Falling Home

May 19, 2011 Staci rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads

My Thoughts:
This book has it all....a great family story, love, heartbreak, secrets, humor, sadness....and it's written beautifully. I finished this book in one day and resented whatever chore took me away from reading. I absolutely loved spending time with these characters and the town of Walton. It made me a bit nostalgic for my childhood days and upbringing. I lived in a small town where everyone knew you and your parents. If you were misbehaving your mom knew about it before you could bicy...more

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Nov 07, 2010 Melody added it

After having read a few Karen White books, I have to confess that I have fallen in love with her writing style and how her stories always seem to warm and touches my heart. Needless to say, when the publicist contacted me and asked if I would like to review Karen White's Falling Home, I didn't even have to think about it.

As the title indicated, Falling Home is a coming home story. However, there are more to it than about just having the protagonist coming home; it is also a story about forgiven...more After having read a few Karen White books, I have to confess that I have fallen in love with her writing style and how her stories always seem to warm and touches my heart. Needless to say, when the publicist contacted me and asked if I would like to review Karen White's Falling Home, I didn't even have to think about it.

As the title indicated, Falling Home is a coming home story. However, there are more to it than about just having the protagonist coming home; it is also a story about forgiveness and acceptance, and of finding oneself along the journey.

Cassie Madison often thinks of herself as a city girl despite that she was born and raised in Walton, Georgia until an incident had deeply humiliated her and she had vowed never to return. That humiliation was seeing the guy she liked had chosen to marry her younger sister, Harriet. Cassie left for New York and began her life thereafter. For a while she feels happy since she has a great career in advertising and a fiancé whom she thinks she loves until she received a telephone call from her estranged sister one day, informing her that their father is dying and they want her to come home.

Cassie does not want to admit this to anyone, but deep in her heart she is afraid of seeing Harriet and Joe again. Despite this, she knew she has to return to Walton anyhow. As much as she tries to forget her unhappy past, what she didn't expect is she has grown to love her nephews and nieces the more she stays in Walton, and how much the place still means to her after all these years. During the stay, Cassie will also find out the secret which Cassie's father had kept and how it will mean to her after discovering the truth eventually.

Falling Home is one of Karen White's older releases and I was so glad that her publisher decided to reissue the book after seeing that many readers had asked about it (I definitely hope that they will print her other older releases as well). While nothing much has changed to the story, Karen did a little revamp and added two new points of view (Harriet and her daughter, Maddie) instead of Cassie's. Reading about their perspectives has made me understand more about their emotions and their stand and I felt these have further enriched the story in my opinion. Although the story might not be new, what I really enjoyed reading this book is the characterisations and finding out how much Cassie has grown and a changed person after all the experiences she has been through. Speaking of characterisations, Karen has done a great job in portraying the feelings and emotions from the three point of views but I felt there also should be more emphasis from Joe's view. Karen must have her reason for keeping Joe in the background and though I totally respect her choice, but being a reader I would like to know more about his thoughts and how he felt about everything.

Nevertheless, Falling Home is an engaging read and one that made me think of the fact that no place is anywhere like home. (less)

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Oct 18, 2010 Anita rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lately I have been very choosey about ARCs that I agree to read. I find that it is a very narrow road for me, whether I will like a book or not, and I am not the kind of person who enjoys simply saying "I do not like this book," because someone took the time and energy to create the characters and the story and write it. Inevitably there are people who will like it, it's just in that instant, it wasn't me. This is a horrible way to preface this entry, because this is not what happened with this...more Lately I have been very choosey about ARCs that I agree to read. I find that it is a very narrow road for me, whether I will like a book or not, and I am not the kind of person who enjoys simply saying "I do not like this book," because someone took the time and energy to create the characters and the story and write it. Inevitably there are people who will like it, it's just in that instant, it wasn't me. This is a horrible way to preface this entry, because this is not what happened with this book. I am so very thankful I decided to say yes to this book. Technically, this book isn't exactly a new book, it was first published in 2002, but has been reworked and is being republished November 2, 2010.

