Katherine Center is quickly becoming an auto buy author for me! I loved the characters and character development in this book. Cassie was amazing! I definitely recommend this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review!

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

After reading and LOVING How To Walk Away earlier this year- I was looking forward to reading Things You Save in a Fire.

I wasn’t sure I could love a character as much as I loved Margaret- then I met Cassie.

What I liked:

Well… first- the cover. So gorgeous!

Cassie. Tough as nails. Determined. A fighter. Love her.

The ending. ❤ ❤

Bottom line: For me- this was a book with many layers- a woman fighting against the odds in an all male fire station, coming to terms with how her past shaped her future and starting to realize that there are things she wants beyond being a kick-butt fire fighter. I loved this book- at times it has a light touch- but Katherine also provides some meat in the situations Cassie must face- and decide how to handle them. Recommended.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book.

I am not usually a romance reader, but I received an ARC of this book and decided to give it a shot. And my goodness, I am so glad that I did!

Things You Save in a Fire follows Cassie, a tough-as-nails firefighter and the lone female in her new station. After a public indiscretion and subsequent threat to her career back in Texas, she hesitantly moves in with her estranged mother in the Boston suburbs and transfers to the old-school (in every sense of the phrase) firehouse there.

She is one of two new recruits at the station, along with The Rookie, and both of them are put through the hazing ringer by the rest of the crew. Despite the unwavering kindness of The Rookie, Cassie is careful to keep things professional and him at arm's length at all times. That is, until someone begins secretly and viciously taunting Cassie at the station and revelations from both Cassie and The Rookie's pasts completely change everything.

Like I said, I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. The first half of it is kind of your standard, run-of-the mill, light and airy romance. However, I was definitely taken off guard by the second half, where several revelations completely change everything and added a whole new, unexpected level of depth and emotion to this story that I hadn't anticipated, but that made this book a huge winner. Cassie even started out a bit unlikable, in my opinion, but once I got to the end and understood more about her past, I really felt for her.

This story was humorous and sweet, but also much deeper than I expected it to be. I very much enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading another of Center's novels, "How to Walk Away".

I absolutely loved Things You Save In A Fire- it really made me thing about what I would do if facing a similar situation. The story was interesting, entertaining, and emotional. Fantastic read & highly recommend!!

Unfortunately I could not get into this one at all. Not for me. Didn’t finish it - put it down about 25% in.

Cassie Hanwell, one of the only female firefighters at her Texas firehouse, suddenly finds her life uprooted and heads to Boston to take care of her mother. The Boston firehouse is the polar opposite of her liberal, accepting firehouse in Texas. With hazing, poor facilities, and a lack of funding, the firemen aren’t exactly thrilled to have a “lady” on the crew. The new rookie that joins the same day as Cassie is the only one that doesn’t seem to mind having her around. The rookie is handsome AF, but Cassie is determined to follow her number one rule: don’t date firefighters. Cassie doesn’t believe in love, but somehow she can’t stop thinking about the rookie…THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE is a heartfelt novel about courage, love, and what it means to be vulnerable.
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Having previously read Katherine Center’s novel HOW TO WALK AWAY, I was extremely excited to pick this one up. Center’s previous novel is so incredibly heartfelt, and I loved how the story is built. THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE also has similar pacing and is incredibly easy to follow. The story is cute, but nothing out of the ordinary. I didn’t find myself loving this book, but I appreciated how quick of a read it was. The dialogue is a bit too cringe-y for my tastes and I found some of the story to jump a bit without any sort of transition. While I am happy that Katherine Center highlights a career path that most women don’t pursue, I feel like some of the cringe-y dialogue takes away from the powerful tropes that are present in the novel. If you’re looking for a light, chick-lit read, this may be the one for you!⁣ ⁣

This feel-good book was exactly what I needed right now. It sucked me in and I couldn’t stop turning pages. I loved Cassie and this whole book!

Cassie is a firefighter in Austin, Texas. She’s on the fast track for captain when a public altercation between her and a city official takes place during an awards ceremony at which she is being honored. Caught off guard by him as her award presenter, it is quickly apparent to the reader and to him that there is a past with him that Cassie has not forgotten. Despite the public altercation, Cassie is able to transfer a station, that has never had a female firefighter, in her mother’s town where she embarks on a journey of forgiveness and healing from her past.

I read this book in 24 hours. It tackled some tough subjects such as assault, sexism in the workplace, and addiction without graphic details that could upset some readers.

The story was heavy on the forgiveness, second chances, and strong women - all topics I don’t mind reading about. It has m a contemporary romance thread throughout which I enjoyed because it was balanced out nicely by the other topics.

The characters were well-developed and while a tiny bit predictable, no one was too over the top or irritating. The book was well written, researched, and all in all a satisfying and enjoyable read. This definitely won’t be my last book by Katherine Center.

