Wild Mountain

by Nancy Hayes Kilgore

Vermonter Mona Duval loves the covered bridge beside her store. She loves local history and the rugged, rural nature of her home state. But when an ice storm collapses the bridge, she is bereft. Frank MacFarland, a seasonal resident who is beguiled by Mona, lends his political expertise to help rebuild the bridge. But they meet with powerful opposition. Tensions arise in the town, compounded by resistance to the soon-to-be-voted on Freedom to Marry bill. And then, unexpectedly, Mona's abusive ex-husband arrives. Wild Mountain is a page-turning, beautifully written novel about the love between Frank and Mona, the love of place, freedom to marry, and freedom from the past, by a writer whose prose has been compared to Alice Munro's.

Genres: Fiction

334 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2017

About the author

Nancy Hayes Kilgore is the author of four novels, PENNSYLVANIA LOVE SONG (coming in 2025), BITTER MAGIC (Milford House, 2021,) WILD MOUNTAIN (Green Writers Press, 2017) and SEA LEVEL (RCWMS, 2011.) Awards include the Vermont Writers Prize, a Book of the Year through ForeWord Reviews, and a Pushcart Prize nomination.

Nancy Kilgore's background as an ordained minister and pastoral counselor underly her interests in spirituality and psychology, and, with her love of nature and poetry, coalesce in her fiction writing. She leads workshops and retreats integrating spirituality and creative writing.

Reviews

[Angela M]

Did not finish. Not for me . Just read a book about Holocaust survivors so maybe it’s the mindset I’m in that I couldn’t connect here .

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wild Mountain is set in the mountains of Vermont, a place of uncivilized natural beauty, where generations have come to commune with nature and the gods (and goddesses). The town of Wild Mountain is comprised of folk with deep roots and newcomers attracted to living simply in a beautiful place.

It is the story of Mona Duval's several battles which encompass her personal growth. She must let go of the past and her abusive ex-husband to embrace the future and the possibility of love. She stands loyal to old friends besieged by prejudice.

Mona's story is well developed with enough tension and conflict to keep readers of romance and women's fiction interested. The political issues the town struggles with, including the rebuilding of a historical covered bridge and the Freedom to Marry bill, highlights the division in the town, as well as in our world.

I was disappointed that the expected climax of the town meeting and voting on these issues takes place off camera. The issues drop out of center stage. Instead, the story line sifts focus to a (previously) minor character's death. The ending consists of an idealized gathering around an ancient stone circle on the solstice, with Wiccan and Christians celebrating together.

Learn more about the background of the book at https://nancyhayeskilgore.wordpress.com

[Allan Doe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up an Advance Reader's Copy at our local book shack at the transfer station. A great story that I could relate to, being of a certain age.

The characters aren't typical for most native Vermonters but do echo many who've moved up in the last 50 years.

This book is a great adventure with real voices. What's not to like?

[Tim Weed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This warm-hearted and compulsively readable love story is the perfect accompaniment for summer afternoon or a cozy winter night beside the woodstove. With its wry good humor, deftly painted characters, and vivid rural settings, Wild Mountain captures the essences of life in small-town Vermont.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although Vermont is, comparatively, a small State it is quite different geographically and, in light of this book more importantly, very different demographically. While it is impossible to say that people like these don't exist in Vermont, the Subaru van drivers, BMW and Mini Cooper drivers, tend to be in various pockets throughout the State, primarily in the more affluent places. This story takes place in such an area--somewhere on the west side of the State, slightly slightly east of Route 100, which runs up the valley that includes Waitsfield, Warren and starts in Killington. It terminates up toward Montpelier, well described here, and Stowe. Lots of different types throughout this quadrant. So, if you don't know much about Vermont or have never been here, you can accept this story taking place in this small area.
There are some issues however when it comes to describing the " locals" Not all the men have raggedy beards to their belts, nor do they have hair to their waists. They do not all yell at their children or throw their phones against the wall. The women are not all either Earth mothers or women carrying squalling babies, each of them with straggly greasy unkempt hair. And, while Sarducci's is indeed a lovely Italian restaurant in Montpelier, it is a tradition only to non-locals, who are far more likely to be at the Wayside or even the old Justin Morgan Room on State Street.
There are the leftover commune dwellers, most of whom were not from Vermont, and back to nature types and they have become part of the tapestry that is modern Vermont. This book is more about them--though a couple of the main characters are purported to be old family residents. As to the covered bridge--they have a new bridge but it is not the original. True locals would have accepted nature having removed the old bridge and kept its memories and not have spent an outrageous amount of money to " replace " something that is irreplaceable. Sort of like the efforts, that quickly died, in New Hampshire when the " Old Man" rock formation finally fell to expanding ice and gravity and some folks wanted to create a " replacement". Some things just change with time, just like Vermont has done and though sometimes it doesn't seem like a good thing, it is also not something that can be stopped.
I received an ARC of this book from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. It is an interesting book but don't take it as a definitive description of all of Vermont and its people.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is at its heart, all about love. The good kind of love that develops between a man and a woman. Then there is the kind of emotion that simmers in a man who has mental health issues. A location can engender very strong feelings of love. Our friends and family fall under the umbrella of love and we will collectively fight for and support a cause we strongly believe in – this is yet another type of love. This book pulls all of these types of love into a delightful tale of small town Vermont.