Falling Home was one of those books I hated to put down. Fortunately [and unfortunately] I got a stomach bug, stayed home from work and had an entire day to lay around reading it, so it wasn't really a problem.

Cassie is returning home to her small hometown in Georgia after 15 years away, returning to a life she has left behind. A life where her younger sister went off and eloped with her first love, and where the small town hustle and bustle has everyone knowing your business. She is reluctant to go back, but her father has suffered a heart attack and is not expected to make it, his dying wish is to have both of his daughters at home with him. According to Cassie, the only thing waiting for her at Walton is her past. What she does not expect to find is a community, a family, a life that she never knew she was missing, and who welcome her home with open arms.

I absolutely fell in love with this book! The characters are beautiful and fun. I did feel like I was reading the book version of Sweet Home Alabama at first because of the 'big-time girl going back to small-town life' story line, but there is so much more to this story about love and life, and learning from your past mistakes, and moving forward from past hurts. The book had me laughing, and crying and wanting to grab my kids and keep them as close to me as possible.

I loved how Karen White was able to create a picture that I could visualize and made me want it for myself. I could just see the old houses, the porch swings, and hear old porch doors slamming against the frame. I wanted to run in a field and catch lightening bugs, and be wrapped up in this community, even with it's downfalls. There were a few times I was actually wishing I was listening to an audio book, just so I could hear Sam's southern accent, which I imagined to be super sexy when he wanted it to be, and ultra-hick when he wanted it to as well. I would have loved to have been able to hear some of Cassie and Sam's verbal battles.(less)

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Jan 21, 2011 Kim Justice rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For the most part, the plot was entirely predictable (and seemed like a pretty close cousin to "Sweet Home Alabama"). But it was so beautifully written, that I let the author take me there. Even if I saw what was coming, I still wanted to be swept away into the world that White creates. White does "Southern" very well, both aptly poking fun at some of the things we do and yet maintaining the integrity of the things we southerners hold so dear.

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Jun 01, 2013 Wendy Hines rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fifteen years ago, Cassie Madison left home and never looked back. The night of prom, she waited for her boyfriend Joe to pick her up, but instead a note was delivered to her. Cassie's sister Harriet and Joe left to elope. Vowing never to forgive her sister, Cassie left and had made a new life for herself in New York.

She's successful, beautiful and engaged. So when her sister wakes her at 3 am one night with a phone call, Cassie knows it can't be good. Their dad is dying and he wants Cassie to c...more

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May 14, 2013 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

In the past year or so, Karen White has become one of my favorite writers, and I have enjoyed discovering her earlier books. According to Goodreads, this is the seventh book of hers that I have read. Falling Home was first published in 2002, and after revisions, it was re-released in 2010. It was interesting to read something she had written so long ago, and I could see that even then, she used some of the same plot devices. In The Color of Light she used old letters and a child's treasure box t...more In the past year or so, Karen White has become one of my favorite writers, and I have enjoyed discovering her earlier books. According to Goodreads, this is the seventh book of hers that I have read. Falling Home was first published in 2002, and after revisions, it was re-released in 2010. It was interesting to read something she had written so long ago, and I could see that even then, she used some of the same plot devices. In The Color of Light she used old letters and a child's treasure box to help tell the story. In The Lost Hours she used old scrapbooks and a box buried in the backyard in much the same way. In Learning to Breathe the main character wears different saints medals depending on her mood and the demons she plans to battle that day. In this book, Cassie, the main character, finds old letters in the attic that lead her to a decades-old family mystery. She also wears a necklace with hearts and a key that symbolizes she is the keeper of hearts for her family.

