I absolutely loved this action packed romance. It was natural and not forced or overdone. I appreciate an author that can keep me wrapped up in their world, long after I have turned the last pages. This is a delightful read and a good one to escape reality into!

I received an advance reader edition of Katherine Center’s upcoming release The Things You Save in a Fire from NetGalley.

I’m happy to write that this book is the second Katherine Center book I’ve read this year (the advance copy of this year’s How to Walk Away my favorite read this year), and this has lived up to my anticipation. The Things You Save in a Fire follows 26-year-old Cassie as she moves from Austin to a city outside of Boston to reunite with the mother her left her ten years prior. Cassie transitions into a life where she works with a new firefighter crew that vastly differs from her Austin crew and where she has closer contact with her now sick mother.
As a teenager, Cassie learned how to close herself off to protect herself emotionally, and she continues to grapple with those effects as a young adult. She exhibits physical, mental and emotional strength as she lands her spot as the most highly valued crew member. Despite her previous captain’s advice to not show emotions as well as to not develop further relationships with another crew member, Cassie finds herself facing new emotional territory as she works with the rookie, whose status makes his nickname Rookie. This gentleman makes a perfect romantic lead, one admired even by the rest of the crew. While he may seem almost too good to be true, he makes a likeable character worthy of interest; I appreciate seeing a nice, respectful guy receive the affection of the lady. On that note, some descriptions about him or the team dynamics at the fire station get borderline cliché at times. However, the overall story hits a sweet note that has some depth to it.
Though mostly on the sweet side, this story also dives into themes like forgiveness. Cassie and her mom make a good example of how to ease into trust and how seeking reconciliation impacts the possibility of a genuine connection. Through her experiences, Cassie learns how to deal with her past and move on more open to relationships. The story falls short of giving that a full exploration since it ends at the end of the bliss of the first step of healing, an important one but only the beginning. Forgiveness sought and given gets multiple perspectives here, showing each one’s importance. This point serves as a good reminder to all readers.
I have enjoyed How to Walk Away a little more than The Things You Save in a Fire, but both have sealed Katherine Center as an author whose new releases I follow and seek. I appreciate how she’s written characters in my age group and shown positive messages, surprisingly an accomplishment I haven’t seen often. Now I would like to check out her back catalogue.

Thank you so much NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this book early!

http://kaylasonlyheart.com/2018/12/15/book-review-the-things-you-save-in-a-fire/

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is the first time I have read a novel by Katherine Center and I fully intend to read her previous books. The characters were likable as well as believable, and the story flowed very smoothly. It was also a trip down memory lane as my dad was a fireman when I was a child. Cassie, the main character, is navigating a male dominated career in the fire department and doing a great job. When her mom falls ill, she makes the decision to move to a different state and start all over again in a much less friendly environment. I loved the feistiness of the character and her ability to adapt and grow. Thank you St. Martin Press for allowing me to have the ARC on this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Perhaps not a 5-star read for everyone, but as a firefighter’s wife I was immediately drawn to this book after reading the synopsis and it did not disappoint. Everything regarding firefighting was right on par with what I’ve learned from my husband and the camaraderie and antics at the firehouse were believable.

Cassie was a strong, sassy female lead who never failed to stand up for herself, and I enjoyed seeing her softer side come out as the novel progressed. I loved Owen, but would have enjoyed learning a bit more about him as he felt a bit one-dimensional. I like how the author managed to balance out the drama, romance, and mystery throughout. The theme of forgiveness played out nicely and I loved the throwback to Center’s previous book, “How to Walk Away.”

Overall, a well-balanced and fantastic book, one that I plan to purchase after its release.

I absolutely LOVED How to Walk Away and was so excited when NetGalley gave me the opportunity to review this book before its publication (August 2019)!

Fans of JoJo Moyes and Kristan Higgins will enjoy the strong, yet emotionally barred Cassie Hanwell, a paramedic/fire fighter who has to leave a life she fought to earn behind, to face issues from a past even further behind. Cassie has a very different vibe than the character in Catherine Center’s last novel. This surprised me at first, but left me with admiration for an author who can present us with a totally different, but still very believable, character.

Patriarchy, forgiveness, and trust are some themes you will come across. You will learn more about firefighting than you expect, and actually enjoy it! The bonds Cassie builds between male and female characters involve different sets of rules and challenges, not to mention the journey she takes within herself.

