Things You Save in a Fire

By: Katherine Center

Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

One of the 2019 Amazon.com Best Books of the Year

"In this charming listen, narrator Therese Plummer portrays Cassie Hanwell - a confident, talented firefighter whose solitary life is upended when her estranged mother asks her to relocate to Boston.... A wonderful story of forgiveness, friendship, love, and hope." (AudioFile Magazine)

From the New York Times best-selling author of How to Walk Away comes a stunning new audiobook 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.

©2019 Katherine Center (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Oh, how I love Katherine Center’s writing...and her newest novel is a gem...a story that reminds us that the word emergency has, at its heart, a new beginning. Just read it, and thank me later.” (Jodi Picoult, New York Times best-selling author)

“...a sharp and witty exploration of love and forgiveness that is at once insightful, entertaining, and thoroughly addictive.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

Heavy, sweet and uncomfortably relatable.

I did not know what I was going to read, adding it to my wishlist because someone said it’s a great book. I was hooked nearly as soon as I started it. The only thing I’d wished is I’d known there’s a few triggers in this if you’ve ever dealt with past abuse. I’ve never read a book that I felt so connected with. Worth the read.

1st time Center Reader

Great book loved all of it and the way it was written. Very great book!

My favorite book so far this year.

I’ve read and re-read this book several times. Therese Plummer is an excellent narrator. Partnered with Katherine Center, they are a great match. The story is fantastic. I almost know this book word for word.

The only thing I don’t really like is in some chapters the editing of the performance is a bit sloppy. It jumps/skips/repeats in perhaps four spots throughout the book. But that has nothing to do with the story or the way it was read.

I highly recommend this book for anyone that appreciates the challenge and sheer terror that comes with trusting people with the most vulnerable part of yourself.

Almost good

The story was great until the writer decided to get preachy and nagging at the end. Don't bother reading last chapter and then you will love it.

Almost stopped listening but glad I didn’t

The accent and enunciation of the narrator drove me a bit bonkers for half the book and the story was just “meh” for that long, too.
Then, the message of forgiveness and the power of human connection came through and kept me listening.
It’s not a book I’d listen to again, but I’m glad I listened to it once.

One of 2019’s Best Books

Katherine Center and Therese Plummer team up for a second bestseller. The story appeals to everyone no matter their age, gender, occupation, or life-journey. Center provides a story that touches the heart of life on so many fronts and Plummer’s performance yields itself to listening to it as it applies to each. Bravo, ladies!

More please!

Katherine Center has an extraordinary gift for taking raw situations and weaving them with humor and a realness that stay with you long after you are done listening to/reading her books. And Therese Plummer is a fantastic narrator!!

If you like romance...

I don't normally like romance books because they are predictable (this one is no exception) but... I did fall in love with the story and characters.

What a pleasant read & with a life tidbits taboot

This book was picked by her group for book club and it turned out to be such a lovely story with a few inspirational bits of life wisdom moving in maybe I had some personal connection to what was written or maybe I just really enjoyed the audio version of this either way I found this story relating to things in life that I could look at myself or others with they really enjoyed that piece of it along with the cast of characters thank you it was a pleasure to read

Great book but the pc content is unimportant

It was a great book. The characters were very interesting and developed well. Unfortunately putting race in the book was totally unnecessary. It didn’t matter what race anyone was. The unnecessary pc descriptions took away from the story.