ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Search & Destroy is the 4th title in the Outbreak Task Force and is a standalone book. I haven't read the other 3 books in this series at the time Search & Destroy was available for request. I thought this book was an okay read. I won't be rushing to read the other three books.

DNF
I tried with this one. It has a lot of action, good suspense, and a second chance romance that started out full of tension. But then you learn that our main characters, while knowing each other for a bit, only "dated" (if you can call sleeping together that) for one day and then fell in love before having a falling out a minute later. I thought I'd get passed that, but then after being attacked, they rekindle their romance in the bedroom during a tumultuous time when both are injured, and I had to put it down after that. Too many of my pet peeves were presenting themselves and I decided it best to put it aside for now.

Search and Destroy by Julie Rowe is Book 4 of the Outbreak Task Force series. While this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.

This is a intense, fast-paced romantic suspense that will suck you in from the get-go. Like a moth to a flame the dynamics between John and Carmen are absolutely riveting. I had a hard time putting this book down.

Another wonderful addition to the series and a highly recommended read.

Please note that an ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review of which this is both honest and completely voluntary.

So, the guy on the cover looks younger than how I pictured the character, but other than that this was an alright story.
Search and Destroy is about a CDC official and the soldier she fell in love with when they were younger. They had met in the middle east and due to misunderstandings and circumstances they ended up parting company. They have a second chance while she investigates a terrorist threat and he hopes along ad her protection.

I received an arc from Netgalley and this is my honest opinion. This book was an edge of your seat action romance. Great characters and a great plot. I would definitely recommend this book to readers who like action and romance rolled into one.

Julie Rowe always bolsters my faith in science and ethics. Her latest Outbreak Task Force novel, SEARCH AND DESTROY, is as thrilling as always and focuses on the Outbreak Task Force’s director, Dr. Carmen Rodriguez. Carmen is authentic, capable, and smart. Paired with her is Homeland Security liaison John Dozer, who fell hard for her nearly a decade ago when she was an aid worker in Afghanistan and he was a soldier, and they a night to remember. I think the thing that makes Rowe’s outbreak suspenses so thrilling is the very plausibility of them. For years I worked in the HIV field and closely with the State Director of Infectious Diseases in NC, and what makes the reality of real life and books like Search and Destroy is not the fiction of Walking Dead zombies walking down the street, but a weaponized measles outbreak that can take out entire towns. Julie Rowe makes my heart sigh with heroes like John, as much as she makes me rush to wash my hands when I’ve been at the Apple store. That’s the sign of a great storyteller!

*Originally published at Frolic: https://frolic.media/romantic-suspense-wrap-up-august-september-2019/

Dozer and Carmen finally get their book in this Outbreak story (measles). I have been anticipating this and was so excited.

The story has the wonderfully researched plot that I expect from the author. Kudos for the intricacies that make this series what it is. I’ve read the other three and enjoyed all of them.

Sadly, the romance element wasn’t my favorite. Dozer and Carmen aren’t a very good couple for a good part of the book. The reason they aren’t together is because of something Carmen found out from a man who is a horrible person, so why did she believe that for 8 years? The reasoning was thin. And the two characters together just didn’t make a good couple, until maybe the latter part of the story. By then I was so soured on them that I didn’t find it believable.

I have realized that it must really be a fine line for an author: how does one write relationship tension without it going too far?

Search and Destroy is book four in the Outbreak Task Force series and honestly, it isn't a standalone. There is so much that has happened leading up to this point, you really need to have read the previous books. That being said, I freakin' LOVED this book. I've watched Carmen and John dance around each other but in this book, I get to explore the reasons why. They spar with each other and work well together. Their love, though, makes them fiercely protective. The "outbreak" is a deadly strain of the measles and I loved how Julie Rowe incorporates the inoculation debate into her plot. I whipped through the story as fast as I could. The emotional angst was a little high but Julie Rowe balances it well. The ending blew me away.

If you like high-adrenaline romantic suspense, you'll love Search and Destroy.

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in the hopes I'd review it.

Reviewed by: Mrs. N

My Rating: 5 stars

This is a powerful read that keeps you on the edge of your seat right to the end. The plot includes drama, unexpected twists and turns, adventure, intrigue and power characters that have a great connection and chemistry between them. Favourite in this series so far. Julie Rowe has written another stellar book. It deserves ten stars, not just the five I can give. Bring on the next book please :-) happy reading!!

Well written, captivating, thrilling, sexy read.
Interesting storyline, good characters, not boring at all.

Beautiful cover.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Wow this book was just so good and so easy to get lost in. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I just didn't want it to end. I just couldn't get enough of these wonderful characters and I just loved getting to see their journey. I will most definitely be reading more stories from this wonderful author.

I have not read any of the other books in this series and I am sad about that. I will be looking for them. I love Carmen and John together. I love their history. I love their interaction and I love the depth to the characters and to the story. I find it to be such a unique set up and story. I find it very intense and I love the suspense part. I really good story that is written very well and is very easy to read but you still need to pay attention.

Search and Destroy is another great installment in this series. We’ve seen the writing on the wall for these two, yet it's great to finally witness their HEA!

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

Killers come in all manners, and Carmen, the CDC's Outbreak Task Force director, is hunting an airborne virus that has already destroyed families, and it doesn't know yet. In fact, it shows no sign of slowly down, but quite the opposite to the horror of those who've seen what it's capable of.