This is the story of Cassie, who left her small hometown with a broken heart when her sister Harriet eloped with Cassie's fiancé. In the fifteen years since, Cassie has recreated herself in New York City, and has become estranged from most of her family. She returns to Walton, Georgia, because her aged father is sick, and she is forced to look at all she lost when she left. She makes peace with her sister, gets to know her sister's family, and becomes reacquainted with Sam, a childhood friend who is now the local doctor. Another sickness in the family causes her to choose between going back to her life in NYC or staying in Walton. The way she wrestles between these two lives was very compelling for me, probably because in my family, I am the sister who moved away, while my sister raises her family in a small town thirty minutes from where we grew up.

Although I really liked this book, two things prevented me from giving it more stars. First of all, it could have been much better written--I'm glad I read the revised version rather than the original one. White tells us a lot of things rather than shows us, making her characters seem a bit predictable and one-dimensional. Also, the romance thread just did not work for me. Sam continually badgers Cassie about all she gave up when she left and bashes her over the head with all the virtues of small town life--it was hard to see why she finally fell for him. I felt the same way about Melanie and Jack in White's The House on Tradd Street--they bickered so continuously that it was hard to believe that they were actually getting together. And in both books, White keep the turning point in both relationships off the page, so you don't get to see the final resolution. Still, there is something wonderful about her books that make me want to stop everything to read them. Her portrayals of small town life make me, the city-mouse sister, want to crawl inside them. And that's while I'll keep reading until I've read all of Karen White's books. (less)

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Mar 31, 2013 Mel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Falling Home was a good, quick read. It wasn't something I would usually pickup. It was a little too dramatic and at times read like a romance novel (which is the only genre of book I never read.). The main character is Cassie. She returns home to Georgia from NYC after 15 years of absence. She left Georgia after being betrayed by her sister and boyfriend who ran off to elope with each other. She now has a successful career and a fiance who looks good on paper. Enter childhood friend Sam. He is...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Julia added it

First of all, please make sure you read this edition. It is the new and improved model. Karen White is one of those authors who you can trust to capture the essence of the South everytime she writes. This book originally came out about a decade ago, after regaining the rights and reselling the rights again, the author decided to revise it, making it more concise. And that she does. A long book, over 400 pages, I will miss these characters. But wait, there is a new book out that continues the sag...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Judy Collins rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

"One of the best reads! An evocative setting, dark family secrets, and a story that will keep you reading late into the night. Well written! Cassie Madison has it all: a high-powered advertising career, a stylish Manhattan apartment, and a sophisticated, rich, and gorgeous fiance. It's a far cry from her childhood in Walton, Georgia, home of the annual Kudzu Festival and hot, sticky summers. And then there are all the bad memories, the heartache. When Cassie's estranged sister calls to say that...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Jenia. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2011, favorites, family, friendship, realistic, romance, adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. "Falling Home" is second Karen White Novel i read and i loved it. It got hard for me to put the novel down. Cassie Madison had lived the past 15 years in Mannhatan, establishing new life and advertising with her fiancee, Andrew. Cassie hasn't spoken with her younger sister, Harriet since she ran off and married guy she loved, Joe. Till she gets a call from Harriet middle of the night informing that their father is dying. Forcing Casey to return to Walton, Georgia after years of absence. There sh...more "Falling Home" is second Karen White Novel i read and i loved it. It got hard for me to put the novel down. Cassie Madison had lived the past 15 years in Mannhatan, establishing new life and advertising with her fiancee, Andrew. Cassie hasn't spoken with her younger sister, Harriet since she ran off and married guy she loved, Joe. Till she gets a call from Harriet middle of the night informing that their father is dying. Forcing Casey to return to Walton, Georgia after years of absence. There she meets up with her childhood friend, Sam Parker who is nothing like he used to. Cassie Inherits the house which she hopes to sell soon, in hopes of returning back home to her fiancee. However, Sam and Harriet think that she should stay, that Walton is where she belongs.

