Micheal Rivers

The lush forests surrounding the Nantahala River in North Carolina serve as the backdrop for this sweet and multifaceted tale. This book is many things. It is a ghost story, a romance, a tale of friendship, an examination of the ways in which we deal with adversity, a chronicle of how the world you know slowly disappears with the passage of time, and a celebration of the things that never change (and should never change).

I loved the complexity of the character of Edward Caulfield. Sitting on the porch of his home, Edward is often swept away by whirlwinds of memories that take him back to happier times. He has many things to think about, and one of them is why he is the only one who cannot see the Lady of Nantahala; the specter of a woman waltzing alone over the dark waters of the river under the moonlight. Edward in his old age is assisted by his trusty house help Betty, who is quick with her wit and doesn't think twice about speaking her mind. They have a relationship where both support each other, but Edward's and Betty's world is changed when Lena, a young woman with a troubled life, walks into their midst.

There are other things I liked about the book such as the way the author presents the wisdom of both a people and a generation through the comments and thoughts of Edward, and the superb descriptions of the landscape both natural and man-made. The only thing I didn't like was the villain who was a bit too perfect for my taste. But this detail did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. The heart and soul of the narrative is the interaction between Edward and Lena and how it affects each other, because ultimately Moonlight on the Nantahala is a story about finding the perfect rose, but you are going to have to read the book to figure that one out!… (meer)

Edward Caulfield lost his love and soulmate, Celia, early in his life; however, he is sure that the womanly spirit that many have seen over the Nantahala River next to their house is Celia, looking over him from the beyond. As he has aged into his eighties, he has moved into a bungalow in town near his doctor and hired a housekeeper to take care of it and him, but he has kept the original house as somewhat of a memorial to Celia which he visits regularly. When a young woman, Lena, begins to spend time meditating on the yard of the old house, looking out over the river, and finally decides to strike up a conversation with Edward, the budding friendship reenergizes Edward, and he begins to look upon her as the daughter he never had. The woman, Lena, has lived a life of privileged dysfunctionality that is falling apart around her, but her discussions with Edward becomes the inspiration and path out of the social prison she has found herself in. Although this is not a Christmas story, having read this a week before Christmas, I found this wonderfully inspiring, romantic, and well-written novel touching nearly all of the holiday themes of love, giving and redemption. My one reservation in the story was the subtle, yet unnecessary act of vengeful witchcraft that pushed the paranormal element from plausible to fantasy. However, it did not detract from the tone of the tale and will be acceptable to many readers.… (meer)