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Catch a Fallen Angel
Could this devil-may-care stranger...be her angel in disguise?
Gabe Donovan's regrets for a life of gambling and drinking come fast and hard when he finds himself hanging from the short end of a rope, framed for a crime he didn't commit. But fate has a little detour on the road to the afterlife, complete with a bargain from Old Scratch himself. The two months of life in exchange for the soul of the scoundrel who should have hung in Gabe's noose.
Maggie Benson realizes that only a desperate woman would hire a dusty, down-on-his-luck stranger with a past, but she has a hotel to run in Regret, Nevada, and handymen aren't exactly lining up at her door. Destiny, however, comes in strange packages, and after one magical kiss, she knows Gabe is hers. Come Hell or high water, she's not about to let go of this fallen angel, even if she has to take on the Devil himself...
Gabe Donovan's regrets for a life of gambling and drinking come fast and hard when he finds himself hanging from the short end of a rope, framed for a crime he didn't commit. But fate has a little detour on the road to the afterlife, complete with a bargain from Old Scratch himself. The two months of life in exchange for the soul of the scoundrel who should have hung in Gabe's noose.
Maggie Benson realizes that only a desperate woman would hire a dusty, down-on-his-luck stranger with a past, but she has a hotel to run in Regret, Nevada, and handymen aren't exactly lining up at her door. Destiny, however, comes in strange packages, and after one magical kiss, she knows Gabe is hers. Come Hell or high water, she's not about to let go of this fallen angel, even if she has to take on the Devil himself...
309 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 15, 2000
34 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Kane
20 books11 followersMaureen Child was born 28 September 1951 in California, USA. She and her husband enjoy traveling, usually taking road trips with her parents. When she’s at home, she is kept busy with her two grown children and a somewhat confused golden retriever named Abbey. She is busy writing her next book.
Under her own name, Maureen Child writes short contemporary novels—books she loves to write because of their fast pace and condensed story telling, she is also writing funny, contemporary paranormal romances. Over the years, she’s written under lots of different names and she prefers the term ‘pseudonym’ to ‘alias’. As Ann Carberry, she wrote western historical romances. As Kathleen Kane, she wrote not only Americana romances, but western paranormal romances as well. As Sarah Hart, she wrote one really spectacular western paranormal that is still one of her favorites. And once, Ann Carberry even wrote a Victorian historical which she absolutely loved doing. She writes paranormal romance novels under the pesudonym of Regan Hastings. Now, a USA Today best selling author of more than ninety romance novels and novellas, she is a five time nominee for the prestigious Rita award from Romance Writers of America. One of her novels, A Pocketful Of Paradise, was made into a CBS-TV movie called The Soul Collector, starring Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Greenwood and Ossie Davis.
Under her own name, Maureen Child writes short contemporary novels—books she loves to write because of their fast pace and condensed story telling, she is also writing funny, contemporary paranormal romances. Over the years, she’s written under lots of different names and she prefers the term ‘pseudonym’ to ‘alias’. As Ann Carberry, she wrote western historical romances. As Kathleen Kane, she wrote not only Americana romances, but western paranormal romances as well. As Sarah Hart, she wrote one really spectacular western paranormal that is still one of her favorites. And once, Ann Carberry even wrote a Victorian historical which she absolutely loved doing. She writes paranormal romance novels under the pesudonym of Regan Hastings. Now, a USA Today best selling author of more than ninety romance novels and novellas, she is a five time nominee for the prestigious Rita award from Romance Writers of America. One of her novels, A Pocketful Of Paradise, was made into a CBS-TV movie called The Soul Collector, starring Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Greenwood and Ossie Davis.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 9, 2021
An angry mob has come after Gambler Gabriel Donovan, accusing him of a crime he didn't commit. As they hang him from a nearby tree, he takes his last breath and regrets the way he wasted his life. But his death is short-lived when the Devil makes a bargain with him. He'll give Gabe two months of life in exchange for the soul of the crook who should have hanged in Gabe's place. Gabe quickly agrees to the deal and heads to Regret, Nevada, a town where his former friend is known to pass through regularly.
