Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Home In You #1

Write Me Home

Rate this book
He lives by his heart. She lives by her plans. Until they lose control of both.

Returning to his hometown in the Catskills is the last thing firefighter Ethan DeLuca’s ready for. He’d rather leave memories where they belong—buried under ashes. But if he doesn’t step up to take care of Nonna, who will? Working at the camp down the road seems like the perfect solution. Until his feisty redheaded boss ends up being one fire he has no idea how to put out.

Cassidy McAdams is on a mission. Get the camp Grandpa left her ready to sell, turn enough profit to bail Mom’s business out of foreclosure, and hightail it back to her life in New York City. With unexpected complications mounting, she can’t afford any distractions. Especially a ridiculously charming one who’s eager to rescue her at every turn.

It’d be easier on them both to hide behind professional boundaries. But when unexplained attacks on the camp ignite a connection between them they can’t ignore, running away is no longer an option.

Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2021

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Crystal Walton

21 books235 followers
Crystal writes sweet romances with humor, broken characters, and emotional plots full of grace and hope. When her hands aren’t full with her very active, little blue-eyed heroes, she's delving into the wonder of words, supporting her Starbucks habit, or laughing over movie quotes with her husband.

Join her on Facebook at facebook.com/crystalwaltonwrites for fun giveaways, chats, and more.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
350 (47%)
4 stars
245 (33%)
3 stars
111 (15%)
2 stars
21 (2%)
1 star
10 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
Profile Image for Carrie Schmidt.
Author 1 book530 followers
October 11, 2016
Before I say anything else about Write Me Home, I have to say this: I adore Nonna! Ethan’s grandmother is a spitfire and a half, and she stole every scene she was in. Feisty and independent with a little bit of sass thrown in for good measure. Nonna also has some good advice to give whether people are willing to listen to her or not.

Ethan … *dreamy sigh*. Ethan, like his Nonna, is Italian. Do I need to say more? Well, if I must… Ethan is a rescuer. Not just by occupation By heart. He’s also a handyman, a mechanic, a man who loves his Nonna, a man who can cook a mean lasagna, and he gives one of the most romantic speeches I’ve ever read. Plus he can speak Italian. *dreamy sigh*

Cass is loyal – almost to a fault – and as such she bears burdens she was never meant to carry. She’s fiercely independent and self-protective but when she relaxes she’s almost childlike in her ability to have fun. The Swedish Fish addiction is adorable, as is her competitive streak. (Side note: We often get to see Cass’ softer side around her best friend Ti, a free spirit who always falls for the worst guys. I’m really looking forward to reading Ti’s story that’s coming soon – Begin Again.)

Now… there were some moments when I wanted to purse whomp everybody. Except Nonna. Because I’m not sure I would come out the winner on that one. A lot of tough emotions are at play in Write Me Home, and it seems like Cass and Ethan are experts at letting their emotions dictate their actions. Cass, I understood. Ethan? That’s when the urge to purse whomp really manifested itself lol. I got his reaction – I did – but for the love, I expected more from him. He redeems himself nicely though, so he’s in no real danger should I and my purse ever meet up with him.

Bottom Line: Write Me Home by Crystal Walton is a sweet (and clean) romance with some great sizzle, a little humor, all the feels, and even a dash of suspense. I loved the subtle nudges of grace throughout the story, and the way that Ethan shows his love and respect for Cass by not taking her to bed – “More than just attraction, the burning desire to sweep her onto this mattress was part of the same love keeping him from moving.” The characters are authentic and vibrant and people with whom I’d love to be friends. The suspense thread kept me on my sleuthing toes, but I also think the story would have been just as strong without it. I very much enjoyed Crystal Walton’s writing voice and I am looking forward to reading more from her in the near future!

