I liked everything about this read except the romance and the epilogue. I agreed with all the messaging in the epilogue, but it felt heavy-handed and redundant since Center did an expert job of weaving certain themes into the story already.

I think the story could have stood without the romance, which felt forced. I understood why the characters liked and respected each other but didn’t believe their chemistry. I think the author did a phenomenal job of building other aspects of Cassie, so the lack of build-up in her romantic relationship felt especially out of character. Apart from that, I loved the book. I learned so much about firefighting (three cheers for specificity!), and I liked that Cassie was a very different kind of female heroine. She’s not masculine or feminine; she’s herself. She’s a flawed but vulnerable and brave protagonist with a compelling arc.

Favorite line: “It’s amazing how brave you can be when you feel safe.”

Short Summary: Cassie is a star firefighter with everything she needs and loves at her fingertips in Austin. When her estranged mother asks Cassie to help her manage a new ailment for a year, Cassie leaves everything behind to move across the country. The new firehouse is a different breed of firefighters that Cassie has to learn to navigate in addition to her unusual feelings towards one of the men, in particular, not to mention her mother, a past that haunts her, and an uncertain future.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