lucy was losing weight way too fast, and I missed some of the realism that could come with the tale. Yes, I wanted a happy ending, but I wanted a more realistic one. It was a bit too sappy for me in the end. I think it would have been cool if she stalled at 165 pounds or something like that...
November 21, 2010
I was surprised that I liked this book. Basing a story on losing 100 pounds in a year could easily go badly, but the characters stayed pretty realistic. They each had their own baggage to get over to grow and had some good supporting characters. Her boss was a bit over the top though.
July 2, 2017
Kurzweiliger durchschnittlicher ChickLit.
October 29, 2016
I've been going through a list of books with plus size heroines and I have to say the vast majority of them are cliché, as expected. I have yet to read a novel where the the plus size heroine isn't this weak, tortured soul who doesn't realize her self worth until a man comes into the picture. I thought it was going to be a sweet, quick read but not only is the dialogue corny as hell but it was SEVERELY poorly written. Don't get me started on the narration. The Latina/Hispanic characters in this book were so poorly researched, they were exaggerated a la Sophia Vergara and now how Hispanic Miami-ans speak/act. The only reason I'm giving this 2 stars is because of the really terrible story from Lucy's past because I think we've all been subjects of bullying at some point and I loved how she handled that later in the book.
Back to the drawing board!
Back to the drawing board!
May 27, 2012
What a fun, sexy read! Loved:)Reminded me a bit of Jennifer Crusie's Anyone But You. Especially loved that Theo wasn't an uber-alpha, muscle-head, but was instead a real, sweet, sexy, funny guy. Lucy's journey was tough to read in places, and I know it can't possibly as easy as it seems here to lose 90+ pounds, but page after page of exercise details would have made for dull reading. Ultimately this was a fun read that delved into some serious issues without becoming maudlin. Gonna hunt down more Susan Donovan reads now!
April 27, 2008
This book is the epitome of "beach read", and maybe I should be ashamed to say this - but I loved it. It was sweet, short and sassy and exactly what I needed for a quick, fun read. 2 thumbs up!
September 15, 2009
This is a favorite Donovan book for me! Loved the characters and how love grew. The secondary characters were so wonderful and just added the extra ingredient to make this a real winner!
February 22, 2010
Had to give this 5 stars because I simply can not think of a single thing wrong with it! This was my ideal romance novel.
January 2, 2019
I admit it, I am still looking for the perfect 'curvy h loses a great deal of weight and falls for her trainer' book. It's a theme that is just fraught with difficulties but I feel like it has the potential to be a really great book in the right author's hands.
On the horrific end of the spectrum, there's Jemima J, where the author clearly is fat-phobic and her book is a nightmare of stereotypes and twisted plot devices (to be fair, in this book doesn't fit perfectly into the category. Near the middle is Big-Girl Panties, where there are some problematic issues (including an H I think is probably a narcissist and an h who probably needs therapy for her self-esteem issues). Getting closer to the ideal is He Loves Lucy, where the h has self-esteem issues related to her appearance, but who has a lot of self-esteem in general and is a dynamo in a lot of ways. She's also getting therapy, and the H comes across as a thoughtful guy who falls in love with the h for the right reasons, and who thinks she's pretty no matter what her weight.
On the horrific end of the spectrum, there's Jemima J, where the author clearly is fat-phobic and her book is a nightmare of stereotypes and twisted plot devices (to be fair, in this book doesn't fit perfectly into the category. Near the middle is Big-Girl Panties, where there are some problematic issues (including an H I think is probably a narcissist and an h who probably needs therapy for her self-esteem issues). Getting closer to the ideal is He Loves Lucy, where the h has self-esteem issues related to her appearance, but who has a lot of self-esteem in general and is a dynamo in a lot of ways. She's also getting therapy, and the H comes across as a thoughtful guy who falls in love with the h for the right reasons, and who thinks she's pretty no matter what her weight.
September 23, 2011
Gender: Contemporary
Hero: Theodor ‘Theo’ Redmond
Heroine: Lucy Cunningham
Rating: 4*
I wanted to give this book 3 stars but in the end it won me over. It's not that it isn't well written or that the characters are boring, they're not, but when I read a romance novel, whatever the subgender, I want it to be extraordinary :D With this I mean that, well, I want my characters not to be normal people who have to work like everyone else or have normal problems. And this is what "He loves Lucy" is.
I won’t bore you guys with a description of the plot and all but I have to mention the scene that made me give 1* bonus, so to say. Lucy has some issues and one of them is about some asshole who humiliated her 10 years prior on live TV. So Theo has this great idea to make her kick box :D Nothing out of the ordinary here… He “plays” the asshole and insults Lucy so she’ll let it all out. She kicks and screams and all and Theo decides that besides keeping the bloody bag still he has to see her…. That’s the moment he leans and her foot connects with his brow :D He has to go to the hospital and get stitches and all and the doctor, being nice and all, says:
“I’ve just got to tell you, Lucy—some women threaten it, but most don’t actually kick their man in the head.”
From that moment on I couldn’t stop laughing :D
This book was about people with Dawn syndrome and how they adjust and live a normal life(Theo’s brother) … about inner beauty, battling your demons and self confidence … about friendship and family… about learning to trust and to love. All this packaged in a funny romance which at first sight you wouldn’t think it offers much :)
[image error]
is the guy Anzu showed me that does what Theo did in this book. He even looks like our Theo *sigh*
PS:
That is Theo's cat :D this one looks normal, his cat was crazy and had a temper and hated everyone
Hero: Theodor ‘Theo’ Redmond
Heroine: Lucy Cunningham
Rating: 4*
I wanted to give this book 3 stars but in the end it won me over. It's not that it isn't well written or that the characters are boring, they're not, but when I read a romance novel, whatever the subgender, I want it to be extraordinary :D With this I mean that, well, I want my characters not to be normal people who have to work like everyone else or have normal problems. And this is what "He loves Lucy" is.
