Holy cow that beginning was scary and rough. Like bawl you're eyes out. Seriously grab the tissues. The characters don't know what's coming...
So much suspense around every new piece of evidence or even a hint of a clue. It's action packed until the very last page. 
I'm a first time reader of JR Ward but I will definitely be going back for more. This is addiction chapter after chapter.

Librarian: Librarians who are looking toward Romance collection development will probably want this one. It's fairly typical for the breed, but JR Ward is an already proven name in the field, and this looks to be another hit. It reads much like any other romance mystery/suspense novel, so fans of the genre shouldn't be disappointed. There is slightly more graphic violent content then many novels of this type (which might turn some people off) and while this book is definitely sexy, it's not particularly erotic feeling (so don't recommend it to those type of readers. 
Reader:  As I've mentioned in other reviews, I'm not a romance novel type of person. But I do read a lot of them. between my job and my mother's love for the Christian variety of them. Because of that I can say that this book is exactly what it seems to be. A romance novel, with some mystery elements. It is the story of a boy and a girl who love each other, but also don't and how they find their way back to each other. It is comfortable and familiar, and the sort of story that should appeal to fans of the genre.

Consumed is J.R. Ward’s novel in a brand-new series. Switching from paranormal, this realistic firefighters’ story has brought the theme of brotherhood, betrayal and romance to a new level. Long novel as all of the Black Dagger Brotherhood were, this is no quick read. Still it is worth the time to do so.

The story line is complex with many threads woven within it. Good and bad, truth and lies, strength and weakness all come into play into this astounding story. I came to have strong feelings for the many characters but especially for Anne, Danny, and Soot. The ending is explosive just like the fires Anne had been investigating. I can hardly wait for the next book!

Firefighters? Romantic suspense? Where. Do. I. Sign. Up? Seriously, I was so excited to read Consumed, especially after the Wedding from Hell novellas to whet my appetite and set up the explosive romance between Danny and Anne.

And, whoa, did Consumed start off at a sprint, and really didn’t pull up until the end. I loved the world building JR Ward concocted in this first of the Firefighters series. Introducing all the characters and their roles and relationships and intertwined lives. The rivalry between firehouses, city politics, bureaucracy and a bit of inner city crime set the scenes perfectly—I could easily envision the surrounding as the action played out.

I truly loved the relationship between Danny and Anne. A relationship born from friendship and respect that morphed into something more. Something neither one really knew what to do with, but neither really wanted to give up.

Add in the brotherhood of the firefighters and Danny’s roommates, and the scene stealing opportunities were endless. I loved their devotion to each other—that they supported each other regardless of the circumstances—that they loved each other like brothers.

And then add in the suspense twist, and I was done for. I loved the set-up, loved Anne’s “never give up” attitude. And certainly, she could have given in and wallowed at any given time. I loved her inner strength and devotion to finding the answer no matter the cost. 

And that ending. Holy moly, I didn’t see it coming and it was epic. I’m all in on this new series and cannot wait for more!

Wow. This one is pretty dark. The storyline is methodical and intriguing.

Ms. Ward invites us into her new world of firefighters. They’re often our heroes but that comes at a great price to the men and women who serve. Survivor’s guilt is a bitch, mistakes on the job can be the difference between life or death and a messed up past or a dysfunctional family may have them running towards the flames.

A series of unfortunate events but not uncommon in J.R. Ward’s wheelhouse. Her characters are usually damaged and carrying around some serious baggage. While they do give everyone a certain je ne sais quoi, it would be nice to have some “normal” characters. However, the damaged character is often unpredictable, giving the story its mysterious and suspenseful aspects.

The beginning of the book is fast-paced and chilling. I was biting my nails and flipping pages as fast as I could. It’s thrilling and heartbreaking! Then we jump 10 months ahead where a slow and steady pace builds into an intricate and multi-faceted story. It is exciting, dangerous and dare I say sexy? Yes, I dare. The chemistry between Danny and Anne is all-consuming 😉 You can cut their sexual tension with a knife!

