Consumed (Dark Protectors Book 4)

Loved this book, you really need to start with the first book in this story of vampires, then you can follow along with all the characters better. Zanetti makes the vampires and transformers seem like such real people you almost believe they are really among us !!!

I read the other books and loved them! I was very confused when I began reading this book, a little girl in foster care,watching a fight between foster mother and father then turning into a cat(she thought) smelling cinnamon,a man catching her(Jordan ) it was just plain stupid. I always hate it when a story makes a love interest in a little girl that has grown up around the much older guy, I might sound stupid but it just makes no sense to me(creepy). I remember shifters being mentioned in the other books but not enough to remember this Jordan shifter guy, I wish I would have read the sample first because I would not have bought it. I guess I will need to read the other books again to refresh my memory and maybe try to read this one again.

CONSUMED is the 4th book in the DARK PROTECTORS series and is a full length book so don't let the eBook only format (for now anyway) mislead you. This is the long awaited story of Jordan Pride and Katie Smith and I have been DYING for their story since we first met them in FATED. This book "Consumed" me from the very first page. I did not put it down until I finished it.

CONSUMED begins 10 years after HUNTED left off. Yes, it is a big gap in time but everything flows together perfectly and you won't feel like you missed a big chunk of story-line.

Katie is now a werewolf hunter and one of the best. With the virus still effecting her, she still can't shift and she's slowly getting weaker by the day but that does not stop her. Katie was always stubborn and determined to do anything she puts her mind to and that has not changed. Katie gets a file of a new shifter that has been infected by the Kurjan virus. The virus turns a shifter into a werewolf at the next full moon. She is excited to get moving and take out the next infected shifter before he can harm anyone. That is, until she opens the file and sees Jordan's picture inside. The man that saved her from being shot and murdered by her crazy foster father when she was 4 years old and the man she's been in love with her whole life. Now Katie is determined to save Jordan and will stop at nothing to do it. She has no idea how Jordan really feels about her she's planning to seduce Jordan and force him to mate her, eveb if the virus kills her as well.

Jordan Pride has always kept everyone at an arms length. Being the Leader of the Pride, he doesn't let anyone get close to him because he's worried about them becoming a target to get at him. Jordan has known that Katie is his mate for a long time and is more determined than ever to keep her away. Now that he has the virus and will become a werewolf at the next full moon he's trying to force Katie to return to the Realm so she will be protected. But Jordan has underestimated Katie's love and determination to save him from this horrible fate. And if that's not enough to deal with, a relative from Jordan's past has come back for revenge and Katie is being hunted by the biggest, smartest, baddest werewolf around and he wants Katie all for himself.

I have to say that with all the anticipation of this book, I was not disappointed at all. Rebecca totally blew me away! Consumed took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I laughed out loud, I cried, I screamed in frustration, I cried again, and I was literally gripping my iPad during the action scenes. I love all the books in this series, but this one is my favorite of them all (so far anyways :-D).

We also get to see some of the hunky Kayrs brothers and their mates, as well as, some of our other favorites.

Poor Jase Kayrs. That's all I can say. :-(

Janie Kayrs is now 16 years old and it was a big, but refreshing change to see her growing and maturing. Zane has been blocking Janie from his dreams and Janie is hurt and does not understand why. Something BIG happens with Janie in this book and I swear I was bawling like a baby.

Baby Garrett (Talen & Cara's son) has grown and is 10 years old now. It's funny to see him as a hulking 10 year old vampire but still immature as a 10 year old would be and protecting his older sister from potential boyfriends.

I'm going to leave it at that. I don't want to give away too many details of the story because you really just need to read it. It was that AMAZING!!

I would recommend reading the first 3 books in the series before reading Consumed. Especially with the jump in time and the flowing story arcs from the previous books. A reader beginning this series with this book might be a bit overwhelmed and confused.

I am now clamoring for the release of PROVOKED which will be the story of Kane Kayrs and is scheduled to be released November 1, 2012.

Consumed (Dark Protectors, #4) by Rebecca Zanetti
I am enjoying these so much that I will have to take time later to do a full review!

One of the best Adult Paranormal/Suspense Romances I have read. I got so into this series that I couldn't take the time to make notes, or write a review. I literally devoured them!! I had to have them all. You will want to get as many as possible at one time in their proper sequence, cause one you start reading them everything else will cease to exist!
My least favorite was the 1st book in the series, 'Fated (Dark Protectors, #1). I rated it 3.5 and stated with some fine tuning it would easily be 4 to 5 stars. Well, Ms. Rebecca Zanetti definitely did the fine tuning in the rest of this series! Here is the list of books in this series I have read and my star rating for them.
Fated (Dark Protectors, #1) 3 stars - should be 3.5
Claimed (Dark Protectors, #2) 4 stars
Tempted (Dark Protectors, #2.5) 5 stars
Hunted (Dark Protectors, #3) 4 stars
Consumed (Dark Protectors, #4) 5 stars
Provoked (Dark Protectors, #5) 5 stars
Twisted (Dark Protectors, #5.5) 4 stars
Shadowed (Dark Protectors, #6) 5 stars
Tamed (Dark Protectors, #6.5) 4 stars
Marked (Dark Protectors, #7) 5 stars
There are 4 novella's listed I haven't read yet. They are; Teased (Dark Protectors, #7.5), Tricked (Dark Protectors, #7.75), Talen: A Dark Protectors Novella (which is not out yet, but can be pre-ordered), and Tangled: A Dark Protectors Novella (also not out till May 2017).
Consumed (Dark Protectors Book 4)