I enjoyed this one! I was invested in the story immediately and really enjoyed the writing. I will definitely be reading other books by Center. Cassie is an all star firefighter in her Texas Firehouse. When her estranged mother calls and asks for help Cassie moves to Boston. She is able to transfer to a firehouse but it is the opposite of the one she left. It doesn’t matter how smart, capable and strong Cassie is, it is going to be an uphill battle for her to be seen as anything other than a “lady” in this all male firehouse. One person immediately respects and sees her true value in the firehouse, he also happens to be a handsome rookie.
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This novel has so many layers but ultimately it is about love, growth, forgiveness and courage. I really loved the character growth in this novel for multiple characters.There was one thing that bothered me but it is a bit spoilery...it has to do with the event that causes Cassie to pull her walls down and begin to build relationships with others. But other than that I loved the story and the writing. It was a wonderful blend of heart, humour, heartache, romance and growth.
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TW/CW: rape, trauma, sexism, cancer, illness of a parent, descriptions of fires/what first responders could see in an emergency.

This is the second book I have read by Katherine Center. I really enjoy her writing. There is always a great story line with a lot of drama and of course a grand romance.

Cassie is an amazing firefighter working in Texas. When her mother calls and asks her to come and live with her in a small town in Boston, she is extremely reluctant. However due to circumstances beyond her control, she is suddenly in the position where she needs to get out of Texas. So off to Boston she goes, and to a fire station that has never had a female fire fighter before, and she has to prove herself. Her number one rule is never fall for a firefighter, but the new rookie may cause her a few problems in that regard. And what exactly is going on with her mother?

I loved the slow burning romance (haha burning, get it) and the twists and turns. There was a lot of drama, a few chills and thrills and a hell of a story!

I felt that perhaps the stalker story-line was a little bit much, but it didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the book. It just felt a little bit like it was added in there for more drama and didn't really feel like it was cohesive to the storyline. But I ultimately enjoyed the way it was all resolved.

I really did enjoy this one. It was a great quick read and I won't hesitate to read her next one!</p>

Many thanks to the author and publisher via Netgalley for a copy of Things You Save in a Fire for me to read and review.

THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE - Katherine Center

EXCELLENT WRITING - 5 stars

Plot - 5 stars - Cassie is a firefighter, through and through, but when she is pushed too far by a personal problem, she breaks and is put on probation. When her estranged mother asks for help, it's both fortuitous and stressful. The mystery kept the story moving forward, and details about the day-to-day life of a firefighter added fascinating depth.

Writing - 5 stars - I had no idea what this book was going to be about, but I was caught up in the story from the very first page. Center is an author that I just "get." She writes the words I wish I had thought of, in a way that is meaningful to me. She's definitely one of my favorites.

Characters - 5 stars - The whole book is told from Cassie's point of view, and I found her to be a whole realistic person--fair but also unforgiving, trying to do her best but sometimes failing, a good person with a few bad habits. The rookie was less well-known, although that makes sense since we see him through Cassie's eyes only. We don't actually know what makes him tick, but we do know how Cassie feels about him and what sort of person she sees in him. Diana and Josie and the rest of the firefighters are defined enough to provide a solid background.

Title - 5 stars - Not only is this book about a firefighter, but it is more about the characters and their relationships. The focus on what is saved in a fire rather than the fire itself definitely sends us in the right direction.

Cover - 5 stars - Totally love the bright color and the bold flower design. It definitely catches the eye.

Overall - 5 stars - I loved everything about this book, right from the beginning and looking at the beautifully colorful cover. Cassie is the consummate firefighter--it's her life--but she's also a person trying to do the right thing. I liked that she had issues, specifically her relationship with her mother and her resistance to forgiveness. And her inability to deal with the assault she received as a young teenager. She has ruthlessly tried to grab control of her life through her career choices and relationships. But as she grows and changes, she loses control, recognizing that it's OK.

Ah, to finally be out of a reading slump. I struggle with this constantly, and I wonder sometimes when I'm reading a book, "Is is possible I would be enjoying this more if I wasn't feeling slumpish?"

THEN, I pick up a book so effortlessly readable. Something that keeps me turning the pages eagerly, a book that leaves me without a doubt in my mind: oh, no, this is a good book.

Sometimes I find myself making excuses for books when I'm in a slump. "Well, it's boring right now, but that's probably because I'm just not in the mood to read." "I'm not liking the main character, but maybe I'm just feeling irritable."

That's how I was feeling about my reads before I picked up "Things You Save in a Fire". I'd been reading a few books that I really struggled through, but they were so well-loved! How could I not like them? There must be something wrong with me, right? Nope, sometimes a book is just not for you, and that's okay. And when I eat something up as fast as this book, I realize that some books are just good for me, and some are just bad. Simple as that.