In both of Center’s novels, some problems remain unresolved, and I find this so important. I also enjoyed a head nod to the narrator from How to Walk Away, and - did I notice - a potential character for a new novel?! I sure hope so.

My reason for the 4 rather than 5 stars is that, especially near the end, I jumped from action to action, where it felt like I was skimming to major plot points rather than reading word for word. I could have used some more development with some characters who became pivotal at the end, who I forgot even existed prior to that moment.

Thanks again to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of Things You Save In A Fire by Katherine Center.

This is my first book I have read by Center, And I was so looking forward to reading it. I wanted to like this book but I started to get confused a bit. I mean here you have a girl, that gets angry when anyone calls her a girl, she insists she is not a girl but a firefighter. Okay, then it comes to she doesn't have time to have a relationship with anyone. Then next thing I'm reading is her and this other firefighter are getting a little romantic together. I just couldn't figure out if it was a romance or if it had to do with strong-willed women or if it was something to do with the women's movement back in the day. I am sorry to you all that loved it, and that is awesome because that's your prerogative. But it just didn't do it for me.

This is one of the sweetest, most uplifting stories that I’ve read all year. First, imagine a female firefighter who has the tenacity of a wild cat! That's Cassie and she must give up her old life (and job) to help out her estranged mother. She's been asked to move across country, not knowing that this just might be a new beginning of her own! I purposely am not giving details of the the story because you will just have to experience it on your own. I'm giving this book five stars for realistic, lovable characters and the fabulous story that kept me reading late into the night.

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center will be available August 13, 2019 from St. Martin's Press. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Well written with strong characters and a strong storyline. Definitely see this book doing very well. This was the first I have read this Author and will absolutely read more from her. Highly recommend this book ..

Hello 👋🏻 Where do I sign up to be the president of the Katherine Center fan club? I loved How to Walk Away and thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press I was able to get an ARC of Things You Save in a Fire so now I’m officially obsessed. The main character Cassie is a complete bada** and now I’ll be over here dreaming of being strong enough to do a one armed pull up 💪🏻 Review below!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Cassie is a firefighter who has worked hard to prove herself both physically and mentally capable to serve in the fire service. She’s disciplined and independent, living a life that’s completely in her control. That is, until a ghost from her past reappears and sparks a chain of events that sends her life careening in another direction. I thought this was a beautiful story about love and forgiveness combined with a unique look at being a woman in a male dominated industry. You’ll love the cast of characters, and like Cassie, a few of them may surprise you. I highly recommend reading this book when it comes out August 13th 2019!

Review can also be found on my instagram @kels.reads

I read Katherine Center’s How To Walk Away, and loved it. This one didn’t disappoint! Her characters are so likable, although with many flaws. This is a story of a broken family that left a 16 yr old daughter with emotional scars that were deep and painful. Her mother left her and her father, on her 16th birthday, and in ten years, Cassie still couldn’t move on.
Cassie is a tough firefighter, respected by all who work with her. Her ailing mother needs her help, as she loses her sight, and Cassie reluctantly leaves her home and job to help. She must learn to forgive her mother, before she can adjust to her life changes, and she finds that a challenge.
This is a story of emotional and personal growth, learning to trust, love and live life, while letting go of the losses and heartbreaks of childhood. I rarely read a book in two days, but this one kept pulling me in, a authentic page turner.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s press for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an advanced read in exchange for this review.

Katherine Center does such a good job writing books with strong female leads.  TYSiaF is no exception.

Cassie is a strong and vulnerable character.  She takes a chance to leave her firefighting job and go to Boston to care for her estranged mother.  Her new firehouse is old school and not used to a female firefighter.  Will she end up risking everything, including the hero she has become?

Enjoyed this one.  How to Walk Away is my favorite, but this ranks up there.  I liked Cassie and thought she was a good combination of courage and vulnerability.  Center does it again!

Cute, but somewhat predictable, romance novel. This is the 3rd book I've read by Katherine Center and they're always enjoyable & lighthearted. I like the 'twist' at the end and everything is resolved. 4/5 stars.

THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE by Katherine Center is a wonderful book, from an amazing storyteller! This story had me laughing out loud and crying real tears. It's 4:55am and I just finished the book, I couldn't wait to review! If you only read one book this year, you need to read this one. You'll then want to do what I'm doing, look for more books by Katherine Center! Enjoy!