This installment of Rebecca Zanetti’s Dark Protector’s series was by far the most intense. I was initially disappointed that Katie and Jordan didn’t have a lot of time together in the beginning. There are so many things going on with both of them due to the virus that the mystery and suspense seemed the main theme. However, once Katie makes her move on Jordan, things heat up and speed up. I have never read a mating scene that fierce and profound.

There are still plenty of alpha vampires and shifters, feisty heroines that don’t buckle under pressure, and oh my word the steam in this one is off the charts. I believe this book could be read without reading the previous ones but why wouldn’t you read them? It will make for a much more enjoyable read.

Dual POV
Completely Safe
Epilogue – as in all of these books it shows us some of the future and then gives us a look into what might happen even further into the future

Of all the female characters, Katie, the wolf shifter, is probably the strongest, which is not saying much. Another abused female, she was almost killed by her foster father and is infected by the virus herself. She has wanted Jordan for most of her life, unlike the other women mated to the vampires. She says no, means it, and is strong enough to enforce it - of course, Jordan has been infected with the virus, so it is not as if he has much choice, since he will become a "werewolf" (BAD). She is supposed to kill him because he will be out of control, she refuses. He certainly respects her far more than the vampire characters, and his reluctance to mate with her is based upon his fear he is taking advantage of her, as well as his imminent death when he mutates. The time gap between this book and the last one is huge, and things have clearly gotten worse, no cure for the virus, it has now spread to other species, and there are growing numbers of fatalities. It will get worse before it gets better. If you have not read Darynda Jones' series with Charley Davidson - I would highly recommend you go read about a great female character with a really hot lead, oh yes!

After several months and many books between I finally return to this guilty pleasure of a series I discovered this year. Had to take a break after the last book, it was too much of a struggle to get through and I thought I was growing tired of the world. I now think it might have just been that book. My fondness for this series has returned, which is convenient because I downloaded the next four books and scored an ARC copy of the last book! What?! The last book! Yep looks like this series that I am back on board for is going to end with book #7, Jamie and Zane’s story. A fitting place to stop I think, being that they have been such pivotal players in the greater story arch. Right now I’m alright with it ending, but that’s because I have four books to go before I have to give it up. I’m in denial, ask me a few books down the road how I feel about it.

So how did things improve since the last book? There was a huge time jump, like ten years into the future with this story. The war has been raging on for a while along with the virus that is infecting the shifters, vampires and humans. All of the players are older, the men are mellowing a bit, and the women’s place in the world are shifting. I’m wishing now that I hadn’t taken a break and jumped right into this book. I had been longing for Katie and Jordan’s story since book one. The chemistry between these two and the dynamics of their long and changing relationship intrigued me and it was a delightful roller coaster of a ride watching them end up together.

Of course there was a bit of an ick factor when you think about Jordan knowing Katie from such a young age, but once you get past that they are such a great match. Jordan needs her, and Katie needed these years to develop her own personality and figure out what she really wanted separate from Jordan’s influence. Sure they wasted years together, but in the end I think it will just make them stronger.

There was also some interesting developments on the Maggie front. Her H.E.A was set up in this story and I think it will be another fun book to read. There is going to be some serious issues they will need to get through before they can sail off into the sunset. Janie is also getting much older and her connection to both Zane and Kalin. I know Kalin is going to be the ‘bad’ guy in this world, and I can see he has some serious personality defects, but I just find him interesting. I look forward to seeing what becomes of him when this war is over and the series ends.

Well off to start the next one, only four more to go (I’ve already read 6.5)

This book had a lot of aspects that trned the story very interesting and captivating.

For starters, the timelime advanced 10 years since the last book and the Realm has been in war with the demons. Jordan, the leader of the lion shifters, was infected and will turn into a werewolf in the next full moon(and you know these werewolves are extremely dangerous creatures and killed by the vampires and shifters. Mating with Katie may, maybe only, save Jordan but also it may kill her, so this is a chance Jordan is not willing to even consider. The vampires haven’t find a cure yet for the vírus created by the Kurjans that affect vampire mates, witches and shifters. Katie can't shift to a lioness yet and Maggie continues with amnesia.

It was nice to see how the characters known from the previous books are past 10 years. Janie is a teen now and her brother, as Talen and pretty much every male in the headquarters, are very protective of her and don’t regard well any romantic involvements… LOL

Jordan and Katie’s romance was sweet, but I confess I found it weird, since the beginning, because Jordan rescued Katie when she was a 4 year-old child and he saw her growing up, I see him more like a father figure than a lover/romantic one. But it’s ok, they are in love, they have problems that unable them being together right now, but they get there… They had some really sweet moments that got me emotional.