John is a protector by nature, first in the military as an Intelligence Officer, and now as a civilian. And while he's taken every mission seriously, not one has been as important to him as protecting Carmen. They shared a wild night together nine years ago and when their paths cross again, she continually pushed him away - she does have a lot on her plate, after all - but he's determined to show her they belong together...if they can survive the virus that's infecting, and killing, all around them.

Can John and Carmen clear the air around them, in more ways than one? Will John be able to convince Carmen what she thinks she knows from back then isn't true, or at least not entirely? Will Carmen give them another chance? Or have they found each other again too late?

One-click now and follow along as two people meant to be together get a second chance at love.

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

I received this book via NetGalley and have agreed to leave an honest opinion.

Carmen is the Task Force Director at the CDC. John is an ex-Army Intelligence officer now with Homeland Security. They have a past; a budding relationship in Afghanistan that ended in firefight, John saving her life but Carmen walking away because she felt betrayed by information she received about John from another.

There is a Measles outbreak in Florida but not just your average outbreak, people are dying fast. Carmen makes plans but John is not letting her go without his protection as he is her Liaison between the CDC and government. This is not just a normal outbreak, it involves bio-terrorism. This story is about trying to keep people from dying while trying to find the source and stop more infection.

Carmen doesn't want John's "protection" nor does she want a relationship because of the betrayal she feels but she has never forgotten about her feelings towards him and fights it on a daily basis. John only wants to protect her but she needs him to trust her and her ability to take care of herself. He needs to take on the role of a partner and not a protector even though it goes against his grain. This is the only way they will work. Can he do it?

This book is just continual action full of emotion. There is another character worth mentioning. DS, a retired drill sergeant that works with Carmen. He has no issue giving his opinion but is so loyal!

I honestly wasn't sure if I would like this book but I was presently surprised. I was concerned about the "scientific" explanations that go along with an Outbreak but the author managed to seamlessly mesh the facts within the drama and emotion. It is written so well that the though never even crossed my mind after the first couple of pages. Loved this book!

Another great addition to CDC’s Outbreak Task Force. It is a story with lot of action, romance and suspense that gives a nice flow to the story.
It kept me interested from the first page till the very end.
It was so easy to fall in love with the characters in this book and the authors style of writing grips and holds your attention.
This book in the series is about a CDC doctor named Carmen and a homeland security agent John Dozer that are fighting against deadly strain of the measles, and I enjoyed in their fast paced story.
Can't wait to read the next of the series

Search and Destroy is the fourth book in Julie Rowe's Outbreak Task Force series. If you love action adventure medical romances that are both smart and sexy then you really should start this series. The books have to be read in order to get a better understanding of the overarching plot since it’s the driving force of the books. Since this is the fourth book, the plot would not make much sense although you could get the gist of what’s going on. The main characters are Dr. Carmen Rodrigues and Homeland Security agent John Dozer, both introduced in previous books. Now readers get the real personal story between these two that was hinted in the last book. Both Carmen and John have to deal with a potential disease outbreak that could have terrorist connections at the same time dealing with their own personal history. Trust me, the romance might seem quickly dealt with but the action, the thrill of solving how to deal with outbreak virus and the informative way facts are mixed between the plot will keep you turning the pages. Plus the scenes between Carmen and John are sexy at the same time they learn how to navigate relationship goals while escaping bad guys!

Dozer and Carmen's story has been brewing for a while now. Here it comes all together. It's pretty covered in history and all their bantering. That and this includes a relevant disease lately in the news. Measles and the whole anti vaxxer thing. It shows the worst of the outbreak scenario. I really like these books a good balance of science that's understandable but well explained, romance in suspenseful situations, action and plot. The research well done. The recurring characters are a hoot and always play some role which is cool. DS is becoming a favorite with his rapport with everybody. I know there's more to this still gonna unfold I hope there's more to this series or books from the author.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is the fourth book in a series, and I have not read the others. It reads ok as a stand alone. There were a few times, I felt I missed something. This is a fast paced suspense with no real resolution. The romance between John and Carmen is different and they have a lot of old history. I still enjoyed it. 3.5 stars

Search and Destroy continues the Outbreak Taskforce series with a bang! I will admit I struggled to get into the story at first. I couldn't for the life of me remember what happened at the end of the previous book and the story seems to jump in right after book 3 ended. Once I got past my confusion, I could follow the story; however I think this might bother some readers who like to only read in order.

Carmen and John were together years ago then she took off and he still doesn't know why. Now he works as a liaison for homeland security and she is working for the CDC. John has never stopped having feelings for Carmen, but now someone is trying to kill them and spread a deadly virus. Rowe does a magnificent job of making the virus real for the readers. She has wonderful details about how it spreads, various attempted treatments, and all of it really adds to the sense of danger. I also enjoyed the pace of the story. Rowe adds to the terror of a bioweapon with the rapid pace of events throughout. Everything is a race against time and as the reader, you feel it. Her stories are always heart stopping!

I enjoyed the second chance vibe of Carmen and John's story. I love the comic relief of DS (especially his banter with John). The book felt a little off for me at times. Maybe I didn't quite connect with the characters or maybe it felt like something was missing. Search and Destroy is a great story for romantic suspense fans who enjoy well researched and scarily realistic terrorism. While I struggled at times, I think the story (and the series) is very enjoyable and I recommend you give it a try!