Smoke & Mirrors (Outbreak Task Force) Paperback – February 5, 2018

I really enjoyed this second book of the series. Exciting, scary, sexy, and fun romantic suspense! 4.5 Stars.Kini Kerek is a CDC Public Health Nurse. She's in rural Utah researching the population for antibodies for the Hantavirus, in the hopes of proving the need for the development of a vaccine. But, some terrible rumors have preceded her in this small town, and she has been met with suspicion, threats, and even violence. She's not sure what her next move will be, when there is an outbreak of the very virus she's been sent to investigate. She needs help, and quickly. Luckily, a local man, fresh out of the Army, has taken on the task of helping, and protecting, her. If only she wasn't so drawn to him personally.Lyle Smoke was just discharged from the Army, Special Forces. His good friend River, the hero from book 1, has offered him a job with the CDC, and he was strongly considering it. But, when he meets Kini, in a MOST interesting way, and wants to help her, he agrees to the job even quicker than expected. Smoke has some damage in his past, and not just from the military. But, he feels drawn to Kini, and feels an urgent need to protect her. So, he uses all the skills his Native American upbringing taught him, and the additional skills the Army honed in him, to help her figure out the mystery, and keep them both alive.Smoke and Kini's chemistry was crazy strong from minute one. Their meeting was quite unconventional and unique, and I loved their banter and ease with each other from the start. She also felt comfortable and at home with his family, and I loved that too, especially since she had no family of her own. Smoke has had some dark things happen to him in his life, not to mention, the local sheriff's deputy hates his guts, so he's got some major issues to contend with. They both had deep and traumatic emotional scars that they had to figure out how to deal with before they had any hope of being together. I liked that they were both willing to acknowledge those issues, and work on them, in order to make things work.Smoke's family were all great side characters, as were a few other people on the CDC task force. There were also great villains in this story. Ones that I wanted to reach through the book and smack around in fury, as well as ones where you weren't sure what their motivations really were. It was a great suspense plot, and there were so many potential bad guys, and it kept me guessing who all was bad, and what those bad people might do. I loved that feeling in the pit of my stomach as the plot continued on, and it's exactly what I look for in my romantic suspense.My only issues here were with a couple loose ends I didn't feel were tied up, at least not on the page. One had to do with Smoke's cousin. And another with one of the villains, and their motivations, which seemed a little unclear to me and left me feeling a little unsatisfied. I don't want to say any more that might lead to spoilers.I really loved the story, and I fell totally in love with Smoke, and with Kini. They were an awesome couple, and they made an amazing team. I'm very much looking forward to more in this series. There are at least 2 other characters I have my eyes on as having the next book, and I'd be thrilled to read about either one!

This author knows how perfectly blend suspense, deadly infectious diseases, sizzlin romance.This series like its predecessor blends Military and CDC personnel. Kini Kerek is a CDC health care nurse who was sent to Utah to gather blood samples and research for a cure for the Hantavirus. She is running into resistance and getting death threats when she finds out there are current cases of people dying at the hospital from the Hantavirus.Lyle Smoke recently discharged from Special Forces after 8 years is returning home with memories of pain and blood. He is hoping for some alone time to go out hunting on his own to release the anger that lives inside him. What he wasn't expecting was a sexy woman to be sleeping in his childhood bed. When he realizes how much danger she is in he accepts a job offer from the CDC Outbreak Task Force so he can keep Kini safe while also trying to figure out what is going on in his town with the sudden outbreak which is killing residents at a fast rate.Not as edge of your seat as some of the previous books but still a page turner.

CDC nurse Kimi Kerek has gone to Utah simply to research Hanatavirus so why do the people of Small Blind want her gone, especially now that there is an epidemic going on? Not giving up, she now has the help of Lyle Smoke who is living up to his name. Smoke vows not to let anything happen to Kini. As things heat up with both Kini and they find themselves both in danger, they will need both Smoke’s survival skills and lots of luck.A great book by Julie Rowe in her series, Outbreak Task Force.

Great story. Fast paced. Good characters. Not a cheesy romance. This book has a lot of action and a good plot. It does have a happy ending but is not as typical and predictable as some romance. The romance is there and it is hot but the story is not sacrificed for the romance.

Hello insta-chemistry and attention grabbing plot. I love it when you work together. This was good. Interesting, but not too much thought required— like in a good way. Your brain won’t hurt trying to keep up, but you’ll stay interested. And believable insta-love is such a rare treat these days. Will def read more of this author.

I ABSOLUTELY loved this story. The characters especially Smoke hooked me from the first page. The author subtly deepens the hero's character development and emotional issues with every chapter without giving all the backstory away early. same with the heroine only not quite as damaged a psyche as the hero. Nonstop suspense only adds to the mix. Five easy stars.

It seems that trouble follows the CDC. Smoke and Mirrors is an amazing read. I love the roller coaster ride that this one takes you on. Kini and Smoke are another amazing team formed in the Outbreak Task Force series. Kini is just trying to do her research when trouble seems to find her. As a new member of the Task Force Smoke is an amazing addition with his military back ground. I love this series so far and we are only two books in. The chemistry between Kini and Smoke is smoking hot. I can't wait for more.

It has it all. Drama, mystery and romance. Tackles some current and dangerous issues. We don't think monsters are out there, but they are and I'm glad for the agencies that keep us safe. Thanks to all veterans for their service.

Smoke & Mirror vereinigt gelungen Romantik und Spannung, wobei der Fokus eher auf der Spannung liegt. Die beiden Hauptakteure haben eine sehr interessante erste Begegnung, arbeiten aber bald sehr gut zusammen gegen eine Reihe von Widrigkeiten und Gegnern. Die Geschichte nicht in einer Stadt oder in einer Krisenregion, sondern in einer eher abgeschiedenen Kleinstadt irgendwo in Amerika spielen zu lassen, bietet nicht nur eine neue Perspektive für diese Art Geschichten, sondern erlaubt der Autorin auch, Dinge wie die Gerüchteküche, Vorurteile und die Dynamik einer kleinen Stadt hier einzubinden. Die beiden Hauptakteure sind glaubhaft und sympathisch geschildert, ihre gegenseitige Anziehung wird spürbar und nachvollziehbar gezeigt. Die beiden agieren wirklich als Partner und man kann sich gut mit der Heldin identifizieren, die weder sinnfreie Risiken eingeht noch ständig bibbernd auf Rettung wartet. Wer auf rasante Geschichten mit Herz steht, wird hier gut bedient.Smoke & Mirror ist zwar der zweite Band in der Outbreak Task Force - Reihe, kann aber auch als eigenständiger Band gelesen werden. Trotzdem begegnen einem einige Figuren sowohl aus dem ersten Band als auch aus der Reihe Biological response Team wieder.

Pas aussi bon que le précédent, l'intrigue ne smeble pas vraiment avancer pendant un très long moment, et les scènes d'amour lorsque l'un des personnages s'est évanoui d'épuisement de multiples blessures moins de deux heures avant ne semblent pas agréables.