I read Things You Save in a Fire at just the right time and man did I love it. This is my first Katherine Center book, but I immediately went out to buy How to Walk Away. We are quite possibly looking at a new favorite author of mine.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Cassie is a successful firefighter from Austin, Texas who is alienated from her mother. When her mother gives her a call asking her to move to Massachusetts for a year she doesn’t want to go initially. What will happen when she takes a backward step in her career to move in with a mother she barely knows? She is now the newbie female firefighter in a station pretty set in their ways.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Katherine Center has a way of writing tragedy, depth, forgiveness, and romance and tying it all up with a neat little bow. I enjoyed Cassie’s character and her journey as a female working in a man’s world. The character growth is strong in this one. I appreciated the author's readiness to admit that we are flawed and far from perfect. I loved how Center incorporated life as a firefighter and used her husband for inspiration. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This one gets 4.5 stars from me!

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

“Maybe all happiness could ever hope to be was a tiny interruption from sorrow.”

This book surprised me.

This is a love story, maybe a little saccharin at times, but one that offers a hard look at courage and forgiveness from different perspectives.

Cassie Hanwell is a young, strong firefighter in Austin, Texas. She has had to be especially tough on the job - because she is a woman. Her heart has become tough, because her past has taught her that, ‘love is for the weak’. Cassie has been hurt, and she refuses to let anyone hurt her again. Cassie is great at her job - firefighting is her life. Cassie saves people, but who will save her?

Out of the blue, her mother calls and asks for her help. Problem is she lives in the Boston area; problem is Cassie has not seen her mother in ten years. Cassie wants to say no. Problem is Cassie has no other choice.

Hired on by a Boston area fire department that has done things the same way for over a 100 years, Cassie finds she is not the only new hire. A true blue rookie has been hired and Cassie has the job of training him. Although Cassie knows all the rules of firefighting, number one being, ‘never date a firefighter,’ the Rookie has a strange affect on her. At the firehouse, Cassie faces sexism, which is nothing new, but now she is being threatened as well. She can’t let all these distractions endanger her career, or soften her.

There is an ease in Cassie’s narration. She’s a strong, independent woman; she has to be. But she is also sarcastic, witty, and hiding a lot of herself from the world. Although Cassie has the courage to run into a burning building, does she have the courage it takes to forgive? Katherine Center pens some poignant pearls of wisdom about the power of love and forgiveness.

My husband was a volunteer firefighter near the Austin area, so reading about firefighters and their work was a fun connection for me. I’m glad this wasn’t just a cute romance. It had truths that made me stop and give pause; examine my own life.

Save the date! Publish date: August, 13, 2019

Thank you to #NetGalley and #St.Martin’sPress for this ARC for review.

I’m not sure I’ve ever related to a character more than I ever have than with Cassie. A badass firefighter who follows her instincts (for better or for worse) somehow always has the right crew behind her back. I couldn’t put this one done, folks. Even getting carsick driving down a mountain, I’d read a page, take a breather, then hop right back in.

I’m not going to critique the realism of this, and while I don’t think it’s perfect (there’s a few relationships that seem unrealistic), it’s the feeling you get at the end that matters. My heart was warm, my eyes were filled with tears, and I needed to know more about Cassie’s life.

I appreciate the multiple angles Katherine Center took to share the relationships in the main characters life, particularly with her mother and fellow crew members. I wanted to know more from her dad and friends back in Texas, but here’s to hoping there’s a spin-off! (Unlikely but a girl can dream...) with plenty of cringe-worthy moments, coupled with “phew!” or “f*ck yeah!” exclamations, this book gives you plenty to think about and love when you yourself get put in tough situations that require a hard choice.

Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she’s seen her fair share of them, and she’s a total pro at other people’s tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to give up her whole life and move to Boston, Cassie suddenly has an emergency of her own.

The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie’s old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren’t exactly thrilled to have a “lady” on the crew—even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the infatuation-inspiring rookie, who doesn’t seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can’t think about that. Because love is girly, and it’s not her thing. And don’t forget the advice her old captain gave her: Never date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping…and it means risking it all—the only job she’s ever loved, and the hero she’s worked like hell to become.





My Thoughts: Things You Save in a Fire grabbed me right away. Cassie had fought her whole life to achieve her goals and to leave behind the pain of her mother’s abandonment. Something else happened to her just after her mother left, something that would leave deep scars. Something that would come back to haunt her just when she had earned an award of valor. On the heels of the award and the haunting memories of the past, her mother pleads with her to come help her with some medical issues.

An emotional storm pushed Cassie toward Boston, despite her resistance. Will she find a way to reconnect with her mother? Can she finally put the past behind her?

I thoroughly enjoyed Cassie’s challenges and her willingness to move forward. 5 stars.

***My e-ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley.

I first read Katherine Center with her novel, How to Walk Away, and I absolutely adored it. I instantly knew I would read whatever she wrote next, as she knows exactly how to connect the reader with her characters while displaying how resilient we are as humans through recovery and connection. The same can be said for her second novel, Things You Save in a Fire.

I was immediately drawn to Cassie. She's a female firefighter with grit and determination and passion for what she does. She knows her priorities and what is important to her, and she absolutely dedicates herself to it to become the best. I really loved how we got to explore Cassie's weaknesses in building relationships and embracing forgiveness. We also explored the good guy/bad guy theme where not everything is as it seems. We are all human. We make mistakes, but that doesn't mean that we are bad people.

There were a few eye roll worth scenes and the entire story wrapped up a little too nicely and conveniently, which is why I docked my rating by a star. Overall though, I absolutely loved this. It was a super quick read, and the messages the author was trying to convey are so important in understanding relationships and connections with others. Also, I really loved that we got to have a very small scene reappear in this novel from How to Walk Away. Looking forward to more from this author!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2594916763

Katherine Center has charmed me! This is my first Katherine Center book and, though I don't read too many romance novels, I thought I would like it as a light read. I had no idea I would fall into this story so completely and fall head over heels in love with the main characters, Cassie and Owen.

Cassie has had a tough life. Her mother left he and her father on Cassie's 16th birthday and another terrible thing happened to Cassie that very same day. These two events hardened her heart and changed everything she believed. She focused everything into working hard and succeeding at being a female firefighter - and she was very good at it! Owen, the rookie, was adorable.

There are several messages in this book - courage, forgiveness, and healing being among them. I found the writing swept me up in the story and held me there with its charm and warmth. There was also a little humor in the book, and I enjoyed reading about the firefighters' pranks. I will look for more of Center's books since I enjoyed this so much.

Thanks to Katherine Center and St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.

When I last mentioned I was reading this book to friends, I mentioned that I was breezing through it. I was enjoying Cassie and her fierceness as a minority in the field of firefighters. Did you know that nationwide, only about 4% of firefighters are women? The obstacles that she had to overcome in that field are tremendous. I love a strong fierce female protagonist so you can bet on it that I adored Cassie. The thing is, she was fierce at her job. She would run towards a fire instead of away like most people. Unfortunately the same didn’t go for the rest of her life. She was a superhero yet human in so many ways. Center shows us humanity and it’s struggles and in doing so she breaks us apart and slowly puts us back together. I can’t remember the last time I had to walk away from a book for my mental health. I can’t really go into details as I don’t want to ruin the plot but tread lightly and hold onto your hearts. Like a storm, everything is calm and quiet and then 💥!!!

This is a story of the power of forgiveness, courage, and love and anything less than 5 stars would be an injustice to the story.

This was a really good story. I learned a lot about brotherhood and sisterhood of first responders.. Of course there was male, female interaction which made the book even more enjoyable. The female in the book had to overcome terrible things from her childhood. As an adult fitting into a male dominated field brought many challenges.

Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this delightful ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There are some books that just warm you up from the inside and nestle close to you, and this was one of them. Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center is a lighthearted romance with an adorable heroine that kept me laughing from page to page with her antics. I was taken in from the very beginning of Chapter One, and I read this in two days.

Cassie Hanwell is a firefighter in a progressive Austin fire station, and she couldn't be happier. A job she loves, a crew she fits in well with, great friends, no romantic entanglements (of her own choice), and she's about to be honored for her heroism. There's nothing that could ruin this for Cassie.

Except for maybe Heath Thompson.

Turns out punching a city councilman on stage is not the best way to boost your career.
In order to salvage her career, Cassie transfers to a fire station in Boston, and it is the polar opposite of her experience in Austin. She's joined a boys' club, and it doesn't matter that she's the best firefighter around...she'll have to prove her value and capability to the new crew. Which would be easier if the new rookie wasn't so darn distracting. Rule #1: Don't date a fellow firefighter.

I loved every single minute and detail of this novel. Told from Cassie's hilarious perspective, you get to experience this story from the viewpoint of a badass female firefighter.

One of my favorite things about this novel was Cassie's positive attitude throughout. She's not out to prove that a female can do it better. She's out to prove that she is just as good, that she can handle her own, and that she can be relied on to watch her crew's back. (Though, let's be honest...she's knows she's the best.) She exhibits creativity and problem-solving skills in a way that respects the differences between men and women, without tearing either gender down, while showing just how strong, tough, and capable women are.

