4.5 stars for this second installment in the Capital Intrigue series. This book could easily stand alone as there is enough history provided that you're not missing anything if you haven't read book 1 (End Game), but if you plan to read them all, I would recommend reading them in order for the most enjoyment. This book follows Layla Karam, a CIA Analyst who is being pushed to be an operative. After returning from an op with the DEA, Layla's world is turned upside down as she and her team are targeted by the Cartel they had crippled and an internal investigation is opened up on her. To make matters worse, the PI they've hired to investigate is none other than her ex, Hunter McCoy, who had left her unceremoniously 5 years earlier for a one night stand. But, things aren't as they seem and Layla and Hunter have to work together to uncover a mole, catch a thief, and stay one step ahead of the cartel, or they will lose their very lives. Fans of the series will also enjoy learning a bit more of Izzy's story as her perspective is also shared periodically throughout the book.

This book was so full of twists and turns and a lot of things going on! However, it was never confusing. While I had some suspicions (which seemed to change as frequently as the pages turned), I did not know "whodunit" till the very end. Quite a twisted web! This one had all the great elements of a romantic suspense - a solid mystery (that should be plural - there were several mysteries), on the edge-of-your-seat action, a sweet romance and a solid faith thread. While there were times I felt the romance to be a bit "cheesy", I think most fans of romantic suspense will find it more swoony. I did appreciate it more than the last book simply because this couple had good history and love was already there - just needed to be re-discovered. And one thing I will add - I got so excited during a car chase scene that Layla shot out the tires of the other vehicle to prevent further chase. It drives me crazy in tv shows and movies when they let the bad guys get away because they couldn't get a clear head shot and they could have shot the tires, lol. All in all, this was an enjoyable inspirational romantic suspense novel and I would highly recommend to fans of that genre.

Special thanks to the author and publisher for an advance copy of the book. I was under no obligation to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Backlash continues the exciting Capital Intrigue series by Rachel Dylan, which follows End Game. This second installment of Ms. Dylan's series continues the highly adventure-packed plot of crime fighting at the highest stakes with even more secrets, unexpected criminals, clandestine operations, as well as the always present fight of good versus evil. Backlash is a book you won't be able to put down once you start it!
Layla Karam is a CIA analyst that is pushed into fieldwork and recently had partnered with the DEA in an secret operation to take down a dangerous cartel. As far as Layla knows the operation went well; however, when strange things start to happen and then one of her teammates is murdered, Layla realizes that her life is on the line from the retaliation of the cartel. When even more troubles face Layla, with an internal investigation directed at her, Layla doesn't know who she can trust. Can she trust anyone in her agency? Can she trust the DEA agents she worked with?
When Layla happens to run into Hunter, her ex-boyfriend, now private investigator, she is so desperate that she turns to him for help. Although their partnership is tenuous, Hunter and Layla see the need to team up to discover the truth and to prevent Layla's entire career from imploding. In their investigations, Layla and Hunter discover that there is someone on the inside of the DEA or CIA that is working for the cartel. Someone has given up the team's information and is trying to destroy Layla's career, if not end her life! Can Hunter and Layla discover who the mole is before it is too late? Can they protect the rest of the team? Will one of the teammates they thought they could trust end up being their betrayer? What will become of Hunter and Layla's relationship? Read Backlash to find out!
I enjoyed how in this book Ms. Dylan focused in on a minor character from the first book, CIA analyst Layla Karam. I honestly vaguely remembered Layla from the first book, but am so glad that Ms. Dylan focused on Layla in this book, not only for the perspective of CIA work, but also for her strong and intelligent character as well as her honesty and integrity even in the midst of a career full of espionage, back-stabbing, and greed. Layla's faith throughout her struggles was very encouraging as well as refreshing. I appreciated her integrity and also her drive for a meaningful career and life. Layla didn't give up when things got rough, she pushed ahead.
My initial impression of Hunter was that he was a nice guy who had grown up after some heartaches and mistakes, but I soon realized that he also was a character with a great deal of integrity, hard-work, devotion, loyalty, and very self-sacrificing. Hunter struggled with his faith, but never let go, showing at true strength and perseverance. I appreciated the different perspectives that Hunter and Layla brought to the crime-fighting scene, from the governmental agency to the private sector.
Another aspect of this book that I appreciated was how Ms. Dylan brought out the themes of forgiveness, redemption, and love. Even though Layla and Hunter had a past together full of hurt and disappointments, they were able to overcome their differences and truly forgive one another and have a restored relationship. I appreciated how Layla and Hunter had a true collaborative relationship, encouraging and challenging each other in areas of faith, forgiveness, career growth, family, and various other areas.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, in fact, I couldn't put it down! I am not usually a speed-reader, but I think I may have broken a personal record for how quickly I read this book. ;) I would highly recommend this book and I hope that you have the chance to enjoy it as much as I did.
Disclaimer: Bethany House Publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.

Lots of action with the DEA, CIA, and NCIS leading the way to find a mole leaking information to the cartel. The mole was obvious to me but the chase was intriguing. I found it difficult to keep up with all the characters at times. Layla is a brilliant analyst but is too trusting which made it hard to believe that the CIA would want her as an operative. This is an enjoyable book that allows readers to see some inside ops from various alphabet agencies. Recommended!

