This book started on such an adrenaline rush. My emotions climbed up and down right alongside Danny and Anne and before I knew it, I'd blown through the first 8 chapters and the rest is history. Read it in one seating and it was totally worth my lack of sleep and zombie impersonation everyone got to see the next morning.

The story follows Anne and Danny, these two have the hots and are in love with each other but never express their feelings to the other. While securing a building on fire, these two have to make some hard decisions to save Anne, after she was pinned under debris. That choice saved her life but also forced her out of her dream job as a firefighter.

Fast forward 10 months and Danny is struggling with the guilt and anger over what happened and Anne is doing a decent job of forgetting the satisfaction and thrill of being part of the 499 station and starting over as an arson investigator.

When her latest case leads her to see a pattern of fires and murder, all pointing to a powerful man with dangerous connections, Anne and Danny are brought back together and this time, they'll get a second chance to stay strong and together or finally walk away for good.

This was not my typical romance read (no soft pink glow here) this was raw, emotional and dealt with a lot of harsh reality. Anne and Danny are characters with a ton of baggage and the first 25% of this book pretty much ripped my heart out over these two. Then there is all the secondary characters that were equally riddled with bad luck and family drama. This book was a bit of a downer and got a bit bleak at times but is really well written. Even with the continuous hard knock, after hard knock for these guys, I couldn't stop reading and was sucked right into the story line.

I honestly don't know if my rating is accurate because I kind of have a love/hate thing going on with it right now. I will say it left an impression, it was memorable and left me curious about the fate of the of the 499 team.

***4 Stars***

I used to be a huge BDB fan until I wasn’t anymore and I could never seem to get into the other series the author wrote. So, when I saw Consumed, I was hesitant to even attempt it based how things went with the other series, but after seeing a few of the reviewers I follow on GR posting very positive reviews, I figured I’d put my request in and should the powers that be approve it then I was meant to read it. So, I got approved (obviously) and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. It hooked me from the start, and let me tell you THAT was one hell of a start, and I found myself becoming more and more invested in the characters, both main and supporting, lives and needing to see how everything worked out for all of them.

Anne and Danny took me for a ride. I loved them both, I did, but man do these two put each other and themselves through the ringer. Both are determined, strong willed and stubborn...I mean taking a bone from a ravenous dog would be easier than getting these two the change their minds once they’ve made a decision. But on the flip side they both have huge hearts. These hearts have taken quite a few beatings over the years, but they are golden.

Their journey to the HEA was an interesting one in that it is not the wine and roses, I’m going to woo you kind of a journey. There were some sweet and swoon worthy moments, but really it’s about two people that despite what they deem their best intentions, just end up colliding over and over again. They both have a lot of baggage to overcome, one which was pretty intense and unexpected, but the flow between them was undeniable and I love where they were at when everything was said and done.

I’m really happy that I was approved to read this baby. I was hooked from the very first page and was quite surprised at the turn things took as early as they did, but it all just worked for me and it really set the tone for the entire book. All of the characters were well written and I’m really interested to see where she goes with their evolution as the series progresses as well as what looks to be the overall arc of the series, which had a couple of twists that I didn’t see coming.

There are two short stories/novellas out right now that are freebies and prequels to the series, The Wedding from Hell Part 1: The Rehearsal Dinner & The Wedding from Hell Part 2: The Reception, that definitely help to give some background on Anne and Danny’s relationship, but also sets up one of the conflicts that finds its way into their relationship. I personally think that they should be read before diving into Consumed (especially because they are free) but you can bypass them if you so choose.

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

This book deals with VERY traumatic situations, be warned! Gritty, real life situations, heart wrenching drama, filled with survivors dealing with after trauma. It is not for everyone. READ THE PREQUELS!

These are all the terms that occurred to me reading this book. It is not a light entertaining read. It is filled with real life situations and after effects on people in a difficult and dangerous job! It was beautifully crafted as one would expect from JR Ward but it is NOT the Black Dagger Brotherhood with it's lighter moments. The healing power of love and determination to overcome are themes in this series. Reader, please be advised strongly to read the 3 intro stories as they tell you the relationships between the characters so you greater understand the interactions in the book!

Anne "Sister" Ashburn is a daughter in a firefighter family for generations. She's idolized her "hero" father and only wanted to be just like him competing to keep up with her elder brother Thomas. She's refused to be molded into the role of support female and succeeded in a male dominated profession. She has a strained relationship with her mother, disillusioned by her deceased hero father after learning his secrets in her teens. Her elder brother is the city's Fire Chief and has a strained relationship with him as well because she risks her life daily. Her co-workers at Station 499 are her "family" where she's respected as one of the best. She and Danny "Dannyboy" McGuire, co-workers and the company's "Bad Boy", fight a mutual attraction as they are teammates and fraternizing is forbidden. Danny isn't as "bad" as his reputation implies and is so drawn to Anne he's beside himself with the temptation to go further and settle down. During the story we meet the other teammates, roommates and people in other departments they hang out with at the Time Out Tavern after shifts. The story continues with a life & death call that sets the stage for the rest of the story.

This is an excellent real lifelike story of survivors and love to be found in their chosen hero profession.

Anne Ashburn has never been a damsel in distress. Being a firefighter with the 499 is all she ever wanted. Well, that and Daniel Maguire.

He’s been her rock, her friend and her lover. They’ve rushed into burning buildings and have always managed to somehow beat all the odds. Until now.

In a cruel twist of fate, she’s forced to leave it all behind. If only her heart could heal as fast as her body.

"Whenever her guilt got to stinging, she needed to remind herself that Danny was just fine and so was she. And with the passage of all the hours, days, weeks, and months since that warehouse fire, their lives were in different places and that horrible eternity when she’d been trapped in that hot spot was gone.
You had to keep going.
Staring over the cleared site, she thought… yup, just as the remnants of the warehouse were gone, so, too, the events of that blaze had been struck out of the timeline of both their lives.
So, too, the connection they had once had."

“Dannyboy” Maguire doesn’t know what’s heavier – the bone crushing debris that nearly ended his life or his remorse about how it all played out with Anne.

The loss that set them on different paths haunts him night and day. So when she reappears months later to pull him out of his own private Hell, it reignites the passion that always burned so hot between them. And there is nothing that he wouldn’t do to keep her safe from the danger that’s about to close in.

“What are you doing, Danny.” She nodded into his trainwreck of a room. “I mean, look at this place.”
There was laundry on the floor—in two piles that she guessed meant one was clean and the other dirty. The bed was a shambles of sheets and blankets with a bald pillow at the headboard. And the window’s curtain had bought the farm, the rod hanging cockeyed, a blanket nailed in place so he didn’t flash the neighbors.
“I don’t spend a lot of time in there,” he muttered before taking a drag.
She bent down and picked up a flimsy piece of lace. “At least you’re not alone, though.”
He shrugged. “I might as well be.”
“Oh, come on.” Anne let the lingerie dangle. “What was wrong with her? Given the cup size here, I’m thinking her anatomy was just fine.”
Danny was quiet for a while. Then in a low voice, he said, “She wasn’t you. That was the trouble.”

Consumed starts out with a lethal punch right to the gut and then never lets you take a breath! J.R. Ward introduces yet another impressive collection of characters that reach out from every page. Each one demands that readers FEEL their story – the pain, the desperation and the desire.

I was unsure going in, but was completely taken in before the first chapter came to an end. It’s a fast-paced and yet poignant look at life and love.

And it’s one hundred percent addictive…

This is my first NON paranormal ready by JR Ward and I did enjoy it...although for some reason I kept comparing it to BDB and it just wasn't the same. That being said, while perhaps not as steamy as expected..there was much going on not only with all the different interpersonal relationships that needed addressing but with also the fire departments as a whole. There is some great suspense going on in this story and some super in depth fire fighting/EMS descriptions that keep you completely glued to the pages. Some "holy crap" did that really happen moments and the culmination of the love story between Anne and Dannyboy that in the end...makes you swoon just a tad.

This was a fantastic story that pulled me in right from the start. I pretty much held my breath the first 10%! It was heart-stopping and intense and I was excited to see what would happen next. There's drama and emotion, pain and tragedy, I was eating up the details and enjoying it all. There's a big cast of characters, multiple POVs, a few sub plots and connections happening to tie it all together.

Danny and Anne are so flawed and broken but I found them really compelling and intriguing as they work through their guilt and issues. I really liked the pull they had on one another, they had great chemistry happening but a lot of pain underneath which almost made it feel more intense and I loved them working through it all in the midst of their turmoil.

There was a lot of drama, conflict, tension, and angst. The writing was really good but I felt it could be overly descriptive at times. It flowed well for the most part but some of the sub plots felt rushed like I was missing something, I liked them, they just didn't feel flushed out. I liked the element of suspense that was in play about the arsonist. It had a slow, subtle build to it but I thought it was going to be more of a major plot point. When everything comes to ahead, it was over pretty quick.

All in all, I thought this was an awesome read and I absolutely enjoyed it and would recommend it. J. R. Ward is a heck of a story teller! I was caught up in everything and had a really hard time putting it down. I thought this was an excellent introduction to a new series and am extremely excited to see where it goes.

🔥🔥Consumed is a must read for 2018🔥🔥

As I find with most first in series a lot of time was spent on character introductions and the laying of breadcrumb trails for future plots and subtle twist possibilities. This was done flawlessly by the way, and easy to follow.
The characters -
Anne - Definitely has a chip on her shoulder. She seems to spend a lot of time-fighting an invisible foe that she seems to have created herself. I did enjoy her tenacity though -she was like a Dalmatian that wouldn't let go. I did finally warm up to her character - she seemed to "grow up" as the story progressed, I appreciated the way her growth was revealed, added to the storyline
Danny - always seemed to be running from his past. A very strong presence, easy to connect with and I couldn't help but want to know more about the demons that seemed to be chasing him. He has that quick to light temper that definitely got him into some very precarious situations.
Those were the two main characters in Consumed but we got to meet the rest of the cast as well and I can say there are a couple I am soooo wanting to read more about. A few, I believe, could quite possibly develop into future antagonists though I am on the fence about one of them - I kind of like her in your face attitude she may just end up surprising everyone.
As I have come to expect from Ward - each of the characters seemed to bring to a unique context to the storyline - I really enjoy the vast array of personalities and quirks - a vivid cast that I definitely felt a part of
The storyline is intense - I cried through a large portion - yes the ugly silent tears - and then I would find myself laughing and apologizing to my family as I tried to ensure them that I was not losing it - Not sure they believed me
And WAIT FOR IT - I never saw it coming ! And NO peeking!
I was originally given a comp copy by the publisher - But being a big BDB fan (I own the complete series in physical form) I also acquired a physical copy - because let's be honest Ward has the gift of storytelling

Something has to be said for the power in Ward's books. A new branch back into the contemporary world, Consumed is not only intrigued and a standout novel, readers won't be able to predict what will happen and become addicted to finding out the truth. I highly recommend reading the two free novellas before diving in the world of Anne and Danny. They give a sneak peek into all our characters before a moment that changes all of their lives.

Anne is the solo female in her fire squad and has always felt she's had an axe to grind (sorry for the pun there...). Determination and pure snark have gotten her this far and it'll take more than smart-talking, playboy Danny to sweep her off her feet. But there's a connection between the two of them when they're int he field. They think in unison and anticipate each others needs and movements like no one she's ever seen. His charm may not be his dazzling smile and sexy body, it just may be his dedication to being the best firefighter the city's ever seen. But a split decision from Anne leaves the world they know in dust as he shatters their fragile relationship with one swing of his axe.

Now, Anne isn't your typical fire inspector; haunted with the memories of her days of a firefighter, she's in a constant mental and physical struggle to regain her confidence. Putting those memories behind her she dives into the mysterious warehouse fires and discovers a plot that goes deeper than anyone could ever imagine. Not to mention, Danny is back on her radar and diving headfirst into self-destruction. His pain over what happened to Anne during their last fire is eating him alive. The drinking, the fighting, the sex, all a coping mechanism to escape the night terrors and the pain he caused for the woman he loved. Spending more time with brings more pain but Danny will take what he can get. But this new Anne is making more discoveries then in her investigations; Danny's secrets come to light as Anne has to come to terms with her own past and her city's possible corruption.

This book is FILLED with twists and turns and new angles you won't predict. Hooked from page one I had to know what Anne and Danny's inner thoughts were. Ward does an incredibly job taking brutal, damaged characters and pulling those flaws right into the light, shoving them in to the face of readers and shouting "ACCEPT THEM". Anne's struggle with being the only female in her field versus her feelings towards not only Danny but her only family's expectations created a very complex creature. Matched against Danny's straight up "I loved her and I lost her" attitude makes for compelling drama. Add in the crime and suspense aspect and Consumed will do it's own namesake to readers. It's my latest five star read, but what else would you expect from The Warden herself. I can't wait to see where our boys go next...

When I finish a book and the first thing I want to do is re-read it, that tells me a lot about how I should rate a book. I breezed through Consumed in two days and when I got to the end, I just wanted to re-read that beginning and the ending again. It is so good.

The story starts out with a fire -- one that turns dangerous for many of the firefighters in this book. But for Anne, the consequences are serious and the even though the aftermath changes everything, she's still connected to the firefighters she worked with, especially Danny Maguire. He saved her life in the fire, but not without some serious changes for Anne.

I absolutely adored Anne. She kicks some serious butt throughout the book. She has a lot to deal with -- starting with a firefighter legacy that stretches to her brother and deceased father. She's also vulnerable most of all to Danny Maquire, but she's no pushover either.

Danny Maquire-- all I had to hear was he is a dark haired, blue-eyed Irishman, which had me swooning. His interactions with Anne are sometimes tense and mostly filled with some serious heat of the attraction kind. I love it when an author can communicate deep feelings in just a few pages, and JR Ward did not disappoint me. I loved Danny and Anne together. Their pages together sizzled and I felt that same sort of rush about them that I felt about Wrath and Beth in the first BDB book, and that made me very happy.

There's a lot of world building going on in this book, with the introduction of many characters and relationships, mostly focused on Anne and her family. There's some really nice scenes as Anne attempts to heal some sore spots with her mother and her brother.

The main plot has to do with Anne investigating the fires happening at the warehouse district where she was injured. There's a political component here that makes this very contemporary, and some really bad dudes that are still around at the end of the book, so I'm thinking this is a continuing story.

There's a lot of suspense as Anne hones in on the firestarter and a seriously tense conclusion that had me turning the pages to see how it was all going to play out. While it felt a little rushed, I did like how everything was wrapped up at the end, even though it was a bittersweet ending for many reasons.

Overall, I just loved this. The pace was good for the most part, I loved Anne and Danny and it left me wanting more of this world. Great start to the series!

An ARC was provided for review.

4½ Stars

Holy crap! What did I read??? I am going to give you a warning right now. In the blurb, it tells you that Anne's life is changed forever from one decision. That is NO joke! And you don't have to wait for it to happen.

The scene where Anne and Danny's lives are forever changed, left me a complete, sobbing mess. I wasn't sure I could finish it. I couldn't see through my tears. It is soul crushing and told in such detail, it will gut you completely!

From there, these characters are left to pick of the pieces of their lives. Guilt plays a huge role in this. These two characters were thrown such a huge altering curve ball, it's a question of how they will move on from it.

Ward is good at adding other layers to her stories. This one is no exception. While figuring out how to navigate their new lives, Anne and Danny are given other challenges that run parallel to their lives. More danger. More possible heartbreak. It's one of those things where you wonder if the hits will stop coming.

I found myself so engrossed with this book, I thought about nothing else for days after. The story will linger with you for quite a while, trying to piece everything together after that huge twist at the end. 

The only thing that I was disappointed in was a main component and driving force for Anne in this book. It was left unresolved. And it was the one thing that should have been resolved. Even though it's mentioned and glossed over, it was such a huge part of the book to be left lingering. So I am left to wonder if it will eventually be in the other books in this series. If not, that will be a huge disappointment.

*Side Note: There are three novellas that proceed this book. It isn't a definite that they need read, however I would highly recommend reading the first two. The third one is completely unnecessary since it's the beginning of Consumed. There are things in them that are referenced in this book that would make reading beneficial.  Also, you will get a feel for all of the characters ahead of time.

Consumed, J.R. Ward’s first novel to her new Firefighters series, pays homage to the everyday male and female First Responders who risk their lives for the public’s greater good. Ward lent her unique voice, from multiple viewpoints of characters, to the layered darkness which was Anne and Danny— two character’s who’s internal emotional struggles met with fierce physical demands. The heartache in this debut was palpable, infused with the shadowed melancholy of two lonely people who unknowingly endeavor for the same thing.

The story opens in the midst of action, slows throughout the middle and picks up in the very end. Many times throughout this story I was confused as I thought that there was a novel prior to this one because it felt like I was walking into the middle of an already established story and the only person left out of the unfolding was the reader. Overall, the experience of this writing style was unique and thought provoking. *Update: Ward must have taken this word to heart as she penned a prologue series for Anne and Danny called The Wedding From Hell parts I and II to bridge the gap I felt in Consumed.*

Anne was a strong female lead met with a brash beginning and broadened into a thoughtful, rational character grounded in reality. While Danny also started out brazen, his character spiraled due to great trauma experienced throughout the novel, in his life. More time could have been spent developing the relationship between Anne and Danny as the lack of communication was felt at times, as well as spending more time on the mysterious plot of arson-related crimes.
Ward went into detail surrounding the daily tribulations of a firefighter/first responder, especially regarding their addictions/vices and the coping mechanisms sustained from traumatizing experiences met on the job.

I enjoyed Consumed, with it’s imperfect people and dark-themed relationships that lent meaningful threads of necessary reality in an imperfect world gone up in smoke.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what a great book! I always knew that J R Ward was a wonderful writer, but since she writes a lot of paranormal romances, I have not read much of her works. Her storytelling is phenomenal, and this particular story in my mind has to be one of her best. She actually has 3 novellas that are a preview to this book,which I heartily recommend you read, although you certainly don’t have to before reading this book. I actually hope Ms Ward writes more about this community of firefighters. The plot gave this book a romantic suspense twist that certainly kept me glued to my seat. I actually read this book in one day because I didn’t want to put it down! Kudos!

I was so excited to see one of my favorite authors J.R. Ward was starting a new series about firefighters. Book 1 deals with Danny and Anne. From an early age Anne knew she was going to be a firefighter. It was in her DNA. Danny is a little bit of lady's man, but 1 night with Anne and he is feeling something unexpected. Anne on the other hand is not going to mess up her career by getting involved with another firefighter. It only took 1 fire and an life altering moment to change everything. Danny and Anne have to figure out how to move forward after that one moment.
This story starts off with a bang and ends the same way. As with many new series, there can be some slow spots as the author sets up the new series, many new characters to get to know and love. I am really looking forward to the next book and the next great story.

After reading the two prequel novellas, The Rehearsal Dinner and The Reception, I was very excited to dig into Consumed. I felt like I had gotten an outline of Anne and Danny's characters and now I wanted to see them in real life.

J.R. Ward jumps right into the adrenaline-filled life of a firefighter and put our characters straight into a life-changing and story-changing situation. I think because of reading the prequels I was even more devastated by this situation the 499 find themselves in. It puts a huge damper on anything we thought might happen coming out of the prequels!

After that powerful and intense scene, we end up jumping forward quite a few months. Our characters have gone through some major changes and I wondered whether the situation I wanted was going to work it's way out. The jump puts Anne in an investigative position which helps get the "suspense" part of this romantic suspense series going. It's an adjustment for Anne, but Anne is determined to make her life work. Anne finds herself in the midst of an investigation that could put her in a deadly situation. The adrenaline of that really fulfills that part of Anne that craves and misses that rush. In a way you really feel for Anne and her struggle, but that helps you cheer for her as she makes progress towards getting her life back. I love that she found a friend that she could lean on. That friend is a favorite part of the story for me.

Danny is still the maverick at the 499 and is dealing with his PTSD over the traumatic incident months before. I loved Danny. He may not have been at his best but he was still all that I wanted for Anne.

Ward does a great job introducing all the characters and establishing the connection and relationship between them all. Anne's family and work struggles as well as those surrounding the guys at the 499. The investigation into the warehouse fires from the previous years drops into place leaving just enough pieces that we don't have concrete evidence of the hypothesis. However, by the way things start happening to Anne, you know that she has to be on the right path.

Then it happens. The bomb I didn't see coming. It blew the book out of the water. I was so surprised and shocked I had to stop and try to wrap my head around what happened. It was stunning. Ward really pulled that surprise at the right time and laid the build up perfectly. I was a big fan of the Bourbon Kings series but I think I enjoyed this even more. It was an emotional ride with these characters that kept me glued to my Kindle. Ward has me hooked and I can't wait to see how the next one plays out, what more can these characters be put through? I highly recommend this new series and can see book two being a preorder. As if a Ward book wouldn't be on my preorder lineup!

