1st in a Firefighter Romantic Suspense Series. Read the Free Prequels First.
2.5 Stars
I am a big fan of JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood Series, so I went into Consumed with high expectations. I read the Wedding From Hell prequels one and two first, and I think it is absolutely necessary to read those before reading Consumed. I was dying to know what would happen to Danny and Anne after reading them.
“It’s amazing what you can live through and come out stronger on the other side.”

Consumed began with the most addictive and explosive beginning! OMG it was exciting and devastating at the same time, and many lives were changed that day. Then we flash forward 10 months. Danny and Anne haven’t seen each other in all that time, and there is an arsonist loose in the city.

I usually love mysteries and suspense, but I found this to be boring and drawn out. Much of it was procedural and inner workings of the fire department, and we even had other POVs. But to me, the thing that usually makes me love a book is the characters, and sadly, I never warmed up to Anne, and liked Danny less in this book than the prequels, though he got better towards the end. But this one quote describes Anne well.
"She felt nothing—and not just on the surface, which had no nerves to register sensation. She had no emotion about the thing, either. It was what it was, a part of her now that needed to be, by definition, as indigenous as all the stuff she had been born with. What the hell did she have to get upset about?"

I know that a lot of people I trust really loved Consumed, and I really wanted to. The prequels and the first 15% gave me so much hope! I will say, I am glad I pushed through and finished, because the ending 15% was really good. To me, I’d give the first 20% 4.5 stars, the middle 65% 2 stars, and the last 15% 4 stars.

Likes:

•The first 15% and the last 15%.
•A strong, female firefighter that can kick ass and take names.
•The dog.
•Well written, realistic fire scenes.
•A well thought-out, well-researched plot.
•Realistic portrayals of the mental health issues firefighters face.
•Good character growth

Dislikes:

•I never warmed up to Anne, and Danny was just OK.
•I was bored and seriously considered a DNF between 50% and 80% but pushed through.
•I found JR Ward’s gangsta slang to be jarring in this setting. It’s one thing for vampires in a fake world, but another in a non-paranormal.
•I felt like she didn’t portray millennials and even Hispanics in a fair light. (Not all Hispanics speak broken English).
•There just wasn’t enough romance for me, and even the mystery was slow.
•Too many 3rd person POVs.

The Down and Dirty:
I wanted so much to love Consumed, I mean it’s JR Ward for goodness sake! I enjoyed the free prequels and was excited to read more about Danny, Anne and the firefighters of Station 499. Unfortunately Consumed didn’t live up to the prequels for me. After the explosive beginning, the rest of the book was just boring to me. It was more Anne and her investigation than anything else. I found the whole thing to be kind of depressing, there were no light moments to break it up, and it was definitely more mystery than romance. At 60% I almost DNFd but it’s a long book and I already put in so much time that I pushed through. I am glad I pushed through for the end, because it did redeem itself a bit for me, and I am curious about Tom’s story. But not enough for me to continue. A lot of bloggers I fully trust absolutely loved this one, and a few DNF’d, so this one seems to be a love it/hate it type thing. As for me, I’m right in the middle, and give it 2.5 stars.


Rating: 2.5 Stars, 3.5 Heat

Talk about heat! I was getting hot flashes from the prequels. Teasing, tension and a side of oh my....

Clearly the HOT fireman stereotype is a fan favorite. I am a fan after all. So why wouldn't I jump at the chance to meet the first and hopefully not the last handsome hero in this series.

Never having experienced the awesomeness that is a J.R. Ward book before I can say I'm a convert. I was blown away by the total package. The characters, flawed though they are, felt real. They are more than a 2D piece of placeholder. Each had their own feel. This is true in tons of stories but I felt an instant bond to Anne and her hottie.

I appreciated the story most of all. The actual meat and potatoes plot line. The story wasn't drowning in romance (not that I ever complain) it was a perfect blend of what you wanted and needed. I appreciate that the need was to tell a story and not string together a bunch of hookups. I liked having a heroine with some seriously kick ass abilities...or should I say tendencies.

