As much as I wanted to love Consumed, it did not work for me. After reading the two short stories and then 50% of the actual book, I did not care for any of the characters, whether they were main characters or supporting characters. The writing was well paced and the plot was interesting, but because of my issues with the characters, I ended up not finishing after several tries.

To be honest, I went into Consumed not expecting to enjoy it. I know that Ward always writes a brutal and intense world, which works so well in paranormal romance. I wasn’t sure how her writing style and dangerously damaged characters would translate to a contemporary setting. Of course, Ward proved me wrong.

I loved this book. Ward had me on the edge of my seat the entire story. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, I was proven wrong. The beginning of the book (OMFG) literally had me in shock. I am so, so invested in all of these new characters and their crazy Boston lives.

This is a J.R. Ward novel, so of course, there were lots of storylines and abrupt scene changes, but I loved the general focus on our heroine, Anne. Anne is not the type of heroine I usually connect with, and I am astounded by how much I appreciated her. She’s tough, independent, and doesn’t take flack from anyone. What I enjoyed the most about her was her character development. She showed real and believable growth as a sister, daughter, and lover. She made mistakes, learned from them (sometimes the hard way), and I loved her by the end of the book.

Danny was an exceptional hero. He was the most beta Ward hero I’ve ever read, and I relished it. Danny was a badass, tough firefighter but loved Anne with an unwavering devotion that cemented my adoration for him. The way he makes Anne feel beautiful just the way she is, makes me want to cry reflecting on it.

I feel like this always is my only “complaint” with J.R. Ward novels: I wish the main couple had more screen time. I wanted to see Danny and Anne grow more together.

Overall, this book was one I am going to be thinking about and talking about for a while. The secondary characters were fantastic, I am ready for the second book, like, yesterday. I think I am going to go reread now!

P.S. – I am still not over the beginning of this book!!! GAH.

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**

First and foremost I want to give a huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for supplying me with what is, probably, my best read of 2018 so far! It’s safe to say I was obsessed with this book, it quite literally consumed me. See what I did there?

On a more serious note, and I’m aware I’ve said this several times, but J.R. Ward is such a phenomenal writer. In fact, I’m pretty mad at myself that I haven’t picked up any of her books before this year, I’ve been missing out on so much greatness. Her books have this way of being both incredibly well researched but at the same time aren’t boring in the same book report kind of way. They pack a lot of information about the subject, like here it was firefighting and arson investigation, in The Bourbon Kings it was money laundering and just the atmosphere of the rich, and she manages to weave this totally believable and interesting world. She writes in a way that you can get completely lost in her books and you’ll find yourself reading for hours on end without noticing, you think about the story every spare moment and just want to be reading, or, in my case, it’ll leave you with the biggest book hangover.

I had never read much romantic suspense, in fact, I hadn’t even been aware this was a wide genre, but I really enjoyed this and it made me want to read more. This novel centers on Anne Ashburn and Danny Maguire, two firefighters who share as much turmoil as they do passion. I enjoyed all the characters in this book immensely, they were all an absolute joy to follow and learn more about. Ward has this amazing ability to make all her characters, no matter how small, seem vital and completely lifelike. Anne was so strong and controlled, but we got to see the sides of her that were scared and insecure, something that a lot of the other characters were oblivious to. Danny may have seemed strong, confident, and laid back but on the inside he was dealing with so much that he wasn’t able to process alone. Seeing these two come together throughout this book was amazing. I couldn’t have loved them more.

Consumed doesn’t hold back and instead catapults you right in the middle of fires, family drama, and political conspiracy theories. The book starts out with a bang, both Danny and Anne rush to the scene of a fire and immediately put in life threatening danger. It’s probably the most intense start to a book I’ve ever read, and I was hooked immediately. It only gets better from there and this book is just one big dangerous thrill ride from fires to murders to steamy hook ups and tragic events. It was a big mash up of all these deep moments and events, and I couldn’t have enjoyed it more.

