Slim Pickins' in Fat Chance, Texas

Fat Chance, Texas #2

by Celia Bonaduce

A fresh, heartwarming voice. —jodi thomas, new york times bestselling author. It’s been a year since an eccentric billionaire summoned seven strangers to the dilapidated, postage stamp-sized town of fat chance, texas. To win a cash bequest, each was required to spend six months in the ghost town to see if they could transform it and themselves into something extraordinary. But by the time pastry chef fernando cruz arrives, several members of the original gang have already skedaddled. Fernando’s hopes of starting a new life in fat chance are dashed when the town’s handful of ragtag residents and a mysterious low-flying plane—show him just how weird the place actually is. His hopes of making over the town’s sole cafe into a bbq restaurant for nearby ranchers threaten to turn to dust as a string of bizarre secrets are revealed.

Genres: Contemporary, Chick Lit

220 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 2016

About the author

Celia Bonaduce has the coolest day job – a field producer on HGTV’s House Hunters. Her credits include other HGTV shows, including Tiny House Hunters, Where Are They Now and ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

If you’re sensing a theme – a love of houses – so did she. After her mother moved into a tiny house of her own, it seemed like a new book series revolving around what it’s like to live in a tiny house was nothing less than providential.

While Celia’s other books – the Venice Beach Romance series and the Fat Chance, Texas trilogy – are anchored in particular places, the heroines of the Tiny House Novels are off to discover life’s big mysteries while living tiny!

Reviews

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slim Pickins' in Fat Chance, Texas is the sequel to Celia Bonaduce's Welcome To Fat Chance, Texas which saw a disparate group of people each forced to make something of a sun-blasted ghost town in the Texas hill country within six months to earn a cash bequest.

By the time pastry chef Fernando Cruz arrives a year later looking for a new challenge, only a handful of the group, those with no where else to go, remain in the broken down town. Despite the improbability of success, Fernando decides to open a BBQ restaurant to cater for nearby ranchers and the residents hope it will mean a second chance for their town.

Romance, drama and a touch of suspense combine to create an enjoyable novel.

Fat Chance is full of quirky characters including the grizzled Pappy, carpenter Powderkeg and farmer Dymphna as well as a menagerie of animals, including a bloodhound named Thud, a mule called Elvis and a buzzard named Fancy.

Each resident contributes to the town and the mission to revive it in unique ways, occasionally sidetracked by their own romantic mini dramas, disasters and a wayward prize longhorn named Rocket.

Slim Pickins' in Fat Chance offers southern charm and an eccentric Texan flavour. A quick, fun read.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasant and easy-going read. It really was like a breath of fresh air. The characters were well-developed and likable, the plot flowed with a good balance of some drama and comedic relief, and themes included were easily relatable.

One of my favorite aspects of the story was the animal involvement throughout this piece. There were chickens, goats, a buzzard, a mule, and some newcomers that play a bigger role than one may expect. Without giving too much away, I thought the symbolism of one particular animal was extremely cute.

The only ‘issue’ I had was one particular love triangle, though very light, I thought was fast and almost out-of-the-blue. At first I didn’t think it added much to the story until the very end. I still found it a bit abrupt, but I can better understand why it was placed within the story.

Speaking of the love aspect, I do want to mention that all the romance here is pretty clean and means more than just physical attraction. This is a relief since several romantic aspects of novels are not necessarily clean, but I’m happy to report that this one is!

Overall, a lovely and heartwarming read that I fully enjoyed. It’s something that’ll give you a calming and relaxing feeling like cuddling with a fuzzy blanket. I would recommend this read to those enjoy heartwarming and light reads.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slim Pickins' in Fat Chance, Texas by Celia Bonaduce

It has been a year since a billionaire asked seven strangers to stay in the desert in Texas, to win a lot of money. All they had to do was turn the ghost town into a livable place. Not everyone stayed, and pastry chef Fernando Cruz comes to the small town. Fernando hopes to start a new life in Fat Chance and turn the cafe into a BBQ restaurant. It doesn't take long for him to come across many obstacles and some very eccentric people.

A fantastic follow up to Welcome To Fat Chance, Texas. The plot is original,with drama, and fun moments. The characters are well developed, some in their own quirky ways. They have come a long way in that one year, and it seems they must come together once again, to try to continue to improve their home town. Slim Pickins' in Fat Chance, Texas was an enjoyable read, I recommend to all.

[Natasha du Plessis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.
This book was very well written and was a short easy read, my only problem was that I did not read the first book in the series - Welkom to Fat Chance Texas. I feel that you need to read the first book before reading Slim Pickins' as it took me a while to get to figure out what happened previously. (No short synopsis is given at the start of Slim Pickins') I enjoyed all the characters and could imagine Pappy in my minds eye as well as Rocket the longhorn, it was funny imagining a longhorn being so tame. The people off Fat Chance really is a nice bunch of characters thrown together through different circumstances. A good read about small (ghost) town life in Texas that I would recommend to a friend but first they have to read Welkom to Fat Chance Texas. This book according to me is not a stand alone.

