Consumed by J.R. Ward Pages: 416
Series: Firefighters #1
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Setting: Boston, MA
Source: ARC, NetGalley
Also by this author: Lover Eternal, Lover Awakened, Lover Revealed, Lover Unbound, Blood Truth, Where Winter Finds You, The Sinner, The Jackal, A Warm Heart in Winter, Lover Unveiled, Claimed, The Wolf, Lover Arisen
Goodreads
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 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 . . .
Consumed starts off with a seriously tragic event. We are introduced to our main characters on what is to become the worst day of their lives. Anne and Danny are both firefighters with the same company. During a warehouse fire, Anne is trapped. Danny attempts to save her. This results in both of them nearly dying and the course of their lives forever changed. After you are given the story, the plot moves ahead 10 months from the fire. Anne and Danny have a bit of a second chance story; not much time has passed, but because of the fire, their relationship ended abruptly. They still live in the same town but haven’t spoken since that day.
Anne wasn’t my favorite heroine, mostly because she has a big chip on her shoulder. She is a woman in a man’s job and is constantly fighting for equality. I appreciated that, but she was fighting when there wasn’t anything to fight against. She was really derogatory about her mom as well, saying she never wanted to be like her mom and just stay home waiting for her husband. I totally support a woman’s right to NOT want to be a stay at home mom or wife, but I also support the right to do those things. Being a woman who stays at home to raise a family isn’t something you should shame, especially if you are another woman! It really just rubbed me the wrong way. However, Anne is a dynamic character who does grow throughout the story. I think she was very immature in the early parts of the story but because of the tragedy and the aftermath she matures. While I might have really not liked her to begin with, she did get more likable in my mind.
Danny is a beta hero for sure! It was a bit odd at first, because I don’t think I have ever read a beta hero from Ward! But, I loved him. He really struggled with what happened between him and Anne. The guilt he carried was immense and he just didn’t know how to manage it all. He was a very sympathetic character (more so than Anne in my opinion!).
Consumed is so much more than just the story of Anne and Danny. There is a serial arsonist on the loose and people are getting hurt. I will admit I didn’t guess correctly on what would happen with this plot line! The book also sets up what I think will be future characters. They are all pretty damaged and drama filled-typically of Ward characters! Consumed is a fascinating start to a new, angsty series that I am curious to continue!
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: no
- Trope: second chance, firefighters
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: series
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
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In Her Bones by Kate Moretti, From Here to You by Jamie McGuire, Ultimate Sacrifice by KC Lynn…then you will probably like Consumed!
Consumed
I have two friends who couldn’t stand Anne’s attitude about the very things you mentioned in this review so I think I’m going to skip this one because of that. I know that it would drive me crazy so I’m going to save myself the agony and rage. Haha. Great review though! 🙂