Thank you so much to St. Martins Press for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

I absolutely loved Katherine Center’s first book How to Walk Away and I was so excited when she came out with this one (and I love how much the covers almost match!). It did immediately entice me from the beginning and kept me interested for a while and then I found myself almost bored in the middle of the book and for that reason, this was almost a 3 star read for me. Then the ending came and it definitely redeemed itself and is well worth 4 stars. 

This story follows Cassie who is the only female firefighter at a station in Austin. She loves her crew and they don’t treat her like she’s a girl, she’s proven how tough and fearless she can be. When her mom that left her at sixteen years old calls and says she’s sick and needs someone to help take care of her, Cassie must leave her career and all of her buddies to move to Chicago. She gets hired on at another station and these guys are less than thrilled that a female is working beside them. Cassie must prove that she’s just as good as they are and along the way learn to trust and forgive. 

As I said before, the beginning of this book really drew me in, a female working in a male-dominated career field and having to prove that she’s just as good, any story about females being complete badasses I’m all for. But then towards the middle of the book, I felt that things were dragged on and I was starting to get bored with the story. The romance and everything were not all that interesting to me and really felt like just another trope. 

Then I got to the ending of the book and immediately fell back in love with the story and that’s where the romance got better for me. The ending was so suspenseful and I could not tear my eyes away from the page, I had to know what was going to happen next.  Katherine Center had me feeling all kinds of emotions; gasping from the suspense, angry at a certain character, sad, happy, then sad again, it was a whirlwind of emotions and I loved it.

I knew going in that Center can write an emotional story, but I wasn’t really prepared to feel the things that I did while reading. It was just amazing…

Cassie Hanwell is a firefighter, well on her way up the ranks too. That is until she has one big blunder. And boy was it a Big one too. Her career is now in limbo and she has also received a phone call from her mother asking her to come and live with her, the mother who left when she was 16 years old. Not knowing what to do about either, she packs up and moves to Lillian, Massachusetts and takes a job at a local fire department, where she wasn’t exactly welcomed. She is a female firefighter after all.

Cassie is one those characters that you admire and want to give a smack up side the head a time or two. She is fiercely independent, strong willed and extremely ambitious and I really loved that about her. But at the same time, she was very stubborn, sometimes too stubborn her own good. She has been so focused on her career that everything else has been put on the back burner, including her family and most of all love.

Cassie knew that the move wasn’t going to be easy. She would be living with the woman her abandoned her, and now needs her help. Not only that, the fire station didn’t exactly want her there because she was a woman, in what they thought was a mans world. And then there is the Rookie, he was sweet and charming and everything that she had always pushed away.

The more I read, the more I became fully immersed into Cassie’s world. I laughed with her, rooted for her to fit in and maybe get some peace where her mother was concerned. This has some pretty sensitive themes in it too and Center handled them with care. And by the end, I was a blubbering mess but in such a good way. Things To Save in a Fire was one emotional roller coaster but was so worth it.

"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 took my time reading this one. I just knew that it was going to be on a level of emotional that only Katherine Center can deliver. So I paced myself. I digested it in small pieces. I let myself feel everything that Cassie was feeling. Katherine writes in a way that feels light and easy, but always deals with topics that are anything but that. You see things in a different light afterwards.

'Things You Save in a Fire' is that one book you MUST pick up. It'll help you put, whatever you're dealing with, into perspective. That is Katherine's gift. The theme stays with you long after you've read the last page. The biggest theme in this one is forgiveness. Expect to cry... and not just the 'I have something in my eye' type of tears... the type of cry that makes you feel like a weight has been lifted afterwards.

From the cover to the words inside, Things You Save in a Fire, is a top pick.

Cassie’s story was so beautiful.  Watching her grow and learn how to accept love was so wonderful.  I enjoyed all the relationships in this story- romantic. Mother-daughter, etc. Cassie found her place at her fire station which was also such a wonderful part of the story.

This book. It crept up on me. I enjoyed it from the start, with its tough female lead, fascinating details about firefighting, laugh out loud moments and an engaging premise (she has to start over in her career and personal life). But then the plot started building and I wasn't simply enjoying this book, I was all in as she proved herself to group of set-in-their-ways firefighters, tried to salvage her relationship with her mom, and slowly opened herself up to an adorable rookie firefighter. By the end, I went through all possible emotions, parts of the story were so  sad, other parts were simply infuriating, but when it as all said and done, it was a love story in more ways than one, and it left me smiling. 

