Reviews

All Consuming by Jaci Burton

emmanuellagladman's review against another edition

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2.5

I really wanted to love this book. Like I really did, Kal's book was the one I was the most excited for and I thought for sure it would be my favourite. Unfortunately it wasn't. I felt like you found out so many things right at the beginning that made it feel like there was no real reason to keep reading. Like with most second chance romances finding out why the couple broke up in the past is a key part of the plot whereas in this one we found out their history right away. Same with Hannah's history with her ex. Like we knew it all in the first 50 or so pages so I didn't feel like I needed to keep reading because I could see where we were going. I predicted the third act conflict but in my head it was so much more fleshed out. I feel like so much happened in this book and yet at the same time nothing happened. Everything that happened happened so fast that it didn't feel like a fully formed idea. Which is why so much happened but each event took only a few pages so I felt like I was missing out. I'm realizing now that this author probably isn't for me but I did enjoy this series a fair bit overall. 

booklovinmamas's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted reflective
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

All Consuming is the final book in Jaci Burton’s Brotherhood by Fire series. I’ve been meaning to read the last book, especially since it’s Kal Donovan’s book. I’m glad I made time for it because I definitely missed the Donovan brothers. 

Storyline: Kal Donovan reunites with someone from his past at his high school reunion, whom he broke up with when they went their separate ways after high school. Hannah Clark is back in town, but things have changed since the last time she saw Kal. She’s newly divorced and has a son, and she’s too busy getting her new hair salon up and running to deal with love again, especially with how her marriage was with her ex-husband. Kal and Hannah start to hang out, and those old feelings surface, but Hannah is determined not to have anything serious because she won’t risk her heart again. 

My Thoughts: This was a sweet, second-chance romance between Kal and Hannah, who obviously did not get over their feelings for one another. Hannah has her reasons for not wanting anything serious, and I felt for her character, especially learning how her marriage was with her ex-husband. 

I loved how Kal was determined to win her over and also win over her son, too, who seemed to take a liking to Kal right away. He wasn’t being too pushy, either, which I appreciated. He definitely stood out to me as far as the other Donovan brothers. 

I also enjoyed reading Kal’s firefighter scenes in between the romantic plot. Kal is not only trying to win over Hannah but his new Tactical Rescue Team, which he’s dealing with the drama between two members of his team. 

The story was slow-paced at times, and the conflict at the end was a little predictable, but other than that, it was an enjoyable read. I’m glad that all the Donovan brothers found their HEAs. 

I give this book 3.5 stars and look forward to reading more books from Jaci Burton soon. 

Audiobook Review: I borrowed the audiobook via Everand and enjoyed listening to the book when I couldn’t sit down to read it. Lynn Barrington was a fabulous narrator for this book, and I loved how she did Kal and Hannah’s voices. I definitely recommend this book in audiobook if you enjoy listening to your books. 

Story Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5

Steam/Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Brotherhood by Fire Series, but each book could technically be read as a standalone. 

Would I recommend this book? Yes. I recommend this book to readers who love reading Second Chance romance stories.

Genre/SubGenre(s): Romance | Contemporary Romance

Trope(s)/Element(s): Firefighter Romance | Second Chance at Love | Single Mother FMC | Divorced FMC | Hair Stylist/Business Owner FMC

taylor15's review against another edition

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romancejunkie1025's review against another edition

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5.0

Loved Kal's story! Such a great ending to this sexy and awesome trilogy.

hookedbythatbook's review against another edition

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3.0



The Brotherhood by Fire series continues with Kal's story. Kal finally made it into the Tactical Rescue Team and he is thriving there, apart from some conflict with a couple of guys who aren't convinced he should be there. He runs into his high school sweetheart, Hannah, and the attraction between them is even stronger now than it was back then.

