Fatal Deception 🦠

My love for April Hunt continues!
Thanks to my friends over at @readforeverpub for sending me a copy! #partner

Reasons I love April Hunts writing:
1. She is a nurse and always gives a shout out to fellow nurses at the beginning of her books
2. The suspense romance aspect of her writing is SO addictive
3. The steam level of her books is righhhhht up my alley
4. Her books are easily binge-able and you can read them in one sitting with a steaming cup of coffee (or a bottle of wine let’s be real)

Talk about taking a suspense romance and having its theme based around a potential pandemic during these times is HARD but let me tell you April does it perfectly! This book made me so proud to be a frontline worker and made me want to go out and fight the bad guys (aka COVID). The romance aspect was spicy as hell and kept the book going full steam ahead. And y’all know I loveeee a hunk of a main character! Any time I put this book down I kept thinking about it and how I was so anxious to see how everything played out!
Thanks again to @readforeverpub for a copy of this new romantic suspense!

April Hunt is back with the third book in her Steele Ops series with FATAL DECEPTION. And what better time than November to read about a hunky, cranky veteran who doesn’t like dealing with people, having to do just that. I mean, hello Thanksgiving and crazy Aunt Martha, right? Hunt has scripted a ripped-from-the-headlines kind of tale that’s plausibility makes it all the more nerve-wracking. High security labs and viruses; brilliant scientists and brave veterans; PTSD and bioweapons. Once it starts, it never stops.

Dr. Isabel Santiago’s lab handled a viral load that could “jumpstart the worst pandemic the world had ever seen,” and being that we’re in the middle of a global pandemic, we know that’s not an idle threat. But when her lab is stormed by masked gunmen demanding something called FC-5, she faces the very real threat of taking an ink pen to a gun fight. Thank god for security specialists like Roman Steele and his Steel Ops organization. When they arrive at Tru Tech Industries, the lab’s in a tizzy because not only was the virus stolen, but there’s no record of the bioterrorists even leaving the building.

In a time when he fought to breathe, she made each breath come easier. When he couldn’t see even two feet into his future, she lit up the way like a beacon.

Isa and Roman are equally important to the story; they’re both intelligent and capable. Both reticent and slow to let down their guard with one another. Both flawed, yet mature and smart enough to know when to listen to their hearts.

I tell you, this story just gets better and better with every chapter, every layer of lies and deceit and danger. The plot, coupled with Hunt’s terrific character development and growth, and the pace of the action, this is easily one of my top ten books this year. Really, y’all, this is the very reason I read romantic suspense.

*Originally published at Frolic: https://frolic.media/novembers-must-read-romantic-suspense/

Roman Steele learned a hard lesson about trusting others. While serving his country, he put his faith in the wrong person and lost a leg for his loyalty. So far, civilian life suits him---as long as he doesn't have to deal with anyone. But when he's called in to investigate a break-in at a high-security lab, he finds himself butting heads with the lead virologist, a woman as infuriating as she is beautiful.
When criminals break into Isabel Santiago's lab and steal a deadly virus, she's desperate to find the culprits before they turn her research into a weapon.
Oh crap does this keep you on your toes. Especially with the pandemic going on now and Covid19. Just when I thought I knew who was behind the virus, it threw me for a loop. I was wrong.
Thanks to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC to review.

Someone has stolen a deadly virus from Isabels lab. Roman is sent in to figure out how they got into a highly secure lab and out with no interference. The quest for the deadly virus sends the two of them on a hunt that could cost them their lives, and maybe a love neither thought they would ever find!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

I love April Hunt and this series.
I was a wee bit hesitant to read this as, well, Covid. However, despite the similar threat of a virus I was able to differentiate between them well. That allowed me to really enjoy this story.
I've been waiting for Roman Steel's book since the beginning. Loved him. I love the relationship between all the Steele brothers and the other employees of Steele Ops and would love to have their stories told.
I would have liked a bit more action in this but that could have been me at the time of reading. It's funny because I am a huge romance reader but am an action movie fan. So when it comes to romantic suspense I like a lot of action, fighting and bombs and gunfights and.....that stuff.
Isabel was a likable character and I enjoyed reading a heroine who is so science minded.
Will read anything April Hunt releases.