(I received a complimentary copy of this book)

See my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower
Profile Image for Julie Carpenter.
1,958 reviews247 followers
April 11, 2020
If you're in need of a tender love story, let me recommend this one. I have to be honest. I've never read a book by Crystal Walton before. I've watched so many of my friends who have similar tastes in books as me, reading and loving her books. I've loved the synopsis of many of her books. I've purchased a couple of her books and gotten a couple of her books as freebies from kindle. I've wanted to read her books for a long time but between my massive pile of to read books and life I haven't...until this book.

I really enjoyed these characters and this quaint town. Ethan returns home to help his grandma. He's been running for so long from his past. But his grandma's health concerns draw him home. Cassidy is returning to a place of that was her refuge for years but has a lot of work to clean up the camp her grandfather loved and ran. As their paths cross, they have to decide if they can trust each other to accomplish their similar goals. Their first meeting had me smiling and giggling. Too funny! And there were other moments throughout the book that brought out the same response. Even with their deeply buried wounds, these two found ways to be joyful and happy. There were still moments of sorrow and frustration but I enjoyed the journey of seeing how their pasts and their struggles brought them to the point that they would be able to heal and help heal each other.

If you enjoy sweet and swoony kisses and dialogue between two broken and torn characters, you'll definitely enjoy Cassidy and Ethan's story. There are plenty of struggles and some mystery thrown in that keep these two on their toes. Can they reach for the help that they need most? Can they tear down the walls that they've so carefully built up and have a bright future?

I really enjoyed the author's writing style. I loved how she developed the characters and helped draw me in completely to become invested in their happy story. I'm happy to say that I've read (well, I actually listened to) a book by Crystal Walton and thoroughly enjoyed it! I look forward to diving into more books by her. If you're like me and haven't read one of her books but have been eyeing her books, take the chance on two broken characters who have dreams and hopes.

Content: Clean. Some drinking but nothing excessive or talked about in depth.

I received an audiobook copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!
Profile Image for Kathy * Bookworm Nation.
2,169 reviews715 followers
March 2, 2016


This has been nominated for a 2016 Swoony Award. Share the love and vote for it here.

I really enjoyed this one.

When Cassidy inherits her grandfathers summer camp she is determined to return it to its former glory and sale it. She is not expecting to fall in love with the place that held so many happy childhood memories. Restoring the camp also restores a piece of herself that has been missing for a long time. With the help of her best friend Ti and a handsome handyman, Ethan, she begins to believe in a brighter future. I liked Cassidy, she is loyal and fierce. She is also kind and has a happiness about her despite everything she's been through. I thought Ethan was great, very charming and patient. I thought they were great together. I really enjoyed their relationship.

I thought the overall story was fun and kept me turning the pages. I thought the mystery could have been developed a little better, but I did like that the "bad guy" was not who I thought it was. I do enjoy a good twist. Overall, a fun contemporary romance with a great setting and lovable characters. I hope Ti gets a book! It's exciting to find a new author to follow!

Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: Mild, talk of drug abuse and child abuse - nothing detailed or graphic

Source: Review copy




Profile Image for Romance Readers Retreat.
2,346 reviews224 followers
March 7, 2016
Write Me Home is a clean, sweet romance which is very different to my usual reads, but I did enjoy it a lot. It's written in third person but dual focus, so you see things from Ethan's and Cassidy's perspective, it meant that in some instances I couldn't fully connect with the characters. The book was well written and full of sweet, young love moments. The story takes place over the space of two weeks but in that we learn a lot and it's easy to see Cassidy and Ethan's attraction.

Ethan Deluca hot a$$ fireman with a tragic past. He left his home town nearly ten years ago after he couldn't bear to stay in a place where he'd lost so much. His relationship with his mother is a very rocky one they have a mutual distaste for each other, she's the Mayor of the town he ran from for so long. His reason for coming back is his Nonna, she had a heart attack and needed someone to keep an eye on her while she recovered. Being a good man he killed two birds with one stone and decided to help the new girl in town renovate her grandpa's summer camp.
Cassidy is a fiery redhead who has been burned in the past. She has trust issues and struggles to let her guard down but is drawn to Ethan like a moth to a flame. It's hard for either of them to hide their attraction. Cassidy came to town to renovate her grandpa's old summer camp. When he died it kind of went into ruin, she wanted to get it up and running again so that she could sell it. However, during the renovation process she remembered why she loved this place as a kid and it showed her the way to new love.
This book is completely about love blossoming and the journey to that love. When both parties have been broken and don't have stable foundations to build that love they get in their own way and they let their pasts get in the way. It's only once everything is broken and everything about the past comes out that they find that stability and foundation for love.

