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Leaning on Air
They last spoke as teens . . .
But on a country road twelve years later, a surprise encounter reunites ornithologist Celia Burke with veterinary surgeon Burnaby Hayes, and they plunge into the most unusual romance of her life.
After a decade of marriage, Celia and Burnaby have found a unique and beautiful rhythm. Then tragedy strikes while Celia hunts for the nest of a research hawk near the Snake River. Reeling with grief, she’s certain Burnaby won’t understand her anguish or forgive the choice that initiated it.
She flees to kindness at a remote farm in Washington’s Palouse region, where a wild prairie and an alluring neighbor convince her to begin anew. But when unexplained accidents, cryptic sketches, and a mute little boy make her doubt her decision, only a red-tailed hawk and the endangered lives of those she loves can compel her to examine her past―and reconsider her future.
A soaring tale of wonder, loss, redemption, and restoration from Cheryl Grey Bostrom, the award-winning author of Sugar Birds .
But on a country road twelve years later, a surprise encounter reunites ornithologist Celia Burke with veterinary surgeon Burnaby Hayes, and they plunge into the most unusual romance of her life.
After a decade of marriage, Celia and Burnaby have found a unique and beautiful rhythm. Then tragedy strikes while Celia hunts for the nest of a research hawk near the Snake River. Reeling with grief, she’s certain Burnaby won’t understand her anguish or forgive the choice that initiated it.
She flees to kindness at a remote farm in Washington’s Palouse region, where a wild prairie and an alluring neighbor convince her to begin anew. But when unexplained accidents, cryptic sketches, and a mute little boy make her doubt her decision, only a red-tailed hawk and the endangered lives of those she loves can compel her to examine her past―and reconsider her future.
A soaring tale of wonder, loss, redemption, and restoration from Cheryl Grey Bostrom, the award-winning author of Sugar Birds .
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2024
38 people are currently reading
3384 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl Grey Bostrom
5 books625 followersA keen student of the natural world and the workings of the human heart, Pacific Northwest author Cheryl Grey Bostrom captures the mystery and wonder of both in her lyrical, surprising fiction.
Her market crossover novels Sugar Birds and Leaning on Air have won critical acclaim and more than two dozen fiction awards. What the River Keeps, winner of Christianity Today's 2025 Fiction Award of Merit, was awarded a prized Kirkus Star and named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Indies Book of June 2025.
Her widely published short-form work currently includes her column in the American Scientific Affiliation’s God and Nature Magazine and her Substack: Birds in the Hand. She has also written two non-fiction books.
An avid birder and nature photographer, Cheryl lives in rural Washington State with her husband and three irrepressible Gordon setters.
Her market crossover novels Sugar Birds and Leaning on Air have won critical acclaim and more than two dozen fiction awards. What the River Keeps, winner of Christianity Today's 2025 Fiction Award of Merit, was awarded a prized Kirkus Star and named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Indies Book of June 2025.
Her widely published short-form work currently includes her column in the American Scientific Affiliation’s God and Nature Magazine and her Substack: Birds in the Hand. She has also written two non-fiction books.
An avid birder and nature photographer, Cheryl lives in rural Washington State with her husband and three irrepressible Gordon setters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
May 8, 2024
When tragedy strikes, ornithologist Celia flees to the remote Pacific Northwest Palouse, where a red-tailed hawk, a mute little boy and the husband she can’t touch transform her.
Leaning On Air by Cheryl Grey Bostrom was a five-star read. I absolutely loved this riveting and captivating faith-filled and nature-infused story set in the Pacific Northwest.
💚 awestruck by the lyrical prose and artistic passages (red-tailed hawk) giving rise to my sense of wonder
💚 my STEM teacher’s heart is full
💚 appreciated reading about the challenges of living life on the spectrum
💚 loved the inspiring faith element; focus on giving our all and our best
💚 thankful for the honest look at marriage; its challenges and working together
💚 loved learning about one of the seven wonders of Washington state
💚 appreciated a focus on resurrecting broken pieces and reparation
💚 authentic examination of love and loss
The setting and atmosphere stole the show in this book and the messages about overcoming filled my heart. I have Sugar Birds on my TBR now.
This contemporary Christian romance about a veterinarian and an ornithologist who work together to overcome challenges in living with autism is one you’ll want on your reading list and suggest to your book club. Discussion questions included.
Leaning On Air by Cheryl Grey Bostrom was a five-star read. I absolutely loved this riveting and captivating faith-filled and nature-infused story set in the Pacific Northwest.
💚 awestruck by the lyrical prose and artistic passages (red-tailed hawk) giving rise to my sense of wonder
💚 my STEM teacher’s heart is full
💚 appreciated reading about the challenges of living life on the spectrum
💚 loved the inspiring faith element; focus on giving our all and our best
💚 thankful for the honest look at marriage; its challenges and working together
💚 loved learning about one of the seven wonders of Washington state
💚 appreciated a focus on resurrecting broken pieces and reparation
💚 authentic examination of love and loss
The setting and atmosphere stole the show in this book and the messages about overcoming filled my heart. I have Sugar Birds on my TBR now.
This contemporary Christian romance about a veterinarian and an ornithologist who work together to overcome challenges in living with autism is one you’ll want on your reading list and suggest to your book club. Discussion questions included.
April 17, 2024
Leaning on Air - Cheryl Grey Bostrom 4.5 stars
What a roller-coaster of emotions packed into this book! This book follows Celia and Burnaby, who knew each other as teens and reconnected 12 years later and end up married. After a decade of marriage, they find themselves going through some of the toughest years of their marriage with many traumatic events. Celia is devastated with the after effects of everything she has endured and Burnaby is trying so hard to make their marriage work. We follow this couple on their journey to overcome tragedy together and we see how God is involved the entire time.
