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"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.
Read along as I recount the rip-roaring details of my unlikely romance with a chaps-wearing cowboy, from the early days of our courtship (complete with cows, horses, prairie fire, and passion) all the way through the first year of our marriage, which would be filled with more challenge and strife—and manure—than I ever could have expected.
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.
19 out of 19 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 February 24, 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.
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 February 4, 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.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.CGU
Posted February 20, 2011
I had never heard of the PW until I saw her Thanksgiving Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the Food Network. I liked her spunky personality and her PW blog (though I haven't had time to read everything on it) and I decided to get her cookbook and this book today at B&N. Looked at the cookbook first and fell in love with her family and their ranch through all the great photos - so I began Black Heels. It's a fantastic read - I started and could not stop. A great love story, beautifully written, funny and real, covering their courtship through their first year of marriage, through good times and bad. Better than any romance I have read this year! At first I couldn't imagine how Ree could tell their story without giving away too much personal information, but this was just perfect.
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.papooseRC
Posted March 21, 2013
Love the book could not put it down till the last page.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 12, 2012
I haven't seen her show, and I've only checked out her blog a few times so I wasn't sure what to expect wiht this book. However, I found this to be an easy and entertaining read. I appreciated how the author was genuine and shared her embarassing stories, fears, dillemas, etc.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.When Ree Drummond thought of her perfect life, she never imagined it would be the complete opposite of everything she would do and be. Living the life of a city girl in a home that bordered the golf course, her days consisted of country clubs, dancing, and socializing with her girls friends over shopping trips until the day she looked across the bar and saw the cowboy.
The complete opposite of all the previous men she had dated in the past and just at the time she was considering a move to Chicago and terminating a long standing relationship, she met Marlboro Man. He was a handsome cowboy wearing cowboy boots, Wranglers and salt and peppered hair. She found herself captivated in so many ways and when she walked over to talk to him, her life would change forever.
The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond is her personal story of the love story between her and her husband that she affectionately calls Marlboro Man. For those of you who have never heard of The Pioneer Woman, then you need to read this heart warming love story of life on a cattle ranch and all the horror stories that went hand in hand with winning over her heart.
Before I read this book, I knew Ree Drummond from her successful blog, The Pioneer Woman wear one will find anything from home schooling tips, to photographs of her life on the ranch, to the most mouth watering recipes anywhere in the world. But a world of caution, once you begin your journey, Ree will become your new best friend. She is a mix between Ethel Merman, Lucille Ball and a little spice from the South all mixed together for a perfect blend of fun loving lady underneath it all. As you read through her latest novel, you feel like your sitting with your friend over cinnamon rolls and coffee on her porch overlooking her cattle ranch as she tells it like it is, no holds barred, and that's what you will love. The same as her readers and fans from all over. She's a real down to earth lady with a heart of gold.
I received The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and just know that every woman that reads this will find a connection with Ree. The best part is that the book contains some of her infamous recipes that you can enjoy and fall in love with. This one rates 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and for those of you that love a good romance with a whole lot of laughs along the way, then this is perfect for you.
apirateslife4me
Posted January 11, 2012
When I picked this book up in the store I was giddy with excitement to read it. I bought it on my nook and dove right in. It was a recount of one woman's happiest, saddest, grossest and downright hilariously awkward moments and how is that any different than getting drinks with some good friends? And thats what I liked most about it.
Ree Drummond, bravely, puts her stylish dirty laundry out for everyone to read and right off the bat you will recognise some things you yourself have hidden in your closet. Every woman will fall in love with "Marlboro Man", who in keeping nameless the entire time almost gives it a sense that you too can have one of your own :). You will laugh at her clumsy moments (that will be all too familiar to some of us) and cringe at the lesser glamorous ones we all can relate to.
Every girl who ever dreamed of Jett Rink, John Wayne, Jesse James, Rhett Butler or Trace Atkins and living happily ever after will LOVE this book! You may go out and start taking horseback riding lessons.
Anonymous
Posted December 12, 2011
a sweet and real love story with some hilarious moments that made me laugh a lot! i read the book in one day! I have already recommended this book to my family and my friends!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.MMalone
Posted November 1, 2011
If you:
- Are looking for a romance
- Are a single [white] female
- Don't know much about "country life" but wish you did/pretend to
- Don't need to actually know your characters
- Blindly look past character flaws
... then this book is for you!
I read this book after just finding PW's blog. I dug the photography and was interested in the story "plot" as it were, being a country girl gone city myself and wanting to read a similar story and being in the mood for a sweeping romance.
