Delightful read, reminiscent of Center’s previous book “How to Walk Away.” Loved the main characters and was cheering for their romance for the entire book. Center’s careful research around fire station work dynamics and the training firefighters endure is evident. The dialogue was a little syrupy sweet at times, but otherwise the book was very well done. Perfect beach read!

This is definitely going to be one of my favorite books of the year! I can't stop thinking about this book, and the characters, and the lovely and deep feelings I was left with. I didn't want this story to end, and not because it wasn't fulfilling and complete, but because I loved the characters so much and wanted to spend more time with them.

The first person narrative perfectly conveyed Cassie's character. I loved how bits of her past were slowly revealed and how she became more and more self-aware throughout the book. I also loved the fact that she was a trained paramedic and firefighter, and how fascinating I found her work life. I give the author credit for immersing me in an unfamiliar setting and making it feel both authentic and comfortable. I believe it was Cassie's narration that kept technical details from being overwhelming. This story flowed so well!

There is no way that the book description could have prepared me for how charming and how deeply layered and wonderful this book would be. There were some important topics and emotional storylines, with an overall theme of hope and love. There was, of course, a strong romance element that made this book so great. The book's title could not be more perfect.

I loved the fact that the main character is a female firefighter. While this is a romance, there's a bit more depth to it than in some romance novels I've read in the past. Emotional scenes will have the reader laughing and crying at this heartwarming read. Forgiveness, self-acceptance, healing, and love are key themes, and the determined characters make them easy to root for. It's interesting to see how Cassie handles her career in a male-dominated world (firefighting). One of my best friends is a female firefighter, and that's what piqued my interest in this story. The book may make the reader ponder what they would save in a fire ... perhaps this book :)

This book was nothing like what I expected. I thought it would be, literally, about the things you save in a fire. Because I went through the trauma of losing everything, except my 3 children and my dog, in a house fire 18 years ago, I was intrigued by this book/. I put off reading it because I wasn’t positive I could handle it.

It turns out it was much better than I thought. It is both a. Love story and a story about a woman who has to prove herself. She has to prove herself not only to the men in the fire station the she moves to, but she has to prove herself to herself. Sometimes that it the hardest thing Of all. She also has to learn how to forgive - which is another indomitable task. This book has so many hidden and below the surface meanings that I know I will read it again and again. There are layers in this book that I never expected.

It’s a good, quick read. You can do a surface read, and just read the story and take it as it is. Or you can rad between and below the. Lines and get a much deeper message. Your choice. Either way, it’s a very well-written, beautiful book that. You’ll enjoy.

I loved this! Great story of overcoming your past and embracing the future. Quick read, not too much depth into the past. Would definitely recommend.

I've been trying to get down
To the heart of the matter
But everything changes
And my friends seem to scatter
But I think it's about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you don't love me anymore
--The Heart of the Matter, Don Henley, Songwriters: Mike Campbell / Don Henley / John David Souther

Cassie Hanwell is a firefighter for the city of Austin as this story begins. She lives, breathes, imbibes the gospel of firefighting, and all that goes with the territory. She sees herself as strong, independent and accepted by this crew of men and women firefighters. It’s taken her ten years to get to this place, emotionally and physically. She’s nervously anticipating the service award which the mayor is going to present to her, when a last minute change in plans disrupts the event. And her life, as well.

At the point in her life where most girls are on the verge of womanhood, their bodies developed or soon to be so, physical and emotional changes disrupting their social, emotional, familial lives, sixteen is a pivotal year. And on that day, her sixteenth birthday, Cassie’s mother leaves her husband and her daughter Cassie and moves away with another man. Angry and hurt, what she chooses to do that night ends up hurting her even more in the long run. She shuts her mother out of her life, as much as possible.

When her mother calls her soon after the award event, telling her she wants, needs her to come to her home in Massachusetts, she is losing - has lost - sight in one eye, and needs her assistance, Cassie can’t believe she’s even asking. After numerous refusals to even think about it, Cassie acquiesces, and finds herself working for the Lillian Fire Department, a small town near Boston, and near her mother’s home. A fire department that has always been run by men, and only men, and would have remained that way if they hadn’t been desperately looking for two new recruits.

There are many themes in this story, misogyny is unflinchingly front and center, but there are several themes that weave their way through this story, including love. But quietly ever-present in the background is the theme of forgiveness, the power of actually hearing others stories, and the peace that is attained by forgiving others, as well as ourselves.



Pub Date: 13 Aug 2019


Many thanks for the ARC provided by St. Martin’s Press

An Unputdownable, Funny, Fabulous and Sweet novel, that will end up on my Best of List for 2018!
How do I love Thee? Let me tell you the ways! “Things You Save in a Fire” turned me into a complete mush. Yes, it’s true and I admit it. I know, I know, it’s unbelievable right? Roll your eyes at me, go ahead - it seems utterly preposterous given what you all know of me, but it happened. I’ve been transformed into a schmoopy girl for real. And you have Katherine Center to thank.

After How To Walk Away there was zero chance I wasn’t going to do whatever was necessary in order to get my hands on Katherine Center’s next release. Lucky for me the powers that be at St. Martins haven’t figured out I’m awful yet and gave me an early copy.

The story here is of Cassie. Her momma walked out on the family when she was just a kid, but she coped by never letting anyone get too close and becoming a real up-and-comer in the fire department of a town known for keeping it weird. No, the other one. Austin. While receiving an award for being such a kickass kind of gal, an . . . . unfortunate incident occurs leaving Cassie the options of (1) publicly apologize for her behavior or (2) risk termination. Due to reasons (no spoilsies, but the book explains things and you’ll instantly know what’s up even without being told) she chooses the latter. A coinky-dink of long-gone momma coming back into Cassie’s life asking for some temporary help and an available job opportunity in the same neck of the woods has Cassie relocating to Boston to an old-school firehouse with both antiquated equipment as well as mindset. Can Cassie’s ability and work ethic turn things around? Maybe . . . . iffffffffffff she can avoid “the Rookie” . . . .

Okay, so here’s a disclaimer I feel I need to make. I totally gave a book 1 Star like a week ago for having this same subplot and I’m 4 Starring this one. What can I say? I do what I do. I think these quotes in the author’s little bio blurb say it best. Katherine Center writes “bittersweet comic novels” that are “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” She also does good cover with similar art work and bright colors that even my Old Lady Brain can’t help but say: “hey, I know this lady – you like her stuff.” It’s safe to say she’s officially a must read writer for me.

ARC provided by St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks netgally.com for giving me the opportunity to read this arc. Anyways, I’ve read Katherine Last book and I fell in love with her writing. I saw this book here And I decided that it would be amazing to read this book. The plot is very good and I love the character specially the heroine, she was strong and that’s what we as woman want to read nowadays. You should read it for sure!

I can’t tell you how many times I had a lump in my throat, tears in my eyes (joyful and sad), a grin on my face. I was swept away by a tidal wave of emotions reading this beautiful book. So many times I cried and laughed—often on the same page. Cassie Hanwell is truly one of the most complete characters I’ve ever met in a book. Her journey was one of courage, pain, forgiveness, and love; a tough outer shell protecting her from the past, waiting for her heart to break through that barrier. Owen was the perfect foil to Cassie’s resistance; her mother, so persistent and wise; the guys in her firefighting crew were as loyal as they were obnoxious. This book is a tribute to firefighters everywhere, brave men and women who put their lives on the line everyday. Katherine Pannill Center has this wonderful ability to keep readers engaged from beginning to end, filling the pages with heart and humor, connecting readers to her characters and their stories so that we truly feel their pain and celebrate their joys. “Yes the world is full of unspeakable cruelty. But the answer wasn’t to never feel hope, or bliss, or love—but to savor every fleeting, precious second of those feelings when they come. The answer wasn’t to never love anyone. It was to love like crazy whenever you could.”

Not my first Katherine Center read, and certainly not my last. Fast-paced, funny, tender, traumatic...with great, relatable characters. Kept me reading late into the night. Surprising insight into firehouse dynamics - it's always a pleasure to learn something significant in an entertaining read. Four-and-a-half stars.

If you like romance, interpersonal drama, and women running the show in a male dominated field then pick this book up on August 13th!

This story focuses on Cassie, a female firefighter, who moves across the country to take of her estranged mother that is going blind and needs her help. She struggles along the way with work drama, family drama and personal life drama that it definitely kept me engaged. This book focuses on forgiveness and that was definitely a highlight for me! With that said, I did find a lot of it predictable and had a really hard time connecting with the characters. The ending also felt very rushed to me. 3.5 stars but rounded to 4.