This was was such an impactful story - especially to me as an Autism Boy Mama. I specifically loved the introduction when Burnaby is explaining how God has been with him through his autism - when he is explaining what's helped him in his growth - the way it was explained means a lot to me because as an Autism Mama, we worry about our own children with the unknown of "will our children be able to make the decision to follow Christ?" Seeing Burnaby's story and faith in God gives me hope for my own son to be able to make that decision one day for himself.
I love how Burnaby truly fought for his marriage with Celia. Calling over and over, trying to diagnose her in what she's going through, following her to the ends of the earth to make sure she is ok because he cares so much for her. He may not always be able to express it in the best way because he is autistic and he struggles with sensory issues in being touched, but he truly loves her. I also love how he talked to Celia about how the Lord loves their child and understands what it's like to lose one. It was beautiful and got me so emotional. Celia is skeptical of God throughout the story.
With Celia and Burnaby's jobs being very involved in science as an ornithologist (person who is an expert on birds) and a veterinary surgeon, you will see all kinds of nerdy details on physics but thankfully, the author explains everything along the way. It was very interesting to learn more about their professions. You also learn a lot about Washington State's Palouse - which is one of the most serene and pastoral farm areas of the state. It certainly made me research this area to see how beautiful it was for myself!
This story may have been filled with grief and trauma, but God was moving throughout this story and through Celia and Burnaby's marriage issues and reconciliation. I think the only thing that could have made this a perfect 5 stars was seeing a bit more faith development with Celia and a little more detail of how things played out in the end but I really enjoyed this!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings: Detailed miscarriage, grief surrounding miscarriage, parental and other family member deaths, mental abuse from a parent, fade to black marital sex scene.
Book Buzzwords:
Christian Fiction
Married Couple
Grief Journey in a Marriage
Reconciliation in Marriage
Autism Representation
Animals / Veterinarian Surgery/Details
What a roller-coaster of emotions packed into this book! This book follows Celia and Burnaby, who knew each other as teens and reconnected 12 years later and end up married. After a decade of marriage, they find themselves going through some of the toughest years of their marriage with many traumatic events. Celia is devastated with the after effects of everything she has endured and Burnaby is trying so hard to make their marriage work. We follow this couple on their journey to overcome tragedy together and we see how God is involved the entire time.
This was was such an impactful story - especially to me as an Autism Boy Mama. I specifically loved the introduction when Burnaby is explaining how God has been with him through his autism - when he is explaining what's helped him in his growth - the way it was explained means a lot to me because as an Autism Mama, we worry about our own children with the unknown of "will our children be able to make the decision to follow Christ?" Seeing Burnaby's story and faith in God gives me hope for my own son to be able to make that decision one day for himself.
I love how Burnaby truly fought for his marriage with Celia. Calling over and over, trying to diagnose her in what she's going through, following her to the ends of the earth to make sure she is ok because he cares so much for her. He may not always be able to express it in the best way because he is autistic and he struggles with sensory issues in being touched, but he truly loves her. I also love how he talked to Celia about how the Lord loves their child and understands what it's like to lose one. It was beautiful and got me so emotional. Celia is skeptical of God throughout the story.
With Celia and Burnaby's jobs being very involved in science as an ornithologist (person who is an expert on birds) and a veterinary surgeon, you will see all kinds of nerdy details on physics but thankfully, the author explains everything along the way. It was very interesting to learn more about their professions. You also learn a lot about Washington State's Palouse - which is one of the most serene and pastoral farm areas of the state. It certainly made me research this area to see how beautiful it was for myself!
This story may have been filled with grief and trauma, but God was moving throughout this story and through Celia and Burnaby's marriage issues and reconciliation. I think the only thing that could have made this a perfect 5 stars was seeing a bit more faith development with Celia and a little more detail of how things played out in the end but I really enjoyed this!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings: Detailed miscarriage, grief surrounding miscarriage, parental and other family member deaths, mental abuse from a parent, fade to black marital sex scene.
Book Buzzwords:
Christian Fiction
Married Couple
Grief Journey in a Marriage
Reconciliation in Marriage
Autism Representation
Animals / Veterinarian Surgery/Details
January 9, 2024
I loved Cheryl Grey Bostrom’s first novel, the multiple prize-winning Sugar Birds. But Leaning on Air is at another level. I have never physically been to the Palouse region of Washington State, and had never heard of it, but after reading this book, it feels like my home away from home. I do understand rationally that the characters in this book are not actually real people, but Celia and Burn have become people I care about, think about, and even pray over.
This book is that good.
As a writer myself (non-fiction only) I found myself copying lines from the book that were simply too beautifully written to just read once or twice. This novel is like a fine painting you want to hang on the wall and look at over and over again.
This is a love story based on overcoming tragedy and, as in real life, what we end up with is the overwhelming power of love to conquer all opposition. The nuanced plot and its various twists and turns will have you urgently trying to resist turning the pages to see what happens, and then happy you didn’t, when you discover the marvelous resolutions that await the patient reader.
Without giving too much away, there are many breathtaking (literally, at one point I had to remind myself to breathe) scenes. Those involving a young child who expresses himself through his artwork are something you will cherish and never forget.
Cheryl Grey Bostrom made a major splash with Sugar Birds. I am predicting a tidal wave of love for Leaning on Air.
This book is that good.