This book was a good, light and easy read. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Rissi.
453 reviews8 followers
December 31, 2017
Write Me Home by Crystal Walton – Emotionally Complex Contemporary Romance

Ten years ago, the world became a darker place for Ethan DeLuca. Since that day, he’s been punishing himself and pursuing every opportunity to “rescue” everyone but himself. With his grandmother’s health in decline, he returns to his small hometown where he meets Cassidy McAdams. Beautiful and everything Ethan shouldn’t be wishing for, Cass too is hiding scars. (Something she hides by trying to reopen her grandfather's camp.) Her past is covered in them, and yet despite her walls, Ethan walks into her life as the person she didn’t know she needed.

Broken hearts, souls and lives collide in their otherwise safe worlds. But what happens when danger lurks around the corner?

"Without mystery, there’d be no awe.” – Crystal Walton

Though I’d (shamefully) forgotten, a couple of years ago I read Crystal’s novel Eyes Unveiled and really enjoyed it. It was a new adult novel about a college-aged couple struggling to find their way towards a healthy future. This novel follows in the contemporary romance genre, but is defiantly a mature story with more than one scar lining its emotional pages. It’s inside those pages we discover a woman who has made mistakes that she can’t run from. Mistakes that she very nearly falls prey to yet again. Ethan has conditioned his entire life not to make the same mistakes, and by doing so, very nearly does. Like Cass, he too is too busy running from the sorrow rather than coming to grips with it.

As a story, Write Me Home is a good one. It’s high on chemistry (translation: lots of kissing!), which is sure to make the romance reader aficionado a happy reader. There are some great character relationships, including the addition of Cass’ best friend Trina (Ti), who also has many a complex emotional blemish ruling her past. The cohesive unit that that characters somehow form is riddled with their respective secrets and the burdens they have carried.

Complex, romantic and bittersweet, Write Me Home is sure to intrigue readers who love this genre (or authors like Courtney Walsh). It's one of those books that's more than its “surface.” It’s about healing, forgiveness, and the detours we take before truly finding “home.” ♥
Profile Image for Aimee .
3,078 reviews302 followers
February 23, 2016
Um, yummy. Ethan DeLuca is yummy. You should read this book and discover his yummy-ness too. Ethan is everything I love in a strong male lead. He is the man who fixes things. He tries to protect and help. He is loyal and did I mention strong? :) Yeah, he is good and a little bit broken. It makes him so yummy.

Cassidy is also strong but in a different way. Loving her came in bits for me but it happened. She struggles with trust and love so her strength keeps people out to protect herself. She had the biggest character arch though and it was very satisfying to see.

I loved the chemistry between Ethan and Cassidy. It was always there, sparking- even when nothing was happening. There was depth to the characters and a real human, real feel about them. It felt good.

I'm really hoping to see another book along these lines for Cassidy's best friend, Ti. She is someone who needs a happily ever after!

I really enjoyed this book. I read through it quickly and felt satisfaction at the conclusion.

Content: Some kissing- talk of abuse, drug and alcohol use. Christian fiction.
Profile Image for Tressa (Wishful Endings).
1,832 reviews197 followers
Read
March 21, 2017
WRITE ME HOME was such an enjoyable read! Everything you could ask for in a story was present: a little suspense, family, friendship, drama, humor, and some swoon-worthy romance. If you're looking for some sweet romance that will melt your heart and bring a smile to your face, this is it!