A new character is introduced and he had me very, very interested - Terrent Vilks, the leader of the Bane Council (the wolves) and he wants to take Maggie to his Pack, because she's a wolf too. But it's apparent the heat between these two and I hope to see him again in the next book, befor their novella :)

I just adore the Dark Protectors. Jordan is the Lion King. He rescues Katie from evil foster parents at four years old and never loses his hero shine for her. I have been sure since these characters were introduced in Fated (book 1) that they are meant for each other and they finally get their story here. Consumed is full of Alpha shifters (wolves, a tiger, cougars, etc) action, danger, hot sex and a love that is based on mutual respect and passion. Sigh!

I like to re-read the whole Dark Protector series each time a new book comes out. This is my fifth re-read of Consumed to celebrate the new with enforcer spin-off series, Wicked Ride, which is Kellach Dunne's story. He makes a brief appearance here in a conference call. Bloodied from battle he calls the Realm to give them some bad news. I hope Rebecca Zanetti writes a series about the feline nation enforcers who protect Jordan. Noah and Baye need mates too!!

CONSUMED is the 4th book in the DARK PROTECTORS series and is a full length book so don't let the eBook only format (for now anyway) mislead you. This is the long awaited story of Jordan Pride and Katie Smith and I have been DYING for their story since we first met them in FATED. This book "Consumed" me from the very first page. I did not put it down until I finished it.

CONSUMED begins 10 years after HUNTED left off. Yes, it is a big gap in time but everything flows together perfectly and you won't feel like you missed a big chunk of story-line.

Katie is now a werewolf hunter and one of the best. With the virus still effecting her, she still can't shift and she's slowly getting weaker by the day but that does not stop her. Katie was always stubborn and determined to do anything she puts her mind to and that has not changed. Katie gets a file of a new shifter that has been infected by the Kurjan virus. The virus turns a shifter into a werewolf at the next full moon. She is excited to get moving and take out the next infected shifter before he can harm anyone. That is, until she opens the file and sees Jordan's picture inside. The man that saved her from being shot and murdered by her crazy foster father when she was 4 years old and the man she's been in love with her whole life. Now Katie is determined to save Jordan and will stop at nothing to do it. She has no idea how Jordan really feels about her she's planning to seduce Jordan and force him to mate her, eveb if the virus kills her as well.

Jordan Pride has always kept everyone at an arms length. Being the Leader of the Pride, he doesn't let anyone get close to him because he's worried about them becoming a target to get at him. Jordan has known that Katie is his mate for a long time and is more determined than ever to keep her away. Now that he has the virus and will become a werewolf at the next full moon he's trying to force Katie to return to the Realm so she will be protected. But Jordan has underestimated Katie's love and determination to save him from this horrible fate. And if that's not enough to deal with, a relative from Jordan's past has come back for revenge and Katie is being hunted by the biggest, smartest, baddest werewolf around and he wants Katie all for himself.

I have to say that with all the anticipation of this book, I was not disappointed at all. Rebecca totally blew me away! Consumed took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I laughed out loud, I cried, I screamed in frustration, I cried again, and I was literally gripping my iPad during the action scenes. I love all the books in this series, but this one is my favorite of them all (so far anyways :-D).

We also get to see some of the hunky Kayrs brothers and their mates, as well as, some of our other favorites.

Poor Jase Kayrs. That's all I can say. :-(

Janie Kayrs is now 16 years old and it was a big, but refreshing change to see her growing and maturing. Zane has been blocking Janie from his dreams and Janie is hurt and does not understand why. Something BIG happens with Janie in this book and I swear I was bawling like a baby.

Baby Garrett (Talen & Cara's son) has grown and is 10 years old now. It's funny to see him as a hulking 10 year old vampire but still immature as a 10 year old would be and protecting his older sister from potential boyfriends.

I'm going to leave it at that. I don't want to give away too many details of the story because you really just need to read it. It was that AMAZING!!

I would recommend reading the first 3 books in the series before reading Consumed. Especially with the jump in time and the flowing story arcs from the previous books. A reader beginning this series with this book might be a bit overwhelmed and confused.

I am now clamoring for the release of PROVOKED which will be the story of Kane Kayrs and is scheduled to be released November 1, 2012.

Consumed (Dark Protectors, #4) by Rebecca Zanetti
I am enjoying these so much that I will have to take time later to do a full review!

