This was my first book by Katherine Center and instead of leaving a review, I went to buy her entire catalog and read them all within two weeks. Her writing is superb, and her stories captivating. This book is beautifully written and I would recommend it.

*Minor Spoilers*
This is the second book by Katherine Center I have read and I volleyed between really liking it and taking issue with how one of the characters was handled. I really enjoyed Cassie's relationships with her fellow firefighters and how she used her childhood trauma to propel her to do good in the world. My issue was with Diana. I just couldn't wrap my head around her leaving her 16 year old daughter on her birthday to be with another man across the country whether he was dying or not. It's not a reason and it's not an excuse and I can't imagine how any good mother, and make no mistake Diana was portrayed as a good mother, flawed or not could do that. My second issue was that Diana kept proclaiming that she never cheated on Cassie's father. Having sex with another person is not the only way to cheat on a spouse. Emotional affairs, which is what Diana had, are most definitely cheating and are often even more damaging than physical affairs. As such this was a three and a half star read for me.

Another great book by Katherine Center. I read How to Walk Away and loved it so was excited to read Things You Save in A Fire. First - what a great title for a book about a badass female firefighter who is trying to prioritize what’s most important in life.

Cassie is a strong female protagonist and it was so nice to read about a female doing her thing in a male dominated profession. This was a great story of love and family.

Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin’s Press for giving me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent drama with a little bit of mystery mixed in. Cassie, traumatized as a teenage, is now a successful firefighter. Life events trigger a move across country to move in with her mother and a new start at a firehouse not very open to having a female firefighter. Though there are some heavy topics here (forgiveness, healing from trauma, sexual abuse, abandonment, death), the book overall feels more lighthearted. While I don't usually go for romances, this one has enough non-romance in the story to make for a well-rounded book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

LOVE Katherine Center. Love her relatable characters. A great sequel to her last book. This author is a must read and I always pick up her titles no matter what.

Katherine Center's books hit a little harder than your average book. The story here is thoughtful, as it shows the heroine working her way through trauma.

I was instantly hooked- & the first scene GOT ME AMPED UP! I can’t say I ‘condone’ violence, but if someone has it coming to them, who am I to judge?



Cassie is a BOSS BABE: a no nonsense paramedic and fire-fighter. I love to see women in professions that society has deemed masculine/male-driven. She finds herself needing a transfer after a public altercation. (I say NEEDS because she refuses to do the one thing that would absolve her- apologize). Honestly, I don’t blame her- women should not have to apologize for how they react to being assaulted, no matter WHO that person is. Cassie’s estranged mother contacts her to come live with her due to health issues= the perfect time. A new position secured at a fire-station run by a misogynist Chief, and lots of doubt- Cassie heads off to MA.



This move brings some quirky characters! Obv some backlash from the men when a woman is thrust in their midst but Cassie continually proved herself. She was a bit showy but it felt good to see her confidence shine. She was stubborn and determined to show that she was one of them and could do as much (or more) & was fiercely independent.



Cassie struggled with self-worth due to trauma (TW: abandonment & sexual abuse), so she protected herself the only way she knew- keeping her guard up and not letting herself form emotional connections. She fought that tooth and nail, but eventually her heart won out. The transformation was predictable, but had all the right elements to have you rooting for her. I found the ending to be unrealistic..but didn’t change my rating.



Cassie’s journey to love, forgiveness and self-discovery will make you laugh, cry, infuriate and smile until you turn the last page.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review 🖤

A sweet and wonderfully heartwarming book. I love how the characters are all fighting their own battles but they work together to overcome them.

I just loved reading Cassie's story. Being a firefighter is a tough job. Being a female firefighter is even tougher. Cassie has grown up with her dad since her sixteenth birthday; the day her mom left. When mom calls needing her help, circumstances allow for Cassie to respond to the call. As Cassie tries to prove herself in an all-male fire squad, another rookie and a veteran cause turmoil in her life. With her mom's help, along with mom's friend, Cassie resolve to not be "a girl" begins to crumble and she learns that life is lived better with love. Another great book by Katherine Center! Thank you to Ms. Center, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I unfortunately was unable to get very far in this book. Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center puts its readers in the shoes of a firefighter where they to get experience the political and emotional drama that comes with fighting fires. Honestly the book just had too many overused tropes.