I enjoyed this one so much more than her last. In fact, I abandoned her last book. It wasn’t for me.

This one was pretty cliche but good anyway. Cassie is strong and sassy. We need more of this!

Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to Netgally and St Martins Press for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I loved How to Walk away, so it left me eagerly anticipating Things You Save in a Fire. I was not disappointed. Katherine Center does it again with her creation of a strong, female protagonist - Cassie. Forced out of a job she loves and back home with a mother who abandoned her, Cassie is forced to confront emotions from the past that she’s sealed off for many years - ones that have the potential to make her combust. Add to the mix a rookie coworker who affects her a bit too much, and Cassie is in for an interesting year. This is a book about relationships and the things you want to hold close when the fires are raging. Spoiler alert: those things are not material. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was such a huge fan of How To Walk Away by Katherine Center, so I could not wait for her next book and was thrilled to be chosen to read an ARC of her new book.

This book fell slightly short of the her previous work. While I thought Cassie was a great character, and I really enjoyed learning about the world of Firefighters, this book didn't have the emotional punch her first did. Still a good read and I am really happy to have had the chance to read this. Can't wait for the next one!

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
There's something about firefighters and I don't know what it is but I love reading about how they put out fires and save others.
Book starts out with the firefighter award ceremony and she's been propositioned from her partner, she sees it as a prank.
She also in her downtime runs a defense class, volunteers at Big Sisters and helps her dad build his house...
She was the most honored one: a female, a firefighter and the youngest ever...
Cassie has to face the Counsel Man before getting her award-we learn their past and wow! you can tell how nervous she is...she does ok til he pinches her butt...we learn about what she wanted to be when she grew up and how things changed.
When her mother calls for help it's a very touching moment for me as I am blind myself and don't have many who help me so for her to ask Cassie to come is huge.
Diane is an artist-so devastating. Like the choice she has and takes. Have visited Rockport for a few hours one day and found it a close community on the ocean.
Love hearing of the crochet club, I would fit in perfect in this environment-we have visited and enjoyed the area years ago.
Like how she conforms to the new firehouse and is alert for the other rookie...
Love hearing about the grants, to better the firehouse She is in fear of losing her job then captain informs them of cut backs and it's either her or other rookie...
Everybody has a secret that would alter their lives and has... Love when they each open up, makes so much more sense to have others support.
This book has something for everyone: adventure, action, romance, travel, mysteries and secrets.
I received this review book from St. Martins Press via Net Galley and this is my honest opinion.

Although this book started out a little slow I hung in there and I absolutely loved it. It is a novel about sexism, romance, forgiveness and friendship . There were so many characters involved in this book, yet they were all well developed. A great client with lots of twists and turns. Kept me up reading till midnight. It is a light romance novel, yet very good and very well written. I would highly recommend it to any of my friends and family and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am highly impressed with Katherine Center's writing. I got so wrapped up in the emotion of the book. This story is about love, family and even forgiveness including self forgiveness. The characters are well written and I became emotionally invested in in the story and the characters. One of the best books I've read in a while. Put this on your TBR for 2019.

Another winner from Katherine Center!

Cassie is a minority in her chosen field of work. She's a firefighter. When she has to leave the job that she loves and transfer to another fire station out of state, she is expecting the worst. Little does she know, her tough girl attitude is about to be uprooted when she meets the other new guy at her new job. The girl who doesn't believe in love is about to fall head over heels for the rookie firefighter. Cassie's life is in for major changes as she explores this new relationship and attempts to rekindle her rocky relationship with her mother.

This book was instantly a page turner. I couldn't put it down. I loved the relationship between Cassie and the rookie. Also, the female firefighter spin was something fresh and exciting. The camaraderie between the characters was natural and humorous. The love story was so sappy and sweet in a good way. The other aspects of the story blended nicely and resulted in a well-rounded and interesting read. I really liked the theme of forgiveness throughout the book as well. I didn't like the bad language throughout. The story would have been much better and sweeter without all that. I just don't feel that vulgar language is ever necessary. I probably would have given 5 stars if not for that. I also loved the little reference to Katherine Center's last book. This was a great branch off of that story. Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for the chance to read this book! This will be another bestseller for Katherine Center!