I had a lot of fun with this story! Steamy, fast-paced with a lot of action and a bit of mystery.

Both Isabel and Roman were immersed in their job, and so each didn’t spend much time looking for love. Being thrown together when a band of thieves steal a deadly virus from Isabel’s lab, they feel an instant attraction. Roman was kind of a broody jerk when they first meet, but Isabel is a feisty character giving as good as she got and so there was a bit of sparring. However, they get physical pretty quick, which I think fit well with the intense circumstances they were in. Each have some past baggage to get through to find their HEA. Roman stems from the event that took his leg in an operation gone wrong, and Isabel’s from a past relationship that ended in tragedy.

Their personal issues must take a backseat as they work to retrieve the dangerous virus which is now in the hands of a deranged group bent on making a deadly statement. All the danger and action kept me glued to the pages to see how it all turned out!

Fatal Deception is the third book in the Steele Ops series, and the first two couples feature as characters in play in this installment. So it would’ve been nice to have read from the start for that reason, but I didn’t feel like I missed important information by reading Fatal Deception first.

First time reading this author and was not disappointed in this book. Roman one of the brothers in the security firm has been woken because of a break-in at a lab. The first thing I noticed is his grumpiness which I can relate to, been told about. Second, when he was being told to keep his mouth shut when they get there, he pisses people off just opening it, yes guilty of that as well. Then when meeting Isabela the head of the lab that does not go well, he pisses her off. Knew they would get together because she could handle him and he liked to banter, sparing with her through the rest of the book.
I will say the author keeps you moving with different ideas of who the persons or person could be that stole the virus and just that alone made for a good story. But really, she adds so much more with Isabela’s grandfather and all of the thoughts she had of the past with her grandmother as well.
Roman also still dealing with his issues from leaving the service and losing a leg just adds to this story. I found it to be very good and fast-paced and I was totally surprised by who the person was. A very good book.

With COVID-19 this story about a virus gone rogue hits pretty close to home. Roman and Isabel are adversaries from the get go especially since the virus was stolen out of a protected lab run by Isabel and Roman is the secret ops guy hired to find the thieves and prevent a fatal outbreak. The story moves fast chilling and thrilling readers with quite a few curved balls to keep the nerves humming.
Roman is as solitary as it comes even in the midst of a loving family.  Isabel with her own share of baggage manages to break through his steel shell and he's sharing innermost thoughts and pain with her.  The bad guys who managed to steal the virus are now doing a trial in remote Alaska and soon Steele Ops personnel and Isabel under Roman's leadership are winging their way to the remote corner of the world.  There are some wonderful bonding moments between the team and with the afflicted town and families even as the team tries to defend and keep people alive.
Now that the test has been successful the terrorist group is ready to raise the stakes. Can Roman protect Isabel, retrieve the virus and neutralize the terrorists. There are some exciting moments chasing the terrorists in their own back yard trying to locate the vials of virus.  The master mind behind the entire scheme will take readers by surprise and just when you feel that the story is drawing to a nice end, Roman is isolating himself from Isabel and the terrorists are ready to execute their backup plan.
I have really come to enjoy the author's writing style and the wonderful characters that she's introduced. I can't wait to see some more excellent stories that keep you on the edge of your seat from the author as the series continues.

While the romance between Roman and Isabel put a smile on my face, this is a virus book and I wasn't able to completely dissociate from the current pandemic and lose myself in the story. It was still fun and fast paced, just not up to the (high) standard of the previous books for me. I've loved all the Steele Ops books and hope that this series will continue on for a while because there are so many more stories to tell.

Thanks to Forever and Netgalley for my copy to review.

After losing his leg in a gruesome event while serving his country, Roman Steele is closed off and cautious about trusting others. He’s adjusted to civilian life in his own way, but his people skills are lacking. When he and his team are hired to investigate a seeming impossible theft from a high-security lab, Roman immediately clashes with the lead virologist, who just happens to be the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen.

Isabel Santiago is devastated when criminals break into her lab and steal a deadly virus, intending to use her research as a weapon. She’s desperate to catch them and recover the virus before any damage can be done, but that means putting her faith and trust in the arrogant, brooding security expert. Roman and Isabel work together with Roman’s team to get to the bottom of the theft, but there is no denying the palpable connection they share. With both Isabel and Roman tentatively imagining a future together, there’s more at stake than they ever dreamed of, but they first have to thwart their enemy’s nefarious plans.