The story circles around Mona who owns the local country store. She wants to think she is aloof from all that goes on around her but she is far more involved than she realizes. As she faces the changes in her personal and professional life as well as the larger issues swirling around she learns that many people lean on her. And that she needs her friends and neighbors far more than she realizes.

I readily admit this is not the type of book I usually read but I was intrigued by the setting and so I took a chance. Oftentimes such serendipity is rewarded and in this case it was. I found myself quite involved in the lives of the people in and around Wild Mountain. Ms. Kilgore has a very poetic way of writing that turns words into vignettes that played as little movies in my head as I read the story. I almost shivered as the ice broke on the river, I felt the breeze blow across the fields and the spring sun warmed my face. I, unlike the author do not have a magical way with words but trust me when I say you will be rewarded by reading this book.

4.5

[Katharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Mountain by Nancy Hayes Kilgore is, in part, a love story. Kilgore writes artfully about the uncertainty, excitement, and pain of incipient romance, like that between characters Mona and Frank, and Erica and Jake. And equally well about the less volatile but more satisfying and durable bonds between established couples, such as Wild Mountain’s Roz and Heather.

The characters are not the only recipients of Kilgore’s keen eye and deeply felt prose. Her descriptions of the Vermont landscape are vivid and accurate, and belie the author’s love for Vermont: the setting for the novel. Her writing throughout is lyrical, and her images often startling. Sunshine “streaks” through trees; spring “pulses invisibly.”

Her characters are so well drawn they will appear familiar to those who live in northern New England. As will the issues the citizens of Wild Mountain wrestle with: ice dams in the spring, bridge washouts, opposing views at town meetings, same sex marriage.

The tension and mystery in the novel deepen when Mona’s ex-husband turns up in town and starts sending her threatening notes - just as Roz and Heather’s farm stand is burned to the ground, and the people of Wild Mountain try to uncover who set the fire, and why.

Wild Mountain was published by Green Writer’s Press, which is dedicated to “giving voice to writers and artists who will make the world a better place.” In Wild Mountain Nancy Hayes Kilgore is an artist who has done just that.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having lived in Vermont for more than four decades, I know that Vermont is a special place for many reasons. This book captures the essence of many of these reasons, and not with stereotypes or clichés, but with creativity and affection. Examples: Many Vermonters feel a sort of spiritual connection with our natural environment--especially the mountains. The author captures some of the diverse ways in which Vermonters experience this spirituality; The weather and the changing seasons are a central element of the Vermont experience, and are a part of this story; Vermonters are political! The state leaned republican until the 1960s when "hippies" and others arrived from away and the state shifted left. This set up a tension between "old-timers" and "flatlanders" that persists even today. The author has captured the essence of this--especially as it plays out in a small town; As for Vermonters per se, the author's main characters are are mostly middle aged with all the struggles and baggage that tends to entail, including an accumulation of wisdom, or in some cases, spite. All of them are multi-dimensional and feel very real. The younger characters have smaller roles and are not always cast in the most flattering light, but they feel real as well (sorry kids!).

I'll also say that this is an engaging read of the sort you make time for at the expense of chores and sufficient sleep! I really enjoyed reading it.