Which it was, it was a nice romance. If that's all you're looking for and you're not terribly concerned about much else then by all means you may enjoy this book.
If you cannot easily look past major character flaws on the part of the leads, if you know a thing or two about ranch/farm/agricultural life, or if you've been reading PW's blog and already read this story (YES, IT'S FREE AND ARCHIVED ON THE INTERNET), then please leave it on the shelf.
Why? Because there isn't any sense in giving Ree Drummond more money when she easily makes more than her average reader on her blog alone; let alone the money (about a million per year) made through the BLM (that's your tax dollars, folks).
Not to mention, the story's already been published online, it's kind of trite, you're asked to ignore the terrible way she asks in certain situations I wont mention as not to spoil you. It's cheesy, repetitive, and would have been better as a reese witherspoon rom-com.
Oh, and someone mentioned reading the whole book and never learning Marlboro Man's real name. This is true, as with the blog it's always Marlboro Man. So I'll spoil that for you: His name is Ladd.
0 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.Jesica
Posted October 29, 2011
A must read for fans of memoirs and romance alike. The Pioneer Woman is a warm, charming, feel-good, laugh-out-loud love story that will make you make you swoon. Above all, the book stands out for its genuineness and self-deprecating humor. The book is exotic in its domesticity; it's easy to forget that the story is fact, not fiction because it's a portrait of American life that most 21st century citizens can barely imagine in this age of interconnectedness and ease. Yet Drummond brings her story to life and makes it relatable - a remarkable feat given (or perhaps because of) her inexperience and fish-out-of-water naiveté. I highly recommend it.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.countrygirlSH
Posted October 19, 2011
This is a great book....It was a page turner for me and the best part its true. I had it read in a few days. I find her life so interesting going from a city girl to an isolated ranch wife...but that kind of life seems like a dream come true to me.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Megan1929
Posted October 6, 2011
The courtship between Ree and Ladd, her Marlboro Man, is an experience that with Ree's thorough writing, helps you to transport yourself there for every fall, every kiss, every laugh and every moment. Ree has found a devoted fan in me.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 6, 2011
3.5 stars, really. I was sucked right into this book up until the first 70 pages or so. After that, I just grew very weary of Ree's girl y-girl crap. I was eager for something substantial to happen other than her frequent bouts of flop sweats and nausea, always resulting in anxiety over how her Marlboro Man would react to her appearance. It's cute once, but not so much after 300+ pages. I think this story would be much more significant if it had been told from his point of view, and if that's sexist, so be it. It REALLY bugged me that the readers never know his given name--as if his entire existence is simply a caricature and outside of that image he doesn't really exist. It was mildly amusing when she told of her first-time experiences at the ranch; I enjoyed the fish-out-of-water perspective. But most of the time, I felt that she minimized the worth of those people who worked the ranch. Perhaps Ree was revealing to the readers that in her self-absorbed, country club girl way, she did feel superior to the "country folk" at that time in her life. Some of the reviews on the back of the book jacket compare the romance of this story to that of Gone With The Wind--oh, puh-lease!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.strictlyaprincess
Posted July 7, 2011
I loved this very sweet, light read. It's one of those books that you hate seeing the end come to. It kept me very upbeat and smiling while going through a very rough week. Everyone needs a little taste of a "Marlboro Man!"
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 2, 2011
I'm a recent Pioneer Woman follower, and I'm totally addicted. I read the book as soon as I could, and loved it! I've been lending it out to friends so they can be as hooked as I am. I wish there was a little more in the book that hadn't been on the blog previously, but I still would recommend it to one and all. Where is my Marlboro Man?!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.phoenix1570
Posted February 10, 2011
As a fan of Ree's website since practically the beginning, this is a lovely book to have her love story all in one place. The first two parts of the book are verbatim what she wrote on her blog. The third part is a more detailed look at the first few months of her marriage and the birth of her first child. While the third part of the book is relatively new material, all of it has been referenced at one point or another in her blog, so the material is not necessarily "new"; it's just all put together in one place. If you are a die-hard fan of Ree & MM, then this book is for you, but if you are simply a interested party, then reading the story on the website will definitely suffice. She also includes recipes at the end of the book that are already found on her website and in her cookbook. On a unrelated note, I am really disappointed in the art work on the cover! it looks like a 1980's cowboy was mashed together with a 1950's Elvgren pin-up cowgirl and it looks so weird!! I wish the original artwork that accompanied the story on the website had been used. If you go to BHTW on the website now, this new mashable pic is what you find. Sad.
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Posted December 6, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted February 16, 2011
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Overview
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.
Read along...