Cassie is one of two women in her Texas firehouse. She is greatly respected and good at her job. All of that changes after an incident at an award ceremony, Cassie decides to leave Texas to help her Mom in Boston. Even though she and her mom have been estranged it is the only way she will be able to stay a fire fighter.

The new firehouse is full of middle aged men who don’t want to have any woman at the station. Even though she is a seasoned veteran she is treated like a rookie. On her first day an actual rookie, Owen, also starts. The men constantly put them together. Even though Cassie was warned never to date another fire fighter she can’t help but develop feelings for him.

I have never read any other books by Katherine Center but I look forward to reading more books by her.

This is my first book by Katherine Center. It was a wonderfully entertaining read that would make a vacation or beach companion. Although I would call this a light and quick read, it is by no means shallow. There are deep themes explored here, such as: the effect of childhood trauma on adulthood, relationships in particular; forgiveness; reconciliation; friendship and love; and even the power of hope and expectation. The characters are likable and there is a wonderful happy ending. I would definitely be interested in reading more from this author.

Fans of Jojo Moyes will love Things you Save in a Fire by Katherine Center. This was my first novel by Center, and I really enjoyed the firefighter angle of the plot. The protagonist is a female firefighter, and portrayed as a badass. I liked her character and was completely intrigued by all the details Center added in about the lives of firefighters. At the beginning of the novel, Center explains that her firefighter husband provided field experience to the story. I felt that these unique details were so necessary and made the story that much more endearing. The plot moved along at a quick pace, and followed the same idea of most novels within this genre. Girl meets guy but something holds the two back from getting together. There are some plot twists towards the end, and I’m not certain I felt that the ending did justice to the rest of the story. That said, I would definitely recommend this to friends who love a good, page-turning, romance and I will be looking to read more from Katherine Center. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Katherine Center knows how to weave a romantic comedy that is fun to read. “Things You Save in a Fire” is no exception. Center’s book “How to Walk Away” was popular because of her writing style and knoweledge of human connections. This book is no exception. This book is great for a fun beach read or a day where you just want to dive in to read and easy, breezy story that fills your soul with happiness. The characters are interesting. Sometimes I wish there was more depth to the story and to the characters, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Katherine Center describes firemen well! And, the story never drags. There’s always a surprise around the corner, which made the book interesting, and yet exhausting at times. Center also knows how to end a book that pleases everyone.

Also, this book is about forgiveness. I liked that aspect to the book. It made you think about forgiveness in your own life. And if you think after you put a book down—that’s a good thing.

Do yourself a favor and pick this book up this summer.

I recently read Katherine Center's How to Walk Away, so was excited to read her newest title. I was not disappointed. Center has a way of creating a strong female protagonist that you can't help but root for, and writes a novel that is easy to get lost in. I couldn't put this book down, and found myself often feeling many different emotions: anger, frustration, happiness, sadness. You name it, I felt it as the novel unfolded. I know that I will be recommending this book for others to read when it is released!

Only a few weeks into the new year and I know this will be one of my favorite books of the year.

At first I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy a book about a female firefighter but I was wrong. It reminded me of an abc drama since it had romance, drama, and a strong female lead. This book will have you feel a range of emotions and end with a big smile on your face. I also loved how the author had a small tie in with her previous book How to Walk Away.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The dictionary defines forgiveness as the "action or process of forgiving or being forgiven." Wikipedia elaborates a little more and says "forgiveness is the intentional and voluntary process by which a victim undergoes a change in feelings and attitude regarding an offense, lets go of negative emotions such as vengefulness, forswears recompense from or punishment of the offender, however legally or morally justified it might be, and with an increased ability to wish the offender well." So no matter how narrow or wide the definition is, forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do. Even with all of the spiritual, psychological and physical benefits of forgiveness, people struggle to forgive others and an even harder time, forgiving themselves?
Cassie Hanwell is as strong, tough and smart as they come. She is a firefighter and EMT in Austin, Texas. She has willingly risked her life on multiple occasions to save the lives of complete strangers. She is the ultimate team player and is one that can be counted on when lives are on the line. She is respected by her supervisor and peers. She sounds like she has it all but with all of her attributes, Cassie is also stubborn and does not have any close relationships or friendships in her life. Why would someone with so much going for her cut herself off from friends and family? What events from her past have made her go home to her apartment alone every evening?
Cassie receives a call one day that will change her life in ways that she can't imagine. It will force her to face the past and realize that forgiveness of the past, others and ultimately herself will be her only hope for salvation and future happiness,
Katherine Center's novel, Things You Save in a Fire, might be the heartfelt, poignant story of firefighter, Cassie Hanwell and her life path, but so much of what she goes through and her struggles are relatable and believable. Each and every one of us has at some point had a hard time letting go of the past, forgiving others and ultimately realizing what it really important in life to save.
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley. #NetGalley #ThingsYouSaveinaFire

Beautifully written, heartfelt book. Story of a firefighter who uproots her entire life to help her estranged mother through an illness. Ultimately uplifting story about forgiveness and family. Excellent book, highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This was a great read – finished it in two days, couldn’t put it down! I really enjoyed Cassie’s character and the depth Katherine gave her, I found myself rooting for her right from the start.