"Things You Save in a Fire" was sweet, profound, heart-warming, heart-BREAKING, frustrating, satisfying. I ate this up and loved every minute of it. It deals with some tough issues in a very sensitive way, and the ending was absolutely perfect. Maybe a little too fluffy for some, but I like my stories to be tied up with a nice little bow that leaves me feeling like a rainbow exploded in my chest, so I'm fine with it.

Possibly my only complaint is that I basically predicted the entire plot in the first ten pages. However, it's not about the tropes or the formulas here; it's about the execution and the character development, and here, that was done perfectly.

This was my first Katherine Center book and definitely won’t be my last! I enjoyed this story and how the main character was in a job you don’t normally read about. I loved the development of relationships throughout the whole book.

What first felt like a light beach read provided more opportunities for reflection on the power of forgiveness. Forgiveness, not for the other, but for self; forgiveness that empowers and strengthens. A story of familial love betrayed, trauma and sexism that ends happily, but with honesty and struggle. This book gives much more than expected!

Cassie Hanwell is doing just fine, thank you very much. She is a rising star in the Austin, Texas, fire department. She is tough and creative and energetic. Quite a turnaround for someone who had a horrific teenage life. On her sixteenth birthday, her mother left Cassie and her father to start life with another man. She wasn't around when the worst thing in Cassie's life occurred and she had no one to talk to about it. Cassie has no love life but she thinks love is highly overrated and doesn't care.

So when her mother asks her to give up her job and move in with her for a year in Massachusetts, Cassie's first instinct is to say no. But when she punches out a councilman at a big citywide event, it's take a transfer or give up firefighting. Firefighting is in Cassie's blood and it's the foundation of her life. She can't give it up so she takes the transfer.

Her immediate impression is that it won't work. She moves from an enlightened fire department with many female employees to a small, out of date firehouse that has never had a woman on board. She comes in the same day as a rookie, and he is everything she is not. He looks like a firefighter; plenty of muscles and a clean cut appearance. He is the son of a lifetime fire fighter and he knows everyone in the house already. Cassie has one advantage over him; she is experienced and much better at everything. Her new chief assigns her to train him and that is a problem. For some reason, Cassie finds herself attracted to the rookie even though she would never admit it to him or anyone else. She doesn't want an attraction, she just wants to do her job, put in her time and move back to Austin.

When the city decides it needs to cut back personnel, the rivalry between Cassie and the rookie becomes more heated. One of them will be cut as they are the newest and started on the same day. Will the department go for the picture perfect firefighter or for Cassie with her clear advantage in knowledge and skillsets? Will the sexism that is rampant in the firehouse ruin her career path?

Katherine Center has written an engaging love story that fits in perfectly in the modern workplace where women now are represented in every occupation. It highlights sexism, the need for inclusion and attachment to others, sexual harassment and the freedom that forgiveness gives one to pursue a healthier life. The characters are realistic as are the situations Cassie faces. Her life isn't perfect but maybe she can learn to make it better. This book is recommended for readers of women's fiction.

I absolutely loved this book. Katherine’s writing is amazing. I read this in one day because I could not put it down.

Loved this book. Such a heartwarming story about a woman starting her life over in a new place. I loved the female firefighting perspective.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for an ARC. All opinions are my own.


This is an incredible book with a strong female lead. Center does a fabulous job creating characters, they feel more like friends than just an element in a story. Her storytelling is fun, uplifting and entertaining.

Center continues to develop great story's. A must read!! Looking forward to more from her.

Katherine's How to Walk Away was one of my favorite reads of 2018. I was INSTANTLY hooked on the story line and loved it to the last period. When I heard about Things You Save in a Fire, I knew I had to get my hands on it. It did not disappoint!

From the premise of the book she had me pulled in. I'm a native Texan and I was so curious to see how she would write this person. I love that Cassie moved to Boston right away though, as it gave us a chance to see I text him in New England, which is quite a culture shock. Katherine did such a great job writing Cassie, she was tough and admirable, but she was also considerate, sensitive, and excited about love (well, once she realized what it was!)! This book had me smiling, holding my breath, crying, and feeling happy at the end. 

One thing I did want to mention about Catherine, was that she writes love stories that seem realistic, but she doesn't get bogged down in describing sexual scenes in detail. As a person who prefers not to read that kind of stuff, I appreciate that she's sensitive to that. I think she's still able to fully get her story across and all the emotions that are involved in those moments, without those extra details. I know for some that's not a big deal, but for me personally, I'm grateful that I can still enjoy these books and not compromise my convictions! 

All that being said, I would recommend any of her books as I've loved each one. I can't wait to read her next one, I have no doubts it will be exactly What [I] Wish[ed] For! ;)

This story was simply fantastic. I had so many emotions while reading. It's rare that an author can make someone feel as much as this story made me feel. Katherine is a fabulous author and I can't wait to read more stories by her. I read this book in 2 days, and to say I couldn't put it down is an understatement. I was thoroughly obsessed with this book from the moment I started it. I will definitely be reading more by this author!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

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