How To Walk Away has been one of the most discussed books lately in the online book space, and it's being RAVED about, so I was excited to receive a copy of this ARC.

This story was really, really good. I haven't ever considered what goes in to being a firefighter, and this book describes the job, the relationships, and the firehouse vibes all really well. It was intricately detailed, but not in a way that bogs you down from the actual story.

Cassie was relatable AF (certainly there are more eloquent ways to say that, but truly, relatable AF just feels right). Is there anything MORE obnoxious than actively not wanting something, then having the universe force you into it anyway? Just amen, girl. We've all been there!

<spoiler>I also really enjoyed watching the relationship between Cassie and her mom change as more details came about surrounding the circumstances of her mom leaving. I appreciated that the characters weren't stagnant, and were allowed to grow throughout the story. Sometimes I feel like storylines are shoved in for more content rather than actually giving the reader anything, and that so wasn't the case with this!</spoiler>

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Katherine Center's How to Walk Away so I came into this book with fairly high expectations and it did not disappoint. Center has a way of really engaging the reader and writing realistic characters that you really empathize with. I felt for Cassie and was thoroughly engaged in her journey. There are a couple of predictable elements to the story, but it doesn't hinder it in any way. I'm so pleased with this book and am planning to read Center's other novels.

Chick Lit. Romance. Women's Literature. I don't know why, but I vehemently deny my interest in these genres. Often times I won't give these types of novels the time of day. I will read the back of the book and roll my eyes and immediately pass it up. Not even an ounce of consideration given to adding it to the TBR pile. Why? Because its about love and I'm obviously still a 10 year old girl who can't help but think ew! when the subject arrives. However, if I pick up a Katherine Center story, I find a sort of love haze enveloping my senses and something mystical happens. And I can't really fight it, but even worse, I don't want to fight it....

Things You Save in a Fire starts off with a hit. It is a shocking opening, I actually had to pick my jaw up off of the floor. So in Center fashion, she just thrashes you into the story. And I can't help but eat that shit up. Next, she receives a call from her kind of estranged mother, Dianna, who needs help for a year at most. Given certain circumstances, Cassie (our protag) finds herself leaving behind Texas and relocating to a small Massachusetts town. Due to the move, she must essentially start over with a new group of firefighters who have a fairly insular view on women in their field. Cassie is hell bent on proving herself to be one of the guys. Luckily, there is one guy on her shift who she doesn't have to prove anything to, but he is just the Rookie. So how much does he count?

So after finishing my second chick lit novel from Center, I've thought long and hard about why these romance stories resonate with me so well. Center's main theme often is love. But it isn't necessarily love with a significant other. I find that Center's main characters often find love with themselves first. They come to grip with big issues in their life and learn how to accept themselves despite their issues or flawed history. For me, I find that she reinforces the importance of being in love with yourself first and foremost before embarking on a secondary love with a man or woman. And after careful thinking, I know this is why I find myself loving Katherine Center's love stories. She her priorities straight in that regard. I like when love is sensible.

This novel aside from the important lesson on love is rather enjoyable. Cassie was a character that I found myself relating to quite well. Cassie is a routine, focused, stay-on-track type of woman. While she has built great relationships with her fire department crew, her personal life is a bit more focused on solitude. She has walls and a hard time knocking them down. Which while reading this, I found myself relating greatly to her view points and reactions to feelings and emotions. I found this sentence hilarious, I could have written this line myself:

I, in contrast, was doing that thing where I decide I'm not going to have feelings.

I just think that Cassie is my favorite type of character to read about when it comes to chick lit. Because she is hard, but has an ability to soften if pushed. She is a girl who offers hope to readers. Additionally, the supporting characters were rather great. They truly added to the overall story from the banter and teasing to the hazing. These crew men really added a certain something that I think readers will highly enjoy.

Center does touch on some trigger warning situations. She handles it very delicately, so I think many will be able to handle it. But I just really wanted to compliment the author on how she handled the assaulter. She didn't really give him a face, if that makes sense? When big tragic events happen on social media, many talk about not giving the aggressor "glory". Meaning we want to make it more about those assaulted, they should be the story. And this is how Center handled this story's situation. We were offered enough about Thompson, but nothing more. I found myself really appreciating this approach, it was a breath of fresh air this way. I highly praise Center's craftsmanship with a heavy topic.

This is going to be a big novel in 2019. But this is hardly a surprise, Center's novels are usually highly anticipated. That is why I was shocked to be approved for this novel. So I want to give a huge Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for approving my request!

If you adored Katherine Center’s How To Walk Away, get ready for Things You Save in a Fire!

Big thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for an eARC of this lovely book.

Our main character, Cassie, is a firefighter who reluctantly moves to Boston to help her estranged mother. Her new firehouse isn’t thrilled with their new addition even though Cassie is tough, competent, and hard-working. She soon develops a crush on one of the firefighters and has to work extra hard to conceal that. And then it appears that someone at the firehouse wants her to leave—and will do anything to make sure she does.

Cassie is a fantastic character, funny, sarcastic, tough as nails, but vulnerable and sweet. I loved her. The entire book is just delicious, honestly. The romance is adorable, the mother-daughter relationship dynamics are well drawn, and I loved learning about life in a firehouse and seeing that world through Cassie’s eyes. I tore through this book in 24 hours and highly recommend it to readers who love heartfelt women’s fiction with family drama, delicious romance, and strong heroines.

Releases August 13, 2019 so put this one on your lists for the late summer.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review!

I was THRILLED when my request was approved for this book. At the time, I had not yet read, How to Walk Away, so I made it my mission to read that first. After having read it (loved it), I really looked forward to seeing if Ms. Center could repeat the success of the previous book. Being the Christmas season, it took me a little longer to get to this than I would have wanted, but I am so glad I was forced to wait. I have NO IDEA how I'm going to make it until her next book. Katherine Center has cemented herself as a go-to author for sure and I definitely plan on adding this to my bookcase full of 5 star books!

I think what I admire so much about Center's work is that she writes feel good stories (and I'm sure some could say they have predictable plot points), but you are still glued to it from cover to cover. Her female characters are vulnerable, but fiercely capable and while things unfold you absolutely root for them to succeed. I like how there are flaws (we all have them), but there is plenty of growth in her characters to become better human beings. I also appreciate how well researched each book is. I come away with learning a lot and know that she put thought into every last detail. I think Things You Save in a Fire, was slightly better. I really liked how even though you could kind of guess the defining moment in the main character's life when she was sixteen, you wanted so desperately for her to share her story and learn to get past it. I also really liked how the romance wasn't the center of the book and it wasn't at all cheesy. It's totally believable and something you root for.

I cannot recommend this author enough. Her novels are perfect for any type of mood you may be in. Some people may have issues with the ending, but I think if you take it for what it is - you can't help but love it.

This book is one of the best books I have read in a very long time. It is incredibly engaging, interesting and heartfelt. It is very moving at times and very funny at other parts. I am so glad I read this book. I cannot recommend it strongly enough—it is incredible.

Thank you to NetGalley. Katherine Center and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

This was my first Katherine Center book, and I LOVED IT. The story was fantastic, and illustrated how women can succeed in male dominated careers. Just because we're women, doesn't mean we can't do the same jobs as men.

The only thing I didn't like about the novel (and it's a very minor thing) is how Owen was called "rookie" through most of the book. Halfway through the story, I actually forgot his real name!

Overall, this was an amazing book. If you like the show "9-1-1", you'll love this book.

I received this advance copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

I've read a few of Katherine Center's books in the past and I really like her writing style. She's funny, intelligent, and creates great insight into her characters. In this one, was the love story a bit mushy? Yes. Predictable? Yes. Did I care? Nope. I unabashedly found myself rooting for the fairy tale happy ending. This was not just a love story, however. It was also the story of Cassie's challenge to soften a heart hardened by a couple of tough events in her past. Mix in a bit of education about the life of a firefighter, and you've got yourself a very worthwhile read.

3 1/2 stars.

Well, I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. It starts out well and I've got to say, I found myself really getting into the characters and the storyline. Cassie is determined, strong willed and most importantly she is a character that is open to change. I loved her and became quite fond of her because I realized she reminds me a lot of myself. Not the 'love doesn't exist' Cassie but the Cassie that tries to keep everything together so she can preserve herself. She's purely trying to survive not necessarily thrive...at least in the beginning.

I admired what Center was trying to do with Cassie's character and because of that, I gave the book a higher rating. However, I had a few problems with the book as a whole. It felt a little disjointed, rushed and often times way too cheesy for the subject matter at hand. There were many scenes that felt too predictable and the theme (forgiveness) felt forced. I think the story would have been better served if either the light love story was the focus or Cassie's relationship with her mother and in turn herself were made more of a focus. I personally would have loved to read more of the latter.

I'd recommend if you're a rom-com type. Thank you to Netgally and St Martins Press for the advanced copy.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley, for the advanced copy of Things You Save in a Fire. It was my first book by author Katherine Center, and it was fantastic.

Cassie Howell is a firefighter in Austin, Texas who loves her job and her city. She receives a call from her estranged mother asking for her for a favor. A big one. Cassie’s mom wants her to relocate to the suburbs of Boston because she is ill. After an altercation at her job, she is offered the chance to relocate to a MA fire department that has never once had a female firefighter. Soon, Cassie is trying hard to forgive her mother. Her bond with her fire crew is extraneous at best. And to her utter dismay, she is falling hard and fast for the newest rookie fireman. The chaos allows Cassie to reexamine what is important to her and learn to forgive the people who have hurt her.

Things You Save in a Fire took me less than a day to read. I loved how Center created a female character that was smart, independent, and her own person. She was working on her career and embracing her role as the only woman at the firehouse. She was so confident and passionate about her job. As Cassie’s story unfolds, she balances being soft and hard and she learns how to embrace her feminine side. I thought the character development was phenomenal. I also loved that even with heavier topics, TYSIAF was Laugh Out Loud hilarious. There is charm here that makes the characters endearing and relatable. I highly recommend.


Instagram post date: August 13th @ www.instagram.com/tesstalksbook

I absolutely loved How to Walk Away so I was very excited to see that Katherine Center has a new book. Fans of Center will not be disappointed.

Cassie is a firefighter and is faced with having to relocate from Texas to Massachusetts to help her mother with her medical problems. She quickly discovers that her new department is not nearly as progressive and female-friendly as Austin’s, which even had a female chief. Cassie finds that she has to prove herself again and again to be accepted as “one of the guys.”

Cassie lives a very predictable and regimented life. She likes it like that. She needs to to be in control of her life at all times after two unpredictable and tragic events traumatized her on her 16th birthday

Because of these traumatic experiences, Cassie has successfully insulated herself from getting close to others, but now she finds herself craving companionship and love. You see, Cassie has a big crush on the rookie firefighter at her new department but she knows that if anything were to happen between them, she would lose her job and career. But sometimes, as hard as one may try, you can’t stop love.

Center has a talent for creating characters with such depth, that you truly feel like you know them. Cassie is believable, relatable, genuine, and admirable. At the same time, she faces major psychological struggles that you or I might have encountered as well — emotionally blocked and isolated, estranged mother, doesn’t believe in love, etc.

Things You Save in a Fire is about Cassie’s journey to psychological maturity and confront the issues holding her back from love and enjoying life. Her biggest obstacle and lesson she needs to learn is forgiveness of others and of herself. I was rooting for Cassie and experienced her transformation.

We feel so many different emotions along with Cassie, such as joy, anger, trust, surprise, etc. I was particularly moved when she experiences empathy and compassion for her mother.

“For the first time, I understood. In all the times I’d remembered that story, I’d experienced every single part of it from my own perspective, standing in my own sixteen-year-old shoes. Now, for the first time, I saw it unfold from a new angle. Hers. And it changed the story.”

This book has all the elements — drama, love, suspense, heroism, a little humor, and secrets! It is well written with three-dimensional characters. We get to know the inner struggles of these characters and the motivations for their behavior.

The first line of the novel grabbed me and it never let me go.

“The night I became the youngest person—and the only female ever—to win the Austin Fire Department’s Valor Award, I got propositioned by my partner.”

I really enjoy Katherine Center’s writing (see examples below) and am looking forward to reading her earlier books while I wait for her next one.

“...two ladies pulled out dress after dress, holding them up in front of me, then tossing them in rejection piles on the bed. Too purple, they’d decide. Or: Too bright. Too dark. Too flashy. Too plain. Too stiff. Too floppy. Too many pleats. Too teenagery. Too old-lady. Too much cleavage. Not enough cleavage. And on and on.”

“Down in Texas, everybody had been robust and tan. Here, they looked like ashtrays.”

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was amazing!!! I devoured How to Walk Away AND now Things You Save In A Fire. This book took me 2 days and only that long because it was the holidays. And honestly, I don’t usually like endings like this one but for some reason this worked amazingly. I love the dynamic between characters. And, as someone that went to school and worked in a male dominated field, I totally understood Cassie’s struggles! Such a great book. Will definitely be a best seller in 2019!

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Loved Things You Save In A Fire! This was my first Katherine Center book and I can't wait to read her others.

While the storyline was predictable it was a cute, quick read and I enjoyed the main character and how she was a fire fighter and pretty awesome!

Cassie has so many layers and between each one, she wrestles with forgiveness. As Cassie evolves, the reader evolves as well. I don't know how to explain the depth and empowerment that I find in Katherine Center's novels. Certainly, I read for the story and characters, but she pushes emotional boundaries. There can never be enough books by Katherine Center and this does not disappoint. This novel is well written and emotionally intelligent, a must read.

This was my first Katherine Center book and I will most definitely be back for more! She has such a great way of writing that is easy to read but doesn’t feel like just another light read.
This book was great! iIt opened the window to a world I knew nothing about- the world of firefighters. The different setting (a woman in a mans world for sure!) along with some twists you will not expect set this book apart from every other chick-lit, light, romance book you are used to. I highly recommend picking it up!

I Cassie is one of the toughest firefighters there is, she has saved many lives and has the highest medal the department has to give, so why give that all up up to help her ailing, estranged mom in another state ?
Cassie has a rigid schedule, be the best , no friends or love at anytime !
Cassie was so many, many things but her bravery and strength hooked me from the first page, her layers of hurt had me turning the pages long into the night !
This is my second book by this author and I must say , she now has a permanent place on my TBR list!
I laughed and cried and will carry this book and it’s true lessons of forgiveness, compassion, and moving forward in my heart and in my life from now on!

Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors and I believe that I have read everything she has written, novel wise. I was beyond excited to see she has a new book coming out this summer and was thrilled to get an ARC from Netgalley to read in return for an honest review.

This book, for me, started out a little slow. I didn't find the main character, Cassie, overly appealing and felt a bit disappointed as I read the first couple of chapters or so. Was this going to be the first Katherine Center book I didn't like?

As the book progressed, however, I found my way into the story and the characters and from about a third of the way in, I was sold. I very much enjoyed the story and the themes of forgiveness, of softening the hard spots and letting love in and of gender equality and respect in the workplace.

Katherine Center is just a solid, enjoyable author and I am so glad that she writes and shares her stories with us!

Thank you again to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

Katherine Center has a knack for creating realistic, relatable, down to earth female protagonists. Cassie's journey was a fantastic reminder for all of us. We need people!

Amazing. Couldn't put it down. Somehow, every single book, Katherine Center sucks me in from the first sentence. It's like I've been dropped into a conversation and I want it to go on forever.

I loved it. The characters, their lives, their loves. Just beautiful. I would like this author to continue writing forever. She's remarkable.

This book was too light and fluffy for my taste. The storylines seemed to jump around and I didn’t care for the style of writing. I felt as if certain storylines were forced and predictable.