Early this summer I read How to Walk Away by Katherine Center and loved it. When I saw that she had a new book coming out I knew I needed to get my hands on it. I am so glad. This book read like Chicago Fire. There was action, romance and strong characters.




This is the story of Cassie who at 16 had a few traumatic events that left her close off to love. After a crazy encounter, she finds herself at a crossroad. She will need to move to Massachusetts to live with her mom who can’t see from one eye. She joins a new firehouse that doesn’t welcome women.

This is a story of practicing forgiveness. We get to see it when it comes to her relationship with her mom and even a stalker. I

I love the romance in this story. It didn’t overpower the book. It felt natural that she would fall in love with the rookie.

My feels: I absolutely loved this book and I am going to rave about it to anyone who listens. This is one of my favorite books of the year. This was a feel good story. The epilogue was epic. I love the small cameo of the How to Walk Away character. I will be buying a physical copy of this book.

I will publish a review on publication date in 2019 on What to Read Next Blog.

I absolutely love Katherine Center’s writing. This book is about a strong young woman, the only female firefighter in her Austin, Texas firehouse. After an “incident” she transfers to Boston to take care of her mother, she finally learns how to forgive and to love. The only problem that I had with this book: I wanted more!
I highly recommend it!

Another great book by Katherine Center, I loved it. A tough as nails female firefighter who was abandoned by her mother on her birthday and raised by her father. She has always had an invisible shield around her so as not to get too personal and close to anyone. After many years she hears from her mother who asks for her help. She moves in with her mother and learns many life lessons from her. This book is so much more than what I’ve said here but I don’t want to give anything way. Heartbreaking and on to heartwarming.

I really love books about strong women and this is one of the good ones! I LOVED the title, premise, and cover which is why I entered, and overall it lived up to my standards!! I think it ill be a big hit soon :)

Center has mastered the art of writing about emotions without drowning in them and keeping the story moving at a snapping speed so that you can't put it down. She kept me up into the wee hours of the morning with this one.

While this book matches a lot of the features of a romance book, this is no ordinary romance, in that it has a lot more depth to it than just the love story. Center battles life's joys and sadness through her MCs with aplomb, and you could never accuse her of trivializing anything people go through with cliches or a Pollyanna perspective. She handles each thing with hope and respect, and gives us all hope that we can make our way through anything by the end..

How to Walk Away, I think, has a slight edge over this one, but this was still a great read.

This poignant, beautiful, thought-provoking, emotionally- intelligent and timely novel had me laughing and tearing up in equal measures. Indomitable Cassie and goodhearted Owen can’t help but capture your heart and your imagination as surely as they did mine. Whenever I pick up a book by Katherine Center, I know I will invariably find a story full of wit, laugh-out -loud humor and personal insight, written in a melodious, flowing style that pulls me so far in that I forget my surroundings. In Things You Save in a Fire, Cassie is a dedicated firefighter who has turned her back on love after a traumatic experience in her youth. She is all about “control” and routine. When her past comes back to haunt her, Cassie is forced to learn that only by relinquishing her anger, and finding some redeeming aspect from her suffering, can she release herself from the emotional prison she has trapped herself in. My sincerest thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an uncorrected digital galley of this truly inspiring, timely novel, by such a talented and inspiring author. I would have given it six stars out of five - it was such an enjoyable, heartwarming read!

WOW! I've found a new author to read in Katherine Center. Her writing is funny and breathtakingly honest. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this and finding a new author to follow.

Thanks to St. Martins Press and Netgalley, I was able to read an ARC for review. There is a trigger warning for this book, but as a sexual assault survivor I was able to get through it. It helped because Cassie was so strong and was a survivor, not a victim and the scene at the beginning was so satisfying. As a fan of firefighter romances I enjoyed how Katherine Center protrayed the position of female firefighters and all the obstacles that she faces. The romance was enjoyable and their journey was satisfying. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this and makes want to read her previous book How To Walk Away right now.

Cassie is a 26 year old firefighter based out of Austin, TX. After an "interpersonal conflict" she is forced to relocate to Rockport and live with her estranged mother (*gasp*). This book explores Cassie's relationship with her mother as well as her tough new assignment at a firestation that doesn't look too kindly on female firefighters. But Cassie is hellbent on proving herself and doesn't mean to fall in love in the process....

I was excited to read this book as I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. I have never read Katherine Center's books before, and I was pleasantly surprised to be pulled in by Cassie's character right away. I was rooting for her the entire journey. It's such a sweet love story while also hitting on some harder topics in the process. Overall I would recommend this book! I can't wait to read more from this author.

I loved everything about this book! I found Katherine Center last
July 2018 with Happiness for Beginners, another excellent book.
Since then I have read 5 of her books and intend to read the rest.
" Things you save in a fire," is good. Cassie has really been
hurt. The kind of hurt that can shut you down. All traces of feelings
and emotions, gone. A decade she has closed off a family member,
the one family member that meant the most. Now that member needs
her desperately. It's beautiful what she goes through to make her way
back home. This is a keeper! I will have it on my shelf next year~

Things You Save in a Fire is easily another 5/5 ⭐️’S⁣⁣ book for me! ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
Past Trauma.⁣⁣⁣
Hidden pain.⁣⁣⁣
Mother daughter drama.⁣⁣⁣
Striving to prove oneself in a male dominated work environment.⁣⁣⁣
Push and pull of a forbidden love interest.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
This novel had all that and so much more. ⁣
This is a 2019 MUST read!!⁣ ⁣

Oh my goodness - this is one of the best books I have read in a while! I haven't read How to Walk Away Yet, though I own it, and it is moving to the top of my pile after reading this. I love the way Katherine Center writes. Her style is so simple, yet detailed, and the story line of this book grips you from the beginning. Her characters display such wide range of emotions - from confusion, to anger, to forgiveness and contentment/happiness, just to name a few. I became emotionally invested in Cassie's story and finished the book in just over a day. Definitely a must read! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I haven't written a full review of Things You Save in a Fire yet, because I'm waiting until it's closer to the publication date. I loved How to Walk Away by Katherine Center--in fact, it was my first ever Book of the Month pick! So when her next book was announced, I couldn't resist requesting an early copy. I adored this book! It made me cry, which is my benchmark for a 5-star rating, had a badass heroine who learned to be vulnerable and soft while also running into a burning building for a living. I mean, how cool is that? Overall, I love that Center showcased a woman thriving in a traditionally-male career, and I loved the little nod to How to Walk Away, too. It felt like an exciting Easter egg since I had already read How to Walk Away!

This book has it all! Strength, love, romance, courage and hurt.
"Yes, the world is full of unspeakable cruelty. But the answer wasn't to never feel hope, or bliss or love--but to savor every fleeting, precious second of those feelings when they came.".
Cassie is one "Bad-Ass" girl. She is a firefighter/EMT/ who is as strong if not stronger than her male co-workers. She prides herself on taking care of every emergency without "feeling".
She has built a huge solid wall around her that will NOT allow any emotions to enter.
This barrier has been growing since she was young and her life was shattered one night following a party at the age of sixteen.
When she is transferred to another fire company to be near her estranged mother who is now desperately ill, her protective partition will slowly begin to crumble, piece by piece.
An excellent, well written novel! I was caught in Cassie's world and found myself rooting for her to take her life back!
You will love this story!

Things You Save In A Fire by Katherine Center is a story that hit me in the feels in all the best ways. After reading my second of her books, I'm realizing Katherine Center is the kind of author who writes books that absolutely captivate me, and I love her for it. This book focuses on Cassie who is a firefighter in Texas. She relocates to Boston after an unwelcome blast from the past and need to help her mother with her ailing health. Her new fire station is full of challenge. First of all, they're not exactly excited about having a woman join their team, and they're also not shy about letting Cassie know. Second, there's "the rookie" who's started alongside Cassie. He makes her feel a certain kind of way, and she's not sure what to do with that. Y'all, this one had so much emotion. I was so into Cassie's story. At times, it was a hard read because I was so emotionally invested in Cassie's life - both personal and professional. Also, there were some twists at the end that made it so I literally had to sit down and catch my breath. I mean, y'all, my heart was racing as I was that into this one. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me get a sneak peek of this one that's not due out until August 2019. I'll be sure to remind y'all about this one as the release date approaches because I need others to feel these feels and then discuss said feels with me. Until then, find time to read How To Walk Away if you haven't already.

I fell in love with this book and both Cassie and Owen.

I LOVE a strong female protagonist, and man does Cassie fit the bill. She is a BADASS. But she is hurting and she has barbed wire around her heart.As Owen says, "There is a toughness about her. But the most impressive thing about the toughness is that she built it to protect the tenderness." Watching her let down her guard and expose her tender underbelly was a treasure.

Owen is a gentle, compassionate, and kind man. His respect for consent was such a refreshing touch. This love story is wonderfully wholesome and almost naive and I ADORE that. So very romantic in an honest and non-cheesy way.

It's not only a love story between a man and a woman. It's a love story between a daughter and her mother, and a woman and herself. There is a powerful lesson to be learned here, and I highlighted entire passages on forgiveness.

I loved the theme of forgiveness, survival, and the heart's capacity for change. The ONLY small problem I have is that I felt like Cassie's metamorphosis happened pretty quickly. I think I would have liked to seen a bit more of the build up. Other than that, the story won me over.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this treasure. It was a joy.

Katherine Center's latest novel features Cassie, a firefighter who fears nothing but opening her heart to love. Filled with warmth and humor, this book shines a light on all kinds of courage, both physical and emotional. Five stars!!

I received this book from NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.

I've read close to 200 books in 2018 and not a single one compared to this book. It was so well written, the characters so believable. I fell in love with Cassie and her journey. Things you Save in a Fire is positively the best book of the year. I look forward to much more from this author in the future.

I fully admit that I have a thing for smart chick lit, and Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors for that purpose. This is up there with Happiness for Beginners as the best of her books for me. The characters were super interesting and relatable. I loved Cassie. She was complex, nuanced, flawed, and relatable. The ability to write characters whose motivations are so human and understandable is rare, and Center has it down. I appreciated the way she treated gender and feminism in this book, and made it a core issue that she addressed pretty unflinchingly. She also just writes relationships SO WELL. And I appreciated that while a potential romantic relationship was one of the main themes of the book, we also got a lot of focus on other elements of Cassie’s life, like her relationship with her parents, the way she takes care of herself and manages her life, and how awesome she is at what she does. It’s really refreshing for a book like this to focus on all facets of a woman’s life instead of acting like the romance plot is the only interesting thing to readers. And, as always, Katherine Center is a really good writer. The writing was tight, the pacing was great, there was some solid subtle humor, and the book sucked me in right away - I read the whole thing in an evening. Highly recommend.

(Side note: I also appreciated the sly reference to How to Walk Away toward the beginning of the book.)

This one just filled me with so much joy, I don't know how to explain it. But here I go...

First and foremost, Katherine's ability to create such amazing, complex, strong characters is beyond words. I've always said that a book is nothing without its characters and these people were my absolute favorite. I loved them from the very first page and I hurt with them and for them, but most of all, I rooted for them and I'm so damn content.

This book held a lot more romance than I was used to from Katherine's previous novel and just when I thought that maybe I liked it more low-key, I fell head-over-heels for these two. Cassie and Owen were so precious and Owen's kindness and patience was everything I could have hoped for for Cassie! AGH! He is what book boyfriends are made of!

But of course, while I was being all giddy over these two (and really through all of their scenes), I was also bawling like a little baby in the corner. Because I thought this story was more romance-centered, I did not see the gut punches coming my way. We start with one, but then they just keep coming. My heart broke in so many ways, tears running down my cheeks, but each story within this book was told beautifully--heartbreakingly--but beautifully with underlying messages of forgiveness that I just adored seeing. Cassie is such a strong character, but after seeing all that she goes through and all that she has been through, my heart went out to her and my respect for her was out of this world. If there's any story out there with amazing character growth, it's this one.

Also, a big thank you to Katherine for not feeling the need to be so explicit in certain scenes and yet have the reader know what is going on. I appreciate you so much for it.

This story was just everything to me and I'm so glad I got the chance to read it. If anyone is looking for a story that'll have you swooning and then in tears, but leave you with your heart full, then you must pick this one up.

Wow! I loved this book! (Women's fiction with romantic elements.)

The protagonist, Cassie, is a firefighter in Austin, TX, at a progressive, modern station. She’s honored for her valor, but at the event, she gets herself into some trouble. When the mother she’s estranged from asks her to come to a small town outside of Boston to help her because she’s ill, Cassie wants no part of it. But between getting in trouble and her beloved father’s urging, she agrees to transfer to an old-school firehouse and help her mom out.

Cassie is the first “lady” firefighter at the house, and the chief and the others don’t hide the fact the fact that they don’t believe women should be in the profession. All except a rookie firefighter who starts the same day she does.

She has to be the best at everything to prove to her male colleagues she knows what she’s doing. She won’t let her attraction to the rookie derail her.

I liked the romantic elements because there is a very legitimate reason she can’t fall for Owen. Her career would be over. Firefighters aren’t supposed to date other firefighters. A man might get away with it, but not a female. (Although here in Colorado I know a few male/female married firefighters, so that might just be a thing in certain parts of the country.)

Initially I found Cassie a little hard to like. I’ve never read a book with such an angry protagonist. But the last half of the book was definitely a multi-tissue, ruin-my-makeup-cryfest.

Read this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES AUGUST 13, 2019. (Which is a long time to wait, I realize, but you’ll want to put it on your to-read list and check out her other books.)

Thank you Netgalley for this read!

As a watcher of Station 19 and getting sucked into the firehouse drama, I enjoyed this book! Was fun to watch the progression of Cassie going from an expert at one station and then travelling out of state to become a newbie at a predominately male station. The book not only followed the firehouse, but it also shared the journey of Cassie's mom who left on her 16th birthday. This book helps illustrate the concept of everything happens for a reason and hopefully it all works out in the end..

This book. I had high hopes for this book since I adored How to Walk Away. But I did not expect it to fully live up to my expectations. This was a topic that I generally wouldn’t lean toward but I fell in love with this story. I felt the love, the anger, the hate, and the pain. It made me want to hug Cassie, punch others (won’t say the names to avoid spoilers) and cheer for the rookie. Overall a truly wonderful book!

I received an advanced copy in exchange of an honest review.

I loved Katherine Center's new book Things You Save In A Fire! Cassie is a 26 year old firefighter who relocates to another area to take care of her mom who is having trouble with her eyesight and transfers to a new fire station. There are plenty of pranks that take place in the fire house, as well as close relationships that are formed as the firemen, and women are working together saving lives. The details in the book are well researched, and keep the story flowing very nicely. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments throughout the book, and of course a romance story emerges.... a perfect blend, and balance is achieved to keep the reader well entertained.

Another great book by Katherine Center! I loved Happiness is for Beginners and How to Walk Away, so when I saw this book on NetGalley, I said a little prayer in hope that I would be approved. I read it over the Thanksgiving weekend and could not put it down. Another 5 star book from her! She writes in a style that is so easy and fun to read and her messages are full of hope and forgiveness. Her words really make me think about ways to make life easier on myself (and others) by learning about yourself and practicing letting things go. It’s well written, funny and very witty. Definitely put this on your TBR list!

THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE by Katherine Center is a beautifully-written and emotional story of love, family, and forgiveness. The main character, Cassie, is a strong and dedicated young woman who is a rising star and lone female firefighter in her Austin, Texas firehouse. Cassie sticks to business and shuns close relationships with anyone to avoid appearing vulnerable or getting hurt as she has in the past. When her estranged mother asks her to come to Boston to help with her care, Cassie is forced to give up her strict routine and the rigid control over her life that she has always maintained. As she does so, she begins to open her heart and find release from the anger she has harbored all her adult life. The characters are wonderfully-portrayed and the story is heartfelt and inspiring. The firefighting scenes are so gripping and realistic, I felt like I was there. I truly enjoyed this engaging and heartwarming novel and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this outstanding book.

Things You Save in a Fire is the second book I’ve read by Katherine Center. I really enjoyed How to Walk Away, and I enjoyed this one just as much. Katherine Center has a way of creating characters and stories that leave you eagerly turning the pages. Things You Save in a Fire was an engaging read that explores a woman working in a male-centered workplace as a firefighter, while dealing with family issues and learning the art of forgiveness.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book and provide my honest opinion!

This is a delightful story. While at first glance it appears to be about the trials and tribulations of a feisty female firefighter, it goes beyond a lighthearted tale and gets into what it means to really trust someone and what it takes to open your heart to the truth, which truly does set you free, and true, deep, love.

I received this book from NetGalley as an ARC.

I loved this book from Katherine Center, I loved the main character, Cassie, who is a boss lady firefighter who has to move across the country to start a new job and live with her mom who she hasn't had a great relationship with for the past ten years. I loved the pace, characters, writing, and focus on forgiveness. Thank you for the ARC!

Another fantastic beautifully written Katherine Centers novel. Drew me right in I’m a fan of books with strong women featured add to that a complex literary.novel a book I highly recommend. #netgalley #st.martins

Things You Save in a Fire is a beautifully written story about love and forgiveness.

Firefighter Cassie is forced to leave the comfort of everything she has known in Austin to care for her estranged mother in a Boston suburb.

Throughout the book Cassie learns what it is like to love and more importantly, forgive.

This book should definitely be added to any TBR list for 2019. I couldn’t put this down.

Thank you St. Martins press and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my third title by this author, and I think it was stronger than her last book, How to Walk Away. The lessons in this one may be a little heavy handed, but I can forgive it for how moving the story truly is. A story of a female firefighter, I really appreciated that the focus is just kept to a few characters and the supporting cast if firefighters is small enough to be distinct without much detail, because I think flushing out the secondary characters more would have diluted the book's impact. Five stars for this quick fun read with heart!

I could NOT put this book down! I loved it beginning to end. The characters were well developed and likeable. The plot was engrossing, with real lessons throughout. After reading Katherine Center’s “How To Walk Away”, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed and this book proved that. I will be recommending this one for sure!

This is a fantastic well written novel about learning to love. It's the story of someone very strong who needs to learn to live life more fully by accepting the softer parts of life and learning to accept others.

Cassie is a fire fighter in Texas. She's tough as nails and can keep up with the male fire fighters in every way - from winning obstacle courses to playing pranks on other firefighters. She's tough and totally accepted as part of the fire team and she wants to stay that way. Her dad raised her after her mom left when she was a teenager and she feels that living her life without love is the best way to live. Until...her estranged mother calls and asks her to move to Boston for one year to help take care of her. She reluctantly agrees and gets a job at a very traditional fire station in Boston, where there has never been a woman fire fighter and she is not accepted until she is able to prove her worth to male firefighters. She is faced with blatant discrimination from everyone but a rookie who started at the fire department the same day she did. As she begins to have feelings for the rookie, she has to decide if she wants to continue her tough loveless life or open herself up to love and caring about other people.

This is a fantastic novel about love and life and family. I really enjoyed the character of Cassie and her attitude and determination are what I'll remember about her. I highly recommend this novel.

Thanks to netgally for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own,

I’m so glad I requested this book from Netgalley and St. Martin’s press for read and review. A big thank you to both of them for the opportunity.

Things you Save in a fire by Katherine Center was a wonderful book on so many levels. It dealt with themes I love: forgiveness, moving on, and how we become who and what we are, and did so in a very easy writing style that just had me pouring through the pages without stop.

Firefighter and EMT Cassie Hanwell has a bit of darkness in her background. When she runs straight into one of those pieces of darkness – and hits it square in the jaw, she’s given the choice to apologize or be fired. But she comes up with another option. Seems her estranged mom ( another dark piece of her life) is sick and requesting Cassie come and help her, so she takes a job transfer to an all male, reportedly chauvinistic firehouse in Massachusetts.

Cassie now has to navigate through her feelings about her mother, try to tow the line and not cause any trouble in the firehouse, and avoid the Rookie who could just threaten her heart.

This book was filled with so many dynamic and thought-provoking elements, a simple review doesn’t do it justice.

Five well deserved stars from me!

I found this novel to be beautiful, thought-provoking, emotionally intriguing and heart-warming, it had me laughing and tearing up from one moment to the next.

<b>*A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the egalley*</b>

In Katherine Centre's latest book "Things You Save in a Fire" - readers follow Cassie Hanwell as she uproots her life (that she loves) to move to a different state to look after her mother for a year. The move, her relationship with her mother, her new job and co-workers leave her wondering why she made the decision to leave Austin. Cassie's struggles to fit in at her new station - and things don't get easier when love enters the equation.

Forgiveness is a strong theme in this book - forgiving parents, forgiving people the horrible things that they have done to you, and forgiving oneself. This book even made me - a huge grudge keeper - start to think that maybe forgiving people might not be as bad as I initially thought.

Overall this was a great read, and I feel that those that liked "How to Walk Away" will also enjoy the newest book by the same author.

This book was very captivating. I was hooked from the first chapter. Five starts. I enjoyed the characters and the story so very much.

Love love loved this book!!!! Wonderful, complex characters and such a strong female protagonist. Cassie is a firefighter who leaves Texas to go take care of her mother in Boston. She joins a new firehouse, falls for someone unexpected, and begins a path of forgiveness. This book was just wonderful. I read it in half a day! Couldn’t put it down.

I absolutely loved this book. Katherine Center’s “How to Walk Away” is one of my favorites. Cassie is a female firefighter in her Texas town and has fought to be accepted. But when her estranged mom calls and tells her she’s sick, she feels the need to go take care of her. She now has to prove to her new crew that she’s worthy, even the new hot rookie, Owen. I couldn’t get through this book fast enough. The storytelling is superb. The characters are relatable and deeply developed. I will be recommending this book to everyone!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Put this on your TBR list for Aug 2019. I’m loving this author. She gets better and better. Loved the characters! Loved the story! Did not want to put this down or want it to end. I loved her last book. This was even better.

Cassie Hanwell is a firefighter and with the words "You're not a girl, you're a firefighter" the book begins. She is the only female firefighter in the Austin, Texas fire house, one of the best. But when her estranged mother calls her for help, and an incident at an awards ceremony honoring her goes in the wrong direction, life as she knows is about to change. Her next challenge is moving in with her mother, leaving Texas and going to New England

Still hurt when her mother walked out on Cassie and her father, the reunion was a difficult one. There were further complications, as Cassie had a protective shield around her heart, and for her relationships were difficult. Living as an independent woman, wanting nothing to do with romance, she has also lived a life as a solo female, giving her all to being a firefighter, a person of strength and endurance. But Cassie was hurt on many levels, painfully so. Who could she trust, would she trust anyone, ever? She lived her life in the only way she could, protecting herself from any further pain, pushing herself to be the best.

After moving to be with her mother, she is hired at the firehouse in Lillian, where she was the "newbie" along with a "rookie" who, as it seemed were both out of their element. In the firehouse, where they never had a female firefighter before, she had much to contend with and quite a bit to prove. As for the "rookie," Owen, she had to show him the ropes. However, that was just the beginning.

So what are the things you save in a fire? Material things, some of which can't be replaced? Life is what you save, the memories that are always with you. The act of forgiveness, the act of love, all those things that bind you as a human being.

I read this book in one sitting, and it wasn't what I thought it would be, it was so much better. The writing was so on-point, it was both heartwarming, a bit humorous and at times quite serious. Yet through it all, it gave me pause to think about human frailties, the good, the bad and even the ugly. Highly recommended. My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cassie Hanwell is a firefighter, she is the best at it, and it’s her entire life. At a banquet to win an award, She is devastated to see the man who is presenting the plaque, and when he touches her ass , she publicly and rightfully clobbers him. Her career is uncertain, and her estranged mother, who walked out on her and her father ten years ago is begging Cassie to move to MA to help her with health issues. So Cassie moves to her mom’s house determined not to forgive her, and to show the sexist firemen they should not underestimate her.
But not everything goes according to her plan and Cassie learns how to let people into her life and open her heart to all its possibilities.

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.

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.

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!

You can't help but root for Cassie as she excels in a male-dominated field. When her life turns upside down, she not only has to fight battles at work, but within herself. The frequent staccato-like sentences were a bit jarring, but this was such an enjoyable read that I finished it in less than two days. It's also a great look into what it's like to be a firefighter.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review, and thank you to Katherine Center for writing such an amazing book.

I adore Katherine Center. I've loved every book of hers I've read, and she's a wonderful human being as well. If you ever have a chance to see/hear her speak, take it. She's such a delight and such an uplifting and inspiring speaker. I had the pleasure of meeting her at a library conference in the spring and then had her come speak at my library this fall.

As with her other books I've read, I loved Things You Save in a Fire. Katherine does a great job of showing how people face trauma, heartbreak, and the challenges life throws at you with grace and hope. Our protagonist Cassie has hardened herself and thrown herself completely into her life's calling as a firefighter to wall herself off from the trauma her teen years dealt her. Her story and how she has coped with it are written realistically. All of the details of her life as a firefighter are done so well and show that Katherine really did her research. I really enjoyed getting a glimpse of that life/profession and learning more about it. The writing is excellent here, with realistic and engaging dialogue and interaction between characters. You care about the Cassie and the people in her life. Owen/Rookie (the main male character in the book) is such a good man who you will absolutely fall in love with. I highly recommend this book, along with others by this author. She truly has a gift for writing, and I always love supporting authors who are wonderful people as well.

Sharp, incisive and fresh, this book should be required reading for book clubs. Katherine Center tells a story with grace, ferocity and conviction.