A mysterious outbreak is killing college students and Gunner is notoriously difficult to work with but he finds the one who challenges him at every turn. Definitely relatable on so many levels.

This is a first for me from this author but I was not disappointed. This a great romance/mystery novel. I will definitely be going back to read the others in the series and can't wait to see what else happens. A perfect mix of suspense and romance. The story is very well written.

Another five-star story from Juliet Rowe. The author has developed a fantastic series around a terrorist group and those who stop their biological terror attacks. Each story is riveting and each one is better than the last. The only thing I would change is to lose the “instalove” element; established relationships are more believable.

I can not wait to learn what the CDC and Homeland discover about FAFO (the terror Group) and how they will stop their plot, while enjoying the romance that grows between the men and women who risk their lives to stop them.

I can't get over how much I enjoy this series! I love that each story is separate, but comes together as a one story arc. The characters and events are so interesting and unique.

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough sweet, sexy romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!

Actual rating is 2.5 stars, but I bumped it up!

Thought and Plot

Joy is stressed to the limit. As a CDC nurse and as a person. Her job is obviously stressful and can get quite emotional and let’s not even mention the new doctor she’s attracted to despite the fact that he’s an annoying and surly doctor who has seen a bit too much of the hard side of the world.
Gunner is this said doctor. He worked for Doctors Without Borders for three years and saw first hand how much people suffer. So being back in a first world country where people are just handed drugs is frustrating. And when college students start mysteriously dying, it’s even more frustrating because it shouldn’t be happening. So he takes it out of Joy, mostly because she makes him have other feelings he’s not entirely sure he wants to have.
This is my first Julie Rowe book and I have to say, as something that is categorized as a romantic suspense, I didn’t really notice the romance or suspense in such a way I’d full on call it that. I’m not entirely sure what I’d call it really…just didn’t click for me. The romance, while appearing rather instant took a backseat to the outbreak and resulting investigation (as it should really) by Joy and Gunner. Plus they seemed to be absolutely exhausted most of the book, so I don’t think of that as overly romantic.
But the investigation really lacked the suspense element for me. Sure they are hot on the trail, but with leads that show up too late and evidence being destroyed, you think I’d be more invested in the story, right? But strangely I left a bit detached from it. What I did like was how the author went into the protocol and procedures that were followed during this crisis, but I think at the same time this is what made it a bit less suspenseful for me. If that makes any sense… Maybe I’d call it more of a medical mystery?

In Conclusion

While I did enjoy the medical, protocol, mystery bit of this book, I wouldn’t say the romance did anything for me. It took me well over a month to finish this so I wouldn’t call it a suspense really…usually I devour my romance suspense novels in one sitting.
It was an okay filler read. I will probably try at least one more of Julie Rowe’s books, because maybe it was just that this one and me didn’t click as book and reader.

After loving the last book in this series, I was excited to start this one.

But it fell incredibly short.

I didn't feel any connection between Joy and Gunner. We're told they knew each other previously, but the author didn't really expand that. I would have loved to read about their interactions and time previously spent together. Instead the friendship and ultimately relationship felt very forced.

As another reader posted, the majority of the book is focused on clinical terms which is where the romance part of the book takes a major back seat.

Also...I found the end to be incomplete. I needed more closure.

ARC received from Netgalley

Dr. Gunner Anderson is working with the Outbreak Task force and so far he has chased two partners away with his gruff attitude. His newest partner, Joy Oshiro is definitely not what he expected at all. Being saddled with the petite nurse who spent eight years in the army as a nurse and also doing a stint as a combat medic is surely going to give him much of the same attitude he puts forth to others. Joy is not shy in the slightest and puts Gunner in his place while secretly lusting after the brooding doctor. Gunner can’t help being attracted to Joy and so far they are getting along quite well. But, their new partnership will be put through one of the toughest cases yet. Domestic terrorists are attacking their city and its residents and one by one people are dying. Will Gunner and Joy be able to solve the case and find a cure in enough time before the attack spreads even wider?