This was one heck of a nail-biter. It was tough given the current pandemic situation, but it also made me strangely thankful because the virus in this book is so much worse and deadlier than Covid. The pacing was fast and kept me engaged and Roman and Isabel were explosive together. I couldn’t help cheering for them as a couple, though both at times needed a good smack when they kept making poor decisions and inadvertently put themselves and others in danger, even as each tried to protect the other. The drama was very up and down, which suited the plot and the characters, but I was hoping for a bit more time for Isa and Roman to just be together and have an uninterrupted discussion of their feelings. Other things kept getting in the way, and understandably so, but I wanted more out of that last scene just to be gratuitous, even though their feelings for each other were more than obvious to one and all. I also vastly enjoyed the twist near the end. The Steele Ops crew was very charming and likable, and I’d like to go back and read the first two books of the series now and hope for more continuations.

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

Fatal Deception is part of April Hunt’s romantic mystery suspense series Steele Ops. These are standalone books but is part of one worldbuilding and it centers around a private security agency. This works really well for each book since they can tackle different scenarios. For Fatal Deception its a bioterrorist threat on the domestic front. Isabel Santiago and Roman Steele are an unlikely couple at first glance but as the book progresses its apparent that they both have a savior complex which could have led to a disaster in terms of story plot. Luckily Ms. Hunt has given these two great secondary characters that gives them some dose of reality that lets them shed the sacrifice themselves and save the other scenario really quickly. There is insta luv here but I do give it some leeway because of the urgency of trying to find the villain before a nasty virus is set loose. Overall I found Fatal Deception an enjoyable read, it was fast paced, excellent characters, great dialogue, great chemistry between leads and a satisfying ending mystery wise.

I have never read this series or author before but I certainly will now! This romantic suspense hits the ground running from start to finish. The thrilling aspect of the story was so interesting and perhaps unintentionally timely. The plot was never boring or hard to follow.
I enjoyed Roman and Isa’s interactions, from the head butting to them falling in love. I liked Isa’s dedication, smarts and kind heart. Roman was a great compliment to Isa. I particularly appreciated that the author and characters did not skirt around the fact that Roman was an amputee. He’s still a capable badass and I love that. My only complaint is that the romance seemed rushed. I would have liked to see a little more tension and build-up between the two before they got together.
All in all I had a fun time reading this romantic suspense story and can’t wait to go back and read the others in the series.

Action-packed, suspenseful, and twisty!

Fatal Deception is a steamy, sinister tale that takes you on a journey into the life of Dr. Isabel Santiago, a devoted, intelligent infectious disease specialist who with a little help from the wounded, sexy, security expert, Roman Steele, finds herself struggling against time to protect the world from a mercenary group determined to cause global panic and mayhem.

The writing is tight and seductive. The characters are tenacious, fiery, and smart. And the plot is a sultry, compelling tale filled with twists, turns, red herrings, secrets, lies, palpable attraction, danger, and murder.

Overall, Fatal Deception is another provocative, timely, fast-paced addition to the Steele Ops series by Hunt that has just the right amount of mystery, passion, and intensity to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish and leave romantic suspense fans delightfully satisfied.

Well written suspense. Great plot. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

Fatal Deception
Steele Ops series book #3
Release Date: November 10, 2020
Review Copy Provided by the Publisher

I’m not gonna beat around the bush here, this book was phenomenal! I mean, the first two in the series were great, but this one just had that...oomph. I think it had a lot, or everything, to do with the hero, Roman. He’s broody, a bit of an asshole, and a whole lotta sexy. I knew from the start of this series that it would take a very special heroine to bring Roman to his knees. She wouldn’t put up with his bullshit or his standoffish attitude. And that’s exactly what he needed.

Isabel Santiago is a brilliant virologist, and she’s wonderfully sharp tongued. I loved her instantly. You could feel the heat emanating from the pages when she and Roman were sparring...or eye f**king each other. When they finally got down to hot sexy times I was over the damn moon. The sexual tension was killing me!