Let's talk about what I really liked about this story:
-The characters. I loved Ethan and Cassidy. They're both strong in their own ways, but also have some painful pasts. Their connection was almost instantaneous, but it also had time to grow into friendship, respect, and love. I loved the tender moments these two shared. I also love Ti. She was so fun! Nonna was another memorable and wise character that helped to make this story what it was.
-I loved how the characters had quite a bit to work through and that the author let them make mistakes, grow, learn, and for not everything to be resolved overnight. Issues sat sometimes for a little while until they could be worked out. Others were still a work-in-progress.
-I loved the romance! It was perfect and sweet and a little sizzling. And clean.
-I loved the animals at the camp. They had their own little roles and they were sweet.
-I loved the humor. There were a lot of fun moments in this story that helped balance out the weight that these characters were carrying on their shoulders.

Let's talk about a few things that I wanted more of:
-I wanted there to be a little more conversation or time to pass before the characters were falling for each other. It was just slightly rushed in the beginning. What saved this for me was that neither really moved on it until later on, so there was still the needed development there.
-The suspense didn't flow as I would have liked. It felt a little forced. I wasn't sure how things would have happened and when and I wasn't sure it was necessarily needed. It just maybe needed to be weaved into the story differently or maybe more clues or more of an investigation... I'm not sure exactly. It was just a little off.
-I also wanted there to be a little bit more of a work-through with Ethan's mom and her actions.

Bottom line is that I enjoyed this story from beginning to end. The voice was right on, the characters were lovable, there was a touch of inspiration that I liked that didn't overwhelm the story, and the romance and overall plot were paced well and kept me engaged. An overall sweet story with depth. Now I just need to go back and read this author's other books.

Content: Some innuendo and suggested violence, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author, which did not affect my review in any way.
Profile Image for Dilushani Jayalath.
1,052 reviews210 followers
September 27, 2019
Kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review


One of the cuter stories and can I say I love Ti and Nonna??? The words Nonna and Nonno were familiar to me thanks to my cousins who live in Italy which surprisingly managed to make the story more endearing to me. I know stupid.

But I loved the story which had the sweetest guy in the world with endless patience. Where can I find a guy like him who would fix my depleting house? XD
Profile Image for Stephenee.
1,930 reviews49 followers
June 8, 2016
* I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. *

This was my first book by author Crystal Walton, but it will not be my last!! I love when I am able to find a New To Me author that I instantly NEED more of!! I have already Stalked, I mean Checked out what other books she has written that I need to get (and trust me you will too once you read this one)!

The author did an amazing job of drawing the reader straight into the pages of her book! She instantly hooks them from the very first page and doesn't ever let them go until they have read the very last page, and even then the reader doesn't want the book to end! The plot is so quick and fast moving that the reader gets caught up in the flow and doesn't want to stop reading until the very end...however, in my case, real life made me take breaks - sigh -

The characters are perfectly imperfect and they each have something missing from their lives that the reader works hard to fill the blanks in for them (creating stories within the stories as they read). The author has the reader zooming through the pages so fast that their fingers get cramps from working so hard! The reader can relate to Cass, Ti and Ethan and can't help but wish that their Nonna was just like the one in the book! Cassidy is reeling from the break-up of her parents years ago and her mom's addiction, Ti is still figuring out that she deserves love and Ethan is trying to save everyone around him but himself....the characters really make an impact on the reader and the author does an amazing job of bringing everyone together and creates a world that the reader wants to stay inside of.

The description of the man made canoes, the smell of the old buildings and the scenery around the camp is so well written that the reader can actually picture it all in their mind. The long driveway is one in which I could easily see myself going down and never wanting to leave! There is no sex in this book, just sweet old fashion romance - hand holding, kissing, fighting and making up over silly things and it works for the book in a really great way! It doesn't cause the reader to become distracted while reading.

I can't wait to try out another book by this author! Add this one to your TBR list and move it straight to the top! There is no reason to wait any longer on this one!!

***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng ***
Profile Image for Cara.
116 reviews21 followers
November 23, 2018
I first rated this book a 3, but the more I thought about it, I had to drop it to a 2. There were too many times in this book when I said to myself, “Really? Are you serious?” What do I mean, you ask? Allow me to provide examples...