[Kim Bakos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book that deals with a number of interesting issues, including gay marriage, progress vs. tradition (in both ideas and structures) and mental illness. It also touches a bit on religion, including Wiccan beliefs.
With all of that being said, everything in this book isn't in line with what I believe, but it didn't keep me from enjoying the book and it's characters, and empathizing with both sides of an issue in many cases.
But it isn't a book about issues, it is a book about how one woman conquers her past - her hurts and her fears - to bravely open herself up to be loved. And that is what makes it such a compelling story about being able to choose your own future and not let those who have hurt you in the past control what happens in the future.

[Adrienne Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading it now and loving it. Wonderful page-turning story, interesting believable characters, scenic setting in small-town Vermont...beautifully written. Action, suspense, romance, and poetry - all here and woven masterfully together.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book. The interesting characters and how they relate to each other; and the importance of not only those individuals, but the importance of place.

[Nancy Kilgore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wanted to let you know my new book Wild Mountain has just come out! I’m doing some readings and talks around New England now and I’d love to hear your comments if you read it. Thanks, Nancy

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

For even more book reviews, visit my book blog: https://www.lifeofafemalebibliophile....

Wild Mountain is story that naturally moves at a slow pace, but does find its general rhythm after the first few chapters. Which is a typical characteristic character driven novels. The story is set in a somewhat rural/isolated small town called Wild Mountain and follows the life of its townspeople and the events that surround them.

There are many people mentioned in the story, but the plot’s main focus is on the two lead characters, Mona and Frank. Mona is an independent store owner who is very involved in the community as her store acts as a meeting place for many of the townspeople. She strives to live a peaceful life , but things get shaken up when town politics get heated and her abusive ex-husband makes a reappearance. She feels a strong connection to the covered bridge located near her store and it feels like home. Frank is also a very independent person. He’s very adventurous and likes to travel a lot; most of his life has been spent outside of the town and he’s viewed slightly as an outsider. After reconnecting with Mona he slowly develops feelings for her.

The book is mostly slice of life story full of small town politics, a freedom to marry bill, figuring out how pay for a bridge that’s an essential part of the town, relationships (and familial love), and it’s a tale of self-discovery. Though the ages of the characters vary everyone is in the midst of trying to figure out who they are and what they want to do (goals) in their life. I liked the way Frank and Mona evolved over the story; their individual selves and their blooming relationship. Both are seeking a solid relationship as they both come from failed marriages, they’ve known each other for a while and see the potential and decide to act on their feelings. They also grow over the course of the story.

Kilgore’s writing is incredibly descriptive, from the people to the landscapes. The cover art truly catches the essence of the story and give readers a visual of the landscape. From the flowing river, woodsy hiking trails, and mountainous terrain, the writing places the reader right in the story. This story also catches the essence of human emotions, POVs are also detailed and you can feel what the characters are going through and relate to some of their struggles.

The book ended on a good note, closure for the overall story and its characters. This was definitely a book outside of my genre that I typically read but it was a nice break from the usual picks. I’m glad I gave this book a chance since I really enjoyed it.

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mona has run the little store next to the covered bridge on while Mountain for the past nine years but she is loved that bridge in her home all of her life. When frozen ice takes the bridge out and some of the locals refuse to want to rebuild it as it was originally she will find friends and much more in the strangest of places but when her ex Johnny O. Comes back giving her the same old creepy frightening feelings she just wish she would go away but unlike previous times for this time she will not be alone not being protected from Johnny O. nor forgetting her beloved bridge built back up. This story was written about while mountain in Vermont and there is so much more to the story such as LGBTQ rights arguments over local taxes and so much more no summary I could do would do this book justice but just know they have a later in life romance that I swooned over and this is so worth reading. It almost reads like a story from simpler times but it is modern day and oh so good! I receive this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Sandie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book group choice and we had the author at our meeting to talk about the book. I had not read the book then, but finally was able to get it from the library. It was an OK book. Sometimes I got bored with the Vermont descriptions, is it because I live there? I was wondering if the author’s choice of having a UU church as the only church in this little town was historically correct. And also her description of the original settlers being from England. I was under the impression that the early settlers came up from Connecticut when that state became too crowded. I was annoyed by her description of knitters at the town meeting with needles ‘clacking like chickens’. I knit and know many knitters and our needles do not make noise, any more than our yard does. Really. I also thought the book needed more editing, sometimes the story line did not flow well. Not sure how anyone could think a silver haired woman would be capable of procreating?
However the plot was interesting, if dated, and the characters were likeable enough.

[Cheryl Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Likeable middle-aged characters, great sense of place (rural Vermont). I didn't get enough of a sense of Mona's relationship with Johnny O. to really understand why she was attracted to him in the first place and why she stayed with him so long. I mean, I get that this happens in abusive relationships, but this book didn't give me any insight into how it happens. So when Mona feels torn between past and present, I don't believe she is--it just seems to be something the author made up to make the story work. If she didn't want to spend time illustrating the past relationship, it would have been better to have Mona just be over it and not feel a threat of getting sucked back into those feelings. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading the story until it kind of fell apart at the end. By then, it seemed like the characters were just pawns in the author's hands, saying and doing what she told them to so that she could make the points she wanted to make. I didn't really believe any of it, though I thought the redemptive message admirable.

[Carl Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Mountain

Have you ever wanted to visit Vermont, rural Vermont, without the necessity of avoiding the almost six months of winter, and the often outspoken natives? Wild Mountain, Nancy Kilgore's second novel, will do the driving for you. You'll cross rivers on historic covered bridges. You'll listen in as Mona and Frank negotiate a new relationship for both. You'll watch Roz and Heather respond to a local petition fraught with homophobia. You'll meet a math teacher come mountain recluse who worships a Celtic Goddess. There are a few more folks - a reporter who meets Frank's daughter; an unbalanced ex spouse making trouble; and a pair of llamas.

Ever wonder what exactly is "ice out?" The answer is in Wild Mountain.

I loved every minute I spent on Wild Mountain.

5 out of 5.

[Melanie Merriman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book five stars. The writing is engaging and evocative--I really felt like I was "in" the story, seeing the roads, the mountain, the country store. Kilgore brings us right into the world of Wild Mountain as late winter turns to early summer and the main character, Mona, experiences her own thawing amidst storms. I found the many different depictions of love--crazy young love, later life love, love of place, and love of friends--to be very relatable. This would be a terrific book club book because it also raises issues worth discussing--same sex marriage, local politics, and family dynamics. Snuggle up with this book at the beach, or by a fire. You won't be disappointed.

[Millicent Eidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a fan of books with catchy openings and endings, plus strong scene setting. I’m not revealing key plot points of “Wild Mountain” by sharing evocative prose in the first and final paragraphs: “On the day she rescued Frank MacFarland, Mona had been thinking of condiments” and “The sky shrieked sun and blueness into the purity of a June day in the mountains of Vermont . . .” I also treasure books with deeper themes, including marriage equality in this one. The story features a mix of characters from different generations. Throw in a touch of spirituality and a ghost story—you’ll find a rich novel.

[Jenni Ogden · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gentle story of a small town and its community in Vermont, centred around Mona, the owner of the local shop and Frank (and his daughter) a relative newcomer to the town. A historic covered bridge is destroyed by an ice storm, disagreements arise about the same sex marriage bill, but it is really about relationships, especially in mid-life. Well written, but a quiet read that does not push any buttons or encourage non-stop reading. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read an advance reader's copy.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy Kilgore's "Wild Mountain" is not only a delightful love story for grownups -- showing the joys and miseries of what love can do in many settings -- but also a portrait of life in a small town where people care about each other and also, at times, are profoundly at odds. By taking on the issues of homophobia and civil unions in this setting, Kilgore gives us a lot of daily drama in the best sense, causing characters to question themselves at the deepest level. You'll love the journey to this remote spot, where human nature is on display at its best and worst.

[R J Mckay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the characters and most of the story. The bridge and it's meaning to the small town was very interesting. She made me see the Vermont mountains as if I grew up there.
I was somewhat put off by the political argument on same sex marriage. I understand that this is still a hot topic, but it doesn't interest me. In all this was a very good read.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished Wild Mountain last night, turned the last page with some reluctance because I wanted the story to go on, to move in with Frank and Mona, see the bridge get rebuilt, find out if Sierra ever stopped acting like a teenager. The characters felt so real, the whole story struck a fun balance between slightly edgy and pastoral, a topical labor of love.