I won’t bore you guys with a description of the plot and all but I have to mention the scene that made me give 1* bonus, so to say. Lucy has some issues and one of them is about some asshole who humiliated her 10 years prior on live TV. So Theo has this great idea to make her kick box :D Nothing out of the ordinary here… He “plays” the asshole and insults Lucy so she’ll let it all out. She kicks and screams and all and Theo decides that besides keeping the bloody bag still he has to see her…. That’s the moment he leans and her foot connects with his brow :D He has to go to the hospital and get stitches and all and the doctor, being nice and all, says:
“I’ve just got to tell you, Lucy—some women threaten it, but most don’t actually kick their man in the head.”
From that moment on I couldn’t stop laughing :D
This book was about people with Dawn syndrome and how they adjust and live a normal life(Theo’s brother) … about inner beauty, battling your demons and self confidence … about friendship and family… about learning to trust and to love. All this packaged in a funny romance which at first sight you wouldn’t think it offers much :)
[image error]
is the guy Anzu showed me that does what Theo did in this book. He even looks like our Theo *sigh*
PS:
That is Theo's cat :D this one looks normal, his cat was crazy and had a temper and hated everyone
May 7, 2015
Lucy Redmond is a marketing exec,when her agency wins the account for Miami's hottest fitness centre she comes up with an idea for a reality show. Get an overweight woman to lose weight within a set time. Little did she realise that the woman would be her. Theo is the trainer assigned to help Lucy lose a 100lb in a year. For every pound she loses she and her personal trainer will get a thousand dollars each. Lucy wants to start her own agency and Theo her trainer wants to get back into med school so they have plenty of incentive to make the target.
This sounded like it was going to be an amusing read, Lucy is supposed to be a smart mouthed, take no prisoners type of woman, when in reality she's totally insecure. She's very self depreciating. While Theo was just too perfect for my taste, perfect looks, perfect personality, in fact I found him a perfect bore. He has a whole slew of female clients who refer to him as Theo-dorable, cringe! What bothered me most was he only started taking a more personal interest in Lucy once she shed the weight. I didn't like the message the story was giving, that love is only for the thin and if you're overweight forget it.
This sounded like it was going to be an amusing read, Lucy is supposed to be a smart mouthed, take no prisoners type of woman, when in reality she's totally insecure. She's very self depreciating. While Theo was just too perfect for my taste, perfect looks, perfect personality, in fact I found him a perfect bore. He has a whole slew of female clients who refer to him as Theo-dorable, cringe! What bothered me most was he only started taking a more personal interest in Lucy once she shed the weight. I didn't like the message the story was giving, that love is only for the thin and if you're overweight forget it.
March 27, 2011
5 Fantastic Stars!! I loved Lucy and you’ll love Lucy too!
From the first hilarious chapter to the wonderful ending and all the good stuff in between, this book will leave you satisfied, and feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Sigh!! It’s filled with lessons to be learned and perceptions that are shattered. Good looks do not always relate to a perfect life…not all is as it seems. Lucy is such a genuine character, whose self-esteem has been shattered. On her journey to regain that part of herself and lose the pounds she’s been hiding under, you’ll be standing on the sidelines cheering her on. Theo…sigh…oh Theo! One of the most appealing, endearing, charming, sexy…I so wish you were real and belonged to me…characters I’ve ever encountered. The family and friends you meet along the way just make the story that much more appealing.
I guarantee that if you need a laugh and a pick-me-up…run to get one of Susan Donovan’s books; it’ll make you feel better.
April 12, 2015
Contemporary Romance/Comedy Wow! If you're looking for that perfect romance, look no further! Lucy is an irresistible heroine, one that every woman will identify with. I love her sense of humor,. And Theo may look like a heartbreaker, but he's steady and true. Their story contains no silly bickering, no childish misunderstandings, no prideful spite or passive aggression. This is what healthy love looks like, built one day at a time, liberally sprinkled with laughter. Highly recommended. Adult only, several intimate scenes and some foul language. (I'm allergic to foul language in a book, but this was used judiciously.)
June 26, 2010
He may have loved Lucy, but I loved Lucy too! I just loved everything about this cute and quirky little romance. The characters were very appealing. Lucy with all her nuances and Theo, my God the man was hot, and loveable. I loved the fact that the author showed both sides, who people think he is versus who he really is. I suppose we all have our preconcieved impressions about personal trainers and it was great to see the author bring this out in the story line.
Loved, loved, loved this book. It kept me entertained from beginning to end.
Loved, loved, loved this book. It kept me entertained from beginning to end.
October 20, 2011
This was a fun read, a mood lifter for sure. When I realized it was a book about weight I almost put it down but am really glad I didn't. The woman had no pity on herself, she was confident and I really liked that about her. She had a goal and she wanted to succeed, even if her heart was in it way more than she had expected. I flew through this book, it was really, really good!
I will absolutely be reading more from this author. She's hilarious with a great feel for real human emotion.
I will absolutely be reading more from this author. She's hilarious with a great feel for real human emotion.
November 30, 2014
I just couldn't stand her whining and her total lack of self worth. the worst thing is a woman who can't tie her shoes without a man's encouragement and approval. sure have a fight and stuff yourself with tones of pizza and destroy all your hard work you whinny. bleh!
September 12, 2017
2 stars for Lucy
4 stars for Theo
5 stars for Buddy
4 stars for Theo
5 stars for Buddy
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