Red Mountain Rising

Red Mountain Chronicles #2

by Boo Walker

What do you do when it all comes crashing down?

*A Pulpwood Queens Book Club Selection!

Boo Walker has returned to wine country for the sequel to his powerful, best-selling novel, Red Mountain. Join four wildly colorful characters as they search for life, love, and meaning in a tiny wine-growing region in the desert of eastern Washington State.

Otis Till, the grapefather of Red Mountain, has regained his senses of smell and sight, but his vision of what Red Mountain should be is now threatened by a greedy landowner.

Margot Pierce has finally opened her French inn, but as her son leaves for college and her boyfriend says goodbye, she realizes how lonely her world could possibly become. Can she stomach the trials of going back on the dating market, even if that means finding him online?

Brooks Baker's engagement has fallen apart, so he's alone again, despite having reconnected with his biological family. Will he ever find real love on the mountain? Will having his family nearby deliver the fairy tale he'd hoped for?

Adriana Hernandez has changed her name and escaped to Red Mountain with her young son to hide from their previous life in California. Can they find some sense of belonging here? Or will they have to run forever?

Red Mountain Rising will drop you into the often-dysfunctional, small-town lives of farmers, chefs, winemakers, artists, and runaways as they do their best to push aside their differences with one another for the collective good of Red Mountain. Will their dissimilarities be too great to survive what's coming?

Told from four different perspectives, the rich stories of Red Mountain will leave you scrambling for a plane ticket to visit this extraordinary piece of land and meet its inhabitants.

For a free copy of Red Mountain Recipes for the Body, Mind, and Spirit, sign up on Boo's website.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary

378 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2018

About the author

Bestselling author Boo Walker initially tapped his creative muse as a songwriter and banjoist in Nashville before working his way west to Washington State, where he bought a gentleman’s farm on the Yakima River. It was there amongst the grapevines and wine barrels that he fell in love with telling stories that now resonate with book clubs around the world. Rich with colorful characters and boundless soul, his novels will leave you with an open heart and a lifted spirit.

Always a wanderer, Boo currently lives in Valencia, Spain with his wife and son. He also writes thrillers under the pen name Benjamin Blackmore. You can find him at boowalker.com and benjaminblackmore.com.

For a free copy of his Red Mountain cookbook, updates, and other goodies, sign up for his newsletter at boowalker.com.

Reviews

[K Leap · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you love the Hallmark Channel, this book's for you. Unfortunately, that is not my cuppa. I was a bit intrigued with the first book in this apparent series, but was majorly disappointed with this one. I thought I would, perhaps, find out some inside info re the wine growing industry, but, alas, did not (could have learned more via Wikipedia). I didn't find the characters to be particularly developed beyond their first intro'd description. I really wanted to love this book--perhaps I would have if I were in the ninth grade. I know the author's name is "Boo," which sounds masculine, right? But I found the writing style to be feminine; or at most, a poor imitation of Nicholas Sparks. So sorry. I don't like leaving negative stuff, but, as stated, this book was a huge disappointment. I had to make myself finish it.

[Sandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I've said before, I'm not very good at doing reviews, other than giving my own humble opinion. Boo Walker is a new author for me and I'm so loving his books. He writes with his heart, and tells a story that can make you laugh and also bring you to tears. His characters are like family, funny, cantankerous, flawed and even some that reminds you of people you know. Red Mountain Rising continues their story. I loved the first book and I love this one. You will too! Keep them coming, Boo Walker.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

When I chose this title from my Kindle unlimited site, I wasn't quite sure what I was about to read. I found it to be a great adventure into a world I knew nothing about. I found myself deeply drawn to the characters and anxious to know everything about them. It was a very interesting to get a glimpse of the life of a wine maker. I enjoyed reading this book very much.

[Henry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Entertaining trash.

[C. McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I didn't think I'd read the entire story because it got off to a slow start without a clear direction. However, there were two things that changed my mind. The setting was perfect, and it became as much a "character" as any of the people in the cast. The author subtly captured the feel of a wine area under development with "old" locals and their resentment at the gentrification of where they'd lived for a long time. The conflict arising between wine growers and back-country residents--very different neighbors--added to the interest, and based on the fact there are other books to follow, I'm sure it will be a more developed thread.

The romances and complications almost fell into a Peyton Place kind of story, but because the characters were well-rounded and not all of the coupling became cliched, it dodged that fate. Red Mountain was a great escape, and I did read to the end. However, don't expect each of the story threads to be tied up when you close the book. Not at all. In fact, nothing's resolved. It's like a TV series where you have to wait until Season 2 to find out if Abby and Brooke will get back together, or if Joan will survive and marry Otis. And these are only two examples. There are more.

