Wow, this one will really take ya in quite a journey. It deals with some pretty intense and graphic situations, with plenty of heat, a spot if colorful language, a mystery and incredible life choices.

But, fans if J.R. Ward will appreciate how mixed up, messed up and real her characters are. Raw is a good word to describe most of the characters and their nerves of steel emotions.

She writes these firefighters and cops honestly, as heroic and messed up as most truly are. They are are gritty, wounded and wound as her BDB and Fallen Angels are. And as someone who lives and works with guys and gals lime these, I can say she really gets them, how wonderful and messed up life and the job condition many.

If you are not consumed with this group, finding out how the longterm investigation turns out, if they make it to the other side bruised and scarred but alive and functioning if not whole, then you are not hardcore enough to read Ward and her many tarnished characters.

I wasn't sure what to expect coming into this one -- it has no supernatural element -- but was willing to give it a try. It is by The Warden after all. Besides, firefighters and cops are superhuman, literally running in when others run out and often achieving the seemingly impossible in the name of protection, service and self-preservation.

Glad I did. Except for the wait between books...🙄😧
Fans of BDB and all of Ward's series won't regret signing on for another series. This one will get to ya. It's definitely not fir the squeamish or faint of heart.

Bring on Firefighters #2!

ARC received in exchange for an honest review

Consumed is the type of romance thriller that fans of J.R. Ward have come to expect from this bestselling author. Not only is there scorching romance but also the building of relationships with depth and vulnerability as well as plotting an entertainingly intricate mystery. What I enjoyed most was the development of this new community of not only firefighters but characters who are family, friends and even lovers.

As co-workers, Anne and Danny have a close relationship that must be hinged on trust; however, their complicated feelings for each other make it difficult to keep personal separate from professional. All that changes during a horrific warehouse fire that will change everything for Anne and Danny. Both have to come to terms with this event before they can move forward. And it just so happens that Anne's first case as an arson investigator hits a lot closer to home that anyone would have imagined.

This novel is fun, sexy but also a well developed thriller with loads of potential for the series.

A note for readers, Danny and Anne's story really begins in the two part novella, "The Wedding From Hell', which I recommend reading before Consumed.

J.R. Ward has been on my to-read list for a long time, so when I saw this author was starting a new series, I jumped at the chance to read it. Consumed by J.R. Ward is the first book in the Firefighters series and I loved it!

All Anne Ashburn ever wanted was to be the best firefighter she could be. But after a bad decision during a fire, she has to start over. She decides to become an arson investigator. Now if she could only forget Danny McGuire, a fellow firefighter who she shared strong chemistry with. But now they are working together and the stakes could not be any higher!

This was my first read by J.R. Ward and I have to say I devoured this story. From the beginning to end, I was drawn in. Anne is devastated by what happened and Danny is lost. Anne was strong and determined and I loved that about her. Danny has been making all kinds of wrong choices since the night that changed everything. Can they now work together when suspicious fires begin happening in their town?

I loved Firefighters by J.R. Ward. It had mystery, romance, chemistry and great characters. I am excited to not only read the future books in this series, but also previous books from this author.

4.5 stars! Happy reading!

Consumed is the first book in a new series by this author. Anne ashburn and Danny McGuire were fellow firefighters. Close friends always battling the buildup attraction that Anne didn’t want to give into until one desperate-night they do. Fearing the loss of respect from the other firefighters she doesn’t allow the feelings to go any further . But one night after a near death experience Anne is unable to do the job anymore and leaves . Now an arson investigator she doesn’t feel any passion for . But an investigation into a warehouse leaves a target on her back! I enjoyed this book a ton!

Wow!!!I’m not sure where to even start. This was the first novel by J.R. Ward I’ve read and I see why people absolutely love her work and auto buy it. Her way with prose is spectacular. Although, if you didn’t live in the 80’s you may not get a lot of the references in this book. But since I’m a product of the 80’s it was a winner for me. I can’t believe I haven’t read her work before now.

I wanted to read this one because I’ve heard so much about her and didn’t want to start in the middle of a series, so I decided to start with the first one in her brand new Firefighter series. Well I will say I was stunned. It whisked me in right from the get go, and I mean like paragraph two. It is just one big action filled novel with very few slow spots. The inner dialogue of the characters during the action scenes is where she does the introspection and development. It keeps the story moving forward at MACH 1 through the whole book. She also uses analogies up the wazoo to make sure you get the full feeling and emotion of every scene.