I enjoyed the first two books in the series. This was one was okay. Kal seems just too good to be true. He does an extremely dangerous job very well, without any serious incidents. He is happy and well-adjusted after growing up homeless and nearly dying in a house fire. He cooks, does volunteer work, and a whole host of other things. The only dark spots in his life are the two guys at work giving him a hard time, and the fact that Hannah didn't fall into his arms at first sight. It's quite a charmed life. My biggest issue with this is that the Kal that we meet at the start of the story is the same Kal at the end of the story. And he's really sweet, don't get me wrong. But that did not make for very interesting reading. Hannah, on the other hand, had a lot to overcome to find happiness again. She was a lot more interesting.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

scoutmomskf's review

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4.0

Good second chance romance. Kal is the youngest of the three firefighter brothers and recently transferred from firefighting to the Tactical Rescue Team at another station. He loves what he does and is determined to give it one hundred percent of his attention. That is especially necessary as two of his new teammates seem determined to find fault with everything he does. After a rough shift, he's happy to go to his ten-year high school reunion and hang out with some of his friends. Then his high school girlfriend walks in the door, and distraction becomes the name of the game.

After she and Kal broke up, Hannah ended up marrying someone else and moving out of state. After years of a miserable marriage, Hannah and her son returned home. She plans to concentrate on getting her new hair salon set up and focusing on her son Oliver's needs. The last thing she's interested in is rekindling her old relationship with Kal. She's learned that the only person she can depend on is herself.

I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Kal and Hannah. From the moment they saw each other again, the sparks flew. Kal never forgot his feelings for Hannah, and he likes the idea of getting to know her again. Hannah makes it clear she's not interested but spending a little time together as friends would be okay. Kal is such a sweet, laid-back guy that it doesn't take long to start breaking down Hannah's walls. Hannah is wary of getting deeply involved with Kal. She doesn't trust her judgment any longer, but Kal is hard to resist. I loved how he connected so quickly with Hannah's son, which warmed her heart and made her very nervous.

I enjoyed seeing Hannah and Kal grow closer the more time they spent together. There were some terrific scenes of ordinary, day-to-day activities that showed how right they were for each other. Kal is fantastic at showing Hannah the love and respect she deserves, but she worries that depending on him opens her up to the possibility of more heartbreak. When Kal's patience wears a little thin, and he pushes for more, Hannah panics and pushes him away. It takes some deep soul-searching for Hannah to let go of those fears and trust Kal with her heart and Oliver's. I loved Hannah's big moment of sharing those fears with Kal and admitting her love. The epilogue was excellent, with a terrific look at the futures of all three couples.

I liked the parts of the book that showed Kal on the job. His love of his work is evident, as is his frustration at his issues with his two coworkers. I wondered how Kal would resolve those problems and loved that he did it by simply doing his job.

mindfullibrarian's review against another edition

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3.0

I'll be honest - I'm really into this series for the family dynamics and all the brotherly love and support and their simply amazing parents . The romance in this was fine, and it was a perfectly enjoyable read. Seriously though, Burton could just write books about the family and the boys and leave romance out of it and I'd still be happy.

smithrachaelynn's review

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4.0

Ahhh! This book is adorable! I loved it so much! I don’t know what else to say about it except that it’s so sweet and spicy at the same time. Highly recommend.

hannas_heas47's review against another edition

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4.0

Second chance romance anyone? Love the cover but the blurb and author caught my eye. Third book in a series but definitely can be read as a stand alone.

What did I like? So I’m a bit shocked so far at the low reviews this one had but I enjoyed it. Kal and Hannah were high school sweethearts but after Karl’s decision not to have a long distance relationship while in college, they split. Hannah dove into marriage to escape but only discovered it was a rebound. Ten years later a high school reunion brings Kal and Hannah back together.

Would I recommend or buy? Yes, I love this author and her writing. I’ve had plenty of her books on my shelf! I would recommend to fans of second chances. Great read!

I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!

julie_m's review against another edition

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3.0

*2.5