CDC microbiologist Ava is racing against the clock to find out a mysterious illness in the city. River is in the army but gets recruited to help the CDC. His job is to protect Ava and help her with whatever she needs. As they are collecting samples, bombs start going off. Between investigating the illness and finding the terrorist responsible, they are going nonstop. Ava lost her fiancé about a year ago, who was a soldier, and wants nothing to do with another soldier. But being in close contact 24/7 has sparked the attraction between them. But after being blown up several times and held hostage, can they figure out the cure for the illness?
This story is fast paced and a little to close to what is happening now. Plenty of action. A couple of sex scenes. Will keep you on the edge of your seat.

* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *

Loved it. In 2020, with COVID-19 devastating the US and world at large, this fictional romance feels very real. Scary and real! The writing is exceptional; the action, heart-pounding; and the thrill, palpable. It’s a winner!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a great read! This kept me thinking and on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out who did it and why! there is a pathogen that has been released and kills within seconds. Ava is a microbiologist who is trying to figure out this all out. Special Forces and Medic, Walter, is assigned to protect her. Despite their attraction towards each other, they have a job to do. So good.

Viable Threat begins with Walter River going through a regular day, teaching the soldiers at Fort Bliss how to survive a day in the military, when he finds himself reassigned to help the CDC with a mysterious outbreak. His orders: protect Dr. Ava Lloyd as she gathers samples at an outbreak site at the local college. Once he and Ava head out, things go awry very quickly. As they make the scene at a coffee shop that seems to be ground zero for the outbreak, they are faced with an agitated crowd of onlookers that River has to take control of pretty quickly. If only that was their biggest obstacle……….. When Ava is then approached by a disoriented college aged guy, who just happens to be wearing a suicide vest, things get A LOT wonky real fast.

With the CDC being in charge of the situation going on in El Paso, River and Ava find themselves having to navigate different governmental agencies who are vying for control of the situation. There are two things that River and Ava agree on: 1. Not all of the agencies are there for the same reasons. 2. In order to stop the terrorists behind the outbreak, they will have to work together. As the death count continues to rise and things start to spin even further out of control, River and Ava fight with everything they are to protect the general population, and themselves, from this homegrown threat. They also fight their growing attraction to one another……

Viable Threat is a great story. The premise, especially in this day and time, is timely and a little scary. River’s honor knows no bounds and is a nicely written character. He has a past that we only get hints of in this story, but said past has affected him greatly. Ava is a nicely written character as well. She has a strong sense of self and goes toe to toe with the best of them. Together, their courage leaps off of the page. The supporting cast is nicely written as well and the world Rowe is building is great to read. There are a couple of characters that I can’t wait to know more about. I’m hoping that the next book is about a certain character who works in his “lab in a box”and has a bit of a secretive past. This is the first I’ve ready by Julie Rowe, but I definitely look forward to reading more. If you like your romance with a little suspense, medical intrigue and terrific characters, you won’t go wrong with this one. Well done, Julie Rowe!

Biological agent, a special op agent and a microbiologist makes for one great drama.

This is not my usual type of read but it was fantastic. The characters and the story drew me in and before I knew what happened I was finished with the book. It was that captivating and good.

I would definitely read more by this author.

This is the first book in this new series and does start out with a bang. Has a lot of action since they are dealing with a deadly virus and terrorist. We have River a alpha male, which we all love, but luckily not a jerk, he listens to people and does what needs to be done. Then we have Ava, strong female lead, who does not back down, and is also take charge, together they are combustible. We do have romance, but not in your face since we are dealing with a lot of chaos, we have a little bit of everything, this book keeps you on your toes, and does not bore you. Enjoy!

Special Forces soldier and medic Walter River would give anything to have a few quiet moments with the incredibly hot Dr. Lloyd that he's protecting, if they weren't busy dodging explosions, snipers, and student radicals who've unleashed a lethal bio-engineered microorganism have made that almost impossible.

CDC microbiologist Ava Lloyd races to find a cure for a bio-terrorism organism sweeping El Paso. The few stolen moments with her very hunky bodyguard River have been explosive, but no matter how alluring he is, she can't afford to get distracted. The clock is ticking, people are dying by the hundreds, and once this crisis is solved, they'll both be off on their next assignment, thousands of miles apart.

Oh my gosh I loved this book. I honestly know I am going to read this book a least two more times before the book is over this year. Start to finish amazingness.