The love story of Anne and Danny is so amazing and real, it almost feels like a relationship I once had. But I’m not going there right now. There is so much guilt on both sides and anger to fill the room with you, that you, at first, wonder if the room will erupt from it and aren’t sure it will resolve itself. Somehow she delivers a HEA and still makes you want more just as if it was a cliff hanger, but it’s not. This will definitely be in my top 10 list for the year. I can’t say enough how quickly you should get this book. If you do, please feel free to comment on how you liked it. I’d love to hear your take on it too. I will definitely be auto buying the next one in this series.

4.5★★★★Stars


Genre: Romantic Suspense
Type: Book 1 of Firefighters Series
POV: First Person – Multiple



"Sometime along the way, over the passage of days and weeks and months, he had become part of her life, part of her history."

I had no idea what this book was going to be like when I requested it but what I got was much more. I absolutely devoured this book in one setting. The book opens with an explosive scene taking you right into the life of a firefighter's dangerous life. It was raw and painful and it caught me by surprise but definitely had me hooked from the beginning.


"I think people just get to an aha moment, a crossroads," she said quietly. "The fogs lifts and you have to realize there are things worth living for. Even if they're different than what motivated you before."



Consumed is a story about a fire department in a small town in Boston. We meet Anne Ashburn the daughter of the chef fire department owner and Danny McGuire the bad boy player who all the girls wanted. They were both stubborn and could be why their chemistry was intense. When tragic happened they both did the best to survive the best they could away from each other. The chemistry with these two was on point, I felt so much for this couple. I loved how they each fought their demons to survive. The plot was interesting and the characters were well developed.


"He and Anne Ashburn were both death-wish idiots, the kind of people who pushed limits, and themselves, until shit got broken."



When Anne takes a new job as fire investigator aka inspector I just could't get enough. The mystery and suspense in this story was awesome, it made the story more original and realistic in my opinion. I truly enjoyed this book and I am so thrilled to read more books in this series. The hot scenes between Anne and Danny were so good I couldn't get enough in fact it needed more of them. Readers who enjoy romantic suspense stories will find this book appealing.


"Sometimes strength rested not in resistance, but in the release of arms against a foe of one's own creation."

this was amazing... wonderful.. sexy.. fun.. interesting..and kept me curious as to what was coming next. i loved it and i cannot wait to see where this series goes from here. amazing!

Our customers love JR Ward, mainly her paranormal romance series, but also the Bourbon Kings series. I'll admit, I've tried to read the paranormal and just can't. It's not a genre I like, has nothing to do with the writing- I just don't enjoy the paranormal aspect with romance. Not for me. So that being said, I've had the Bourbon Kings sitting on my to read stack for a while, because everyone talks about what a fantastic writer she is. But I've always found something else to read first...until now. I loved that this had suspense in it. A bit of mystery always pulls me in. There were times while reading that I felt I was missing something about the characters that I should know already- which I later found out made sense because there are prequel novellas. You don't have to read them first, but I think it would add to the story a bit. This is a good read for anyone who like the romance genre but wants the modern day and a bit of suspense.

I tried and I'm happy to say I sallied forth and finished the book, even though I almost DNF'ed twice. The beginning held such promise, it was so exciting and suspenseful, very well written and then, nothing. I was disappointed in how I could find no love or sympathy for the heroine, she was extremely unlikable which is a shame given all she went through. Also, I like the hero but the story failed to show any chemistry between the two leads...we all know where the hero stands but the heroine, not so much. The middle portion of the book is very lazy for a writer as strong as Ward. The ending was good but the middle did me in.

Fans of Chicago Fire and similar shows will enjoy this book. Lots of action, suspense, emotions, and flames. While I wish I had been aware of the foul language and intimate details prior to requesting the book, I am still glad I read it and quite enjoyed the tale. Still heartbroken over one of my favorite characters, but then not so good things happened to so many of them. Did enjoy seeing the growth and in-depth conversations had by some. Something people should do to clear the air in real life.

4.5-4.75 STARS

Confession time… prior to delving between the pages of “Consumed,” I had yet to read any books written by author J.R. Ward. Had I realized what I was missing out on, I would have remedied my blunder a whole lot sooner. But, as they say, better late than never. And what better introduction to this author’s work, than to begin with the first book in her brand new Firefighters series, “Consumed.”

Right from the very first page, I was drawn into Anne and Danny’s tumultuous story and enraptured by the hazardous world of firefighting. Boasting a unique and appealing premise with perfectly imperfect characters, “Consumed” is an emotionally-charged, explosive story that I won’t soon forget.

Well-written, fast paced story. It's been a long time since I've read JR Ward and was pleasantly reminded why I need to pick up more of her books. I was drawn in from the first chapter and thought the descriptions were intense. I almost could feel the flames from the fires as I was reading. I loved Anne's strength of character and how Danny never stopped seeing her for who she was despite her injury. I was kept guessing until the end. I'm definitel.ly looking forward to more in this series.

"Humanity was a galaxy, countless, unfathomable, too vast to comprehend."

Consumed is just what you come to expect from J.R Ward, the unexpected. It's a contemporary set in Boston among a group of firefighters that have formed a strong brotherhood. Within their ranks, one stands out and not just because of gender, Anne is a premier firefighter, daughter of the deceased captain and sister to the new captain.

Anne is a fighter. She's fought for her place among these elite firefighters; she's fought for acceptance, not just tolerance and she's worked hard to get there. However, that means she's had to ignore the burning chemistry between her and a fellow firefighter, Danny. Their chemistry could put nearby buildings to flame but thankfully ,as firefighters, they do a good job of putting them out. Danny and Anne wrestle with these emotions in a push and pull situation. Remember, this is a J.R Ward novel so of course they've been put in a scenario that is not the norm and has enough drama to put the doctors of Seattle Grace to shame.

"I've got your back when you need it, too. I'm your partner, not a princess in a tower."

The romance is knitted into the background of a high octane thriller. An arsonist is destroying buildings and taking more than just old office equipment. The first chapters will have you screaming! I still can't believe she went there. I headed to Readers on the River and she answered my question on if there's ties to the BDB and surprisingly there is! Are you able to catch it? There's more to come in this series and there's some serious topics she's covering here. I can't wait to see how it all unfolds.

I absolutely loved The Black Dagger Brotherhood series, so when I got a chance to read this new story by JR Ward. And it didn’t disappoint!
Right off the bat, you’re thrown into the terrifying world of fire fighters. Anne suffers a horrific life-changing experience.
She, Danny and Anne’s brother, Tom try to middle through life while trying to figure out who’s behind the terrible warehouse fires as of late.
There are twists and turns you never see coming! 5 stars!

I'm a huge Black Dagger Brotherhood fan, but I'd yet to read any of Ms. Ward's contemporary romances. This one sounded interesting, so I thought it would be a good place to start.

This one started out with a huge bang! I was not expecting the story to start with such excitement, drama and heartbreak. Our destinies can change so suddenly, in the blink of an eye. That's what happened here for Anne and Danny.....actually, for most of the characters. Danny I liked from the start. Anne, not so much. However, as she began to deal with her changed circumstances, I did sympathize with her. And after Soot the dog came into her life, I found myself totally loving her. You have to like someone who's kind to animals.

The reignited romance between Danny and Anne was quite steamy, and I liked how it took a while for them to rebuild their relationship. That made it more believable. As much as I liked their romance, it was Anne's relationship with her family that I found most compelling. I wondered how that dysfunctional mess could possibly be straightened out. I think Ms. Ward handled that part of the story most deftly. As the story raced to its thrilling conclusion, I found myself unable to put the book down. I can't wait to read more of this series.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley. I received no compensation for reading it, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

I’m a big fan of the BDB series and even though this was a different scenario it was just as well done. The characters were well thought out, the story was action packed and the chemistry between Anne and Danny was enough to keep me intrigued. Highly recommend Consumed Book 1 of the Firefighters series. ARC provided by publisher and Netgalley for a honest review.

Same formula as the “brotherhood “books but the main characters were not engaging. I was tired of them a third of the way through. Maybe people who have not read the other series will like this, I thought it was a poor ripoff.

In typical J.R. Ward fashion, this book is a bit darker than most. This is a gritty, no-holds-barred look at firefighting and arson. It isn't for the weak of heart, but you will be addicted once you start reading!

A great story that is face paced and interesting! It takes you right up to the intense stories that firefighters go through on day in and day out. I loved the way the story developed and the characters grew as the novel progressed. It is the first in a new series from the author and I look forward to seeing as how these characters grow over the course of the series.

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As far as first impressions go, I like J.R. Ward and her work! She has a very distinct writing style: quiet moments of intense detail, sentence fragments that help underscore a point, and lots of metaphors (sometimes too many, I thought). There were a few discordant moments where her voice came through instead of the character's but on the whole, I enjoyed it.

I requested this book because I have a new(ish) connection to the world of firefighters and their legacies. I thought it would be an interesting look into the workings of that kind of family, that kind of bond, and it was. But honestly, with a title like Consumed, I thought it was going to be more of a romance novel. HOWEVER, I'm not at all disappointed with how everything turned out! Getting a peek into the lives of the major players and how they handle things was beautifully done. I felt like J.R. Ward pulled back the curtain a little and gave her readers more substance and depth than originally anticipated (at least for me).

I absolutely want to read the next book in the series. And I'd recommend this to anyone who:
- wants to discover a new author/series
- is a part of the first responder world in some way
- enjoys a slow, complex burn