Consumed by J.R. Ward

Consumed by J.R. Ward was addicting from page one. We meet Anne and Danny with their fire crew when a call takes them to an abandoned warehouse fire. It is clear, in the first few pages, that Anne and Danny have a connection that goes beyond platonic colleagues. A bad choice on Anne's part puts her life in danger. Danny, rushing to her aide when ordered not to, is forced into extreme action to save her life, nearly losing his own. The several chapters between the beginning incident and Anne and Danny reuniting were fast-paced and incredibly addicting. I couldn't get through it fast enough.

Ten months after the accident, Anne begins work as a fire inspector. The loss she suffered due to the fire left her in a very dark place. She can no longer work at the firehouse, and she, to her irritation, continues to think about Danny. Meanwhile, Danny spirals out of control. Too much alcohol, too many one night stands, too many bad choices when battling fires; all this eventually drives a crew mate to contact Anne, with the hope she can help Danny become more stable. I was desperate for Anne and Danny to have their time together. Anne was fighting a losing battle with her feelings for Danny, and Danny needed a break from his anxiety. They needed each other to start emotionally healing from their accident.

Anne and Danny both fear admitting their feelings for each other, but for very different reasons. Anne wants to keep Danny from entering her life again. She has convinced herself the romantic feelings she has will fade but, the attraction is still prominent. A past trauma has left Anne distrusting of their emotional bond. She does not make things easy for Danny, and she is slow to open up to him. Danny knows Anne will run as soon as love is mentioned. He takes what she will give him, which amounts to a quick physical interlude. Nothing is new in this scenario, but I had become quite attached to the characters at this point. I sympathized with Danny and his desire to be with Anne.

Clues to a series of warehouse arson, that include the one she last fought in, lead Anne to a business tycoon who is untouchable. Something sketchy is happening, but Anne finds it difficult to prove. Anne pursues a lead, and after discovering its legitimacy, someone begins to terrorize her. Danny learns she is in danger and offers to watch over her. Anne brings down some defenses and agrees to let him stay. The intimacy Anne and Danny share, during this time, brings them closer to a sustainable relationship.

A woman from Danny's past soon comes between the couple. I found Anne's quick judgment of Danny predictable, not necessarily in a bad way, but her lack of trust in him did cause some frustration. I understand her lack of faith due to her past, and I know she did not have the benefit of hearing Danny's thoughts, but her decision to immediately see the worst did not sit well with me.

Following a hunch, Anne pursues her terrorist and nearly loses her life. Danny happens upon the scene and again, keeps Anne safe. I did not see the ending coming, which was a welcome surprise. The lovers, of course, have their resolutions, but the antagonist came out of nowhere.

It is clear this book is the start of a series.  Short prequel stories are available that I did not read, but it may be worth checking out to get a feel for the characters. I enjoyed Consumed by J.R. Ward and will be checking out the proceeding novels when they are released. I received this book from Gallery Books, through NetGalley, for my honest opinion. I encourage all readers to draw their own conclusions.

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