Karen White did an amazing job. I loved the fact how she wrote the book in diffrent point of view. It didn't have a single moment where the book didn't capture my attention, the moment that i picked up the book, i didn't want to put it back down again. I fell in love with characters, especially Cassie, Sam & Harriet. The realthionship between Harriet & Cassie had so much tension in begnning, i could see that in begnning Cassie still haven't completly forgiven Harriet for taking the love of her life, away from her. As Novel progressed, especially when Harriet got sick, i saw the sisters getting closer and closer, especially when they started going through their father things.

I loved the realthionship between Sam & Cassie as well. I could tell that there was an attraction as well as tension between the two of them from very begnning. I was hoping that the two of them would get together, soon. I wasn't too fond of Andrew, i could tell that he wasn't the guy for her, from the moment he came to Georgia. All he seemed to care about was work, he didn't even try to comfort her after her father's death. Work seemed more important to him then Cassie, her hapiness.

This novel made me sad, it hit close to home. My grandma got diagnosed with breast cancer when i was 11 and died when i was 16. When Harriet died, it reminded me of my grandma and it made me cry, both for my grandma and because i loved Harriet. It was an emotional novel from begnning but there were also parts that made me smile. I recomend this novel to everyone. You won't be disspointed. (less)

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Dec 18, 2011 Liza added it

Shelves: adult-fiction, dpl-book-clubs

I read this as part of a library book club in which I served as the staff presenter. This book was chosen before I came on board. Our group was somewhat divided on the judgment of this book, but to my delight, about 90 percent of them loathed it, or massive parts of it. Let me summarize -

Main character's father dies and leaves house to her. She leaves NYC and fiance to return to the South to sell said home.

Childhood classmate turns into adult hottie and doctor (who oddly almost only treats injur...more

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Nov 17, 2011 Molli Fanchar rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Cassie and Harriet are sisters that were separated by betrayal on one end and a need to distance themselves, become their own person. A broken heart and the bitter pill of guilt are hard things to endure and eventually ware on the two sisters. Being no longer able to cope with these things Cassie flees her home town and tries to put behind her the tragedies she has endured as well as the people who created them.
They live with this for years until one fateful day tragedy strikes their family, br...more

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May 20, 2011 Krissy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Imagine a Hallmark movie, but as a book. If you don't know what I mean by that, let me assure you that the Hallmark channel has tons of movies that center around some of these same themes: big city is bad, career-oriented thinking is bad...well, you get the picture. The following quote stunned me:

"Her MBA training and years of working in New York had taught her to ignore the twinge of conscience."

All this time, I thought an MBA was an accomplishment for the hard-working and disciplined, but now...more Imagine a Hallmark movie, but as a book. If you don't know what I mean by that, let me assure you that the Hallmark channel has tons of movies that center around some of these same themes: big city is bad, career-oriented thinking is bad...well, you get the picture. The following quote stunned me:

"Her MBA training and years of working in New York had taught her to ignore the twinge of conscience."

All this time, I thought an MBA was an accomplishment for the hard-working and disciplined, but now I see it just numbs your sense of right and wrong. Eating sushi is elitist, broadening your horizons leads to ramming a giant stick up your ass and losing your sense of humor, and God forbid you move away from your family...even if your sister did elope with your boyfriend. Don't be selfish and stand in the way of true love!

Love interest Sam has his Harvard education, but brought it back to his home town and spends the book sneering at/lecturing Cassie (Cassandra in New York...New Yorkers apparently frown on nicknames) for the way she changed, and insists that she makes him glad he left Boston before the obligatory stick-ramming. That what they taught in Harvard? The contrast for him is Andrew, another favored Hallmark archetype, the successful but soul-less, uptight, pompous jerk who hates kids, old people, and anything not business-related. It takes the heroine inexplicably long to realize said-jerkiness...because she's too busy insisting he's right for her, clearly illustrating what she'll become unless she does what everyone around her thinks she should.

