From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the popular Black Dagger Brotherhood series comes a brand-new novel about arson investigator, Ann Ashburn, who is consumed by her troubled past, her family’s scorched legacy, and her current case: chasing a deadly killer. Anne Ashburn is a woman consumed… By her bitter family legacy, by her scorched career as a firefighter, by her obsession … firefighter, by her obsession with department bad-boy Danny McGuire, and by a new case that pits her against a fiery killer.
Strong-willed Anne was fearless and loved the thrill of fighting fires, pushing herself to be the best. But when one risky decision at a warehouse fire changes her life forever, Anne must reinvent not only her job, but her whole self.
Shattered and demoralized, Anne finds her new career as an arson investigator a pale substitute for the adrenaline-fueled life she left behind. She doesn’t believe she will ever feel that same all-consuming passion for her job again–until she encounters a string of suspicious fires setting her beloved city ablaze.
Danny McGuire is a premiere fireman, best in the county, but in the midst of a personal meltdown. Danny is taking risks like never before and seems to have a death wish until he teams up with Anne to find the fire starter. But Danny may be more than a distraction, and as Anne narrows in on her target, the arsonist begins to target her.
From the creator of the bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood, get ready for a new band of brothers. And a firestorm.
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Anne idolized her father and followed in his footsteps becoming a firefighter. After he died she found out he was no hero. While on a call, Anne gets trapped under some debris. Danny, her partner and friend, came in to get her. Getting her out he then is trapped and was in serious condition.
Months later Anne gets a job as a fire investigator and is making some powerful enemies. Danny is back on the job but is drinking a lot and carries the guilt of Anne’s injuries . When she gets a call one night from a friend wanting her to talk with Danny. He’s been in love with her for years but can’t bring himself to tell her.
The closer she gets to discovering who the arsonist is, the more danger she is in. Can they get past their differences or will someone tear them apart?
Such an awesome story! Mystery, suspense, sex, and hunky firefighters. Secrets come to light. A woman who after a tragedy, finds love and an strength that amazes all.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for Netgalley *
I won a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways, I was not required to give a favorable review. This is a great story of overcoming the bad things in life and starting over. Annie is a firefighter like her dad was and her brother, who is the fire chief. They had been having a few fires at warehouses on the wharf and while her and her team were fighting one, her arm got caught and she had to ask the man she cared for to cut off her hand to save the both of them. Now with her not able to be a firefighter and needing a new career, she is working as a fire inspector for the city. But the first case she is working on is linked to the fire that she lost her hand in, and to a business man in their community. She and Danny are finding that they care for each other but he blames himself for the loss of her hand, and she blames herself for him being injured after he saves her. But first she is going to figure out who is behind all the fires, and he is going to help save her life. I loved this book and was not wanting to put it down so I could find out if everything turns out ok.
I don’t know that I would call this book a romance. It’s much more of an action adventure plot with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure. I enjoyed the book though, which honestly surprised me a little. I know Ward has a legion of fans from her Black Dagger Brotherhood series but after reading a handful of those books I completely lost interest. It was nice seeing her take on something contemporary. I loved the main characters and their strength, especially Anne’s independence. It was nice seeing Anne’s character on the page too though I won’t tell you why to avoid spoilers. We need more women with her strength and determination to look up to in the book world.
This is my first book by J.R Ward. I heard many good things about her and her Black Dagger Brotherhood Series, I just never had the chance to read them, yet. So I was excited when I had the chance to read and review this book.
Did I like it ? Yes, sure it was a good book, I liked the story and the concept and it kept me glued to the pages. It was a thriller with lots of action but also romance and plenty of smexy time. I did enjoy that the romance part, while pretty heavy was also was not taking over and carrying away from the story. It just fit really well.
There were a few things that I personally don’t really care for….. One the swearing……. don’t get me wrong I swear like a sailor and don’t mind swearing or the f$ck word but in this case it just seemed forced. It seemed like they had to swear or they were not cool or whatever … not sure how to explain it other than it felt forced.
Another thing was ……. the over detailed description on some things…. or repeating describing the same thing over and over. Like how heavy and the gear is …. Which yes it is .. I know firsthand but even if not I think I would have gotten the hint after it mentioned three times, no reason to repeat it even more times.
Characters….I liked them and they were easy to follow and relate to….. of course they all had their issues to work through and some more severe than others…. Though Anne was not my favorite, while I love and look forward to strong woman she was a bit annoying and seemed a bit forced to. Almost like she keep having to proof to herself how strong she is, while yeah at some points that was true others it just seemed overdone.
Overall I enjoyed this book and the story and I would read it again and looking forward to the next book on the series.
I rate it 3 ½
As usual, J.R. Ward delivers a well written story about firefighters and the physical and emotional toll of the job. Include suspense, a mystery, surprise plot twists and a difficult love story between two damaged people. I look forward to J.R. Ward’s next book with great anticipation.
Wow what a great book I’m not usually into fireman books but this was a fabulous book great characters the narrator’s were fabulous I just can’t say enough good things about this book it was a wow
It all goes down at Fire Station 499. Through the prequels leading up to Consumed, we learned of Anne and Danny circling each other for the entire two years she’s been with the company. An explosive night of passion between the two has Danny more sure than ever that he wants a shot with her and Anne is still resistant to totally giving in to his charms. One job, one fire, changes everything. Between them and for them. One job changes Anne’s career trajectory and sets Danny on a path of self-destruction. One job is at the head of a mystery and no one’s life will be the same again.
What I wasn’t fond of:
Anne – she was entirely too vile to stomach. She aggravated me to no end and right when I thought there would be a redeeming moment from her, she said something to further piss me off.
… is this the reason Dad cheated on you?
I get being disillusioned by a parent, but to put the blame on her mother, the woman who suffered so horribly, was disgraceful. Luckily she became a better person towards the end, however, most of the book she needed a good throat punch.
Just Anne.
What I liked:
The writing – so different from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and yet still so easy to become captivated by.
Danny, of course. He was the bad boy of Company 499 and although I found him to be pretty immature at times, I loved his heart. He felt everything and his pain absolutely ravaged him. He took unnecessary risks at work and it was all tied to the anguish he felt over the part he played in Anne’s dilemma. I loved him for how open he was when it came to being with Anne and how he was immediately trying to protect her even though she wasn’t his at the start. He was a hero in every sense of the word and I enjoyed watching him in action.
The bath scene. Read the book to find out!
The side stories involving the side characters. Not only did they get their own POVs, they also got some lead time, especially Anne’s brother, Tom. I can’t wait to read a book about him and from the many hints in this one, that book is definitely going to be told. He carried a huge burden, trying to ensure the safety of all the firefighters in the different houses and having to play the political game. He didn’t really have much of a life outside of the job. I’m eager to see how this changes.
When Tom put Anne in her place. It may not have been at the most appropriate time, but he said exactly what I would have given the chance. “You never will be like me and not because you’re a woman. It’s because you’ve got a chip on your shoulder that makes you impossible to reason with or trust on the job.” PREACH!!
The suspenseful storyline that was supposed to be this book’s entire premise. Amidst the drama that was Moose and his nightmare of a wife, I was constantly tangling between several feelings – do I laugh, continue to gasp in shock, yell at Anne to realize exactly who the ‘bad guy’ was, shake Anne so she’ll stop being a dolt and give Danny what he needs, sit back and enjoy how everything unravels… Good times.
I don’t know who the next book will be about (please be Tom), but I’ll definitely be reading it. Ward never disappoints and has left me infatuated with her fleet of heroes determined to fight fires and fall into fiery passion. I’m hoping to see Danny again.
Firefighters go to work and don’t know if they will ever come home again. For lead characters Anne Ashburn and Danny McGuire, they came home but both were forever changed, body and soul. Coworkers and one-time lovers, circumstances bring them back together again ten months later. Anne is now an arson investigator who is assigned to a string of suspicious fires that continue to put her former department in harm’s way, and Danny is in full self-destruct mode as he continues his work with unnecessary risks. Anne’s reappearance couldn’t have come at a better time for Danny or their city, both which are slowly burning to the ground.
