Consumed

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the start to a new series by this author. Anne has always been destined to be a firefighter, she was born into the business but one wrong move and she is caught in a fire and her life will never be the same. Danny McGuire may be a wild man but he is one tough firefighter and the best there is. He is injured in the same fire but his injuries are not career ending as Anne's were. Anne has now reinvented herself and as an Arson Investigator she has found her passion once again. This book kept me riveted from page one and I was consumed with not only the story but the characters. I can see this series going in so many directions and looking forward to seeing what comes next. **Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

The opening chapters of Consumed had me hooked. The book opens right in the thick of things with a fire, danger, and life-altering decisions. I was all set to settle in and be thoroughly engrossed in the story, and I was for a while. However, by about half way through, it felt like the story was rambling, and I was wondering where it was going. I was actually pretty tempted to start skimming, but past experience with this author made me stick with it. The story does have some terrific characters and there are some edge of your seat scenes as this group of firefighters work to save lives, but Anne's chase of a deadly killer that is promised in the blurb kind of stuttered to a start with trickles of info here and there. Once Anne becomes a target, the story had the potential to ramp up with some truly creepy stalker-type things happening, but even that was a bit disappointing. The romance between Anne and Danny kind of felt the same way. They can't keep their hands off each other one minute, then they aren't even speaking the next. I expected some angst in the romance, but Anne's hot and cold wore thin. I finally did make it to the conclusion, but it felt like everything came together in a rush. In the end, there were things I liked and things I didn't, leaving me in the middle of the road on this one. I did like several of the characters, so I'm undecided on whether or not I'll continue with this series.

4 Stars Review by Allyson Late Night Reviewer Up All Night w/ Books Blog Heart pumping 100% Captivating Gripping and Rousing! From someone who is a massive fan of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series, I was a little hesitant in all honesty to begin Consumed. But really, I shouldn't have been, since it is from a New York Times bestselling author who can write literally anything and it be a showstopper! Consumed is a beginning to a fresh new Firefighter series that will ignite and awaken a thrill within you! You can say that Ann Ashburn and Danny Maguire's chemistry could heat up a warehouse or the fire department. These two hit "IT" off with a start until the flames become too high and one saved the other, putting their jobs on the line. Now, both team up and are after the person that are setting flames to their city. Can they put their emotions and feelings to the curb while they hunt down an arsonist? A page turner by an epic author that everyone should indulge in. I enjoyed the wild ride that Ward takes us on, yet the unmistakable romance we get between Ann and Danny. Yet, it's not like the Brotherhood series that I am used too, so I had to switch mind sets, but this is a good start to a new series that Ward has given us. You will be engulfed with her words, her story lines and the development of her intricate characters. Don't be surprised to be caught within the flames of Consumed.