Hello everyone. Linda Goodnight here.
Today, I’ll be giving away books to two winners, so stay tuned for the entry details at the end of this post.
Did you ever visit a dude ranch? Ever want to?
Most of my novels are contemporary western romances written for the inspirational market, although I’ve written romances set in the old west. Claiming Her Legacy for Love Inspired Trade is the most recent, and while I’m tempted to wax poetic about that (really good) story and share some of the fascinating facts I learned during its writing, I have a new book releasing this month which needs some love, too.
So, today I’m focusing on The Rancher’s Sanctuary, a contemporary western set on a guest/dude ranch in the Kiamichi Mountains.
Being a ranching, cowboy state, Oklahoma has a number of guest ranches with cool names like Hoot Owl, Hitching Post, and Rebel Hill. What I found especially interesting in my research is that these accommodations run the gamut from rustic to ritzy.
Want to stay in a teepee? How about an 1800s rock cabin? Or would you prefer golf, massages, and chocolate covered strawberries?
Some guest ranches are working ranches where guests can experience what it’s like to ride a horse, brand cattle, or feed hay from the back of a flatbed truck. Other amenities can be anything from fishing and trail rides to stagecoach rides and roping lessons. And how much fun would you have telling your friends that you took tomahawk-throwing lessons, shot a bow and arrow, or went on an overnight cattle drive and camped around a cozy fire with a cowboy playing his harmonica just like in the wild west.(Can you smell the smores?)
When writing The Rancher’s Sanctuary, a story of two scarred people, one physically and the other emotionally, I decided Nathan’s ranch would be a working guest ranch. So, of course, Nathan needed an experienced horse wrangler. Enter snarky, sassy, reclusive cowgirl, Monroe Matheson.
The story of these two began when I saw a photo of a gorgeous old two-story home for sale. Immediately, my mind spun stories of the people who would live there, and the next thing I knew, Nathan drove up my imaginary driveway in his pickup truck and cowboy boots, hiding a heartrending mystery that he was determined to unravel. I already knew Monroe from previous books in the Sundown Valley series but didn’t know the depth of her pain until I began to write and she started smarting off to everyone and I had to know why. Scarred in a fire, she’s a former beauty queen angry at the world, especially men and God. Feeling ugly, she covers her self-consciousness with long hair and a snarky sense of humor. So, I gave her a hero who saw right through her the minute he saw the way she loves her pack of special needs dogs, even if they lack a leg or eye or are covered in scars. Like her.
I hope I’ve whetted your appetite for this touching, emotional book that’s already getting terrific reviews on Goodreads. The Rancher’s Sanctuary is available for preorder now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other retailers.
Let’s give one away, shall we? Comment to be entered in the drawing for your choice of the new contemporary, The Rancher’s Sanctuary or the historical, Claiming Her Legacy.
To enter to win one of two copies, would you want to spend a vacation at the guest ranch? Which activities sound fun to you?
Yes, I would love to spend time at a dude ranch because I love horses. I have already spent time in a teepee and a rock cabin at a cow camp.
Trying again. For some reason, my replies aren’t showing up. Anyway, Rhonda, I would love to hear more about your teepee experience. How was it?
I have actually thought about going to a dude ranch and may still do so at some point. I just want to soak up the atmosphere and would pick one between rustic and ritzy.
Sorry, I replied to this but it didn’t show up so I’m trying again. I’m with you on my idea of a dude ranch-a little rustic but ritzy too. I mean, we all need a hot tub or a massage, right? 🙂
I’d be interested in visiting an 1800s rock cabin. Since that is my favorite time period about which to read, I’d like to experience a little bit of how life was then.
I love the 1800s time period, too. Thus, my book Claiming Her Legacy, which is a departure from what I usually right but I loved researching that time period. Although I’m not sure I’d want to live back then. I like indoor plumbing a lot!!
I would love to spend time at a dude ranch. I have never ridden a horse, so that would definitely be on my list. I would enjoy being in nature.
True confession, I’ve never been to a dude ranch either, but I have ridden a horse. We have two sweet old boys that my daughter and husband ride. I’m not much of a rider, but I do love the horses.
I fell in love with western historical romance books about ten years ago. I read some contemporary too by some of my favorite authors, but typically prefer the historical genre. I’ve never stayed at a dude ranch but would love too. We love the west. Every year we travel to Wyoming to go four wheeling in the Big Horn Mountains. It’s amazing!
