Crybaby Ranch

by Tina Welling

A debut novelist who "writes with insight, humor, and complete control. If they ever make compassion an Olympic sport, Tina will have a room full of gold."-Tim Sandlin

It is an argument over pineapple pizza that finally prompts jewelry-maker Suzannah to leave her stale marriage for a ramshackle cabin in the foothills of Wyoming's majestic Teton Range. As she strings necklaces, she untangles her complicated relationships with the mother she's losing to Alzheimer's, and with the adopted son who's spent his life chasing after his birth mother. But it's her new home's previous owner, easygoing "Marlboro Man" Bo Garrett, who threatens the satisfying life Suzannah is building for herself-and inspires her to explore more fully what it means to truly stand on her own...

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance

307 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

An interviewer asked me recently during a live radio show what my most exciting moment has been as an author. He gave some examples: seeing my books on the shelf of a bookstore, perhaps spotting someone reading one of them. I thought only a second before telling him that the most exciting moment for me happens when I'm all alone writing and suddenly hit on an insight that opens up new understanding for me or when two ideas come together to form a brand new idea.

The outer events are nice, quite satisfying, yet the inner events are why I really write.

And the best thing about being published? That's when I hear from a reader and together we create an exchange between us. I love that incredible intimacy that occurs when two strangers - one writing, one reading - connect and form a complete circle. That's a big highlight for me.
I'd love to hear from you. Contact me here or by email Tina@TinaWelling.com.

Reviews

[Lori]

This book was lame. It is a story about a 37 YO Divorcee who packed up to move to Jackson Hole, WY to make jewelry. She buys a run down cabin from a sexy young cowboy who is too perfect to be true. Of course, he falls in love with her. Well... that is about it. I think the author lived too much of her own fantasy out in this book.

[Heather Huffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was so much about this story that paralleled my own life; I couldn't help but relate. It was an enjoyable read.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ho Hum. The two main characters in this novel are such emotional wrecks, so of course they have to become a couple! The only part of the story that I felt was gripping was the storyline about Suzannah's mother, who is suffering from Alzheimer's. Aside from that, I just waded my way through Suzannah as she tried to come to grips with her own dreams after her marriage broke up. And Bo... well, what can you say about the cowboy. He seemed just so "perfect" - good-looking, extraordinarily patient, and a cook to boot! - but not very motivated to do much with his life. Thankfully, this was a quick read so I could move on to the next book on my list.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mom recommended this book to me. I hated the main character at first, but now I feel like she is coming into her own. So far it's interesting. -- I finished it and was left somewhat confused. The only character that was fully developed was the main character who I vacilated between liking and disliking. I wish the author would have gone more indepth with the other character. I definitely think it would have made the book stronger and the story more interesting. I don't think I would recommend this book to others.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plot: woman leaves a unhappy marriage and moves to Jackson Hole to find herself, of course she also finds a man as well. There is sexual tension and romance, a relationship with her parents, including a mother with Alzheimers and her college age son, however, I didn't really find I cared too much about any of the characters.

[Robin (ReadItRobi) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. Thought it would be chick lit fun, but it was Under the Tuscan Sun style midlife melodrama.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is horrible. Stopped reading it.

[Faith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't waste your time reading this, I really wanted to give it a zero

[Molly · Rating 1 out of 5]

A disjointed plot, overly sappy, and underdeveloped characters in my opinion. It felt like the author couldn’t quite determine what story she wanted to tell, so she attempted to tell them all. I was turned off by Bo and his aggressiveness and equally turned off by Suzannah and her willingness to accept his antics. I didn’t care much for the supporting cast either; I think the author was going for “quirky” but it simply did not work for me. While I enjoyed the lovely descriptions of the WY backdrop, it was not enough to redeem an all-over-the-map plot and drippy, self righteous protagonist. It felt like this book was trying too hard to be deep and soulful when ultimately it read more like a cheesy romance (right down to the description of “elongated nipples”). Not my cup of tea...would not recommend.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking, intense look at one woman’s journey from divorce and stifled childhood to self awareness , love and life beyond. Suzanna married very young to a much older man but in her late thirties realizes her need for freedom and her own life, while also coming to terms with her overbearing father and alcoholic mother. She moves to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and forges a new life and love.

[Cindy🎀 Echeverria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crybaby Ranch has been such a pallet cleanser read for sure! This is Tina Welling’s debut novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it for the most part! The ending caught me off guard but overall it was a 3.5 read!

[Penney Peirce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tina has a great sense of humor and is a wonderful storyteller!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A silly romance for older women. Why does the heroine always fall for the Marlboro Man? 🙄

[Becky Kimmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love that this work of fiction takes place in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and mentions the Countess of Flat Creek Ranch. Lovely characters, unexpected twists and turns.

[Sav · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think about this book constantly, because I've never been happy with the 5 star rating I gave it. I'm torn between what I loved about the book and what made me, quite honestly, sick to my stomach, and if you tally it up, I suppose it comes to about 50/50. I enjoyed this book very much. I loved the main character and the setting, and some of the themes were very meaningful and relevant to me when I first read this several years ago.

But the way the "love interest" constantly broke into the MC's home, constantly violated her space, privacy, wishes, and time, had the nerve to be angry when she had a relationship with another man (while he maintained an affair with another woman), refused to use her full first name instead of a diminutive as she requested, ordered her around in her own home (after breaking in), talked down to her, and generally treated her like a child, stalked her, and audaciously sold her the cabin at discount simply because she was pretty and single (but did not include the appliances, instead "loaning" them to her so he that had an excuse to break in and cook for her, without ever speaking with or even seeing her face-to-face prior to this)--etc., etc., etc.