Obviously I had a lot of problems with the messages in this book. I also thought the beginning was pretty confusing as to what exactly were the main conflicts of the book, because it would introduce one conflict (I've been estranged from my sister for 15 years and now I have to go home again)and then quickly resolve the conflict within a chapter or two (I just realized I'm not mad anymore and I was wrong to be mad in the 1st place...we're cool, sis). There were at least 3 or 4 false starts before it moves on to the actual story.

About half-way through the book there's a mystery introduced, which couldn't have interested me less. I just kept speeding forward to find out what happened to Harriet...her story did end up interesting me, hence the second star.

I don't mind two-dimensional, predictable chick-lit because it can be comforting, like mac-n-cheese. I do mind stereotypes.
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Nov 26, 2010 Bookaholics rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Falling Home by Karen White
Contemporary Romance -Nov. 2nd, 2010
3 1/2 stars

When Cassie’s sister, Harriett, eloped with Cassie’s fiance, Cassie left Walton, Georgia and never looked back. For fifteen years, Cassie stayed in New York, burying herself with work and reinvented herself. She got rid of her Southern accent and her penchant for eating fried foods. She never went back home to visit and refused to keep in contact with her sister or her family. Now fifteen years later, her father is dying a...more Falling Home by Karen White
Contemporary Romance -Nov. 2nd, 2010
3 1/2 stars

When Cassie’s sister, Harriett, eloped with Cassie’s fiance, Cassie left Walton, Georgia and never looked back. For fifteen years, Cassie stayed in New York, burying herself with work and reinvented herself. She got rid of her Southern accent and her penchant for eating fried foods. She never went back home to visit and refused to keep in contact with her sister or her family. Now fifteen years later, her father is dying and Cassie has no choice but to go back home to Georgia and face her sister, her ex-fiance (who is now her brother-in-law), and their five children. But underneath the stylish haircut, the fashionable clothes, and new accent, can Cassie find the heart and courage to forgive her sister? Will her father’s doctor, the cute Dr. Sam, help Cassie rediscover the carefree, fun-loving person she was?

This novel is strictly chick-lit with a light dash on romance. Falling Home is more about Cassie rediscovering her relationship with her sister, Harriett. Still, Falling Home by White is an interesting book set in a vivid world that pop out from the pages. You can almost feel the scorching heat from the Georgian summer and smell the magnolia from Cassie’s backyard.

The only part that I didn’t enjoy reading was, unfortunately, Cassie herself. For the first half of the book, Cassie was a little unlikeable for me. I really wanted her to 'wake' up when she still refused to forgive her sister at her father’s deathbed, and instead whined and pouted about how Harriett took her guy away from her. (It was fifteen years ago! Get over it!) At that point, her obstinacy and selfishness were too much for me. But I soldiered on and was pleasantly surprised when Cassie becomes a softer, caring person towards the end of the book. Dr. Sam most certainly helped sweeten her up.

If you are looking for a touching chick-lit that focuses more on the importance of familial relationships, you should definitely give Falling Home a try. Half-way through the book, you will swear that you’ve been transported to Walton, Georgia, a charming, small town where people bake you pies and put things in your house if you leave it unlocked.

Reviewed by Pauline from Bookaholics Romance Club
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May 19, 2010 Crista rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, 3-star

Falling Home is one of the few romance novels that I've read that reads in some ways more like women's fiction. This is really Cassie's story, not Cassie and Sam's story.

This is a story about a woman coming home to the small town she left after her sister married her boyfriend...(I know..a very icky premise!) She's come in response to her dying father's last wish.

I pretty much had to force my way through the first half..I would've given it 1 star...it was very slow, not much romance...lots of...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My self-challenge to explore authors other than Nora Roberts certainly paid off with this book! It has been quite some time since I sat down and read a book cover to cover....especially on a work night!

