4.5 gushy stars!

"Case wouldn't even say the word fart in front of me. He'd just glance my way and say, "toot."

This book was beyond cute. It was a cute story, with (mostly) cute characters, and yet it managed to bring a range of emotions to the surface for me...I laughed, my heartbeat raced, and at one point, I even cried. At it's core, Things You Save in a Fire, felt very raw and very human.

The characters were so well developed and fleshed out, they all felt like people I actually know. Or, at the very least, people I'd like to know. Cassie, our main protagonist, is a tomboy who is heroic, hard to reach, a little cynical, filled with the need for revenge, and ultimately, so, so lonely. Nevertheless, I think we could all use a little of Cassie's spunk and confidence.

There were many story-lines to follow...the trauma of Cassie's teen years, Cassie as a firefighter in Austen, Cassie as a firefighter in Lillian, Cassie's troubled relationship with her mother, and with the other firefighters...but every thread tied together seamlessly. Katherine Center is a truly gited writer and author. I look forward to reading The Bright Side Of Disaster, another of her novels, which is waiting or me in my Kindle library as I type this.

If you desire a book which contains elements of drama, action, romance, and ultimately, a poignant look at forgiveness...Things You Save in a Fire has your name written all over it's cover. Prepare to be swept away!

**A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest opinion. And thank you to Katherine Center for writing a book I could totally gush about on-line. Books like this are, in my opinion, few and far between.

*ARC was won through a GoodReads giveaway*
First off-I could not have been happier to win this giveaway! I read my first Katherine Center novel in April 2017, with How to Walk Away, and had to go about getting my hands on EVERYTHING this author has written!! I love her writing style, and starting “a Katherine book” feels like sitting down with an old friend.
I tried to pace myself, I really did. I’ve zipped through Mrs Center’s other novels so fast I wanted to try to enjoy this one. I managed for a little while, reading just a couple of chapters a day. I started this on a Monday, and by the following Sunday I still had half to go. Then I managed to finish (devour might be a better word) the rest that day.
I don’t want to rehash the plot. Just know that this book is both heartwarming & heartbreaking, not to mention chock full of forgiveness. Parts of this story felt almost like a mini therapy session, and I personally hope I can remember the lessons in the future. The characters Mrs Center creates are immensely likable, and the dialogue between them flows so effortlessly. The pace of the story and plot move quickly, plus there’s a little something for everyone-romance, a little action, with family drama thrown in-all in a very well researched package!
Get it as soon as you can-you WON’T be sorry!! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and then at the end tear up again because it’s over...

Cassie's a firefighter . . . a 26 year-0ld female firefighter (emphasis on fighter) who relocates from Austin to the outside of Boston to help her mother whose health has taken a turn for the worse. Although she's at the top of her game, it isn't easy to be a woman in a predominantly man's world. But Cassie can take it, and she does until love comes to town in the alluring shape of a rookie firefighter who is on her squad. Forbidden love.
And a romance is always nice, but what makes the book special is the theme of forgiveness. Each of us has a fire threatening to destroy all we love, but the only way to hold back the flames is to let go of the anger that keeps them burning.

I loved how this book envelopes the power of forgiveness. This novel was an emotional read but it hit me straight in the heart. Katherine Center hit this one out of the park. She knows how to write an engaging novel that will leave you truly sad that it has ended. This was the first I’ve read anything by this author but it won’t be the last and I have already preordered several copies to give as gifts. I can’t wait for my friends to read this so we can talk about it

Fun, breezy romantic workplace comedy with a well-written, strong, emotional female lead. When her estranged mother falls ill, firefighter Cassie is forced to move from Austin to Boston to help care for her. In doing so, she must leave her position at her fire station and start over at a small Boston station where the other firemen look down upon a "female firefighter" and make life difficult for her. As she tries to rebuild her reputation, she also falls for the other station rookie. I liked the relationships in this book: Center does a good job writing romance and interpersonal drama and I thought the family and work dynamics were engaging and had me invested. Great crowd-pleasing palette cleanser if you're looking for a quick romantic read.

Thank to the publisher for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion.

Loved it! Lovely story about falling in love and forgiveness. Cassie is a female firefighter that doesn't do romantic entanglements because of something terrible that happened on her 16th birthday.

What did I like? It's a really lovely story that teaches us a lot about how forgiveness not only helps us but it frees us. Cassie starts her life over in a new fire department where she develops a crush on the rookie Owen. The chemistry is sweet, and the pranks of the guys of the department fun until someone spirals out of control.

Would I buy this book? Yes, it's a great read and would be a fantastic loaner. If your looking for a great book....this is a story that you must read. I shed a few tears but the whole story was amazing and kept me enthralled.

Thoughts for the author? This was my first book by this author and I think it was recommended but it was highly enjoyable. I would definitely read for this author again. Five huge stars of entertainment!