One of the best Adult Paranormal/Suspense Romances I have read. I got so into this series that I couldn't take the time to make notes, or write a review. I literally devoured them!! I had to have them all. You will want to get as many as possible at one time in their proper sequence, cause one you start reading them everything else will cease to exist!
My least favorite was the 1st book in the series, 'Fated (Dark Protectors, #1). I rated it 3.5 and stated with some fine tuning it would easily be 4 to 5 stars. Well, Ms. Rebecca Zanetti definitely did the fine tuning in the rest of this series! Here is the list of books in this series I have read and my star rating for them.
Fated (Dark Protectors, #1) 3 stars - should be 3.5
Claimed (Dark Protectors, #2) 4 stars
Tempted (Dark Protectors, #2.5) 5 stars
Hunted (Dark Protectors, #3) 4 stars
Consumed (Dark Protectors, #4) 5 stars
Provoked (Dark Protectors, #5) 5 stars
Twisted (Dark Protectors, #5.5) 4 stars
Shadowed (Dark Protectors, #6) 5 stars
Tamed (Dark Protectors, #6.5) 4 stars
Marked (Dark Protectors, #7) 5 stars
There are 4 novella's listed I haven't read yet. They are; Teased (Dark Protectors, #7.5), Tricked (Dark Protectors, #7.75), Talen: A Dark Protectors Novella (which is not out yet, but can be pre-ordered), and Tangled: A Dark Protectors Novella (also not out till May 2017).
Consumed (Dark Protectors Book 4)

Bookshelves
1-hero-pushes-away-heroine, 1-heroine-is-a-virgin, 1-safe-for-me, 1-safe-with-exceptions, 1-unwanted-om-attention, 2-almost-perfect-alpha, 2-auto-read-author, 2-awesome-alpha, read edit

November 11, 2017 – Finished Reading
Review

I love how this series is so much more than romance. The energy, the suspense and all the mystery just keeps me wondering what will happen. I loved this couple. Even with the years apart they just belonged together and what a force they became together.
I can't wait to see what happens with Janie and Zane. Then Maggie and Terrent. Then what's going on with Jace? So many stories so little time.

Safe for me

This installment of Rebecca Zanetti’s Dark Protector’s series was by far the most intense. I was initially disappointed that Katie and Jordan didn’t have a lot of time together in the beginning. There are so many things going on with both of them due to the virus that the mystery and suspense seemed the main theme. However, once Katie makes her move on Jordan, things heat up and speed up. I have never read a mating scene that fierce and profound.

There are still plenty of alpha vampires and shifters, feisty heroines that don’t buckle under pressure, and oh my word the steam in this one is off the charts. I believe this book could be read without reading the previous ones but why wouldn’t you read them? It will make for a much more enjoyable read.

Dual POV
Completely Safe
Epilogue – as in all of these books it shows us some of the future and then gives us a look into what might happen even further into the future

Of all the female characters, Katie, the wolf shifter, is probably the strongest, which is not saying much. Another abused female, she was almost killed by her foster father and is infected by the virus herself. She has wanted Jordan for most of her life, unlike the other women mated to the vampires. She says no, means it, and is strong enough to enforce it - of course, Jordan has been infected with the virus, so it is not as if he has much choice, since he will become a "werewolf" (BAD). She is supposed to kill him because he will be out of control, she refuses. He certainly respects her far more than the vampire characters, and his reluctance to mate with her is based upon his fear he is taking advantage of her, as well as his imminent death when he mutates. The time gap between this book and the last one is huge, and things have clearly gotten worse, no cure for the virus, it has now spread to other species, and there are growing numbers of fatalities. It will get worse before it gets better. If you have not read Darynda Jones' series with Charley Davidson - I would highly recommend you go read about a great female character with a really hot lead, oh yes!

After several months and many books between I finally return to this guilty pleasure of a series I discovered this year. Had to take a break after the last book, it was too much of a struggle to get through and I thought I was growing tired of the world. I now think it might have just been that book. My fondness for this series has returned, which is convenient because I downloaded the next four books and scored an ARC copy of the last book! What?! The last book! Yep looks like this series that I am back on board for is going to end with book #7, Jamie and Zane’s story. A fitting place to stop I think, being that they have been such pivotal players in the greater story arch. Right now I’m alright with it ending, but that’s because I have four books to go before I have to give it up. I’m in denial, ask me a few books down the road how I feel about it.

So how did things improve since the last book? There was a huge time jump, like ten years into the future with this story. The war has been raging on for a while along with the virus that is infecting the shifters, vampires and humans. All of the players are older, the men are mellowing a bit, and the women’s place in the world are shifting. I’m wishing now that I hadn’t taken a break and jumped right into this book. I had been longing for Katie and Jordan’s story since book one. The chemistry between these two and the dynamics of their long and changing relationship intrigued me and it was a delightful roller coaster of a ride watching them end up together.

Of course there was a bit of an ick factor when you think about Jordan knowing Katie from such a young age, but once you get past that they are such a great match. Jordan needs her, and Katie needed these years to develop her own personality and figure out what she really wanted separate from Jordan’s influence. Sure they wasted years together, but in the end I think it will just make them stronger.

There was also some interesting developments on the Maggie front. Her H.E.A was set up in this story and I think it will be another fun book to read. There is going to be some serious issues they will need to get through before they can sail off into the sunset. Janie is also getting much older and her connection to both Zane and Kalin. I know Kalin is going to be the ‘bad’ guy in this world, and I can see he has some serious personality defects, but I just find him interesting. I look forward to seeing what becomes of him when this war is over and the series ends.