This story centered so much around forgiveness, relationships, and pain which really added to the story. Even though the plot becomes somewhat predicable, I really enjoyed how this story played out. There were some definite laugh out loud moments in this book, a really fun read. I’m excited to read more from Katherine Center.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Netgalley.com and St. Martin's Press. Thanks to both for the opportunity to read and review.

Ms. Center has written another engaging story about love, forgiveness and family. In the setting of a firehouse, we meet a young woman who is lonely and deeply flawed and doggedly determined not to be perceived as weak. The dramatic elements are touching without melodrama, and has touches of humor scattered throughout to keep it from becoming maudlin. With an August publishing date, Ms. Center is sure to become one of the fall's "can't miss" authors.

Highly recommended.

my blurb!
A woman who has built her life on indepence and being one of the guys, has to make the decision if being herself fits into either of those categories.


I received this copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for my review which does not have to be favorable.

*Reader beware: this book deals with rape*


3.25 out of 5 stars

what i didn't like:
The majority of the book the reader is aware of a shady “relationship” between Cassie and another man, but no details are given (which I appreciated). But in the last 1/8 or so of the book, the event is described (it’s not in extreme detail, but it is described). I personally steer VERY clear of this type of storyline, and had I known this was going to be a plot in this book I probably would not have picked it up. All in all, that is a negative for me, but nothing described was nightmare inducing, and it was written well overall.
Another thing I didn’t love… There is an issue with a fellow firefighter that endangers the life of another person. As a reader, we see how Cassie reacts, but we don’t see enough of how the other person affected reacts. This seemed like a missed opportunity to me.
There wasn’t enough dialogue in this book for me. I craved more of it.
Regarding Cassie’s mom’s health…. I think as a reader, I was supposed to be surprised about something. I wasn’t surprised. I mean, I do watch a lot of Masterpiece Mystery shows on the BBC so maybe I’m unwittingly channeling Sherlock. Or maybe that was predictable.
This book felt long. I can’t describe that another way, other than I asked myself if it was going to be over soon, just to look down at the percent completed and realize “nope, only 65% done.” And I’m not sure this book was actually long, it just felt like that at times.
I don’t believe in love at first sight. Attraction? Of Course. Lust? For sure. Love? No way. This book had a case of love-at-first-sight’s and the majority of the book did feature a love story. I read the whole book and I didn’t finish it and think to myself… wow they really love each other.

what i liked:
Wow that was a LONG list of things I didn’t like! I bet you’re wondering if there is anything I DID like in this book. Don’t worry, there was! A 3 star rating for me is by no means a dud! Consider this a thorough review!
There are some great quotes in this book. I felt like I was constantly highlighting quotes to come back to later! (In my initial draft of this review I wrote down no less than three quotes from this book- but then I remembered this was an ARC and I can’t include quotes in my review! but TRUST me, her writing is AMAZING!)
This book talks a lot about forgiveness. Katherine Center has an uncanny ability to capture an unbelievable degree of realism in her books. Maybe not every plot line, but she’ll describe something so accurately that you’ll begin to wonder what struggles she’s experienced in life to make her so acutely aware of the words needed to describe them! And then you realize that perhaps she hasn’t at all and she’s simply an amazing author. In The Bright Side of Disaster, she captures everything from a birth plan to life as a new mom. In How To Walk Away she captures the ache of being in a hospital and the truth about hopelessness in your health. In this book, it’s the real steps it takes to forgive, and the reality of what it looks like to cope in life without forgiving. You can live a perfectly reasonable life without forgiveness, but a much more full one with it. I think that was the message in this book and it was well received.
Another BIG pro (I can’t emphasize that enough) in this book is the women’s issues it tackles. Cassie is a woman doing a job that is almost exclusively male. She sees the pros and cons of being a girl and doesn’t have a chip on her shoulder when proving why she is amazing at her job. Her attitude throughout the book is so stellar – because she assumes positive intent from her coworkers. Cassie mentions at one point that she was trying to recalibrate her coworkers idea of what it meant to be female. I loved that thought.

Overall I’m not sure if I should classify this book as a romance novel or a fiction novel- truth be told, those genres overlap a lot more than people are willing to admit. This book wasn’t crazy steamy or anything (it’s no Winston Brothers), but there is romance involved!

while reading you should
Act: make sure your house is up to date with Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and that the batteries all work.
Listen: Moonlight Kiss by Bap Kennedy
Watch: How to Deal (Mandy Moore at her finest!)

Live with radical kindness,
Dux


ps. for more of my reviews- check out my blog at www.myweekisbooked.com

Thank you to #netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book (publication date: August 13, 2019). Here's my completely honest review:

I could not put this book down. Literally!

This book is sweet and simple, yet deeply moving. While being a modern romance, and in many ways showing its stripes, there were enough twists, turns, and excitement in this story to make it stand out within its genre.

So much about Cassie, and her desire to be regarded as an equal in the boys club of the firehall, really resonated with me.

Each struggle and each victory she experiences at work highlights the reality that there are a different set of rules for women (and reminded me of all the moments in my life that I'd faced similar symptoms of "the rules" in action). By hitting this point, this book tore me apart and built me back up again.

Of course, there's so much more to this story than simply a woman trying to prove herself. Between a budding romance with a fellow firefighter, reconnecting with her ill absentee-mother, and struggling to make peace with her past, Cassie works through her pain in search of love and redemption.

This novel offers both, in full.

This book had me crying, it had me cheering, and now it has me saying: you should read this book!!

This is the first book by Katherine Center that I have read. It reads like your favorite firefighter drama and reminded me of Chicago Fire or Ladder 19. While this is a romance there are underlying storylines with some action, intrigue, and mystery while still focusing on the main love story.

It was a fun easy read that I would recommend looking for something lighthearted and entertaining.

5/5 stars for Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center!

I laughed, I cried, and I was SO bummed when I finished the last page!! This book is such an enjoyable read - its one of those books that leaves you a little sad when it is over because I was so in love with the characters and story.

Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley, who provided a free ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Let me preface this by saying that I DO NOT READ ROM-COMS. Normally. But anything that Katherine Center writes will be on my shelf. I previously read How to walk Away and now Things You Save in a Fire. Fun fact: How to Walk Away makes a bit of a cameo in this one (I was grinning from ear-to-ear as I read that part)!

I love how Center’s characters have so much depth and the story is much, much bigger than a romance: a checkered past, a sexist societal issue, and a romance. It even contains a bit of a creepy stalker mystery!

I read this book in two days, and it would have been one if I was able to stay up and read all night! I couldn’t get enough of Cassie’s story! It was a bit cliche at times and a little predictable in parts, but it didn’t make me like the story any less. I definitely recommend this one!

I absolutely loved this book!! It pulled on every heart string I have. A book about forgiveness and love.
And the ending was wonderful!!

What a great read! Cassie is a female firefighter/paramedic in Austin, TX, struggling in her personal life, as a result of two things that happened on her 16th birthday--a horrible encounter with a male classmate, and her mother leaving the family home for another man. Ten years later, when her mother begs her to come to the Northeast to help her manage a health issue, Cassie refuses, but is forced to reconsider after an incident at work puts her job in jeopardy. She takes a position with an old-style fire department in Lillian, MA, where the all-male crew is not accepting of her gender. And, she finds herself attracted to a rookie firefighter who joins at the same time.
This is a story of how one's perspective can be changed by new circumstances. It's a story of one woman's struggle to overcome the ghosts of the past and to get past the ingrained biases of others. And, it gives stunning insight into the minds of first responders, making me admire them even more than before. I was engrossed by the storyline and couldn't wait to see what would happen. I highly recommend this book!

Although not normally a fan of the romance genre, I enjoyed reading Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center. I found myself highlighting the passages about forgiveness and healing. This story is, on the surface, a love story between Hanwell and the rookie and yet, there is so much to learn from the crochet club about relationships, acceptance, and joy. Set near my new favorite city, Boston, I enjoyed reading the descriptions of the town and houses. It was easy to picture this story and I'm glad I was able to get an advance copy from NetGalley and in return, give my honest review.

Synopsis: Cassie is a firefighter in a progressive firehouse in Austin, TX. At the request of her estranged mother (who is having medical problems) she moves to Massachusetts to take care of her. She starts working at a new firehouse and feels like she has to prove herself to her new boss and team (who are not as progressive as her previous firehouse). The book follows Cassie’s career, relationship with her mom, love life and the obstacles she finds along the way.

Review: I read “How to walk away” by Katherine Center last year and instantly became a fan of her. When I saw this book was coming out I knew I had to read it. The synopsis was compelling and what a cover, so beautiful! This is a great fast read; I was hooked from the beginning. I loved that the characters were realistic, you can relate and understand what they are going through. I enjoy Katherine’s writing style, I even laughed out loud multiple times.

This is a book about courage, hope, and the power of forgiveness. I would love to see this book turned into a movie!

Favorite quote: “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”

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

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The book comes out August 2019.

Wow where to even begin with this novel! Katherine Center created the most beautiful characters in her latest book. I loved the primary theme on relationships and happiness. Katherine Center highlights the overall importance of human connection, and how being loved by others can heal deep wounds. There is a line in the book about the fleeting moments of happiness in which she normalizes the struggles of life which was so relatable. I found the main character Cassie to be extremely likable and I enjoyed reading her growth throughout the novel. I was sad to finish this one!