Julie Rowe has done it once again and has written another stellar installment to the Outbreak Task Force series. Sleight of Hand lived up to every one of my expectations - an action packed story with a to die for hero and a heroine that is his match in every way. Rowe has such a knack for writing scenes full of action with a romance weaved right in. I happen to love Romantic suspense and it is probably my favorite in the romance genre, but sometimes I find the suspense aspect lacking in most books I read. I know that once I pick up a book by Julie Rowe, I never have to worry about there not being enough action. It’s almost like watching a movie and watching the story unfold right before your eyes.

What I liked most about Gunner and Joy is that they were equal in every way. Gunner was in Syria with Doctors Without Borders and with Joy seeing combat as a nurse, I think they could relate to one another so much easier and understand each others triggers and symptoms of PTSD. I found it quite refreshing that they could lean on one another when things got tough. Gunner is very much an alpha hero, but I never felt he overshadowed Joy’s abilities as a nurse or as a woman and Gunner did not portray her as someone who was vulnerable and needed rescuing.

Sleight of Hand is a fast paced, action filled romantic suspense with an intense mystery that will take you on a non stop thrill ride thats starts at full speed and does not lose its steam until the dramatic finale. I wholeheartedly recommend picking up this series if you love action, a tight plot, and wonderful characters you will fall in love with.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Wow, I could not put this book down as the action was just non-stop! After the first case of tainted beer until the end, Gunner and Joy worked to identify where the tainted beer came from and how it was tainted and stop any more deaths from the beer.

Both Joy and Gunner are dealing with past traumas and resulting PTDS issues, so they both feel they are not whole. After a bit, they give in to temptation, and start a relationship while still chasing after the tainted barrels of beer.

Hope the next book will be out soon and we find out what is going on with Dozer!

Julie Rowe writes a mean romantic suspense, and this Outbreak Task Force is one of my favorite series. SLEIGHT OF HAND is the third in the series and is a classic enemies-to-lovers story, wrapped up in a kick-ass mystery that’s entirely plausible in a ripped-from-the-headlines kind of way. CDC nurse Joy Oshiro and her new partner, former Doctors Without Borders Dr. Gunnar Anderson, are on the hunt for the cause of an e. coli outbreak in several frat houses, and the process is both nerve-wracking and riveting. Joy and Gunnar are like oil and water when they meet, both struggling with PTSD, both organized and both intense—but their strengths and weaknesses complement one another. Rowe writes intelligent characters who are equal, smart, human, and flawed.

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

CDC Doctor Gunner Anderson goes through partners faster than most men change clothes. His problem is he doesn’t have time to hold someone’s hand and coddle them. He needs a strong partner, someone who’ll go into battle with him and be able to handle it. His boss gives him one last partner and it’s Gunner’s last chance. Enter Joy Oshiro, a wise-cracking former military nurse who makes his body ache with urgings he hasn’t felt in years. But he doesn’t have time to stop and think about this attraction because there’s an outbreak of e coli infecting college students. As the cases and deaths rise, it becomes clear someone is poisoning a local brewery’s beer kegs. Gunner and Joy must race against time to stop the outbreak before more die. Can Gunner and Joy work through their PTSD issues together, forging a relationship and stop the terrorists or are they the next victims?



Sleight of Hand is an adrenaline rush start to finish and the best book in the Outbreak Task Force series. Having fallen for Gunner in a previous book, I was thrilled to read his heartbreaking story. Gunner and Joy are perfect partners, both professionally and romantically, with compelling backstories and off the chart chemistry. Rowe sheds light on how PTSD affects doctors and military alike for years, not just a few days. Plenty of twists and turns make this a must read, especially if you’re a fan of romantic suspense. Myself, I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. Highly recommend!



Disclaimer: I received and ARC from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley in the hopes I'd review it.



Favorite Character/Quote: Joy. Not only is she a fantastic nurse and the perfect partner for Gunner, she’s flawed and it’s her dark side which made me love her. Sarcastic, witty and has a flair for baking pumpkin treats. . . a wonderful character and a perfect example of what it takes to be a CDC/military nurse.



