One more week until summer school ends, and ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL THE EASTERN VIRGINIA WRITING PROJECT!
I’ve got a nauseating combination of excited/nervous/curious butterflies flitting around my stomach. I mean, being given a spot at this conference is a fairly big deal. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure of what I should be expecting and hope to God I’m up to snuff with the other attendees. I look forward to acquiring knowledge and skills that will push me to becoming a braver and more skilled writer. Especially in the area of FINALLY FINISHING MY BOOK. Trust me. We’re all tired of me mentioning my book. I annoy myself at this point.
I finished another awesome BOTM book though, and I count that as a win. It was an adorable rom-com drama that left me with butterflies and starry eyes (ew, but it true.)
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center is a story about Cassie Hanwell, a badass firefighter from Austin, Texas, who has proven herself to be the best of the best in her field – she’s saved children from burning school buses, put her neck on the line for numerous colleagues, busted out 20 chin-ups with out breaking a sweat (including one-handed one!), and made sure she’s the most knowledgeable, dependable person on her shift. So when Cassie’s being honored by the city for her astounding bravery, her fellow firefighters and Austinians are thrilled to support her on her big night. Though she’s a tinge shy of the limelight, Cassie’s excited too – until a very unwelcomed blast from the past makes her lose her cool at the worst possible moment, changing the trajectory of her life in ways she didn’t anticipate.
Circumstances ultimately lead Cassie to leaving Austin and shacking up with her estranged mother in Massachusetts, as her mom is suddenly ill and needs a helping hand. With tumultuous circumstances happening in Texas, this is an (almost) fortunate occurrence. With all of her knowledge and skillset, Cassie nabs herself a position at the local firehouse (even though she’s a lady – a fact her new crew is far from stoked about,) after two brothers have retired and moved to Florida. She’s accepted one position, while the second open spot is given to The Rookie, a guy Cassie discovers she is gob-smackingly attracted to. A feeling Cassie hasn’t had in years. Not since the night of her sixteenth birthday…
In this new, uncomfortable, and challenging version of her life, Cassie must reach deep within herself, harness her ability to stay calm under pressure, and never EVER fall in love with a fellow firefighter. She’s put to the test on more occasions than one, and grows in new ways she never imagined possible. Taking a risk, learning to forgive, and accepting that vulnerability is not a weakness but a strength, are all part of her story.
This rom-com/drama was an exact mashup of Miss Congeniality and Never Been Kissed. IT WAS SO PERFECT! Like, I’m actively hoping Hollywood makes this one into a movie – I will go see it, because there’s no way you can screw it up. Like many of the best protagonists, Cassie is a tough cookie who doesn’t use a whole lot of bravado to prove her ability. She kicks ass by doing the work.
But Cassie’s also afraid – she’s afraid of rejection, of intimacy, of getting emotionally hurt. She’s been abandoned and taken advantage of in the past. And like so many of the most beloved rom-coms, it just takes meeting the right person at the right time to change her life. Everybody gets a happy ending in this one (…okay, maybe not everybody,) and the reader is left 100% satisfied.
If you’re looking for something light that will sweep you off your feet, you’re going to want to pick this one up! I give it 4 out of 5 stars!
Happy & heathy reading!
Lexi