Beware...MAJOR spoilers to follow.

How Ethan comes up with the idea to live and work at the camp in 2 seconds flat.

How the characters in this book have been through or are dealing with every possible personal tragedy you can think of-the dramatic death of loved ones, family members with drug addiction, abuse, being prostituted by your druggie parents, abandonment, financial problems, being the victim of theft and arson and destruction of personal property, teen pregnancy, being cheated on, and the list does go on. For this genre of book...



How when they visit the city and Ethan begins to relive his sister’s death, suddenly he “hears” this voice in his head say she is ok, and now he is fine. Sorry, I like to see characters work through issues in some way. Faith may play a role, that’s fine. But Ethan just seemed to get zapped and flip like a magnet. We hear so much of Ethan’s struggle over his role in Izzy’s death - the resolution feels totally out of proportion to the scope of the problem.

How Cass and Jesse were actually there and contributed to how Izzy died? Seriously? We already had a pretty strong connection between the families with Nonna and Grandpa Colin that lead to all the drama with Ethan’s mom trying to drive Cass away - and I could buy that. But it was a stretch for me when it turns out that Cass and Jesse were there on that very street ten years before having a fight and when Cass decks Jesse, it knocks the cigarette out of his mouth and that sparks the car fire that kills Ethan’s sister.



For the record, I did enjoy this read to a degree. And I am willing to allow for the creativity of storytelling to stretch the bounds of reality. But this book pushed it a bit too far for me. I don’t mind the occasional “no way!” But not the repeated “seriously?” that is usually accompanied by an eye roll.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Itsy Bitsy Book Bits.
699 reviews49 followers
August 14, 2016
This was my first read by this author, and surely won't be my last. I really liked the authors writing style. I was hooked from beginning to end. I liked the way the characters were written. They both had something missing from their lives, and the author has the characters creating the missing pieces of their puzzles, which I loved. I liked the story line a lot as well as the characters. So this was a love story and a bit of a mystery. It was also a combination of humor, family, love, friendship, on the edge of your seat suspense and drama. So the story was about a man named Ethan DeLuca, who's a fire fighter. He's back in town to help take care of his Nona. Ethan is also a handy man, who fixes just about anything including the Heroine Cassidy. Her grandfather had just passed away so she's a bit lost and confused . Some might even say broken.
I thought Ethan and Cassidy were both strong characters in their own ways, and Ethan was helping Cassidy with her grief while their romance blossomed. Their chemistry was practically radiating off the pages, Ethan was so swoon worthy I wish I had him. Their love was swoon worthy. I laughed and cried right along with them. On some occasions I even yelled. But did enjoy the sizzling moments they shared, along with the moments they were both stubborn and confused. I especially loved Cassidy's friend Ti. I hope she gets her own story.
I liked how the author brought the story together, it was fast paced but overall enjoyable. She brought the characters together so flawlessly even Ethan was trying to rescue Ti he was such a beautiful selfless person, always putting people before others which was always making my heart yearn more for him. Overall it was a great read, even one of the best reads this year!! Looking forward to more reads by this author.
342 reviews
March 14, 2017
A full circle story!

Ethan and Cassidy's paths cross while they are both hurting and lost. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about their journey together while getting Cassidy's camp ready for inspection. There were several setbacks along the way but through it all they find out what God's plan for them is. I was blown away by the author's full circle moment towards the end of the book. I did not see that coming at all! You will have to read it to find out what happens!
This book was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend it. It was a clean read with light references to God throughout.
1,410 reviews8 followers
March 13, 2017
Ethan's story is truly remarkable. When he goes home for the first time in years his life will change. Nonna is a very special person you will love. Cassidy is trying hard to get her grandfathers camp to how it used to be. When Ethan showed up at her house she wants nothing to do with him. Watching there relationship change will keep you on the edge of your seat. You won't be able to stop reading this book. This book deserves a higher rating than a five star review.
307 reviews
March 20, 2017
Finding home....

