Things You Save In A Fire by Katherine Center

She’s Strong And Ready For Emergencies 

Author: Katherine Center
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (August 13, 2019)

Excerpt

• Hardcover: 320 pages

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.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review this novel.

My Thoughts:

Cassie Hanwell has a past that haunts. She is sure that love is for the weak, and not something she needs. Why? It would leave her vulnerable and she wants to exemplify strength and maintain control in her life.

Her past includes a 16th birthday which was quite memorable, but not in a good way. That was the day her mother abandoned the family and her boyfriend violated her trust. Both things contribute to her emotions and actions from that day forward.

Fast Forward Several Years: When Cassie, a firefighter, receives a call from her mother, who she hasn’t seen in ten years, her life is about to drastically change. She wants Cassie to move there and help her with medical needs.

Cassie’s quick response at an earlier service awards dinner has her in a bit of a mess, so moving isn’t that crazy of an idea.  

At her mother’s a new story unfolds. She faces an unwelcome fire crew, a mother who hurt her years back, and time. Why is time a concern? Having  time to think challenges Cassie’s previous thoughts. She has time to ponder her relationship with her mother. She also has time to work and grow with a new Rookie who joined the fire station the same day as her. While the crew is convinced a woman is the last thing they need, the Rookie is not so sure.

There is no overnight solution to Cassie’s problems. In fact, not only do things not get immediately easier, they get more complicated. Cassie will soon have to compete with Owen, “The Rookie” for a spot on the crew. She is extremely qualified, but Owen is proving to be her only friend.

What Concerned Me:

To be honest, the first part of the book, where they are at the awards dinner, seemed too exaggerated.  I later read the reason for certain reactions, but it still felt a little over-the-top.

What I Liked Best:

 This story has a romantic element, but it’s much, much deeper in scope than a budding romance.

My Confession: Occasionally I get tired of the barrage of books featuring/promoting women. Okay, that felt like a really scary thing to admit in this day and age.

However, this book, with a woman firefighter (nope, not gonna catch me saying fireman), is incredibly well done. There are very good reasons given for Cassie’s determination and choices. 

I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. I highly recommend it.

Bestselling Author Katherine Center wrote her first novel in the sixth grade (fan fiction about Duran Duran) and got hooked. From then on, she was doomed to want to be a writer—obsessively working on poems, essays, and stories, as well as memorizing lyrics, keeping countless journals, and reading constantly.

Katherine firmly believes that our struggles lead us to our strengths, and the years of not getting published, she’s decided, were good for her. They forced her to define who she is and what she cares about. They forced her to figure out why she writes at all. They forced her to clarify for herself what she loves in stories as a reader—to create her own definitition of “good writing” from the inside out.

Her interview on Goodreads