I usually take time and savor anything she writes but I could not put this down. Well-written and thought out, felt connected to the characters. I had just finished How to Walk Away (another winner!) not too long ago when NetGalley generously provided this, what a treat! Her books will always be on my TBR list. Don’t miss this!

Entertaining chick lit. I enjoyed the story of Cassie the firefighter who is tough on the outside while dealing with a repressed trauma. I did think it was all wrapped up a little too easily and quickly but that’s typical for this genre.

I really enjoyed this book. I have read one other book by Katherine Center, how to walk away, which I found to be a quick, uplifting read. This book was even better. Although you know how the story will end (if you’re anything like me and easily predict what’s coming), I still found myself wanting to keep turning pages. I was invested in the characters and was rooting for them the entire time. A great, quick and enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed this book! I liked how this story was told: first person narration, nothing new, right? But it felt like Cassie was telling me this story over a cup of coffee. Every once in a while, she would say something like, "remember when I told you ...?" It worked really well and added a sense intimacy. The characters were well developed, especially Cassie - a little predictable maybe (tough girl firefighter out to prove something to the world), but I really liked her. Cassie shared things about her past which led her straight to where the story begins - the night of an awards ceremony, where she is presented with the Austin Fire Department's Valor Award, the aftermath of her knocking out the councilman who hands her the award, and the phone call from her mother, asking Cassie to move in with her for a year - but not in too much detail. Cassie's story is about forgiveness, and the cost of giving it and the cost of not...for little things and huge things.

I love this book! I finished it in 2 days and I could not put it down! Katherine Center weaves this story together so effortlessly. The main character, Cassie, was so charming and relatable (and such a badass) it was impossible not to like her. Her character development throughout the story made me pause several times to self reflect on situations in my own life, as well as giving me a few lessons to take away for the future. The themes of kindness and forgiveness were seamlessly woven into the plot without being overbearing. It’s equal parts uplifting, heartwarming, funny, and keeps you rooting for the characters. It also seemed like the author did a good job researching firefighters and the profession and giving a realistic glimpse into that line of work. All in all, one of my favorite books that I’ve read in a long time!

I really enjoyed this book. Love strong female characters. Enjoyed the backdrop and peek into the life of firefighter

This book was okay. If you need something that touches on tough topics, but never delves too deep, this is perfect. However, I was hoping for more depth.

So smart, with subplots that weave so beautifully throughout. Cassie was introduced to us so engagingly, without an ounce of cliche, and her voice rings true with realism. The connection between Cassie and Owen crackles, with one of the best initial physical contact moments I’ve seen in a novel in a very long time. This story has a ton of heart, strength, confidence, and twists. This is a good one!

I have been looking forward to reading this book for months! I am one of those avid lovers of every thriller book ever written but every once in awhile I will branch out of the thriller category for a book more heartfelt. This a hundred times over is one of those books. It had so many moments of laughter and so many moments of tears, but in the end Cassie gets what she so often denied herself, happiness and love. To be truthful, when the fire happened and Owen got hurt I immediately was hoping this wasn’t going to be one of those books where the character losses and was so elated that Owen pulled through. I will recommend this book to everyone and I will be thinking about this book for awhile. Another well done book for Katherine Center!!!

Things You Save in a Fire is a heartwarming story about forgiveness.

Cassie Hanwell is not only a female firefighter, but she's a damn good female firefighter. She's proven over and over again that she can do the job just as well as the other guys in the firehouse, if not better. Her job is her whole life, so she doesn't make time for friends and definitely not love. She built a life with her firehouse family in Austin and couldn't imagine doing anything else. However, after her estranged and ailing mom, Diana calls and asks her to move to Boston to help take care of her Cassie feels like she must go-only to help, not to be friends.

"I reminded myself again that she was only Diana. Of course, our parents get an extra dose of importance in our minds. When we're little, they're everything—the gods and goddesses that rule our worlds. It takes a lot of growing up, and a lot of disappointment, to accept that they're just normal, bumbling, mistaken humans, like everybody else."

Diana left Cassie and her father on her 16th birthday and we know that something else happened that night that has scarred Cassie and made her shut down any chance of love or relationships.

Cassie is the first female firefighter to work at her new small town firehouse in Lillian, MA. She knows the rules about being a female firefighter-don't show any emotion, don't act like a girl, don't look like a girl, and the list goes on and on. But the top restriction on the list is to never fall for or have any type of fling, emotions, flirting, or relationship with another firefighter. Obviously Cassie doesn't find any of these to be an issue for her, especially that last one. Until she meets the Rookie. Cassie and rookie, Owen Callaghan start at the Lillian FD the same day so they go through a lot of the hazing together. She keeps her distance as much as she can from him and strictly calls him rookie like the rest of the house. Between the pranks and training around the firehouse, we're left with a lot of perfect rom-com situations.

"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."

I loved how Katherine Center tied in the story of the plane crash from How to Walk Away and how both of the gorgeous covers matched. Carter has a way with words and knows exactly how to pull at the heartstrings. Forgiveness is such a struggle that so many of us battle with and it's obviously easier said than done to forgive others-let alone ourselves. This book has everything I love in a good novel--likable characters, realistic writing, strong friendships, a sweet romance, a strong female lead, and of course a hottie (Rookie aka Owen!) ;) HUGE props to Carter for writing this amazing book as if she were a firefighter herself and knew the ins and outs of what goes on in a firehouse.

NetGalley and St. Martin's Press provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!

This book belongs on my very short list of the best books I have read in my lifetime! It touched my very soul, had me crying, and laughing and often just smiling to myself. Cassie is a firefighter, one of the very best and a paramedic. Two tragedies as a young teenager left her unable, or not wanting, to feel anything, no emotions. Her mother left on Cassie’s sixteenth birthday, leaving her with her father and Cassie stayed angry about this for many years. Then her mother falls ill, needs her help and Cassie goes to help her, but just for perhaps a year. She does not want to, but circumstances have sort of forced her. This is a really sweet, touching story, mostly about forgiveness and the ability to learn to love.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Things we saved in a fire had me caught up so fast. It's crazy how fast I was invested in Cassie's well being and mental health. I enjoyed the fact that she was a women living in a "man's world".shes facing those sterotypes and stigmas most women have to overcome when their careers is male dominated.
The rookie is adorable and clearly in love with Cassie. He just wants to get to know her and fix things - cause somethings is Cleary wrong.
The stalker element was happily unexpected and something I felt added to the story. Now although I loved the whole thing the end kind of fell flat to me. The confessions and the rapid wrap up was a little unsettling but all in all thumbs up

Cassie is an Austin firefighter and she's darn good at it; she is even up for a huge promotion. When her estranged mother calls and asks her to move across the country to live with her in Massachusetts, Cassie couldn't think of anything she'd rather do less. However, when an award ceremony goes drastically south and her career comes to a screeching halt she must take her mother up on her offer or give up firefighting forever. Joining a new fire house would be tough enough but when the captain makes it known he is not interested in a woman joining his brigade, Cassie must work harder then ever to fight for her position and respect in the house. She has been assigned the duty of looking after the very handsome Rookie.
This is a well written story about finding forgiveness and strength when the odds are stacked against you. Cassie is a likable character with a tragic back story and a newfound desire to be a more open and forgiving person.

Funny, real, sad, sweet, all these things and more! I really enjoyed this book- I read it in a day! I really appreciated the author’s accuracy when describing all of the firefighting aspects. I was so happy to get a chance to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This review is four stars that I only give to books that I won’t soon forget, that have a little something extra special to them. This is one of those books that deserves all four!

I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down! I loved the main character Cassie-a tough firefighter who loved her job but fought against any interpersonal connections. It was a delight to follow her journey from being so closed off from others to opening herself up. There was a strong theme of forgiveness and I loved how it focused more on to how forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself. I was extremely invested in the characters and was bawling at the end! I enthusiastically recommend this book!!

I am not sure I have ever related to and loved a character as much as I loved and related to Cassie.

Things You Save in a Fire is a beautiful story about forgiveness, family, love and perseverance.

What I loved most was how real Cassie was. She experienced severe heartbreak and trauma, and while she closed herself off from emotions, she pushed herself to succeed in a career she was passionate about. She is both fragile and impossibly strong.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the inside view into what it’s like for female firefighters. Through Center’s writing, I felt like I was right there with Cassie fighting for her place, proving herself and finding love and forgiveness.

Katherine Center has become one of my favourite authors. I really enjoy her style of writing, she incorporates heavy subjects and manages to keep the books enjoyable and relatable. I found myself laughing, smiling, and gasping at different parts of this book. It kept me engaged and I finished it in a day.

I loved this book. It is a feel good read. Cassie moves across the country after something from her past came back to haunt her and her mither needs her. As a female firefighter she struggles to be accepted in a firehouse that has never seen a girl before. Cassie needs to fight to be accepted while at the same time learn to forgive things from her past.

First of all I must admit I'm not usually a romance reader, but having really liked How to Walk Away, I knew I would like this as well and I did! And I also appreciated the allusion to that novel as the firefighter who saved the protagonist is the main character in this one, The story revolves around Cassie, a take-no-prisoners firefighter who suddenly loses her job and relocates to a small town where most of the men resent a woman joining their ranks. She's been summoned by her mother who needs help with an illness, but they've been estranged for years as Diana left Cassie and her dad to marry another man on Cassie's 16th birthday. Enter Owen, the newest rookie who is drop-dead gorgeous. But this isn't your typical Lifetime movie scenario at all. There are many layers to the plot, lots of great humor, and plenty of suspense. Center speaks to themes, of forgiveness, misogyny, familial love, friendship, revenge, and redemption. About 75% of the way through I dissolved into a puddle of tears and was crying like a baby by the end. So if you like an emotional but often humorous read, this is a title for you!

Another winner from Katherine Center. I was excited to be able to read this through NetGalley, and happy to leave a review. Not only was this an engaging story, but it also taught lessons about love and forgiveness. Cassie was a strong but vulnerable lead character. I also liked the supporting cast of characters at the fire station, and Cassie’s mom and her neighbor. This was a quick, light read, but with depth. 4 stars.