[Karen Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Mountain is a magical journey about a town of diverse yet interconnected residents. The descriptions of nature are intense and beautifully written. This book kept me up at night, I could not put it down. It has everything you wish for in a novel - suspense, romance, sensuality, spirituality, well written narrative of the the landscape of Vermont. This is a keeper on my bookshelf.

[Dena · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a western MA resident, I've always loved Vermont for getaways and this book reminds me why. Quaint town setting, lovable characters, a genuine sense of community, and of course the iconic covered bridge. Ms Kilgore's writing style matches the atmosphere of Vermont. I loved this book. It's a book I'll pick up when I want to go to Vermont but can't get there physically.

[Kathy Nicklaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the core of WILD MOUNTAIN is love: Mona and Frank's middle-age romance, of course, but also the love of family and friends, of local history and quirky small-town neighbors and, most of all, for the author's beloved Vermont. Reading this novel is like taking a vacation to The Green Mountain State. Author Nancy Kilgore's voice is sure and wise. I loved every page.

[Barbara H. Hornbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating read which wraps up nicely with a bit of suspense until the last word. The integration of themes of personal relationships both abusive and loving, spirituality, life in a small Vermont village whose citizens are divided, and the Freedom to Marry debate keep readers engaged as they learn the lesson that people will come together to face a common misfortune.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review.

Wild Mountain is a slice-of-life look at a small town in Vermont in 2008. The residents of the town are faced with both the collapse of a historic bridge and an upcoming vote on the Freedom to Marry bill, and these two issues bring out both the best and worst in the locals.

There are a lot of characters packed into this book, but the author was able to develop different personalities to represent the many sides of the local political scene. Some of the characters had quite extreme views that I didn't always agree with; it was difficult at times to read their hateful words.

I enjoyed getting to know the main character, Mona. She's a local woman with a deep love for her town; she's a bit of a historian (which I can relate to) and an expert on the covered bridge. The loss of the bridge felt so personal to her; not only was it a relic of an earlier era, but it was also a physical connection between the two sides of town, meaning her general store suffered a bit because customers could no longer easily reach it. Although I didn't always feel that Frank was the best match for her (I wasn't convinced he could give up his jet-setting lifestyle for small-town living), it was nice to see Mona grow and learn to trust someone in regards to her love life.

At times, it felt like there were too many storylines going on. I thought the book was mainly going to be about the collapse of the historic bridge and the fight to recreate the bridge or find a cheaper alternative, but there seemed to be more about the Freedom to Marry bill than the bridge. There was also a side story about Mona's ex-husband coming around town again and yet another about a hermit, Gus, who lives on the mountain. With so many things going on, I felt the side stories suffered; some were left unresolved while others were quietly and sometimes too conveniently wrapped up. If the bigger issues had been fleshed out further and the side stories left out completely, I think the entire story would have felt more cohesive.

However, the author did a great job in setting the scene. As I was reading, I could picture this small town, the covered bridge, and the surrounding mountains. It made me want to take a trip to Vermont!

3.5 stars

[Elizabeth McCulloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Mountain, a story of a Vermont village, brings us many vivid characters, but centers on two. The first is Mona, a middle-aged woman who has fled a brutal husband to run a general store in her hometown. The second is Frank, who once lived in a commune on Wild Mountain, moved on to wander the world, and now has returned to the town of Wild Mountain to try to live off the grid. In a sense there is a third main character, the town of Wild Mountain, with the river below it, and the namesake mountain which looms over it. Kilgore’s writing is so vivid, so sensuous that these places become as large as any of the characters. Living in Florida, I only know the cliches of Vermont - snowy landscapes, covered bridges, country stores, progressive politics. After reading Wild Mountain I feel I have spent a season immersed in that world-Kilgore brings to light what the cliches conceal.

TO SEE MY FULL (AND ILLUSTRATED) REVIEW, GO TO https://thefeministgrandma.typepad.co...

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really drew me in. I enjoyed it so much. The story circles around Mona who owns the local country store. She wants to think she is aloof from all that goes on around her but she is far more involved than she realizes. As she faces the changes in her personal and professional life as well as the larger issues swirling around she learns that many people lean on her. And that she needs her friends and neighbors far more than she realizes.