Cassandra Madison has it all - a successful career in New York, a chic wardrobe with killer heels, and a handsome fiance who is perfect on paper. But a middle-of-the-night phone call from her sister who she hasn't spoken to in 15 years has her travelling back to small town Georgia to face her past...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. First off, it has been a loooooooong time since I've read a book that's kept me up at night because I don't want to put it down. This is that kind of book! It is very similar to a "Sweet Home Alabama" story, but there are some significant differences. Yes, most of the book was predictable, however, Karen White writes with such emotion that you are kept interested and wanting to read anyway.

As soon as Cassie went to Ed to be her realtor, I knew he was in it for the wrong reason. That part was ve...more First off, it has been a loooooooong time since I've read a book that's kept me up at night because I don't want to put it down. This is that kind of book! It is very similar to a "Sweet Home Alabama" story, but there are some significant differences. Yes, most of the book was predictable, however, Karen White writes with such emotion that you are kept interested and wanting to read anyway.

As soon as Cassie went to Ed to be her realtor, I knew he was in it for the wrong reason. That part was very obvious. Towards the end, I also figured out that he was her half brother. But, it was still quite a journey along the way.

When Harriet was diagnosed with breast cancer, I actually cried. I also cried all through her cancer journey relating as a mother for having to leave your children behind.

Loved, loved, LOVED Sam from the beginning and so glad that he and Cassie ended up together. Some have said, as the town doctor, it was very convienent that he was always rescuing women. While true, I think it brought out his nuturing side and gave validity to the difference between him and "Andy." HA HA! Every time they called him "Andy," I laughed out loud.

So glad Cassie decided to stay in Georgia. I admit, that when she bought her plane ticket back to New York and told Sam she was going back, I really thought she was. However, there had already been happy endings in this book, so I kept a little hope alive.

On the negative side, I have to admit that Cassie's constant back and forth with deciding if she wanted to go back or stay, was very ANNOYING. I also felt really bad for Sam and angry at Cassie for treating his feelings like that. I do know that that was supposed to be her "issue" in the story and it needed to be clear what a difficult decision that was for her and she couldn't be rushed into making it, but I was cheering for Sam to tell her off way before he did. He was such a good guy, it was crazy she couldn't see that. But, that is the inner conflict she faced.

I really enjoyed the passages that talked about home and the ones who know you best and people who always take care of each other. Her roots being like the old magnolia tree roots, that grew so deep they would be very difficult to uproot.

Would definately read this again and more by this author.(less)

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Feb 04, 2013 Tiffany rated it 3 of 5 stars

After reading the spectaular novel On Folly Beach, also written by Karen White, I had very high expectations for Falling Home. Probably a bit too high because I was disappointed by the predictability of this book. Falling Home is the story of a woman named Cassie in her mid-thirties from a small town in GA. She moved to NY 15 years ago after discovering that her sister and ex-boyfriend (who at the time was the love of her life) were planning to get married. Staying away and avoiding the whole si...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Jennifer rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Glad this book is done. Not a ringing endorsement, I know. Sounded somewhat interesting when I picked it up at the library, but it was just a predictable, cheesy mess sometimes. How many stories have this same plot: small town girl, traumatic event, leaves small town, goes to big city, "makes something of herself", returns to small town for whatever reason as a high-fashion, too-good-for-this NYC snob, falls in love with local guy and small town again, has epiphany about life and family and root...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Cassie left Walton, Georgia at age twenty after her sister eloped with her boyfriend Joe. She moved to New York and has created a very successful career in advertising and is engaged to the firm’s owner, Andrew. She gets a sudden call from her sister, Harriet, fifteen years later that her father is dying. Returning to Walton to say goodbye to her father, Cassie rediscovers the friends and family that she left behind. Her sister Harriet and Joe now have five children, and an old childhood friend,...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, women-s-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is the story of New Yorker Cassie...well, not really New Yorker. She grew up in a small Georgia town, which she has steadfastly avoided over the past fifteen years--ever since her sister eloped with her boyfriend. Now her father is dying and Cassie has returned. Telling herself she's just there for a few days, this ends up stretching for many months. Her father dies quickly, but it turns out he had something up his sleeve. Cassie has inherited the family home and no one's willing to take it...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Marjorie Pfister rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Karen White is one of my favorite writers. The first book of hers I read was "On Folley Beach" on audio and I picked it on a whim and was hooked ever since.
Her characters and their stories..are so perfectly crafted in all their human frailties and imperfections, compassion and insight, they are easy to identify with as they evolve through their story. She has a clear message families,and finding peace with loss..but she makes her points gently..allowing her character the choice to stay stuck wit...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Cara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: at-library