[Nevena · Rating 2 out of 5]

While apparently having enjoyed the first book enough to move onto the second, something about consuming the audio version this go around helped me to more accurately get a read on this series.

While certainly not the first author to write female characters in such 2D prose, Walkers’ continued portrayal of women as either effortlessly beautiful or so, so close to beauty if one could just managed to see through scars to their past beauty or if the woman could deprive herself of nourishment long enough to conform to the myopic beauty standard where attractiveness is only correlated with thinness. Where a man’s love is what completes her, makes her worthy of the page.

I’m friggin bored.

[Susan Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a continuous story with local people growing and helping each other

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t enjoy this one nearly as much as the first book. Passable, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who hasn’t read the first one.

[Linda Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS SECOND BOOK IN THE RED MOUNTAIN SERIES IS GOOD LIKE THE FIRST ONE. IT DEALS WITH THE CLOSE COMMUNITY OF WINE MAKERS WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO KEEP THE PURITY OF THEIR WINES. THERE ARE THE NORMAL GOOD GUYS AND THE BAD ONES TOO, THE PERSONAL LIVES OF THESE WINEMAKERS AND THE OTHERS WHO SUPPORT THEM ARE AS VARIED AS ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE YOU WOULD MEET ANYWHERE. MY BROTHER WAS THE FOUNDER OF A VERY SUCCESSFUL WINERY IN THE NAPA VALLEY AREA WHO WON MANY AWARDS FOR HIS VARIOUS WINES. i ONCE LISTENED TO HIM TALK TO THE WINE STEWARD FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT HE WAS SAYING. THOSE WHO MAKE WINE AND ENJOY IT SPEAK AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT LANGUAGE. SINCE I DON'S DRINK ALCOHOL AT ALL, i DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LOVE OF WINE, BUT SO MANY DO AND THEY ALL UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE OF WINE. THESE BOOKS USE SOME OF IT, BUT IT IS STILL UNDERSTANDABLE IN THIS CONTEXT. i THINK YOU WILL ENJOY THESE BOOKS RATHER YOU ENJOY WINE OR NOT. READ AND FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

The adults from the first book seem a lot more immature in this second book.

[Regina Roof · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the characters in the Red Mountain series.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent character development; starting the next one in the series tomorrow.

[Claire Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to catch up with the mountain

Oh my goodness! This was such a great second instalment on the lives of those who live on Red Mountain.

It picks up around 7 months after the end of the last book.
I don't want to do too many spoilers , so I will keep it brief.

We get to catch up with all the characters from book one but are introduced to new ones. Adriana and her 6 year old son Zack , Remi, and the vile Mr Bellflour.

Margot is still my favourite character as she is so relatable. Being middle-aged myself and single, I totally get her actions and feelings at times. She makes me laugh out loud but also sad, too. Otis is just fantastic, and his grumpiness but love for his mountain keeps you entertained.

Brooks really had a pity party through most of the book, but I totally understood at times why he was so hurt, but I'm not saying why 🤐

There is a strong story line of domestic abuse , but it was handled so sensitively and I could completely sympathise with the character who has been through it and the terror of having to flee and change your whole life. It was written with a fair bit of research I would have thought.

If you want a tidy ending , you're not gonna get one, but I can't wait to dive into book 3 to see what happens in the end.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

love these characters, even the ones I hate!

Great story of people living in harmony or not, on wine land, in eastern Washington state. More crisis and more heroes, more fights and more loving.

[Anita Oakley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mountain Wins Again

I am in love with this series of books about Red Mountain and all its inhabitants. There is something for everyone! Marriage, divorce, friendship, food, wine, flowers, animals, gardening, music, family, fighting, addiction, abuse, health issues, and of course love... I relate so much with the mentions of Under the Tuscan Sun since it has always been one of my favorite movies and one I watch when I need to feel uplifted. I also loved the mention of the Blues Traveler song The Mountains Win Again...that song also has a lot of meaning to me. I'm soo glad Margot found her true love! There is always hope. Can't wait to see what Book 3 has up its sleeves.....I am ready to move to Red Mountain.

[Debra Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

After some of the other reviews I feel a bit defensive about liking these books. I'm an intelligent woman, but sometimes my brain gets weary & I just want something non taxing to read. Especially during this quarantine. Were the characters immature? Perhaps at times but let's be honest we all are at times. I did get rather tired of Otis's moods & anger at times. I wanted to understand his passion about protecting the art of wine making. Artists are known for being quirky & temperamental. It is an intimate portrayal of a small community of people. I love the talk about wine. I love wines especially reds from the Pacific NW. I did think the beginning of Book 2 & the vibrator was weak BUT I did giggle quite a bit. And it was a good intro to Adriana. But I did like 1 & 2 & I'll read #3. Wouldn't NOT recommend these books but with the caveat that they are light fun reading & if you're searching for a complex mystery move on.

[Tami Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series, I grew up not far from this area, loved the community at Red Mountain.

[P.Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, I have read all of his books now and want more ! Just the right number of characters easy to follow them and great storyline. If you enjoyed this one read the rest of his books and you will be delighted.

[Julie Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reads like a soap opera!

I read the first book and was somewhat disappointed, but decided to give the second in the series a chance. Sorry to say it, but it was much like the first...no meat to the plot!

[Alexis Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a soap

Predictable story line, shallow characters. Could have had more depth and development. I won’t be following this series anymore. Mostly I like the location and descriptions.

[Lisa Thomason · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know if I'm a masochist or eternal optimist. I've now read three of the Red Mountain books, and truly found I didn't like or care about a single character. You have the woman whose husband cheats and she "releases pressure" by taking long baths and drinking wine while imagining murdering him (the prequel really set her up as a wacko), then becomes desperate for a man and takes yo-yo dieting to a whole new level. A grouchy older man who has a pretty decent life overall (yeah, he's had some tragedy, who hasnt?), but whines about black cat and broken mirror bad luck that follows him, even after finding the "second" love of his life, a virtual saint who preaches you make your own luck and happiness (what is she doing with this sourpuss?). The cheating wife whose distraught husband then cheats, and she shows her forgiveness by telling everyone at a dinner party (including her teenage daughter and her boyfriend) because he's too good not to "share" anyway. The one character I wanted to cheer on, Brooks, who had a horrible childhood and overcame his problems to become an upstanding member of the community....yeah...no. Love of his life comes along, cheats (sense a theme here?), though they were barely together. He dumps her, forgives her, dumps her, finds someone else, finds out *she* has found someone else; when she tries to explain how hard she tried to get him back, suddenly he thinks this is her telling him they still have a chance. But wait, isn't he interested in someone else? No matter. When he finds she's committed to the new relationship, he takes that as another betrayal and suddenly she is Super Slut.

Some of this is spread among the three books, but the final book was the one that labeled me: masochist, definitely.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the series continues with the stories of the main characters. There is also the addition of Adriana and her son Zack. Happenings are not always expected. "Boo Walker has returned to wine country for the sequel to his powerful, best-selling novel, Red Mountain. Join four wildly colorful characters as they search for life, love, and meaning in a tiny wine-growing region in the desert of eastern Washington State.
Otis Till, the grapefather of Red Mountain, has regained his senses of smell and sight, but his vision of what Red Mountain should be is now threatened by a greedy landowner.
Margot Pierce has finally opened her French inn, but as her son leaves for college and her boyfriend says goodbye, she realizes how lonely her world could possibly become. Can she stomach the trials of going back on the dating market, even if that means finding him online?
Brooks Baker's engagement has fallen apart, so he's alone again, despite having reconnected with his biological family. Will he ever find real love on the mountain? Will having his family nearby deliver the fairy tale he'd hoped for?
Adriana Hernandez has changed her name and escaped to Red Mountain with her young son to hide from their previous life in California. Can they find some sense of belonging here? Or will they have to run forever?
Red Mountain Rising will drop you into the often-dysfunctional, small-town lives of farmers, chefs, winemakers, artists, and runaways as they do their best to push aside their differences with one another for the collective good of Red Mountain. Will their dissimilarities be too great to survive what's coming?" synopsis copied
Ready for book three.

[Donna Rutledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this second book in the Red Mountain Chronicles series. The small community keeps you coming back for more updates on the citizens. The books are written in a way that keeps you turning the pages and seeking more on the residents. Nobody can't stand the fact that recently ground on Red Mountain has been sold to a developer.

Otis has regained his taste, scents, and sight and is more than ever ready to grow his world class grapes. He and Joan are doing well. Otis is bound and determined to get rid of the developer before he ruins everything he has built on the mountain.

Brooks found and lost Abby. He can't go backwards but he's lonely. Then his brother starts dating her and he really has a hard time. He has found his family but he's not doing to well on his own. Brooks meets Adriana Hernandez and he's interested but she's not.