Things You Save in a Fire is one of those special books where you just want to wrap yourself up in a blanket and ignore real life until you’ve finished the final page.

This book is my definition of a well-rounded novel. It is relevant, heartbreaking, hopeful, witty, clever, and romantic. The author’s storytelling ability shines in this novel. She writes about realistic characters with realistic feelings and struggles. She pulls you in quickly, invests you in the characters, and makes you feel a gamut of emotions.

I was immediately invested in Cassie’s story. I was on her side, high-fiving her, and cheering her on right from the very beginning. She was a strong, feisty, courageous woman. She wasn’t just a good firefighter, she excelled in this male-dominated career. She put the work in, trained hard, and gained the skills that put her at the top of her field.

Cassie lived, breathed, and dedicated her life to firefighting, but her personal life was lacking. She didn’t do relationships, she definitely didn’t fall in love, and she certainly wasn’t looking to meet anyone. But she couldn’t help but be drawn to the rookie in her new firehouse. With all of his friendliness, kindness, and warmth, it was nice to have one man on her side in this “old boys club.” Let me just say, the rookie was a pretty special guy.

Underneath Cassie’s tough exterior, she harbored a great deal of anger, pain, and resentment. I felt it all right along with her. I wanted to reach through my Kindle and give her a big hug, but then again, she would’ve been more comfortable with a couple of pats on the shoulder and a "You’ve got this, girl."

Things You Save in a Fire was just an all-around wonderful reading experience. It was a heartfelt story of forgiveness and strength. Throughout the pages I was smiling, laughing, crying, and simply enjoying every moment that I got to spend with these fabulous characters.

Things You Save in a Fire was on my list of most anticipated books for 2019, and needless to say, it did not disappoint. It was everything that I had hoped it would be…and so much more. Katherine Center is definitely one of my must-read authors.

*5 Stars

An incredible work full of the power of healing that serves as an ultimate guide to embracing life and all that comes if a fire should ignite your life.

*sigh of contentment*

I wish this happy place could have lasted a bit longer, but once I pick up one of Katherine Center's books, I can't put it down because it is so comfortable and pleasant.

This reminded me a lot of "How to Walk Away," and I mean that in the best sense....in fact there is a link that is a pleasant surprise. Cassie is a kick-ass firefighter and takes pride in being very good at what she does, however the rest of her life is pretty empty. Some unexpected events cause her to make major changes in her life.

There is a great lesson within for everyone having to do with forgiveness and I think I will remember it the next time I need to give or receive some!

Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she's seen her fair share of them, and she's excellent at dealing with other people's tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to uproot her life and move to Boston, it's an emergency of a kind Cassie never anticipated.

The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie's old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren't exactly thrilled to have a "lady" on the crew, even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the handsome rookie, who doesn't seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can't think about that. Because she doesn't fall in love. And because of the advice her old captain gave her: don't date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping...but will she jeopardize her place in a career where she's worked so hard to be taken seriously?

Kristen: Dabney, I didn’t really know what to expect going into this book, besides there was some serious buzz about it. I’ve never read anything by Ms. Center before, but I’m always game for a story of “woman in a man’s world” and Kate Meader and Shannon Stacey have certainly helped me fall for firehouse stories! All that said, I was not quite prepared for the gravity of this book.

Dabney: Maybe it’s a trend. I just read a contemporary romance that was so gravely dark I could barely get through it. This book, even with its serious issues, I was able to read without recoiling from the prose.

I’m going to assume that there were several threads in this book you found grave. Is that right?

Kristen: Great assumption. “Grave” might be a little… I think what I found was a lot of real. The story felt like it could leap off the page at any moment because these things all happen. Grave implies to me that there’s a bit of gothic darkness for the sake of it and that’s not the feeling I got here. Instead, it’s a story about the life that happens when you’re making other plans.

What did you think of this one, overall?

Dabney: I very much enjoyed it. I love--love!--how the characters are all grounded in reality. I especially love that the flawed men, Cassie’s co-workers, are sexist, upon occasion loutish, and routinely stellar human beings. I am not a fan of man-bashing or one note characterizations and there is little of that here.

I also was thrilled to see the characters solving their problems with real world solutions. The love stories here--and there are many encompassing the panoply of love--are built by people taking small steps, stopping and listening, really listening, to those around them, and by asking, awkwardly and often poorly, for help.

Kristen: Hear, hear! I co-sign all of that. When we got the initial description of her new chief, I got nervous. I am exhausted by one dimensional misogynists in fiction and was so grateful to see how Ms. Center crafted the dudes of the firehouse. They are sexist, and ageist, and all sorts of other things that people frequently are, but they are also humans. There are pieces of them that are open to change - which we see evidence of - and others that are calcified. Even when a line of dialogue rankled me, I knew it was because that man would say that and not because he was a plot device being used to make a point.