I tip my hat to you J.R. Ward. I look forward to more adventures of your creation.

3 stars

This is a book that started out very strong for me. I loved the prequel novellas and the beginning of the book was so compelling with the story. And then about halfway through it’s almost like it fell apart. Consumed is about firefighters Anne and Danny. Both of them feel an intense attraction to each other, but working on the same team nothing can come of it.

Like I said I felt the first half of the book was very good and I liked the characters and the story. The second half of the book I found boring and a tad bit ridiculous. I think this series has a lot of potential and the future installments will be really great so I’ll definitely be checking those out. Three stars because I enjoyed this book for the most part.

In this first book in this new series we meet Anne Ashburn whose life is dominated by things from her past, a man she can't seem to stop thinking about and a new case that has her questioning everything. She has spent what seems like a lifetime doing what she loves but when one bad decision changes her course Anne must reinvent herself whether she likes it or not. Can she find the same love for arson investigating as she had for fighting fires? Along the way she meets Danny, a firefighter who doesn't seem afraid to take risks, someone like she use to be. When they team up together to solve her next case as an arsonist investigator things ignite between them. Can they work together to solve a horrible crime and at the same time come together as one true flame or will they burn out before they even get started? Follow along as the two take you on a fiery ride that will truly consume you. This was a fantastic beginning to what I hope is a long series. I've enjoyed this authors previous work and can't wait to see what she brings us next.

FINAL DECISION: Wow, this book has one of the most heart pounding and shocking introduction to characters and their situation as any book I have read. I really enjoyed this book. The characters are flawed and complicated; the story kept me interested and I left this book wanting more.

THE STORY: Anne Ashburn is a woman with something to prove. The daughter of a revered firefighter (who wasn't who he seemed) and the sister of the current fire chief, Anne is fighting for her own identity in a profession dominated by men. Brash, opinionated, independent and strong, Anne loves being a firefighter. The thorn in her side is Danny McGuire a fellow firefighter. There is a blazing hot attraction between them that Anne acted on once, but never again. One fire changes everything.

OPINION: While I've always read and thoroughly enjoyed and sometimes outright loved Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series, I think I might enjoy her recent contemporary series even more. Her BDB series is sprawling in scope with a huge set of characters. Her contemporaries take her ability to write overarching stories with compelling characters and compress them into smaller bites.

Whereas her Bourbon Kings series was a lush soap opera, the Firefighters series has a compelling sense of action, drama and urgency that is reminiscent of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, but exhibited in a totally different context. This is not the BDB and may disappoint those looking for a similar series, but I loved the complexity of the characters, their flaws and individuality, the connection between Anne and Danny, and the intriguing plot which propels the characters.

Anne is a woman who struggles with love, connection and trust after finding out the truth about her father. She loves the same profession that is the family calling but has difficultly reconciling being respected, being open and being driven. She is stubborn and reckless and good at her job. When her life is turned upside down, she has to find in herself the ability to go forward and reform her life into something worth living. I especially liked that Anne doesn't fit traditional ideas of femininity. Like many of Ward's heroines in the BDB universe, she is physically strong and unwilling to be the victim. And yet, she struggles with ideas of her own attractiveness and where she fits. She is flawed, arrogant and difficult and I liked her all the more for it.

Danny is excellent at his job, but terrible at following orders. But the realities of the job and its costs weigh on his soul. The dramatic events which occur at the beginning of the book tip him toward self-destruction. But through it all, he has a connection to Anne that marks him as a passionate hopeless romantic -- even if he would never agree to that characterization. He can't forget her and while he accepts her wishes for a while, I cheered when he finally decided that he was going to go for what I wanted.

At times I didn't like the characters very much. They are at times, angry, foolish, annoying and arrogant. They are flawed. And ultimately, that is what made me fall for them. They felt raw and real. By the end of the book, I didn't want their story to end and I hope that we get to see more of them in future books in the series.

WORTH MENTIONING: There is a slight overarching storyline that isn't completed here. This book is a complete story, but there are threads that I expect will be picked up in the next book in the series.

