03 | January | 2019 | Berit Talks Books

About the Book

From the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away comes a stunning new novel about family, 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 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.

The Besties Thoughts

My Thoughts:

HOT DAMN! This book is on FIRE!!!🔥

Loved this engaging story from first word to last! The characters were wonderful, The romance was sweet, the friendships were strong, and I loved the firehouse setting! Cannot think of a better way to kickoff my 2019 reads!

Jennifer’s Thoughts:

“Loved the characters, loved the relationships, loved how reading it made me feel- loved it all!”

Holly’s Thoughts:

“This was such a charming, humorous, and touching story. I didn’t want it to end!”

Kendall’s Thoughts:

“Things You Save in a Fire is a truly remarkable read with characters that will sweep you off your feet, heartfelt writing, all in all a beautiful story that unfolds across the pages with ease.”

Mackenzie’s Thoughts:

“A story about not only forgiving others, but forgiving ourselves as well. This heartwarming novel truly is good for the soul!”

Check out Kenzie’s blog for more thoughts! Here

Happy Thursday bibliophiles! Is anyone else confused as to what day it is? I’m so thrown off by the holidays, not sure what I’m going to do next Monday!

Excited to share with you today my review for this dark twisted story that will keep you in the mind of a psychopath throughout, and I can hardly think of a better way to spend my time!😉😇😏

Hunting Annabelle by Wendy Heard

My Thoughts

This book will make your mind spin and your palms sweat, an edge of your seat ride into crazy town!
Oh how I love to spend time in the mind of a psychopath! Although in the case of Sean you were never quite sure if he was a psychopath or a victim? This really was what set this book a bit apart, the not knowing if you were sympathetic towards the bad guy or the good guy… but good or bad Sean was definitely an odd duck…

Sean has recently been released from a psychiatric hospital, for reasons you’re not completely sure of until later in the book… his mother and he have relocated from San Francisco to Texas, The assumption is that Sean has brought shame on the family…. Shawn’s mother is a controlling, judgemental, condescending, neurosurgeon…. so I’m guessing there weren’t a ton of hugs and kisses and complements in Sean’s past… Shawn is an artist who spends his days drawing at a local amusement park, that is where he meets Annabelle… Shawn is immediately entranced by Annabel, and Annabelle seems to be charmed by quirky Sean… while on their first date somebody kidnaps Annabelle, and Sean is determined to find her… so who took Annabel? And why? And does Sean have something to do with this?Oh the mind f***!

Sean was both off putting an endearing, someone you wanted to give a hug and run away from…. I really had no idea if he was good or bad, or innocent or guilty, until the bitter end… Annabel was complicated, I really never could get a complete handle on her character…. two characters I didn’t necessarily like, but they were so well developed flaws and all! The book completely sucks you in from the beginning, this lonely eccentric character with an artist hand, what is really going on inside him? The pace slows down a bit in the middle with the search for Annabel, although I felt every piece of this puzzle was necessary…. then that ending! Wow that was explosive an unexpected and has you thinking to yourself what the actual f*** did I just read?

A dark and twisty creepy story that will keep you on your toes throughout, absolutely recommend!

*** A huge thank you to Harlequin Mira for my copy of this book ***

About the Book

Sean Suh is done with killing. After serving three years in a psychiatric prison, he’s determined to stay away from temptation. But he can’t resist Annabelle–beautiful, confident, incandescent Annabelle–who alone can see past the monster to the man inside. The man he’s desperately trying to be.

Then Annabelle disappears.

Sean is sure she’s been kidnapped—he witnessed her being taken first hand—but the police are convinced that Sean himself is at the centre of this crime. And he must admit, his illness has caused him to “lose time” before. What if there’s more to what happened than he’s able to remember?

Though haunted by the fear that it might be better for Annabelle if he never finds her, Sean can’t bring himself to let go of her without a fight. To save her, he’ll have to do more than confront his own demons… He’ll have to let them loose.