I have loved every book that I've read by Julie Rowe. And Viable Threat, is no exception. If you're looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then this is the book for you. It's the perfect start to the newest series by Julie Rowe. It has a couple of characters from her Biological Response Team series and is just as suspenseful.

Wow! This book is non stop and had me turning pages just as quickly as possible - it's fast paced action at its best. In it, River, a special forces soldier, is assigned to assist Ava, a CDC physician, investigate a horrible illness sweeping the area. As they investigate, it quickly becomes apparent that the illness is a deliberate action and not a random occurrence.

They rush from scene to scene - Reeves providing the security and door "keys" and Ava the microbiology skills. They encounter many people that try to thwart them and some that just want them dead. Despite the serious subject matter, there a bits of humor that made me laugh out loud and a bit of romance. I loved the characters and felt invested in their story. River is swoon-worthy, but imperfect with ghosts of his own, while Ava is haunted by different ghosts from her past.

This novel also contained a line that I just loved: "Any idiot can go through life without making enemies...Congratulations. It takes character and intelligence to make people want to kill you." If that quote appeals to you, you will love this book.

This is a must read book for fans of the genre. You'll want to put this one at the top of your TBR. I'm adding the author to my must read authors' list.

I think Julie Rowe has written a winner with this one. ‘Viable Threat’ is thrilling, heart-pounding, a fast-paced ride that whisks you through the tense situation of a sudden outbreak and a series of attacks in the city that point to biological terrorism. And in the maelstrom, a Special Forces soldier and a microbiologist join forces to help contain it and get to ground zero, but the journey ahead is fraught with nothing but danger and minefields.

There’s also a lot of arguing over territory, conflicting agendas and hidden motives as the ugly politics of emergency management come to the fore…while bodies drop like flies during a plague. As dry as this bit of the conflict can be, Rowe handles it well, with way more realism than I expected and throws in more than a spicy dash of conspiracy theories and odd, but not unwelcome bits of humour that kept me wide-eyed and entertained.

That’s the beauty of fast-paced action and suspense in the RS genre when done right. But the characters as well as the protagonists ground the story, so strongly-crafted and so memorable that they’ll probably stay in my mind for a long time. A side-note here: the Drill Sergeant gets my vote as a fan favourite, by the way.

But River and Ava stole the show completely. River was serious and confident when he needed to be, quietly flirtatious with his ‘mouse’ in a way that made me laugh, unfailingly loyal when given his orders to stick by Ava yet never quite overstepping his boundaries as he defers to her—a rare quality in any case, matched only by his atypical appearance that isn’t quite what the usual RS hero looks like. I loved how competent they both were without the necessary posturing and their partnership—as put together as it is—did seem like a good, solid one that will outlast this outbreak.

There’s no dancing around their attraction or silly games because the stakes are too high for anything else. Battling the sudden outbreak takes priority and everything else fades into the background for now, which is what both characters do, dedicated as they are to their jobs. Yet bonds are forged in risky, life-and-death-type situations and Ava/River’s growing loyalty to each other is no less reminiscent of the brotherhood formed among soldiers who go to war together. It’s an added dimension to the usual physical and emotional connection that most readers crave for in romances and with this unshakeable bond forming in times of emergency, ‘Viral Justice’ gives this burgeoning relationship depth, but it's compressed so much within this short time span (just over 24 hours) that made me wonder if it’s merely adrenaline and sexual tension sparking between them.

The somewhat rushed conclusion aside, Rowe’s Outbreak Task Force is going to be a series I’ll be keeping an eye on—if the sequels are going to be anything like this explosive thriller, I’m down for the count.

Julie Rowe has written another adrenalin-filled, action-packed story filled with brainwashed terrorists, brave men and women who put their lives on the line for their country, a brave but damaged soldier and a brilliant and sassy scientist.

I cannot even begin to express my excitement at getting my grubby hands on Viable Threat after hanging out for another book since finishing the last book in Ms Rowe's Biological Response Team series. When it comes to heart-pounding suspense, no one does it quite like Ms Rowe.

I remember liking River from the previous series and wanting a story for him. Well, actually, I wanted a story for all of Ms Rowe's characters because I cannot get enough of her writing, but I digress ... I love River. He is smart, talented and accomplished. He's Special Forces, so he's a man with many skills and a force to be reckoned with. He also comes with demons of his own, flashbacks from dangerous operations in the past and perhaps a touch of PTSD.

"River didn’t sound surprised or even concerned. Like this kind of tactic was to be expected. How many times had he faced this scenario in order for him to recognize it with no dismay? How burned out, how tired, how emotionally battered did a man have to get to live in that kind of hell inside his head? Her whole body ached at the thought, at the realization."

All of that makes him the man he is, one who is dedicated, focused and not allowing his shortcomings get in the way of getting the job done. He's also got a wicked sense of humor. Perhaps it's the humor that keeps him sane in the face of all the dangerous situations he's in and the tragedies he's experienced.

"“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.”"

And Ava is the perfect counterpoint to him. Also dedicated, but brilliant, feisty and sassy. She's tough and she's brave, and even when things get rough, difficult and dangerous, she soldiers on. She would give any soldier a run for their money with her endurance and perseverance.

"“I’m not always tough, though.” She paused, then continued. “I’ve had my share of breakdowns where I cried until I looked like someone had beaten me.” “Did you leave? Stop whatever you were doing?” “No.” She sounded insulted. “I blew my nose and went back to work.” “Exactly. That’s what a tough person does. Accepts the shitty shit, vents, then finishes the job.”"

While Ms Rowe brings us characters to love and a suspenseful story to entertain, she also drives home some truths and ugliness about terrorism, whether international or domestic with the bio-terriorism outbreak she uses as the crux of the story. It illustrates the dangers faced by the soldiers and law enforcement agents who fight the fight daily, much to the ignorance of the everyday person, but also the vulnerability of the young and impressionable, and the people who would exploit them. There are always people with hidden agendas, selfish ulterior motives, and a desire to hurt and destroy we are unaware of. Everyday citizens who get injured and become collateral damage. Beyond the entertainment in this story is the lesson that there are dangers all around us and there are people fighting a war which we do not necessarily see. The media is not always right, nor do they report everything. I'm not condoning becoming a vigilante or taking the enforcement out of the hands of rightful people, only saying that we need to be aware of what's going on around us rather than hide our heads in the sand.

River is right when he says:

"“Wars aren’t won with might,” he said, leaning forward and lowering his voice. “They’re won with intelligence, perseverance, and conviction.”"

And saying all that, Ms Rowe is not afraid to get dirty with the effects of war and the devastation that ensues as a result.

"The bastards had blown up a college kid and coffee shop, a mall, the main gate at a military base, a dorm, and city hall. He wouldn’t be surprised to find anywhere they might have worked or hidden stuff to also have IEDs."

I loved this story. And I know I will love this series. I can't wait for Smoke's story which will be next as he has always been one of my favorite characters.