CONNECTED BOOKS: CONSUMED is the first book in the Firefighters series. There are two prequel vignettes (and one prequel that is in fact the beginning of this book) but those are not necessary to read although you get some background on the characters.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to prepare this review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Wow! This is the first book that I have read by this author. This book is a little grittier than what I normally read, but I loved the book. The suspense was awesome and the romance was believable. I was given a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgallery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I am not going to spoil the book by telling more about it. I am happy to find a new author that I can read. I highly recommend this realistic romantic suspense book. I look forward to more in the series.

I have a huge love for Firefighters in books and in real life. They are going into the fire when everyone else is leaving it. It might also have to do with my great love for Backdraft. To this day, it is still my favorite movie involving firefighters. I still remember like yesterday Kurt Russell saying "You go, we go". Great movie line!

Ok, getting back to Consumed, the main character is Anne Ashburn. She's a firefighter of the 499 Fire Department Station. She's a hard worker, determined woman. She also can be tremendously stubborn and self-destructive at times. She has fallen for Danny McGuire, another firefighter who has a thing for the ladies. Once after his best friend's wedding, they let their desire for each other consumed them (see what I did there?) but after that night together they avoided talking about it.

Next thing you know, the fire alarm is triggered and off they go to stop a new fire. The events following this call leaves them both with permanent visible and nonvisible scars. Anne asked for something that was quite courageous but left Danny feeling guilty. Over the last ten months, he has been consumed by it. He's in a path to self-destruction and looking for an early grave if you ask me.

Anne's dream of a career as a firefighter is gone after the fire but ten months later, she's ready for a new beginning as an arson investigator and the new owner of a rescue dog. She has avoided Danny and anyone from the same fire department station as an act of self-preservation but when her investigation leads her to danger and she reconnects with Danny, she's not sure how to proceed.

As a lover of anything the Ward writes, I knew I had to give this series a chance. It does read like the first book in a long series. I did like Anne. She passed her denial phase pretty fast and was able to go into acceptance mode.

I wasn't crazy about how Danny behave during his time apart from Anne. If he wanted her, there was no reason to sleep around. Be a man and go get her. I did warm up to him by the last third of the book but still not cool dude!

The novel is left with plenty of material for many more books to come. Anne's brother should be next.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

Thank you Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you netgalley and JR Ward for my free copy of consumed in exchange for my honest review.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a J.R Ward book I have in the past enjoyed her books so I was super excited to dive into this one.

Consumed is the first installment in the fire fighter series. Anne Ashburn a former firefighter and current arson investigator has a lot going on. Not only is she chasing down leads to find a killer she’s fighting her feelings for Danny a fellow firefighter. Can Danny get Anne to see that their good together? Can They both get past the demons that haunt their past to work towards a better future?

I would suggest you read the prequel‘s before diving into this installment just because I feel it adds a layer of chemistry that would be missing if you started with this book.

I really enjoyed it. I am still not OK with one of the pivotal beginning scenes. I have never read anything like it and I thought it was a great plot point. My only problem was that J.R Ward is notorious for scene switching and I get that she’s world building so that she can add other installments but I feel like our hero and heroine needed more time together. All in all I’d recommend this book.

Anne and Danny are firefighters. A tragic even happens and Ann ends up in another career as an arson investigator. The couple have been tiptoeing around each other. A set of suspicious fires lead to an investigation of a killer. A killer that targets Anne. This was a great read with twists and unexpected turns.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and am leaving a review.

This book is so good. I highly recommend to read this book. I also highly recommend reading the Wedding from hell prequels first.

Anne and Danny are both firefighters and they have a lot going on. They both take risks to the point that it looks like they have a death wish for themselves. They are both good at what they do. Until one fire takes down them both down. Their lives change after this fire. Absolutely love this book.

I couldn’t put this book. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

A riveting tapestry of firefighter’s lives…

This is the first book in the Firefighters series that can be read as a stand-alone. There are two prequel novellas that this reader has not read, this story stood alone without them.

With her father and older brother being firefighters, it was no wonder that Anne Ashburn became one. The adrenaline rush and the excitement of battling out of control flames, saving people and property suited her personality. But change in life is inevitable, especially in a dangerous profession. What does one do when the career that calls to them is no longer viable? You are either a survivor or a casualty. Anne would prefer to be the former but attaining a new sense of purpose will require much introspection to find the inner mettle that she’ll need to guide her on a new path.

Not always following orders from the chain of command has become a habit for the firefighter Danny McGuire, he pushes the envelope when it comes to rescues. Already dealing with the losses of two who were close to him and learning that Anne, the woman he’s been attracted to could be in serious trouble, nothing will hold him back from getting to her side. This one he WILL save but there will be a physical and emotional cost to them both that is brutal and guilt will torment him.

The opening chapters portrayed dramatic and traumatic events, this reader hoped they’d find another way but time ran out for them amid a raging blaze. What a way to capture a reader’s attention, the story then moves forward in time ten months, to the aftermath of what had transpired.

This was a riveting and suspenseful story, a tapestry of firefighter’s lives, a profession that is dangerous and that not many are capable of doing. These captivating characters went through so much, more than one found their epiphanies. The story was emotional and thought-provoking, philosophical ponderings as characters went through painful journeys of personal discovery and growth. The plot was involved, the ending resolution to the arson investigation mystery surprising. This was the first time I have read this author and I look forward to reading more of her works.

An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.

I was a little unsure about this one, because, BDB! I liked how resilient the main character is. She's essentially lost a career she loved but she comes back even better than before. Not a quick read, but I enjoyed returning to it time and time again.

I thoroughly enjoyed this well written, engrossing and emotionally charged story. It is fast paced and filled with suspense, romance and intrigue. The characters are layered and interesting and they have a lot of chemistry.

Anne comes from a family of firefighters and has always been proud to be one, too. Working in a male dominated field, has taught Anne to be tough, confident and a straight talker. She has learned to ignore the condescending attitude of men thinking she can’t do her job because she is a woman.

Danny is a firefighter working with Anne. He is a rugged, handsome, alpha male who is dedicated to his job. Anne is different from other women Danny has known. He finds Anne fascinating and intriguing. She does what she wants and she isn’t afraid to speak her mind.

I found it interesting to see inside the life of a firefighter, people who put your lives on the line every day. They are adrenaline junkies who want to help others but unfortunately, they are haunted by what they have seen. They all learn to deal with their issues in different ways. Danny and Anne are drawn to each other, yet they fight what they are feeling because they have so much baggage. I admire their courage and honesty. They say what they feel and don’t care about the consequences. They love their jobs but also love to stretch the boundaries and and it usually gets them into trouble. Great story.

Anne is a fighter and when she watches her career go up in smoke, she doesn't let her dreams die. She just has to have a different one.

Danny has his own demons to face and he's trying so hard. After Anne leaves the fire department he takes crazy risks trying to dull the demons. He's loved Anne for so long and it's killing him that they can't be together.

Then they meet up again and he's determined to get all of her. I absolutely loved Danny! He wasn't a jerk, he was alpha but was so sweet. I love that when a broken man and a broken woman get together they can either become one to be stronger than when they're apart.

I loved this book from the first chapter to the end. I can't wait to see the next book in this series.

J.R. Ward’s first book in her Firefighters series is a high-octane romantic suspense about ex-firefighter, now arson investigator Anne Ashburn, whose past and present have collided in a lethal chase to find a killer.

Anne had spent a good portion of her life trying to impress her father only to find out the bitter truth about him when he died a hero to everyone else. That didn’t take away her fearlessness or determination to be the best firefighter she could be until she made a decision with dire consequences. Discouraged and unable to be a firefighter she must reassess her future. The dull desk job of an arson investigator feels unfulfilling and dreary until she stumbles upon evidence that doesn’t add up in some questionable fires including the one that changed her life forever.

Danny McGuire could have any woman he wants, but he’s been in love with Anne since he laid eyes on her. The chemistry was there on both sides, sparks flew the night of fellow firefighter Robert ‘Moose’ Miller’s wedding, but he lost her the night of THE warehouse fire. Tortured and depressed, Danny is taking even more risks in an already risky job. But Anne and his paths are irrevocably intertwined and they must team up to find the arsonist before the he finds her.

Firefighters in romance novels have been around for a while, but The Warden adds her own particular style producing a sexy tale full of emotion that is gripping not only because of the romance but because of the thrilling mystery that felt very real.

Ward did a wonderful job introducing all of the characters that will surely star in upcoming novels. I especially loved Anne and Danny who were perfectly imperfect. They had a lot of baggage and were even a little broken by their pasts. The bond between them was intense, even when it was threatened to be destroyed by deadly fire, but their romance felt a bit glossed over with all the other drama that surrounded them.

Consumed is book #1 of the Firefighters contemporary romance series by J.R. Ward. It is a standalone story, with a partly solved mystery. Although there are still a lot of unanswered questions which will surely be resolved in future books I can’t wait to read. Consumed is told from several points of view with a happy ending.

Had to really think about this one. I loved the story and the characters. Everyone was in-depth, interesting, and very complicated. The book definitely gives you an entirely different view of firemen and what they face and have to deal with. Very heartbreaking to say the least. What made me not give it five stars...the ending. I know this is going to be a series and I get that, but it just seemed to end abruptly to me. It reveved up and then petered out. I really want to read more about theses characters! Great read and huge plot twist at the end.

Received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley. Thank you so much!

This one hit all my bells and whistles!

I first read J.R. Ward under the pen name Jessica Bird.
Then like everyone else on the planet, I fell down the BDB rabbit hole. In truth, one of my fave heroes of hers is Jim Heron in her Fallen Angels series. Just an everyday guy, trying to do the right thing. And maybe finding a little bit of heaven for himself.

I am so glad that I found that reading happy place here in Consumed with Anne and Danny. I felt an instant connection between these two. Please, please, pleeeeeease read the two freebie shorts (at least at the time I am posting this review) under The Wedding From Hell Series: The Rehearsal Dinner and The Reception. You do not need them to enjoy Consumed, but they offer dynamic backstories and are HOT, people. Don't miss out ;)

Anne and Dannyboy. Holy crap. Their journey. Star-crossed, gritty, intense, heart-breaking, raw and real. Throw in great lines, classic sharp JRW humor/banter, secondary plots that you want to know more about because the secondary characters are just as screwed up as the main MCs are...which is why I lurve them. Don't judge.

I want more time with these two.
I hope I get it in the next few (please...more) stories in this new heart-pounding series.
Fire it up!!!
I'll be right here waiting, dear author, with all my bells and whistles ready.

*ARC received through NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

CONSUMED will do just that from the first word to the last -- consume your every thought, every moment and when it does end, you will want more.

If you love firefighters, action, romance, danger, intrigue, and a sweet, steamy, stormy romance then you really need to get CONSUMED.

Annetta Sweetko, reviewer for Fresh Fiction

My complete review may be found at: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=66959

This awesome book is the first in the Firefighters series and it features Danny and Anne. EVERY TIME I read a book by this author she seems to capture my attention from the first page and doesn’t let go until my emotions have run the full gamut. These two tortured souls have found each other in their common occupation of fire fighting. Their journey is long, emotional and tragic. I cried heartbreaking tears a few times and other times I wanted to jump for joy. One thing that stands out for me is that old saying “just when you think you know someone.” Read this fabulous book and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

There’s so much going on but it all fits together in this smooth running story line. I was genuinely sad when it was over because I wanted to stay in their world a little bit longer. Brilliant writing! I can’t wait for the next book in this fantastic series.

This is a story of rebirth and redemption. What would happen when something that you wanted your whole life is no longer possible? Will you disappear into the abys or will you find the inner strength to survive ? Anne was such an amazing character and her story is so heartfelt and twisting. Thank you and I am ready to read the next book by this author. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this.