When I read How to Walk Away I was mesmerized by the author’s writing. Therefore, I just HAD to read Things to Save in a Fire.
For starters, it was great to read about a firefighter woman. Cassie was a unique character and I connected with her right away. She was a complex character, but as we get to know her, we understand her more and we can see how important her job and her lifestyle are for her. We can see that some of her wounds have not healed and we get to accompany through the process.
I liked how there was a perfect balance of romance, family and professional duty. I loved knowing more about the life of a firefighter and I loved Owen. He was so sweet and dreamy.
It was a story about forgiveness, about letting go and moving on. It definitely was something to think about, everything that happened with her family and all of that.
I enjoyed the rhythm and pace and the plot-twist and ending were completely adequate for the story. The ending was not what I expected but I liked it, it felt more real.
Overall, this is a great story that will keep you reading page after page. I stayed up until late at night to finish it because I just NEEDED to know what was happening next. Moreover, when a book does that it is definitely a good sign, so I highly recommend it.

This novel was not what I expected. I was expecting a book about firefighters and how the job was done and about the camaraderie among firefighters. It was all of that and quite interesting. What I didn't expect was it was a love story. And a good one at that. I found myself laughing and really emphasizing with the lovers. A good book even if I wasn't expecting the romance.

I was at a book signing this weekend and someone I was talking with recommended Katherine Center. Her eyes lit up when talking about her and she gushed about this story and one other one. I remembered that, thanks to NetGalley and the book’s publisher, I had an advance copy of this book on my Kindle. Of course the book’s been out for three months but better late than never, right?

Things You Save in a Fire tells the story of Cassie Hanwell, a firefighter in Austin, Texas who has worked hard to get to the top of her field. The book opens on a night that should be one of Cassie’s best. Instead, it’s a catalyst for a huge life change that Cassie wasn’t expecting or wanting. Cassie ends up in Massachusetts living with a mother she has zero relationship with and very little desire to change that situation.

Cassie is the only female at her firehouse and despite years of experience, gets treated as a rookie. Hazing of course ensues and while most of it is harmless, the pranks take a darker turn, giving the book a slight mystery tinge but not overwhelmingly so. As the story progresses, Cassie starts to let down her walls and open up to the people around her. I liked Cassie. I understand her walls and her pride and how hard she fought to be accepted and respected for her work.

I had a hard time with her love interest at first but over time, I had an easier time picturing it. I liked how Cassie stayed true to who she was but also showed how much she had changed since starting this new journey she most certainly did not want.

It was a good book and I will definitely check out more by this author but I can’t say I gushed like the woman I met this weekend. (For me to gush, the book has to be a solid 4.5 to 5 stars). I would rate Things You Save in a Fire a solid 3.5, maybe 4 stars. I liked Cassie a lot and loved seeing her resolve her issues with her estranged mother. I did not care for the resolution of Cassie’s work issue (either of them) and I think the scenes with Amy were unnecessary.

If you like “chick lit”, strong women and happily ever afters and can put up with what I think are a couple of annoying things, this book is for you.

As always, I try not to give spoilers as to allow people to determine for themselves what they want to know so if some of my comments sound vague, that’s why.

Thanks for reading!

This. Book. Have you read it yet? Get your hands on this book!! I’m a little late to the Katherine Center train, this is the first book that I’ve read by her, but I now need to read them all. Talk about a book that makes you feel. She took a character who had experienced and overcome experiences that I couldn’t relate to, but made it so easy for me, as a reader, to understand and feel everything that Cassie felt. Wow. This book is way more than a love story, although I definitely LOVED that component and the Rookie, and honestly wish we could’ve got more of their relationship in the beginning. This book is about courage, inner strength and bravery, and this is not because she is a firefighter. This book was so raw and real, although I do not have similar experiences to Cassie, I connected to this book in so many ways. It’s about resilience, it’s about no matter how many people have wronged you, you have to know that there are good people in the world. It’s about forgiveness and is jam packed with wisdom and life lessons. I felt like I got the benefits of a self-help book, mixed with an incredible, fun and adorable story through reading this. I honestly highlighted so many quotes, I don’t know how to choose. Honestly, a lot of these quotes I highlighted were simply for myself, because they were powerful and important reminders. “Choosing to love - despite all the ways that people let you down, and disappear, and break your heart. Knowing everything we know about how hard life is and choosing to love anyway...that’s not weakness. That’s courage.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ All the stars. Go get this book! Also, firefighters, enough said right?! 😍 *thank you so much to St. Martins Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest review*

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 loved this book much more than I anticipated! As someone who hasn't even begun to dip their toes into the romance genre, I didn't have high hopes, but I was so pleasantly surprised! The love story is well-paced and believable. I also loved that the main character worked in a fire department and faced some real conflicts. The characters were wholly likable and, although I was 99% sure the two would get together in the end, I felt compelled to move through the book faster and faster so I could reach the end and find out. I love stories that have a character that completes an arc of demonstrable growth and that is definitely present here. Overall, it had all the qualities I love in a book and they came together in great harmony.

I've had "How to Walk Away" sitting on bookshelf for more than a year, but when I saw Katherine Center had a new book coming out I decided to pick it up first so I wouldn't be left with some major FOMO.

This book has a little bit of everything: complicated family life, a kick-ass female heroine, a little bit of romance, and a few jackass men that get put in their place.

Good gracious, is this book wonderful. I flew through it in a day and a half and then picked up "How to Walk Away" right after that. If all of her books are this amazing, I'll read Katherine Center's entire backlist!

Heartbreaking yet hopeful. Emotional and true. This sophomore novel was a great read and it will stay with me. Readers of Colleen hoover would love Katherine center

Well that was a pleasant surprise!

This is my first Katherine Center and I had been looking forward to reading this book for some time now. I had a good feeling about it and thought I would enjoy it, but was surprised by just how much.

Romance is not my usual genre, but I do enjoy spreading my wings. I was in the mood for something a bit more lighthearted after a long run of mysteries and thrillers. This book was not quite as lighthearted as I was expecting, but it definitely fit the bill.

I loved the main character Cassie Hanwell. She is sassy, strong, and determined. That being said she does keep people at an arm’s-length and has her walls up. She loves her job as a firefighter and rolls with the punches life throws at her.

I was completely immersed into this book and found it to be a very quick read. It even had me chuckling to myself from time to time.

I really look forward to digging into Katherine Center’s back list. First up will be How to Walk Away!

Things You Save in a Fire was a wonderful novel! I enjoyed how the story encompassed so many different emotions throughout the book. Cassie is a highly skilled professional firefighter. She loves the work she does and has a good relationship with the rest of the crew at her station. Then, out of the blue she receives a call from her estranged mother who wants her to come stay with her. And something else from her past comes up one night and her job is threatened. She ends up going to see her mother and starting a new job. Over the days, she has to get the strength to start over and to deal with everything from her past that she has kept buried inside for ten years. There were so many different aspects to this story and so many emotions portrayed that made it a touching story.

I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley. I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this fantastic book. It was an interesting story with very relatable characters. The main character Cassie is a firefighter who moves across the country to help care for her mother though it’s not something she is happy to do. She has to start over with a new town and a new firehouse. This book made me feel all emotions and it made me laugh and cry. The writing is beautiful and it sweeps you away. I give it five stars and will highly recommend it to all of my book loving friends. Thanks again to NetGalley!

This book was super cute and had a lot of really great life lessons. The main character was written very well, with her tough outer shell and hardened personality from being abandoned and traumatized throughout the years. I loved seeing her transformation throughout the book. The author focused a lot on forgiveness throughout the story in lots of different ways and through many different character's actions and backstories. And there were plenty of great quotes about life and its challenges that hit home. I will say there were times when the story was a bit cliche but I didn't really care because it all came together well in the end. I would recommend giving this one a read.

Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down! This was one of those times when I had no idea I would love the book as much as I did. I read this author's last book How To Wslk Awsy and enjoyed it but this book was FANTASTIC! The MC was so well developed and I was completely drawn in by her guarded vulnerability and raw transparency. I must have cried at least 3 or 4 times throughout the story. The plot elements that focused on firefighting were very interesting. I wasn't sure that topic would engage me but the author's approach and easy-to-relate-to writing style sucked me in and captured my full attention. I was riveted. If you're looking for an emotional and heartwarming read, look no further. A huge thank you to publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Five stars: A book with fierce female firefighter who learns a thing or two about life, love and forgiveness.

Cassie Hanwell has spent her life trying to forget her sixteenth birthday. That night changed everything for her when her mother left and a boy hurt her. At twenty six, Cassie is tough. She excels at her job as a firefighter, and she has built a life for herself in Texas. Everything comes crashing down when an award banquet goes horribly wrong, and Cassie’s ailing mother calls requesting her help. With no other choice, Cassie takes a job in Boston to help her mother. Unfortunately, her new firehouse is old school. Th new crew is not thrilled to have a lady on board, not to mention, the firehouse is incredibly underfunded. Cassie finds herself once again fighting to prove herself among rough and tumble men. The only drawback is the rookie. He doesn’t seem to mind Cassie, but Cassie doesn’t want to be near him as she is inexplicably drawn to him. The one thing Cassie won’t do is fall in love, especially with a fellow firefighter, not now, not ever......
What I Liked:
*Wow! I loved this book. It has so much heart. I loved that it was all about love, forgiveness and finding yourself after trauma. Cassie is one tough cookie! I loved her fierceness, her courage and her ability to never give up even under the toughest of circumstances. Read this one!
*Cassie is the heart and soul of this book. She makes it shine! It takes some time to peel away her layers and see underneath, but once you do, you will love her. I loved her tenacity and her courage. I especially loved that she was able to prove herself to the fireman time and time again, even showing them up. She is bold, she is tough, but underneath her tenacious exterior, there is a sad and broken girl underneath. My heart ached for her. I especially enjoyed seeing her growth. After a few hard life lessons, Cassie learns to open her heart and life blossoms for her.
One of the focal points of the story is forgiveness. There were some very heart touching scenes centered around forgiving. I was moved by one of the scenes at the end when Cassie chooses to extend an olive branch to someone who has done her wrong. She has every right to be angry at this person, but she manages to do the right thing. Loved it!
*The romance in this one is all kinds of cute. It starts out as an immediate attraction, but neither party is able to act on their feelings. What follows is the beginning of a friendship, but one person keeps pushing the other away because they are afraid. It builds and builds with lots of intensity until it bursts forth. It was so sweet. Loved how it played out.
*I loved learning all about the inner workings of a fire station. There is so much information to absorb from how the crew works and plays, to the gear and fires. I loved the camaraderie, and how the crew looked out for one another. I was pleased to see that Cassie’s fears of being entirely outcast weren’t true. Yes, she has to fight to prove herself over and over, but she earns and gets the respect of the men she works with. I was thrilled when the gruff Captain came around.
*The relationship between Cassie and her mother is beyond complicated, but after time, reflection and some forgiveness, the two find common ground. I liked the way they worked things out.
*The book ends with some tears of joy and some of sadness. The author capture the highs and lows of life, and reminds the reader of the sorrow and the happiness that one encounters on this journey. I loved every moment of this one!
*Therese Plummer narrates the audiobook. I thought she handled the male voices well, and I liked her Bostonian accent. I enjoyed the audiobook.
And The Not So Much:
*I wish that Cassie had been a little more forthcoming with her mother. I wanted desperately for her to share what she went through on her sixteenth birthday with her mother. I think it would hav brought her even more closure.
*There is a big deal made over and over about not dating members of the crew. I thought it was a rule of the firehouse, but then I wasn’t so sure. I wanted to know if romance was a fireable offense or if it was just Cassie not wanting to live down the ridicule?

Things You Save in a Fire was a profound and heartfelt read. There was so much to love about this one. I adored the characters, I loved learning about the inner workings of a firehouse, and I especially liked that this one was all about life, love, forgiveness and finding yourself after trauma. This was a lovely read. I hope you will try it!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

I initially loved this story and the protagonist, Cassie Hanwell. A recent Boston transplant, she is the only female firefighter in a house full of rowdy men. She is strong, smart, capable, and shows up her colleagues at every opportunity, but still endures a lot of slack for her gender. When she develops a connection with the cute young rookie firefighter, she goes above and beyond to hide her feelings to avoid looking like a "girl" in the firehouse. While this was a really sweet and fun story, it reaffirmed the idea that a strong, intelligent woman isn't allowed to also be romantic, that emotions somehow strip away some of that strength that she has. Aside from that, I was a little annoyed at how the book ended. There was one particular scene where Cassie is having a heated conversation with one of the veteran firefighters and the dialogue between them was very childish and felt out of place in the whole of the book. This was a turning point where the rest of the story felt rushed and it was wrapped up too neatly for my liking. Otherwise, it was a perfectly enjoyable novel. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely, whole heartedly loved this book! On of my favorites and most recommended books of the year! I will officially read anything Katherine Center writes!

From Katherine Center, the bestselling author of HOW TO WALK AWAY, comes a poignant and resonant novel about strength, family and learning to love. Populated with strong, believable characters, fresh and original side stories, and lots of heart, THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE is a gorgeous and inspiring book that will make readers eager for more from Center.

Cassie Hanwell is many things: a female firefighter, a self-defense instructor, a first-class prankster and someone who is terrified of love. Her mother, Diana, left her and her father on the night of her 16th birthday, and though she has flourished professionally since then, she has barred herself from any and all chances of love or closeness. Still, she is mostly happy: she loves her team of firefighters, has an uncanny ability to find calmness in any emergency, and is about to be honored with a major award for her work saving a school bus full of children.

Then the unthinkable happens: a man with whom Cassie shares a dark history is announced as the presenter for her award, and when she leans in for the plaque, he gropes her. Reacting with the fury of years of pent-up anger, Cassie pummels him in front of every important person in her Texan town. Faced with an impossible choice, she decides to accept termination and transfer to a different fire department, partially because something else has upended her life plans. Diana has gone blind in one eye and has asked Cassie to live with her for one year while she completes her therapy.

Now Cassie not only must leave her beloved fire squad and professional comfort, she has to move in with the person who hurt her most and changed her outlook on life, love and happiness forever. Even worse, Cassie’s new job will take her to a Boston-area firehouse, where the men are tough, old school and decidedly against a woman joining their team. Competent and smart Cassie is ready for anything they plan to throw her way, but with one exception: the handsome rookie starting the same day as her. Boyishly good-looking, kind and smart, Owen is the only thing that could put Cassie’s new life at risk, because as much as her fellow firefighters can't stand working with a woman, they would hate her even more if she acted like a woman.

As Cassie adapts to her new squad, she also must learn to accept her mother. When she finds out Diana's side of the story, it is harder to hold on to her anger --- but Cassie has never explained to her mother the other terrible thing that happened the night she left. With everything else going on, not only will Cassie have to forgive her mother and prove herself to her new squad, she must find the courage within herself to love again.

The book is full of emotional highs and lows, but I believe my favorite parts were about the brotherhood among the firefighters. Center clearly did her research, and the way she opens up the semi-private society and invites readers right into the firehouse is incredible. When I first picked up this book, I was definitely expecting to feel things and cry, but I never thought I would learn so much about firefighting, firefighters and firehouses. I loved that Center fleshed out these scenes so well and found myself giggling at the pranks more than a few times --- there are so many pranks.

THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE is a rare book. It is nearly flawless in its writing, and Center balances the emotional depth with just the right amount of lighthearted firefighter pranks and jokes that add some much-needed levity without distracting from the main themes. Cassie is the kind of character readers dream about: strong, brave, a little flawed and full of potential. She is truly someone you root for in every way, and I loved her journey both as a firefighter and as a daughter. Even Diana (who you start off hating) is given a full, emotional character arc. Center never lets her off the hook completely, but writes her with such compassion that she reminds readers that we are all just human --- and more than a little flawed.

If you missed HOW TO WALK AWAY, don’t make that same mistake with THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE. Katherine Center is gifted beyond words, and her plots, characters and exquisite attention to detail make her a must-read author --- and a new auto-buy for me.

Wow. I have to say that this isn't always my favorite genre. However, every so often I come across a book that grabs me and keeps me engaged the whole time. This was one of those books.

I loved the characters in the book. I also loved how the MC struggled with her emotions and her decisions. It all came across as realistic. Some of the twists were expected and some weren't, but the reasons behind the decisions and the way they were told to the reader made them feel right. This made the story into a fun ride.

I also loved that this was a strong female MC. She is vulnerable, but still strong. She is smart and capable. She swoons, but doesn't become silly.

This is the first book I've read by Katherine Center and I really enjoyed it. It was very well-written and easy to read. I will definitely be looking for more of her work in the future.

HOT DAMN! This book is on FIRE!!!🔥

Loved this engaging story from first word to last! The characters were wonderful, The romance was sweet, the friendships were strong, and I loved the firehouse setting! Cannot think of a better way to have kicked off my 2019 reads!

🔥 Full fiery review closer to pub day August 2019 👩🏻‍🚒❤️👨🏻‍🚒❤️

Heartfelt take about what it means to be alone and what it means to be with someone you're meant to be. Feminism, tragedy...this book has it all.