Alexandria Nolan’s latest book, Moonlight Melodies of Copper and Pine is her second book in a series. The first, Starlight Symphonies of Oak and Glass was set in Mackinac Island, Michigan in 1826. That story was told through the eyes of four people and introduced the reader to the beautiful emerald island in far northern Michigan at a time when native American Indians were as common as the European settlers and the crystal blue waters and deep green forests were still pristine. Moonlight Melodies is told through the eyes of the next generation of family members living on that magical island.
It is a historical novel, but one that focuses on day to day life in the wild woods of Northern Michigan rather than on a well-known event or person. As the author says in the postscript, “I find that the little people, for whom we usually do not have much in the way of historical records, are far more fascinating”. And what a fascinating group of characters she has created. A beautiful and passionate young woman who has inherited some of her mother’s magical ability, an intelligent and driven lawyer, with a modern education but strong ties to his Native American roots, a British doctor with a troubled history searching for meaning. She imagines what life could have been like in that special time before every snippet of life was digitally captured and recorded.
Magic is a common theme in Nolan’s books. Moonlight Melodies story includes both the local settlers as well as the Native Americans who have inhabited Northern Michigan for centuries. It is a magical time, when the Native Americans’ beliefs included spirits and ghosts and the local settlers often embraced these beliefs since their western education and Christian upbringing could not explain many of the mysteries encountered during the cold nights where stars shone like jewels above the dark forests. Nolan definitely sees the magic of the far north and exaggerates it just a bit in her stories so we with less imagination can also begin to see the possibilities.
Nolan is a great travel writer and this skill is evident in her descriptions of Mackinac Island, Lake Huron and the surrounding countryside. She writes in a way that you can smell the pine needles as a young girl walks through the deep pine forests, you feel the steely cold water of Lake Huron as a man swims to shore. The island itself becomes a character in the book, unspoiled and beautiful but isolated, wild and unforgiving to those not strong enough to handle the challenges it presents or to those not in tune to the spirits that govern. Anyone who has spent time there will recognize it immediately; those who have not will be making plans to visit.
The book moves at a fast pace. You are in the hands of a master story teller who believes in the power of story-telling. Throughout the book, the characters tell stories to each other, to educate, to preserve culture, to escape and to entertain. These mini-tales are one of the best parts of the book. Dive into this novel and you will be introduced to a handful of fascinating characters that will captivate your interest and take you on a journey through a special, magical place in mid nineteenth century America where the possibilities were endless.
OR
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Next 2 for you in this series
See full series
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