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cassie Hanwell is a female firefighter located in Austin, Texas. She has it easy as her captain is also female and she is currently working in a more progressive station. Her world is turned upside down though when her ‘estranged’ mother asks her to pack up all her things, drive hours to come and see her, and move in with her. She is then thrust into a firehouse that has a definite male vibe, and though she thinks she’s an emotionless robot, one particular rookie catches her eye and turns her all kinds of bonkers. Does she fight her emotions? Does she give in? What happens between her and her mom? What exactly is wrong with her mom? 

I lovedddd this book. About the same amount as the last one if not more. I also got this book on my book of the month (I assumed I would like it enough that I just went ahead and got a hard copy 😂). I’m glad I did like it though because it is just so fantastic. Again the characters were brought to life and I laughed quite a bit reading this book. I finished this one in a day, just like her last novel. They are such fast paced books and it was so difficult to put them down! She does a great job of reeling in the reader and keeping them engaged and entertained. The best part is that it isn’t a thinking book, so you’re basically just reading it for fun! Also recommend this one!!

Ok, I’ll admit it.  I requested this book purely because I loved the title.  But as I read the first few pages, I was second guessing myself.  Was this going to be some sort of romance fluff?   The answer is unfortunately, yes.  Now, if you’re into that, I guess this is a decent one.  

The book blurb says it’s about family and forgiveness. And there is some of that.   But it’s really mostly about romance, the head over heels infatuation kind.  Cassie is a strong, no nonsense, firefighter who’s risen like a speeding bullet through the Austin TX fire department.  Until she makes a bad move at an awards ceremony.  No spoilers, but that was the highlight of the book for me.   Timing wise, the incident comes at the same time as her mom asks her to move to New England to help her out.  The fire department there is still lodged firmly in the 1950s.  The firefighters aren’t out and out misogynist, as Cassie says they act “in a chivalrous, slightly patronizing way”. 

Where the author does a good job is in describing the mind of a firefighter and what the job is like.  

I am the antithesis of a romance fan, so do not let my review dissuade you if you like the genre. If you like sweet, Hallmark style love stories with a bit of morality thrown in, this one’s for you.  

My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Center and St. Martins Press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Cassie was born for dealing with emergencies, she’s seen her fair share of them and she’s excellent at dealing with other people’s tragedies. She’s one of the only female firefighters in Texas, and when her estranged mother reaches out with a health related emergency, she has to leave her home and move to Boston where they don’t appreciate having a “lady” on their crew. It’s tougher than it was back at her old station; this one is old and they have poor funding. She starts out her new job with a Rookie who doesn’t seem to mind having her around as much, but Cassie finds herself fighting off feelings for her new coworker because it is forbidden to date someone on your crew. Doesn’t she keep fighting or give love a chance?

I am a forever fan of Katherine Center’s novels after reading her newest two because I was unable to put them down and I fell in love with the characters and the story as I was reading through. I loved the theme of forgiveness in this one and I think we could all learn something from this book! Sometimes we need to remember that we need to forgive ourselves as often as we forgive everyone else! I read this in two sittings and I never once wanted to leave Cassie and Owen’s story because it was so real and heartfelt. Everyone knows what it feels like to be in love for the first time and be terrified, but then put your job on the line and I think we can all see why Cassie is scared. These characters just broke my heart and put it back together again and I was terribly sad to see it end!

Pick it up August 13th!

How to Walk Away was one of my favorite books last year and made me an instant Katherine Center fan. I’ve been looking forward to Things You a Save in a Fire all year.  I was a little nervous at first because I wasn’t really connecting with the main character Cassie. However, I was quickly pulled into the story and absolutely loved it. Overall, this is a light read, but there is definite substance here; it’s not just fluff. I found myself laughing and teary-eyed and feeling all the feels. (Trigger warning- sexual harassment, rape, cancer) This book really brought things together and wrapped up nicely. I was sad when it was over. I highly recommend it and am pretty certain Katherine Center has again secured one of my top book spots of the year!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Cassie Hanwell is a firefighter in Austin, Texas. She’s the only female at her firehouse, but that doesn’t define her. She is good at her job and excellent in emergencies. When her estranged mother calls and asks her to leave her life in Austin to come take care of her in Boston, Cassie has no desire to leave, but she does it anyway. 

Now she’s the only woman on the job, but she’s not accepted and her co-workers are not thrilled to have a lady on their crew. No wants her around, except the rookie who she finds herself attracted to but she doesn’t fall in love or date firefighters...

This book made me smile and laugh and cry and cheer the characters on and I have already bought it for myself, ordered for a friend, and reserved it at the library! Katherine Center in an official auto-buy for me!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.

Center does it again with this wonderful, fun, and deep novel about overcoming and starting over. My favorite part is how she had the main character be a woman firefighter. I think that working through the obstacles of being in this career as a woman made the whole book. It showed the adversity that women face in a male dominated field.

