I enjoyed this book immensely. The theme of forgiveness was touched in just the right way. It combines humor and romance in a way that makes it fun for those of us who don’t often read romance. The tears to laughs ratio made it one to finish at home, and not, in the vehicle with your whole family. Thanks netgalley, for giving me the chance to read a book outside my normal genres.

I’m so lucky to have read a 5star read four days into the new year! I actually think this will end up being one of the best books I read all year.

Cassie was everything I like to see in a female protagonist: complex, strong but not invincible, independent, intelligent, and together. She was flawed, but her flaws didn’t define her. She was vividly written and was such an authentic, nuanced character that she felt perfectly real to me.

The novel sounded good; instead it was absolutely wonderful. It’s always nice when a book is such a pleasant surprise and is even better than you expect!

I felt completely drawn in to the world of the Lillian FD. This was my first Katherine Center novel but will not be my last. Highly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t been so excited to write a book review in such a long time! Katherine Center has quickly become one of my favorite authors over the past year with her deep messages and relatable characters that leave me drooling for her next book. Things You Save in a Fire is a five star across the board story. It has humor, it has pain, it has edge of your seat suspense, but above all it has an underlying and powerful message about forgiveness. It touches every emotion and makes you feel it deeply rather than just touching lightly on it and moving on. I was laughing, I was crying, I was even stressed and nervous. Only the best authors can take you to so many places and leave you satisfied. Things You Save in a Fire is not a story you ever forget. If we were all just half as empathetic and wonderful as the main character, Cassie, the world would be a much better place.

Things You Save in a Fire is yet another great offering by Katherine Center. Her previous novel, How to Walk Away was a sampling of the novels to come. There is humor amid all the tension in the life of Cassie, fire fighter from Austin banished to the small town where her estranged mother lives when an explosive incident at Cassie’s award ceremony takes place. In the fire department of her new town, Cassie faces a foe determined to destroy her career simply because she is a woman in a formerly all men’s work place. Plus, everything for her changes when she falls in love for the first time ever with her rookie coworker. The story is not all about love and flowers. It is about Cassie’s transformation from a closed off heart to one that learns to embrace life with all its good and awful parts.

Things You Save In a Fire was a compelling novel about Cassie, a firefighter who needed to leave her beloved firehouse after an incident that put her in hot water, and a request from her estranged mother to come visit her, which turned out to be a plea to spend time with her during her last days. She manages to get a job at a firehouse in Boston, which is much different from her old one, an old boys' club which has no patience or empathy for a female firefighter. As she struggles with both her feelings for her mother and her difficulties at the firehouse she learns a great deal about herself, her strengths and her tolerance for what she will take from others.

Katherine Carter has written a very interesting novel that took me into the mind of a person who I would have nothing in common with, which for me, makes it that much more compelling. Cassie has so many choices to make as she navigates the changes in her life and how she makes those decisions determines what kind of person she becomes. Another great novel from a best selling author!

Cassie is a kick ass hero firefighter. She rocks every thing she does. But has to move to a small town that doesn't *do* "lady firefighters. So she starts again from the bottom, with Owen, the rookie.

Totally worth reading, totally great. Fun romance, Center says in the acknowledgments that her husband is a firefighter and it shows. Good stuff.

Mystery, drama, personal growth, and a bit of romance wrapped inside the cover of one book. Things You Save in a Fire is a book that will pull in most genre readers without overload on any topic.
Katherine Center has pulled off a writing style that has you imagining things of what could have happened to the main character, what will happen and so much more.
My only warning is, you may not be able to put this book down once you open it.

Started this year with a 5/5 book 🙌🏼❤️

This book surprised me. On the surface it’s about two firefighters falling for each other. But it’s also about the women’s rights movement and discrimination in the workplace. I hadn’t given much thought to the firefighter profession as an old boys club and how it would feel to be a woman firefighter. It was a new perspective.

This book also talks a lot about forgiveness. Forgiveness for the people around you for being human and making mistakes. And forgiveness for yourself. It came up often and was explained in a way that I hadn’t thought of before.

Things You Save In A Fire is released on August 13, 2019. Keep it in mind and add it to your list. This was my first Katherine Center book, and I immediately added all her other novels to my TBR list 😂

Thank you to @netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
#netgalley #bookreview #thingsyousaveinafire #currentlyreading #katherinecenter #stmartinspress

Publisher's description: "Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she's seen her fair share of them, and she's a total pro at other people's tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to give up her whole life and move to Boston, Cassie suddenly has an emergency of her own.

