REVIEW: Walking on Air by Catherine Anderson

In Walking on Air by Catherine Anderson, gunslinger Gabe is not a man to settle in one place. He has not had an easy life and although he is rich now – his father acknowledged him after his death when he left him a fortune – he is still the same restless man, always on his own, never feeling good enough for any one woman. While in Random, Gabe is caught off guard and shot, he dies seeing the face of one beautiful woman, and he dies with regrets. Upon his death and his quest to enter heaven, Gabe is given a chance that many would treasure…a chance to come back, even for a little while, and a challenge.

Nancy is the challenge Gabe chooses. She is a strong, independent woman who fled an awful situation, taking her little sister with her. She has become successful in Random, but she still lives in fear. When she meets Gabe, the gunslinger, he knows things she doesn’t want anyone to know…and he uses this in his quest to have Nancy marry him. Among other things, Gabe is to show Nancy there is such a thing as love so that she will open up her heart and mind to future possibilities…and he only has one month to do it. Almost forcing someone to marry you is not the best way to start off, but Gabe had to do something, even if her memory will be wiped clear of him when he’s gone again.

What follows is a journey in which not only does Gabe do his best to help Catherine, he rediscovers himself, learns more about himself and what is good about him. Unexpectedly, Gabe surprises even himself when he finds himself falling in love with Nancy…even knowing he will leave her again.

Will Gabe be able to guide Nancy in love and everything that comes with it? Will the challenge given to him be met, allowing Gabe into through the pearly gates and into heaven? What will become of Nancy? Will her life have been changed at all even if she can’t remember Gabe?

Catherine gives us a magical, historical romance in Walking on Air. Gabe and Nancy are the perfect hero and heroine. As different as they appear, they are more similar than you would think. Neither has had an easy life, and neither have family other than Nancy’s younger sister. They are both independent people, used to going through life on their own. You can’t help but admire both Gabe and Nancy as they journey through this new relationship they are forging…both have their reasons, Gabe’s are just much more secretive. Despite what Gabe is now, he and Nancy are both people that are otherwise realistic and believable of that time period.

I really admire how Catherine writes of present day problems in a historical perspective. Through her writing we see that over the years, some things have changed and some things have not. Present and past social injustices are remarkably similar in what they are and how they are dealt with. Not only does Catherine immerse you in the story of Nancy and Gabe, she makes you think outside the story too…to real life. If you could go back in time what would you do differently? Gabe’s experience is a real eye opener for him, and he sees a lot of things he would do differently, or changes he wished he could implement.

Catherine also brings a spiritual element to Walking on Air, and she presents it in such a way that no matter what your beliefs are, it is an essential part of this story. With her smooth writing she does an excellent job of wrapping up Walking on Air and weaving more than one lost soul together.

I would highly recommend Walking on Air to any romance reader, if you like historical romance you’ll love it and if you’ve never read historical romance Walking on Air is a great book to start with!

Book Info:

Published February 4th 2014 by Signet

From “incomparable” (Fresh Fiction) author Catherine Anderson comes a novel of lost souls, second chances, and love everlasting….

Random, Colorado, is just another stop on the road for solitary gunslinger Gabriel Valance. Known for his drinking, gambling, and womanizing, he prefers to remain a stranger to anyone who crosses his path. But when an upstart gunslinger catches Gabe off guard and shoots him down, he regrets his empty, lonely life with his dying breath….

Golden-haired beauty Nancy Hoffman settled in Random after fleeing an abusive past. Caring for her younger sister and working in a hat shop help her to forge ahead, though she remains fearful and mistrustful of men—and marriage….

Their paths will cross when Gabe gets a second chance at life and a divine mission: to sweep Nancy off her feet, gain her trust, and convince her to believe in his love. And in doing so, the once-hardened cowboy may save himself….