I absolutely loved this book. Rachel has written a awesome book. Love the intrigue and mystery in it. Ending definitely didn't see coming. Must read. Absolutely recommend this to all mystery with a little romance readers. Could not put down

“You have the perfect motive for murder.”

With intense action and incredible plot twists, Backlash is a fascinating tale of deception, friendship, and discovering a second chance at romance. In the second installment of author Rachel Dylan’s Capital Intrigue series, she once again delivers a perfect blend of romance and suspense to keep my romance-loving heart happy, and of course, another fabulous hero in Hunter McCoy.

After a devastating end to their relationship five years earlier, CIA Analyst Layla Karam must work together with her ex-boyfriend, private investigator Hunter McCoy, to discover who is targeting her team members and seeking retaliation. The friendship between Layla, Bailey, and Vivian…three women who became friends at Georgetown Law and found careers in different government agencies… and their new friend NCIS agent Izzy Cole is heartwarming. In their stressful and dangerous lines of work, they are blessed with each other’s friendship, trust, and support.

In one of the novel’s secondary storylines, Rachel Dylan portrays difficult topics that are extremely relevant in today’s society, including physical and sexual assault, in an appropriate manner, while opening up a dialogue for people to have needed conversations regarding these serious issues. Through the various characters’ struggles and pain throughout the novel, Rachel Dylan intricately weaves beautiful messages of faith into the storyline, which gives readers hope for the future.

Backlash is highly recommended for readers of romantic suspense, especially those who enjoy books by authors such as Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, Irene Hannon, and Dani Pettrey. Backlash will definitely be one of my top reads of the year. I can’t wait to see what Rachel Dylan has in store for readers in Power Play, book three in the Capital Intrigue series, which releases in May 2021.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.


ADDITIONAL QUOTES:

- “You had my heart all those years, Layla, and you still have it completely.”

- “God’s there even when we think we can’t feel Him or hear Him. Sometimes it may just be a whisper in the wind or a beautiful sunrise, and that’s all it takes to remind me that the Lord is so much bigger than us. Than this earth. Than our lives. He is everything and everywhere while at the same time He cares about each of us.”

Backlash was written by Rachel Dylan, and is book two in the Capital Intrigue series. This could be read as a standalone book, but I do recommend reading the first one to start.

Summary: CIA analyst Layla Karam is just back from a dangerous, yet successful mission. But it might have been too successful. Now someone is targeting the mission team members one by one-including her.

Not only is someone out to kill her, but the CIA has opened an investigation on her.

When Private Investigator Hunter McCoy is hired to figure out what is really going on, he isn’t sure what to think.

Can he figure out the truth? Has one of Layla’s own team members turned on the rest of them, or is something more sinister going on? And worst of all, how can he get Layla to trust him-when he betrayed her trust, and her love, long ago?

My Thoughts: I liked this book. Mystery, intrigue, and plenty of twists and turns-this one will definitely keep you reading into the night. I liked the plot, the characters, and the friendship between the group of ladies that started in book one.

I can already tell I won’t be ready for the series to end, and have come up with the author’s next series. Get all the ladies to start a law firm and solve cases together! Hint, hint. 🙂

Anyway, this was a fun read, and I do recommend it.

I would like to thank Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a free digital copy of this book. Thank you!

Second in series
Setting Washington DC
Layla analyst for middle east speaks Arabic familiar with countries. Dad Lebanese
Hunter lawyer, private investigator, does work for DEA Layla's ex boyfriend.
I enjoy Dylan's books. A little romance a lot of suspense.
Secondary characters were necessary to the plot. Cass, Bailey, Izzy, Val.
Can't wait for next book

This is the second book in this series but reads like a stand alone book. I have enjoyed both books in this series. Full of action and does have several different story lines included. Recommended

Backlash is the second book in the Capital Intrigue series and will be released on October 6. It will still make sense if read as a stand alone, but there are definitely a lot of gaps filled if you’ve read End Game first.

The only term for this book is action-packed!! I quite literally stayed up most of the night to finish it in one sitting, because I couldn’t find a suitable place to pause in the story. It never slowed down! It’s well written & I enjoyed it immensely! This series definitely leans towards the action-focused end of the spectrum of romantic suspense & there’s never a dull moment! But there’s also some lovely character development and I love how the characters responses to their situations are very realistic.

Highly recommended! I promise, you won’t be able to put it down !

FROM THE BLURB:

CIA analyst Layla Karam is thrust into a dangerous DEA field operation against a cartel that puts a target on her back. Though Layla never wanted to be a field agent, Langley had other ideas. After one of her team members is murdered because of fallout from the op, Layla is left scrambling to find safety.

At the same time, the CIA opens up an internal investigation against her. Out of options, Layla turns to ex-boyfriend and private investigator Hunter McCoy for help finding out who might want to ruin her career.

Thank you @bethanyhousefiction and @netgalley for the ARC. I was not required to do anything except provide an honest review in return for the preview copy.

I guess I am going to be the odd one out here and admit that I didn't enjoy this book. I could almost just copy and paste my review of the first book to this one because I felt the same way about it. Lots of action scenes but just a disconnect. The characters were bland, the action scenes felt like they just repeated themselves, and the relationship between Layla and Hunter changed way too abruptly.

I knew exactly who the mole was as soon as this character was introduced, so the whole conclusion was a let down because I saw it coming from the very beginning.

I felt like too much of the book was just Layla whining about wanting to just be an analyst. I mean, I totally get where she was coming from and I understand her reasons, but it's the CIA. You do what they tell you to do. You don't really get to choose. If you don't like it, leave.

I again liked Izzy the most and found myself looking forward to her scenes.

Overall just an underwhelming read. Not something I'm going to remember a month or so from now.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Loved this book! I read the first book in the series but had almost forgotten most of the characters by the time this one came out. Now I remember a lot especially with the helpful hints they gave in the beginning.

Layla needs all the help of her friends as she is targetted. Someone is out to kill her and members of her team that went undercover to stop a drug ring. They brought home a lot of drug money and some of it is missing. Who took it?

In order to stay safe and find out who is out to get her, Layla has to trust the one man who broke her heart. Hunter is a lawyer but also a PI and works for DEA on the side. But he cheated on Layla and broke her heart. Or did he? Many truths are revealed in this fast-paced thriller.

Lots of bad guys and action plus a secondary plot going on with the three friends new friend Izzy who was also in the first book. Izzy has her own drama going on when the man who attacked her is found dead and she's the prime suspect.

Can they find out who is the bad guys before it's too late?

Great book. I loved it! Definitely will be waiting for the next book or two in the series. I read it in one day and did not want to put it down!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

BACKLASH by RACHEL DYLAN is the second novel in the Capital Intrigue series, following after End game, but both books can easily be read as stand alones. It is an exciting legal drama, full of roller coaster action which will keep you guessing right to the end.
When CIA agent Layla Karam is seconded to the DEA for a hit on the Mejia Cartel and Diego Mejia's younger brother is killed, she seems to become a target. To make matters worse, she is also being investigated by the Inspector General's office on trumped up charges. Layla plays strictly by the book, is a committed Christian who lives out her faith and tends to think the best of everyone she works with, excepting for her ex boyfriend, Hunter McCoy who broke her heart. He is the PI who is working with the DEA to keep Layla and the other agents safe, and to look into some money that has gone missing since they got back from Honduras.
I love the camaraderie between Layla and her friends, some of whom have their own problems to deal with as well as also being targets.
The novel is fast paced, full of suspense and intrigue and has a strong message of hope and second chances. It is an exciting and worthwhile read and i highly recommend the book to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.