Rachel Dylan has done it again...given us a thrilling ride in the first book of a the new Capital Intrigue series. "End Game" has everything in it that readers of good suspense and intrigue love. A great story with lots of twists and turns, awesome characters with exciting jobs, and a dash of romance all together make for a very enjoyable read. I was blessed to read an advanced copy from the publisher and NetGalley. My review is honest and my own. I didn't want to put it down. I don't think you will either.

What happens when you put the FBI, NCIS, CIA, WSI and Pentagon together all in one book? A heart thumping story of great intrigue by Rachel Dylan. Not only an award winning author, but also a lawyer, she can weave a storyline that will keep you captive until the last page is turned.
Murders of three men, two of them high ranking military, initially brings together the FBI and NCIS in Bailey and Marco respectively. As the mystery increases more are brought in to help. Team meetings, safe houses, attempted kidnappings and flying bullets are all part of the draw in this story.
And it’s sprinkled with just enough romance to keep the characters realistic. Although this can be read as a stand-alone, I’m looking forward to continuing this capital intrigue series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the author but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.

If you love reading Christian romantic suspense and enjoy watching shows like NCIS, chances are you are truly going to enjoy the first book in Rachel Dylan's new Capital Intrigue series: End Game.

End Game had me intrigued right from the very start! I must admit that it's really hard to review this one without giving anything away. There was a lot to take in, and new surprises around every corner... keeping me guessing right through to the very end. Just when I thought perhaps I had it figured out, things would change and I'd find myself wondering once again. This had me invested throughout and kept me reading on... I couldn't put it down!

Though perhaps not my favorite book romance I have ever read, I did enjoy watching the relationship between Marco and Bailey develop. Though it was certainly in the romantic suspense category, I felt like the mystery and action were definitely the main attraction in this particular story...for me anyway! As the first book in the series, I do hope that perhaps we will see more from them in the future. While they were the leads, there many other characters we were introduced to as well. Oftentimes I find that can be a little distracting and hard to keep up with within a story, but I actually really enjoyed this particular group. It seemed as though the author was setting them up for their own stories in the future, so I am definitely looking forward to seeing more books in the series to see where they all end up, I hope.

In addition to the suspense and the romance, I also really enjoyed the faith aspect throughout. Despite their difficult circumstances, it was nice to see the characters turning to God and trusting him. What an important reminder for all of us!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It felt like NCIS (the show) with a Christian twist, and I couldn't get enough. I cannot wait to see more from this series in the future.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

I loved “End Game” by Rachel Dylan! This is the start of a new series for her, and I can’t wait to read the next one.

FBI Agent Bailey Ryan and NCIS Agent Marco Agostini come together in this novel as some elite military members are murdered. Evidence points to a Navy Seal whom Bailey doesn’t believe is guilty. There are many twists and turns in this novel. I was very surprised many times throughout!

I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoy good, clean, suspenseful fiction. Rachel Dylan is one of my favorite authors. I have never been disappointed in any of her books.

I received this from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Short Summary:

He saved her life;
she saved his life;
they had fallen in love.

The story was more involved than that simple summary. This faith-based romantic thriller was an alphabet soup of police agencies working to solve multiple murders in the Washington DC area: NCIS, JAG, Army CID, Seal Team 8, FBI, CIA, the Arlington Police Department, and the Arlington DA’s Office. Each had a role in bringing a group of criminals to justice - and they wanted to do it before any other innocent person was killed.

As expected, Rachel Dylan has created an exciting and complex story worthy of the genre. The author has indicated that there will be future stories in this series; this reader hopes that the series brings back many of the same characters from the various federal agencies in future volumes, they worked well together as a team and some friendships were just beginning.

The book would be a welcome addition to a church or public library. It would be enjoyed by those familiar with the author or genre.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

This book was very hard for me to get into at first. I kept picking it up, and setting it back down because it just didn’t draw me in. The first 25% of the book was very slow and dry for my taste. The plot slowly became more interesting and about halfway through I didn’t want to stop reading.
The romance between the characters didn’t really enhance the story at all. I found myself scanning past the love scenes to get back to the action.
Overall the book was clean and I would allow my teens to read it. I just needed more “Umph” from the beginning.