As a writer myself (non-fiction only) I found myself copying lines from the book that were simply too beautifully written to just read once or twice. This novel is like a fine painting you want to hang on the wall and look at over and over again.
This is a love story based on overcoming tragedy and, as in real life, what we end up with is the overwhelming power of love to conquer all opposition. The nuanced plot and its various twists and turns will have you urgently trying to resist turning the pages to see what happens, and then happy you didn’t, when you discover the marvelous resolutions that await the patient reader.
Without giving too much away, there are many breathtaking (literally, at one point I had to remind myself to breathe) scenes. Those involving a young child who expresses himself through his artwork are something you will cherish and never forget.
Cheryl Grey Bostrom made a major splash with Sugar Birds. I am predicting a tidal wave of love for Leaning on Air.
May 7, 2024
I don’t remember ever reading a book that was more filled with love than this one. For Leaning on Air is a love story. There is love between a husband and wife, love for family and friends, and love for nature—the land, the flora, the animals. This is also a book about faith and hope, restoration and reconciliation, even when despair and heartache leave little room to believe that things will get better. From the first page I was immersed in the story, captivated by the characters, and enchanted by the Washington state setting. I fell in love with the author’s first book, Sugar Birds, and this book picks up twelve years after Sugar Birds ended—it felt like coming home. I wanted to savor the beautiful language and imagery, as well as the depth of emotion, but at the same time I was anxious to find out where the story would take me. Celia and Burnaby are rich, complex, genuine characters, and they are surrounded by friends and family who fill their lives with wisdom and devotion. There are moments in this book that made me cry, events that left me reeling, but there were many more times that my soul was filled me with wonder. I received an advanced reader copy of this novel from the publisher.
February 5, 2024
Leaning on Air is a contemporary Christian romance set in the beautiful Palouse prairie area of Washington state. Celia and Burnaby, an ornithologist and a veterinary surgeon, marry, and one of them is autistic with an aversion to being touched. What could possibly go wrong?
The story features nerdy romance and the sweetest children. One of the kids, five-year-old Cobb, has a few point-of-view chapters. As for the nerdy romance, if you’re not into physics or ornithology, don’t worry, Bostrom explains all the sciency stuff readers need to know. And it’s not dry. It’s interesting!
Leaning on Air is also a story of grief. Grief strikes, and every flaw in Celia and Burnaby’s marriage is magnified. I felt so sorry for them.
The faith element of the story is subtle and comes through strongest in a parable of a god-horse from little Cobb’s point of view. Because the Christian message is so nuanced, the story might hit home for agnostics or for readers who simply feel “spiritual” but don’t identify with any one religion.
I think readers who enjoy clean, contemporary romance will devour this story. It’s so well-written and memorable.
I read an advanced copy of Leaning on Air through NetGalley, and I’m happy to share my honest opinion.
The story features nerdy romance and the sweetest children. One of the kids, five-year-old Cobb, has a few point-of-view chapters. As for the nerdy romance, if you’re not into physics or ornithology, don’t worry, Bostrom explains all the sciency stuff readers need to know. And it’s not dry. It’s interesting!
Leaning on Air is also a story of grief. Grief strikes, and every flaw in Celia and Burnaby’s marriage is magnified. I felt so sorry for them.
The faith element of the story is subtle and comes through strongest in a parable of a god-horse from little Cobb’s point of view. Because the Christian message is so nuanced, the story might hit home for agnostics or for readers who simply feel “spiritual” but don’t identify with any one religion.
I think readers who enjoy clean, contemporary romance will devour this story. It’s so well-written and memorable.
I read an advanced copy of Leaning on Air through NetGalley, and I’m happy to share my honest opinion.
May 8, 2024
As a lover of book art, I must mention the stunning cover of “Leaning on Air” by Cheryl Grey Bostrom. Wow. It’s beautiful, romantic, and oh-so-memorable. So is the story behind it…
This story carries so much—heartbreak and hope, grief and love, tragedy and triumph. I love a book that makes me feel, and this one does that. Deeply. If miscarriage is a trigger for you, note this story delves into that and may be a difficult read or be overwhelming. It’s sad, heartbreaking at times, but the softly placed elements of faith and exploration of hope shine through.
Recommended for those who enjoy reading deeply emotional and spiritual stories. Celia and Burnaby are well developed characters that are memorable and effective.
First Line: Above the pond, a cloud of gnats shimmered in the June morning as a Canadian Goose rousted her brood through reeds of yellow iris toward a floating gander.
Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Author: Cheryl Grey Bostrom
Page Count: 352
Content: Miscarriage, Abuse, Autism, Grief
#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.
This story carries so much—heartbreak and hope, grief and love, tragedy and triumph. I love a book that makes me feel, and this one does that. Deeply. If miscarriage is a trigger for you, note this story delves into that and may be a difficult read or be overwhelming. It’s sad, heartbreaking at times, but the softly placed elements of faith and exploration of hope shine through.
Recommended for those who enjoy reading deeply emotional and spiritual stories. Celia and Burnaby are well developed characters that are memorable and effective.
First Line: Above the pond, a cloud of gnats shimmered in the June morning as a Canadian Goose rousted her brood through reeds of yellow iris toward a floating gander.
Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Author: Cheryl Grey Bostrom
Page Count: 352
Content: Miscarriage, Abuse, Autism, Grief
#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.
