What a great read! Cassie is one badass fireman. Wow to be able to do one pull up let alone a one armed pull up. The book starts off in a fun easy read and then the heart of the book is revealed. The author has created characters with a story. It's easy to judge without knowing the story but we as humans all make mistakes. I loved how the Rookie, Diana and Josie broke down the wall around Cassie and showed her love is possible. I loved this book and highly recommend it.

Things You Save in a Fire was everything I wanted and more. Katherine Center has done it again and there is a reason she is my most recommended author as of late. This book hits you from places you didn’t even know you knew. The story of Hanwell kicking butt, taking names, and having an iron stare on the future is one you don’t want to miss. It is a tale that will keep you up speed reading to see what happens next. A firm nod to Center for such a valuable, soul wrenching novel. Read this book. You will not regret it. Thank you to Net Galley and publisher for this ARC, I can’t wait to add this title to the shelves holding my favorites.

“Things You Save in a Fire” is the latest novel by Katherine Center. I have been a fan of the author since I first read “Everyone is Beautiful” several years ago, and fans who appreciate Center’s quirky perspective on human nature will certainly not disappointed with her recent effort.

Protagonist Cassie Hanwell is a firefighter with the Austin Fire Department and the novel opens as she is about to receive the Austin Fire Department’s Valor Award. While she anxiously awaits for her name to be called, she discovers that someone from her past is about to present the award. The reader is told that Cassie keeps to herself and does not typically date and based on the incident she has with the presenter (no spoilers, but it’s funny), the reader can understand why.

Before Cassie has opportunity to recover from the shock of her award presenter, she returns a phone call from her mother who is requesting Cassie leave her current job and return to Massachusetts to care for her while she recovers from a health issue. Cassie is adamant about not leaving her current job where she’s worked hard to succeed in a field normally heavily occupied by the male gender. But as with any situation involving a needy parent, Cassie is obligated to pull her roots and head to Massachusetts, where she gets a new job with the Lillian Fire Department.

Unfortunately, the Lillian Fire Department has never had a female firefighter and no one is happy for Cassie to be the first.

As Cassie works through this animosity, the reader starts to understand why she is the way she is. Katherine Center gives the mother-daughter relationship a fresh perspective, and I appreciate the research I imagine she went into to make the firehouse, which could be its own character, so believable. Cassie is immediately likeable and many times, you want to laugh and groan along with her. The different fire fighters are an interesting crew, including "the rookie" who Cassie fights feelings for. I was able to finish this novel in just a handful of sittings, and I am already anticipating her next read.

I'd like to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel. All views are my own.

Cassie Hanwell is one of the best firefighters in Texas and one of the few females in a very male dominated profession. When a series of events force her to move from Austin to Boston, she has to struggle all over to gain the respect she deserves. The environment is tough and the crew even tougher but the very likable rookie makes her consider breaking the iron clad rule – firefighters don’t date other firefighters. As tensions mount, sparks fly and Cassie has to come to terms with what to save and what she needs to let go of.
If you are looking for a fun, cute and emotional contemporary read, this is the book for you. Cassie and the rookie (I still have a hard time remembering his name because you don’t actually learn it until late in the story) were very genuine and likable characters and their traumas and struggles were real. As I read, I was cheering for them and a happy ending. While I felt the situation in the beginning that prompted Cassie’s move was a bit unbelievable and forced, it didn’t reduce my enjoyment in the story. I actually stayed up way too late to finish this one. Highly recommend. 5 stars.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

5 glorious ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So has of right now this is my favorite read of 2019! I loved it so much and I think Katherine Center might be my new favorite author! I knew it was going to be good but it surpassed all my expectations.

Great story telling with complex characters this author always has me sitting on the edge of my sit dying to know what’s going to happen next. Love, love her writing and her heroines. Katherine Center does such an amazing job telling a story. I soak it all up like a sponge and drown in the feelings. There is something really special happening in every book of hers that I read.

Things I loved:
* The rookie, Owen
* The chemistry ❤️
* The mother, Diana.
* The fireman
* HEA

Favorite quotes:
[“I rubbed my eyes. “I wasted so much time.” She squeezed my hand again. “That’s just the human condition, sweetheart. We’re always doomed to waste our time.”]

“I knew too much about life to pretend that it wasn’t half tragedy. We lose the people we love. We disappoint each other. We misunderstand. We get lost and lonely and angry. But right now, in this moment, we were okay.”

This was a NETGALLEY gift and I gave an honest review and all opinions are my own!
Happy Reading! ❤️

I really enjoyed this book. I’m not a fan of sappy books, but this had the perfect blend of family drama, girl power and a sweet love story. My husband is a firefighter, so I also enjoyed the firehouse story and how it depicted actual work scenarios and what male firefighters would think of a female coming into their predominantly male world. The cover is also great, and that always catches my eye when picking my next read.

I simply want to bow down to the talent of Katherine Center. She has outdone herself with this one! Things You Save in a Fire was a beautifully written story. Even though I am automatically drawn to the romantic portion, I also absolutely loved every other aspect of this book as well. It not only showed the ugly and cowardly side of human nature, it also showed the many ways that bravery is exhibited on a daily basis in little and big ways. It demonstrated how to forgive not only others , but also yourself for small and large transgressions. It stressed living in the moment and appreciating even the small things because time is not guaranteed. It was definitely so much more than a romance novel.