Since this is written in the third person we get to see things through a lot of eyes, which is great for a book that deals with so many topics and has so many little plot points. That twist at the end though, and you’ll know it when you read it, literally steals the air from your lungs. This ending was something I never saw coming and it almost kept me awake that night, realizing how wrong I had been the entire time. It was such a delicious feeling because I haven’t read a book this good in a while, and I have a feeling I’ll be stuck on this one for a long time.

This book was phenomenal, I cannot recommend it enough. I’m already dreaming about book two and all the things we have yet to learn about this tight knit group of firefighters, but at least I have plenty of her other books to read while I wait! Consumed releases this Tuesday, so be sure to pick it up! You won’t be disappointed.

While I am a fan of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood and Black Dagger Legacy series, I find that I am not a fan of her contemporary romance and unfortunately, Consumed was not for me.

“Stay in the present with me. I don’t want to waste a second of this if it’s my only chance.” - The Reception (The Wedding From Hell #2)

While the story is detail rich (so many details I found myself skimming), it is lacking in regards to the characters. I don't feel any connection to them or their connections to each other. And I personally would like to follow the two main characters, Anne and Danny, rather than multiple side stories that occur simultaneously within Consumed. (That's an issue I've started having with her BDB series as well now that there are so many characters.) I feel like I'm missing huge pieces of information into these characters backstories and know so little about them that I don't understand their motivations. The best character in the book is Soot, the dog! The lack of character focus and building emotional connections really hurt the story.

I was interested in the story when I began the freebie (at time of posting) prequels, but Consumed just didn't work for me. I found myself skimming after a certain point just to find out the ending. Consumed has great detail (some of it extremely traumatic), good suspense, but no romance, and no character development. It felt very sterile with it's details and lack of emotions.

I am an outlier though, since there are many favorable reviews for Consumed . If you haven't read J.R. Ward before I'd recommend the BDB and BDL series over her contemporary romance. I struggled through The Bourbon Kings book #1 and never continued that series.


The Rehearsal Dinner (The Wedding From Hell #1) 2 stars
The Reception (The Wedding From Hell #2) 2 stars
Consumed 1 star

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

This book starts out to a hell of a start. Although, it felt like one really long prologue because I had read the summary which made it feel like the story would start after the incident.... but the incident was a good chunk of the book.

Yet, the writing is really good. My mind was very dedicated to the book and I kept wanting to read more. I was hooked and wanted to know what was going to happen. The harsh world and lives of the characters are gripping.

At the same time, whenever I thought about what I was reading or between reading session, I began to wonder why I was reading it. I didn't feel the relationship was building much nor did the investigate do much. There is just so much going on about their injuries, the lives of those around them, and adapting to new circumstances.

So, I'm conflicted about this book. I enjoyed reading it, but felt like nothing much happened. I was slightly invested in the characters, but my interest in the investigation was not really fulfilled. Conflicted!!

In the end, I would recommend this to people who like romances with lots of drama. Don't go in this wanting a mystery, like I did, go in for the characters and the drama.

Consumed starts off with a seriously tragic event. We are introduced to our main characters on what is to become the worst day of their lives. Anne and Danny are both firefighters with the same company. During a warehouse fire, Anne is trapped. Danny attempts to save her. This results in both of them nearly dying and the course of their lives forever changed. After you are given the story, the plot moves ahead 10 months from the fire. Anne and Danny have a bit of a second chance story; not much time has passed, but because of the fire, their relationship ended abruptly. They still live in the same town but haven't spoken since that day.

Anne wasn't my favorite heroine, mostly because she has a big chip on her shoulder. She is a woman in a man's job and is constantly fighting for equality. I appreciated that, but she was fighting when there wasn't anything to fight against. She was really derogatory about her mom as well, saying she never wanted to be like her mom and just stay home waiting for her husband. I totally support a woman's right to NOT want to be a stay at home mom or wife, but I also support the right to do those things. Being a woman who stays at home to raise a family isn't something you should shame, especially if you are another woman! It really just rubbed me the wrong way. However, Anne is a dynamic character who does grow throughout the story. I think she was very immature in the early parts of the story but because of the tragedy and the aftermath she matures. While I might have really not liked her to begin with, she did get more likable in my mind.

Danny is a beta hero for sure! It was a bit odd at first, because I don't think I have ever read a beta hero from Ward! But, I loved him. He really struggled with what happened between him and Anne. The guilt he carried was immense and he just didn't know how to manage it all. He was a very sympathetic character (more so than Anne in my opinion!).

Consumed is so much more than just the story of Anne and Danny. There is a serial arsonist on the loose and people are getting hurt. I will admit I didn't guess correctly on what would happen with this plot line! The book also sets up what I think will be future characters. They are all pretty damaged and drama filled-typically of Ward characters! Consumed is a fascinating start to a new, angsty series that I am curious to continue!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the start to a new series by this author. Anne has always been destined to be a firefighter, she was born into the business but one wrong move and she is caught in a fire and her life will never be the same. Danny McGuire may be a wild man but he is one tough firefighter and the best there is. He is injured in the same fire but his injuries are not career ending as Anne's were. Anne has now reinvented herself and as an Arson Investigator she has found her passion once again. This book kept me riveted from page one and I was consumed with not only the story but the characters. I can see this series going in so many directions and looking forward to seeing what comes next.

**Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

Anne Ashburn is driven to fight fires, her family and her attraction to Danny McGuire. Danny McGuire is the fire department's bad-boy who is waging a war against his own ghosts while trying to catch Anne's attention. Everything seems fine until they are called out to fight a fire where Anne and Danny are forced to make a risky decision that changes everything. Now Anne must reinvent herself and Danny has to face his ghosts before things can change. Consumed pulls the reader into a riveting, harrowing adventure that consumes your mind until the end. The reader can't help but be dragged into the Anne and Danny's world as J.R. Ward creates realistic characters that tug at your emotions. The characters are flawed and imperfect reflecting human nature so well that you feel as if you have met them on the streets. The dialog and setting are well developed to pull you in and make you part of story as if you have lived through the experience. I gave this book a five star rating for the imperfectly flawed characters that struggle through the story and J.R. Ward's amazing writing ability that brings them to life.

The opening chapters of Consumed had me hooked. The book opens right in the thick of things with a fire, danger, and life-altering decisions. I was all set to settle in and be thoroughly engrossed in the story, and I was for a while. However, by about half way through, it felt like the story was rambling, and I was wondering where it was going. I was actually pretty tempted to start skimming, but past experience with this author made me stick with it. The story does have some terrific characters and there are some edge of your seat scenes as this group of firefighters work to save lives, but Anne's chase of a deadly killer that is promised in the blurb kind of stuttered to a start with trickles of info here and there. Once Anne becomes a target, the story had the potential to ramp up with some truly creepy stalker-type things happening, but even that was a bit disappointing. The romance between Anne and Danny kind of felt the same way. They can't keep their hands off each other one minute, then they aren't even speaking the next. I expected some angst in the romance, but Anne's hot and cold wore thin. I finally did make it to the conclusion, but it felt like everything came together in a rush. In the end, there were things I liked and things I didn't, leaving me in the middle of the road on this one. I did like several of the characters, so I'm undecided on whether or not I'll continue with this series.

Consumed (Firefighters, #1)
by J.R. Ward
I picked up this title at the spur of the moment, just wanting to give it a breeze through and see if it was worth all the hype by the publisher. It is a sweet story of love and redemption, of life and its choices. Featuring the lives and loves of a small group of firefighters and how they deal with tragedy, legacy, and the different and conflicting lives they have. It is an uplifting peace despite all the darkness with in the pages. There are a multitude of crimes, heart stopping tragedies, great leaps of faith, and an enduring love story contained within its pages.

Consumed by J.R. Ward is a suspense thriller that is fast paced with enough drama and romance to keep the reader turning the page. The characters are flawed and believable that moves the story line along well. Good read for winter nights.

J.R. Ward has this amazing ability to be to pull you into the worlds that she creates. You are sucked in and enamored with every single thing. The vivid details within the plot, the well written characters….everything she has to offer is gold. Consumed is the beginning of her all new Firefighters series and I have to say it’s a great start with a solid storyline and characters you can’t help but fall in love with.

I want to add that before you begin this title I strongly suggest you read the free novellas that Jessica released prior to Consumed, The Wedding from Hell, pt 1. and The Wedding from Hell pt. 2. It will give you a chance to understand the back story on the two main characters, Anne and Danny. You’ll also get a better understanding of the storyline. I tried to go in blind with Consumed, but I finally set it aside to read the novellas and when I picked Consumed back up everything made sense for me.

Anne and Danny are both firefighters and the their story opens up in Consumed with a fast paced situation that shows you just how awesome firefighters are. I loved how this book felt like I was watching a tv show. It was entertaining, full of drama from all angles, and kept me wanting more from the characters. Anne and Danny have an explosive relationship that just jumps off the pages at you; they fit each other well. All of the characters were well thought out and portrayed beautifully.

Overall, this was a great start to a new series. The Black Dagger Brother hood will always hold a special place in my heart, but these firefighters might just give the brothers a run for their money!

Consumed is an action packed romance about a disabled female firefighter. After a debilitating injury, Anne reinvents her career becoming an arson investigator. She discovers the source of a series of warehouse fires putting her own life in peril. Two former fellow firefighters struggle with their own demons. Sexual tension adds to the pursuit of an arsonist and love.

Please note this book was not for me as a reader. My expectations were high for a contemporary romance by Ms. Ward, and this book fell below the mark, in characters and plot. I judged this book using Ms. Ward’s own work as the templet, and she failed to rise to her own standards.

I was excited to read a new series about firefighters but this one read like a trashy version of Chicago Fire. The mystery of who was setting fires in the warehouses was the only thing that kept me reading to the end. Maybe the next book will go into the arson theory a little more. I did like that Anne found her niche as an investigator but the whole Deandra drama was ridiculous. Hopefully the next book will be an improvement,

3/5 stars for me. The plot, voice, characters, were all really great, but for some reason I just couldn't get into it.
This is my first time reading JR Ward, so maybe I'll give it another go further down the line, but not for a while.

At the beginning I didn't know what to expect in this one from J.R. Ward, it took me by surprise and I really enjoyed most of it!I was hooked in the beginning and the first half was fantastic.

The plot was interesting and the characters were well developed.They felt original and realistic.The story centers around the fire department of a small town near Boston.I liked this a lot, it reminds me a TV series I have seen in the past.

Overall, it was a great beginning to a new series and I'm looking forward for the next books.

DNF at 60% - no rating.
Unfortunately I could not bring myself to finish this one. And I tried... hard... for a couple of days. I didn't love the different POVs that were outside of the hero/heroine. It made the book feel all over the place. There were so many scenes with just large amounts of data dumping that I felt my eyes glaze over and I had to start skimming.
I wanted SO badly to feel any connection between Danny and Anne but I felt nothing. I didn't understand her relationship with her mother and brother and just overall, they were not likable characters.
I have loved previous JR Ward books but this one was not for me. I have seen good reviews for it so maybe this is just the case of it's not the book but me. :(
I do want to add that I did like the mystery aspect. I wish I could have pushed through to the end to find out the answers.

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me at all. Right from the beginning when I started the prequels I felt already disoriented. I had no idea what these people were talking about and I felt instantly disconnected. There was no introduction and it felt chaotic.

The characters weren't likable, especially the heroine drove me nuts. And this transferred into the main story. She had two default settings: bitchy and cold. The hero kept looking at her totally googly eyed and I just didn't understand why - Anne gave Danny no reason at all to worship her like he did.

The story also fizzled out at some point. I did like the firefighting scenes but I was in it for the romance and this is where the story failed me. I had high hopes for Consumed, unfortunately it didn't deliver..

Ward is an outstanding writer! My first series from her and I'm instantly craving more. I want to emphasize the importance of reading the free prequels, the first two because the third is a preview. It goes into the relationship between Danny and Anne, with a little backstory on the crew. This book is a mix of many things, mystery, romance, suspense and family drama. Anne is a brave and powerful woman and Danny is the right man to support her. There were definitely moments of intense speed reading and few that required a Kleenex, Anne and her mom hit me personally. Not sure where the series goes from here because the book actually ends, but I'm hoping to get more of Tom or Jack. I was thrilled to get the opportunity to read an advanced copy through Netgalley, review was voluntary.