Well this was full on. Action packed to the extreme. I think in some ways I liked the first book more than this one. Kini was both stronger and less knowledgeable and I think I would've liked her better had she been a doctor with proper authority. On the other hand, she was more gungho than Ava which made her a bit more interesting. The plot was fast paced and full of action and not quite as realistic as the first one - but still very entertaining. I liked Smoke and his family. The romance between Smoke and Kini was weaker than Ava and River but still enjoyable. I'll definitely pickup the next book in the series. And DS is back! I love DS. ( )

Author's guest post at my blog:
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2023/03/foodfic-please-welcome-julie-rowe.html

We have some crazy situations out there and I have to say that when I thought of the CDC I used to think about them in the small situations like figuring out some diseases not the outbreaks like this, I know that was small minded of me and has opened my eyes, has given me some fear to because a lot of things could happen with some pretty crazy radical folks out there. So in this segment we meet Kini Kerek and she is nurse who is working for the CDC. She is searching for antibody to assist with a Vaccine. But unfortunately she is met with rumors and suspicion making her job harder and threats of violence are not helping. She needs help and that comes in the form of Lyle Smoke an Army vet who has been recently discharged and his friend River asks him for help or offers him a job. Him and Kini are attracted but again time is not really on their side since they have to stay ahead of trouble and get the info they need and keeping them alive is the at the foremost...Enjoy!

Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions. ( )

Smoke and Mirrors is book 2 of the outbreak task force; however, its not related at all to the events in book 1, so you can read them in any order. An ex special forces soldier is home but he is far from okay. Chased by the demons of what he had to do in the military and the death of his son while he was deployed have turned him into a shell of a man. When he finds a nurse from the CDC sleeping in his bed, he realizes he isn't quite as dead as he thought.

Kini is interviewing local Native Americans in the small town Lyle Smoke grew up in to research and collect information for the CDC. However, the townspeople are NOT happy to see her and she begins to experience vandalism and violence at their hands. Smoke, being ex special forces, steps up and takes a job with the Outbreak Task Force and effectively becomes Kini's bodyguard.

The story is full of action! Initially, people are getting sick and they blame Kini. She realizes pretty quickly that it sounds like they have a hantavirus outbreak, but the local doctor won't call in the CDC. But, there is more unsettling behavior happening. Kini and Smoke have to figure out what the hell is going on before more people die. Where did the virus come from? What is going on at the old, abandoned farm? Why are people targeting Kini? The conflict occurs throughout the story and you are left wondering who is good, who is bad, and who is just caught in the small town gossip mill. While Smoke wasn't my favorite hero (he does the 'I'm not a good man so I am gonna push you away' bit that makes me crazy), the suspense of the book makes for a very compelling read that you won't want to put down!

 

• POV: 3rd


• Tears: no


• Trope: ex-military, terrorism


• Triggers: Kini was the victim of a physically abusive father. It is not detailed as to what happened, but it is mentioned that it happened.


• Series/Standalone: stand alone


• Cliffhanger: no


• HEA: More of an HFN. There is no OW/OM drama, no cheating or anything, but I'm not sure I fully believe that these two are in it for the long haul.

books by authors like Pamela Clare, Cristin Harber, Kaylea Cross, Katie Ruggle...then you will probably like Smoke and Mirrors!

 


Smoke and Mirrors






 See full review on The Book Disciple ( )