This new book by Rachel Dylan shows her readers how versatile she is at taking a complicated plot and drawing us into it quickly. This is the first book in a new series called Capital Intrigue, and it definitely hooked me right from the beginning when military special ops men are being killed, seemingly randomly. When multiple agencies are called to investigate, Special Agent Bailey Ryan meets NCIS agent Marco Agostini. The case is twisted, with a lot of secrets that are hidden being revealed and a plot that reaches deep into the bowels of the most secret agency in the U.S. Bailey and Marco are tasked with unraveling the clues and following them to solve the mysteries of the deaths of the SEALS as well as evade being killed themselves. Bailey becomes a vulnerable target during the investigation and that whole sub-plot is edge of the seat reading. This is a book that you will want to set aside time to read from start to finish because it is really hard to put down! Fans of romantic suspense will really enjoy END GAME, and will look forward to the next book in the series!

After enjoying Rachel Dylan's Atlanta Justice series, I was excited to dig into a new one. The Capital Intrigue series is one that will follow three female friends who met while in law school and joined different governmental agencies. We are introduced to each of them in End Game, but it centers mostly around Bailey.

This novel was very easy for me to get into and I was able to picture the setting as if I were standing right beside the characters. The intensity was palpable with a clear sense of urgency. I liked that although there were twists and turns, the content kept the plot moving which kept me invested in the story.

The pace of this novel was well laid out. The initial crime left the team with a lot of questions but throughout their investigation they picked up puzzle pieces along the way that pushed them forward. As some of them start to fit together, you're still wondering what the big picture is, knowing the solution can't be far from your grasp.

And now it's time to sit and impatiently wait for the next book in the series to release. If you haven't picked up any of Rachel Dylan's books yet I highly recommend them. Just don't start them at night...or you might be up for a while ;)

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

End Game
by Rachel Dylan
Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers

Christian
Pub Date 07 Jan 2020

I am reviewing a copy of End Game through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:

Those who are fans of the television series N.C.I.S, will love the End Game!

After the murder of some elite members of the military are murdered on the streets of Washington D.C, F.B.I Special Agent Bailey Ryan and N.C.I.S Special Agent Marco Agostini must work together in order to bring the killer, or killers to justice. The only problem is all evidence points to the guilt of a Navy Seal Sniper that Bailey refuses to believe is guilty.

When Bailey and Marco start to connect the dots between the victims, including the link to a powerful defense attorney and contractor, which leaves them to wonder if they are dealing with a deeper cover up. After Bailey I’d targeted it becomes obvious that there is something deeper at play, that someone is willing to do anything including killing Bailey to keep their dark secrets.

As the stakes get higher and higher by the moment in a twisted conspiracy, there’s a rush against the clock to determine whom they can really trust. Allies turn to enemies, with the biggest secret yet to be uncovered, it could be the end of all of them.

I give End Game five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

I enjoy a thrilling chase through a suspense novel. I have tried Rachel Dylan before, and I didn't enjoy her novels. But this is a new series, and I thought I would give her another try. Again, I was quite disappointed. The novel begins with three women talking, which I assume are the three heroines in this series. Then readers are taken to a dead body where I meet the hero of the story. The plot instantly jumps into the procedure of finding the killer of the dead body. Interview and then thinking. Then interview. Not quite the high action I want in a suspense novel. Because of these things, the plot left me wanting a lot more. The romance was told not shown to us. It didn't grow organically between the two characters. Dylan had to tell us when they started to like each other, and it appeared to be not natural to the storyline. As for the characters, there wasn't much transformation in their personalities over the course of the story. Also, I really didn't empathize with any of them.They were static characters on a page moving around. Overall, End Game by Rachel Dylan did not read like a suspense novel. It read more like a report on the incident from someone who heard it third hand. I didn't really enjoy this novel. Pick up a book by Lynette Eason. More much action.

I received a complimentary copy of End Game by Rachel Dylan from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

End Game by Bethany House was a fabulous thriller. There were so many twists and turns it kept me turning the pages and ignoring the real world for the whole day just so I could get to the end. FBI agent Bailey Ryan teams up with NCIS agent Marco Agostini to find out who is killing some of the nations top military. Not only did I enjoy the story of Bailey and Marco as it built their relationship through solving the crime the supporting characters were also really enjoyable.