Anne is the lone female firefighter in an all-male firehouse. She’s tough-as-nails and can do the job just as good as any man. When an accident permanently sidelines her from the job she loves, she’s forced to forge a new path and forego all the dreams she once had. Anne is a strong heroine and I greatly admired her drive and her attitude, especially after her accident. She could have quit, even wanted to. But she never did.

Danny is a bad-boy firefighter that obviously has a death wish. He’s a maverick and often doesn’t follow orders. He’s also got a soft spot for Anne. After her accident, a lot of messed up and crazy things happened, pushing him closer to the edge he’s so recklessly been riding for years. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t a fan of his. Danny is a womanizing, big jerk that I couldn’t stand. It’s no offense to him, I’m not a fan of bad-boy heroes. It’s a quirk I have and nothing against the author.

The secondary characters were interesting. I felt there wasn’t an even development between all the characters. Some were more fleshed out that others. But that could be the author’s way of keeping some characters a mystery. Anne’s brother—Fire Chief Thomas Ashburn Jr.—has a secondary storyline where he’s fighting the bureaucracy and politics side of things. He’s in a battle with the very attractive mayor Catherine Mahoney. She’s seeking reelection and wants his support along with the firefighter’s union. Needless to say, the sparks fly as they battle to be number one alpha. I’m very curious to see if anything develops between these two!

Overall, it’s a pretty good read. There’s lots of first responders action, crazy sexual tension and a boatload of suspense.

Consumed was one INTENSE read. It's explosive, emotional and a definite page turner. 

Anne Ashburn is a firefighter - the only female at her station and a damn good one. Her and fellow firefighter Danny Maguire danced around each other for quite some time before succumbing to the attraction between them. The chemistry was still burning until one fateful night when a break in protocol changed both of their lives.
Fast forward ten months and after a long, tough healing process Anne has accepted a new job as an arson investigator while Danny has returned to the 499. Neither of them have it easy. Anne's career was her life and being forced to leave it behind is no easy feat. Consumed with the guilt of what he had to do to save Anne's life, Danny is unable to move on and has taken to drinking to numb the pain. 
Working as an arson investigator is not nearly as exciting as her old job but after being assigned to investigate a recent warehouse fire - not far from the warehouse that nearly cost her her life - she realizes that something just doesn't add up. After all, 6 warehouse fires over the course of 2 years - all owned by the same man - does seem a little suspicious. 
When Anne receives a call asking her to check up on Danny she comes to his aid. Just once - or so she tells herself - and as time goes by old feelings resurface and they find themselves powerless to resist. 

While Consumed follows several different characters, Anne and Danny are the main focus of the story. While both of them are broken and haunted by their pasts, they are still forces to be reckoned with. They're strong willed and neither are afraid of bending the rules. 
This book has a little bit of everything. Sizzling romance, familial drama, danger, suspense and betrayal. Not to mention an incredibly adorable dog named Soot!

I can't wait for the next installment!

Consumed was a fearless, high-octane submersion into the deadly world of firefighting and the love story that built from within it. Told through multiple perspectives, Ward’s vivid portrayal of the physical and mental risks of being a first responder held a no holds barred approach, perfectly setting the story up with an intensity that blazed wildly and kept burning throughout the novel. I fell hard for the gut-strong Anne and the all-consuming attraction she had with the unwavering man in her life that was Danny.

The bold themes in this love story were all-encompassing—the lead and secondary characters perfectly depicting the repeated effects of loss, sexism, trauma, and mental health issues in this field and beyond. Ward effortlessly penned a heroine that could be strong and re-inventive while showcasing her innate vulnerabilities. I found it easy to relate to her struggles in opening up and felt close to her along the entire length of her journey. The easy camaraderie she had with Danny was wonderfully written and I was all too involved as it ebbed and flowed. But maybe most of all I loved Danny’s raw honesty in his struggle to maintain his connection to her while so many things pushed them further apart.