I’m happy to see this is the first of a new series. This book is heartbreaking and yet a heartwarming romance to it. This story just is emotion all the way through. Anne and Danny keep you guessing if anything will work out with them. Throw in a brother and mother who have major problems going on, toss in a few other firefighters and their problems, one new boss and a one of a kind dog and there is just no slack part to this book. I really had a hard time setting it down. I am hoping the next story will be about Tom. I received a free copy from Net Galley and this is a voluntary review.

Anne was the only female fire fighter at her fire station, her nickname was sister as her father had died a hero during a fire and her brother- Tom was captain at another fire station. There is a fore at an old warehouse and Anne and her partner- Amy- Chevez go into the warehouse looking for people who were squatting in the warehouse to get out to get out before things get worse. When they were almost done with the bottom floor Anne told Amy to go ahead and do the upstairs at first Amy said no as that was going against the order to stay together at all times but then Amy went up giving into Anne. Anne had a one time fling with Danny who was the one man that was always with a lot of women. But what Anne doesn’t know is Danny is in love with her but he knew Anne refused to settle down and marry and be like her mother who she had no respect for and had nothing in common with. What Danny doesn’t know is Anne is in love with Danny. Danny is another firefighter from the same station. Anne gets trapped and the fire blazes toward her. She can’t free her hand. Then she sees someone through the smoke and it’s Danny and even though he was told not to go in the warehouse he went in after Anne anyway. He tells him to leave she can’t free her hand and neither could Danny. Anne told Danny to go she was done. Danny told her if she died he would die with her. So Anne then told Danny to cut off her hand finally that is exactly what Danny did and handed her out of the warehouse that was collapsing but Anne screamed for Danny as she didn’t see him come out. Danny got trapped himself but he is pulled from the warehouse but barely alive. When Anne comes to she is in the hospital and Tom is there and he told her he had been waiting for the day when he had to tell their mother she too had died in a fire like their father. Tom and Anne always argued just like today and it always ended up in a standoff every since she had entered the fire academy. Anne felt like maybe she would have been better off dying as she could no longer be a firefighter and that had been her life. Anne forced her self up from her hospital bed and was determined to see Danny she had called and he had a room in the hospital. The nurse tried to talk Anne into going back to bed but Anne didn’t listen. As Anne got to the elevator and her head was swimming she felt something hit the back of ehr legs and she fell back into a wheelchair Moose- a brother firefighter from their station- and he took Anne to the ICU to see Danny. No one would admit how bad Danny was and he may not make it. Moose was Danny’s former roommate before he married. But Danny was Moose’s best friend and he was so afraid for Danny. Anne went into Danny’s room and whispered to him “ why didn’t you leave me?” Danny woke and with tremendous will he said “couldn’t leave you”and then all kinds of alarms went off and Anne was passed back out to Moose by the ICU staff but Danny was still looking out to Anne until he was blocked by some staff. Ten months later Anne was a Fire Inspector that was as close as she could now get to her old job. She was now part of the Arson Investigation and Fire Inspection Division of The New Brunswick Fire Department. Anne hadn’t seen Danny since that day in ICU , with both of them doing what they had to do to recover. Then she heard Danny was back on the job at the 499. Three months earlier Danny had left a drunk voicemail on her phone , it was the middle of the night then a female said his name. So no contact. Then Moose called her to talk to Danny as he was on a downward destructive spiral path.
I loved this book. When I first started reading this book I wasn’t so sure as I had so loved J R Ward’s series Black Dagger Brotherhood. But this was a great book and I was happy I read this. I loved Danny and Anne together. I was so happy when Anne worked things out with her family. I also loved when Anne finally gave into her feelings. I was so sad the way Moose turned out. As you maybe able to tell I felt like I was there and knew these characters. This draws you in and doesn’t let go until the very last page. I loved how close the firefighters all were. I felt like the author let us know what is was like to be a firefighter and the dangers and gave us the chance to read about some situations that happen. It just read very realistically. Happily I could find nothing to criticize in this book. I loved the plot and pace also. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend.

I have been a J.R. Ward fan for years. Over time I have devoured her Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Consumed mostly stays true to the writing style her fans have come to expect and love with an added mystery twist.

The book opens strong with a 2 alarm fire that has devastating life-altering consequences for two of our main characters - Anne and Danny. As to be expected from Ward we have strong-willed, emotional and flawed lead characters. The book takes a turn from the initial opening scene and takes us through Anne and Danny's road to recovery as they deal with the physical and emotional scars left by the devastating decisions they had to make in the fire.

This was very much a first book in a series. It introduces us to the cast of characters and begins to offer us some backstory while setting the stage for more to come. I found the characters flawed and likable. The plot was interesting and the mystery twist with Anne becoming an arson investigator and having to uncover the truth behind a series of fires in the warehouse district.

Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable read. It did feel a bit slow towards the middle but it started and ended off strong for me which brought it all together. I understood it was only book 1 and was laying a foundation for the series so I did give some allowance for that. The title was very appropriate as the characters dealt with various things that "consumed" their lives - love, lust, work, ambition, desire, alcohol, etc. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next with these firefighters.

I was excited to see that JR Ward was writing a new romantic suspense series. I loved the Black Dagger Brotherhood series but also enjoyed her romance books written as Jessica Bird. There was a set of prequel novellas called Thr Wedding from Hell which introduced us to the main characters of Danny and Anne.
This book is hard to put down. Danny and Anne’s backstories are emotional and their characters are so compelling. All of the secondary characters are interesting. It’s a suspenseful story as well.
I enjoyed the setting in the world of firefighters. With both Danny and Anne you see the after effects of incidents that happened while firefighting. We see Danny and Anne interact through their personal connections as well as through their profession.
Anne is now a fire investigator for the first time. It’s hard for her that she can no longer be a firefighter. The mystery in the book comes together when Anne tries to find out who is behind some deadly fires. It was well done and kept you guessing until the end. I’m looking forward to the next book and am excited to see who will be the hero in the next book.

Which emotion will prove stronger? Will it be guilt, lust, or love?
A horrific act changes the nature of the relationship between Anne Ashburn and Danny McGuire.. And while readers know there will be an HEA, you cant help but wonder how. The two main characters are firefighters and well on the way to exploring a possible attraction, but that changes on one tragic day. While the story is pretty good, I think I enjoyed these two separately but not necessarily as a couple..

I never believed in love . . . I thought it was just a word, a title folks gave to daydreams and misconceptions about destiny, a lie folks told to themselves to make them feel solid in this imperfect, unreliable, and mean-ass world. Now I know it can happen between two people. And it doesn’t have to make sense because it’s not about logic. And it doesn’t have to have good timing because forever is like infinity, without beginning or end. And it doesn’t have to be defined because truth is like faith—it just is. So, let’s toast to love.”

Firefighting is in Anne Ashburn’s blood. She’s tough, brave and fiercely independent. Love is for other people, not her. As a female in a male-dominated profession, she’s not about to give up her career. She’s a thrill junkie, great at her job and assigned to one of the Top firefighting stations in the city.

Written in J.R. Ward’s trademark brisk, no-nonsense style, the dangers faced by firefighters are thrillingly outlined and painstakingly described. Called out to a brutal fire one night. Anne’s life changes forever, and Danny McGuire feels responsible. Anne distances herself from Danny and is assigned to an arson investigation detail. No one works harder than Anne but she lives a very lonely life. Her family, her fellow firefighters and her friends all try to stay close with her but Anne is determined to keep everyone at arm’s length.

”Anything that was provided by someone other than yourself, whether it was money or position or emotional support, could be, by definition, taken away from you.”

Danny and Anne’s story begins in the free prequel novellas, The Wedding From Hell. I highly recommend you read these first so that you get a sense of the characters and story. Although each ends on a cliffhanger, ‘Consumed’ is a stand-alone story. Danny and Anne h e incredible chemistry and their relationship develops with a great deal of poignancy and their scenes together are perfectly sexy.

“I don’t care if you forget my name right afterward. I just . . . I need you, Anne.”

Although it took me a little time to get into this book, I couldn’t wait to get back to it every time I JD to put it aside. The author really did her rear hand and she doesn’t shy away from the problems and PTSD faced by firefighters on a daily basis. The brave men and women risk their lives over and over again in life-threatening situations. This is a thrilling romantic suspense story that’s the beginning of a series of books about the members of Station 499 and is sexy, fast-paced and wickedly funny.

”I’m going to think about you,” he whispered. “You can stop us from ever doing this again, but you can’t control my mind or my dreams.”