Maggie Benson is desperate. The restaurant her father bought her is failing because she is a terrible cook. The townspeople refuse to eat there because they fear she will poison them. Maggie is running out of money, and her young son isn't happy living in town. When Gabe comes to town looking for a job, she gives him room and board if he'll help her in the restaurant. As they work together, they begin to have feelings for each other. But Gabe knows the clock is ticking on his relationship with Maggie.
This was a cute historical romance with paranormal elements. I loved seeing Gabe turn his life around and try to figure out a way to stay with Maggie and her son. This is a good story for anyone who needs a light read. My rating: 4 Stars.
Maggie Benson is desperate. The restaurant her father bought her is failing because she is a terrible cook. The townspeople refuse to eat there because they fear she will poison them. Maggie is running out of money, and her young son isn't happy living in town. When Gabe comes to town looking for a job, she gives him room and board if he'll help her in the restaurant. As they work together, they begin to have feelings for each other. But Gabe knows the clock is ticking on his relationship with Maggie.
This was a cute historical romance with paranormal elements. I loved seeing Gabe turn his life around and try to figure out a way to stay with Maggie and her son. This is a good story for anyone who needs a light read. My rating: 4 Stars.
November 27, 2010
This book was such a delight to read! I hardly know where to begin. I will state that Kathleen Kane also writes contemporary romances under the name Maureen Child, for anyone interested.
First off, the characters were great. I would have expected not to like a man who would literally make a deal with the Devil, yet I could see that Gabe had a heart of gold underneath his rogue exterior. Maggie was charming as well--she was more than just the cliche of a woman who can't even boil water. I loved how vibrant and alive she was. I thought that these two were a great match for one another. And the heroine's son Jake was adorable as well. Even the villains were more than just caricatures. They had motivations that the reader could understand, and even sympathize with to some extent.
I'd been starting to get sick of "small-town" books, but this one reminded me of why they are so popular. I loved the whole cast of characters, and they felt like more than just quirky cliches thrown in for laughs.
I also really liked that the hero and heroine fell in love with each other for more than just sex. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a prude, but I don't like romances where there is an overemphasis on sex. I like it as an added bonus to love, not as the sole reason for a relationship between the hero and heroine. While they were physically attracted to one another, this wasn't a "when can we hop into bed?" book. Nor was it an "I hate you, come here" story. It was refreshing to read about a couple falling in love without petty bickering, stupid misunderstandings, or overactive libidos. I also liked that the book didn't turn into a boinkfest once the hero and heroine did consummate their love, a complaint I often have with many historical romance.
I would have expected a novel where the hero makes a deal with the Devil to be dark and depressing, but this was not the case. I found myself laughing out loud several times will reading this book, and by the end, I had a serious case of the warm fuzzies. I absolutely loved the plot twist at the end. I will not give it away here--I don't want to ruin it for anyone.
I'm a VERY picky reader, but I thought this book was wonderful. Really, my only complaint is that at just over 300 pages, it was over too quickly!
First off, the characters were great. I would have expected not to like a man who would literally make a deal with the Devil, yet I could see that Gabe had a heart of gold underneath his rogue exterior. Maggie was charming as well--she was more than just the cliche of a woman who can't even boil water. I loved how vibrant and alive she was. I thought that these two were a great match for one another. And the heroine's son Jake was adorable as well. Even the villains were more than just caricatures. They had motivations that the reader could understand, and even sympathize with to some extent.
I'd been starting to get sick of "small-town" books, but this one reminded me of why they are so popular. I loved the whole cast of characters, and they felt like more than just quirky cliches thrown in for laughs.
I also really liked that the hero and heroine fell in love with each other for more than just sex. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a prude, but I don't like romances where there is an overemphasis on sex. I like it as an added bonus to love, not as the sole reason for a relationship between the hero and heroine. While they were physically attracted to one another, this wasn't a "when can we hop into bed?" book. Nor was it an "I hate you, come here" story. It was refreshing to read about a couple falling in love without petty bickering, stupid misunderstandings, or overactive libidos. I also liked that the book didn't turn into a boinkfest once the hero and heroine did consummate their love, a complaint I often have with many historical romance.