Whew! This book! Honestly, it's been in my Kindle library for a while. I regret that now. What a deep and emotional story. We all carry baggage. Some people carry extremely heavy, crippling baggage. Some people carry it for a lifetime. This is a story of healing and hope and finding home. It's a story to share. Going to download the next book and not wait so long to read it....
Profile Image for NaDell.
1,195 reviews14 followers
August 18, 2017
The title of the book doesn't seem like it fits the story much to me. I kind of expected them to actually be writing letters to each other instead of the way that line fits into the story, but it WAS a really terrific story with a lot of character development and subplots and struggle. I enjoyed the author's writing style.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
Author 11 books118 followers
March 16, 2017
Endearing

These are characters that you just can't get enough of. From Nonna to Ti and everyone in between - the heart they have for one another was enough to make me happy but the plot kept me turning the pages. Great job!
Profile Image for Susan Snodgrass.
2,002 reviews276 followers
June 25, 2017
I had never read this author before, but I really enjoyed this book. It had really developed cha, a good plot and quite nice emotional depth. I will read more of her books.
Profile Image for Kathleen Friesen.
Author 7 books40 followers
March 13, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Two damaged people—several, actually—a last-ditch effort to fix an inherited campground, and sparks flying between the reclusive firefighter and the fiery redhead make a heartwarming tale. Add in some mysterious vandalism, and the pages fly. The song that gives this book its title touched my soul; I’d love to hear it put to music.
Ethan and Cassidy’s secrets keep their dance toward romance a one-step-forward, two-steps-back number until a common goal, to bring the campground back to its former glory, creates a semblance of unison. Secrets revealed, however, could burn them both.
Redemption stories are my favorite, and Write Me Home is a great example. For that reason, I award this novel four stars. Recommended. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher.
Profile Image for Michaela.
112 reviews2 followers
March 14, 2017
This was such a great book . I really enjoyed it . I hope y'all enjoy it as much as I did
1,834 reviews3 followers
February 28, 2017
Very nice

This book is very well written and enjoyable. It's heartbreaking and heartwarming at times. There is romance, intrigue, excitement and love. It's a very good read.
Profile Image for Kathy Jo.
784 reviews146 followers
April 20, 2016
Ethan and Cassidy have returned to Catskills for different reasons. Him to help his Nonna and her to fix up the camp her grandfather left her so she can sell it. From the moment their paths crossed, their journey begins.

After tragedy strikes Ethan and his family, he decides to dedicate his life to rescuing and helping anyone and everyone he can. He never imagined his rescuing would bring him back to a place he thought he would never return to. There is just too much history for him and he's not ready to face it. But when he meets Cass and sparks fly, he wants to see where it will lead. Can she help him to heal? To move on from the past? Or will he allow hurt and anger to rule him?

Cass is a very independent person full of sass. Between her father leaving when she was a child, her mother depending on drugs to function, and her ex-boyfriend using her, she has learned to not trust anyone. She has a hard time letting anyone in, letting them help her and letting them love her. She has built her walls up so high, no one can get past them. But when Ethan comes to her rescue over and over and over again, she has a hard time trying to keep those walls up. Will letting him in be the thing that mends her broken heart and restores her trust in people? Or will it reaffirm the only person that she can depend on to take care of her, is her?

Cass and Ethan's journey was filled with so many emotions! It is one of self discovery, overcoming the past, learning to trust again and of course love. I found myself rooting for them and would get frustrated when things weren't going my way. I enjoyed seeing them grow as individuals as well as a couple. They were the perfect match to make the other better.

I enjoyed the story but I have to admit something was missing for me. It felt a bit disjointed at times. The mystery aspect of the story could have been developed a bit more. It felt like an afterthought to me. I did figure out who the "bad guy" was before it was revealed and was a bit disappointed in the outcome. I would have liked to see more with how it was handled.