My Rating: 5 stars

an outbreak of e. coli spread by beer kegs serves as the backdrop for sleight of hand where grumpy cdc doctor gunnar anderson and triage nurse joy oshiro are up against interagency rivalries, crazy homegrown terrorist groups, irresponsible college kids and ptsd from their own years spent in combat zones.

microbiology and infectious diseases aren't what you normally expect when reading a thriller. but the author does a wonderful job of ramping up the tension and suspense even while the characters are doing mundane sounding things like collecting samples.

gunnar and joy do more than collect samples. they get shot at and caught up in more than one bombing/bomb scare. but as a team they work seamlessly and their crossed boundaries feel like a natural progression and inevitable.

i liked both these characters a lot, so my only complaint is that the other characters talk a lot about gunnar being unreasonable or taking careless risks, and i just didn't feel like these accusations matched the reality of his actions, so to consistently get this message without feeling like this matched what was on the page was a little disconcerting. but hey, feeling protective over a character isn't a bad thing, and otherwise, this was a read i very much enjoyed.

**sleight of hand will publish on january 28, 2019. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (amara) in exchange for my honest review.

Julie Rowe is a great author and when I'm in the mood for some romantic suspense, her books always fill the void. Although Sleight of Hand was still an entertaining read, I felt this one was a bit more clinical than suspenseful and the romance was really low key - almost non-existent, if I'm honest. It was interesting to understand the procedures and protocols in this type of dangerous scenario but there were times that things felt to cut and dry.

As for the MCs, their chemistry was barely explored and I felt their page time was very limited and too rushed. I still a fan, this one was just not for me.

Rowe writes phenomenal romantic suspense! I have throughly enjoyed this series and Sleight of Hand was no exception. Joy and Gunner are interesting-both have baggage but it oddly makes them work well together. Their stories are woven in with a suspense filled plot involving an outbreak on a college campus. I love these books because they tackle microbiological or bioterrorism plots. To me, that is fascinating! Fans of science/medical dramas like Grey's Anatomy or Chicago Med will love this book (and this series)!

This is the third book in the series for the Outbreak Task Force series, and I loved this one the best so far! Joy Oshiro (a combat medic) and Dr. Gunner Anderson (Doctors without borders) come together to head up the CDC investigation of a deadly bacteria.

The banter in this was fantastic! I loved the ribbing and the push/pull of Gunner and Joy. The storyline was so good and kept me engaged throughout the whole book! I enjoyed the way each of their history was thread into this book so you understood each of their pasts. The supporting characters were perfectly included as well! Overall, I really enjoyed Sleight of Hand by Julie Rowe and would totally recommend it! She does a wonderful job keeping you on the edge. There was some heat and heartbreak, some intensity, mystery and death. Looking forward to the next book in the series! 4.5 stars

** I received a copy of Sleight of Hand from Entangled Publishing and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. The opinions expressed are my own and not solicited in any way**

Alright of Hand by Julie Rowe is the third book in her Outbreak Task Force series. This is Gunnar and Joy's story with DS (Who will give his words of wisdom as a Drill Sargent would), Henry and Dozed making brief appearances. I've read all of her Outbreak Task Force and Biological Response Team books, I'd highly suggest reading prior stories but you can read them as stand alone even though I don't recommend it as each as characters who'll pop up in the current one.

Dr. Gunnar Anderson goes through assistants like wildfire due to lack of patience and no filter on his opinions but one person may be his kryptonite, Joy Ashiro. Who he's been warned by his boss Carmen Rodrigues to play nice or she'll reconsider his tenure in the force.It will take Gunnar, Joy, Henry, Dozer ( Could it be possible that Carmen and Dozer are the next couple?) and others to solve a E. Coli bacteria outbreak at college fear houses. With Spring Break fast approaching the death toll
will rise fast unless they can find the source in time.