Kathy, that sounds amazing. I’ve been to Wyoming to the Tetons and camped there several times and loved it. I could look at those mountains every day of my life. And four-wheeling? That would be awesome! BTW, you’d probably love my book, Claiming Her Legacy-it’s very old west, adventure and outlaws and the whole enchilada. So fun to write.
I would love to spend time at a guest ranch, observing or participating in activities. My favorite books are of cowboys in the Old West.
I’m also a western historical romance reader. I love getting lost in that time period(mainly late 1800’s)Ive read some contemporary books and yours sounds very interesting! Thank you for dropping by!
I would like visiting a dude ranch and experimenting that time, shooting bows and arrows, pistols, riding horses, etc. I’ve not rode a horse in 45 years! But, I’d give it a go and even in a Buck board or stage coach. I’ve rode one (stage coach)once as a child at Six Gun Territory, Ocala, FL. Loved the reenactments of the west there! It closed in 1984. I wish my 9 year old grandson could experience that! Experiencing the past is good for all ages!
I might like to stay in a cabin or teepee and learning to ride a horse might be fun.
Years ago I might have enjoyed it but not now. I would have enjoyed about every thing at that time.
I hear you. I’m not much for roughing it anymore, either.
Since travel in no longer in our much shortened future, a trip outside of our current city would not be for us. We have made many trips to 47 of our states and experienced a visit with friends to Jackson Hole ( as i still refer to it as. Our visit was exceptional as we donned cowboy hats, boots and western wear and rode horses . Our trip was wonderful as this is one of my very favorite spots. Dude ranches sound exciting but these old folks can no longer go. Best wishes for this book which is right up my alley in reading material.
Thank you, Judy. I’m impressed that you’ve visited 47 states! I’ve been to Jackson Hole but didn’t get the fun experience you did! What a great memory.
Trail rides and campfires…Back in the 60s, our family (m&d +3 girls vacationed out west visiting National Parks.. However the parents forked over for an afternoon trail ride ending in a steak dinner (remember it’s the 60s) It was a memorable day for 3 girls ages 11, 13 and 15. We were in Wyoming near Teaton NP and Yellowstone NP
What a great memory for your girls and you. The National Parks are great but more so probably back then before the world got so crazy. I love the Tetons and Yellowstone. We even thought of moving to Wyoming at one point but then we visited in March and nearly froze our southern blood! Quick change of heart. lol
I haven’t stayed at a dude ranch, but I have done several of the activities you mentioned here, just in other venues. We have friends here in Wyoming who rent out yurts in the winter for people to sleep in on their ranch! I’ve heard that they are super warm & comfy!
I’ve seen photos of yurts and wondered what they would be like to sleep in.
I would love to one day visit a dude ranch. Sounds like a fun vacation to me. I love horseback riding, though I haven’t ridden in years. The axe-throwing sounds fun. I know my hubby would love the fishing. Any and all of it sounds fun to me.
It would be a fun vacation, wouldn’t it? (As long as there was a hot tub involved. lol)
Oh I would love to try it! Horseback riding would be at the top of my list!
Have you ever been riding? I used to enjoy it as a kid but even though we have horses, I rarely ride. Hubby and daughter do, though.
Your story sounds terrific! My husband and I actually looked into visiting a dude ranch recently (can you spell Sticker Shock?–but it was one of the “deluxe” ones).
I wondered if they were ultra pricey. So, that’s probably out for me, too! I’ll just read about them in books. 🙂 Thanks for the comment on the book. I hope you give it a try.
The spirit is willing but the body is too old!
Ha-ha. I hear you. Mine is getting that way fast!
A couple of years ago we stayed at a Dude ranch outside of Gunnison, Colorado. It was a very interesting and relaxing event. There were bbq dinners, square dancing, a lot of horseback riding, and fishing. We also got to go rafting on the rapids. scary and wert!
If you have not been to a dude ranch in Colorado, plan to- You will not be disappointed.
I have not and I’d love to. Although we live in the country on a small ranch/farm, it’s totally different than a vacation experience would be. And square dancing! I used to square dance when I was a kid and loved it. So fun.
I would love to stay at a dude ranch. I love to fish and I enjoyed horseback riding the few times that I’ve done it. I would love to work on my bow and arrow skills which I learned at children’s camp years ago. I think it would be a blast.