Consumed was an exciting and emotional novel. I wasn’t expecting the depths and themes it delved into, but I came out of it all the happier it did. This story goes there with confidence and it pays off in the full formation of every character and how easily it was devoured. With Ward’s ever-present skilled writing and her penchant for character-driven stories, this was an amazing book for reasons that I still cannot capture in words. Take the journey with this crew and you’ll be as excited as I am for what’s to come.

The WARDen once again shows readers why she is the queen in whatever genre she writes. Full of action and suspense, the highlight of this new series are the amazing and complex characters. Anne and Danny are strong, bullheaded, and damaged. They aren't the only ones. The others in this cast of characters are intriguing in their own right and give the reader a glimpse at all the new stories that can be told in future books. One thing you can always expect from the author is the portrayal of the bond of family, both born and chosen. She has a unique way of drawing the reader into the world she has created and makes you care about these people in the pages. I cannot wait to see who's story comes next.

This book started on such an adrenaline rush. My emotions climbed up and down right alongside Danny and Anne and before I knew it, I'd blown through the first 8 chapters and the rest is history. Read it in one seating and it was totally worth my lack of sleep and zombie impersonation everyone got to see the next morning.

The story follows Anne and Danny, these two have the hots and are in love with each other but never express their feelings to the other. While securing a building on fire, these two have to make some hard decisions to save Anne, after she was pinned under debris. That choice saved her life but also forced her out of her dream job as a firefighter.

Fast forward 10 months and Danny is struggling with the guilt and anger over what happened and Anne is doing a decent job of forgetting the satisfaction and thrill of being part of the 499 station and starting over as an arson investigator.

When her latest case leads her to see a pattern of fires and murder, all pointing to a powerful man with dangerous connections, Anne and Danny are brought back together and this time, they'll get a second chance to stay strong and together or finally walk away for good.

This was not my typical romance read (no soft pink glow here) this was raw, emotional and dealt with a lot of harsh reality. Anne and Danny are characters with a ton of baggage and the first 25% of this book pretty much ripped my heart out over these two. Then there is all the secondary characters that were equally riddled with bad luck and family drama. This book was a bit of a downer and got a bit bleak at times but is really well written. Even with the continuous hard knock, after hard knock for these guys, I couldn't stop reading and was sucked right into the story line.

I honestly don't know if my rating is accurate because I kind of have a love/hate thing going on with it right now. I will say it left an impression, it was memorable and left me curious about the fate of the of the 499 team.

***4 Stars***

I used to be a huge BDB fan until I wasn’t anymore and I could never seem to get into the other series the author wrote. So, when I saw Consumed, I was hesitant to even attempt it based how things went with the other series, but after seeing a few of the reviewers I follow on GR posting very positive reviews, I figured I’d put my request in and should the powers that be approve it then I was meant to read it. So, I got approved (obviously) and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. It hooked me from the start, and let me tell you THAT was one hell of a start, and I found myself becoming more and more invested in the characters, both main and supporting, lives and needing to see how everything worked out for all of them.

Anne and Danny took me for a ride. I loved them both, I did, but man do these two put each other and themselves through the ringer. Both are determined, strong willed and stubborn...I mean taking a bone from a ravenous dog would be easier than getting these two the change their minds once they’ve made a decision. But on the flip side they both have huge hearts. These hearts have taken quite a few beatings over the years, but they are golden. 

Their journey to the HEA was an interesting one in that it is not the wine and roses, I’m going to woo you kind of a journey. There were some sweet and swoon worthy moments, but really it’s about two people that despite what they deem their best intentions, just end up colliding over and over again. They both have a lot of baggage to overcome, one which was pretty intense and unexpected, but the flow between them was undeniable and I love where they were at when everything was said and done.

I’m really happy that I was approved to read this baby. I was hooked from the very first page and was quite surprised at the turn things took as early as they did, but it all just worked for me and it really set the tone for the entire book. All of the characters were well written and I’m really interested to see where she goes with their evolution as the series progresses as well as what looks to be the overall arc of the series, which had a couple of twists that I didn’t see coming. 