Joy Ashiro is a former nurse is willing to take on Gunnar as a partner even though they have a chemistry together. But she has her own demons from her deployments to the middle east and will have to get past them when they get to their first frat house. But after the e.coli spreads beyond Atlanta Gunnar and Joy may give into their wants. Can they find the source of the outbreak and stay alive when a splinter group leads to New Orleans during spring break?

I love the ending snippet about Carmen Rodrigues which leads to my musing that perhaps Dozer will play a part in the next addition.

Outbreak Task Force #3, The newest of the series and it is outstanding! Going from CDC home base in Atlanta and to New Orleans and back again this action packed romance is a great read. Former Doctor Without Borders doctor Gunner Anderson does not suffer fools gladly, and because of that he's already gone through 3 partners. This is his last chance to prove he can work with someone so his boss partners him up with the woman he's had a crush on since they met CDC nurse, former combat medic, Joy Oshiro.

For Joy it was hard not to notice Gunner, just around the office she noticed his surly attitude got slightly better after coffee and something to eat, usually anything pumpkin flavored so going into this partnership she used this knowledge to her advantage; her take no shit straightforward attitude helped too. Their first case together ends up quite a doozy, a frat house full of sick kids and one dead. Soon another house full of sick kids and more dead and another that only connection the keg. With the CDC stretched thin with a number of other outbreaks around the globe Joy and Gunner are left to track down and stop this outbreak before it gets any further but just when they think they have it figured out it gets much worse.

Overall, a great read. Joy and Gunner have to deal with not just the outbreak but for their feelings for each other and working together. They each have emotional baggage to deal with and they are both very aware what hurting the other will do and Joy especially has to realize it's worth the risk of loving each other. There is a continuing story arc in the series but each book can be read as a stand alone.

Sleight of Hand is one heck of an adrenalin ride so buckle up and hang on to your Kindles. It's non-stop action as Gunner and Joy race against the clock to stop a bioterrorist with unknown motives from killing more innocent people.
I tend to forget after not reading one of Ms Rowe's books for a while (it's quite a few months between books!) what a ride her books are. Her protagonists race against a ticking time bomb of injured and dead with little to no sleep or food, and plenty of harm and injury to their person as they risk life and limb to save lives.
When I look at Gunner and Joy I see two very similar people. Both having seen too many horrific things in their life and their careers. Traumatised by past events yet doing their best to move past them and be functioning, productive contributors to society. They have a purpose. They care about what they do and how they contribute. They believe in their cause. In them, I do not see two damaged, broken individuals though many would call them that. I see who strong, determined adults who are the ultimate survivors. They have survived tragedy, trauma, and death. And they deserve all the joy, happiness, love, and sexy times they can bring each other.
I loved Gunner's grumpiness. I loved that he didn't tolerate fools and idiots. I loved that he had no patience for stupidity. All of that speaks to me on a very personal level since I have very little patience for it too. The only difference is I have to be patient and diplomatic in my job.
I also loved Joy's snark. Her directness and her resilience. She's insightful and decisive, and she will call bullshit when she sees it. Joy is a breath of fresh air. I loved that she could handle Gunner and found his grumpiness sexy.
Ms Rowe deals in fiction that hits a little too close to home. Her stories carry a hint of realism that makes the reader think: "this could actually happen". When I read about her characters, they are organic and real. When I read about the situations they find themselves in, they are thrilling but also chilling in the possibility that it's not that much of a stretch for those things to happen in real life. Sometimes the line between fact and fiction blur and scarily, I think, some of this could happen.
I love Ms Rowe's writing and her stories. I hope there will be more books from this series coming.

Joy and Gunner are so amazing... The first time they met each other you could almost feel the chemistry coming off the pages. The story and the interaction between all of the characters in this book made me have to sit and read it in one setting. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to write to others about this book. It is a must read.

This is the third book in Julie Rowe's Outbreak Task Force series and I think it's one of the best. This story takes us on a wild ride as CDC agents nurse Joy Oshiro and Dr. Gunner Anderson attempt to track down the source of the current deadly outbreak and bring down the responsible parties. Suspense is high with lots of action as these two race the clock while trying not to be the next targets. I definitely recommend this one.