Well off to start the next one, only four more to go (I’ve already read 6.5)

This book had a lot of aspects that trned the story very interesting and captivating.

For starters, the timelime advanced 10 years since the last book and the Realm has been in war with the demons. Jordan, the leader of the lion shifters, was infected and will turn into a werewolf in the next full moon(and you know these werewolves are extremely dangerous creatures and killed by the vampires and shifters. Mating with Katie may, maybe only, save Jordan but also it may kill her, so this is a chance Jordan is not willing to even consider. The vampires haven’t find a cure yet for the vírus created by the Kurjans that affect vampire mates, witches and shifters. Katie can't shift to a lioness yet and Maggie continues with amnesia.

It was nice to see how the characters known from the previous books are past 10 years. Janie is a teen now and her brother, as Talen and pretty much every male in the headquarters, are very protective of her and don’t regard well any romantic involvements… LOL

Jordan and Katie’s romance was sweet, but I confess I found it weird, since the beginning, because Jordan rescued Katie when she was a 4 year-old child and he saw her growing up, I see him more like a father figure than a lover/romantic one. But it’s ok, they are in love, they have problems that unable them being together right now, but they get there… They had some really sweet moments that got me emotional.

A new character is introduced and he had me very, very interested - Terrent Vilks, the leader of the Bane Council (the wolves) and he wants to take Maggie to his Pack, because she's a wolf too. But it's apparent the heat between these two and I hope to see him again in the next book, befor their novella :)

I just adore the Dark Protectors. Jordan is the Lion King. He rescues Katie from evil foster parents at four years old and never loses his hero shine for her. I have been sure since these characters were introduced in Fated (book 1) that they are meant for each other and they finally get their story here. Consumed is full of Alpha shifters (wolves, a tiger, cougars, etc) action, danger, hot sex and a love that is based on mutual respect and passion. Sigh!

I like to re-read the whole Dark Protector series each time a new book comes out. This is my fifth re-read of Consumed to celebrate the new with enforcer spin-off series, Wicked Ride, which is Kellach Dunne's story. He makes a brief appearance here in a conference call. Bloodied from battle he calls the Realm to give them some bad news. I hope Rebecca Zanetti writes a series about the feline nation enforcers who protect Jordan. Noah and Baye need mates too!!

It has been 10 years since Katie was first infected with Virus-27 and she and her team are working hard in New Orleans locating infected shifters who have turned into werewolves. Although she misses Jordan Pride, she was now a shifter who couldn't shift and her lifelong dreams of a happy ending as Jordan's mate came crashing down that day she was infected with Kurjan's virus. Even though she never turned into a werewolf, the pride's Alpha can't have an infected mate who can't shift and who could possibly pass on the virus to their children. It was just too painful for Katie to stay with Jordan and know she could never have him and she needed to leave.

Although the Realm has managed to keep the female shifters from turning into werewolves, infected male shifters only have until the next full moon before they are lost to the virus. The Kurjans are clever and they laid a trap and they have now infected the shifter leader. Jordan only has until the full moon to set up the new leader and the bring Katie home where she will be safe in Realm headquarters.

When Jordan offered to mate Katie when she was first infected in the hope that the mating ritual might reverse the virus, Katie refused. She would not be his mate out of what she thoughts was some twisted sense of pity. Now that Jordan is infected, this is Katie's last chance to have a night with the man who has held her heart all her life, and when they believe a mating might give Jordan a last chance to survive the change, Katie will do anything to convince Jordan to now mate with her. But Jordan isn't the only one who wants to mate our Katie, she senses the werewolf stalking her and can feel his anger and determination to have her as his own.

I have been waiting for Jordan and Katie's story since I read Fated last year and was soooo happy with this story! It was incredible: action-packed, exciting, intriguing, sexy, sweet....*Happy Dance!*

I was a little freaked at first that we jump ahead 10 years from Hunted in a "what did I miss??" way. I wanted a quick head count and status update on all my favorite characters after 10 years of war and the virus. Kane and Grace working on this virus 24/7 for 10 years and still nothing??? REALLY!! Although I am torn between excitement and depression that a 10 year jump brings us that much closer to Janie's story which will be EPIC (not too much pressure, right?).

Although this is Katie and Jordon's story, we do progress a little bit on Janie's storyline. Janie is approaching her 16th birthday and Zane has disappeared from her dreams for about five years now. :( Zane is now a soldier (but for who?) and Janie is finally able to connect with him one night when he passes out and can't block her anymore. Kalin is now leading the Kurjan army with his army of pet werewolves.

This was an incredible story, but of course, Rebecca finds the time to torture us by dropping just enough tidbits about Kane, Jase, Janie, Zane, Kalin, etc. to leave us panting for more. WANT, WANT, WANT!!!

I can't wait for more!!!!

~* 3.5 Stars *~
When she was a child he rescued her from a grim fate. Now she's all grown up and its his turn. Problem is, he's being damn stubborn about it.

Skilled hunter and feline shifter Katie Smith has always felt drawn to Jordan Pride, leader of the feline nation, but the man seems to think that just because he saved her from a vile foster father when she was five her feelings are no more than misplaced hero worship. Sure, that might have been true when she was a kid, but she's an elite warrior for her people, fighting on the front lines in a decade-long war against an enemy intent on infecting them all, and she more than knows her own mind. Convincing him of that, however, would be considerably easier if he stopped pushing her away at every turn.

For ten years, Katie has let him, living her life while ignoring the ache of missing him. Then a member of her guard hands her a file containing the latest intel on a newly infected shifter. It'll be her job to hunt him down before the virus turns him into a murderous monster. When she opens the file, though, the bottom drops out of her world, because the picture inside is of a face that's been dear to her heart since she was five years old. Jordan Pride.

Now she's supposed to kill the one man who saved her life and the only man she's ever loved. Yeah...not on her watch. Problem is, she's got very little time to figure out how to save a man who seems determined not to be saved.

~*~

I wish I'd found this series sooner, or realized before I started this book that it wasn't the first in the series. Zanetti created a solid plotline for the novel, and the main characters are definitely likable and easy to root for, but much of it is dependent on the surrounding world and previously established history, and it included a large number of secondary characters that were strangers to me. I spent most of the book feeling like I was outside looking in, struggling to catch onto what was going on and who it was happening to instead of feeling immersed in the story.

What made it even more annoying is that it's clearly a damn good series arc with interesting, fully developed characters, and the world they inhabit is rich and complex. I would have loved to have felt more connected to it all. There just wasn't enough detailed explanation of the world or the mythos to successfully allow for that for me, and the story sort of drops readers in and takes off at a gallop, so there just wasn't much time allotted to exposition.

Because of that, my focus narrowed down to the story of the main characters almost to the exclusion of everything else going on. Fortunately, though, I enjoyed the relationship conflict and personal issues between Katie and Jordan, and thoroughly enjoyed both of them as characters. Katie in particular was a strong female lead; headstrong and stubborn, fierce and independent. Though I liked Jordan, too, he had a bit of a martyr streak that got on my nerves at times, so I have to say that Katie was the driving force for the majority of my entertainment with the read.

I did enjoy their romance arc, and the chemistry between them sizzled on the pages. I was a little worried at the very beginning that I would share some of the concern Jordan had about the maturity of Katie's feelings for him and the reasons for them, but Katie disabused me of that idiocy fairly quickly and I enjoyed their struggles, trials, and tribulations as their tale tortures them on their route to their Happily Ever After.

One of the nicest compliments I can give the book is that it reminded me vaguely of Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series. Not in story so much as in structure. Both worlds are meaty, complex, complicated places with a lot going on in and around the central plotlines of the main characters, both support a wide diversity of fierce, frustrating, fantastic characters, and each book builds on what comes before. I strongly suspect, had I been with this series since the beginning like I've been with that one, I would be a huge fan of this one, too.

I don't know that I'll go back and try to read the first three books in the series - I have weird series timeline issues that usually prevent me from doing that. What's here, though, interested me enough to continue on with the series. I just hope this one book is enough to ward off the feeling of being on the outside looking in, because really, that never provides for a completely comfortable reading experience.

Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Kensington Publishing via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
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Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.

Katie has annoyed me since the first book. All her actions cause chaos. If it wasn't for the fact that I love Jordan and would have missed too much information, I would have skipped this book. After 10 years, she still behaved like a child. I did enjoy reading about the beginning between her and Jordan. Love him. So strong and loyal. A very loving person and a great warrior. Great battles in this book. Kalin is still a psycho, just older. Quite scary. Brent was evil. Loved that battle. I do love this series. A nail biter. Looking forward to the next. Enjoy!

CONSUMED wasn’t my favorite in the Dark Protector series. I had a hard time connecting with the main characters, Katie and Jordan, who are cougar shifters. (I think I might have a problem with shifters as the driving characters in a story. However, I need to analyze this revelation further by reading more shifter books before I come to a definite conclusion, and that’s a different story).

But with that said, I still really enjoyed this book. Ms. Zanetti has introduced several characters in the Dark Protectors series and she excels by including tidbits about them throughout her books. She doesn’t completely abandon them after telling their story, but continues their storylines as she releases new books. So, even though my favorite characters were secondary in CONSUMED, I got to see how they were doing and learn how they’ve fared. (I’m so impressed she can illustrate their different personalities and weave their information throughout the main story). And because she included them in CONSUMED, I’m totally stoked about PROVOKED. Just hold on Jase, your brothers will save you! I know they will!

I wanted the alpha hero to want the heroine above all else and be wiling to chase her. Supposedly Jordan goes after what he really wants but if that is true, then he does not really want Katie because for while she is the one that does all of the chasing. I thought that the sex scenes were hot but there were too many characters in the story. I want the focus to be on the hero and heroine but that did not happen here.

These saga just keeps getting better! As always during all you get an update on the previous couples and situations and Janie Belle and where the war is at.