J.R. Ward ensured that the firefighter profession in this book is not objectified for the romance aspect, but is explored in all its complexity. She has created firemen and firewomen faced with impossible decisions and allows the reader to follow them as they overcome the seemingly insurmountable aftermath. There are complicated family dynamics to explore, a simmering romance to follow, a sweet and damaged dog that will steal away your heart, and a deadly mystery to solve. My favorite element of this book was Anne’s character. I absolutely loved how she was developed, proving that impressive strength can indeed shine through one’s vulnerability. In my opinion, Consumed is a well-rounded romantic suspense that does a good job at keeping the reader engaged and turning the pages. It’s the first installment in a new series that I am excited to follow. Check it out.
**I received a copy from BookishFirst **
I’ve only read J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series so when I came across this new series, it had a wow effect on me. As with any author, when you see they write another genre, it makes you excited but also skeptical as to if they can pull it off. Especially when their first series is so good, nothing could ever compare. But golly how I was blown away! I can’t stress enough how well the author did it. That deep, aching pain the reader feels inside them this author can cause as you get to know the characters in the first chapter then tragedy hits, she does it in this book. I’m thinking oh no! A repeat of Wellsie and Jane from BDB. But alas, this character makes it. I could feel empathy, great suspense, romance and heartache. And a great mystery. Working a job like fire fighting, one would be on the thin line of being a little bit of a maniac lol. It would take someone like that to do the job. But would one go over that line? This was such an amazing read. One I will read again and again. The author really did her research on fire fighting. The H and h lived the life of a fire fighter. It was their world. And they loved each other. After the tragedy, one that involved the H having to chop off the h hand, they were never the same. I could feel the emotions they went through and see why it would be hard to reach out to one another. After all, the H almost died saving h. Warning: if you read this, don’t start at night because it will get your heart racing and keep you up all night reading. I felt a big adrenaline rush all through the book. The author really does have a gift from God for writing the stories she writes. I cherish every one of them.
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.
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.
Loved this! Really enjoyed the two prequels and couldn’t wait to read this, and it didn’t disappoint. Love me a good firefighter romance and this one brought together two stellar characters who sucked me right in to their gritty world of firefighting. Read it straight through in one sitting 🙂
I want to start off in saying I am a huge fan of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I was bit excited to see how this contemporary series would turn out. I love fire fighter romance. With that said, wow! Just wow! This book exceeded my expectations. Within the first few chapters of this book I was completely blown away. The beginning of this story was so intense. An action packed, nail-biting experience. Wow! Just Wow! This story grabbed my attention immediately. I was hooked from page one. A page turner of action and emotion that will really just grabs you. J.R. Ward has out done herself with this new series.
This series started out with two teaser books. The Rehearsal Dinner and The Reception. These two books introduce us to the fire fighters of Station 499. We learn in these two books who our key players are and are introduced to their world.
Moose is getting married to a nightmare of a woman. Everyone knows it is a bad idea, but he still goes through with it. Danny Maquire and Anne Ashburn, fellow fire fighters at Station 499 have been doing the tango of emotions. Each wanting the other. Danny has a playboy rep and Anne is always trying to prove her worth as one of the guys. These two work together in perfect sync.
So Consumed picks up where the first two leave off. Moose is now married. Danny and Anne have had a one night of hot sex. Now it is back to business. But when tragedy strikes, everyone’s world is turned completely upside down. Can Anne pick up the pieces of her life and move forward?
I don’t want to tell you to much of the story, since it is best that it hits you with the surprises it has to offer. Overall this story is full of twists and turns at ever corner. An intense adventure full of hot sexy fire fighters, danger and love. An exciting new series that will definitely have you on the edge of your seat the whole way. With characters that are deep, intense and well-developed, this story is sure to blow your mind. If you love a good suspense thrilling romance, then this book is sure to light a fire to you. So don’t be silly. Get this book now!!
