The perfect summer read! Sweet but not too saccharine, funny, and with depth. I thought she captured the first responder experience really well and I loved the badass protagonist. Recommend!

Things You Save in a Fire:

Enjoyable read with a strong, female lead that was flawed but understandably so. I liked Cassie a lot and I admired how she both knew herself well but also didn’t at time. She was relatable in the way that we all know our strengths, but sometimes not our weaknesses.

Cynical me says that there were times that this story was predictable (even when it was still enjoyable) and that some story lines were glossed over, and others were overdone. It was also a bit rushed at the end.

This is a good summer read that deals with tough issues but not in a heavy way and it wraps up nicely in the end.

Mix one part family drama, one part culture of the fire station, one part romance, and one part the challenges of forgiveness and you'll have an enjoyable summer read by Katherine Center. I really enjoy how this author writes as the story flows along with characters who are not all good or all bad and the author connects you to the humanity of the main characters. The epilogue brought a tear to my eye which means the author did her job getting me to care about the characters. 4.5 stars for me.
My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Having recently finished “Things You Save in a Fire” by Katherine Center, I am happy to have had the chance for the preview; thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press!

What a great story about learning to forgive after years (ten) of not wanting to forgive, or forget. Although there was serious drama and predictable outcomes in this storyline, I think what I most enjoyed about this story were the moments of humor that came through in Cassie’s personality, and the day to day depictions in the life of a “lady” firefighter. It was so nice to laugh (out loud) during this story.

Things You Save In A Fire by Katherine Center is a fast moving, well written story about betrayal, loss, love and forgiveness. Cassie Hanwell is a paramedic in Austin Texas whose life and emotional stability was shattered on her sixteenth birthday. Her mother, Diana, chose that day to leave Cassie and her father. The boy that she had admired from afar finally noticed her. But their first “date” on Cassie’s birthday ends so badly that Cassie refuses to acknowledge or discuss what happened. Because of these two incidents, Cassie has built a wall around her emotions. Cassie spends her life building her career in the Fire Department. She is to receive an award for rescuing children from a school bus that has slipped off the road into a ditch. At the award ceremony, Cassie has an unfortunate meeting with the boy – now man – from her sixteenth birthday which derails her career in Austin. At the same time, her mother has called, begging Cassie to move to Massachusetts for a year to help her through a health crisis. Cassie finds a job in a Fire Department near her mother’s home. This new department is old school, good old boy. Cassie has to find her place as the one and only female fire fighter. Along the way, Cassie finds forgiveness with her mother. She also finds someone that can unlock her emotions. This book hooked me from the first chapter. I stayed up late to finish reading. It flows well and is easy to follow. To me this is a five star book.

I just realized that in addition to reading Things You Save in a Fire and How to Walk Away by Katherine Center, I also read another of her novels way back in 2013 - The Lost Husband - and rated it with 4 stars as well! Obviously, Center has long been someone whose writing style works for me - and it's true that finding a book that's "easy" to read yet still has substance and meaning can be difficult, but somehow Center does it for me every time. Just like in How to Walk Away, Center took me in an entirely different direction than I'd expected with this book. I'd expected a gritty story about firefighters and gender discrimination - instead, this was such a sweet love story, in so many ways: of a mother and daughter, of a couple, and of a group of firefighters coming together as a team. Head to the store/web now - I promise you'll want to add this one to your Summer #booklist!!

Much thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an advanced copy for review.

Katherine Center writes stories that are full-person immersion: heart, brain, body and soul are totally involved in a satisfying, inspiring way -- and her latest novel THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE fulfills that promise in profound and emphatic mastery. In short, blunt summary: when a firefighter reluctantly moves to Massachusetts jolted by twin prods of escaping her personal work crisis in Austin and assisting her ailing estranged mother, she discovers possibilities that she never imagined possible for herself. Read this book. I emerged feeling sated by a marvelous story and appreciation for fire fighters and community connection, for reconnecting long-broken relationships, and for finding a new way to succeed in the world.