I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

End Game by Rachel Dylan had me on the edge of my seat. I think I scared my husband a couple times as I was reacting to the action in the book. I highly recommend this book. And clear your calendar when you start it. I read it in less than 48 hours.

Bailey and Marco end up working together on what looks like a serial killer case. The other members of the team were excellent addition to the story.

Rookie, Izzy and Jim created a great secondary storyline that added depth to the entire story. I enjoyed how the author emphasizes the female friendships and them welcoming in new friends.

The story kept getting more and more intriguing. I had no idea how the people were related, who was the killer, and why they were killed. The author did an amazing job of continuing to reveal more and more information that surprised me.
End Game kept me intrigued with complex characters and plenty of plot twists.

I highly recommend this story. I am thrilled it is part of a new series.
Sexual content - kissing
Violence - possible serial killer, kidnapping, several killings, nothing that I found disturbing.

End Game is an exciting thrill ride from start to finish. An intriguing conspiracy and possible cover-up made it unputdownable. I was feverishly turning the pages to find out just what exactly was going on. I couldn't read it fast enough. There were lots of twists and turns I didn't see coming. It kinda reminded me of an episode of one of those really good TV crime shows.

There was a full cast of likable characters with Bailey and Marco taking the lead. They were a great pair. So different in their approaches to things, but I think that's what made them such a good team.

End Game is exactly the type of suspense that I love. Lots of action, a good mystery, and a side dose of romance. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense. I can't wait for book two!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

I really wanted to like this book, but it just wasn’t for me. I love Christian suspense and have enjoyed some of Rachel Dylan’s books, but this was missing a few pieces for my full enjoyment.

But first… I did like the actual mystery. I couldn’t exactly untangle it myself, so I liked that. Also, the author didn’t end it like she has concluded several of her other books, so I enjoyed the variance there. The different layers of who-did-what were very intriguing and I liked watching everything unravel.

The Christian thread about trusting God rather than circumstance was nicely woven in the story and I think people who have lost loved ones and struggle to open their hearts again could benefit from this theme.

Overall, the writing was rather wooden to me, which is sad, because the actual plot had a lot of depth and potential. I felt like I was told everything rather than being able to experience it for myself. Even in the romance, I didn’t feel the chemistry between characters—they just always said they were falling quickly.

I really don’t intend to be harsh in reviewing this, but I primarily read it to see “whodunit” in the end rather than soaking in the story as it was happening, and I dislike reading in that fashion.

*I received this book from the author and provided my honest review*

"I think they might be keeping dead bodies in their condo". Any book that starts off with that sentence you know you are in for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I could not put this book down I really wanted to know what was going to happen next. The author truly keeps you guessing from beginning to end. At one point I thought I had it all figured out and then the author would throw in a twist and keep you winding what was going to happen next. I really can't say I had a favorite character in this book I have to say I really enjoyed everyone on the team for all different reasons and I really want to know what happens with them. I like Izzy and how she held back but when things needed done she got them done. This book is a good clean read and you will not regret reading this book.

High octane conspiracies and crime fighting:
Make yourself comfy and then hold on to the edge of your seat as you read your way through this gripping and entertaining tale. I found it well paced and full of action, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing right until the very end. There was plenty of intrigue and a complex plot however it was presented in such a way that I was able to keep up with the new developments. There are also some lighthearted moments in between that kept it from getting too heavy. I also liked that the plot wasn't bogged down with extensive sections of dialogue nor too much introspection. The situations and characters responses seemed realistic and plausible. There was a faith element that was understated but woven throughout. Some interesting side characters were also introduced and I look forward to hopefully discovering their stories in future novels.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This series is off to a great start. It involves the FBI, NCIS, CIA, State Department, Navy, DoD, and more. It seems like an easy case to solve at first but the accused is adamant that he’s innocent. However, a cover-up seems too far-fetched and too intricate to contemplate. Bodies keep piling up and things get dangerous for the investigators.

There are curveballs and intense action. I find these kinds of books fascinating. I have a great respect for our military and like the investigators, have a hard time thinking they would sell out our country. Yet the temptations are real.

