Want a NOOK? Explore Now
That’s when I saw him—the cowboy—across the smoky room.
I’ll never forget that night. It was like a romance novel, an old Broadway musical, and a John Wayne Western rolled into one. Out for a quick drink with friends, I wasn’t looking to meet anyone, let alone a tall, rugged cowboy who lived on a cattle ranch miles away from my cultured, corporate hometown. But before I knew it, I’d been struck with a lightning bolt . . . and I was completely powerless to stop it.
This isn’t just my love story; it’s a universal tale of passion, romance, and all-encompassing love that sweeps us off our feet.
It’s the story of a cowboy. And Wranglers. And chaps. And the girl who fell in love with them.
What happens when a nice University of Southern California city girl meets an irresistible cowboy? Ree Drummond spins the inevitable, yet simultaneously improbable tale in this sweet memoir adventure about her major life transition. What began as a blog and then a cookbook (The Pioneer Woman Cooks) became a reader favorite that has now graduated to trade paperback and NOOK Book editions.
— Edward Ash-Milby
Ree Drummond began blogging in 2006 and has built www.ThePioneerWoman.com into an award-winning website, where she shares recipes, showcases her photography, and documents her hilarious transition from city life to ranch wife. Ree lives on a working cattle ranch near Pawhuska, Oklahoma, with her husband, Ladd, and their four ranch hands.
Some girls have all the luck. Ree Drummond's depiction of her cowboy husband in "The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" would make any female swoon. He is quite literally the perfect man, and yet totally believable in the role. Despite his wife's glowing characterization, the affectionately dubbed "Marlboro Man" still manages to come across as authentic and utterly likable. What seems to be a personality that is too good to be true is actually the genuine nature of a decent, respectable guy.
Ree is more critical of her own faults and short comings. She grew up as an American princess. Her backyard was the golf course of a country club. Her wardrobe was filled with designer clothes. When she moved back home after a break-up, she didn't have to worry about finding a job right away in order to support herself. Not to say that her life was completely devoid of anxiety, but she lived a life that was secure and protected. Her plan was to pick herself up, dust herself off and head to Chicago for a life filled with excitement and culture. That is until, she met Marlboro Man.
The two begin to form an intimate relationship that can rightly be called a courtship. On most evenings, Marlboro Man drives Ree to his ranch in his pick-up truck where they spend the time cooking dinner, watching movies and snuggling on the front porch under the stars. Ever the gentleman, Marlboro Man doesn't push things farther than long make-out sessions on his couch and makes sure Ree makes it home every night. But not before calling to wish her a good night with his deep baritone voice that never fails to send shivers down Ree's spine.
If Marlboro Man has an agenda, it is to make Ree his wife. Though not necessarily reluctant to spend the rest of her life with the man of her dreams, she begins to question her suitability in regards to his rural lifestyle. The quiet. The isolation. The manure. Can she really give up everything she's ever known and planned for in order to adapt to the rugged, physical existence of life on the farm?
The beauty of the narrative lies in Ree's transformation. She was always a good-hearted person - having patience with her special needs brother, trying to be there for both of her parents as they go through a painful divorce - but she grows beyond the boundaries of her suburban mindset. It is as if she experiences a reawakening about what is really important in life versus what is just meaningless excess. The pure, unconditional love of Marlboro Man opens her eyes to a whole new host of possibilities now before her. It is beautiful to walk with Ree as she undergoes this transformation.
While in many ways a modern day fairy tale, the book is not all fluff. After their wedding, the couple comes to experience several back-to-back hardships that test their mettle right off the bat. Things do not begin to run as smoothly as during their dating days, but they come to rely on and support each other in a conjoined effort to face head-on whatever comes their way.
One wonders how the quiet, reserved nature of Marlboro Man feels about having his private moments with Ree captured in print for all to read. Does he truly feels comfortable sharing such intimate details with the world? However, he will no doubt feel the gratitude of every woman who picks up the book thanking God that a man like him truly exists.
Overall, women the world over will swoon for Marlboro Man.
23 out of 23 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I had high hopes, as a good love story is hard to pass up . . . I am thrilled she has such a wonderful relationship, however I found this trite and superficial. I think the storyline has lots of potential, but readers will hear the same details over and over---we get the picture that his shirts were starched and his jeans were faded. Disappointing . . . not a good use of time, thought or money on my part.
8 out of 20 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sat Feb 05 00:00:00 EST 2011
I, too, read the story off of her blog, but am buying a copy...There's just nothing like the way a real book smells and feels. Ree's storytelling is just like you've got your best friend you've known all your life sitting right next to you. Her "voice" comes through the pages witch such detail its amazing. Be prepared to NOT put this sucker down!
7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.butterflygirl0624
Posted Tue Feb 08 00:00:00 EST 2011
Ree is such an interesting woman-I love her blog and hope she writes another book to continue her story.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.5443638
Posted Thu Feb 03 00:00:00 EST 2011
Sometimes the right book finds you just when you need it. The story of Ree and Marlboro Man is charming and funny and takes you back to that time and place in your memory when you met that someone who makes your heart flutter. Her writing style is witty and welcoming - felt like I was listening to her while cozying up in a warm kitchen, sharing a cinnamon roll. I highly recommend you block out some time to read this one cover to cover in one sitting!