Walter River is in the Special Forces when he gets called to deal with a bio engineered terrorist attack. His job is to protect Ava Lloyd a microbiologist who works with the CDC. I am going to try an explain some of the aspects that happened with this story without spoilers. So, River and Ava go throughout El Paso trying to find the people who are bombing and releasing a specially bio-engineered microorganism that is killing countless people. Along the way, River and Ava develop a relationship that’s super close and trusting, and they get blown up a whole bunch.

Ava and River are so cute. I loved their back and forth and how they went back and forth on the situation. The story didn’t revolve around their sexual tension and there was an actual story. I love romance stories that have an actual story. River has a mega crush on Ava pretty much right off the bat. He’s in to sexy smart women with a sense of humor. Ava likes River right away and while she struggles to trust him due to past hurts she never lets that get in the way of work.

Viable Threats has so many amazing different aspects. There’s a lot of action but not too much. I followed what was going on fairly easily, but was constantly surprised as well. There was nothing predictable about the story which was amazing. I am not often surprised by a story, but I was super surprised often while reading. I read this one straight through and loved it. This could not have been a better story.

Special Forces soldier and medic River “just call me River ma’am” gets a call from the head of the CDC (Center for Disease Control) to come at once to a local hospital. There’s an outbreak of some deadly disease and she commands him to watch over Dr. Ava Lloyd, a microbiologist. He’s armed and ready for anything but one minute in Dr. Floyd’s presence and he’s smitten. She’s hot and smart… a total turn-on.



Ava has seen her share of outbreaks but this one doesn’t respond to any antibodies and those who’re responsible are a mystery. It’s chemically altered and as the bodies pile up, every agency from the CDC to Homeland Security is on the case. Is it a terrorist attack or something deadlier? Working with River sets her body aflame but she promised herself she’d never trust her heart to a soldier again. Can he be trusted or is it just a fling?



I’m a huge fan of Julie Rowe and this is her best book yet! The stakes couldn’t be higher and the attraction between River and Ava set my tablet aflame. You wouldn’t think that being blown up a few times while wearing hazmat suits would be sexy but you’d be wrong. The action scenes were intense and there were times when I was afraid Ava or River might die. There’s plenty of romance, although since many lives are at stake, Ava and River take it whenever and wherever they can. I connected with both Ava and River immediately and almost cried when it ended. I wanted more!



Ripped from the headlines, Viable Threat is an adrenaline-rushing romantic suspense and a must read! The ending left it open for a sequel so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.



Favorite Character/Quote: Ava. I loved how brilliant she is (hello microbiologist) while being tough as nails and yet, there’s a vulnerability when it comes to the opposite sex and love. She’s all business when she first meets River and bristles at his nickname for her. But the more they work together, her walls come down and we catch a glimpse of the real woman underneath.



My Rating: 5+ stars

Superb! I’m not sure that I can say it loud enough just how much I loved this book, the story was brilliant!

The path the author took the characters on was a total roller coaster and as a reader I have to say I felt as if I was hanging on every word with baited breath…I just couldn’t put the book down and had to fight the urge to race through the pages in my desperation to find out what the heck was going on and why!

Ava is a microbiologist who is brought in to investigate the biological attack in El Paso, and as the body count continues to rise, it isn’t the only thing is picking up a pace …the heat between Ava and her assigned bodyguard Walter River is also on the rise.

I liked River, he was my sort of guy, tough as they came, with an incredible sense of humour and while Ava took a little while to get to grips with him and his ways, once she was fully on board, what they had was not only electrifying but absolutely scorching!

Bravo!!!!

Viable Threat by Julie Rowe is the first book in her new Outbreak Task Force series. While the romance is the main underlying theme of the story the sexy times are sparse throughout the story. It is well and truly to be expected, I mean they're dealing with an outbreak of a deadly virus and terrorists bombing everything in sight. It was well-paced, had it's good share of dark humor, and was a good and solid entry into the Outbreak Task Force world that is to come (hopefully soon).

River was a strong alpha male without being an utter tool. He listened to the people around him and evaluated, quickly, what needed to be done.

Ava was a competent female lead, in charge of the investigation and refusing to back down and take any crap from the multiple egotistical males in her vicinity.

The two of them together was just POW! Loved this! Enjoy!

Whoa--open up this book and hold on tight, because it'll take you on one heck of a ride!

Seriously, Viable Threat is pretty much a disaster movie in book form--non-stop action. And the back-and-forth between Ava and River really added to the action-movie feel--their relationship was a whole lot of fun.

