My first read from this author. I found the characters and storyline unique. I look forward to reading some of her other works.

A sweet romance, but also so much more than that. A female firefighter, Cassie, transfers to a station across the country at the request of her mom, who is having health issues. Cassie has had quite the past, and this novel focuses on her struggles with forgiveness and love. One unique aspect the book explored was gender roles. Being a female firefighter has its challenges and pushbacks, and I enjoyed the storyline working through those issues. A quick, easy, and enjoyable read.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Things You Save in a Fire was everything I hoped it would be and more. Catherine Center's How to Walk Away was one of my top five books of 2018, and her next novel does not disappoint.

One of the only females on the Austin Fire Department, Cassie, thinks that she has her life figured out. As a hot-shot on track to become lieutenant, she's compartmentalized her entire life and her emotions. She's a guy's girl amongst the mostly male fire department, she doesn't date, and harbors some resentment toward her mother after she left their family.

When her estranged mother reaches out to her to ask her to stay with her for a year in a coastal Massachusetts town, Cassie’s first instinct is to turn her down. When her job opportunities in Austin begin to look bleak, it seems like she has no other choice. When she arrives in Massachusetts, the old school department is the opposite of welcoming.

Despite her best efforts, she can't help noticing the cute rookie fire fighter who started on the same day as her. This story could not be any cuter!

Texas firefighter Cassie Hanwell is a pro at staying cool in an emergency, being one of the only females in her line of work, and going at life solo. But when her estranged mother asks her to move across the country to a Boston suburb to help her as she is starting to lose her vision, it all changes: the men of this old-school firehouse are very skeptical of having a "lady" in their crew for the first time, making her transition quite difficult; she has to re-evaluate her long-held grudge against her mother for leaving during her teenage years; and biggest of all, she might actually be falling in love. Only problem is that it violates the biggest rule of trying to make it as a woman in this male-dominated field: never date another firefighter. Suddenly, her life is a lot more open to forgiveness and love than it had been before, but it might mean risking the career she loves so much and has worked so hard for... If you like books like Taylor Jenkins Reid's One True Loves or Christina Lauren's Love and Other Words with great characters, easy (but not fluffy) reading, and a swoony love story, you'll probably enjoy Katherine Center, so definitely add this one to your to-read list

I loved this book. Not just liked, but really loved this book! It was an absolutely wonderful fun read. It was a great reading experience for the main character to be a strong, smart take no prisoners woman who has faced great adversity and a lot of hurt in her short life and didn't act like a miserable heinous the world has done me wrong so I will do the same to others person. Nice to read about a woman who doesn't personify stereotypes. Cassie Hanwell has chosen a field to work in that is historically male dominated. She is a both a paramedic and fire fighter. In her world in Austin Texas she is revered, respected and honored. In a moment life changes when her mostly estranged mother calls in desperate need of her help. She wants her to give up her home, job, friends and all she knows and move across the country to help her. Unbeknownst to Cassie what she really wants is to make amends for abandoning her daughter on her 16th birthday and barely looking back before it is too late. When things take a sort of dramatic change at her beloved job she packs it all in and heads east. The fire fighter community is portrayed honestly. They do not want women in their world and think that the world will end if they integrate them in even if they pass all of the requirements and prove themselves not only to be equal, but better. The harassment, hostility, lies, and violence towards them is real and quite scary. A little bit of harmless pranking is one thing, but what happened to her both in Austin and in Mass is not only wrong, but illegal, immoral and that she doesn’t file criminal charges is both realistic and sad. She is definitely the bigger and better person. I do wish that what happened in Austin was addressed a bit more, but he got his in the end. Cassie does find redemption, heals her relationship with her mother which eases the pain and helps heal her damaged soul. In the end it all works out, but only because she is and I hate to repeat myself, but because she is the bigger, smarter better person than each and every person on the fire house she was working at. They all learned something and because not only her friends, but realized their own prejudices and grew from her actions. There are some heavy issues addressed, but they don’t beat you one the head and it is a wonderful fabulous read. She is a true stand up smart woman who deserves all of the respect she ultimately garners. You need to stop reading my review and go buy a copy of this book now! The only bummer was that it ended!!! I wish there were more books that showed strong women who are not (and pardon me for this) total bitches! She is likable and someone that deserves respect. I am now a big fan of this author and looking forward to more of her work.

First a big Thank you ! to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book. I agreed to give an honest review in exchange for the ARC.