Adriana and her son have moved to the mountain to escape her abusive ex-husband. She is more interested in keeping her son safe than she is in a new relationship. Adriana works for Margot in the Inn she opened.

Emilia is doing better even though she shaved her head and is dealing with her mother's alcoholism. Emilia has befriended Margot's son and they are helping each other.

[Shirley Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the much anticipated sequel to Red Mountain. Red Mountain was a great read but it left you hanging at the end. By the time the sequel Red Mountain Rising came out, I had to go back and re-read parts of the first book. Questions were answered in the 2nd one like I had hoped, but overall the 2nd book was a total disappointment. Too many over the top silly incidents. I often wondered if this great author was encouraged by his editors to add a little spice. It didn’t work for me and I also wondered if Boo Walker actually wrote it. The idea of a dog dragging out a very large vibrator (yes, of course it was turned on) to chew on during and in front of all the party attendees. Who thinks that up!!?? These unexpected silly incidents were throughout the book and seemed elementary and unnecessary to an otherwise good story.

[Cole Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an interesting continuation of Walker's story about Washington wine country, and I liked the addition of Violeta/Adrianna as a POV character. However, while I understand that this is a fictitious book, it is not supposed to be a book with "unnatural" elements, yet there are certain scenes that seem to push the suspension of disbelief. For example, one of the final scenes in the book has Otis Till, the winefather, fend off a pack of wild coyotes that supposedly attacked the "villain" of the story. This scene is farfetched in several ways, and shows Walker's lack of knowledge on the subject matter. Additionally, I wish there was more in this story regarding actual wine making. I enjoyed that about the first volume of the trilogy, and was disappointed about the lack of continuation of that aspect of this story.

[Susandsuttongmail.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivated Reader

This novel has captured me! I can’t put it down. The characters and the interaction with one another have aged much like the wines that develop from vine to cork into a full-body experience to savor.

I was drawn to this series because of my love of romances and my love of clean-crafted ™️ wines. As an independent wine consultant for Scout and Cellar , I have thoroughly enjoyed the details of the wine making process and the growers’ passions that are weaved throughout the story.

I would recommend this book and series to individuals who like romances with well developed characters and story. I plan on recommending it to my wine loving friends too.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 &1/2 *'s for Book 2 in the Red Mountain Chronicles.
I'm still enjoying the various colorful characters of Boo Walker's Red Mountain. It's light reading and that can be just perfect.
It's clear the author likes Margo's many excellent qualities, so do I, though it would be OK if he backed-off a bit from 'Margo the Nympho'. And maybe a little more consistency in some of the other storylines, like young Zack. His not speaking for weeks after being gently told about his Grandmother, but easily recovering from having to pull a gun on his Father!
But ~ overall ~ I am hanging-in through Book 3. I still enjoy these people. Even if the author thought he had to include that the lipstick was organic!

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second installment of the Red Mountain series. I truly love stories where the setting comes alive and Red Mountain is definitely its own character. I also love the ensemble cast, and the addition of Adriana. They are all truly flawed characters, trying to find their paths to happiness. The only thing I had a hard time with is how quickly everyone seems to fall in love. Margot and remi are a sweet couple, but we're talking mere months before they are ready to spend their lives together. And that's after a breakup that lasted all of a couple weeks. Same with Brooks and Adriana, although the book leaves their ending uncertain. Read this book if you like novels that put you in the setting and have loveable characters that you'd love to have a glass of wine with.

[Victoria Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know it's a damn good book when you find yourself considering Googling the net worth of one of the characters! No kidding. I just did that. I'm not quite finished reading the second book in the Red Mountain Rising series, but I had to say that. So just how much is singer/songwriter/wild musician Jake Forester really worth? Read it and tell me.

I'm totally enjoying this series. I haven't read much about the private wine industry, but I find it fascinating. I knew there was a lot to know about this business, and just the process of knowing a fine wine from say...Ripple. Believe me this series is not Ripple classed.

So take a tip and relax with one of Boo Walker's Red Mountain Chronicles.

[Judy Welden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book of the Red Mountain series and found this one to be even better. All the characters I enjoyed before were still there plus two more lead ones. Not only is Boo Walker my favorite author at this time, he's also my hero. He can write in so many voices, finds time to write fans and even, with his fine, tenor voice does his own audio! Can't figure out how he does it all, but so happy he does! Just finished Book 2 last night and today I'm starting Red Mountain Burinng, which promises from what I've read about it, to continue to keep me turning the pages in deep anticipation of what is to come! I highly recommend Boo Walker and plan to read all his books, in the order they were written! Judy Welden, author: An Unstoppable Survivor