Always an amazing story. Katherine Center’s “Things You Save in a Fire” is such a super read! Katherines stories are always so full of life and vibrant. I love that: I can’t wait fir the next, I also love her cover!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

An amazing book! I loved everything about it! This author knows how to write books that capture the heart strings of ppl that keeps us coming back to read more of her books.

I love everything by Katherine Center. This book was surprising and thoughtful. I loved the aspect of finding forgiveness, especially for a mother who doesn’t necessarily deserve it. The romance was sweet and I loved the characters.

3.5 Stars

Overall I really enjoyed Things You Save in a Fire. It was fast-paced, had likeable characters and I love my firefighter tv shows so a firefighter book was pretty enjoyable too. I like how it was showed how challenging it is to be a female in a firehouse, especially a house that has never had women in it.

The romance aspect was a little hard for me to connect much with, it did feel a little too easy but I did like both of the characters. There was a scene in the end, to not spoil too much in my review it involved applesauce, that had me rolling my eyes.

Overall, this book was enjoyable and I would definitely read more of Katherine Center's books.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for the Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a quick read with a really strong message of family and forgiveness. It also has some underlying messages of the lengths we go to for self-preservation. I liked that the Cassie was a firefighter - don't know that I have read a book with a female firefighter, so that was a nice change. I tend to like programs like Station 19 and 9-1-1 which both have female firefighters.

I would have like to have learned more about the mother/daughter relationship here - as that is where it seemed to be headed, but then it veered off into a romantic relationship. Despite that, I still enjoyed it - it was a good first "summer" read.

Talk about strong female characters that make the most out of the life they where dealt. As soon as this book starts I had a lot of admiration for Cassie. She’s a female firefighter who’s worked hard to get the recognition in a field that is male dominated and women get very little respect. But we quickly learn something that makes it obvious she’s developed that hard exterior for a reason and it just made me want to peel back the layers even more. When she gets a call from her estranged mother who needs her help for a period of time because of some health concerns, Cassie has no choice but to leave her life in Texas behind and move in with her mom. That also means taking a position at a new firehouse and having to earn the respect of a new group of firefighters that are predisposed to thinking less of women in the force. Working twice as hard to prove she deserves a spot and that she’s one of the best at what she does.

I found Katherine Center last year when I read HOW TO WALK AWAY and our heroine here Cassie was the one that rescued the heroine of that book from the plane crash. That’s where the connection ends. But the message of a strong woman having to rebuild her life and learn many things about herself and how she relates to others around her was just as powerful in this book. I may even go as far as to say I enjoyed this one a bit more than that one. There was something special about all the facets of this story. Cassie’s relationship with her mother, with her past, with her co-workers, with her inner self. And then there’s the romance. Because I will say that this author is a great women’s fiction author for romance readers. Relationships and forgiveness. That’s the biggest takeaways from this story. And Ms. Center did them so well!

Quickly on the romance, while it’s not the biggest part of this book by any means, it is an integral part of what makes Cassie work through her own issues. This healing process was emotional and heartbreaking, even when it didn’t come as a surprise for me at all. THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE is a story that will get you right in the heart. I can’t wait for what she will write next.

After reading How to Walk Away, I knew that Katherine Center was going to be a new fav! I am blown away by her story telling talent. Cassie is such a fierce character. She has a strong and determined personality and she knows exactly what she wants but sometimes unpredictable life events present new challenges and throw us for a loop! I enjoyed this story because Cassie's resolve was tested during her move and she worked hard to prove herself. She didn't give up through it all!

I loved Katherine Center's book How to Walk Away so I was very excited to read this one. It did not disappoint. Center does a great job of making her characters lovable and relatable. Highly recommend!

Katherine Center is a gem in the literary world. "Things You Save in a Fire" brings more of her insightful examination of emotion and relationships and her trademark joy.

This book gave me all the watery eyes and emotion. I'm behind on reviews but even almost 2 years later this book has haunted me.