I would have expected a novel where the hero makes a deal with the Devil to be dark and depressing, but this was not the case. I found myself laughing out loud several times will reading this book, and by the end, I had a serious case of the warm fuzzies. I absolutely loved the plot twist at the end. I will not give it away here--I don't want to ruin it for anyone.
I'm a VERY picky reader, but I thought this book was wonderful. Really, my only complaint is that at just over 300 pages, it was over too quickly!
December 26, 2010
The only other Kathleen Kane book ive read was When the Halo Falls which I LOVED, so i was expecting a lot from this book. I thought the story was nice and Maggie's unexpected talent was really cool to see. I loved Gabe's relationship with Gabe and as Gabe's two months drew to an end my heart totally broke for what everyone was going through. My absolutely favorite part of this book has got to be the last five pages when everything gets settled. I could not stop laughing. This was a decent read, nothing spectacular but i'll probably check out more of Kane.
July 30, 2018
I loved it! It took The story had interesting twists and turns!
January 28, 2025
3.75 Cute story, likeable characters
March 25, 2025
We meet our hero Gabe while he’s on the wrong side of the rope. Being hung by the townsfolk for crimes he didn’t commit, Gabe knows he’s not lived the more righteous life but this is unfair. Death comes for him and just as his world goes black, he’s visited by the devil who offers him a precious gift…time. If Gabe can serve the soul of the man who is responsible for Gabes current position, Gabe will be given 2 more months on earth. Gabe jumps at the idea.
Now he’s in a small town, waiting for the man to show his face. He never imagines he’d meet and fall in with the beautiful widowed single month who can’t cook for shit but runs a restaurant.
Maggie has lived her life in fear of what people think. Her mother was a medicine woman who was accused of witchcraft, her father a no-good thug. Maggie is determined to be better, even if it means keeping her mouth shut as people insult her. When she hires Gabe to help her in the restaurant, she never imagines falling for the man who is leaving within a months’ time and is turning her life upside down.
2 months pass in the blink of an eye and when the devil comes to collect, can Gabe serve up a soul and still think he can keep his?
This book was rather boring and the ending was horribly predicable. The whole story was spent waiting. There was no conflict other then Maggie and Gabe’s personal issues and a bitter Betty named Sugar. Most the time, they were just talking or living life. I needed something more. And when it came to the climax, I kept thinking – okay, this is how it’s going to end, Gabe wasn’t a horrid enough person to get this fate so something needs to change. I think there was a message, of forgiveness and the love of family but it was packaged a bit too cleanly for my taste.
Now he’s in a small town, waiting for the man to show his face. He never imagines he’d meet and fall in with the beautiful widowed single month who can’t cook for shit but runs a restaurant.
Maggie has lived her life in fear of what people think. Her mother was a medicine woman who was accused of witchcraft, her father a no-good thug. Maggie is determined to be better, even if it means keeping her mouth shut as people insult her. When she hires Gabe to help her in the restaurant, she never imagines falling for the man who is leaving within a months’ time and is turning her life upside down.
2 months pass in the blink of an eye and when the devil comes to collect, can Gabe serve up a soul and still think he can keep his?
This book was rather boring and the ending was horribly predicable. The whole story was spent waiting. There was no conflict other then Maggie and Gabe’s personal issues and a bitter Betty named Sugar. Most the time, they were just talking or living life. I needed something more. And when it came to the climax, I kept thinking – okay, this is how it’s going to end, Gabe wasn’t a horrid enough person to get this fate so something needs to change. I think there was a message, of forgiveness and the love of family but it was packaged a bit too cleanly for my taste.
June 10, 2020
Another re-read. Probably did not enjoy as much as first time, but still a good way to pass time.
March 21, 2015
what a cute and fun to read book
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews