In Search of the Menopause Ranch

By Deborah Vaughn

From the moment Kimberly woke up she knew she had to be dreaming. Or worse.... Where was she? Middle age was feeling like the edge of a cliff and she hadn't decided whether or not to jump. She's about to learn what lies ahead in this transition, if only she can find the courage. Heart-warming, irreverent and funny, "IN SEARCH OF THE MENOPAUSE RANCH" shares the intimate lives of women who've been devoted mothers, caretakers, workaholics and loving wives. But now what? As time seems to stand still, Deborah Vaughn takes us on a journey of self-discovery through encounters with the Goddess and the lives of each woman as they discover what's missing and what they almost forgot about themselves, their world and their own unique gifts.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1105096955
• ISBN13: 9781105096952
• Release Date: May 2013
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Length: 290 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Goddess 101

An engaging, accessible introduction to the Great Goddess and Her offer of inspiration to midlife women today. A pithy primer on the possibility, the purpose, power and passion afforded us by menopause. After all, it is not called The Change for nothing!

Life Forges Ahead After Midlife

Although an idyllic setting encompasses the Menopause Ranch, life is less than idyllic for the characters who have been transported there by their spirit guides, Belladonna Morose and her associate, Mea Culpeppa. The guides' mission is to help each well-drawn character, each accompanied by some baggage from her past, recognize how to change herself in order to regain her Zest--the goal she had before she entered adolescence. As the characters became acquainted with each other and learned about themselves, with the author showing their quirky natures and vulnerabilities, I recognized that they could easily be typical neighbors, family or friends. Kimberly, the main character, narrates her experience as a forty-five-year-old starting pre-menopause. Sarcastic, creative, compassionate, and capable of cleaning up other people's messes, Kimberly meets Norma, a child of alcoholic parents and former nun, who runs an antique store near Las Vegas. And Toby, an African-American dancer who gives it to you straight, adding humor to the events of each day at the ranch. There's also Beth, a counselor at a mental health center who glides right past a nervous breakdown because there's too much work for her to stop and take care of herself. A little more negativity comes from Jean--a rigid, judgmental business woman and born-again Christian who, while she finds the revelations at Menopause Ranch distressing, can't wait to get back to her business. When Vaughn changed from Kimberly's first-person point of view to conversations between Belladonna and Mea about absent characters, I found it a bit confusing. This minor distraction might have been meant to demonstrate that the spirit guides were aware of everything, while others could only see the events from their own perspective. In their experiences at Menopause Ranch, the women are challenged to transform a life-interfering experience like menopause into a life-challenging opportunity for growth. Included are well-researched facts about drugs, remedies, and treatments for menopause. I laughed, cried, got angry, and felt inspired as I read this book. I identified with the characters and thought about what I'm doing with the rest of my life. Even men should read this novel; mid-life crises happen to us all. by Susan M. Andrus for Story Circle Book Reviews reviewing books by, for, and about women

A fine blend of good humor, warmth, and wisdom

On a road trip with her sister, author Deborah Vaughn gleaned the inspiration for In Search of the Menopause Ranch, a novel about a woman on the cusp of middle age. She loses consciousness and wakes up at a place called The Menopause Ranch, fearing that she is undergoing premature dementia. "Maybe not having children had something to do with it. I had all the equipment and understood the process, but that 20-or-so years commitment was more than I could contemplate. Besides, I'd heard the Mom Threat ("I hope you have kids one day and I hope they're just like you. WAA!") often enough to scare me, if not sterile, then certainly cautious. Maybe I'd used up all the eggs in my carton not taking pregnancy breaks. Maybe having no maternal instincts really is a bad thing." A fine blend of good humor, warmth, and wisdom, mixed with historical perspective of what women have forgotten about themselves through the ages, recommended as a giftbook or simply for the pleasure of reading and reawakening the lost sides of oneself.

Outstanding******

I had the honor of purchasing this book in the author's home town of Sedona, Arizona. I was hooked from the beginning and only wish there was such a wonderful place in reality. The advise on menopause is helpful and worth considering. It's a book that gives you an "Ah Ha" moment time after time. I can hardly wait for the next book.