Wow! Now I know why Ward has so many fans. My first of hers, but not my last. This book was intense and grabbed me from page one and did not let go until I finished it. What amazing writing, character development, and overall intensity that makes sure you don't want to put it down.
Will be using in a daily challenge, recommending, and letting people of Chapter Chatter Pub know that this is a must read.

Ok it's got to be me!

After all there are all of those 4 & 5 star reviews for Consumed (Firefighters #1) by J.R. Ward . What’s wrong with me, what was I expecting?

I've read almost all of the books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series (some better than others), but the writing was good, the characters were developed, it was easy to form attachments, likes and dislikes. I like the concept of a romance book with firefighters. But with Consumed I was just bored. It was hard to like the character's, the plot seemed jumpy and almost like filler around the arson investigation. Even the sex scenes were mediocre, seemed like they written because there was a requirement for them in the plotline - maybe if they were more passionate and believable if it felt like the characters had a real connection and not an obligation to do it. Maybe I was expecting the book to be like an episode of Chicago Fire (a TV show) with a little drama, good friendships, comradery, hard work, and great sex! (which can’t actually be shown on network TV)

Being a female firefighter isn’t an easy task, Anne had a lot to live up to, not only within the firehouse but with the public as well. She was written as a strong character, and there were times when she questioned her femininity, as well as her ability to still work within the firefighting career after her accident.

I felt the relationship between Danny and Anne was almost one-sided - I didn't feel that Anne was as emotionally invested as Danny was. Then there was Danny's guilt and downward spiral into self-destruction, it seemed like Anne was always trying to make him feel better - even when she herself had a tremendous obstacle to overcome (which she seemed to have done rather quickly). The secondary characters (Tom, Ropes, Moose, Chavez & Ripkin) seemed like they needed more development and better / more expanded roles to play in the story.

I’m sure my personal negativity towards this book is my problem, so please look at additional reviews, as this might be a great read for you.

I wish to express my thanks to the Author – J R Ward, the publishing company – Gallery Books
( Simon & Schuster imprint) and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for an honest review.

The expected publication date is Oct 2nd, 2018. The book will be available in multiple formats.

For me this was a 2 star read out of 5 stars.

Tl;dr:If you really don't like millennials, and don't mind that only the female mc* is portrayed in a positive light, then this might work for you. In other words, a maybe for diehard fans. (?)

Consumed is a romance novel with some light suspense elements thrown in. That's not the issue.

Look, I'm a Gen Xer. I would rather have peanut butter on my toast than avocado. But.

But.

Ms. Ward clearly either doesn't like or has an odd sense of humor about millennials. A nurse, trying to do her job, is jabbed about safe spaces. Two 20 something guys working at an indoor climb facility are " as agitated as the Instagram set could get about anything other than the inhuman atrocity of almond milk instead of soy in their matcha lattes." (The rich millennials, btw, all apparently are in favor of the infamous "wall.")

There's not pages of the stuff, but what there was just...really? Is Ms. Ward unaware that millennials read romance, or does she just not care? And even if she doesn't care, why take lazy potshots at an entire generation?

Even more than that, what stuck in my craw the most was the portrayal of women. The main character, Anne, is sort of fleshed out in that she's one of four* women not painted as vapid or worse. (Two of the others are minor, minor chatacters, one of whom seems to be there as the bit nonwhite female, and the final minor character is the mc's mother, who, as far as I can tell, gets some semblance of humanity in time for Anne to get her hair and makeup on point (no, I'm not kidding).

I'm all for a good love story. I'm not for one that exists to feature yet another generic hard body, hard living alpha bro who falls in love with the only female character who possesses some semblance of, you know, basic humanity.

As always, I'm sure I'm in the minority, but this was not. for. me. 1/2 star for Soot, rounded up to one because I did read the whole thing, even if I cringed through it.

Consumed by J.R. Ward is the 1st book in her new Firefighters series. I looked forward to reading this new series by Ward, and I am happy to say that I really enjoyed the book.

Anne Ashburn, our heroine, is the only female member of the Fire Dept station 499. She is accepted by all the guys at the station, and her brother is chief; in fact her whole family were mostly firefighters. Anne has a crush on Danny McGuire, one of the firefighters, but his reputation with woman precedes him. She does her best to avoid him, but they did have a one night stand that both find difficult to forget. We learned at the end of the two short prequel novellas, that Danny saves Anne on the scene of a fire, but she lost her hand in the process.
Consumed starts about 10 months later, with Anne having recovered, and trying to get used to prosthetic, as well as apply for a job as an arson investigator. She misses the action she loved at the station, but she no longer can work there, and is forced to accept this new position. As in anything, Anne jumps in to take a case of a recent fire, and begins to tie in other fires that might be related.

Danny, who had his own injuries, pushes himself back on the job, and is determined to get Anne’s trust and win her over. In a short time, their chemistry is so hot, there is no way for either of them to keep their hands off each other. Each have their own issues, involving family, heartache, but their feelings for each other continue to escalate.

Anne’s investigation leads her to a high profile person, who is determined to get her off the case. Danny will try to help Anne with the investigation to find the arsonist; his is concerned for her safety, as now she has become a target from those trying to stop her. What follows is an exciting, pulse pounding, intense, gripping story, amazingly written by Ward.

As we race to the climax, there are some surprises that I did not see coming, which did throw me for a loop. I loved Danny and Anne together, and Ward has created a wonderful group of secondary characters in this series, showing the comradery and loyalty of the crew. I loved loved Anne’s stray dog, Soot that she adopted. I also thought that Ward did such a fantastic job showing us the life of firemen, and what they go through. Though the story has a satisfying ending, there are some open issues that will continue into the next book.
Consumed was a fantastic fast paced, exciting and action packed story; a wonderful theme, great couple and secondary characters, and very well written by J.R. Ward. You need to start this series now.

WOWZA. I had forgotten how much I enjoy a good J.R. Ward story. This one did not disappoint.
A bit more "tame" than her Black Dagger Brotherhood series, but still HOT!
What I loved: It's J.R. Ward doing what J.R. Ward does best...make us melt!
What I liked: The story line...I really enjoyed the story between the sex scenes.
What I hated: Can't really say I hated anything.

One word to sell this to readers: SMOKING!!
Actual stars: 4.25

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!

I was looking forward to this new book because I'm a fan of the author's other series. While it did keep my attention, it wasn't my favorite either. I wanted to find out what happened in the story but I didn't particularly care for any of the characters.

At times haunting and poetic, this book is a masterful crime story wrapped in a tale of loss, sorrow, and renewal. It opens with a tragic fire, and this event drives all facets of the plot. When it comes to the lives of firefighters, the author writes with precision. From the descriptions of the gear and machinery, to the procedures, and even the thoughts and attitudes, everything is accurate. I especially appreciated the voice in which the author wrote. No matter what the character, the “inner thoughts” matched the “outer voices.” There are several moments of dark and/or sarcastic humor, which is how first responders often cope with the issues they face. (One passage about “non-conforming conformists” was especially funny). The characters are real; their motivations and reactions are organic and not contrived for dramatic effect. I actually felt like I was reading a story that could have been told about any real-life firehouse and the members who inhabit it. I was slightly disappointed in the heroine at one point, because she veered into a stereotypical reaction that seemed out of character. But that moment was actually small enough that it didn’t affect her overall character. All in all, this was an excellent story and I would definitely recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hard to put down. It starts off with a bang and as usual from J.R.Ward the characters are likable and relateable; flaws and all. Both the characters and plot are well thought out. I really enjoy J.R. Wards writing style. But, there was one part at the very beginning, where I thought Danny had died, and even though it had only been a couple of chapters in, I felt so sad that something like that had happened. The next chapter, we find Danny recovering and back on the job, NOT dead, and that part was a little jarring, though I was happy that he was okay. (my only critique)

It took a while for me to get into this book, but once I did, I liked it. It contained a little more action than I usually like and the beginning was tough, but it was a solid story with good character development.

I am hoping that after taking so long to introduce these characters and provide their background stories, along with some story lines left hanging, this will be the first in what will be a series.

For those who may be interested, there are two prequels to this story, The Wedding from Hell, Parts 1 and 2. Reference is made to "the wedding from hell" in Consumed.

This is the first book I have read by this author but it will not be my last. It held my interest from start to finish. I look forward to reading many more by her.

Consumed is the perfect title for this story, because it will absolutely consume you. It will leave you with so many emotions. I originally requested this story because I love JR Ward's paranormal work. After reading this, I have decided JR Ward can write anything. This was angsty and beautiful and I loved the mystery and suspense as well. This was a great story and I highly recommend it.

By her bitter family legacy, by her scorched career as a firefighter by her obsession with department bad boy Danny McGuire, and by a new case that pits her against a fiery killer. I thought there was good plot's and liked the characters you'll get lost in the story not want to put it down liked how she tells the story it's my first book by her....

I was so pleased to be selected by Netgalley to receive this book. I had never read J. R. Ward before but after doing some research on her I was excited to dive into this book!

I enjoed the storyline. That first chapter was heartbreaking. Sure mistakes were made but who doesn’t make mistakes? Anne and Danny had to live with their choices for the rest of their lives. I thought Anne was a strong heroine and poor Danny, he broke my heart.

What I found distracting was all the “other” stuff, the filler stuff I guess. I realize this is a first in a series so we must get introduced to some characters but I felt like I went down a couple of rabbit holes and never came out.

I also feel like there were a lot of things just kinda left open and when I read a book, even in a series I want that book to tidy things up in a nice bow. I don’t want to be forced to read another book to get answers from book 1. There were a lot of unanswered questions.

Lastly, the book just ended. I read the last sentence and turned the page and saw the acknowledgements and I went back to the last page and read again thinking I had to have missed something. Nope...it was done. No nice bow, and it just ended. Again, not everything was answered so that disappointed me.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I liked Danny and Anne and I liked the growth the two had to go through in this book. I will pick up the next one because I do want to see if there is closure to what I think is still open.

Talk about heart-racing! Consumed starts out of the gate at about 60 miles an hour and doesn't stop until the last page. JR Ward brings all the things I love about her Black Dagger Brotherhood series to a brotherhood of firefighters and police officers and doesn't miss a beat. At its heart, Consumed is romantic suspense at its finest. Someone is setting fires that are killing people and as Anne digs deeper into the cause, the main suspect proves to be more dangerous than just lighting some matches. While I'm not a huge fan of romantic suspense, Consumed kept me riveted until the final moments.

Set on the coast of Massachusetts, Consumed is filled with characters that readers will immediately connect with-even when they're unlikable. Sometimes I read a book where the characters take forever to implant on my brain. Not so with Consumed. I had a connection with Danny and Anne from the get-go, no hesitation as they came to life. Once connected with the characters it was impossible not to get sucked into their lives as firefighters, especially as danger doesn't wait for readers to get caught up. The first few chapters are heart-stopping as Danny, Anne, and their crew fight a warehouse fire, setting the stage for the book.

The best part of Consumed, for me, is JRW's look into the psyche of firefighters. Our first responders carry a lot of weight on their shoulders and Ward brings that to life as she showcases the PTSD that so many of them suffer from. Don't expect a perfect hero or heroine in this book. Danny is a womanizer and alcoholic, using both to quiet the demons of past fires that haunt him. Anne-who I disliked for the majority of the book-carries trauma from both her family history and a fire that changed her life. While I didn't like her personally (we'd never be friends) I admired her strength and dedication.

As with her BDB series, Consumed (which is the first of many) features snappy dialogue, endless pop culture references, and crystal clear narrative that keeps the reader in the scene. The secondary characters play important roles and while there's no cliffhanger to Consumed, the overall mystery/suspense arc will clearly play out over the course of the series.

This book has such a great premise. I love firefighter stories and this one seemed to hold promise with a female in the lead role. One who has a history to live up to and one to live down. Along with Ann our h, we meet Danny who carries a nut load of burdens and keeps them locked down tight, so he thinks. Seems everyone in the firehouse has something going on and the plot gets tedious and we're given snapshots of the team's individual crisis and then nothing. They never reappear again in the story. Her relationship with her brother in tense. The backstory with the mother another plot injection and there are so many it's a little much. Ann is severely injured in a fire and can no longer be a firefighter so she opts to be an investigator. Something she's good at. She's bright and I will say I loved the dog. Lots of twists, half bits of characters and things not fully fleshed out left me wanting.
Plots don't have to follow a straight line and rarely if ever do, but they need an anchor. This one was a bit adrift. Too much and then not enough.
arc from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review

Let me just say that the beginning of this book was absolutely mind boggling as it ripped me from my comfort zone of lazy reading and right into a nightmare. It is initially shadowed with bits of darkness and an ever growing angst that when it finally bursts, you hope you’ll experience some relief but instead find yourself captivated by the varied drama unfolding around these characters.

Picking up just a few weeks after the prequel, Anne and Danny respond with their crew to a fire and experience more than what either could have anticipated. While firefighting is dangerous and can be life threatening, they are both faced with decisions that are soul crushing and my heart literally howled at the injustice of it all.

Fast forward ten months and this couple have been through hell and each one is trying to find their way back. It’s angsty and drama laden and there is just so much emotion to it that I ached from the torment these characters were experiencing. With the addition of a new job for Anne that pulls in some mystery and intrigue, we have the downfall of Danny as he is not finding his way out of the abyss in a healthy manner.

Danny’s devotion to Anne is never really in question but he’s at a complete standstill from attempting to make a connection with her. Living with grief, guilt and loss he wallows in his own reckless decisions.

Due to the fire that changed everything, Anne has grown into a woman capable of accepting her loses and moving on. And yet, her familial relationships still leave a lingering bitterness in her life that she hasn’t faced. Much of her past dictates her actions even if she is not aware of it.

These characters were all very well developed as well as the many secondary ones that often brought levity to the story. Anne and Danny really aren’t in a lot of scenes together, considering the length of the book, and there was always so much angst that the chemistry and heat was a low sizzle instead of a roaring flame. However, when the walls did lower they were combustible.

Anne’s investigation is most of the driving force. The conclusion was well played if not a complete surprise. The relationship wrap up seemed a bit rushed but then again I wanted to see Anne and Danny together, solid, as a couple while they were happy. Instead, the glimpse we were shown was much too brief.

Overall, this is an excellent story that I felt leaned more on individual character growth and the mystery rather than Danny and Anne’s relationship. However, everything with the couple was well written and felt real including their issues together and separately.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a romantic suspense a little light on the romance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Pocket Books/Gallery. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first book by this author. I thought the book started out really strong and had me hooked. But then it just dragged and I didn’t find the 3 main characters all that likable. Overall it was ok, hopefully die hard dans of J.R. Ward will find it more of an interesting read.

Thanks to Netgalley, J.R. ward, and the publisher for an ARC copy!

WOW- hands down, BEST fire related book ever! The author knows the band of police, fire and paramedics so well, and it shows on EVERY page. While readers may cringe and hesitate to keep reading the initial fire scene, but it is SO critical for setting up all the characters and how they think, while acknowledging what it means to put lives at risk with every step. The book really LOOKS at how we are formed by our childhood heroes, and what happens when we see the mentor taken off their pedestal. HOW we react makes us the people we are. In this case, how Anne takes on her new challenges, even those she wasn't expecting, and still soldiers on. How Danny keeps going back into fires, even with a head full of trauma. These are characters you will understand and wish you knew in real life, and you won't want to see the book end. And then it does and you can't believe the ending- it's messy and real. And honestly shocking. This is supposed to be the start of a new series, and I hope so, as I can't wait to see more of Anne, Danny and their coworkers!

I love a good firefighter romance, and this book was a great combination of realistic characters, suspense and romance. The plot line was well developed and wove together several different characters, telling the story from each of their points of view at times. I liked that the main characters, Danny and Anne, weren't perfect people. They were both firefighters and secretly in love with each other. But when Anne gets trapped in a fire, Danny faces the toughest decision of his life - permanently hurt the woman he loves and risk the chance that she'll resent him forever, or die with her, because of course he would never leave her. He chooses to save her, but in getting her out of the building, he gets seriously injured himself.

The story picks up after both have healed, at least on the outside. Anne is now trying to come to terms with just being an arson investigator for the rest of her life, while Danny carries around the guilt from hurting Anne. When they reconnect after a series of fires Anne is investigating start becoming dangerous for her, they'll each face their demons together. In the end, the two get their much-deserved HEA.

I would definitely read additional books from this author, and especially in this series.

I haven't read JR Ward before, but when I saw that she had a contemporary story about firefighters, I couldn't help but be interested.

I liked Alice and Danny well enough. They have good hearts given the shitty situation that they were originally put in. I was generally intrigued, but that didn't hold my attention too long. They each had their own demons to battle, but it felt like 3 separate stories instead of one with glimpses of the past.

While the story between Alice and Danny were interesting, there was too much story being built. I expected this to be like other JR Ward books that I've heard about, but it was too serious at times.

Overall, I struggled with reading finishing. I connected to the characters, but I felt there wasn't enough of just their story.

**Huge thanks to Gallery for providing the arc free of charge**