January 25, 2024
Let me set the stage here: I haven’t had time for more than a half-hearted attempt at audiobooks over the last four years since babies came into my life (praise the Lord) while working part-time with a hubby who works 75+ hours/week. All that to say: I have to be very selective with how I spend my time. This story was well worth the loss of sleep and piled up dishes in the four days it took to devour this book. I repeat: 4 days. I fully expected it to take me 4-0 days to read a book cover to cover at this point in my life. Every time I was forced to pause, I eagerly returned to squeeze in a few more pages. Thank you to Tyndale & NetGalley for my ARC - time well spent to say the least - I just loved it.
May 16, 2024
"Leaning on Air" by Cheryl Grey Bostrom is a woman's fiction novel. Overall, I really liked this book, though I felt like it took me on a journey that wasn't always pleasant. It's like a memoir.
Celia and Burnaby were friends in school, and 15 years later, they ran into each other and fell in love. Celia is an ornithologist, and Burnaby is a veterinary surgeon. He also has autism which makes him uncomfortable to be touched, among other things.
Spoilers below, bc it's a trigger warning.
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After ten years of marriage and many efforts to have a child, Celia has a miscarriage (trigger warning!!) at about 20 weeks along. She goes into a very deep depression. The rest of the story is her journey back from this with found family and new goals. Positive ending.
Other trigger warnings: accidental shooting, fire separation, and near-divorce
Characters - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 4/5
Pacing - 3/5
Unputdownability 4/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Narration - 4/5 by Cady Zuckerman
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 4.1/5
Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and Cheryl Grey Bostrom for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Celia and Burnaby were friends in school, and 15 years later, they ran into each other and fell in love. Celia is an ornithologist, and Burnaby is a veterinary surgeon. He also has autism which makes him uncomfortable to be touched, among other things.
Spoilers below, bc it's a trigger warning.
.....
......
.......
.......
.......
........
........
After ten years of marriage and many efforts to have a child, Celia has a miscarriage (trigger warning!!) at about 20 weeks along. She goes into a very deep depression. The rest of the story is her journey back from this with found family and new goals. Positive ending.
Other trigger warnings: accidental shooting, fire separation, and near-divorce
Characters - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 4/5
Pacing - 3/5
Unputdownability 4/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Narration - 4/5 by Cady Zuckerman
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 4.1/5
Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and Cheryl Grey Bostrom for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
January 13, 2024
“ Perhaps only a writer who also possesses the gifts and sensibilities of a poet, naturalist, and photographer can produce a novel equal in scope to the multi-award-winning Sugar Birds. In Leaning on Air, Cheryl Grey Bostrom weaves a compelling story of mystery and romance into an elegiac field guide to the magnificent natural world of the Palouse. Both unpredictable and plausible, this intricately layered tale soars like the red-tailed hawk at its heart. Bostrom paints her plot and characters in deft brush-strokes that beautifully capture the language of creation.”
May 5, 2024
I really enjoyed this continuation of Celia and Burnaby lives and the story of them coming together once again. This story really has a lot of emotion and you really feel for Celia as she struggles to find herself, to be a mother and who she really is. Getting the shock of her life when she attends a family funeral, she realizes she really has no idea who she is and her family background. Dealing with various kinds of grief and the struggle with her and Burnaby's relationship, she heads to nature where she has alway found solace. But can time and nature heal everything she feels is broken? I loved how much was in the novel! All the storylines, all the characters and how the author had Celia and Burnaby's storyline play out. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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February 12, 2024This is a tricky title for me to review.
Based on the audience I review for, I don’t feel comfortable “recommending” this title, and I won’t be endorsing it on my blog. But, it was also a very powerful read.
Thematically, the book has a reasonable amount of the (sexual) content I usually flag, and that content is an important part of the plot. The thematic connection is because the book centers on a husband and wife, and the husband is autistic. As a result, he really struggles with receiving and giving physical affection. The nature of the tragedy also adds into the important of the couple’s physical relationship. Physical content isn’t gratuitous, per se, but it is definitely there because of the plot connection.
With that said, Cheryl Grey Bostrom has some beautiful, less graphic (that is, non-physical), descriptions, where she centers on the idea of oneness in intimacy. I could see these descriptors in a nonfiction book for Christians. They address not only the oneness between man and wife but, more importantly, the oneness between man and God! And, admittedly, even Song of Solomon has a good deal of sex.
Content aside, there is SO MUCH that I liked about this book!
Relationship with God is described so, so beautifully, and there’s a recurring theme about Him wanting our best. This was something I needed to read!
I also really liked the emphasis on the natural world in the book, including regeneration of land. This is a theme that is so very important to me, and I am delighted to see it in Christian fiction! The metaphor with the red-tailed hawk was also really powerful.
As someone who is (most likely) on the spectrum, I also liked reading about an autistic character!
The book felt very real, in terms of character interactions and histories, as well as the tragedies they experienced. This was a hard read for me, but the hardships sweetened the ultimate redemption.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
Based on the audience I review for, I don’t feel comfortable “recommending” this title, and I won’t be endorsing it on my blog. But, it was also a very powerful read.
Thematically, the book has a reasonable amount of the (sexual) content I usually flag, and that content is an important part of the plot. The thematic connection is because the book centers on a husband and wife, and the husband is autistic. As a result, he really struggles with receiving and giving physical affection. The nature of the tragedy also adds into the important of the couple’s physical relationship. Physical content isn’t gratuitous, per se, but it is definitely there because of the plot connection.
With that said, Cheryl Grey Bostrom has some beautiful, less graphic (that is, non-physical), descriptions, where she centers on the idea of oneness in intimacy. I could see these descriptors in a nonfiction book for Christians. They address not only the oneness between man and wife but, more importantly, the oneness between man and God! And, admittedly, even Song of Solomon has a good deal of sex.
