I was so excited Tom read this book! I loved the authors previous book and this one did not disappoint. The characters are well thought out, the storyline is developed and the writing is superb. I am looking forward to gifting this book to some friend some of mine when it is published.

I loved every moment of this book, from the small reference to How To Walk Away to the strong female lead. This one was hard to put down and I found myself craving more of Cassie and the rookie’s story once it was over. 5 big stars!

i Loved this book and I love Katherine Center's writing. Last year i read her book How to walk away and absolutely loved it. I was worried that this one wouldn't live up to it but I believe this one is every bit as good! I love her writing style - it is so easy to read and the storyline is not hard to get interested in. I also must say - What an amazing cover - it is simply beautiful. I loved the storyline and I loved the characters and I thought this was just a great book! An absolute 5 star must read - add to your TBR now! ! Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for an advance copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest review!

Cassie Hanwell is a firefighter—a female firefighter—living in Austin, Texas, when she gets an unexpected call that leads her to move to Massachusetts. She then has to start over in an old school, boys-club of a firehouse (a big change from her ultra-progressive Austin workplace) that doesn’t exactly welcome her with open arms.

With family drama, romance, some seriously nail-biting fire-and-rescue scenes, and even many laugh-out-loud moments, I loved this book. For me, the best part, hands down, was the main character, Cassie. She is a total badass! I loved that she is an amazing, incredibly accomplished firefighter and doesn’t ever apologize for that fact or try to hide it. We could all learn a lot from her. I also loved the dialogue in this book. It felt very real, but also funny and very witty. (And the romantic, flirty banter was adorable!)

If you love strong female characters and stories that manage to combine romance, laughs, and heart-stopping thrills, definitely pick this up. But do it fast, because this book is sure to be turned into an (amazing!) movie sooner rather than later. And I can’t wait to experience that, too. :)

LINK TO GOODREADS REVIEW: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2763365216

Note: I will also be mentioning this on my blog (www.thesparklylife.com) and my Instagram (@alyssahertzig) when we get closer to publication date. I really did enjoy it. Thank you so much for allowing me to read it early!

This is my second book by Katharine Center. I'm so glad she's written more because it won't be my last. I read this book in 2 days. Only pausing because I have to work, eat, and sleep. It was such a good story. Cassie is a fire fighter in Texas with a distinguished career. Something happens that makes her need to either apologize or lie low for a while. At the same time her estranged mom calls from Massachusetts needing help. So Cassie moves and starts work at the Lillian Fire Department where she's the first woman. The story looks at what happened to Cassie at 16 and how that changed her. Along with trying to be accepted at her new job. Then there's the rookie who starts the same day. The story made me want to call my mom and tell her I love her. It also made me feel so sad for a young Cassie and root for her to figure her life out in Massachusetts. Overall I give this book 4.5 stars. It was full of love and hope and made me happy.

I genuinely loved this book. Cassie's story was gripping, and her job as a firefighter was fascinating to me, as someone who knew very little about the firefighting culture. I was rooting for Cassie to find her way, as she dealt with switching fire departments from Austin, TX to small-town Massachusetts, and finally faced the traumas from her past.

This work is a wonderful depiction of how powerful forgiveness can be. Cassie started her career as a firefighter in the liberal station of Austin. Before she knows it, she moves back with her estranged mother in Boston. Cassie was fine. She didn't need company. She didn't need love. She just needed her job, the chaos to calm her mind. It was until she mets the rookie that things shift. This book is a fantastic example of how to forgive the seemingly unforgivable, how to open up after trauma, and how to see answers in chaos. This book surprised me, it showed character development, and it would be a book recommendation!

Things You Save in a Fire had all of my favorite things in a story: a fierce and admirable heroine, a love interest, a complex and fast moving plot, and inevitably lovable characters. The exceptional plot of this book allowed for both tears of saddness and compassion to stream down my face and bouts of laughter to come from my deep within my chest. I could not put down Things You Save in a Fire. This is a story that will stick with all readers for a long time.

Despite seeing great, early reviews of this book, the synopsis just did not grab me, so I had no immediate plans to possibly ever read this book. However, when the publisher sent me an ARC, I happened to be on vacation and thought why not...and boy am I so glad that they did! This was such a surprisingly, wonderful book and I'm so glad that I read it. I was all in after just a few pages, and could not put it down from there until the end. I loved it, and will now be seeking out other books by Center.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley for letting me have this one.

A moving, funny, emotional quick read! 100% recommend and will be telling everyone to read this August!

Cassie (a badass female firefighter in progressive Austin, TX) moves up to Massachusetts at the request of her estranged mother who needs her care due to visual impairment. She transfers to a boys club fire station where they don’t take kindly to having a lady roaming around. From there, a complex story involving Cassie, her mother, and the men from the fire station evolves that will leave you smiling and crying at the same time.

Fans of Katherine Center’s How to Walk Away will LOVE this book - this one actually beats out How to Walk Away just by a hair!

Thank you to Katherine Center, NetGalley, & St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy!

A sharp witty look at facing life's challenges with a bit of dignity and self respect. This novel is a great look at how life can change fast when you're busy making plans and avoiding your feelings.

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Janée Blue's review Mar 22, 2019 · edit
really liked it

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center will appeal to fans of romance, humor, and mystery. Center’s novel is well structured containing flashbacks, internal and external conflicts and strong characterization that enable the plot to move quite seamlessly as Cassie the protagonist reveals her journey from bitter teen devastated on her sixteenth birthday to her twenty- six-year old self, still bitter, still pushing down her emotions, and choosing to interact with few except her Texas family and her fellow firefighters in Texas. Romance is the least of her concerns, for she is a goal centered, smart, ultra-fit, and independent woman. Cassie’s well - ordered life is interrupted by her mother and father’s (now divorced) pleas for Cassie to temporarily live in Boston with her ailing, estranged mother. She gets a position as a firefighter in the Boston area, and the conflicts begin as the relationships at the new workplace are the opposites of her former one; plus, she and her mother’s relationship is uncomfortable.
At this point, Cassie steers toward a different life view, for with more personal contacts and socialization, Cassie is forced to adapt, slowly open up, and interact with others. Unaware her mother slyly and lovingly manipulates this reversal, Cassie slowly begins to heal from past wounds, begins to love, but there is also malevolent tension in the background. All conflicts are eventually resolved; however, I feel the ending is too good to be true. Yes, I understand this is fiction but everybody lived too happily ever after, sort of. I expected and wanted a less fairy tale ending, especially in reference to the malevolent tension mentioned above. (I will not reveal spoilers!) This is a “feel good” read and Center’s title is masterful and symbolic! This title will make for great book club discussion. You’ll understand that when you complete reading. Now I’m ready to read more of Katherine Center’s work.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Things You Save in a Fire, all opinions are my own.

Similar to How to Walk Away, it’s taken me a week to digest Katherine Center’s latest and greatest novel - Things You Save in a Fire. Writing this review will not do the book justice. I would give this book 10 stars if I had the ability to do so.

The story is about a woman firefighter, Cassie - who is forced to move across the country to take care of her estranged mother. Cassie leaves a woman friendly firehouse and enters one where she is looked down upon - regardless of her ridiculous ability to beat half the men at practically everything ever thrown her way - simply because she is a female.

I don’t want to say more about the story, because it is that good - you just need to read it. But make sure you have Kleenex with you - and time to ignore the rest of the world as you will so quickly be absorbed into Cassie’s world.

In the end, the story is one of family, love, and most importantly forgiveness. Kudos to Katherine Center for quickly throwing in a blurb about her heroine from How to Walk Away, and to writing another amazing story which will leave you so satisfied in the end.

Cassie has learned over time to hardened her feelings. She is an excellent firefighter but knows as a women in a man's world she has to be better than them. Her mother left her at 16 and now is asking her to come live with her for a year to help her adjust to eye problems. Cassie gets hired at the new fire station but certainly is not accepted even by her captain. There is a rookie hired at the same time and she is assigned to train him. The training is complicated when she finds she has feelings for him even though she has never even had a boyfriend. She wrestles with trying to be the best, forgiving her mother for leaving her, getting used to her mother's health issues, and ignoring her feelings for the rookie. There is a stalker trying to run Cassie out of the fire station, the truth behind her mother's leaving and her health, and a massive fire that tests Cassie and sets her life in turmoil. This is a really good story but also a lesson on forgiveness. Cassie learns that it is easier to forgive yourself and others if you consider the good things that come out of the bad.

To be honest I wasn’t sure where this book was going in the beginning! Cassie is so complicated and weighed down in that you hope you will see her lighter in the end. Her determination and fight keeps you interested the entire read and seeing her build relationships with her Mom, Josie and the rookie sparks joy.

Things You Save in a Fire is a beautiful story of finding family, love, and forgiveness, even when it feels out of reach. This story has a beautiful lesson about what we gain when we forgive others even when it's painful. Katherine Center is an author whose books I would purchase even without first reading the synopsis.

Finished this ARC in California, and it’s two thumbs up from me! Thank you to NetGalley for my copy! I very much enjoyed the characters and the setting of a fire station/company was something new and interesting for me. Cassie's character was interesting and well-developed. Katherine Center's writing just keeps getting better and better! Coming to a bookstore near you on 8/13/19!

A charming story of Love and forgiveness between parents, colleagues, lovers and those who have committed crimes. Cassie is a firefighter who transfers to help her mother who is losing her sight. What follows is an attraction to the rookie and a chance at trusting others. Center's characters are likable a relatable. You can't help but root for them. Consider me a fan.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

Things You Save in a Fire is a story of love and heroes, healing and forgiveness. It is so very beautiful and captivating. Cassie is they type of heroine I want to read about ALL DAY LONG!

Things you Save in A Fire was a great read - I loved reading about Cassie's journey. Will definitely keep an eye out for Center's books in the future!