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Alla_S
Posted Thu Feb 24 00:00:00 EST 2011
"Pioneer Woman: Black Heels To Tractor Wheels," is Ree Drumond's sequel to her cookbook "The Pioneer Woman Cooks." However, this time recipes are relegated to the last few section. This is no longer a story about cuisine, but a memoir about Ree's life. Ree first gained popularity as an online blogger writing about her country life and cowboy husband. And if you ever wondered about Ree's life behind the scenes, or happen to be one of the city girls who pine for small-town America, then this book is for you.
After spending her college years in L.A. and breaking up with her surfer-type boyfriend J, Ree moves back to her hometown in order to relax before moving on to Chicago. But her plans go astray when she meets her husband, who she refers to as Marlboro Man, at a bar one night. Her sudden attraction for Marlboro Man becomes her lifesaver as she gets stalked by her ex-boyfriend, witnesses the downfall of her parents' marriage, and is forced to choose between Chicago and the love of her life.
I found this to be a very detailed memoir, and I have to say I admire the author's candor. She doesn't hide from even the most embarrassing moments (and as an inexperienced fiancé of a cowboy there are too many to count) and somehow survives everything from a fire at a fellow cowboy's house, to a disastrous honeymoon and the games of her distrustful soon to be brother. If you like to read romance novels, skip them and go for the non-fiction. As I found while reading this book, sometimes real life beats fiction.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.3837438
Posted Sat Feb 05 00:00:00 EST 2011
i love her blog, and this book did not disappoint!!
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.6475430
Posted Tue Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011
I loved this book so much I want to make all of my married friends and relitives read it. Its a wonderful love story that made me laugh, cry, and fall in love with my husband all over again. She is very honest about her feelings for Marbrol Man and it shows how great they both are as people. Her outlook on life and experiences as a newlywed made me want to read the book again and again. She is a very inspiring writer and woman.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Absolutely loved this book! The Pioneer Woman is going into My Favorites catagory! I have already recommended it to all my friends on Facebook.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Feb 04 00:00:00 EST 2011
Fun, easy read that will make you chuckle.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Thu Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013
This book is so hard to put down, many early mornings I'll wake up to find the bedroom light left on, my husband sound asleep and me having fallen asleep sitting up. It made order some more of Ree's books. Keep on writting!! I'll keep on reading, cooking, and watching her TV shows.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Feb 22 00:00:00 EST 2011
I have read Ree's blog and her writing is amazing so I thought her book would be just as good. I could not put it down. Her love story is realistic, funny and honest! Wonderful read!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.aharey
Posted Sun Feb 20 00:00:00 EST 2011
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and fun, yet I could feel the real emotions the author felt as she details her courtship with Marlboro Man. I could picture the events as they happened, and she holds nothing back. I would highly recommend this book!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Lori-from-Iowa
Posted Sat Feb 19 00:00:00 EST 2011
I was actually excited to read this book. It was well written, so I know that the author had the potential, however the plot was horrible. You never know his real name, he is referred to as Marlboro Man. And it's all about their dates that go no where, just that she loves him. Then they marry, and she throws up all the time, oh but she still loves him. So disappointed! Waste of good money and time!
2 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.SweetCs
Posted Fri Feb 11 00:00:00 EST 2011
Since discovering Ree Drummond's blog The Pioneer Woman a year ago, I've found myself drawn into her life on the ranch. Ree is a talented writer who knows how to engage her audience. I can only hope that she has another book on the horizon. This story of her romance with Marlboro Man was romantic and at times hysterical. It's a book that once you start reading, it's hard to put down and I didn't. At the end there's a sweet surprise...Recipes.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.7041907
Posted Thu Feb 24 00:00:00 EST 2011
great read. couldn't put it down. fabulous country love story
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I received this book Tuesday afternoon, I read it for a few hours, and then finished it up Wednesday afternoon. It's a wonderful story. As someone who is coming off of a long relationship, reading her story gives me so much hope. I'm a daily visitor to her site, but I never read any of Black Heels on the website. Reading this entire book was wonderful. If you're a fan of how Ree writes on her website, you'll love this book.
It's humorous and quirky but also a beautiful story. They have a lovely relationship that I would love to have. Ree is wonderful and her book is lovely. Recipes she mentioned in the book are included in the back as well which is a great addition.
It's witty and funny, and a pretty quick read. You won't get bored reading it there's never a part where you start to daydream because it's not holding your interest.
Definitely worth the read!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.ALCruz
Posted Wed Feb 09 00:00:00 EST 2011
I love this story of Ree and her Marlboro Man! Its a real life love story, and it belongs on the pages of a novel!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sun Aug 25 00:00:00 EDT 2013
If you are a fan of "The Pioneer Woman" on Food Network, you will really like this book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Wed Jul 24 00:00:00 EDT 2013
I have read this book 5 times now and could not put it down. A true love story where you feel as though you are in the story and experiencing exactly what she is. It is detailed in all the right places and yet she keeps it very classy. Love love love it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
That’s when I saw him—the cowboy—across the smoky room.
I’ll never forget that night. It was like a romance novel, an old Broadway musical, and a John Wayne Western rolled into one. Out for a quick drink with friends, I wasn’t looking to meet anyone, let alone a tall, rugged cowboy who lived on a cattle ranch miles away from my cultured, corporate hometown. But before I knew it, I’d been struck with a lightning bolt . . . and I was completely ...