**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 … 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.
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I enjoyed the book, even though there seemed, to me, too much repetitive dialogue and character description.
The messages about life were gently told and embedded in the story. It was hopeful, healing and entertaining. I liked the characters and could identify with their challenges. I was not sure of the ending until the ending. It was great.
Really liked this book- some good characters and a good story-
There is a very good reason this was an Amazon Best book in 2019:quite simply, it is a really good book. It is a tale of facing the future while dealing with the past, of love that comes unexpectedly to a heroine who isn’t looking for love and is in fact, somewhat adverse to the very idea of romantic love. It is a tale of a woman making her way in a very male dominated profession. It is a woman learning to forgive, to love in many ways, and to find her path forward. A wonderful book with which to curl up in a hammock and spend an entire day reading.
Best book I’ve read in a long time. Loved the hilarious firehouse scenes. Really so fun and engrossing.
Part rom-com, part family drama, part #metoo movement – this book was very enjoyable. I cheered for the rookie and Hanwell!! Their story was tender and uplifting, with enough action-packed drama to keep the pages turning quickly.
It shows people solving problems and acting the way they should.
Well written, great character development. A really good read.
What an exquisite look at pain and the often hard journey to forgiveness – and how that road is not usually paved in anything spectacular but is best traveled with good companions. The characters in this story are well developed and will tug at your heartstrings. The relationships are dynamic and fascinating. Definitely recommend this book!
Probably best for late teen- main character is extremely immature and emotionally undeveloped. Easy to read but rather predictable so does not keep my interest. So far (60% through) a bit disappointing. Not bad, just not great or noteworthy.
Pleasant, easy read with likable characters. A little too twisty for a Hallmark movie-type story, maybe more like a Lifetime Saturday night movie. ; )
I read this book on the recommendation of a friend, and was so happy at the end. It portrays a strong female fire fighter, fighting some issues herself. You will really enjoy this book. Please give it a chance.
This book is refreshingly new and entertaining. The author created situations that were comfortably realistic, wrote dialog that sounded genuine and gave her supporting characters enough depth to allow the reader to enjoy the story and believe those characters’ actions. While I hate to use a negative to elucidate a point in a review, I just have to say that I never once thought “how formulaic,” or “here’s where she’ll…” Ms. Center’s writing kept me right in the story beautifully.
S L O W. I DNF.
I enjoyed the main characters in this book. Nice to see a strong female as the main character. Also the book was light and made me laugh.
Very intense. Had me in tears at times.
I loved the female firefighter in a male dominated world- Looking at their world from the outside one can understand the need to blow off steam. Cassies chutzpah and determination to prove herself against challenging odds makes you want to cheer her on yet her denial of her feminine side makes you wonder – -What could possibly go wrong???
Cassie has just begun to discover parts of herself she had buried- -Her unravelling is her new beginning- A life she had built on partial truth with a singular perspective based on revenge and anger dissolves and emerges into a new reality. Give it a go -fun engaging read-
This is a love story, but it’s sooooo much more than that. Read it. I promise it’s worth it.
This book, without a doubt, is one of the best romance book I have read. Now that is just my personal opinion of course, some may think its not that great while others may agree with me. I am speaking from a point of view of someone who does not normally enjoy romance books. This one was wonderfully written, it had a fantastic story line, and it honestly put me in mind of a movie. I love the way she put Cassie in a role that is not very common, and made it work! I found myself wanting to be just like her, and then when she introduced the rookie! I knew right then, that this was going to be a fantastic read! I love that this book was not to mushy, but there was still a happy ending, and love still conquered all. There is your sad parts, and when I said I mean they made me bawl like a little baby!
This book, without a doubt, is one of the best romance book I have read. Now that is just my personal opinion of course, some may think its not that great while others may agree with me. I am speaking from a point of view of someone who does not normally enjoy romance books. This one was wonderfully written, it had a fantastic story line, and it honestly put me in mind of a movie. I love the way she put Cassie in a role that is not very common, and made it work! I found myself wanting to be just like her, and then when she introduced the rookie! I knew right then, that this was going to be a fantastic read! I love that this book was not to mushy, but there was still a happy ending, and love still conquered all. There is your sad parts, and when I said I mean they made me bawl like a little baby!