There was no respect or meeting of equals. There was really no choice for her. Until later in the book she didn't have the confidence to stand up for herself at all and he took complete advantage of that. She was very much his prey (however willing) and it very much disturbs me, not that the MC tolerated this, because that was in character (and eventually she set one or two boundaries), but that there nothing in the text (even when she was angry with him) to indicate that this wasn't normal or decent behavior, or indeed, anything but acceptable and romantic. Frankly, I pity the woman who finds "romance" like this in any way appealing.

Thus, I hereby demote my rating to 3 stars, so that I can sleep at night.

[Britney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am very easily entertained by books and even I did not like this book. I read it to the end (admittedly after skimming through many parts) because I wanted to find out what happens - my curiosity got the better of me. I even stayed up til 1 AM (late for me) to finish it, hoping it would get better. It may just be me, but I couldn't get a feelign for any of the characters. I wanted to like and Romanticize Bo, but I just could not. I didn't find the character development deep enough for my taste.


So, Bo likes 2 ladies. I think we are supposed to think he's in love with one of them and only in lust with another, but it surely seems like he's actually in love with both. The main character is supposedly in love with Bo, but goes and screws some 22 year old for 6 weeks while his band is playing in town. That might actually be a little realistic, but we're supposed to believe a big manly man like Bo is just totally OK with her screwing this guy and coming right back to him with open arms later. I mean, I think she's allowed to do whatever she wants, but I Don't believe most guys would be OK with it. Also, all of a sudden O.C. is just super happy with her and nice to her, and bo finds out which aunt is his real mommy, etc. all nice, neat, and wrapped up with a bow?!

I'm sure that there are some out there who just read this for entertainment value and won't be put off by it. Usually I am one of those. Maybe I'm just so bitter because I wasted sleep over it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first 1/2 of the book went down smoothly for me. Then I set it down and didn't feel inclined to pick it up for over a week - which is a rare event for me. I had to force myself to continue reading on and by the last several chapters I was so sick of the main characters that I just skimmed. I'm not really even sure what happened at the end and I don't care.

Spoiler alert:

Bo, the main male character is showcased as a strong, handsome, honest man. Yet he's sleeping with a married woman! Suzanna thinks there is a spark with Bo and doesn't seem to mind much the (married!) woman he is hanging out with...yet she goes on to have a fling with a younger guy. And then they both just magically end up together towards the end? Seriously - what kind of romance is this?!

[Tisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not like the title nor the cover art but picked it up anyway. Suzannah leaves her husband after many years and moves to Wyoming from Ohio. It was convenient that she found a nice house on a ranch really cheap. But the Wyoming landscape was intriguing to me. Suzannah is also dealing with her parents who live in Florida. Her mom has Alzheimer and her dad is the caretaker. She meets Bo who sold her the house she lives in. The story goes on with Suzannah and Bo and how they try to figure out their relationships.

[christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this is a must-read. I even wrote to the author after finishing the book to congratulate her on a wonderful piece of work. I love the kinds of stories that are so unlikely. But Ms. Welling made the story so real and so likely. The main character gets thrown into a world she did not expect, and then she picks up and leaves for another world she did not expect or had any preconceived notions about. But isn't this true for everyone?

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope Tina Welling writes more books. I love Jackson Hole and I love the descriptions of life there. It really is like that.
This story if perfect for anyone who loves chick lit that's substantial. This is it.
Great characters, beautiful setting, believable things happen - although I'm not sure about all that cooking he does for her.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a good relationship story, and this book was my delicious companion for the super bowl of 2009. It wasn't great literature, but I was immediately taken in by the characters and found myself wanting to run away to a ranch in Wyoming. It still doesn't sound like a half bad idea, nearly a year later!

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed a change from YA and this seemed to fit the bill. I thought it would be more chick lit than it was. I think my mom and her friends might identify more with Suzannah than I did. I appreciated the descriptions of Wyoming. You can definitely tell Tina lives in Jackson and loves Wyoming. Some authors write about Wyoming but have never really lived here or experienced the real thing.

[rebeca · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I didn't like it very much, but I really learned to like it a lot and was sad when it ended. It's definitely a page turner and, as you can tell from the terrible cover (i was even embarrased about reading it in public), a total girly book.

[Pamela Steele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book in the supermarket because I saw the word "ranch" in the title. I flipped it over and saw the word "Wyoming" in the blurb. Sold!

Two chapters in, I'm liking it. Woman leaves relationship, moves to Wyoming . . . hmmm.

[Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but I felt there wasn't enough depth in Bo for my liking. I definitely enjoyed Welling's latest book a bit better. You can see the progression of her writing or the path it would be taking with the themes, etc.

[Kelly Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, easy read - just what I was looking for to pass time at a few airport layovers. No masterpiece but definitely a page turner, a quirky spin on the mid life crisis novel with some real emotions thrown in.

[Danthony74 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book. The breaking point of the pineapple pizza touch home. I admired her strength in starting a new life after getting a divorce from an totally uninvested husband.I liked her passion for making her jewelry. Wish I could follow in her footsteps.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guilty of judging a book by its cover. I borrowed this from a coworker to suggested it to me, whose typical reading genre doesn't interest me. I'll have to buy my own copy. "Radical turns of temperament". Yup, that's me.

[Cynthia Bower · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is very well written and set in the wonderful Teton Mountain area in Western Wyoming. The story and characters are very good. I'm just not into all of the vulgar language and sexual content.

[Fran]

My mom said that this a must read