Loved this story, it is a solid 5 stars. Bringing just enough struggle to believe in the story. This is a story about a young woman who is trying to be the best she can be, despite the fact that she grew up without a mother for a role model. Until that woman reaches out and tries to reconnect.
The characters in this story were very real and likable. I wanted to meet each and every one of them. From the beginning of this book to the end, I was pulled in and pushed back throughout this accelerating story. It had little mysteries and secrets entwined throughout which had me gasping and crying. I truly felt like I was right there living life with Cassie, Owen and Diane. Without spoiling it, I was completely happy with the ending and felt both satisfied and wanting more.
Definitely one of my favorites and recommended to those who love Chick lit and Romance.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wasn’t sure what to expect at times, and was always pleasantly surprised at how things were handled. It was funny, sad, emotional, and heartwarming and I was unable to put it down!

Even a bigger fan of this author since reading this book. An easy read that was both funny and so easy to relate to. The characters felt like people you might actually know. Did not want it to end but read in one day!

Things You Save In A Fire by Katherine Center

This is an amazing story about forgiveness. This is one of those books that gives you a “book hangover” and you continue to feel the after affects long after you’ve read the last page. This book definitely spoke to me on a very personal level as well. It has a lot of heavy topics that are addressed. Cancer, infidelity, sexual assault, as well as bullying. But it’s a story of triumph through the hurdles of life. I thoroughly enjoy books by this author and highly recommend Things You Save In A Fire.

"The best revenge is forgetting."


Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center is what I call - from beginning to end - a beautifully crafted novel.

I love every single thing about this book. It has an amazing heroine, a great storyline, and a fantastic ending. Yes, these are my opinions and I can stand behind them 100%.

Why haven't I read any of Katherine Center's books before? How in the world is this possible? Don't worry about it, I'll correct this huge oversight very quickly.

Let's get to the story.

Our heroine, Cassie Hanwell (who's freaking amazing!) is fantastic at her job. She's a firefighter and a paramedic. She has worked hard to be where she's at. She doesn't date and she doesn't fall in love. Love makes you weak and she can't let anyone hurt her again. Her mother abandoned Cassie and her father on her sixteen's birthday. She has never forgiven her mother and she doesn't think she ever will. For Cassie, there's nothing else but her job and her firefighter family.

When Things You Save in a Fire begins, Cassie is about to receive the Valor Award for her bravery after saving children trapped in a bus. Her engine family (B-shift from Station Eleven) is with her, supporting her. Then, the absolute worst happens. The next day, her captain is telling her she has 2 choices. The first choice, she either apologizes or she gets fired. The second choice, if there are no charges filed against her, she can be transferred out. Cassie has no choice but to accept her second choice. She will have to leave Austin, the job she loves and her friends and move to Massachusetts with her mother whom she has barely spoken to in ten years and start a new job in a new town where only men are supposed to be firefighters.

As a farewell, her captain gives her advise in the form of a list of rules to follow with her new squad.

“My best advice to you? Find one person you can count on. Just one.”


Cassie knows she's up to the challenge until her first day when she meets the new rookie.

“Firefighter Hanwell, are you proposing that we snuggle?”


Things You Save in a Fire is so much more than a romance. It's about forgiveness, self-respect, family relationships and believing in doing the right thing above all. The narrative was superb, the characters were fantastic. I fell in love with Cassie. She's my new girl crush. She didn't apologize for knowing she was good at something. She fought for her job and she recognized that loving the right someone can you give strength and not weakness.

“The answer wasn’t to never love anyone.
It was to love like crazy whenever you could.”


Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well that was just rather lovely, sad and fun all rolled together. And what a badass, powerful lady! I feel like working out :)

RATING: 5/5 STARS

Katherine Center's HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS and HOW TO WALK AWAY are stellar, so I had high expectations for this book. THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE did not disappoint! It was heartfelt, had a fantastic message, and the plot was so compelling that I finished the entire book in a day.

Cassie was such a strong heroine. She stood up for her beliefs and had to face many challenges, but I admired her for how she was able to roll with the punches. This is the first story I've read about a female firefighter, and I loved getting a perspective into that world. The author's husband is a volunteer firefighter who helped her with fact-checking the story (according to the dedication), which explains why the elements surrounding life as a firefighter felt so realistic and immersive. I liked how the camaraderie between the firefighters at Cassie's station was portrayed, and the scenes where Cassie was training or out in the field were so engaging and action-packed.

Along with a strong main character, this book carries a powerful message about feminism. Cassie didn't want any special treatment from her coworkers - her focus was performing her job the best she could and proving that she had the same worth as a man. I commend Katherine Center for making Cassie a character who strove hard for equality, but did not view men as her enemies. Cassie was hard on herself because she knew that she would be held to a higher standard, but she wasn't bitter about it and didn't ask for pity. By showing her competency as a firefighter and being a team player, she won the respect and friendship of her all-male department.

Cassie's character growth in this book was wonderfully executed. I sympathized with her reasoning for shutting herself out of relationships and suppressing her feelings. But throughout the book, the walls she put up to protect herself from emotional trauma were gradually lowered. The theme of forgiveness prevailed throughout, and the ways Cassie spoke and acted on it were very mature and admirable. Cassie's love interest, the "rookie", was an integral component of this journey. He was so supportive of Cassie and her role as a firefighter. He advocated for her, was understanding, and cared about her well-being without being threatened by her physical strength and skill at her job. Their romance, though not the only focus, was an amazing part of the novel.

I recommend this book for anyone who likes confident and bad-ass female characters, meaningful romance, and stories about healing.

A sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Marin's Press for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A most beautiful and heartfelt story of family, forgiveness and healing. The author has developed a main character that the reader admires, respects and cheers for! Definitely a page turner, I thoroughly enjoyed every word and every page. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this title prior to publication--it was a complete joy!

4.5 Stars — LOVED it!
Extremely charming love story filled with characters that you will be rooting for! Cassie Hanwell just might be my favorite protagonist of all time. She is strong and dominating her job in a male-led industry with ease. You will fall in love with her by the end of this captivating story of love, loss and the great value of forgiveness.

Cookie ❤️

This is the first book I have read by Katherine Center, and now I'll be reading them all! Things You Save in a Fire just grabbed me from the beginning and wouldn't let go. I stayed up late and couldn't put it down. The characters and emotions are spot on and the firefighters and fire station setting is perfect! Forgiveness is always difficult and Ms. Center dealt with it beautifully, carefully and realistically. I will remember this story for a long time. I strongly recommend.

First time read for this author and definitely not the last time. After closing the book on Things You Save in a Fire, I immediately went to my computer and looked up her other novels. I am not a type of person that gets emotionally pulled in and sheds tears, but this novel tugged at my heart strings and showed the grace in the power of forgiveness. The main character, Cassie, puts on a tough front due to circumstances in her life that hardened her heart which may have served her well being the only female firefighter at the station, but did not serve her well in her personal life. Only when leaves her comfort zone in Texas and moves to Boston to help with her estranged mother who is ill, does Cassie's shell she has grown around her begin to crack.

The author weaved this story so well and you didn't really learn all the details to Cassie's adversities until just the right moment as the author had an incredible talent for revealing facts at just the right time. This book will be released on August 13th, 2019 and I highly recomend you put this on you to-be-read list!!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cassie is a woman firefighter working her way up the ladder when a phone call from her estranged mother changes everything she thinks she knows about life and love.
I totally fell in love with this book. It was slightly predictable and slightly sappy, but I just kept rooting for Cassie. I wanted to keep reading and I wanted to see what the next pages would bring. Such a feel good story. Read this book, you won’t be disappointed!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 Stars! Katherine Center has quickly become one of my go to authors and her latest novel does not disappoint. Things You Save in a Fire hooked me almost immediately and I was up most of the night finishing it. This book was about love, courage, strength and most of all forgiveness. There was also just the right amount of humor.

The protagonist in this book, Cassie Hall, was strong, vulnerable and funny while being totally relatable at the same time. I was completely immersed in this story and was falling for the "Rookie" along with Cassie. From the relationship between the Newbie and the Rookie, to the firehouse pranks to the complicated relationship between a mother and daughter, this book encompasses it all. The characters in this book are flawed and I love watching their growth through the story, This book caused me to laugh out loud and also tear up on occasion. My only issue with this book is that I wanted more! I was not really ready for this one to end.

I can't recommend this author enough and Things You Save in a Fire might be my new favorite of hers. You will not regret buying this book!

“Choosing to love—despite all the ways that people let you down, and disappear, and break your heart. Knowing everything we know about how hard life is and choosing to love, anyway.. That’s not weakness, that’s courage.” 

4.5 stars! This book had me hooked from start to finish. It is the perfect balance of romance, drama, humor, and action. While I normally do not love a Hallmark ending, this one tugged at my heartstrings in all the right ways.

Katherine Center finds ways to include little tidbits that make her characters undeniably relatable- from the rookie sneaking a puppy home, to Cassie crushing her fellow firefighters in Basketball. Every detail just adds to the charm of this novel. This is the first book I’ve read by Katherine Center and I can’t wait to pick up more by her very soon.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Katherine Center for gifting me this advanced reader copy!

I had high hopes going into this book, as I LOVED Center’s How to Walk Away. This book exceeded my expectations and left me thinking about the characters for days after finishing it. The book started out a little slow, but as you learn more about the characters, the better it gets. I will definitely be reading this again, and purchasing a physical copy once it comes out!