"Any idiot can go through life without making enemies," River said cheerfully. "Congratulations. It takes character and intelligence to make people want to kill you."

Truer words were never spoken, unless you count these:

"Just because a girl has an ugly cry doesn't mean she isn't busy plotting to kill you. In fact, if you're the cause of the ugky cry, she probably is plotting to kill you."

Okay, so that last one wasn't actually directed at River, but at several points in the book, it certainly could have been!

I had so much fun reading this book--the characters, the non-stop action, the fact that I absolutely did not know who was behind it all until the characters figured it out--all good things. I can't wait to see what the next book in the series brings!

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

This was my first book by Julie and it was excellent. I loved the book period. It had great romance and a great plot. It definitely held all of my attention from start to finish.

I really liked the MC's. I liked how they got along and how well they were together. They were perfect as partners and as lovers.

I'm a sucker for books about diseases and such. And throw in some romance and I don't stand a chance.

I guess my favorite part was them figuring everything out and explaining everything. I though the author done great at giving details. I wasn't lost a bit.

Bottom line.... Give Viable Threat a chance. If the synopsis intrigues you any. Go with your gut. It won't let ya down.

eARC courtesy of Entangled Publishing and NetGalley
Available May 22nd

Ava Lloyd, a microbiologist with the CDC, is tasked with trying to find the source and cause of a deadly outbreak. River, a Special Forces soldier, is tasked to help protect her. They have to dodge anything and everything.
I liked the pacing. The majority of the book (about 90%) occurs over 28 hour time span. It's just jam packed with action, no one gets a break. I really got the sense of racing against the clock. There are a few sexy times during the first 28 hours, but it felt realistic to the situation and didn't make me roll my eyes (you know those romantic suspense books where the sexy times happen while bullets are flying...not here). They fall for each other quickly, but their circumstances are rather unusual too.
I also liked the medical knowledge that went with writing about an outbreak. Very nice!
The villain is kinda decent (but can be guessed at fairly easily). I did like that religion was not a motive behind the attacks (and not mentioned at all that I remember). There are open ended questions/plot lines that may pick up in book 2 (if there is a book 2). I happen to have the first book in this author's another series (Deadly Strain) that I got on sale. I will have to bump that one up (currently buried in Mt TBR).

****eARC courtesy of Entangled Publishing and NetGalley
Out May 22nd

Title:  Viable Threat
Series:  Outbreak Task Force #1
Author:  Julie Rowe
Genre:  Romance
Blurb:   Special Forces soldier and medic Walter River would give anything to snatch more than a few seconds of down time to see if he can rattle the no-nonsense and incredibly hot Dr. Lloyd he's protecting, but dodging explosions, snipers, and student radicals who've unleashed a lethal bio-engineered microorganism have made that almost impossible. Maybe he'll get a chance—if he can figure out how to keep them both alive.

CDC microbiologist Ava Lloyd races to find a cure for a bio-terrorism organism sweeping El Paso. The few stolen moments with her very hunky bodyguard River have been explosive, but no matter how alluring he is, she can't afford to get distracted. The clock is ticking, people are dying by the hundreds, and once this crisis is solved, they'll both be off on their next assignment, thousands of miles apart.
Thoughts: This is my first book by Julie Rowe, but it will not be the last. I was immediately drawn to the cover, and then the blurb. The story itself was great – I would describe it as mixing romance with a little of the movie Outbreak thrown in. It is definitely something a little different and weighs a little heavier on the suspense element and a little light on the romance. It had just enough romance to keep me happy though and did not detract at all from my enjoyment of the book at all – far from it. I was definitely excited to know that this was a first in a series, and you can be assured that I will be keeping an eye out for book two! Not to mention I am thrilled to have discovered another new author!
Title:  Viable Threat
Series:  Outbreak Task Force #1
Author:  Julie Rowe
Genre:  Romance
Blurb:   Special Forces soldier and medic Walter River would give anything to snatch more than a few seconds of down time to see if he can rattle the no-nonsense and incredibly hot Dr. Lloyd he's protecting, but dodging explosions, snipers, and student radicals who've unleashed a lethal bio-engineered microorganism have made that almost impossible. Maybe he'll get a chance—if he can figure out how to keep them both alive.