I liked the special relationship that developed between Jay and Izzy and hope she’s featured in a future book. I enjoyed the friendship between Bailey and her friends. The relationship between Bailey and Marco was a little too fast and didn’t seem to have much basis for it. That’s my only complaint with the book.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

#EndGame #Netgalley

I was unfortunately kind of disappointed with this book. I really liked Rachel Dylan's Atlanta Justice series and was really looking forward to this new series, but I just felt the story was a bit boring. Sure, there's plenty of action scenes, but I just felt a disconnect with it all.

The first 1/3 of the book was interesting and I felt invested and wanted to know what was going to happen, but the more I got to know the characters, the more I didn't really like them. Bailey was kind of bland and Marco was a bit annoying and almost clingy. I felt like their romance escalated way too quickly; but without any chemistry or tension.

I did really like Izzy and I wish she had been the main character! I felt like she was more interesting with her personality and backstory than Bailey was. I looked forward to reading her parts of the book. Jay was good too. It was nice to see a non-romantic relationship in the story as friendship/mentorship relationships are just as important!

Overall I just felt like there was a lot of promise with this book but it unfortunately kind of fell flat. I gauge a book on how eager I am to get back to reading it and this one didn't leave me wanting to hurry back to it. That said, while I didn't love this book, I certainly didn't hate it either. It was just an okay read. I will definitely be looking forward to what comes next though!

End Game by Rachel Dylan – Fast Paced and Filled with Suspense, Intrigue and Likable Characters

When I saw that author, Rachel Dylan had published a new book, End Game – Capital Intrigue Book 1, I was excited to read it.

When FBI Agent Bailey Ryan and NCIS Special Agent Marco Agostini were called in to investigate the murder of Navy Petty Officer Sean Battle little did they know that they would be drawn into a complicated, ever-widening case that would prove to be dangerous and deadly. Where would it end? Just who was involved? How deep did the corruption go? Who can they trust? Where would their investigation lead?

I loved this book. It was filled with suspense and intrigue from beginning to end. What I liked most about this book were the characters. They were nice, decent, honest people who sought the truth, no matter where their case led. I liked the lead characters Bailey and Marco as well as the secondary characters Isabella (Izzy) Cole, Jay Graves, Lexi Todd, Tobias Kappen, and Derek Martinez. They were people of integrity whom I liked and cared about. They worked together in pursuit of the truth. They considered the evidence and when things didn’t make sense or didn’t look right, they dug deeper. Even when it meant risking their own lives.

In today’s culture where we’ve seen the compromise and dishonesty from prominent government officials, it was refreshing to see the integrity of these characters.

I appreciated how the Christian faith was woven into the storyline and supportive friendships. I liked seeing the cooperation and teamwork between the various military branches and the legal system. I enjoyed the friendship, trust, and romance that developed over time as Bailey and Marco got to know one another.

If you like intrigue and suspense, mixed with good characters, an interesting story and a little romance, be sure to read End Game by Rachel Dylan. You won’t be disappointed. End Game – Capital Intrigue Book 1 will be published on January 7, 2020. When Rachel Dylan writes a book, I want to read it!

I would like to thank Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of End Game and the opportunity to read it. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

This book involves several different areas of government agencies to solve a horrible crime. Bailey is with the FBI and she was assigned to this case with Marco from NCIS due to one of the victims being from the Navy. Little did they know how far they would have to reach to truly find answers for the innocent victims. I really liked how strong Marco's faith was. His references to God and his faith throughout the book warmed my heart. I also really likes the fact that there is a lot of support among the women within this book. My favorite quote was “As awful as this life can get, there’s an eternity ahead of us. This is just our temporary situation. A fallen world, and we’re all broken people.”
The reason for 4 out of 5 stars is because the storyline sometimes was a little hard for me to follow all of the different agencies that were incorporated and all of the different characters who were mentioned. That could have also been difficult for me because I wasn't able to dedicate long periods of time to read the book, I had to do it in short increments.
All in all, I would recommend this book if you like contemporary inspirational love stories I received a copy of this book from the author and Netgalley. All opinions in this review are my own.