I also liked how Cassie had to work through issues with her mom. This relationship can be extremely complicated, and Center showed how the struggle between an estranged mother and daughter can be so complicated.

This book is out on August 13, so go check it out. Her books are always so good at hitting all emotions in the reader.

AUTHOR: Katherine Center

GENRE: Contemporary Fiction | Romance

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

RELEASE DATE: August 13, 2019

PUBLISHER: St. Martin’s Press

COMPARABLE TITLES: Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

SUMMARY: Things You Save in a Fire is the story of Cassie, a female firefighter who prides herself on her ability to stay utterly calm in the face of catastrophe, thanks to her rough and unemotional demeanor. But when Cassie accidentally lets her feelings get the better of her, an uncharacteristic moment changes the trajectory of her entire career, aka, her entire life.

In a moment of duress, Cassie agrees to leave her beloved Austin, TX fire station—and home—to move to Boston to take care of her ailing, and semi-estranged, mother.

Cassie believes she’ll be just fine in her new male-dominated, non-progressive environment because of her ability to follow the rules. Thankfully, her old fire chief armed her with everything she needs to know about her new job—never let them see you cry, be stronger than everyone, and never, ever get involved with a fellow firefighter.

She’s got it in the bag—she’ll simple be her usually hardcore, rule-abiding self times a million. That is until she encounters The Rookie—another new recruit who stirs something in her she’s never experienced before. Before she’s even realize what happens, all her rules—and all her control—has gone right out the window.

WHY THIS IS A MUST-READ: This has been the most unputdownable book I’ve read all year. I literally sacrificed sleep, work and friends because this things was glued to my hands from page one.

It’s a sweet, engrossing and butterflies-in-the-stomach kind of story that will grab your heart. I absolutely adored this book!

I couldn’t stop reading this! Katherine Center is a terrific storyteller. Great characters and dialogue. The story flowed so easily. I’m impressed with the research the author had to do in regards to firefighting. I now have a deeper respect for those who choose the profession. I highly recommend this heart grabbing story!

Things You Save in a Fire is my first book to read by Katherine Center. I must say that I loved it.  I love books that feature strong women. This book was thought provoking.and has remained with me long after finishing the book.  I will be reading every book that Katherine Center writes.

My gratitude goes out to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for letting me preview this title before its release in August. I guess the genre would be modern fiction, but it’s one part feminism, one part love story and many parts family drama and trauma. Cassie is forced to move in with her ailing mother and take a job with a new, sometimes backwards, fire department than the one she left in Texas. The same day she starts so does the “rookie.” Because she has experience, but is also new, they are continuously thrown together for both training and pranks. 

Not a dull moment in this read. I love Center’s writing. It’s easy, but also engaging. She develops three-dimensional characters, gives you a actual taste of whatever is happening – a medical emergency, smoke and fire, her mother’s crochet club and Cassie’s unpleasant past. I highly recommend this work of fiction both as a summer read and also as an insight into previously broken relationships.

Absolutely loved this read. I admire Katherine Center a lot. She has a magical way of writing that combines hurt, humor, love, and pain all together into one captivating read. Things You Save in a Fire is truly a fast-paced page turner that draws you in and keeps you hooked! Definitely recommend.

Another stunning novel by Katherine Center. I laughed, cried, and genuinely connected with the characters. I would suggest this book to everyone!

I loved How to Walk Away, so I was so excited for Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free ebook arc in return for an honest review!

Cassie is a great firefighter. So great, she is receiving a prestigious award, which she received from someone in her past. Between the incident during the ceremony and her estranged mother being sick, she decides to leave Austin and move to Massachusetts. She knows that moving from her “brother- and sisterhood” is going to be tough as a female firefighter, but she doesn’t realize what it all will entail.

This was such a hyped up book, and I think it lived up to the hype!

Fans of How To Walk Away, will fall in love with Cassie, a tough female firefighter in Things You Save In A Fire. I truly enjoyed reading Things You Save In A Fire. The author has an amazing talent for creating a moving story sprinkled with all the necessary emotional ingredients needed to serve up a soul-nourishing platter of acceptance, forgiveness, love, and happiness.

I had heard of this novel on every podcast and blog for months and was so excited to finally get my hands on it! Cassie, is a firefighter in Texas who has risen up the ranks and is accepting a prestigious award when someone from her past shows up and destroys the evening. Then Cassie's estranged mother calls with a favor and asks Cassie to move in with her in Massachusets. This headstrong and brave firefighter must leave her home in Texas and start over with her relationship with her mother and a new house of firefighters, I loved this novel and will definitely read more by Katherine Center.