Your mention of bow and arrow skills reminded that I, too, took archery at camp when I was a kid years ago. Campfire Girls! I wasn’t any good but it sure was fun. I felt like Robin Hood.
yes, horseback riding
Fun and relaxing, but it makes your legs sore the next day. 🙂 Totally worth it.
I’ll take horses in any form of activity! I have thrown hay before, and also mucked many stalls, so i would love to be a guest, for once.
If you’ve mucked stalls, you definitely deserve to be the guest for a change!!
I have been to a dude ranch in Colorado and would love to go again. I enjoyed the horseback riding the most.
Where at in Colorado? You’re the second poster who vacationed in a Colorado dude ranch, so now I’m wanting to go.
Staying in a rock cabin sounds appealing to me as long as there are no snakes that like to sun themselves in the rocks. (We have a rock retaining wall by our grain bins that often has snakes. Fortunately they are harmless. I still don’t like them.)
EEK. I’d be watching that wall every time I went by….with a hoe in hand! I love animals but snakes don’t count!
I think it’d be fun to stay on a dude ranch. I’d be interested in learning how to care for all the animals.
You’d probably enjoy a working dude ranch where you get to be involved in feeding the animals and such.
I would be game to try. I wouldn’t be up for a working ranch, but it would be fun to try to learn how to ride a horse and ride in a stagecoach.
I really, really want to ride in a stagecoach, too. Or maybe ride up top with the driver like in the old west movies. Wouldn’t that be fun?
When I was younger, I probably would have enjoyed it more.
denise
Understandable. There are a lot of things I wish I’d done when I was young enough not to hurt myself doing them. lol
I would love to visit a dude ranch. I would enjoy riding the horses.
And the great thing about dude ranches is that the horses are so tame, they are practically bomb proof so you can just ride and relax. Riding through the woods on a well broke horse is peaceful and you see so many things you don’t see otherwise.
Years ago before I became disabled, that would be fabulous. Now that I have problems standing and walking, that would not be possible. I would like to be able ride horses, go for walks in the wide open area, see the wildlife and listen to the quiet. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you. Happy Easter.
Debbie, I’m so sorry you have trouble standing and walking. Life is hard sometimes, isn’t it, but you have such a lovely attitude. God bless you, too. And a blessed, peaceful Easter.
I have never been to Dude Ranch, but would like to go. I am in my late 50s and love being outdoors, camping, and hiking. I have stayed in tents, campers and cabins, a tepee would be a new experience.
I have never visited a dude ranch but would like too. Horseback riding sounds fun.
Sounds adventurous! Yes, that would be such a fun experience.
Welcome. No I dont have any interest in a dude ranch. I suppose growing up on a real ranch and being in 4-H with cattle/horses/pigs and barrel racing and such I just dont have the patience to just sit on a horse while it walks along. We did this several times when our kids were young because they were interested. But I was so bored out of my mind. I tried really hard not to show it, but my husband knew. the kids loved it though. Our daughter loves to ride horse. Our son is married to a lady who taught english riding and has two horses of her own, so he loves to ride with her all the time. Yahhh.
No, I don’t care to stay at a dude ranch…But I do like to read about them!
Hello Linda I would love to Visit a Dude Ranch and I love reading books about them!
Hi! I would love a vacation on a Dude Ranch. I would love the horseback riding & the camp fire food.
Your books sounds interesting will have to add it to my TBR list.
I would love to stay at a dude ranch and have done some serious research on them. I was a bit surprised how expensive they were, but when you figure the expense of the livestock, the land and the facilities, it is understandable. I have slept in cabins, tents, teepees, and dorm type facilities over the years. (Bamboo huts, too, but I don’t think those would apply to dude ranches.). The dude ranches I found I liked were in the Rockies, Colorado and Wyoming, I think. The accommodations were nice log cabins and the food offerings during the week varied from steak cookouts, to chow hall, to chuckwagon fare. I would prefer a working ranch style stay with horseback riding and the opportunity to participate in some of the wrangling activities. Hiking in the area would be nice and a chance to learn some of the skills you mentioned above. I have tried archery and roping and my husband did axe throwing in college, but that was a long time ago. I just want to get back out in the Rockies and be able to sit on the porch of my cabin after a day of activities and watch the sun set. Music around a campfire would be a definite bonus.
I stayed at one when I was younger on a family vacation, enjoyed the horseback riding on trails. Now that I’m older don’t think I would enjoy it as much now!