There are two short stories/novellas out right now that are freebies and prequels to the series, The Wedding from Hell Part 1: The Rehearsal Dinner & The Wedding from Hell Part 2: The Reception, that definitely help to give some background on Anne and Danny’s relationship, but also sets up one of the conflicts that finds its way into their relationship. I personally think that they should be read before diving into Consumed (especially because they are free) but you can bypass them if you so choose.

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

This book deals with VERY traumatic situations, be warned! Gritty, real life situations, heart wrenching drama, filled with survivors dealing with after trauma. It is not for everyone. READ THE PREQUELS!

These are all the terms that occurred to me reading this book. It is not a light entertaining read. It is filled with real life situations and after effects on people in a difficult and dangerous job! It was beautifully crafted as one would expect from JR Ward but it is NOT the Black Dagger Brotherhood with it's lighter moments. The healing power of love and determination to overcome are themes in this series. Reader, please be advised strongly to read the 3 intro stories as they tell you the relationships between the characters so you greater understand the interactions in the book!

Anne "Sister" Ashburn is a daughter in a firefighter family for generations. She's idolized her "hero" father and only wanted to be just like him competing to keep up with her elder brother Thomas. She's refused to be molded into the role of support female and succeeded in a male dominated profession. She has a strained relationship with her mother, disillusioned by her deceased hero father after learning his secrets in her teens. Her elder brother is the city's Fire Chief and has a strained relationship with him as well because she risks her life daily. Her co-workers at Station 499 are her "family" where she's respected as one of the best. She and Danny "Dannyboy" McGuire, co-workers and the company's "Bad Boy", fight a mutual attraction as they are teammates and fraternizing is forbidden. Danny isn't as "bad" as his reputation implies and is so drawn to Anne he's beside himself with the temptation to go further and settle down. During the story we meet the other teammates, roommates and people in other departments they hang out with at the Time Out Tavern after shifts. The story continues with a life & death call that sets the stage for the rest of the story. 

This is an excellent real lifelike story of survivors and love to be found in their chosen hero profession.

Anne Ashburn has never been a damsel in distress.  Being a firefighter with the 499 is all she ever wanted.  Well, that and Daniel Maguire.  

He’s been her rock, her friend and her lover.  They’ve rushed into burning buildings and have always managed to somehow beat all the odds.  Until now.

In a cruel twist of fate, she’s forced to leave it all behind. If only her heart could heal as fast as her body.

"Whenever her guilt got to stinging, she needed to remind herself that Danny was just fine and so was she. And with the passage of all the hours, days, weeks, and months since that warehouse fire, their lives were in different places and that horrible eternity when she’d been trapped in that hot spot was gone. 
You had to keep going. 
Staring over the cleared site, she thought… yup, just as the remnants of the warehouse were gone, so, too, the events of that blaze had been struck out of the timeline of both their lives. 
So, too, the connection they had once had."

 “Dannyboy” Maguire doesn’t know what’s heavier – the bone crushing debris that nearly ended his life or his remorse about how it all played out with Anne.

The loss that set them on different paths haunts him night and day.  So when she reappears months later to pull him out of his own private Hell, it reignites the passion that always burned so hot between them.  And there is nothing that he wouldn’t do to keep her safe from the danger that’s about to close in.  

“What are you doing, Danny.” She nodded into his trainwreck of a room. “I mean, look at this place.” 
There was laundry on the floor—in two piles that she guessed meant one was clean and the other dirty. The bed was a shambles of sheets and blankets with a bald pillow at the headboard. And the window’s curtain had bought the farm, the rod hanging cockeyed, a blanket nailed in place so he didn’t flash the neighbors. 
“I don’t spend a lot of time in there,” he muttered before taking a drag. 
She bent down and picked up a flimsy piece of lace. “At least you’re not alone, though.” 
He shrugged. “I might as well be.”
“Oh, come on.” Anne let the lingerie dangle. “What was wrong with her? Given the cup size here, I’m thinking her anatomy was just fine.” 
Danny was quiet for a while. Then in a low voice, he said, “She wasn’t you. That was the trouble.”

Consumed starts out with a lethal punch right to the gut and then never lets you take a breath! J.R. Ward introduces yet another impressive collection of characters that reach out from every page. Each one demands that readers FEEL their story – the pain, the desperation and the desire.

I was unsure going in, but was completely taken in before the first chapter came to an end.  It’s a fast-paced and yet poignant look at life and love. 

And it’s one hundred percent addictive…

This is my first NON paranormal ready by JR Ward and I did enjoy it...although for some reason I kept comparing it to BDB and it just wasn't the same. That being said, while perhaps not as steamy as expected..there was much going on not only with all the different interpersonal relationships that needed addressing but with also the fire departments as a whole. There is some great suspense going on in this story and some super in depth fire fighting/EMS descriptions that keep you completely glued to the pages. Some "holy crap" did that really happen moments and the culmination of the love story between Anne and Dannyboy that in the end...makes you swoon just a tad.

This was a fantastic story that pulled me in right from the start. I pretty much held my breath the first 10%! It was heart-stopping and intense and I was excited to see what would happen next. There's drama and emotion, pain and tragedy, I was eating up the details and enjoying it all. There's a big cast of characters, multiple POVs, a few sub plots and connections happening to tie it all together.

Danny and Anne are so flawed and broken but I found them really compelling and intriguing as they work through their guilt and issues. I really liked the pull they had on one another, they had great chemistry happening but a lot of pain underneath which almost made it feel more intense and I loved them working through it all in the midst of their turmoil.

There was a lot of drama, conflict, tension, and angst. The writing was really good but I felt it could be overly descriptive at times. It flowed well for the most part but some of the sub plots felt rushed like I was missing something, I liked them, they just didn't feel flushed out. I liked the element of suspense that was in play about the arsonist. It had a slow, subtle build to it but I thought it was going to be more of a major plot point. When everything comes to ahead, it was over pretty quick.

All in all, I thought this was an awesome read and I absolutely enjoyed it and would recommend it. J. R. Ward is a heck of a story teller! I was caught up in everything and had a really hard time putting it down. I thought this was an excellent introduction to a new series and am extremely excited to see where it goes.

🔥🔥Consumed is a must read for 2018🔥🔥

As I find with most first in series a lot of time was spent on character introductions and the laying of breadcrumb trails for future plots and subtle twist possibilities. This was done flawlessly by the way, and easy to follow.
The characters -
Anne - Definitely has a chip on her shoulder. She seems to spend a lot of time-fighting an invisible foe that she seems to have created herself. I did enjoy her tenacity though -she was like a Dalmatian that wouldn't let go. I did finally warm up to her character - she seemed to "grow up" as the story progressed, I appreciated the way her growth was revealed, added to the storyline
Danny - always seemed to be running from his past. A very strong presence, easy to connect with and I couldn't help but want to know more about the demons that seemed to be chasing him. He has that quick to light temper that definitely got him into some very precarious situations.
Those were the two main characters in Consumed but we got to meet the rest of the cast as well and I can say there are a couple I am soooo wanting to read more about. A few, I believe, could quite possibly develop into future antagonists though I am on the fence about one of them - I kind of like her in your face attitude she may just end up surprising everyone.
As I have come to expect from Ward - each of the characters seemed to bring to a unique context to the storyline - I really enjoy the vast array of personalities and quirks - a vivid cast that I definitely felt a part of
The storyline is intense - I cried through a large portion - yes the ugly silent tears - and then I would find myself laughing and apologizing to my family as I tried to ensure them that I was not losing it - Not sure they believed me
And WAIT FOR IT - I never saw it coming ! And NO peeking! 
I was originally given a comp copy by the publisher - But being a big BDB fan (I own the complete series in physical form) I also acquired a physical copy - because let's be honest Ward has the gift of storytelling

Something has to be said for the power in Ward's books. A new branch back into the contemporary world, Consumed is not only intrigued and a standout novel, readers won't be able to predict what will happen and become addicted to finding out the truth. I highly recommend reading the two free novellas before diving in the world of Anne and Danny. They give a sneak peek into all our characters before a moment that changes all of their lives.

Anne is the solo female in her fire squad and has always felt she's had an axe to grind (sorry for the pun there...). Determination and pure snark have gotten her this far and it'll take more than smart-talking, playboy Danny to sweep her off her feet. But there's a connection between the two of them when they're int he field. They think in unison and anticipate each others needs and movements like no one she's ever seen. His charm may not be his dazzling smile and sexy body, it just may be his dedication to being the best firefighter the city's ever seen. But a split decision from Anne leaves the world they know in dust as he shatters their fragile relationship with one swing of his axe.

Now, Anne isn't your typical fire inspector; haunted with the memories of her days of a firefighter, she's in a constant mental and physical struggle to regain her confidence. Putting those memories behind her she dives into the mysterious warehouse fires and discovers a plot that goes deeper than anyone could ever imagine. Not to mention, Danny is back on her radar and diving headfirst into self-destruction. His pain over what happened to Anne during their last fire is eating him alive. The drinking, the fighting, the sex, all a coping mechanism to escape the night terrors and the pain he caused for the woman he loved. Spending more time with brings more pain but Danny will take what he can get. But this new Anne is making more discoveries then in her investigations; Danny's secrets come to light as Anne has to come to terms with her own past and her city's possible corruption.

This book is FILLED with twists and turns and new angles you won't predict. Hooked from page one I had to know what Anne and Danny's inner thoughts were. Ward does an incredibly job taking brutal, damaged characters and pulling those flaws right into the light, shoving them in to the face of readers and shouting "ACCEPT THEM". Anne's struggle with being the only female in her field versus her feelings towards not only Danny but her only family's expectations created a very complex creature. Matched against Danny's straight up "I loved her and I lost her" attitude makes for compelling drama. Add in the crime and suspense aspect and Consumed will do it's own namesake to readers. It's my latest five star read, but what else would you expect from The Warden herself. I can't wait to see where our boys go next...

When I finish a book and the first thing I want to do is re-read it, that tells me a lot about how I should rate a book. I breezed through Consumed in two days and when I got to the end, I just wanted to re-read that beginning and the ending again. It is so good.

The story starts out with a fire -- one that turns dangerous for many of the firefighters in this book. But for Anne, the consequences are serious and the even though the aftermath changes everything, she's still connected to the firefighters she worked with, especially Danny Maguire. He saved her life in the fire, but not without some serious changes for Anne.

I absolutely adored Anne. She kicks some serious butt throughout the book. She has a lot to deal with -- starting with a firefighter legacy that stretches to her brother and deceased father. She's also vulnerable most of all to Danny Maquire, but she's no pushover either.

Danny Maquire-- all I had to hear was he is a dark haired, blue-eyed Irishman, which had me swooning. His interactions with Anne are sometimes tense and mostly filled with some serious heat of the attraction kind. I love it when an author can communicate deep feelings in just a few pages, and JR Ward did not disappoint me. I loved Danny and Anne together. Their pages together sizzled and I felt that same sort of rush about them that I felt about Wrath and Beth in the first BDB book, and that made me very happy.

There's a lot of world building going on in this book, with the introduction of many characters and relationships, mostly focused on Anne and her family. There's some really nice scenes as Anne attempts to heal some sore spots with her mother and her brother.

The main plot has to do with Anne investigating the fires happening at the warehouse district where she was injured. There's a political component here that makes this very contemporary, and some really bad dudes that are still around at the end of the book, so I'm thinking this is a continuing story.

There's a lot of suspense as Anne hones in on the firestarter and a seriously tense conclusion that had me turning the pages to see how it was all going to play out. While it felt a little rushed, I did like how everything was wrapped up at the end, even though it was a bittersweet ending for many reasons.

Overall, I just loved this. The pace was good for the most part, I loved Anne and Danny and it left me wanting more of this world. Great start to the series!

An ARC was provided for review.

4½ Stars

Holy crap! What did I read??? I am going to give you a warning right now. In the blurb, it tells you that Anne's life is changed forever from one decision. That is NO joke! And you don't have to wait for it to happen.

The scene where Anne and Danny's lives are forever changed, left me a complete, sobbing mess. I wasn't sure I could finish it. I couldn't see through my tears. It is soul crushing and told in such detail, it will gut you completely!

From there, these characters are left to pick of the pieces of their lives. Guilt plays a huge role in this. These two characters were thrown such a huge altering curve ball, it's a question of how they will move on from it.

Ward is good at adding other layers to her stories. This one is no exception. While figuring out how to navigate their new lives, Anne and Danny are given other challenges that run parallel to their lives. More danger. More possible heartbreak. It's one of those things where you wonder if the hits will stop coming.

I found myself so engrossed with this book, I thought about nothing else for days after. The story will linger with you for quite a while, trying to piece everything together after that huge twist at the end. 

The only thing that I was disappointed in was a main component and driving force for Anne in this book. It was left unresolved. And it was the one thing that should have been resolved. Even though it's mentioned and glossed over, it was such a huge part of the book to be left lingering. So I am left to wonder if it will eventually be in the other books in this series. If not, that will be a huge disappointment.

*Side Note: There are three novellas that proceed this book. It isn't a definite that they need read, however I would highly recommend reading the first two. The third one is completely unnecessary since it's the beginning of Consumed. There are things in them that are referenced in this book that would make reading beneficial.  Also, you will get a feel for all of the characters ahead of time.

Consumed, J.R. Ward’s first novel to her new Firefighters series, pays homage to the everyday male and female First Responders who risk their lives for the public’s greater good. Ward lent her unique voice, from multiple viewpoints of characters, to the layered darkness which was Anne and Danny— two character’s who’s internal emotional struggles met with fierce physical demands. The heartache in this debut was palpable, infused with the shadowed melancholy of two lonely people who unknowingly endeavor for the same thing.   

The story opens in the midst of action, slows throughout the middle and picks up in the very end. Many times throughout this story I was confused as I thought that there was a novel prior to this one because it felt like I was walking into the middle of an already established story and the only person left out of the unfolding was the reader.  Overall, the experience of this writing style was unique and thought provoking. *Update: Ward must have taken this word to heart as she penned a prologue series for Anne and Danny called The Wedding From Hell parts I and II to bridge the gap I felt in Consumed.*

Anne was a strong female lead met with a brash beginning and broadened into a thoughtful, rational character grounded in reality. While Danny also started out brazen, his character spiraled due to great trauma experienced throughout the novel, in his life. More time could have been spent developing the relationship between Anne and Danny as the lack of communication was felt at times, as well as spending more time on the mysterious plot of arson-related crimes.    
Ward went into detail surrounding the daily tribulations of a firefighter/first responder, especially regarding their addictions/vices and the coping mechanisms sustained from traumatizing experiences met on the job. 

I enjoyed Consumed, with it’s imperfect people and dark-themed relationships that lent meaningful threads of necessary reality in an imperfect world gone up in smoke.       

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what a great book!  I always knew that J R Ward was a wonderful writer, but since she writes a lot of paranormal romances, I have not read much of her works.  Her storytelling is phenomenal, and this particular story in my mind has to be one of her best.  She actually has 3 novellas that are a preview to this book,which I heartily recommend you read, although you certainly don’t have to before reading this book.  I actually hope Ms Ward writes more about this community of firefighters.  The plot gave this book a romantic suspense twist that certainly kept me glued to my seat.  I actually read this book in one day because I didn’t want to put it down!  Kudos!