CDC microbiologist Ava Lloyd races to find a cure for a bio-terrorism organism sweeping El Paso. The few stolen moments with her very hunky bodyguard River have been explosive, but no matter how alluring he is, she can't afford to get distracted. The clock is ticking, people are dying by the hundreds, and once this crisis is solved, they'll both be off on their next assignment, thousands of miles apart.
Thoughts: This is my first book by Julie Rowe, but it will not be the last. I was immediately drawn to the cover, and then the blurb. The story itself was great – I would describe it as mixing romance with a little of the movie Outbreak thrown in. It is definitely something a little different and weighs a little heavier on the suspense element and a little light on the romance. It had just enough romance to keep me happy though and did not detract at all from my enjoyment of the book at all – far from it. I was definitely excited to know that this was a first in a series, and you can be assured that I will be keeping an eye out for book two! Not to mention I am thrilled to have discovered another new author!
Looking for something different? Then look no further!
Rate:  A

Rate:  A

**4.5 Stars**

While teaching a survival class on base, Walter (aka River as he prefers his last name), a Special Forces medic, receives a call and within minutes is being whisked away to a hospital at the request of Dr. Rodrigues from the CDC. Those three letters alone let you know it isn't good...and you'd be correct. Shortly after arriving, a constant stream of ambulances pull up, the condition of one patient hard to comprehend. But then, River learns why he was called. He's encountered an outbreak before, a manmade one, and they believe another has hit the US, Texas, to be specific. His part will also include assisting, and guarding, a microbiologist for the CDC, one currently investigating the potential center of the outbreak.

Ava is at the coffee shop believed to be where the victims were contaminated. Some "experts" believe coffee will kill you, in a way, they were right. Only, it's not the caffeine that's the issue. They haven't yet identified patient zero or the first victim, but they can confirm the shop is where it started. As she's collecting samples, the situation gets even more dire as a young man arrives, claiming to have a message for the government, and has Ava questioning exactly what his backpack contains. As Ava had gotten used to having Dr. Rodrigues's voice in her ear, a sexy *focus Ava* voice whispering in her ear, calling her sweetheart, and commending her on keeping her cool, surprises her. She may die at any moment, but at least she'll go out hearing Mr. Smooth talking.

As River and Ava begin working together, both can't help but notice certain things about the other, the attraction, sexy voices, humor, intelligence, etc. But for Ava, having lived the pain of loving, and losing, a soldier, her fiance, Adam, almost two years ago, as well as the hurt of always coming in second to the military, she's determined to never go through that again. Yet, the obvious respect River treats her with, as well as his concern regarding her well-being, makes it difficult to not like him. The thing is, River is becoming just as enthralled.

"He could watch her for hours and never get bored." - River

"After this *crap* was over, he was going to make a point of spending time with his mouse. Quality time. Sexy time." - River

While the outbreak continues to spread, the team assigned to it struggle to uncover not only who's responsible, but also why. Which is the task assigned to River and Ava. They are to   track down the terrorist(s) to learn the information they need to stop not only their agenda, but also to save lives. River's main responsibility is to protect Ava, never letting her out of his sight, neither of which he has a problem with as he's already protective of her, likes being near her, and sees a future for them. A sentiment Ava certainly shares.

"Their investigation was inherently unsafe, which was almost as dangerous as her attraction to him." - Ava

River and Ava can't help falling for one another, finding a bit of happiness with all the tragedy surrounding them, and it isn't long before they're exploring their intense connection. But the danger isn't over, the bad guys haven't been caught, the virus hasn't been cured, and Ava may not be safe. Plus, with everything going on, River still struggles at times with the aftereffects of his last tour and the injuries he sustained due to a betrayal. As much as he craves Ava, he can't help but wonder if he's the greatest danger to her, believing himself unstable during his episodes.

Why has this happened? Who is responsible? Will River and Ava admit their feelings and take a chance on forever? Or will both let past issues stop them from trying? Is Ava safe? Will River let her go, feeling as if he's not good enough? If they decide to take the risk, what happens when it's time for River to return to the Army? Is that what he wants? Or have his priorities changed? Will they get their HEA?

One-click now and follow along as two people find love during tragic circumstances. I loved this book and can't wait for the next book. River and Ava are adorable together and their banter (as well as that of other characters) was intelligent and hilarious. River is a wonderful hero, completely smitten and loyal to Ava instantly, and I wish more heroes were written like him.

On a purely personal note, and stop reading if you don't want something spoilerish, I really wish we had been told how long River and Ava were apart before being reunited.

