I love everything by Katherine Center. This book was surprising and thoughtful. I loved the aspect of finding forgiveness, especially for a mother who doesn’t necessarily deserve it. The romance was sweet and I loved the characters.

This was a quick read with a really strong message of family and forgiveness. It also has some underlying messages of the lengths we go to for self-preservation. I liked that the Cassie was a firefighter - don't know that I have read a book with a female firefighter, so that was a nice change. I tend to like programs like Station 19 and 9-1-1 which both have female firefighters.

I would have like to have learned more about the mother/daughter relationship here - as that is where it seemed to be headed, but then it veered off into a romantic relationship. Despite that, I still enjoyed it - it was a good first "summer" read.

Talk about strong female characters that make the most out of the life they where dealt. As soon as this book starts I had a lot of admiration for Cassie. She’s a female firefighter who’s worked hard to get the recognition in a field that is male dominated and women get very little respect. But we quickly learn something that makes it obvious she’s developed that hard exterior for a reason and it just made me want to peel back the layers even more. When she gets a call from her estranged mother who needs her help for a period of time because of some health concerns, Cassie has no choice but to leave her life in Texas behind and move in with her mom. That also means taking a position at a new firehouse and having to earn the respect of a new group of firefighters that are predisposed to thinking less of women in the force. Working twice as hard to prove she deserves a spot and that she’s one of the best at what she does.

I found Katherine Center last year when I read HOW TO WALK AWAY and our heroine here Cassie was the one that rescued the heroine of that book from the plane crash. That’s where the connection ends. But the message of a strong woman having to rebuild her life and learn many things about herself and how she relates to others around her was just as powerful in this book. I may even go as far as to say I enjoyed this one a bit more than that one. There was something special about all the facets of this story. Cassie’s relationship with her mother, with her past, with her co-workers, with her inner self. And then there’s the romance. Because I will say that this author is a great women’s fiction author for romance readers. Relationships and forgiveness. That’s the biggest takeaways from this story. And Ms. Center did them so well!

Quickly on the romance, while it’s not the biggest part of this book by any means, it is an integral part of what makes Cassie work through her own issues. This healing process was emotional and heartbreaking, even when it didn’t come as a surprise for me at all. THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE is a story that will get you right in the heart. I can’t wait for what she will write next.

After reading How to Walk Away, I knew that Katherine Center was going to be a new fav! I am blown away by her story telling talent. Cassie is such a fierce character. She has a strong and determined personality and she knows exactly what she wants but sometimes unpredictable life events present new challenges and throw us for a loop! I enjoyed this story because Cassie's resolve was tested during her move and she worked hard to prove herself. She didn't give up through it all!

I loved Katherine Center's book How to Walk Away so I was very excited to read this one. It did not disappoint. Center does a great job of making her characters lovable and relatable. Highly recommend!

Katherine Center is a gem in the literary world. "Things You Save in a Fire" brings more of her insightful examination of emotion and relationships and her trademark joy.

This book gave me all the watery eyes and emotion. I'm behind on reviews but even almost 2 years later this book has haunted me.

Synopsis: Cassie is a fire fighter in Texas and loves her job and her co-workers so when her estranged mother requests that she move home to Boston for a year to help her with a medical issue, Cassie really doesn’t want to. However, when Cassie refuses to apologize for assaulting a representative from the mayor’s office she finds she doesn’t have much of a choice because it’s either take a new position at a Boston firehouse or be unemployed. She soon finds out that she is not welcome at her new firehouse because she is a woman and has to work three times as hard in order to prove herself. The only person in the firehouse that seems to like her is the new rookie and although she feels the sparks between them, she doesn’t want to jeopardize her career.

My thoughts: This book was a lot of fun and I just enjoyed losing myself in the story. The only parts that I didn’t like were the episodes of misogyny but as aggravating as it was, it tied the storyline together. If you are looking for a fast, fun read I would recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know why I waited so long to read this book! I got sucked in to the story immediately. I felt myself cheering for the characters and getting sick to my stomach when they found themselves in a predicament

I liked How To Walk Away, but this one felt like it had too much romance for my liking. The writing was good though.

Katherine Center never disappoints. The heroine is full of heart brave and inspiring. There are humorous parts and her characters are realistic and likeable.

I enjoyed the detail in this story! The author really built a lot of detail and showed character growth. The storyline was interesting and engaging. The only issue here, for me, was that I felt like the story could have moved a bit faster. However, I enjoyed the storyline.

A favorite trope, interesting characters and a fresh voice - this story was great! Cassie and "the Rookie" had great chemistry and were fun to read. Carrie's mom played an interesting background character as well.

I loved this book. It has a bit of everything; love story, family issues, problems at work. Great read.

I really enjoy Center's novels, and this one was no different. I always like that she has a twist that comes through with about a quarter left in the story, and that the main romantic couple always have real obstacles in their relationships that they are able to overcome in a realistic way.

I absolutely love Katherine Center and this book. After moving to a small town to care for her sick mom, Cassie is the new female firefighter in town and has to prove herself to the guys, including the hot rookie Owen. I couldn’t get enough. Great story telling and relatable characters. Highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read What You Wish For earlier this year and really liked it, but the entire time I was reading this I kept thinking that I liked this so much more. I know I shouldn't compare, but I guess I didn't expect to like this as much as I did? I think it was just what I needed to read at the right time. There was a little bit of everything- romance, family drama-- the firefighting element was interesting and I enjoyed the Northeastern setting, and her dialogue is just so, so good.

I went into this book blind-I had been hearing so many great things I didn’t really read the description I just dove right in! I continued to be surprised as the book progressed. It was an emotional, thought provoking read with beautiful descriptions of the setting and excellent character development. My first 5-star this year since Where the Crawdads Sing. I could not put this book down! Thanks NetGalley!
#thingsyousaveinafire #netgalley

I love Katherine Center's writing and this book is no different. She builds the characters so well, and makes you really feel like you are there in the book with them. Cassie is a firefighter and deals well in an emergency situation, but when her mother tells her she is terminal and needs her to move back home she doesn't know what to do or how to handle it. She has to adapt to working in a new fire station with men that don't look kindly on women firefighters, except for a special rookie that she just can't have feelings for. With several different conflicts and complications, Katherine Center's writing stands out. I will definitely recommend this one!

I liked this, but didn't love it. I wish the main character had made at least one female friend by the end of the book. The "I don't need no man" schtick got old after a while. I enjoyed most of the book but wish the main character had more growth.