I also adored - wait, let me emphasize that more - ADORED Cassie’s interior journey. The growth that she opens herself up to, the meditations on forgiveness, how she handles conflict throughout the story… man, I want to take her out for dinner and give her a big hug.

Dabney: Honestly, the true love story in this is that between Cassie and her mom. I can not tell you how much this story moved me. Just thinking about it now makes my heart squeeze. Everything about that relationship is so lovely and powerful. And again, Cassie, her mom (and her dad) all made huge mistakes in the past, moves that pushed them apart and deeply hurt them. The way those relationships are portrayed and how those wounds are healed is utterly and beautifully believable.

Kristen: I wondered if your mother heart would just explode over that, because my daughter one did. My mother is also a reader, so as soon as I finished this I pre-ordered it for her because I want to talk to her about it!

So, for me, this is an A. I recommend it unabashedly for anyone who loves fiction, who believes humans have the capacity to change, and who could use some time in someone else’s life. It’ll be a strong contender for my top ten list for sure.

Dabney: We haven’t talked about it much but I assure romance readers that the romance in this is a good one. Cassie and “the rookie” are a fab couple--they are believable as firefighters, friends, lovers, and co-workers. I don’t want to say too much about the path they forge but it’s a good one full of heat and humor. Which reminds me, this book is funny in all the best ways.

This is an A for me too. Readers who love Kristan Higgins-esque fiction will love this as will, I bet, readers everywhere.

Thank you Netgalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cassie is badass! I apologise for the bad word but there is really no other word that can describe her. She is a female firefighter who is as tough, as fit and as capable as any other man in her station. But her world collapses when someone from the one night that changed everything comes back into her life.

Forced to move away from her beloved station she finds herself in Maine, in a tiny, very traditional station with a captain who believes the fire service is no place for a woman. And, she's living with her mother who she has not connected with for 10 years but is now forced to care for and who insists on trying to get them reconnected in a way that Cassie doesn't think she can do. Finally, throw in a sexy Rockies and Cassie's life gets super complicated.

I really enjoyed the story and dialogue, I loved the quirky characters who all stood out amongst each other.i would personally cut some of the inner dialogue - I found myself skipping over pages because I didn't feel they were telling me anything new. It was obvious what happened to Cassie on her 16th birthday but still very harrowing to read when she finally unburdened herself.

A light read for a tough subject with a lovely herione.

Things You Save in a Fire is the newest novel from Katherine Center.

The novel revolves around the life of Cassie Hanwell, a hot-shot firefighter in Texas. Cassie is one of the best firefighters in the city, she has the respect of her entire station, her Captain and even the Mayor. But, on a night when she is to receive an award for her heroism, her life seemingly flips upside down. The next thing she knows, she is driving across the country to live with her estranged mother who is recovering from an illness and Cassie is forced to press the restart button.

Cassie becomes the only female firefighter in an old-school station full of men who don’t want her there and don’t believe that she is as capable to do her job. That is except for one, the Rookie, who starts at the station the same day as Cassie. It seems that no matter what Cassie does she is forced to spend her time with the Rookie, teaching him what it means to be both a firefighter and an EMT. However, over time, she begins to have a hard time keeping her feelings hidden and an even harder time keeping the walls that she has so carefully built around her from crumbling.

I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read this novel before it is released in August. Katherine Center knows her way around a firehouse and also, tells a story in such a way that I could see the characters coming to life in front of me. I felt as if I was following Cassie around rooting for her and hoping that she would see that all of the change in her life might not be so bad.

This novel caused me to feel so many different emotions; anger, frustration, envy, fear, sadness and joy. I couldn’t put Things You Save in a Fire down until the last page and even then I was left wanting more. I loved this story and look forward to reading the other works by Katherine Center. I predict great things for this novel when it is released on August 13, 2019.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Katherine Center for my ARC of Things you Save in a Fire!

I loved this book! The Things You Save In A Fire is a wonderfully told story about forgiveness znd so much more. Katherine Center has written a winner. This book will keep you reading and enjoying until you',ve read every word. The characters are so well developed and the storyline is so well written. You should take thus emotional ride that this book offers, you wont be sorry. Thank you to netgalley for the huft of the arc, the review is my own opinion.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the free digital review copy!

All the stars for Katherine Center's newest novel, Things You Save in a Fire.
Ya'll I literally squeaked in delight when this book was approved to me via netgalley. I loved last year's book, How to Walk Away, and so I had high expectations for Center's newest novel. I genuinely loved this book. I loved Cassie's resilience, strength and vulnerability in this story but I also loved the themes of forgiveness, love and family.

Cassie is quick witted, hard working and extremely good at her job - she's one of the city of Austin's best firefighters. Focused on being taken seriously by the primarily male colleagues around her, she's spent most of her adult life doing whatever necessary to make sure she's top of her game at work. Saving lives is what she's about and that means no time for friendships or relationships. When her estranged mother calls and asks for her to come to Massachusetts, she initial refuses but then finds herself in a situation that requires a transfer.
Lillian FD is a far cry from the progressive Austin fire department she's spent her career in. The building is decrepit, the department lacks funding and most differently of all - it's an all male department and they do not want a woman in their firehouse. But she isn't the only new recruit, Owen Callaghan - the rookie - is kind, friendly, and all to attractive and the only guy who's ever made her question her golden rule - NEVER date another firefighter. Cass's new life in Massachusetts will test her emotionally physically as she comes to terms with her past, reconciling with the mother who left her and showing the guys at Lillian FD that she deserves her spot on the squad.

Sweet and hope-filled, it's a fantastic story of resilience, forgiveness and love. I absolutely loved it.

TW: Rape

Things You Save in a Fire is the 2nd book I’ve read by Katherine Center, and it was amazing! The main character is a tough, independent female who has quite the shell to crack. I actually got a lot out of this book as a reoccurring theme is forgiveness - particularly forgiving oneself. I love when I read a book that has such a strong message that I can apply to my own life. I will be recommending this book!

I'm an emotional wreck. What an overwhelming, but beautiful book - and overwhelming in the best way possible. I was hooked from the very beginning and my interest didn't die down at all!

The author is such an effortless storyteller. She takes the reader through so many events and emotions along the way, but right off the bat they are instantly connected with Cassie, the main character. She fits in with the guys, and not just any guys, but firefighters. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter she had with her co-workers and the toughness needed because she was a woman in a man's world. The author made Cassie the perfect balance of "one of the guys, but still a girl." It definitely could have gone too much towards one way or the other, but I think she was very well rounded and super like-able.

Somehow the author was able to pull at my heartstrings, make me laugh, face-palm, and gasp, from one chapter to the next, and make it all work together. She definitely packed a lot into this book, and even though I was thinking it might end up being too much, she absolutely nailed it when a lot of other authors couldn't have achieved the same cohesive result. She also has some great quotes and vocab that I appreciated, such as using the word gobsmacked in a sentence (I thought it was perfectly fitting).

Overall, the journey from cover to cover is so thought-provoking. And not in the super cheesy kind of way, but in a sincere, life is complicated, sort of way. This quote sums up my feelings as I read, and also is what Cassie herself discovers,"That's just how the heart works, she said -- more in circles than straight lines." You'll start to read this book because you'll think it's about one thing, but then it turns into so much more than that. Even when I thought I had this book pegged for what it was, it kept surprising me.

Very enjoyable read with witty, engrossing dialogue. The story of a female firefighter (culled from the author's personal life as wife of a firefighter) and her life both in a new city and concurrently caring for her ailing mother, with whom she has a troubled relationship. Predictable ending but many twists and turns (involving a sexual assault that overshadows the entire plot) that make it involved and interesting throughout the book.

I loved this book...it's not very often you get a sweet romance with a female firefighter as the main character...add some mystery, complicated relationships, and cancer....an all around story with an ending to make you smile. This is a great book for a light, fun read !

"Love makes people stupid... and I'm not interested in being stupid. It makes them needy and sad and pathetic. And robs them of their independence."

Cassie is clearly not interested in romance. As an honored and award winning young firefighter in Austin, Texas, she is anything but dependent. After being asked by her mother--who left she and her dad ten years prior--to move in with her for a year, Cassie scoffs. However, after a series of events at her Austin station, and a serious guilt trip from her father, she decides to go. What follows is a perspective slant for Cassie. She must learn if she can forgive, if she can prove herself at a new station, and if she can find a way to ever be open to love.

I found this book to be quick, interesting, and very relevant to today's cultural context. (The book opens with Cassie being propositioned by a coworker at an event honoring her bravery, for instance.) There are underlying histories that the reader must wait to learn later on in the plot; naivete is explored and shifted. This book would be perfect for a flight, vacation, or weekend read. What I missed on a personal level was a depth of humanity for Cassie and her mother. I know the book may not have intended to delve that deep into their entanglement, but--as a reader--I felt it was missing.

This was my first Katherine Center book and I could not have loved it more! I will say, at first, it was a little slow. I honestly didn't know if I could get through it, but once I was almost half way through, I COULDN'T put it down! It was SO good. It had everything I love in a story- romance, a little mystery, relationships, and hardships. I loved the main character, Cassie. She was so real and likable and that made the story relatable to me. It was hard for me to read the beginning, I think, because she was so turned off by emotions and love. I kinda wanted to roll my eyes! lol But once it got into the story, I loved it. I also loved the ending because it wrapped everything up and didn't leave anything for the imagination. Could not recommend it more!