Consumed

Moira McTark

Publisher:
Samhain Publishing

Release Date:
December 26, 2006

Genres:
Erotica
Contemporary Romance

ISBN:
eBook
9781599983776

Bookmark Rating:

Reviewed by
Jennifer Ray

Review Posted:
June 2008

Amber has never been consumed.  You know, that all-encompassing feeling of love they show in the soap operas and romance novels?  No, Amber has never experienced it, isn’t even certain it truly exists.  Well, that WAS true, right up until Amber ran into a face from her past.  She’d always had a crush on Brian Matthers in high school, and although he never seemed to know she existed, no man has ever measured up to him in her eyes.  When the real deal stumbles back into her life unexpectedly, she is caught up in a whirlwind of emotion unlike any she has ever known, only to be unceremoniously dumped at the end of one date. 

Brian didn’t have time for much of anything in high school except sports, but he remembers Amber, and realizes he can’t let his second chance slip through his fingers.  Whisking her off for the hottest night either of them have ever experienced, he starts to believe he may have found ‘the one.’  At least, until the evening comes to a close and he sees her true colors. 

Still, neither can resist the attraction that persists between them.  Against their better judgment, they give in to their passion again and again, while trying to maintain the precarious grip each of them have on their heart.  As giving in to their passion only fans the flames instead of dousing the fire of their lust, their grips steadily slip until neither can deny their love, in spite of the fact they hide it from each other.  But how can they possibly love someone they don’t trust?

With her first published novel, CONSUMED, Moira McTark has succeeded in knocking my socks off!  I was as consumed by this story as her lead characters were consumed with each other.  I have to say, as far as love stories go, this one is slightly atypical – much to my delight!  The hero and heroine responded to each other in ways I did not anticipate, and surprised me time and again.  Still, while the author succeeded in surprising me, nothing about the characters seemed off, their actions and reactions always rang true.  They made me angry, they made me sad, and when they finally worked out their issues together, they made me cry with relief and happiness.   

And that is really what it is all about.  If a story doesn’t make you feel something, good or bad, then it did not do it’s job.  We read to live vicariously through someone else, to experience their emotions, their triumphs, their passions.  If a book does not provoke a reaction, it isn’t worth the paper it is printed on – or the bandwidth to download it!  LOL 

With one major misunderstanding worthy of any Three’s Company episode, Amber and Brian manage to totally derail their budding romance before it even gets started.  But that is where any similarity to the old sitcom ends – CONSUMED is undeniably intense, hot, and ultimately satisfying.  The couple has tasted each other’s passion, and can’t stay apart for long.  But without trust between them, they are doomed to short bursts of angry passion – angry at each other for perceived wrongs, and angrier with themselves for not being able to resist each other. 

CONSUMED kept me on the edge of my seat and the pages didn’t stop turning until I’d reached the end.  This is a book and an author that should not be overlooked!

Note:  This review was originally written by Jennifer Ray for another review site.  It is being reposted at Wild on Books.

Buy the eBook at
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