All in all it was a good story. This is my first book by Crystal Walton and I will definitely be checking more out by her. I am hoping Ti gets her own story. I would love to see what makes her tick and see her get her own HEA.

And of course I can't forget my casting! I found a picture of Liam with a dog and was half tempted to cast Sandy as well but I decided to just go with the people... ;) Hehe. What do you think?!

description
513 reviews
May 8, 2017
Great book

I loved this book. It was very well written and so very moving. Loved the interaction between Ethan and Cassidy.
Profile Image for Fiction Aficionado.
659 reviews93 followers
April 16, 2016
The short take
A great contemporary romance with emotional depth, vibrant characters, and a hero you can't help but fall in love with.

Full review
Okay, this was one seriously melt-me-into-the-floor romance with a strong emotional connection between the main characters, but even so, there were a couple of things that tempered my enjoyment. Firstly, I had my suspicions about who was behind the vandalism and the attacks on the camp (which turned out to be more or less correct), and it stretched credulity a little for me, as did the final complication that arose between Ethan and Cassidy.

The other little thing that niggled at me was the occasional use of exclamations like, “Thank G*d”, and even an, “Oh my G*d” and a “For G*d’s sake”. This is not specifically a Christian novel, but there are a few references that suggest Ethan and his Nonna are Christians, and so these exclamations disappointed me, especially when they could easily be substituted.

But on to the positives, which definitely outweighed the negatives. I loved the authenticity of these characters and the vibrancy of the writing. This was one of those books you feel, rather than just read or visualise. Strong verbs, crisp prose, and characters who came alive through their actions and interactions rather than narrative and exposition. Cassidy’s friend Ti (pronounced Tee) and Ethan’s Nonna were great secondary characters and there was a perfect blend of light-heartedness, contention, wisdom, and tenderness throughout.

For me, I think it was Ethan who made this novel. He is haunted by the loss of his little sister – some ten years ago now – and has devoted his life to rescuing others, trying to make up for that one time he failed. Cassidy has perfected the tough-girl act and learned to expect the worst in people in order to avoid disappointment. She is fiercely independent, but Ethan is determined to not only earn her trust, but prove that he is trustworthy. And it's not easy when accusations fly, when fears resurface, or when he is forced to confront what really happened when his sister died. But despite his 'only human' moments, he seriously melted my heart. More than once. That Cassidy's a lucky gal!

Notwithstanding those few issues I mentioned at the start, this novel was everything I love about contemporary romance: clean, tender, and vibrant, with genuine emotional depth.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Katie (hiding in the pages).
3,570 reviews335 followers
April 18, 2016
Everyone has issues in life. Cassidy has been burned by men before and has a hard time trusting. When her grandfather leaves her a camp, she works hard to get it ready to sell, with the help of her lifelong friend, Ti. Cassidy is a person with extremes--she's very feisty, yet sweet; determined, yet conflicted; strong, yet weak. Those contrasts make her real and likable. She's got walls up and I love seeing the glimpses of her true self through those little chinks.

Ethan is such a loyal family man--to an extent. Something horrible happened to him in the past and there are small glimpses of the effects of that shown throughout the story. He has a close relationship with his grandmother, but not much is shown with his parents. He goes above and beyond his duties, in work, family life, and more. He's a hard one not to like and is completely charming.

I would love to have a little more with the suspense angle. The intense moments often came out of nowhere, without a rhyme or reason, and I wanted to feel a build up and lingering emotion from the encounters. Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good, clean romance and I also would love to see more in the romance department--more interactions, more communication, and more sparks. The pacing seems a little off in places, but the story line is still very enjoyable.

From a humorous first meet to a great ending, Write Me Home is a fun story with a great setting and is perfect for those who love a good, clean, contemporary romance with a little suspense.

Content: mild romance (brief mention of drinking, teen pregnancy, kissing, mild innuendo); mild violence and moments of peril. Clean!

*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Dana Kamstra.
399 reviews9 followers
June 27, 2017
Before I share my thoughts on the actual book, can I just say how much I loved the title of this novel? And the beautiful cover? Anyways...