I read How To Walk Away last summer and I was really looking forward to reading and reviewing this book. I'm so glad that I was able to have the opportunity to read this book early in order to help promote it! I have to say that this story was even better than How To Walk Away. There was a little tie to How To Walk Away and that was cute to see. The writing style makes it very easy to read even when it gets to tough topics. The ending was very gripping. I did not want to put it down. It was very intense and I just had to find out how it ended. The character development was nice to see. The main character didn't always come across as likable, but by the end I really liked her. The romance was very cute and was done in a careful way that it didn't overtake the whole message of the story. I loved seeing the relationship between the main character and her mother grew through the story. It was done in a very believable way. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to more books that this author publishes in the future. Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book!
I have been super excited about this book and was even more pumped when I received an advance copy. I absolutely loved her book “How to Walk Away” and was a little nervous this book would not have the same standard. No need to be nervous in fact this book was even better, which I would have never thought possible!
I loved the main character and her story of being a female fire fighter in a male dominant field. She had the “super hero woman” personality that I adored but was still relatable. I cried, laughed, and just lived through this characters story!
I highly recommend this book and it will be the book the Summer!

“The night I became the youngest person—and the only female ever—to win the Austin Fire Department’s Valor Award, I got propositioned by my partner.”

I mean... that opening!!!!! This was super easy to read feel good book about a really badass female firefighter and lovable characters. I loved the little Easter egg she threw in from “how to walk away”
The ending was slightly too storybook-romance tied with a beat bow on top but I’m not sure if I would’ve wanted it to end any other way.

I have been in a reading slump for a while and decided to pick this up due to the cover. Great choice as I finished it in one sitting!! I have read several by Katherine Center and have never been disappointed, but I think this is my favorite so far! I loved all of the characters (even the not so nice ones) and enjoyed the quick pace. It was emotional, humorous, uplifting and featured a great female firefighter main character.

I received an ARC through NetGalley and I'm SO grateful I did! This novel is INCREDIBLE. Cassie is such a likeable character -- she's strong, brave, and still learning. I was rooting for her the entire way. There are numerous relationships (familial, romantic, and platonic alike!) and they are all true-to-life. I didn't want this book to end.

As soon as it hits shelves, grab a copy! I'm predicting it will definitely be a contender for book of the summer.

First, thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-galley of this book.

Cassie has a cool head, and she's a firefighter. She's a really good one too.

When her estranged mom asks her to uproot her life and move to Boston to help her, Cassie goes, but isn't ready for what comes her way. There is hazing at the Boston firehouse, the facilities are in poor shape, and the firemen are not happy to have a lady join them on the job.....except one who doesn't seem to mind so much..

Cassie doesn't fall in love, and she especially doesn't date firemen.......but this one is starting to get to her!

#NetGalley #ThingsYouSaveinaFire

It's been days since I finished this read, and I still can't get it off my mind. If that's not the mark of a 5-star read, I don't know what is. This heartfelt novel has definitely made it onto my "favorites of 2019" list. You will <i>not </i>want to miss this one when it releases on August 13th!

I love women's fiction &amp; I read it for a number of reasons. Sometimes, I'm looking for something on the "fluffy" side, and sometimes, I'm just in the mood for a "feel-good" story. But I know I've found a favorite when I have a book that's easy to sink into and hard to put down, and not only that, but one that makes me <i>feel</i> a whole range of emotions. And that's precisely what I found with <i>Things You Save in a Fire</i>.

My heart alternately ached and soared for Cassie. I know it sounds cliche, but by story's end, she truly felt like a friend. Center's writing of her character (and just in general) blew me away. If you are a fan of Emily Giffin's novels, I'd highly recommend this book. This wasn't just a fluffy story (not that there's anything wrong with them!)--there's heartbreak, anger, fear, guilt, resentment...basically, <i>depth</i> to the story.

And back to Cassie--what a heroine! It was a joy to read along her journey and watch her grow. I won't delve too much into that--just trust me, you'll love her. And the rookie? You won't be able to help being won over by him, too. The rest of the characters are wonderful, too--vivid and fleshed out. I honestly can't get over how "real" this story felt to me, and maybe that's part of why I can't stop thinking about it.

I could gush about this book all day, but since I can't force a copy into your hands, I will just highly recommend that you find a copy for yourself when this hits shelves in August!

This was another top-notch read from Katherine Center. I find myself still thinking of the characters months after finishing.