Probably 4.5 stars. I really liked this. I loved her writing style and the picture she painted. I figured out the mysteries early on, but still enjoys the way they played out. The only thing I wasn't prepared for was the amount of "the ugly cry" I did while reading this. But it was worth it. This is a story that will haunt me for awhile. I only picked this book up because a friend gave me her copy of the sequel which she liked a lot. I decided to find this so I could read them in order. The only...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Linda Day rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What did I think ? I think this was a 2-3 borderline. Had I read this first, I never would have read "On Folly Beach" which was a favorite 2011 of mine.

Ms. White says that this is a rewritten version of this earlier published book of hers. That does not speak well of the first !

It is, basically, the story of the on again, off again romance between Cassie and Sam, the reunion of Cassie w/her sister,and small-town life with all it's charm and frustrations. There is death. There is teen-aged angst....more

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Aug 15, 2011 Lorraine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I just finally got to read this book that I got while visiting Jefferson, Texas. I enjoyed this book very much. I had never read anything by this author and I really enjoyed her writing style, humor, and easy flow. This book is about a young woman, Cassie, who comes home to Georgia after exiling herself for 15 years. She moves to New York to leave her little town of Walton, Georgia and begins a new life. Her father is dying and she returns, but is very hesitant and wants to forget her old life,...more

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May 07, 2011 Mary Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed the story of Cassie who had left her small town after her sister Harriet eloped with Cassie's boyfriend and didn't go back for fifteen years. When she did go back it was at the request of ehr father who was dying. During her time back home, Cassie is forced to re-evaluate her life in NYC, her fiance, and her feelings about ehr sister and her hometown. Although the books is somewhat predictable, I could not put it down. I loved the dialogue between Cassie & Sam, the town doct...more

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Nov 09, 2010 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-book

You can read my review here

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Jun 10, 2012 Ann rated it 2 of 5 stars

Meh. Too predictable. Too hokey. Too "aren't all Southern towns quaint and aren't all Southerners the friendliest, down-home folks." And the love interest is a hot doctor? Come on. What I want to know, since I've been rating a lot of books lately with only two and three stars, is who are the editors??? What are they letting get published? What are their standards? I'd love to have an editors job. I'd love to read for a living but believe me, I'd be passing judgement and making recommendations fo...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Sisters, Any book lovers!

Personally, I liked the main character a LOT. I've always admired independent women, so that was what got me with this character. I didn't always agree with what she did, but I'd rather read about someone like her than a confused, selfish teenager any day!

I couldn't put the book down!! I loved how Karen White writes! This was the first book of hers I'd read, and I am going to go get another one of hers.

She creates characters you want to know about, ones to sympathize with, and some you dont tru...more

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Dec 06, 2011 Chris rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I picked up this book after reading recommendations on Amazon in hopes of finding a new author I'd like. No such luck. The main character was not very likable and the situations EXTREMELY unrealistic. This is a rewrite of a book the author originally wrote 10 years earlier. She said she was so much happier with this one because she removed the melodrama from it. Um...nope. My first and last Karen White book. The mystery is why I hung in there through all 437 pages of this. Probably for the sensa...more

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Falling Home

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