Ok, I mentioned that Isabel is a virologist, and that brings me to the plot. They’re trying to save the world from a deadly virus. A little close to home right now, right? Except the virus in the book liquifies all your internal organs, and gives its victims a really nasty fever and rash. Think Ebola. I honestly didn’t have a hard time enjoying this book because of that aspect. I was able to separate what’s going on in the real world from the books fictional situation. So don’t let this aspect put you off because you’ll be missing out on all the awesomeness.

I love the camaraderie between the team mates/family members in this series. It’s just a really comfortable feeling, and often times, humorous. I can’t wait for uber smart ass Liam to get his own book!

Fatal Deception has a perfect balance of thrilling suspense and panty melting romance. I knew Roman’s book would be spectacular, and Ms. Hunt definitely delivered!

I love romantic suspense and April Hunt does it well. I flew through this book, just like the first two books in the series. If you are looking for a romantic suspense, look no further.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

I read the first chapter tease for this book and I'm hooked. Bio terrorism and the very hot, very secretive, wounded warrior Roman - Be still my heart! Unfortunately, this book does not live up to it's first chapter. Very disappointing. When both MC's have a deeply ingrained Martyr complex it's almost painful to endure reading. It sucks the enjoyment right out of a good plot premise.

When Roman Steele returned from his stent and a Special Forces operative assigned to a CIA black site in Africa, he came home minus his left leg below the knee and with a big load of regret. He was not a pleasant person to be around, but family wasn't about to let him wallow around in his muck. That's what family is for. When Steele Ops is called to the scene of a break in at a biotech facility, Roman comes face to face with one hot, mouthy woman who won't let him take the solitary way out.

Isabel Santiago is the lead virologist working with an Ebola type virus, FU-5. It is deadly and virulent. The thieves make off with enough of the stuff to kill millions. She needs Roman Steele to find the thieves and keep her safe. Being with Roman triggers all kinds of emotions for Isabel who lost her SEAL fiancé and hasn't moved on from that tragedy. Roman reminds her that she is very much a passionate woman and even though she has no interest in a long term relationship with a former Special Forces operative, she is very much interested in his body. But, first things first. They need to battle an outbreak and bring to enemy behind it to justice.

I was glued from the first page to the last as Roman and Isa try to catch the people responsible for stealing a lethal virus and releasing it in Alaska. Roman is the security and Isa is the Dr and the two were made for each other, as Isa races against time to find the antidote and Roman keeps her safe as someone is out to get Isa before she can figure out how to save the infected.
A great read with some steam, suspense, some action, lies, betrayals, some teary eyed scenes and great characters. Both characters were strong and determined and putting them together...sparks and fireworks. The story flowed beautifully and I couldn’t get enough of these two....loved it!!!
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy and expressed my honest opinion*

The Fatal Deception was such a gripping read! I’ve been in a bit of a slump for the last few days, but this book successfully got me out from my gloomy mood. The storyline was filled with suspense and tension, and had a very edgy touch, which made reading the book so enjoyable. I haven’t read a lot of romantic suspense novels, but April Hunt has inspired me to pick up more books from this genre. 😄

I loved Isabel and Roman’s chemistry from the very beginning of the story. I loved their sarcastic dialogues! It was very interesting to see Isabel and Roman’s romance play out as both of them were hung up on their difficult pasts. Having a deadly virus in the mix definitely made the book stand out, in my opinion. The supporting characters were very well- written too, and their contribution to the story was remarkable. The plot never lost its momentum and flowed seamlessly, which were things I really appreciated.

The Fatal Deception is the third book in a series, but I had no problem reading it as a standalone. With that being said, I can’t wait to check out the first two books in the series! 💕

Special Ops heroes fall in love harder. They may be rough around the edges but when they know, they know. And it definitely surprises Roman when he does. He has a tough time in trusting anyone but Isabel has a way in his heart than anyone else has. He may be feisty with her but she can take it and give it back 10 times more. Isabel never knew she would find love again but life is always surprising you when you least expected. And it does not hurt that Roman is more than willing to be with her no matter what.
The stakes are very high for Roman and Isabel as they search for those who stole the virus and who recover it before anyone can get serious illness. It’s going to keep you on the edge because you are more than determined to find out who is behind this and more. I won’t go too far since I don’t want to spoil it but Fatal Deception will keep you on the edge.