Katherine Center delivers another well written novel. I read How to Walk Away last December and I loved it so much I knew I had to read this one. Things You Save in a Fire did not disappoint at all! I Loved the storyline about firefighters. A big Yay for a strong female protagonist! I thought the characters were well liked and the storyline has enough of a thrill to keep you turning the pages. In fact, I was so into the book that I missed my stop on the train!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Things You Save in a Fire was a fantastic book! It tells the story of a female firefighter adjusting to life in a new station after she moves to help her mother. At the beginning of the book Cassie has many walls built up, but as the book progresses she begins to break them down, learning about love and forgiveness. This book is beautifully written with well developed characters. I honestly can’t imagine anyone not enjoying this book

This story is phenomenal. I read it in one day unable to tear myself away from the reckoning of one woman's life. Katherine Center opens her brilliantly told novel of courage, strength, and vulnerability by up-ending the life and career of her protagonist, Cassie Hanwell, firefighter extraordinaire who's heart has been shattered by one night in her youth.

From there Center takes readers on a hard fought journey of discovery through Cassie's evolving world view. The themes of feminism, sexism, strength, power, vulnerability, and the many shapes of love this author weaves through her story make it especially enthralling. The story uses tropes within the romance genre in a completely unique and refreshing way to give us a tale of hope but more to give us a piece of women's fiction that women can be especially proud of and admire. The colorful cast of secondary characters break down well established barriers and continually circles around a primary theme of forgiveness and the power it has to reinvent your thoughts, your life, but most importantly your heart.

I find it of the utmost importance to really convey how important this heroine is in women's fiction as she's a guiding light on how you can be broken down and resurrected if you open yourself up to the possibility. Cassie Hanwell is inspirational through her entire journey. She makes you feel so deeply to really think about everything that is not only happening in her life but in yours as well and become resolute in her bravery. That theme of forgiveness shines through many characters int the story but it's never so bright as it is with Cassie. The power of that complex act stands out the most and creates a brilliant focus for readers.

This book isn't just about romance. It's about women. It's a tribute to courage and the strength of vulnerability. And the power of forgiveness and the many different forms of courage. It's about the choices we make out of the love and how we rebound in the aftermath of those choices, no matter how long it might take.

Katherine Center moved me with her evocative novel. I'm excited about it, so grateful to have to read this story and met this character. I can't wait to dive into more of her work.

Cassie is one of the best firefighters in her firehouse in Texas and she loves her job. But one day her estranged mother calls her and asks her to leave her blossoming career behind to come care for her in Boston. It takes everything in her but she makes the move and starts all over at a new firehouse. And things are nowhere near as good as she had it in Texas. Except for the handsome rookie. But that could get very complicated and her life is already pretty complicated.
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My goodness, this story is just the sweetest. I just loved it. So much that I finished it in a little over 24 hours.
Cassie is a relatable character who struggles with the hard things we all do at some point in life. She’s also an overcomer and that made this such an inspiring read. Forgiveness is the theme of this book. What it really looks like, what it does for the forgiver and the forgiven, and why we should forgive. There’s so much I could say on just that part of the book alone.
There’s a reason you’re hearing so much about this book. It’s a beautiful, thought-provoking story and you won’t want to put it down.

Another wonderful read from Katherine Center. A strong protagonist with just enough vulnerability to be likable, a mother trying to make amends, a long-buried secret that comes to light and a firehouse romance that will warm your heart. Definitely a five-star read for me.

I found it very hard to like or connect with main character and professional firefighting protagonist Cassie Hanwell in this book; she internalizes all of her emotions, especially her anger, and that leads to her making horrible decisions that affect her career and personal life in a desultory way.
Cassie has issues with men touching her, clearly from a past trauma that affected her in her formative years, mommy issues stemming from her mother ‘abandoning’ her when she was a hormonal teenager for another man, daddy issues caused by a mute father who fed her more mommy issues by bashing all of womankind, and a huge passive-aggressive complex which she uses in every aspect in her life.
Cassie does not talk out her issues with anyone! Her whole life is dictated by her inability to let go of her anger and we as the readers suffer for it alongside her.
I did not like this book. There was not enough dialogue between the characters, especially the supposed love interest, also known as The Rookie. Because of this lack of dialogue, we spend an inordinate amount of time in Cassie’s head, and her thought process is not a fun time had by all. Most of her solutions to get along with all of her new male firefighting colleagues is to challenge them to feats of a physical nature and best them into stunned silences. After this happens more than once, I was cringe-rolling-my-eyes in disturbed disbelief. It felt incredibly middle schoolish and over-the-top, and only added to everything I did not like about Cassie Hanwell.
I’m disappointed, because I’m always looking for a kickass female protagonist to stand behind and read about, especially since I read the synopsis of Things You Save in a Fire being about a female firefighter in a career almost 95% overtaken by males. I was so ready to rally behind a minority character saving the day with gusto and passion! Unfortunately, in this tale of forgiveness, I don’t know if I can forgive the selfish, whiny overtones that pervaded the pages.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I loved How to Walk Away, so when this book became available I was ecstatic. Katherine Center does a great job of folding in multiple characters and storylines. This wasn’t just a romance; it was also about forgiveness - of yourself, your coworkers, your friends and your family. We all need a little more of that in life.

