A great read for fans of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series! Heroine Anne is definitely not a damsel in distress but a 2nd generation firefighter who can carry her own. When a warehouse fire goes from bad to worse, Anne's life is completely changed and linked with her intense and brooding fellow firefighter Danny. As they begin to investigate who is starting a series of warehouse fires, the intensity between them heats up, but both are afraid of being consumed.

Eh this book was just okay for me. I was initially interested in it because the main firefighter character was a female which is something we don't get very often.

Parts of this book were good (the heart wrenching decision Danny had to make in that fire, the guilt he felt over that decision, his own injuries) but other parts I really wanted to ask why they were even included in the book (Emilio's announcement). Was it just to give us a small crumble of what's to come in a future book?

For me, there was far too much going on in the story. You had Annie trying to live up to the pressures of being a female firefighter, her brother Tom questioning his supervisory ability (what was the point of this?), Emilio's health issue (again why?), her father's legacy (why?), Annie struggling to adapt to her new job and her new limitations, Danny's guilt & recovery and the arson investigation. Honestly it was just too much. Half of those issues could have cut out and the book would have been great because it would have kept the reader interested.

I was so excited when I was given an advance copy of the new J.R. Ward book that was coming out. I liked her vampire series so I was looking forward to see what she would do with firefighters. Unfortunately I was very disappointed. Anne and Danny are firefighters that work together. Something happens at the beginning of the book that changes things for them. There were so many problems with this book I am not sure where to start. My main problem was I was told what I was supposed to be feeling instead of feeling what the book made me feel. The book starts out with the fire that changes everything instead of leading up to the fire where you got to know the characters first so you were able to care what they were going through. Then she had so many random characters that were hard to keep up with and I can only assume she is setting up for a series. The "twist" at the end wasn't much of a twist and I didn't care anyway because we never really got to feel how these people felt for each other. The ending was like a Lifetime Movie on steroids and then not much of a conclusion after that. We are told they are best friends but not shown why or even much of a back story. We are told they love someone but you don't know why. I struggled so hard to get through this book so I could give a honest review but I honestly can't believe I made it. It truly pains me to give this review but not as painful as it was trying to read it.

Consumed by J.R. Ward consumed me. I could not put this book down and read it straight through. Anne is fighting stereotypes and her father and brothers legacy as a female firefighter. She is a never say die kinda gal and she will need that. Danny McGuire is a smoking hot fireman and Anne’s brother in arms so there is no going there (except the night after Moose’s disaster of a wedding). Watching these two find each other after going through hell is sweet, painful and sexy as hell. J.R. Ward has introduced us to a fascinating world that few get to see in this well written tale and I look forward to seeing where she takes us from here.

Overall, this was an ok read. Nothing extraordinary in genre, but I think J.R. went a bit deeper than some of the other hot (pun intended) firefighter reads out there. So, if you like Kate Meader (I'm actually not much a fan for hers, but I thought of her firefighter series), this is more gritty, pathos, women's fiction than romance and the world-building is more complex as she weaves in other characters to set up their stories.

I picked this up because of J.R.'s reputation. Her Black Dagger Brotherhood has its fans and the 1 book I picked up from the series was pretty good, though I usually do not go paranormal. So, I expected this to be quality read. Sadly, it didn't wow me.

JR Ward returns with a different kind of book, about firefighters not vampire fighters, but readers will be "consumed" with this story that includes her typical humor and amazing writing skills. Danny and Anne have a history both personal and professional (be sure to check it out in the prequel that Ward has released leading up to the release of this novel) that drives their conflict, but when it counts Danny makes a hard decision that haunts him and changes Anne's life and career, both find themselves in the middle of personal crises but come together to take down an arsonist before they are consumed by all the intended meanings of the title. It is a gripping story, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

If you're looking for a gritty mystery with a bit of romance that'll set the stage for a prolific series, Consumed is for you.The Fire Stations in this world are teeming with hot, damaged men and women waiting to entertain you as they fall in love. But I think it's going to take more than Consumed to let this world consume me. I kept waiting to get hooked, to sink into the stage J.R. Ward was setting, but I just couldn't get there. That doesn't mean I won't try again.

I've been a long time fan of JR Ward and loved her previous series. I was excited to see she has a new story and the protagonist is a woman. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and took me on a rollercoaster with my emotions and I could not put it down. Proud, fearless, kick ass, determined are just a few descriptors for our lead and I loved the direction the story took. I would have been so easy to gloss over the issues that these characters deal with and War did not shy away from going there.

I'm eager to see whats next from this amazing and creative author.

I really enjoyed this. It had everything I've come to expect from J R Ward.--good writing, plenty of character development, oodles of details, multiple story arcs, and (of course) romance. And suspense! The opening chapter had me on the edge of my seat--god, what harrowing suspense!

It took me a while to warm up to the heroine (firefighter/investigator Anne). She's got some hangups/baggage about her father and a chip on her shoulder towards her mother that got a little annoying at times. She seemed like such a solitary person who needed no one in her life. She was lucky that the hero (Danny) seemed to find her fascinating and pursued her despite his own baggage and personal problems (PTSD). Yes, these two needed lots of therapy!

Anyway, the further the story went along the more I got to like Anne, and I was rooting for her and Danny to make it as a couple. (oh yeah--I loved her dog, Soot! He seemed to soften her hard edges.) I thought Ward left their story a little unfinished, but I'm assuming it will continue into later books.

Once again there were some story arcs besides Anne/Danny that were introduced and left unfinished: Anne's fire chief brother (Tom) and his potential relationship with the mayor Catherine) ;and one of the other firefighters (sorry I can't remember his name) with a grim diagnosis are just two that caught my eye. And typical for a first book in a series, lots and lots of characters were introduced who may (or may not) get stories of their own.

So off to a promising start for this series. I will definitely be looking forward to the next book. I'm already imagining it as a tv series, which means that it has captured my attention.

This book has good descriptions that draw you in to it, you feel like you are with the characters. The book has a lot of action and I love Dannyboy and Anne, there moving store. I have never read a book like this before. I did enjoy it. I will say that I felt like a lot of things were not answered to my satisfaction by the end of the book. Other than having some unanswered questions it was a good book.

While Anne is a great independent, strong, female character, I did wish a couple of times that she would just ask for help, allow herself to need help. However, the detailed descriptions and strong emotions told through her story allowed us to see why she did not trust or wanted to ask for help – Anne grew as a person within the story. It was an enjoyable read with a great set-up to a new series.

This story starts with a wallop! Intense isn’t even a good enough word to use to describe the beginning of this book. However, after the initial punch, I felt the story was good but not great. I think there’s a lot of set up for the books to come in this series. I liked the camaraderie between the firemen and I thought Danny was a great character. I thought Ann was ok but not my favorite heroine. I did find myself hooked again in the end with a bit of a shocker that I didn’t see coming. Overall a good read and I look forward to the rest of the series.

Wow, I have to think about this.

I will say that I felt the urgency to read. The angst kept me page turning which I expected from this author. At the same time....

SPOILERS AHEAD

To explain myself, I have to tell a little.

First, after the explosive beginning and information we are told about a certain couple, I didn’t buy that neither of them wouldn’t have made contact. I don’t think Ward gave me enough to buy into that. In fact quite the opposite. Their feels suggested they would know about their respective recovery if nothing else.

Second, the cat and mouse until the bitter end while had me turning the pages left me a little frustrated. Anne was an ass. She constantly dismisses everyone from her life. It almost made Danny a pussy for chasing her. And they fact that she didn’t believe him when it mattered most... and was forgiven so easily annoyed me. I agree with others, her tough exterior was believable but it made her hard to like or respect. She treated her dog better than all the people around her.

Third, I would have liked more page time with the happy couple. That means after they got their shit together. I felt like the book’s second large purpose was to set up Tom and the mayor to be the next book instead of seeing the couple together in a HEA. But there’s Vic, Jack and the last guy at the end too. Who knows.

END SPOILERS

The point is, though I was totally entertained, I was left feeling like I was missing something which makes it hard to rate.

In the end, readers, Ward is a genius. While this wasn’t my favorite book, I adored Danny. I would have liked to know much more of his backstory. Seeing that we will move on to a new couple, I was surprised at how little we really know about him.

Would I recommend? hell yes.

Even Ward’s worst book, which this is not, is better than a whole lot of author’s best works.

Once I started reading Consumed I couldn't put it down. The story pulled me right in. Likeable characters, interesting back stories, family conflict, crime and arson. And a love story. What more do you need? Most of the issues are resolved but not all of them. I've no doubt the story lines left dangling will draw me into the next installment of this new series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It really gives you a true look at the life of a firefighter. I was happy to see at the end of the book, J.R. Ward mentions her research, observation, and help from the Louisville FD, PD, SWAT, etc.

Anne is from a family of firefighters.....her Dad, her brother....and she didn't hesitate to forge forward and become like them, even if she was a woman. Loved her!! Her strength and determination was refreshing in a job force filled with men. Anne's mom.....well, she was still hoping for a "girly girl", but Anne just didn't fit that mold.

Those first few chapters.....damn.....I was holding my breath. It was explosive.....like literally!! And shocking! And whoa......wait a minute.....did that just happen?? You have to read this one to find out exactly what happens!

We get acquainted with all of the firefighters of her department, and of course, there's that one hot Irish man, Daniel McGuire. I think I looked at him as a tortured soul.....there are lots of tortured souls in the fire department. The things they see on a daily basis cannot be easy for them. His connection with Anne was there, but they were both in total denial as to anything serious.

Great writing as usual from Ms. Ward.....great character buildup....great storyline! Looking forward to the next book in the series!

Special shout out to Soot......the dog rescued by Anne who became her protector, her friend, and her comfort.

"As she got out her notes, she thought of her new boss's pep talk. Someone had died in at least two of those old warehouse fires. And hell, she had been permanently changed. So there were crimes to solve here. There was still something worth fighting to protect. And in this case, it was justice."....


Anne Ashburn is a fire fighter. She was, until one fateful night that changed the path of her career. Now she’s an arson investigator. The story takes place in New Brunswick, Massachusetts. An exciting and fast paced read right from the beginning.

One of her fellow fire fighters, Danny McGuire, is a hot shot. Suffering his own problems, and seemingly a death wish. Danny and Anne don’t exactly team up to investigate a string of suspicious fires, but their jobs tend to throw them together. Anne misses her firehouse crew.

Hopefully her new career direction will help both of them set their lives back on track. Until the arsonist decides to target Anne, maybe there will be no redemption for her. A bit of a love story, fast paced action and drama. I enjoyed reading this book. Life can “Consume” you in so many ways if you don’t fight back. Anne is a strong woman. If anyone is going to get through a storm, it will be her.

Thank you J.R. Ward, Netgalley, Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books.

This is the first book I’ve read by J.R. Ward. I’ve heard a lot of good things on her BDB series, so I was very excited to read something of hers. It took me a little while to get into with it being told by multiple POVs, but once I did it was very hard to put down. Definitely looking forward to the next book. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

"Consumed" is the first book in a new series about firefighters by J.R. Ward (author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series). The focus is on the relationship between Anne Ashburn and Daniel Maguire, teammates at Firehouse 499 in New Brunswick, MA.

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were generally likable and the situations believable. Anne's strained relationship with her mother was especially realistic and relatable for me. The fact that the characters grow and change over the course of the novel was also really refreshing, notably, Anne's brother Tom.

A couple of things did bother me as I read. First, Ward uses a lot of slang in her books which I am used to and can generally figure out the meaning from context clues or Urban Dictionary. Here are two examples that have me stumped:

Chapter 3 - "Damnit double-clapped his happy tackle." (What in the world is "happy tackle"???)

Chapter 18 - "You know, to make sure he was yolk’er. Or more yolked. Or the yolk-iest." (I've wracked my brain but I have no idea what this means.)

Another problem I found with the story is understanding Anne's actions towards Danny. Without giving anything away, the reader is never given an explanation or motivation for Anne's feelings for Danny. I was baffled that a grown woman considered a guy to be "a one-dimensional sexual predator" because he slept around. How are the women he sleeps with victims? He's single, not cheating. It was a weird comment for her to make. More problematic, was Anne comparing Danny to her father, who cheated on her mother. There's no comparison between the two.

Overall a fun read with a larger plot to look forward to becoming clear in future books in the series.

The novel focuses on two individuals, Danny and Anne. Anne and Danny experience a life-changing event and they have to learn how to get back to each other. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have not ever read a book about firefighters but I love this author. The book had romance but it was not the overarching point of the novel which I liked. I hope there is a glossary at the beginning of the book for firefighter acronyms. I had to look up a few of the acronyms to understand the context, but this author has always been good at adding in glossaries.

"Consumed" by JR Ward grips you from the first page and doesn't let go. The characters are complex and very well drawn out. There are some gruesome scenes in the book, but it adds to the story, in that one gets to get inside the mind of firefighters and see how they react to situations that most people wouldn't ever encounter in a lifetime. Adding to the story is the family drama and "brotherhood" of the firefighters and law enforcement that makes for an excellent read.