Content aside, there is SO MUCH that I liked about this book!
Relationship with God is described so, so beautifully, and there’s a recurring theme about Him wanting our best. This was something I needed to read!
I also really liked the emphasis on the natural world in the book, including regeneration of land. This is a theme that is so very important to me, and I am delighted to see it in Christian fiction! The metaphor with the red-tailed hawk was also really powerful.
As someone who is (most likely) on the spectrum, I also liked reading about an autistic character!
The book felt very real, in terms of character interactions and histories, as well as the tragedies they experienced. This was a hard read for me, but the hardships sweetened the ultimate redemption.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
March 9, 2024
The wild openness of the Palouse region is the perfect backdrop for this story of love, healing, and fresh beginnings. Over a month after finishing Leaning on Air, the expansive beauty of its setting and characters are still sending fresh breaths of grace to my heart and mind.
Barnaby's scientific lens of love and entanglement paired with his autistic aversion to touch made him until any character I have ever encountered. I loved seeing how this shaped and influenced how he and Celia navigated their relationship, especially when their own needs, bents, and hurts seemed to run counter to what they could offer one another.
Celia's heartbreaks were so true to life that her wall of hopelessness felt painfully real at times, and yet her path forward - often one slow step at a time - was a reminder of how the unexpected twists and turns of grace.
Thank you to Tyndale and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!
Barnaby's scientific lens of love and entanglement paired with his autistic aversion to touch made him until any character I have ever encountered. I loved seeing how this shaped and influenced how he and Celia navigated their relationship, especially when their own needs, bents, and hurts seemed to run counter to what they could offer one another.
Celia's heartbreaks were so true to life that her wall of hopelessness felt painfully real at times, and yet her path forward - often one slow step at a time - was a reminder of how the unexpected twists and turns of grace.
Thank you to Tyndale and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!
May 14, 2024
As Leaning on Air by Cheryl Grey Bostrom begins, Celia Burke run into Burnaby Hayes. Both share a love for the birds in the area but Celia is an ornithologist and Burnaby is a veterinary surgeon. This meeting ignites a relationship and marriage that has lasted several years. then Celia makes a mistake and it ends in tragedy. Can Burnaby understand her pain? She doesn't think so and she runs.
Leaning on Air is a beautiful story. However, it does contain a story of loss in the form of miscarriage. Having experienced my own miscarriage several years ago, I could relate to that aspect of the story. There is also an autistic character, which I like. My son is autistic and I find it good to see someone autistic represented in a story. I wanted to have time to read Sugar Birds first but have a lot going on in my life right now. I hope to go back and read that book and then read this one again so I can better enjoy the story.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through JustRead Tours. All opinions within this review are my own.
Leaning on Air is a beautiful story. However, it does contain a story of loss in the form of miscarriage. Having experienced my own miscarriage several years ago, I could relate to that aspect of the story. There is also an autistic character, which I like. My son is autistic and I find it good to see someone autistic represented in a story. I wanted to have time to read Sugar Birds first but have a lot going on in my life right now. I hope to go back and read that book and then read this one again so I can better enjoy the story.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through JustRead Tours. All opinions within this review are my own.
March 14, 2024
I was provided with an Advanced Readers Copy by Net Galley of Leaning On Air. After I finished reading Sugar Birds, I was already looking forward to a sequel. As with Ms. Bostrom’s previous book, the writing was exquisite. The development of the characters of Celia and Burnaby as they progressed from their academic to their professional careers was magnificently crafted, without feeling forced.
As new characters are introduced into the storyline, their additions become an integral part as well as very natural. You become emotionally invested with all of the characters in the book as it develops.
The setting of Southeastern Washington State, known as the Palouse, functions as a key character in Leaning On Air too. From the detailed descriptions of the geography of the region to the actual agricultural practices of farming, particular wheat, Ms. Bostrom places the reader there. You can visualize everything. How do I know? I grew up there, and still live in the region. My stepdad was an Extension Agent at Washington State University for 33+ years in Pullman, and worked with farmers throughout Eastern Washington. In the summers, I worked along side him in the Soil Fertility Research Lab he led for three years, and two for the USDA Wheat Breeding Lab. I applaud Ms. Bostrom for the in-depth research she did on an under appreciated, and vital profession, wheat land farming. She made it interesting and informative to the layman, without it being boring.
Falconry and Veterinary medicine are woven into the story again. My nephew’s wife is a long time falconer, and with WSU having a top rated Veterinary School in the country, it really is a perfect melding of the two. The inclusion of the University of Idaho, across the state border in Moscow, Idaho, was very appropriate because these two universities share resources, even if they are in different states.
My typical reading genre is true crime (which I happily found element of this in the book) or non-fiction. I describe myself firmly as a secular reader. As in Sugar Birds, Leaning on Air appeals to all reading audiences, whether it’s secular or non secular. In my opinion, if the book had been heavy handed in one direction, I believe the would limit the the books appeal to a wider audience. Ms. Bostrom’s approach of the letting the.reader of the letting the reader ultimately come to their own conclusions is one I personally appreciate.
As new characters are introduced into the storyline, their additions become an integral part as well as very natural. You become emotionally invested with all of the characters in the book as it develops.