Cassie Hanwell loves being a firefighter and she’s great at it. When she’s forced out of her fire station in Austin because of a confrontation with a councilman, she moves to Massachusetts to help her mom, who is having vision problems. While there, she faces a hostile work environment and a rocky relationship with her mother. Cassie has a lot to learn about forgiveness...and learning to love.

I loved this book. I think the main character had good depth to her. She wasn’t stereotypical in any way. She is admirable but flawed. The men in her firehouse came off pretty realistically as well.

The plot had some good, though a little predictable, complications. The ending was satisfying, if a little beat. The characters kept you engrossed and the plot was always interesting. I rarely reread, but I would reread this.

If you liked this book, and haven’t already read it, try How to Walk Away by the same author.

Thanks to Macmillan Publishing and netgally for each gifting me with a copy for review.

4.5 stars! Things You Save in a Fire is a terrific summer read that combines serious issues with a fun romance. Cassie is an all star firefighter in Texas who gets an unexpected request from her estranged mother. Her mother, who left the family on Cassie's 16th birthday, is now asking her to live with her in the Northeast for a year. Cassie agrees, but now has to deal with avoiding her mother's attempts at reconciliation, overcoming the boys club in the firehouse, and trying not to fall for the rookie.

I gobbled up this story in just a few days!! It hooked me right from the beginning and kept me enthralled the entire time as I got to know Cassie and the inner workings of a firehouse. The last third of the story was so intense I stayed up reading in the middle of the night to find out what happened.

Cassie is a flawed and relatable character who struggles to deal with her family and her past. I could easily see how she became the woman she is and the choices she makes. The rookie is a somewhat unbelievably perfect man, but who doesn't mind reading that :)

The descriptions of the firehouse routine are vivid and fascinating. I saw that Center's husband, who is a volunteer firefighter, helped with this part, so it's no surprise that everything feels very genuine.

A wonderful summer read with plenty of depth. This is a great book for anyone interested in women's fiction, chick lit, or simply a great story.

I enjoyed this fun read by Katherine Center about a firefighter that moves to a new town to help her estranged mother after an incident at her home fire station. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read it early in return for my honest review!

I am an absolute SUCKER for a good romance novel. @nicholassparks Sparks has always been my go to for this fix, however as of lately Katherine Center has quickly taken the lead and given me just what I need!! Things you Save in A Fire is undoubtedly a beautiful story about a female firefighter, who must not only face much adversity, but she also must learn forgiveness in more areas of life than just one. This masterfully written novel gives the reader all the feels as you are side by side with Cassie, the main character as she endures hilariously awkward situations, tough conversations, firsts, lasts, and self realization. This story also spoke to me because it has an undertone of equality and women’s rights. It is a progressive storyline that incorporates strong, multicultural, women in positions of power. Bravo to @katherinecenter for gifting us another masterpiece!
Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for my #ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very good read. Cassie is a firefighter and excels at her vocation. She has walled off her emotions, but is a comrade with all of her squad. Until a phone call and her past comes calling. She moves to New England to care for her estranged ailing mother and take a new position at a smaller firehouse. She has to prove herself, which she does, but someone doesn't want her on the team. After one fire her whole changes. The ending was good and the story development was great.

Forgiveness is the theme of this novel. Cassie Hanwell was abandoned by her mother and brutally assaulted on her 16th birthday. Channeling her grief and anger, she becomes a firefighter and proves her worth to herself and co-workers. Forced to relocate to Massachusetts, she has to begin again in a firehouse where she is hazed daily alongside a rookie. Her acceptance is an uphill battle. Cassie learns, despite her reluctance and resistance, how to forgive and what this entails, Katherine Center has given readers a love story in a unique setting.