Things You Save in a Fire

Author: Katherine Center
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction
Type: Hardcover
Pages: 320
Source: Local Public Library
Publisher: St Martin's Press
First Published: August 13, 2019
Opening Lines: The night I became the youngest person - and the only female ever- to win the Austin Fire Department's valor award, I got propositioned by my partner.

Book Description from GoodReads: 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 excellent at dealing with other people's tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to uproot her life and move to Boston, it's an emergency of a kind Cassie never anticipated.

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 handsome rookie, who doesn't seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can't think about that. Because she doesn't fall in love. And because of the advice her old captain gave her: don't date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping...but will she jeopardize her place in a career where she's worked so hard to be taken seriously?

Katherine Center's Things You Save in a Fire is a heartfelt, affecting novel about life, love, and the true meaning of courage.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

My Review: Things You Save In A Fire is a story about a female firefighter. The plot has a strong romantic feel to it but also has some mystery and family drama as it touches on bigger issues such as the power of forgiveness, healing, change and relationships.

I enjoyed that the story focuses on Cassie, a strong and determined female firefighter who is good at what she does and has a righteous streak that she isn't afraid to share. I also liked witnessing Cassie's ups and downs when she transfers to a staunchly male-dominated firehouse as its first female firefighter.

This is a feel-good kind of read that maintains a lighter feel and was more predictable than I had expected. I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes of life at a firehouse as well as the touching family moments as Cassie battles with the long process of forgiveness. But the focus is clearly on the romance. It was sweet but Cassie's about-face regarding love was a little jarring and their dialogue often felt a too saccharine for my tastes. But I'm a romantic cynic, folks, so take that comment with a grain of salt.

Overall, this is a heartwarming story which is a perfect pick for readers who enjoy a lighter read that wraps up nicely at the end but still gives readers romance, touching family scenes and a glimpse into the world of firefighting through the eyes of a female firefighter.