[Terri Weitze · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet little rom-com kind of book. Second in the series; I did not read the first and I had no problem following along. References to what (I assume) is the first book abound but none are confusing. So you can just jump into the story right here if you so choose. Characters are fun and interesting, conflicts are pretty superficial (as you might expect in a rom-com). A fast enjoyable read that doesn't require much in the way of brain power. No cursing, no sex, no graphic violence.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the second in the series and can be read in order or as a stand alone. The book continues the stories of the original remaining characters and adds a new character as they continue to put Fat Chance on the map. Over all this is a fun fast read with entertaining characters.

[D.E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

Based on the synopsis and the genre description of romantic comedy, I was expecting a funny romance about a crazy bunch of folks who all ended up staying in Fat Chance. That’s not exactly what I got. While there are some funny moments in the story, I wouldn’t label the book a comedy (then again that could be my own sense of humor holding me back). I also expected more romance, but the romance is a bit stunted. It’s almost as if the characters were from a different time with the slow and confusing manner in which the romances developed.

But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the story. It was an engaging read. Except for Dympha, I liked the characters. And they were really all ‘characters’. At the start, I was a tad bit disappointed that certain characters who were in Fat Chance at the end of the first book, were long gone. My disappointment was somewhat alleviated by the introduction of Fernando. He was a great addition to this bunch of misfits.

The writing was good, but here and there a bit disjointed. Weeks would pass in a blink of an eye. And sometimes there were unnecessary descriptions, which I was tempted to skim over. In general, I found the writing in this second book of the series much smoother than the previous book. I also thought the book was uplifting (except for Dympha’s suitor situation which I just found strange) and it left me with a smile on my face.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book!
This is a great book; this book is part of the Fat Chance, Texas series by Celia Bonaduce. It has been a year since an eccentric billionaire summoned seven strangers to the dilapidated, postage stamp sized town of Fat Chance, Texas. Fernando Cruz is a pastry chef and moves to Fat Chance in hopes to take over the town’s café and turn it into a BBQ restaurant. The quirky citizens need to work together to build the town that they all want. If you are looking for a great fun book then you need to read this one. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

[Georgiann Hennelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A year ago a Billionaire asked seven strangers to stay in a ghost town in Texas, in order to win a lot of money they had to stay there for six months and try to transform it and them selves -into something truly extraordinary. By the time Pastry Chef Fernando Cruz arrives several people have already left. His hopes of starting over are dashed when he meets the ragtag residents of the town and a low flying plane shows him just how weird the place is. His hopes of turning the only Cafe in town into a BBQ Restaurant for the local Ranchers threaten to turn to dust when a string of bizarre secrets are revealed. But just when things look the worst the residents realize they just might be able to build the type of Home town they all need - but never knew they wanted.....

[Coral Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

It has been a year since we last read about Fat Chance, Texas and the seven strangers brought together to make something for themselves by an eccentric billionaire. Pastry chef Fernando has arrived to see this unique town and several of the group have left. Fernando dreams big of his own BBQ restaurant and the remaining town members hope he will be another chance to bring Fat Chance to the map.

I love all the quirky characters in Fat Chance and am glad to read more about them, especially Dymphna. I hope there are more Fat Chance stories on the way. I want to read more about all of them and their chance at love and Fat Chance.

[Gina Popp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I’ve read in the Fat Chance series and I love the zany characters. Although it is a humorous read, the author also goes deeper with insights about what it’s like for each individual as they all redefine their lives with a second chance in this deserted ghost town. The characters are experiencing many issues that most real people experience at one time or another in their lives, but have trouble verbalizing. However, author Celia Bonaduce does a great job of describing and dealing with these serious issues in a very entertaining way. I’ve really never read anything like the stories in the Fat Chance, Texas series and I love them.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book that continues the story of Welcome to Fat Chance, TX. I hadn't read the first book so there are some parts of the story that I'm lost in so I would recommend reading Welcome to Fat Chance, TX. Despite that I thought this was a quirky & enjoyable read. The townsfolk are a great group of unique characters & you get swept away in their escapades. I look forward to reading more by Celia Bonaduce.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Liz Donatelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fat Chance, Texas is home to some of my most favorite characters! In Slim Pickins', the Fat Chancers endeavor to turn the town into a thriving community by supporting newcomer Fernando in his efforts to open a BBQ restaurant. Snappy, clever dialogue. Great fun! I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Susan O'Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read - perfect for a day at the beach. Bonaduce's series about Fat Chance, Texas, has colorful characters and a predictable story line. The story of Fat Chance and its inhabitants plays out filled with hope and determination. It's one of those novels that always end happily.

ARC provided by NetGalley

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

We return to Fat Chance where Fernando is thinking of opening the cafe. Dymphna is running the farm and Professor Johnson is trying to find a way to make money for the town. The three work together trying to save the town. I like this series and the people who live in Fat Chance.

[charmaine White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice

It's an odd but different kind of story.Wasn't sure I would like it,,but it but somehow it works out and I did.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slim Pickins' in Fat Chance, Texas review

Slim Pickins' in Fat Chance, Texas is the very funny second book in this series written by author Celia Bonaduce.