Cassie Hanwell is undoubtedly one of the most impressive female lead characters I think I've ever read. She had personally been through some extremely difficult experiences when she was sixteen and even though she shut herself down, she survived it. She took on her job and became the best at it. She let very few things ruffle her until the one "incident" at the banquet....and then when she meets Owen aka "the Rookie." Cassie always said she thrived under pressure and it was true that she did. That was a good thing for those around her because it meant she could compartmentalize her feelings and still make decisions to benefit them. She evolved so much over the course of the book from a unforgiving and closed off individual to a more sensitive, caring woman capable of forgiving and loving others more fully. She can thank her mother's honesty about her past as well as Owen's honesty with her as well. Both of them helped her be able to trust again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

** I will post to Goodreads in July when it is closer to the date it will be published. I will post to Amazon and B&N when book releases.**

This book, This author... What’s not to love? Kathleen Center did not disappoint with this fun loving book. This story has lovable characters, laughter, pulls at your heart strings and taught me a valuable lesson or two. A super enjoyable read with a great message along the way.

Love, love, love! Can’t wait to get the real book to pass it along to my friends— And the art on the cover makes me want another copy alone!

I liked the way the author wove the issues the main character is dealing with and the story. On one had dealing with being one of the only females in a predominately male career while also dealing with the demands of the job and the emotions that come along with it. She did a good job of exploring and informing the reader about the aspects of the job.

Enjoyable and surprisingly thoughtful. Although this book gets off to a somewhat rocky start by throwing a number of events at the reader primarily to advance the plot, things quickly settle into a nice groove once the setting changes. Normally, this is the type of book that I read for pleasure and immediately forget about, yet the story has more weight to it than expected and gracefully deals with the difficult topic of forgiveness. I also liked how the main character is a firefighter; Center has clearly done her research on all of the minute details that a woman in this position would deal with on a regular basis. Certain parts of the ending are tied up a little too neatly, but overall I found this to be a sweet and memorable tale.

Sweet, funny, touching and just lovely! I enjoyed this book so much and absolutely loved the characters and their growth we got to witness throughout the story. It had some powerful moments and life lessons that really resonated with me. Fantastic book!

I liked Katherine's previous book (How to Walk Away) much better. I thought this book had a much weaker story line. I would recommend reading her earlier books over this one.

Katherine Center provides a romance novel that touches many emotional elements. A successful, young woman who thought she had put past trauma behind her, suddenly and swiftly, gets her life turned upside down. She is forced to deal with her past and future unexpectedly. The narrative does hold some predictive counterparts, however, Center gives many dimensions to the plot and provides a strong heroine to negate several of those familiarities. All of the characters that she has crafted are relatable on a basic human level. She integrates that "guy next-door" personality into many of them, allowing the reader to become easily absorbed in the story. Great summer read. 4 stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC of #ThingsYouSaveInAFire

I loved this book. I have read three other of Center’s books and I loved them all, but this new one may be my favorite. What a great story!

I love Katherine Center's books! They are just what I need sometimes. Lighthearted, intriguing, quick, feel-good reads. I read a lot of suspense/thrillers, so it's a breath of fresh air to read one of her books. My only complaint (if this even counts) is that maybe everything tied together a little too nicely at the end. Happy endings and closure are good, but it almost seemed a little TOO neat. Then again, it probably wouldn't give me the same warm fuzzy feeling if that wasn't the case!

If you love romantic comedy movies in general, this is that in book form. :) Enjoy!

I had high expectations for this book after reading Katherine Center's last one, How to Walk Away, and I am happy to report they were exceeded. This book was such a fun reading, with characters that were likable and had depth. Such a fun and easy read, and would definitely recommend it

Cassie Hanwell is an amazing firefighter, who unfortunately has to spend more time proving herself than actually fighting fires. This book completely took me by surprise. It was heartwarming, exhilarating, and taught me a lesson - a rare combination.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

This unique storyline was on fire, and I couldn’t put it down! Normally I am not a huge fan of romance novels but in this story romance was secondary. Hanwell is a firefighter and a bad ass one at that! She has to be, to be accepted in her station, and be treated like one of the guys. When she transfers to a new station to be closer to family she gets hired at the same time as a rookie. They get their fair share of pranks and always seem to get put together for training and horrible chores in the station. When Hanwell starts to like the rookie she has to battle those feelings because she doesn’t want the guys to know. This story made me have a lot of respect for female firefighters. Hanwell’s character was incredibly tough and dedicated. I blazed through this one in a day!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this advanced copy!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of Things You Save in a Fire.

Cassie was the youngest person and the only woman to win the Austin's Fire Department Valor Award. She had saved many children in a schoolbus accident. They had even started calling her the School Bus Angel. As Cassie approaches the stage to receive her award, she blinks because her eyes must be deceiving her. This can't be Heath Thompson! As he is introducing her, he decides to touch her inappropriately. Cassie pummels him to the ground and beats him up in front all of the most important people in the city.

Shortly after this incident, Cassie's estranged mother calls to ask if she would put her life on hold for one year. She wants Cassie to move to Massachusetts to help her out with somethings since she had her last surgery. This is the last thing she wants to do since it was her mother who walked out on the family on Cassie's 16th birthday.

So many quick decisions must be made!!! What decision is Cassie going to make? Stay in Austin or move to Massachusetts? This decision will effect the rest of her life.