Her unexpected romantic reaction to the handsome rookie is adorably told. The perfect summer romance read!

I first read a book by Katherine Center a year ago and that was thanks to Book of the Month. That book was How To Walk Away, which easily skyrocketed onto my huge list of favorite books. So, once I saw Things You Save In A Fire on Netgalley, I had to have it. I was fearing I would get declined, but to my surprise I got an approval, which made my day. I’ve been saving this arc for a few months now and just finally and excitedly got to it. Things You Save In A Fire just made Katherine Center a favorite author of mine and an auto buy author. She proves to write a rom-com while throwing important lessons into her novels. If I could give this book more then 5 stars I would.
I for one, loved seeing Cassie as a female firefighter with a tough past, which makes her extremely guarded and to push down all her emotions so she won’t feel-until an incident and her estranged mother’s health makes her move across country. She has to defy odds and prove herself while not falling in love with the rookie. This book had me laughing, squealing, and shed a few tears, which this whole combination made my dog look up at me to where he thought I was crazy.

Cassie is a firefighter in Austin, TX. A badass one: she’s tough, disciplined, and has an edge about her that her coworkers respect.

One day Cassie gets a call from her (not estranged but not close with) mother asking a huge favor: to move across country to live with her in Boston. A year at most - just until her health (hopefully) improves. Cassie relentlessly agrees.

The change won’t be easy for her. Cassie will have to prove herself to an all-male fire crew. She will need to confront her past with her mother. And she will have to let her guard down when it comes to love.

Things You Save in a Fire was a lot of emotions wrapped in one: hilarious, funny, emotional, tear jerking. Ultimately, the theme I took away from this book is how the power of forgiveness is real. It’s up to us to make room for healing and let go. Forgiving yourself, and forgiving others.

I flew through this novel - I could NOT PUT IT DOWN! I don’t know if I’ve ever felt so physically present in a story - everything about Cassie and her life felt like I was right there along side her. She’s so relatable to any female who’s had to put up a shell around her to protect her emotions/sanity. The entire novel, I wanted to laugh with her, root for her, cry with her, and fist pump with her.

Things You Save in a Fire swept me off my feet. I will never stop recommending this novel.

I have read and enjoyed a few of Center's books over the years and so I was really looking forward to reading this one (although a few of her earlier titles are still on my TBR shelf!). This is also one of the July Book of the Month Club choices, which I have had good experiences overall with their selections. Either way, Center is always a guaranteed good read in my book, and this latest novel of hers is no exception! I really loved reading this!

Cassie is a female firefighter in progressive Austin, but when her life turns upside down in a matter of hours, she suddenly relocates to Rockport, Massachusetts and its more traditional (AKA all male) firefighting department. This book is a great, fast and fun read. I laughed, I ugly-cried and loved every page! It's a story about forgiveness, family, love - and of course, fighting fires. It would make a great movie and I can't wait to dig through my TBR shelves to finish reading her entire canon! Center is a great writer who creates authentic and sympathetic characterless. This is a genuinely great reading experience and I can't wait to see what she will write next!

*** 5 Stars *** (ALLL THE STARS)
Publication Date: August 13, 2019

This is by far my favorite read of the year and very unexpected for me. I've seen all the rave reviews but when I hear love story I cringe. This book had me laughing, angry, and crying.. sooo many emotions. Cassie is a firefighter in Austin, a top firefighter who likely will be chief very soon, when her mother who has been out of her life for quite some time asks her to move across the country to live with her and completely changes her life. There's hazing, female empowerment, excitement, love, forgiveness, pain, and drama and the story line just works! The writing and character development are perfection. I loved Cassie and many of the other characters. Do yourself a favor and make this a must read when it releases August 13th!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this. I liked the plot, the main character, the side characters, and the conflict. I think that the conflict came a little too late in the story, and the romantic relationship should have been explored a bit more. Also Cassie's eventual opening up was told rather than shown, and I think the book suffered a bit for it. It was too rushed, but the story was good and sweet, and I found it interesting and easy to read.

I laughed, I cried! I was super excited to read this because I loved How to Walk Away.
Its your usual rom-com type story that touches a bit on some deeper topics. My heart was warmed and I am so happy for Cassie.

Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "Things You Save in a Fire" by Katherine Center. St. Martin's Press, August 2019

Katherine Center, AUthor of "Things You Save in a Fire", has written a captivating, witty, emotional, thought-provoking and entertaining novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Women's Fiction, Contemporary and Romantic novel with some Humor. The timeline for the story is in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. The author describes her colorful and dramatic cast of characters as quirky, complex, complicated, and flawed.

Cassie Hanwell has always enjoyed helping people and especially likes using her skills as a medic in the fire department to care for people. Cassie is determined, courageous, brave, tough, yet broken on the inside. Cassie herself has had traumatic things happen to her.

Cassie's estranged mother calls her to come home for a year to help her. Circumstances occur where Cassie will now be working with a different firefighter unit near where her mother lives. The Captain of the original unit gives Cassie a whole list of "survival rules" for her new placement. The men on the new unit, and especially the new Captain are less than thrilled that Cassie is not a man. How is Cassie going to survive these new changes?

This is a wonderful book about forgiveness, second chances,self-growth, family, love, and hope. I would highly recommend this emotional and thought-provoking novel.

This book is amazing and I loved it! Cassie is such an interesting character. She's a firefighter and what happens at an event honoring her for her heroics on the job, sets the changes for her life in motion. How she reconnects with her mother, takes on a new job, meets the rookie. All of it is so good. The epilogue is great, too!

This was my first read by Katherine Center and I look forward to the next! The story focuses on Cassie a Texas firefighter who, in her mid-twenties, continues to struggle with life-changing events from 10 years ago. The story describes the camaraderie of her fellow firefighters, in Texas and later in Massachusetts. It was interesting to consider the impact of a female in a mostly male firehouse. As Cassie works to resolve unfinished conflicts from her past, she begins to gain strength and confidence in her present day relationships. A well-written novel about loving, loss, lies, and forgiveness. Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I introduced myself to Katherine Center last year with How to Walk Away (HTWA) (my review is here) and loved it , so I eagerly anticipated her next novel which was Things You Save in a Fire (to be called Things for the rest of this review) and was not disappointed in the least. And Things is about a female firefighter: Go girl empowerment!

Center wrote the novel through examples of real life situations her volunteer fire fighter husband told her about the job and living in the fire house. I’ve spent a little time in firehouses and even put the turnout gear on and based on what I experienced, the novel is spot on!

Our protagonist Cassie made a brief appearance in HTWA which was referenced in Things. You won’t miss anything if you have not read HTWA, but it adds to Cassie’s story if you have already read it. I personally loved how the books were connected. I really liked Cassie and identified with her in several ways. Firefighting really is a ‘boys club’ and Cassie totally kicks male butt! You can’t help but cheer for her. She is also a conflicted character and feels like a real person. Center does a great job capturing real life struggles and putting them on the page. There are moments that will have you laughing and then moments that touch you in a personal way.

This novel has a bit of everything: romance, mystery, action, and yes, we do get a fire! With the fire situation the reader gets the experience of working that fire and going inside with the fire fighters.

I alluded to it earlier, and want to talk about my experience in a fire house: Back in 2004 I took part in a Citizen’s Fire Academy where I learned about my local fire department, did some training, and spent time at two fire stations with the men on shift. I got to go on the calls they received, and yes, one was a fire call! It ended up being a kitchen fire that was out by the time we arrived on the scene. It was a great experience and if the opportunity arises, everyone should do this! You really get a new appreciation and respect for what they do.
Bravo Katherine Center for an enjoyable novel that accurately portrays life in a fire house base on what I experienced myself. When you read this novel, you will get to see what life as a fire fighter is like in a 24 hour shift: from the silliness to seriousness.

Things You Save in a Fire is very highly recommended. Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press for granting me an e-arc that I received via NetGalley.

Cassie is one of the rising firefighters in her department in Texas, and one of the only females, too. But when her estranged mother calls asking her for help while she recovers from a surgery, Cassie uproots her life to move to Boston. At her new firehouse she's met a crew that is less than kind about having a woman join the team and a facility that is severely underfunded. The only person that seems to believe she's capable is the rookie; the one that Cassie can't seem to stop thinking about despite her former chief's one piece of advice: "don't date firefighters". Despite finally wanting to give in to her feelings, Cassie isn't sure she's ready to jeopardize everything she's worked so hard for in her career.

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center was just the book I wanted (and needed) to read right now. I absolutely loved Cassie's character and how she was such a badass at her job in a male-dominated field. There were so many things explored in this book: family dynamics, sexism, past trauma, and forgiveness. So many times during this book I felt myself just nodding my head and feeling like the words were speaking directly to me, and really, what more can you ask for in a book?

I adored Cassie's relationship with the Rookie (although I wish we'd been able to see a bit more of it and not have it develop quite so quickly). This book had a little bit of everything - it was lighthearted, emotional and suspenseful and overall just an absolutely wonderful book that I know will stay with me for a long time.

5/5 stars