"The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie's old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren't exactly thrilled to have a "lady" on the crew—even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the infatuation-inspiring rookie, who doesn't seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can't think about that. Because love is girly, and it’s not her thing. And don’t forget the advice her old captain gave her: Never date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping...and it means risking it all—the only job she’s ever loved, and the hero she’s worked like hell to become. "

This was my first read by Katherine Center, and it won't be my last. This is a standard romance - instant attraction between two people who believe they shouldn't (or can't) be together for one reason or another. They both have their complicated back stories. Cassie's is that her mother left and "something" horrible happened to her on her 16th birthday. We guess early on what the "something" is, and the combination of the two things is what makes her not believe in love. This was a nice change for me because usually it's the guy who doesn't date, doesn't get involved, doesn't fall in love, etc. Add to that the animosity Cassie gets in her new job, and you have all the makings of a great story.

Cassie reminded me of the character Hernandez from the "Station 19" television series - a woman in a male-dominated field who has to work twice as hard to prove herself. But this book is less about that and more about forgiveness and how it can help us heal. We have to see Cassie's toughness in order to get to the end, but it's just the vehicle that gets us to forgiveness - forgiveness of ourselves as well as others.

***SMALL SPOILER***

The thing that knocked it down to 4 stars for me was that when we get to the end and Cassie will admit she's in love, she's portrayed as soft and a little weepy, and I don't think that was necessary. Just because she's found a way to balance loving and being a firefighter doesn't mean she has to go soft. All in all, this was a quick, fun read and definitely worth picking up.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This title is scheduled for publication on August 13, 2019.

I finished this book with a huge grin on my face. Katherine Center’s books have a way of making me feel like hugging whoever is nearest to me!

I received an arc from Netgalley and even though it doesn’t come out for months, I was drawn to the bright cover and the promise of an inspiring and captivating story.

Cassie Hanwell is a badass. She’s a firefighter and a paramedic and she’s ridiculously fit and does Parkour for goodness sake (brilliant job for including that pop culture reference!) She can beat any guy at basketball and can do one handed pull-ups!

But even with all those qualities - Cassie has created a world for herself that filled with routine and predictability. She’s always in control and you’ll never see her crack.

So what happens when the universe has a sick sense of humor? When everything Cassie has built is threatened? She’s strong, but how strong? Is she stubborn or is there something in her past she’s avoiding?

Katherine Center’s characters are flawed and real and relatable. Her style of writing allows you to get in their head. Ultimately this is a story about forgiveness and family and being compassionate and real and...human. Oh, and hot firefighters never hurt a storyline!

Another great book by Katherine Center! She’s become one of my must-read authors. If you loved How to Walk Away, you’ll love this, too! Her books remind me of the style and subjects of JoJo Moyes, another favorite author of mine. The writing style and characters pull you in and flow so well that you just breeze through her books. I finished this one in a day and a half!

I absolutely adored Things you Save in a Fire! Once at the top of her firefighting career in Austin, Cassie finds herself moving across the country to help her estranged mother. The bulk of this novel takes place in a sleepy east coast town. Cassie learns to navigate her way as a female in a primarily male-only workplace, be both a daughter and a friend to a mother she wrote off years ago and develop some sort of a work/life balance. Cassie’s relationship with her mother and men are deeply connected and equally complicated. As Things You Save in a Fire continued to develop, I found myself both frustrated with Cassie’s often close-minded opinions and rooting for her heart to expand and explore. I read this book quickly and was sad to see the story close. It was romantic, heart-warming and fun. I laughed a few times, shed a few tears and spiraled down a deep reading hole of joy. As a big fan of How to Walk Away, I am really excited to add Katherine Center to my list of favorite authors.

A big thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"Things You Save in a Fire" is another gorgeous, witty, funny, and absolutely amazing piece of women's fiction from Katherine Center. Similar to her previous book, there is a traumatic event that the character must deal with and move on from. There's also an incredible romance and family connections and so many other wonderful parts of this book that I could not put it down and loved every second I spent reading it.

Cassie Hanwell is a firefighter, primarily because she is really, unequivocally good at it, and she loves her job. Everything changes when she accepts an award from someone who changed her life forever, and when he dares to touch her again, she beats him down. Despite the fact that he deserved it, he is a city councilor and they are demanding that she apologize. Unwilling to give an apology that is unwarranted, Cassie elects to transfer to Massachusetts, where her mother, who left when she was 16 and is now blind in one eye, has been asking her to come and help her.