Consumed by J.R. Ward is book One in the Firefighters series. This is the story of Danny McGuire and Anne Ashburn.
Anne has been attracted to Danny who by all accounts is a playboy so she doesn’t want to put her career in danger for a good time with him. Anne and Danny are both firefighters but when something happens that takes away her career choice Anne has to choose another path. This path puts her closer to Danny while they look for an arsonist. Danny has his own issues going on that he needs to deal with but the attraction between these two is very hard to resist. There is a lot going on with this book that just kept you turning the page…although Ms. Wards names is enough for me to keep myself glued to the book.
Anne Ashburn has spent her entire life proving she is equal to the men around her and avoiding her mother’s efforts to feminize Anne. She just wants to be one of the best firefighters on the crew, but she also tends to go her own way. Danny McGuire is one of the best firefighters, but his temper gets him in trouble. Danny has lost his parents, his twin brother, and some friends, and each death has left him more wounded. The two of them are close friends who really seem to understand each other.
When there is a fire in a deserted warehouse, Anne and Emilio go inside to look for any homeless who need to evacuate the building while the others fight the fire. The rule is for them to stay together, but Anne insists on going her own way saying they could cover the area more quickly. When the ceiling collapses, trapping Anne, Danny goes crazy and ignores orders as he tries to rescue her.
Things go badly and that is the setup for the rest of the book. Each feels guilty and angry and they go separate ways. Danny stays with the fire department and starts taking more risks as if he is courting death. Anne becomes an arson investigator but misses the adrenaline rush of her previous job.
It took a while for me to warm up to Anne because she seemed to have such a chip on her shoulder. I really liked Danny and felt sorry for him, he just seemed so wounded. But everything came together by the end of the book and now there are other characters set up for their own story.
This book is very different compared to other books I’ve read by J.R. Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood and The Bourbon Kings.) A totally new direction.
Net Galley provided in exchange for an honest review
J.R. Ward is the queen of romance and a master at world building within her stories. In this case, instead of vampires, we are dealing with mortal firefighters at the 499 firehouse in Massachusetts. Anne Ashburn (ironic last name) is the only female firefighter in her unit and can handle her own with the big boys. Being a firefighter is not just a way of life for her, but a family legacy. On call one night to a building fire, Anne is trapped and eventually saved by fellow firefighter Danny McGuire. That night forever changed her life and career. Now Anne is an arson investigator who is looking into fires similar to the one that she was involved in before.
Right from the beginning, this story is action packed and intense. I definitely stopped reading a couple of times just to take a breath. I really loved the forbidden romance element between Danny and Anne, but as a reader, I suggest reading parts 1 and 2 from J.R. Ward’s serialization ‘The Wedding From Hell’ first to get a better understanding of their relationship. I wish this book could have been a little longer because I really did not want it to end so quickly.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.
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.
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!
Danny and Anne were coworkers in the fire department until they got trapped and Danny had to rescue Anne. While she survived, she had to leave the life she knew and start over. In love with her, it was incredibly hard not only what he had to do to rescue her but to see her lose the career that she loved. In her new job, their lives intersect and it may just be the opportunity they need to connect and begin a life together.
I love Ward’s writing, she always gives her readers a great storyline with the right amount of steam and swoon. I get why Danny went on a downward spiral and I appreciate that Anne was there when it counted. The suspenseful aspect of the storyline with arson was an added bonus to the overall storyline and turned this book into a wonderful romantic suspense. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.
I was absolutely hooked! From the very beginning this book Consumed me to the point that I did not want to put this book down. I dreamed of this book when I finally went to bed, it came alive to me.
Danny and Anne together in a dramatic way from the very beginning. Prior to the start of the book there was one night between them, with Danny wanting more. However there was an accident at a fire involving both of them. A tragedy that leaves them both seeing life in a different way, One takes life by the horns, one drowns in alcohol. Can they both overcome all of the mess that has happened and continues to happen and be together? Ann changes jobs, arson investigator. Less dangerous maybe? NOT!
There are twist and events that left me speechless. I did not see that coming! A jaw dropping moment. No spoilers…..