Book Review: Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center

Title: Things You Save in a Fire
Author: Katherine Center
On sale date: 8/13/19

About the book: 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. (From publisher's website)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a quick read with a really strong message of family and forgiveness. It also has some underlying messages of the lengths we go to for self-preservation. I liked that Cassie was a firefighter - don't know that I have read a book with a female firefighter, so that was a nice change. I tend to like programs like Station 19 and 9-1-1 which both have female firefighters.

I would have liked to have learned more about the mother/daughter relationship here - as that is where it seemed to be headed, but then it veered off into a romantic relationship. Despite that, I still enjoyed it - it was a good first "summer" read.




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