The setting of Southeastern Washington State, known as the Palouse, functions as a key character in Leaning On Air too. From the detailed descriptions of the geography of the region to the actual agricultural practices of farming, particular wheat, Ms. Bostrom places the reader there. You can visualize everything. How do I know? I grew up there, and still live in the region. My stepdad was an Extension Agent at Washington State University for 33+ years in Pullman, and worked with farmers throughout Eastern Washington. In the summers, I worked along side him in the Soil Fertility Research Lab he led for three years, and two for the USDA Wheat Breeding Lab. I applaud Ms. Bostrom for the in-depth research she did on an under appreciated, and vital profession, wheat land farming. She made it interesting and informative to the layman, without it being boring.
Falconry and Veterinary medicine are woven into the story again. My nephew’s wife is a long time falconer, and with WSU having a top rated Veterinary School in the country, it really is a perfect melding of the two. The inclusion of the University of Idaho, across the state border in Moscow, Idaho, was very appropriate because these two universities share resources, even if they are in different states.
My typical reading genre is true crime (which I happily found element of this in the book) or non-fiction. I describe myself firmly as a secular reader. As in Sugar Birds, Leaning on Air appeals to all reading audiences, whether it’s secular or non secular. In my opinion, if the book had been heavy handed in one direction, I believe the would limit the the books appeal to a wider audience. Ms. Bostrom’s approach of the letting the.reader of the letting the reader ultimately come to their own conclusions is one I personally appreciate.
April 20, 2024
I’ve never read a love story like Leaning On Air. The novel, a sequel to Bostrom’s acclaimed Sugar Birds, is ultimately a story about continuity, healing, restoration - and difference. Its moments of estrangement were as breathtaking to me as its moments of repair, and as meticulous, careful, and honest. Bostrom’s mind and words offered me an experience of profound spiritual, physical and emotional entanglement as I ranged through Eastern Washington’s Palouse and other territory of the heart with her: places she clearly knows and loves.
Though its main characters are bound to each other through crisis twelve years before, and through love now, grief ravages Celia and Burnaby’s unique connection, surfacing doubts and distance. Their intimacy was already complex, but now Celia struggles visibly with the imprint of Burnaby’s autism on her life. Bostrom explores how physical touch, belief, nature, fertility, connection, fidelity and landscapes can be elusive and sometimes lost, but also restored and reimagined. Not easily. Not on demand. The hurt is intense here, and some may find it searing. Tears surfaced for me as the story slowed, allowing painful places in love and in the earth to be traced like a scorched field under patient cultivation. Bostrom’s storytelling reveals she’s a student of the cosmic, the cellular, the spiritual, and the particulars of things like loam and marrow, and sinew. She is unafraid to plow in places of despair and loss because she seems to have discovered what remains, at depth, at length, at heighth, when the romance is stripped away.
No one suffers alone in Celia and Burnaby’s worlds, though. People who lean on air, the young and the old, and those who lean into suffering with compassion and belief come near and offer the hurting room to heal. Ultimately, for an ornithologist like Celia and a veterinary surgeon like Burnaby, broken bones are reset for a different kind of flight, but also for a different kind of touch and a different kind of union in the very real world.
Thank you to Tyndale and NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy. Thank you, Cheryl Grey Bostrom, for the honor of reading your stories.
Though its main characters are bound to each other through crisis twelve years before, and through love now, grief ravages Celia and Burnaby’s unique connection, surfacing doubts and distance. Their intimacy was already complex, but now Celia struggles visibly with the imprint of Burnaby’s autism on her life. Bostrom explores how physical touch, belief, nature, fertility, connection, fidelity and landscapes can be elusive and sometimes lost, but also restored and reimagined. Not easily. Not on demand. The hurt is intense here, and some may find it searing. Tears surfaced for me as the story slowed, allowing painful places in love and in the earth to be traced like a scorched field under patient cultivation. Bostrom’s storytelling reveals she’s a student of the cosmic, the cellular, the spiritual, and the particulars of things like loam and marrow, and sinew. She is unafraid to plow in places of despair and loss because she seems to have discovered what remains, at depth, at length, at heighth, when the romance is stripped away.
No one suffers alone in Celia and Burnaby’s worlds, though. People who lean on air, the young and the old, and those who lean into suffering with compassion and belief come near and offer the hurting room to heal. Ultimately, for an ornithologist like Celia and a veterinary surgeon like Burnaby, broken bones are reset for a different kind of flight, but also for a different kind of touch and a different kind of union in the very real world.
Thank you to Tyndale and NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy. Thank you, Cheryl Grey Bostrom, for the honor of reading your stories.
May 8, 2024
When I first started Leaning on Air by Cheryl Grey Bostrom (published by Tyndale House Publishers), I was drawn in by the familiar setting. I lived in Moscow, Idaho (where Celia teaches) for seven years and know the area well. But as I continued with this story, there was so much more that I loved about it.
First, there is Burnaby—a neurodivergent hero who loves is wife strongly and persists in pursuing her even when its work. This is a unique love story that goes beyond the initial romance, engagement, and wedding to the hardest parts of life—loss, disappointments, disillusionment, and much, much more. It’s a story of grief but also one of hope and healing.
I loved spending time with Celia, Burnaby, Hazel, Florie, Satchel, Cobb, Willie, Ruth, and many more salt-of-the-earth characters who love and live off the land of the beautiful Palouse region.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.
First, there is Burnaby—a neurodivergent hero who loves is wife strongly and persists in pursuing her even when its work. This is a unique love story that goes beyond the initial romance, engagement, and wedding to the hardest parts of life—loss, disappointments, disillusionment, and much, much more. It’s a story of grief but also one of hope and healing.
I loved spending time with Celia, Burnaby, Hazel, Florie, Satchel, Cobb, Willie, Ruth, and many more salt-of-the-earth characters who love and live off the land of the beautiful Palouse region.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.
January 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this book.
The setting: this author’s beautiful descriptions of Washington State's Palouse capture the imagination and will make you want to jump in the car and go have a look for yourself.
The story: rich relationships, love of nature, greed and fear, all merge in this interlaced plot. The author has skillfully woven a story of struggle, disappointment, redemption and renewal in unexpected places and through complex characters. Thought-provoking themes will have you pondering them long after you turn the last page.
Thank you to Tyndale and NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy.
The setting: this author’s beautiful descriptions of Washington State's Palouse capture the imagination and will make you want to jump in the car and go have a look for yourself.
The story: rich relationships, love of nature, greed and fear, all merge in this interlaced plot. The author has skillfully woven a story of struggle, disappointment, redemption and renewal in unexpected places and through complex characters. Thought-provoking themes will have you pondering them long after you turn the last page.
Thank you to Tyndale and NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy.
February 26, 2024
Leaning on Air is an expertly woven tale of love, loss, and healing. Celia and Burnaby’s love story is tender, sweet, and unlike any that I’ve encountered in fiction. Burnaby is autistic, which presents unique challenges to their physical relationship. He also has a strong faith, of which Celia is somewhat skeptical. When tragedy strikes, each must find their own way out of the darkness. Friendship, family, and faith are at the heart of this deeply human novel, each playing an essential role in making Celia and Burnaby whole again. Another important element of the story is the restorative quality of nature. Celia’s profound appreciation of her grandmother’s land and desire to protect it give her purpose and bring her back to life. Bostrom is an eloquent writer whose lovely descriptions made me fall in love with the gently rolling hills of the Palouse Prairie. She also made a compelling case for protecting endangered ecosystems like these. A brilliant novel!
March 27, 2024
Leaning on Air affirms my settled opinion that fiction has the power to teach and inspire the reader without diluting for one minute the magic of the story. Cheryl Grey Bostrom’s character-driven work produced a much-loved cast in the award-winning Sugar Birds, and now Celia and Burnaby have been married for ten years.
Their careers are flourishing, but sadness lurks around the fringes of their happy relationship. When it comes crashing into centerstage, anguish sends them in different directions, threatening their bond. Readers in faltering and floundering marriages will find a breath of hope in this tale of restoration.
Descriptions of the beautiful Pacific Northwest expose Bostrom’s roots as a naturalist, photographer, poet, and ardent believer that “the natural world illustrates the spiritual one.” Gospel undertones enrich without detracting for God is portrayed as relational. He is “the Entangler,” the Rescuer, and he is active in this story—just as he is active in all our stories.
Many thanks to Tyndale House and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.
Their careers are flourishing, but sadness lurks around the fringes of their happy relationship. When it comes crashing into centerstage, anguish sends them in different directions, threatening their bond. Readers in faltering and floundering marriages will find a breath of hope in this tale of restoration.
Descriptions of the beautiful Pacific Northwest expose Bostrom’s roots as a naturalist, photographer, poet, and ardent believer that “the natural world illustrates the spiritual one.” Gospel undertones enrich without detracting for God is portrayed as relational. He is “the Entangler,” the Rescuer, and he is active in this story—just as he is active in all our stories.
Many thanks to Tyndale House and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.
April 1, 2024
A wonderfully moving sequel to Sugar Birds. (After finishing, I even went back and read Sugar Birds a second time!)
In Leaning on Air, I found Cheryl Grey Bostrom’s prose inviting me to pause, to re-read, to fully absorb the fullness of the meaning expressed. We are allowed to walk alongside her characters as they navigate the complexities of relationships and life’s heartaches, to discover the potential of profound joy in vulnerability, forgiveness and hope.
Anyone who has experienced loss can relate to the ebb and flow of grief and its impact on relationships and our ability to trust, both ourselves and others. This story guides us along a path of commitment and faithfulness to one another amidst challenging questions, obstacles and even silence. Through Burnaby and Celia’s journey, we see how loyalty and love in human relationships allow us to safely move forward in healing. We also begin to see how this journey provides us a glimpse into the immeasurable depth and faithfulness of a loving Creator.
Added bonus. As a native of the Palouse, it was great fun following the adventure as Bostrom weaves a realistic and captivating portrayal of the region and its natural beauty!
February 20, 2024
Leaning on Air, by author Cheryl Bostrom, is a beautifully written, thought-provoking book. I would encourage everyone to take the time to read it. You will get to know the characters so well you will think of them when you aren’t reading. The descriptions of the areas in which they live and work will be so inviting, you’ll want to take a Sunday afternoon drive to see them. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you will ache for them as they traverse through life’s ups and downs. You will think about how you treat others who are perhaps a little different or perhaps not as fortunate as you. Leaning on Air is a book which should be on everyone’s TBR list.
March 3, 2024
In LEANING ON AIR, author Cheryl Grey Bostrom offers a beautiful continuation of Celia and Burnaby's story that's filled with grief and unexpected turns. Like her book SUGAR BIRDS, Bostrom's descriptions of nature are gorgeous and captivating. She is also thoughtful in her portrayals of how different characters walk through sorrow in light of their Christian faith. I love how the book captures relationships across multiple generations, and gives us peeks into different characters' perspectives. Readers who enjoy exploring themes of marriage, grief, and special abilities are sure to enjoy LEANING ON AIR.
Thank you to Tyndale and NetGalley for the advance copy!
Thank you to Tyndale and NetGalley for the advance copy!
May 12, 2024
*I received a gifted copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own!*
Leaning On Air is a beautiful book about love, loss, and healing. From the very start of the novel, I was instantly drawn to the characters. I loved seeing how Celia and Burnaby’s unique relationship come about. Burnaby is on the autism spectrum and I appreciated the representation and the struggles and beauty they both experienced from that.
This book deals with heartbreak and healing. It also does a great job of showing how faith can help us heal. It also deals with some pretty heavy topics, including infertility and pregnancy loss. So please be aware if those topics can be triggering.
The setting of this book absolutely blew me away. It is so well-written and filled with gorgeous descriptions of animals and nature. I truly felt like I was in the Pacific Northwest while reading this one!
Filled with raw and memorable characters, you will not want to miss out on this book! I would recommend this book to nature lovers and anyone looking for a beautiful and emotional read.
Leaning On Air is a beautiful book about love, loss, and healing. From the very start of the novel, I was instantly drawn to the characters. I loved seeing how Celia and Burnaby’s unique relationship come about. Burnaby is on the autism spectrum and I appreciated the representation and the struggles and beauty they both experienced from that.
This book deals with heartbreak and healing. It also does a great job of showing how faith can help us heal. It also deals with some pretty heavy topics, including infertility and pregnancy loss. So please be aware if those topics can be triggering.
The setting of this book absolutely blew me away. It is so well-written and filled with gorgeous descriptions of animals and nature. I truly felt like I was in the Pacific Northwest while reading this one!
Filled with raw and memorable characters, you will not want to miss out on this book! I would recommend this book to nature lovers and anyone looking for a beautiful and emotional read.
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February 13, 2024Cheryl delights us again by continuing the story of Celia and Burnaby from Sugar Birds in a future decade of their lives. She weaves the chapters back and forth among the characters with her skillful metaphors in this enchanted area of SE Washington. But potential for mishap is even here and it tests both mind and mettle and hints of mystery. What scars does independence leave and what kind of love can heal them? When the author wraps it up we are hopeful, yet longing for more. Maybe I'll take my blanket out under the stars.
Thanks to Tyndale and NetGalley for the advance copy to review.
Thanks to Tyndale and NetGalley for the advance copy to review.
April 2, 2024
Within minutes of opening the book, I knew I was once again diving headlong into a fascinating world created by a rare talent. As she did in Sugar Birds, author Cheryl Grey Bostrom has created another mesmerizing read. With Leaning on Air, the author has opened her heart and imagination and put words together in such a manner that I read the book spellbound and openmouthed. I found myself stopping to savor her powerful prose and re-read lines that drilled down to the marrow of my bones, resonating with awe for a true wordsmith. The characters so unique and believable that I would hope to meet people like them because they generate so much love and respect. A powerful, entertaining and riveting story, Leaning on Air is the intricate and brilliant work of a master storyteller.
February 25, 2024
Get lost in this sweet story with vulnerable characters who face life head-on. From heartbreak and sorrow, Celia opens her heart towards more and more love, her faithful husband Burnaby patiently by her side. The two surround themselves with tender characters, each finely drawn. Thank you, Tyndale, for an advance copy!
March 26, 2024
"Leaning on Air" is a page turner. I was so drawn to the characters in the story. I love that the setting is in the Washington Palouse - so many familiar places. I highly recommend this novel - a definite must read!
Debbie Largent
Debbie Largent
November 27, 2025
Unique characters.. excellent reading..
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May 8, 2024what a beautiful story! as it alternates between heartbreak and hope, cheryl grey bostrom's leaning on air delves into the complications of tragedy, grief, marriage, family, and moving forward—and holding onto faith through it all.
"'i want to see everything through the eyes of that little bird, who behaves as if rotten fires are a given in life, but who acts as if all will be well anyway.'"
after ten years of marriage, celia and burnaby have hit a breaking point. one traumatic loss—for which celia feels responsible—sets off a string of unforeseen circumstances and has her running to a rural washington farm to recover. burnaby, of course, isn't ready to give up their marriage. this new setting—and the people with it, however, just might be what they need to find each other again.
i easily enjoyed leaning on air. the setting makes for a beautiful backdrop as the characters face the challenges that continue to confront them, and the conversations reconciling faith with science proved to be oh so interesting. despite all the heartbreak, there is plenty of hope to be found in the pages of this story—i recommend it.
now, i need to go read sugar birds to see where it all began for celia and burnaby. (obviously, leaning on air can still be read on its own though.)
i received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. i was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions i have expressed are my own.
"'i want to see everything through the eyes of that little bird, who behaves as if rotten fires are a given in life, but who acts as if all will be well anyway.'"
after ten years of marriage, celia and burnaby have hit a breaking point. one traumatic loss—for which celia feels responsible—sets off a string of unforeseen circumstances and has her running to a rural washington farm to recover. burnaby, of course, isn't ready to give up their marriage. this new setting—and the people with it, however, just might be what they need to find each other again.
i easily enjoyed leaning on air. the setting makes for a beautiful backdrop as the characters face the challenges that continue to confront them, and the conversations reconciling faith with science proved to be oh so interesting. despite all the heartbreak, there is plenty of hope to be found in the pages of this story—i recommend it.
now, i need to go read sugar birds to see where it all began for celia and burnaby. (obviously, leaning on air can still be read on its own though.)
i received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. i was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions i have expressed are my own.
May 2, 2024
As someone who has also struggled with infertility and loss, this one got me hard. I know just how much she wanted to turn away and not face her issues and especially not face her husband. I was so glad to see that she found a new life, the life that felt like it was made for her. Not everyone gets to have all their dreams come true, sometimes we have to just find some new dreams. This one was a beautiful redemption story.
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