Write Me Home is one of those books that is just perfect for curling up and reading for long stretches. The writing is smooth and the characters are quite relatable. I truly enjoyed meeting Ethan and Cassidy, as well as Ti and I can't forget about Nonna (Oh my goodness... such a hoot!) The main characters came alive and the story that surrounds their lives a beautiful blend of humor, forgiveness, grace, and love.

I found the pacing of this book to be spot on considering most of it takes place over a week. The romance angle never seems to be rushed, but everything happens at just the right time. There are sweet moment, sparks flying moments, and a few that you wonder how things will work out for the main two.

However, the book did start to fall a bit flat for me when it came to some of the external factors. There are a few things in this book that become a bit of a stretch to believe because they are so coincedental. There's also a couple of subplots (mainly one with Ethan's mom and a second between Cassidy and her father) that I missed seeing a bit more of.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and would reccommend it. There is a bit of more passionate moments in the story, so that is something to be wary of if you are sensitive to those things. But overall, it is a quite clean story.

**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**
Profile Image for Deborah Andreasen.
Author 3 books399 followers
March 27, 2017
Easy, clean romance

I generally enjoyed this book. The story was interesting, the characters were intriguing, the setting was unique. I thought Ti was a great secondary character. I liked that even the animals lent flavor to the story. I vacillated between a 3 and 4 star review for a few reasons. At one point of the book, there was so much drama that I literally couldn't believe there were enough hours in the day to fit it all in. The pacing of the book felt a little funny. I think that whole thing was squeezed into several days. There was a lot of back story I felt unclear on, but I didn't even know where to go back and look for it at top see if I'd just missed it it read it wrong.

But in the end it got a 4 star because I enjoyed the book and the story. I liked that the characters were able to work through difficulties and find who they are.

This was a clean read with no swearing, minimal violence, sweet kissing scenes, with only mentions of previous "relations."
Profile Image for Englishrose.
354 reviews29 followers
April 28, 2016
This story had a wonderful plot, and made me think of long summer breaks. The romance is sweet and fun and realistic. The story brought some good twists and turns and changes. The few sides were quirky and endearing and filled in the small town. The past and present were intricately woven together and all fall into place by the end, leaving you satisfied. There were some serious backstories to the characters, shockingly so at times. But it leaves you with hope that love can bloom anywhere. Though the dialogue was a little choppy at times, it caught my interest and kept me turning pages. Overall a good read and an unique and realistic contemporary romance.


www,cleanromancereviews.com
120 reviews3 followers
August 1, 2017
I just finished reading Write Me Home and am a first time reader of Crystal Walton. I loved the clean romance and elements of mystery. The characters were well thought. They have layers and personal flaws that make them feel like someone you might know. They struggle with issues that many people face. My favorite part of any book is an uplifting ending and Write Me Home didn't disappoint. If you enjoy a good contemporary story, you should definitely read this one. I mean who doesn't love firefighters and a spitfire Italian grandma?

http://loveofthewrittenword.blogspot....
Profile Image for Joan Arning.
1,804 reviews29 followers
June 18, 2017
Write Me Home is a story of grace and forgiving the past in order to move on to the good things God has in store. Ethan was a strong, caring person even though he needed to move on from events that happened in his past. Cass needed love to set her free from her past. Ethan's Italian grandmother, Nonna, plays an important part in his life. This book is set at a children's campground which Cass has inherited in the Catskill Mountains. Write Me Home is the first book I have read by Crystal Walton but I will be looking for more of her books. I recommend Write Me Home to others.
Profile Image for Melanie Snitker.
Author 46 books313 followers
April 11, 2016
I've read all of Crystal Walton's books and WRITE ME HOME is my favorite. From the first page until the very end, I was drawn into a story filled with romance, friendship, and forgiveness. Crystal has a way with words that makes the story come alive. Combine the chemistry between Ethan and Cassidy with the fun personalities of Ti and other characters in this book, and you have a book that's nearly impossible to put down!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews