I’m already a huge fan of Katherine Center’s work but even with authors you admire, there’s always a chance that maybe something might happen and their new release might not be everything you expect from them. Whether you’re a first time reader of this author or a returning reader like me, this book serves a deeply emotional, touching heart-wrenching narrative about love, forgiveness and identity.

Cassie, the heroine, is a celebrated firefighter in a progressive fire department with a stilted personal life. When she is forced to move across the country to a more traditional fire department where she’s not welcomed, she’s has to reconcile with her past and learn the true power of love.

Admittedly, the “healing power of love” as a theme can feel a little trite. But similar to her previous novel, “How To Walk Away,” this author handles themes of forgiveness and love with a sensitivity that acknowledges that they’re not easy things and they don’t come automatically and they take effort. Reading Katherine Center’s books is always a healing process for me because I wrestle with what she demands of her characters, and by being such an evocative writer, what she asks her readers to consider. But at the same time, I always feel incredibly seen and acknowledged and like the protagonist has left a part of herself with me.

There were some parts of this novel around gender identity and what “being a girl” means or “acting like a girl” that I felt a little uncomfortable with, but they reflected the reality of what the considerations of an elite female firefighter might be. Ultimately, did I love this novel? Wholeheartedly YES! I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone and will be putting out money to get it for people.

In the interest of full disclosure, I got an advanced copy of this book front St Martin’s Press via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. And I take pride in not gassing up books that shouldn’t be gassed up. This is a really good book! My favourite from this author? No. But it is AMAZING nonetheless! Read it!!!

(Also, I’ve seen reviews say that this is linked to the author’s previous book “How To Walk Away.” It’s not really true. There is a brief, one-time, side reference to the main incidence from HTWA but in only the most tenuous of ways. You definitely don’t have to read it first).

This book is about a woman named Cassie who is a firefighter. Cassie moves to live with her mother who needs her help. Cassie has to establish herself at a new fire station and tries to resist her crush for the Rookie. I loved this book so much. I loved it from the very first chapter. I felt like I connected with Cassie right from the beginning. She is such a strong and independent woman who ends up learning about the power of forgiveness. There is nothing I would change about this book. I was so emotional reading this book. This is one of my favourite books I read this year.

This was an interesting book with some interesting themes about family and forgiveness. Overall the story was good but not outstanding. I wanted more from the relationship with the mother and daughter. That relationship was important and it just felt glossed over just for the sake of wrapping things up. I enjoyed the dynamics between the main character and the fire department employees. The romance was also something that felt rushed and not ultimately necessary. I look forward to reading more by this author. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another fabulous story from an author who is fairly new to me but now on my radar of one to watch. Very enjoyable, relatable read . Cant wait to see more from her.

I reviewed this book for the New York Journal of Books site where it will post on the night before publication date.

"Things You Save" in a Fire by Katherine Center
St. Martin’s Press
August 13, 2019
10-1250047323
Women’s Contemporary Fiction


Cassie Hanwell once wanted to be a physician, but now finds her niche working as an EMT/firefighter. She loves her job, and at age 26, she is the youngest person and the first female to receive the Austin (TX) Fire Department's Valor Reward. The night of the banquet, she expects to be awarded her commendation from the mayor, yet Congressman Heath Thompson, a man with whom Cassie has a disturbing past, is the presenter instead. When he gropes Cassie while on the podium, she hauls off and belts him, landing him in the hospital.

The next day, fearing her livelihood is over, Cassie learns she passed the lieutenant's test with a high score and, she was to have been made a fabulous poster girl for the city. But because of her actions the previous night, any chance of a promotion is over—that is unless she apologizes to Heath—something she refuses to do.

What are Cassie's options? Her semi-estranged mother calls asking her to come to Massachusetts to take care of her due to a recent illness. Cassie does not want to go, still feeling anger at her mom for leaving her and her father on the night of Cassie's 16th birthday. How can a mother do that to a daughter? But this is a way out for her and a chance to keep working at her beloved profession. Strong, both physically and mentally, she’s worked too hard to throw it all away.

Her captain arranges for a position for Cassie at the Lillian, MA, fire department not far from her mother's residence. She does not want to be with her mother, but her career comes before anything. Before Cassie leaves the state, Captain Harris gives her suggestions on how to deal with the male chauvinism she is about to face, something that was never a problem for Cassie before:

"'Do not wear makeup, perfume, or lady-scented deodorant . . . Don't paint your nails. Don't wear any jewelry . . . And cut your hair off—or keep it up.'”

"'Whenever possible,' she went on. 'Don't giggle. And don't laugh too loud. Don't touch anybody for any reason. Don't carry a purse. Don't use the upper registers of your voice, but don't allow too much vocal fry, either. Don't sing, ever. And if you make eye contact, make it straight on, like a predator.' . . .

. . . "'Follow your orders,' she went on. 'Don't ask questions. Know the rules. Go above and beyond at every chance. If your captain says to run a mile, run two. If they want you to deadlift one-fifty, do one seventy-five.' . . .

"'Don't ever act afraid. Don't ever hesitate. Don't ever admit it when you don't understand.' . . .

"'Don't back down from a challenge,' she went on, 'and if you go up against somebody, make damn sure to win. No fear! If your hands start shaking, sit on them. If you get an injury, ignore it.' . . .

. . . "'Never admit to being hurt. Pain is for the weak.'. . .

"'They will ignore you. They will exclude you. They will resent you. Being nice won't help. Working hard won't matter. Just by your very presence there, you are attacking them, trying to steal something that's rightfully theirs, trying to infiltrate and dismantle their brotherhood. You'll be a hen in a wolf-house, and they will eat you like a snack the first chance they get.'"

These are only a few of her captain's tips, and these facts are true, for she's lived them.

Dismayed upon arriving at her new position, Cassie is not only not wanted ("firefighting is not for ladies”), but she is shocked at how antiquated the station is and lacking the many necessary items to assist in their duties.

At first, things are overbearing with the men on her shift, but she remembers her old captain's recommendations and follows them through like a champ. She also lets her colleagues know she is well trained and willing and able to work hard.

When summoned to a huge fire, a senior firefighter orders Cassie to go against orders. She refuses, but when two of her team members go ahead anyway, she joins them rather than face the possibility they could be hurt. Things go badly and she soon faces the possibility of being fired.

Having become a strong and independent woman, after her mom abandoned her and experiencing a horrific trauma that same night, Cassie is resilient, and she won't let anyone change her. Though tough, she also displays a warm side making her vulnerable to feelings and pain.

"Things You Save in a Fire" is a profound tale of how a woman makes it in a man's world without letting her past or those trying to deter her from doing her job. The novel depicts how difficult women must work to prove their capabilities to perform in a male-oriented environment, to surpass expectations, and to be judged by their actions and not their gender.

This book REALLY exceeded my expectations! I was a little worried because I was not a big fan of the other Katherine Center book I had read, How to Walk Away. But this one felt totally different, in a good way.

I could really relate to the character because she worked in a profession that was predominantly male, and I have been in that same situation in the past. I definitely experienced some of the same prejudices as she did when it came to people being outraged or surprised that I was in that line of work. So I loved that it was a character who was a lot more like me than female characters usually are.

I thought the author did a great job in explaining the emotions of the main character. There were some parts of the story that really stood out to me. I even took some screenshots so that I could go back and read them again, especially because they were especially applicable to my life and situation right now.

My only small complaint is that the ending was wrapped up a little TOO much in a bow. Like I expected one element of the happy ending to happen, but not the other elements that happened too that made it seem just a little too neat and perfect. If I could change anything, I would definitely tweak that a little bit.

Overall, I'm very glad I read this and I would continue to read Katherine Center books in the future for sure.

Thanks netgalley for the copy you send for me to read.
Well written. I like how the characters naturally developed. I enjoyed reading this book.

Katherine Center does it again! When I saw Things You Save in a Fire I knew I had to request it. Thank you netgalley for the copy for honest review. I stayed up way too late last night reading a crying with this book. The feelings and tears(both happy and sad) were amazing. This is the reason I read books, to be swept away and feel what the characters are feeling. There were so many levels of this book and relationships from mother to daughter, worker to co-workers, friends to lovers, friend to friend. And the final take away from this book...the healing power of forgiveness. A must read for everyone.

I love reading books with strong independent women such as Cassie Hanwell in “Things You Save in a Fire”, and what makes me love her more is her quirky personality that fits right in with the most sexist, old school, rough and tumble Boston firemen and her tender love for her dear mom that she changed her whole life upside down for. I loved reading this book and loved how it had a little bit of everything in it. The characters were spot-on perfect and believable and the reading was easy and oh-so-enjoyable. I did not want to stop reading about Cassie and her life and would love if more books were written to continue her story!

Cassie Hanwell is a respected and honored firefighter in a mostly male dominated field. Despite proving herself time and time again, she is loved by her department and on the fast track for promotion until a person from her past tarnishes her reputation. Thus, forcing Cassie to leave her cherished department, move home to help her ailing mother, and prove herself all over again to a new group of close-minded individuals. Things You Save in a Fire addresses forgiveness, perseverance, and breaking stereotypes.

Although I have never read any of Katherine Center’s other novels, I plan on reading them after enjoying this quick read. Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this heartfelt story.

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center. Wow quiete a book. Make sure you have kleenexes you will root for Cassie from beginning to end. There will be times when you will be mad at the things that are happening around her. Read the book you will love it.

I enjoyed Katherine Center’s book HOW TO WALK AWAY, but I love her newest one THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE. This is a story of courage, family, second chances, forgiveness, and finding love.

Cassie Hanwell is an exceptional firefighter. But the night she is receiving an award for her bravery on the job, in a rare moment of uncontrolled emotions, she throws it all away. When her long estranged and dying mother suddenly asks Cassie to give up her job for a year to move from Texas to Boston to help her Cassie agrees.

The Boston firehouse is very different than the Texas one. Being an older firehouse, it lacks many of the facilities and equipment the Texas one had. But most important, unlike her Texas coworkers where she was totally accepted, she knows she is entering a firehouse where women are not welcome. But she immediately bonds with the “rookie” whose first day on the job is the same as hers. However, the rookie is immediately accepted as his father is a captain at a Boston firehouse. Cassie is focused and determined to show the men she can hold her own on the job.

We soon learn that Cassie and the rookie both have secrets they have told no one - secrets that have shaped who they are now. As the story evolves we see both Cassie and the rookie coming to terms with those secrets.

Center’s writing is delightful and makes this a totally enjoyable novel to read, touching on many emotions - anger, happiness, fear, love, and laughter over the firemen’ antics. I found myself frequently chuckling over the scenes with the firefighters and their rowdiness. It is obvious that Center did a lot of research (she gives kudos to her firefighter husband) to get the firefighter culture down accurately. A little bonus for those who have read HOW TO WALK AWAY – in Chapter 5 of THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE there is a reference to the rescue scene in HOW TO WALK AWAY. Center has made Cassie on of the first responders who arrived at the plane crash scene.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advance e-galley of the book. All opinions on the book are my own.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is definitely an entertaining and thought provoking read. For the main character to become who she is after all that had happened to her... it's empowering. Cassie kicks ass and tries to do what's right in any situation. What she isn't prepared for the Rookie. I really enjoyed their interactions, and how could she not fall for him? They're adorable together.
The research that went into this book was evident and the plot was very well executed.
4.5 stars

Cassie is a tough, competent, hero firefighter. Emotions are not her thing and that makes her a better firefighter. That is until she assaults an Austin commissioner. She is quickly transferred to a Boston station when her estranged mother asks Cassie to come live with her for a year.

Cassie maintains that badass façade as she learns her way around the new fire station and crew. At least on the outside. As she spends more time with her mother and “the rookie”, she finds that maybe that hard shell around her heart has a few cracks. As the book continues, the reader will find her working hard to remain emotionally neutral or angry. As the story spins and a couple mysteries ensue, the reader will need to hang on. The intensity is unusual for a romance and I found myself unable to put down the book. Imagine that kind of focus for a romance novel!?!

The romance in here is not inconsequential, however. The rookie is every woman’s dream and Cassie is no exception. As they spend more time together, you can feel the heat and heart increasing on both ends.

This is a definite read for romance readers, as well as, mystery readers willing to give it a chance. None will regret this choice. A new favorite author.


I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley and Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. That in no way affects my opinion or rating of this review.

Right up front I need to say that I do not generally enjoy romance novels. But this book is much deeper than that. It is about family, love, abandonment, resentment, fear, loneliness and anger. Even more it is about forgiveness and mental health. And ultimately it is a feminist novel where the lead character is a strong and independent woman whose life is enriched by love but who is fully capable and in no need of rescue. Her desire for the man is separate and apart from her skills as a firefighter.

And her career is the biggest reason that I loved this book. Back in the early 1980s I was in the military, on a flight crew. At the time approximately 7 percent of the total military forces were female. And I had a job in which I was the only woman. I saw the same kind of men that Cassie did. Macho, territorial men who were angry and afraid of the changes that women would bring to their jobs. Some parts of this book really resonated with me because the honesty of the words was so deep and profound.

In Chapter 4 Cassie is preparing to join a new firehouse in a different state and her captain is lecturing her about how hard it will be in the new house that has never seen, or wanted, a female firefighter. She told her:

"They will ignore you. They will exclude you. They will resent you. Being nice won't help. Working hard won't matter. Just by your very presence there, you are attacking them, trying to steal something that is rightfully theirs, trying to infiltrate and dismantle their brotherhood. You'll be a hen in a wolf-house, and they will eat you like a snack the first chance they get."

This little paragraph brought tears to my eyes and memories flooding into my mind. I felt as though the author must have had some experiences similar to mine -- working in a career dominated by testosterone.

On the very next page the author continued:

"You can't let anything bother you. You can't get offended. You can't be girly. They will test you and test you before you earn a place among them -- and you might still never get one. They'll tease you relentlessly, and it might be good-natured, or it might be cruel, but it doesn't matter either way. They will burst in the bathroom. They will goose you on the butt. They will dump ice water on you while you're fast asleep in your bunk. And don't get me started on the duct tape. It is what it is. It's the life. Don't get mad. Don't file reports. Your only choice is to laugh about it."

Truth.

The most important part of this paragraph are the words "before you earn a place among them." It is hard but so worthwhile when you get there. For me it took months. Every night when I arrived at home I cried over the things that were said and done to me. Every night my roommate told me I could quit that job and transfer to another. But I wanted to fly. I earned my wings. And so I kept on. And when the men accepted me everything changed. I am grateful for all of it.

Yes, for me this book is not a romance or even a story of a mother and daughter. For me it is the story of a brave, smart and strong feminist hero.

I loved it!

I want to thank Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

4.5 stars

Things You Save in a Fire is a book with a strong female lead which is why I chose to read it; but it is so much more than that, it completely stole my heart!

Cassie Hanwell is a strong, tough woman. She learned at 16 that the world is hard and unforgiving, so she made herself the same in turn. As the only female fire-fighter in Austin, Texas, she's a standout, calmest in the midst of an emergency, the youngest and ONLY female firefighter to be presented with the prestigious Austin Fire Department Valor Award. But when she sees who is going to present her with the award, instead of the mayor as expected, her shock suddenly erupts into something no one present anticipated or will ever forget, least of all Cassie herself!!

Her mother asks her to come to Boston to stay with her for no more than a year. Estranged for many year, Cassie repeatedly says no, and yet she soon finds herself on the way to Boston. As her father says, she was raised to do the right thing, and she does it.

Settling into the Lillian firehouse isn't easy. It's an old house, filled with firefighters who don't believe a woman can ever possibly be a good firefighter. They want no parts of her, and has been hired only because of their desperate need for a certified paramedic. Cassie has to prove herself daily to these men. Can she change their minds? Can she change her mind about the etched in stone opinion she has about her mother, and about life?

Katherine Center presents us with a fabulous character-driven novel that examines the hard-knocks and choices that determine our paths, shows how good can come from everything we're given to deal with, and that forgiveness, redemption, and joy are available if we are willing to reexamine ourselves and others, and open our hearts. Life can be ugly, life can be beautiful, life is messy. The author deals with all three very well.

A wonderful read I'd hate for you to miss!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I loved this book! This is the first book that I've read by this author but definitely not the last! I just loved the author's writing style. I started reading and I just couldn't stop. I really loved following Cassie's journey of growth and forgiveness. I also really liked the epilogue and how nicely the story was wrapped up. I need to read more from this author!

I couldn't put this down. I loved the love story. I loved the mother/daughter relationship. I loved watching Cassie deal with her own traumas and I never saw the twists coming by the end. This was a pick it up while the kids were watching tv and didn't put it down until it was done book for me.

I really enjoyed this book and the story of a female firefighter, Cassie. I thought there was just the right amount of romance and suspense/conflict that really left you cheering on the main character. Cassie had experienced some trauma as a teenager and I think that plot point was dragged out a little long. It left me wondering if it would be revealed at all. Overall, a really great book about family, love, hardships, and forgiveness. This was the first book I've read by Katherine Center, but it won't be my last!

Magnificent read!
This was my first book by the author. Her writing and storytelling is exquisite.
The story centers around Cassie, a firefighter struggling to deal with multiple traumas from her past.
Her journey of finding forgiveness, love and acceptance is so beautiful.
Every single character was relatable and amazing..(except for Heath Thompson)
I highly recommend this incredible feel good read.
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 5/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 5/5
Secondary Characters~ 5/5
The Feels~ 5/5
Pacing~ 5/5
Addictiveness~5/5
Angst~ 5/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 5/5
Theme or Tone~ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 5/5
Originality~ 5/5
Ending~ 5/5
Book Cover~ Artistic
Series~ Stand-alone
Source~ Kindle eBook - ARC provided by NetGalley
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes