Things You Save in a Fire: A Novel

Katherine Center

Aug 2019 · Sold by St. Martin's Press

About this ebook

**INDIE NEXT PICK FOR AUGUST**

**AN AUGUST 2019 LIBRARYREADS SELECTION**

**BOOK OF THE MONTH PICK FOR JULY**

**AN AMAZON EDITOR’S PICK FOR AUGUST**

“Center gives readers a sharp and witty exploration of love and forgiveness that is at once insightful, entertaining, and thoroughly addictive.”
— KIRKUS, STARRED REVIEW

“An appealing heroine, a compelling love story, a tearjerking twist, and a thoroughly absorbing story. Another winner from Center.”
— BOOKLIST, STARRED REVIEW

“A spirited, independent heroine meets a smoking-hot fireman in Center’s smart romance... If you enjoyed ‘The Kiss Quotient,’ by Helen Hoang, read Things You Save in a Fire”’
– THE WASHINGTON POST

From the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away comes a stunning new novel about courage, hope, and learning to love against all odds.

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 a total pro at other people's tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to give up her whole life and move to Boston, Cassie suddenly has an emergency of her own.

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 infatuation-inspiring rookie, who doesn't seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can't think about that. Because love is girly, and it’s not her thing. And don’t forget the advice her old captain gave her: Never date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping...and it means risking it all—the only job she’s ever loved, and the hero she’s worked like hell to become.

Katherine Center's Things You Save in a Fire is a heartfelt and healing tour-de-force about the strength of vulnerability, the nourishing magic of forgiveness, and the life-changing power of defining courage, at last, for yourself.

Ratings and reviews

I went into this book really wanting to love it, but I think I expected something much more serious than what I found. It does have its serious side, but this one was more cutesy, sugary sweet contemporary romance than anything else. Now, there's nothing wrong with that, and a good balance of light and dark can make for a great story. For me, this one was just a little more sugar than I care for. The book is well-written if a little bit scattered at times, and maybe it's just too much sweetness for my cynical self, but Things You Save in a Fire came in somewhere in the fair to middlin' range for me. I didn't hate it, but it didn't leave a lasting impression either.

This was such a beautiful story of forgiveness and healing. Katherine Center truly has a gift for transporting the reader into the story and getting you invested in the characters. I felt so many emotions while reading this book. Some moments were exhilarating, while others were sweet and tender. There were also painful and gut wrenching scenes that left me holding my heart. Cassie was a fantastic heroine. I loved her drive, tenacity, and confidence. Her struggles to overcome the stigma and prejudices of being a female firefighter only made me root harder for her. Events in her past (that may be a trigger for some) hardened her heart, but I loved how she slowly opened up and began to live again. Her journey to let go of all the anger and forgiving others (and herself) was so powerful. I appreciated that the romantic relationship in the story was just as important as the friendships and familial relationships. Every part was vital in Cassie's journey. The rookie pretty much left me with a goofy grin on my face every time he was on the page. (The Poo-huahua!!!) I loved his friendship with Cassie and how they each trusted and healed each other. Their chemistry and connection jumped off the page and built up so beautifully and naturally. The supporting cast of characters were also a treat and all of the fire station pranks added some wonderful lighthearted moments. My favorite was probably the ladder and rooftop ;) I also loved getting a glimpse into the inner workings and dynamics of being a firefighter. I thought the more serious moments were balanced so well with the sweet and silly ones. It made this book unputdownable to me. The epilogue had me smiling ear to ear (even the bittersweet parts) and I cannot wait to read more from Katherine Center! *Note: There is a bridge novella called The Girl in the Plane that ties this book to How to Walk Away. It is Cassie's POV of the events that open How to Walk Away. Both books can be read as standalones. *I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Katherine Center, and St. Martin's Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. This review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Cassie is a workaholic Austin, Texas firefighter/EMT with an excellent record at the job, a woman able to focus all of her energy to the job, to advancing through schooling into the next step at the job. Life is all job. No personal life at all. She lives alone, visits occasionally with her school teacher father, and feels that all of her isolationism dates back to her 16th birthday when her mother abandoned her and she was molested on her first - her only - date. No hugs for her, no romance. Just work. And the guys at the station treat her just like she wants - like one of the guys. Now 26, she feels finally settled into a life she can enjoy, without all the angst of her younger years. But for a week she has been dodging calls from her estranged mother. And the date raper is introduced at the awards ceremony to present her with the medal of valor, the highest award in the fire hierarchy. As he does so, he cups her butt. She just can't take it. She has to flatten him. And Cassie always gives her best effort. He is in the hospital, and she is looking for another job instead of receiving that raise and the accompanying advancement to Lieutenant that her captain had planned for her. Things can only get more complicated. Her mother Diane needs Cassie to move to Rockport, Massachusetts to help her as she recovers from eye surgery - only a year or less. Her Austin Captain is able to assure her a job as the first female fireman/EMT in the firehouse of the nearby small town of Lillian. Breaking the glass ceiling is never easy, but it looks like a move to the Atlantic coastline is in her cards... And Cassie always gives her best effort. This was an excellent novel - holding your interest and finding surprises all the way through. I am pleased to recommend it to friends and family.

About the author

KATHERINE CENTER is the New York Times bestselling author of seven novels, including How to Walk Away, Happiness for Beginners, and The Bright Side of Disaster. Her fourth novel, The Lost Husband, is soon to be a movie. Katherine has been compared to both Nora Ephron and Jane Austen, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” Katherine recently gave a TEDx talk on how stories teach us empathy, and her work has appeared in USA Today, InStyle, Redbook, People, The Atlantic, Real Simple, and others. Katherine lives in Houston with her husband and two sweet kids. Visit her online at katherinecenter.com.