This is Jordan and Katie's story. They have both been infected with the virus, Katie has been dealing with the results for years and has been living human for most of it.

Jordan was just infected but the virus works faster on males and he is facing his turning pretty soon. Things change drastically when Katie decides she is not giving up on then and takes matters in her own hands!

Read on and find out how Katie deals with the changes. Will she be on time to save her beloved Jordan? Will Jordan ever see her as more than a little girl before is too late?

An exciting installment in the Dark Protectors series. This one is all about Katie and Jordan. Katie, unable to shift for ten years after being infected with Virus 27, is determined to save Jordan after he is infected with the virus after being shot with arrows by the Kurjans.

This fantasy is fast-paced and action-packed. This is a story about devotion, courage, teamwork, and hope. It's truly a love story of two beings who grow to love one another over the course of a decade as one grows from child to woman. Both become protectors of each other, their pride and allies.

I read A LOT of books and I am always glad to be able to give a raving review. They can't all be winners but R Zanetti writes a winner. I really enjoyed this book and the entire series. The books grabbed my attention and kept me interesting. The main characters were interesting. Although it is an alpha-male type book, the females retain their intelligence and dignity. I hate that many of the strong or dominant male hero books now reduce women to brainless subs. Its fun to find a title with great romance that doesn't sacrifice a quality story to get it. The sci fi creatures are awesome. The writing is excellent and I cannot wait for the next book.

Katie was a young girl whose parents died and she went into foster care. First time she shifted was when a foster parent was going to beat her. She runs into the woods and is stopped by this really big guy and others. Later she is grown living on her own and still in love with Jordan the leader of all the cougar pack everywhere. But he has been infected with a virus that will turn him into a mad werewolf. Well, book was great! All of them are. If u haven't started them then do if this is your kind go read. If u have keep reading. Love all her books, have read this one before I think lol, but must have been a while back. Waiting on a new one now. Great read..

Courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

I love when I can jump into the middle of a series and not have to worry about figuring out what is going on.. Jumping into CONSUMED (the fourth book in the Dark Protectors series) eases you into the middle of a massive war with a huge cast of compelling characters.

One of the ideas I really liked in this story was that being a werewolf was not a natural state for characters. There is a virus that turns shifters, vampires, and witches into werewolves who are pretty much mindless feral animals. A faction of vampires is using this virus as a form of bioterrorism in an ongoing war. We get flashback to the beginnings of the war and Jordan's role in it. The flashbacks actually made the story more compelling and I never felt bogged down by too much information.

While a war is a continuing threat there is also a battle of wills between Jordan and Katie. Katie is definitely a persistent and determined person especially when it comes to Jordan and saving his life. Talk about alpha females because it would take a very alpha male like Jordan to handle her very strong personality. I was a little uncomfortable with this relationship as Jordan has watched Katie grow up from being a toddler to adulthood. While he only felt sexual attraction towards her as an adult I still didn't like that aspect of their relationship and had to constantly try to not think about it.

Awkward feeling aside, their commitment to each other was amazing to see especially when lives hung in the balance Fair warning, CONSUMED has one of the most violent sex scene I've come across. It actually came off very animalistic and kind of scary. I had to remind myself that this was consensual sex while Jordan pursued Katie in this scene.

I am looking forward to see what will happen next with this war and which couple will be featured in PROVOKED, the fifth book in the Dark Protectors series, which comes out November 1, 2012.

Why didn't anybody tell me about this series? Seriously. This was a really good paranormal romance. And it would have been undoubtedly even better if I had read the three books that came before it.

Katie is a cougar shapeshifter who has been in love with Jordan all of her life. But her pack-leader always treated her like the little girl she was when they first met. She left the pride 10 years ago, to help hunt shifters who had become infected with a virus that mutated them into beastly werewolves. Katie, herself, was hit by the virus, but for women, the result is an inability to shift.

Jordan always knew about Katie's girlhood crush on him. It was part of the reason he let her go all those years ago... to see if the feelings would stand up over time and the distance. He thought there was plenty of time to see what would happen between them. He never counted on being infected with the werewolf gene himself. Now he has only days to get his affairs in order before he descends into madness. Part of that means getting Katie back to the safety of the keep.

Of course, once Katie and Jordan are back in each other's orbit, there is no denying they are supposed to be together. The sexual tension is off the charts. The two of them want each other so much, but Jordan considers himself too damaged for Katie now. Sex could be dangerous and mating is completely out of the question. Katie wants Jordan any way she can have him. And what if mating could help him? So they're in this tug of war, but at the center is real love --and a whole lotta lust. Once we do get to the sex, it's really, really good. Primal and hot at times, gentle and loving in others. Everything I wanted.

There's much more to the story. A werewolf targeting Katie. A war among supernatural species. A wealth of secondary characters, some carrying over stories from previous books, while others are laying foundations for books to come. It's rich and fast paced. My only issue was that it was a lot to take in as a new reader, especially the history of the war and the virus. But I did get a good grip on it over time and it was worth the effort. If anything, it makes me want to go read the series backlist. I will definitely be reading the future books. I hope Katie's feisty friend Maggie gets her story next!