Facing all the sexism and difficulties of a new, previously all-male fire department, Cassie is determined to continue to do the job she loves. That includes staying away from the rookie she is finding herself attracted to. Between family, work, and potential love, Cassie finds her world changing and things that seemed so clean-cut are more complex than they originally appeared.

The primary theme of the book is about forgiveness, forgiving yourself and others (for your own good), and this really comes across through many aspects of the book. I don't know if my review can do justice to how much I really enjoyed this book- I laughed, I cried, I sighed, and I can't recommend it enough. It is not always an easy read (there are some difficult situations herein), but it is such a worthwhile read. I would add warnings for sexual assault (not described), drug addiction, terminal illness, and heavy bouts of sexism. I felt that all these topics were handled very well throughout the book, but it's worth knowing that they are there.

Overall, this was a really fantastic read, and I felt all the feels. I highly recommend for people who like deeper rom-coms- this is a book I won't forget and is such a great read! The characters are all so amazing- Cassie herself is strong, insightful, brave, and straight-forward. Owen is lovely, kind, and just a model guy all around. Cassie's mom, Diane, and her friend, Josie, are just wonderful characters that add so much to the story overall. I completely fell in love with this story and the people in it. It's amazing- you won't regret reading it!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

An unputdownable, emotional, beautiful, and sweet novel that will leave your heart full for days!!!

Things You Save in a Fire is a truly remarkable read that has left a special place in my heart and my book shelf <3.
Katherine Center hit this one out of the park my friends! She sure knows how to write an engaging novel that will leave you truly sad that it has ended.

What I loved most about this book? The power of forgiveness. Have you ever gone through something in your life that has left you scared, pained, and intimidated to move forward? I think we all have. I have experienced this and looking back I realized how I wasn't able to move forward due to the pain and fear. This book explores the importance of the power of forgiving not only yourself but also people in your life that may have caused you hurt or pain. I loved Katherine Center's touch on forgiveness and love in this book and how truly impactful it can be in moving forward with your life.

This book felt so real and raw. Every moment of Cassie's life I was completely and totally immersed. Moments I was laughing with her, smiling for her, and aching in pain for her. And can I just say.... the romance?! Not over the top with Rookie but ever so perfect with a hint of a kiss ;).

Things You Save in a Fire is a truly remarkable read with characters that will sweep you off your feet, heartfelt writing, and in all a beautiful story that folds across these pages with ease.

Highly recommend!!! 4.5 fire stars!!!

Huge thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Publication date: 8/13/19
Published to GR: 1/1/19

I LOVE Katherine Center's writing! It's fun and witty and also gives such beautiful, thoughtful wisdom on the human condition. I want to know her characters in real life!

I was so excited to read this, after having read How To Walk Away by this author, and this book certainly did not disappoint. I love this author’s writing style, it almost feels like having a conversation with a friend while they take you through their personal history.

The characters are so relatable. They are flawed, and have many layers, and just people I could imagine in my own life. I loved how she gave a nod to How to Walk Away in this book, kind of weaving the stories together. I will definitely recommend this to anyone I can!

I cannot put into words how much I LOVED this book! Katherine Center has a way of writing a story that is like no other. I’m the first to admit I’m not huge on romance novels, but her novels are among the few exceptions.
There was so much feeling in this book. The feelings of love of course, but more than that. It was funny,and smart, and also I think we can learn a lot from this book too. The book deals with forgiveness in such a way that broke my heart and at the same time healed it. I believe this book will be one of my favorites of 2019, so add it to your wish lists, you won’t regret it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I wanted to read this book after being pleasantly surprised with Katherine's debut How to Walk Away and was not dissapointed. Her sophmore book was even better than the first. I don't typically read this genre that often as it usually falls flat for me but this was a great read and I felt well written. I found the main character interesting and the book itself hit all the emotions. Yes, this is a bit of romance but I would it consider it more chick lit similiar to Jojo Moyes Me Before You which I also adored.

Cassie is a great firefighter in Austin, TX. She has her entire life based on this fact, until events bring her to reconnect with her estranged mother in Massachusetts. After uprooting her life to help her mother, Cassie must adjust to a new job, new crew, and rebuilding what was broken. Ultimately, Things You Save in a Fire is about forgiveness, an act that is always needed.

What a sweet story! I loved everything about this "easy reading" book. The main character, Cassie is a young firefighter with a difficult past. Her estranged mother summons her to move across the country to care for her for a year. It is during this short time that Cassie learns what the joys of life can really be, and how to deal with past issues. Forgiveness is the theme of Things You Save in a Fire.

I would recommend this book to women, young and old, who enjoy a fast, compelling read, with emotions running throughout, and a heartwarming ending.