**I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**

A great read full of action that will hook you from the start and not let you go until the very end.A fantastic read that i did not want to put down i really enjoyed it look forward to trying more from this author in the future.

I really enjoy characters with scientific, brainiac type jobs. I especially love when women are in those jobs because I am always trying to convince my high school students not to sell themselves short. In Viable Threat, Dr. Ava Lloyd is a microbiologist working for the CDC, investigating an unknown outbreak. Special Forces soldier Walter Rivers is sent to be her back up/body guard. The action unfolds a bit like the tv show "24". The time/date is stamped at the beginning of each chapter because time is of the essence in an outbreak situation. More than just an outbreak, this quickly appears to be a terrorist attack at multiple locations. Right away, you are thrust into action that doesn't quite let up. If you are a fan of fast paced romantic suspense, Viable Threat is going to snag your attention right away!

Rivers is your typical military badass guy: short on words, big on action. Ava is young and fresh faced, and this job is her first really BIG assignment. These two have insta-lust for sure, but it seems even more inappropriate given their surroundings and the violent deaths people are dying from this unknown pathogen. But, its not like they jump each others bones in the middle of the outbreak site, so I was willing to overlook it! In fact, there isn't any sexual interaction at all until about the 50% point and then its only 2nd base.

There are so many threats, red herrings, and alternate agendas going on in the plot its impossible to figure out what is going on. There are simply so many people who seem suspicious!! Written in 3rd person limited, you don't get to see inside everyone's brain, so you are trying to examine actions for ulterior motives. The plot is thick and resembles an actual terror attack in the way the story progresses-multiple attack sites, booby traps, and more. I loved the science aspect right away (because #ScienceNerd), but the terror plot was fascinating! Rowe certainly knows her science and political science! I am looking forward to more in this series for sure.

Biological threats, domestic terror, a female doctor, and an Army ranger all combine to make Viable Threat a perfect read for fans of realistic suspense!

This is the first time in reading this author but will not be the last. This one will consume you with the emotions it will infuse in you while the characters go on their journey. First steps in Amelia but soon followed by Evan in a devastating event. A really bright star in this whole novel is her nephew who will take a piece of your heart. As things unfold present and past to get the whole picture you are so invested in this you are already thinking how did you miss this author before. The trauma that also keeps hurdling her way keeps you on your toes but you are also thinking thank goodness for love speeding her way. Even though the hits will keep going after her you know something gonna come to a head and when it does this will be all over. Yup these characters do the consuming loving every minute with them .

During a biochemical attack lead by a psychopathic killer, microbiologist Ava Lloyd finds herself teamed up with Special Forces medic, Walter River. Racing against the clock to stop a homegrown terrorist and his radical followers, Ava and River dodge bullets, survive explosions and try desperately to find answers to a deadly pathogen that has no cure in sight and spreads with fatal accuracy. With the body count rising fast will these two find the real culprit behind these devastating attacks? In the mist of all the danger neither one can fight their undeniable attraction.

River has seen and done things someone as sheltered as Ava couldn't even imagine. In the field and war zones, he's in his element. Like Ava, River surprised me at every turn. He was a smart, capable and fierce soldier. But he also had a soft and comedic side to him.

Ava is more of the serious academic type. Her rational and level headedness was a nice balance to River's sometimes wild card attitude. I loved her character, she was compassionate, intelligent and brave. But she also came with a dash of sass.

I think what I liked most about this story was the way the words and phrases were used to set the scene. There was a lot going on but you never felt rushed or confused. I mean, I love me some Criminal Minds and World War Z and Viable Threat could be their freakin love child. It was that good!

The love story happens over a span of 24-48 hours. The Heat level was hot! The attraction was instant on both sides and the emotional connection a live wire. With only three scenes, River and Ava prove less can be more if done right. And just saying... River definitely knows the how to capitalize!

In all honesty I was so engrossed in the story that the hours felt like minutes. The pacing flowed quickly but the gripping suspense and the undertone of impending doom kept me glued to my kindle. The events and situations River and Ava experienced gave their story a unique twist. It wasn't a hardship to believe in their HEA.

This was a thrill ride of a read and so addictive! Every minute was packed with action, suspense, humor and the unwavering courage born in the wake of some seriously crazy life and death scenarios. I absolutely loved this author's writing style and the characters she bought to life. Special shout out to the DS. Aside from River and Ava, he was my top favorite character! But I'm hoping Dozer and Smoke get their own story in the near future. I can't wait to see whats next for this author ;)