Believe me when I say that it takes an INTENSE book to make me cry real tears over a fictional situation. However, when I read the scene where Jordan had to say good-bye to Conn and when Jordan left a note for Katie on the last day, I had tears rolling down my face. Oh, yeah, Talen and Janie -- major tears, too. Kudos to Rebecca Zanetti for creating this world. I feel like I'm part of the family and would love to meet them. However, I would not like to be around for some of those battles, whew!

LOVED IT!!! WOW! Great series! Hot, sexy, alpha vampires - whew!! The story line did it for me, it was a slightly different take on the vampire theme. I loved the characters and the chemistry was AMAZING! Hot sex, great characters, good story - a winner for me!

This is another couple I've been waiting for. Both characters fighting their attraction to each other since the beginning. I loved the reboot ten years later, everyone older Janie especially. So glad the virus is at its end(almost). Great HEA for Jordan and Katie. Patiently waiting for Janie's.

I have read almost everything Rebecca Zanetti has written, that I can find. I enjoy the way she builds her characters so that you really buy into them and their relationships. I can go away to a world different than my own but still relate. I will continue to read her books. I do consider her writing to be for adults.

This gets better and better. The protectors and their alpha females are awesome. Don't miss this one. I can't wait to read how Janie helps end the war in the new book. I have enjoyed reading all of the protectors.

This books is SO amazing!! I recommend reading all in the series first but if you do read it as a stand alone you are quickly caught up!! I just loved Jordan and Katie's story!! What talent Rebecca Zanetti has!!!

OK will be sad when I finish this series and no longer experience this world! Katie and Jordan had me flipping pages as fast as I could, and I like how the author transitions in order for Janie to grow up.

The main reason I didn't rate this book 4 stars is because there were too many characters to keep track of. I liked Jordan and Katie. They had some good chemistry, but trying to keep up with the 6 characters developments was too distracting. I kept forgetting who I was supposed to root for in a HEA!

4.5

*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Katie Smith is a lion shifter who is infected with a virus and can no longer shift. Jordan Pride is the Alpha of his pride and his people won’t accept a mate for him who can’t shift. Shifters who get a virus turn into ravening werewolves and have to be killed so since Katie’s infection she can sense a werewolf, she trains to help kill them. Until the day Jordan becomes infected. These two were meant to be together. Will there ever be a cure for Katie and can a cure be found for Jordan before it’s too late?

These two have some serious chemistry going on. And stubbornness. Geez! Could Jordan be any more stubborn? I wanted to smack him upside the head many times. Other than Jordan being too stubborn for my tastes, this book is a hit with me. Containing paranormal elements, peril, mystery, plotting, humor, battles and sexy steaminess I recommend this one to pleasantly while away an afternoon.

As with the rest of the brothers, he doesn't believe in mates. Or love at first site. As a scientist there has to be proof with everything. A reason why all things happen. He didn't except the woman that he is sent to save. She takes his breath away from the first moment he saw her picture. Heads butt, but in the end love finds his heart and his soul. Hot erotic paranormal romance. Action pack on the battle field and in the bedroom.

I really enjoyed this book from the start. I have been waiting for Katie and Jordan to get their own book and I wasn't disappointed!!! I love them together!! I liked that all the characters from the previous books were involved in the story. I was happy with the ending -- thought it was so cute. There were some great hot and intense moments between Jordan and Katie that left me rooting for them to get their HEA. I can't wait for Kane's book!!! And I can't wait to see how the story plays out with Janie, Zane and Kalin. I am loving Zane and it is driving me crazy trying to figure out what is going to happen!!! :) I am also interested to see what is going on with Jase and if things will ever be fixed between Cara and Talen. So there are still a lot of things left unresolved at the end of this story and it only makes me more anxious for the next book to be released!! 4 out of 5 rating.

These saga just keeps getting better! As always during all you get an update on the previous couples and situations and Janie Belle and where the war is at.

This is Jordan and Katie's story. They have both been infected with the virus, Katie has been dealing with the results for years and has been living human for most of it.

Jordan was just infected but the virus works faster on males and he is facing his turning pretty soon. Things change drastically when Katie decides she is not giving up on then and takes matters in her own hands!

Read on and find out how Katie deals with the changes. Will she be on time to save her beloved Jordan? Will Jordan ever see her as more than a little girl before is too late?

I so love this series ... It has action ...erotic and love. It sucks you right in and you don't want the series to end. Thankfully I still have more in this series to read . but I hope Ms Zanetti comes out with more in the series for i surely want to keep reading more and more

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November 11, 2017 – Finished Reading
Review

I love how this series is so much more than romance. The energy, the suspense and all the mystery just keeps me wondering what will happen. I loved this couple. Even with the years apart they just belonged together and what a force they became together.
I can't wait to see what happens with Janie and Zane. Then Maggie and Terrent. Then what's going on with Jace? So many stories so little time.

Safe for me