Special Agent Layla Karam is a rising star in the CIA, she is an analyst and very good at what she does. So good that the CIA starts training her for the field despite the fact that she has made it clear that she does not want to be in the field.
After a joint operation with the DEA her team becomes a target with one agent dead, another being stalked, another put in a safe house, another being looked at as a traitor of the country and Layla is being framed for murder of the man who assaulted her many years ago when she was under his command as a cop.
Layla ends up turning to her ex fiance, Hunter McCoy,he is a PI and an attorney. He is also one of the few people who knows her true position in the CIA and who had been read into the operation with the DEA and knew about the horrific assault she suffered years back by her sergeant and did what he could to help her through that.
When Hunter was notified about the bombing at the restaurant and that Layla had been there when it happened he went, he went right over to the hospital to see her.
Hunter knew she was not going to want to see him, he could not blame her considering how bad things went between the two of them. She did not kick him out, and once they started talking about what was happening he resolved right then that he would talk to her bosses and request to be read in on the situation so he could help clear Layla and find out who was doing this to her team.
They both still cared for one another and still had the chemistry but did they have the strength to put their faith in God about their relationship?
Thank you Rachel Dylan for allowing me to be part of your street team. This was a beautiful story that kept me hooked from the start.

If you're looking for a book full of suspense, action, mystery, and a second-chance romance, Backlash is what you need. Rachel Dylan has done an incredible job of writing a story that quickly grabbed my interest, had likable characters, a very sweet romance, a faith sustained and one resurrected, and a plot filled with twists and turns that rocketed through to the end. Some of those twists I did not see coming, but I found them to be believable. There's a great HEA too.
I definitely plan to read more in this series and more of Rachel Dylan's other works. I highly recommend this to readers of romantic suspense, to Christian fiction readers, and to readers of clean/whole romance. I bet you'll love it as much as I do!
I received a complimentary copy. I chose to write a review and share my opinion of this incredible romantic suspense book.

I absolutely loved this book! The central characters work at the DEA and CIA. Layla is an analyst who’s talked into becoming a field agent in Honduras. Ever since the team returned, someone is out to kill her, it seems like. On top of that, there’s $500,000 missing from the field op and there’s a suspected mole in the department. Plenty of mystery and intrigue to keep the pages turning. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romantic suspense.

“Backlash” is the second book in Rachel Dylan’s Capital Intrigue series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone. This is the story of Layla Karam, a dedicated CIA analyst who was chosen to go on a DEA op to Honduras. That is where her problems began because now one of her team members is dead and she is a definite target herself. Her ex-boyfriend Hunter McCoy is tasked with keeping her safe, but that is no small job since the cartel seems to constantly be one step ahead of them. Hunter and Layla have to work together to find out who is the traitor among them before she ends up just like her teammate. This is a fast-paced and intense drama with ingenious twists and an imaginative plot. Ms. Dylan uses the setting very effectively, taking our heroine all over the capital city in her quest to escape the villains. This is an absolutely fascinating story of faith and forgiveness, with these themes woven throughout the story. “Backlash” is superb romantic suspense that will appeal to fans of Lynette Eason, Lisa Harris and Dani Pettrey. I sincerely appreciate Bethany House Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this dynamic book. I was not required to write a positive review; the opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I loved “Backlash” by Rachel Dylan so much that I finished it in a couple of days! I couldn’t put it down! I have loved every one of Rachel Dylan’s books, but this one is my favorite so far. This is book two of the Capital Intrigue series. I love the way Rachel Dylan makes the characters in the book feel like they are your friends, and I found myself rooting for them! The close knit friendship of the main female characters really comes alive in this book.

This book centers on CIA Analyst Layla Karam. Someone is targeting Layla and the rest of her team. In fact, death is involved with one team members. Also, Layla is being investigated by the CIA. Layla’s ex-boyfriend and private investigator, Hunter McCoy, come together to try to solve both mysteries. They find out there is a mole, but they don’t know where or who. This book totally threw me for a loop. I never suspected who the mole was! I love books that do this.

I highly definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good, clean, suspense novels. In fact, I highly recommend all of Rachel Dylan’s books. You won’t be disappointed.

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

Backlash
by Rachel Dylan
Bethany House
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 06 Oct 2020 | Archive Date 31 Oct 2020

Sit down with your favorite beverage and enjoy this suspenseful and interesting book! I really enjoy Rachel Dylan and the books she has written. She has not let us down. I will recommend this to our patrons.

5 star

Wow! Ms. Dylan has done it again. She weaves murder and intrigue with romance and faith to create engaging edge of your seat intrigues. I look forward to reading her books and don't even need to read the blurb on the back cover to know I will love the story. Backlash is full of strong women and the men who are attracted to them. Multiple storylines keep you guessing as to who is the bad guy. So grab a pitcher of sweet tea and settle down somewhere comfy for a fabulous read!

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

This is the second installment of Dylan's Capital Intrigue series, but it could be read as a standalone. However, reading the series in order will help the reader have a greater appreciation for the characters and their friendship.

Ample action and twists grab the reader's attention early on. The romance angle isn't overwhelming, which I appreciated. Though not the main focus of this story, Izzy was probably my favorite character.
Overall, Dylan does a nice job of creating realistic characters that work well together and are easy to root for.

Note: The author addresses some difficult, but relevant, topics in this book, including assault. She also weaves in themes of hope and faith throughout the story.

Backlash was more than I expected! The story begins with a bang, literally, as a bomb goes off. From there we have several threads to follow to try to discover those responsible for all the chaos ensuing. I enjoyed the characters of this story. Watching Layla discover more about herself and her talents was intriguing. In the meantime Izzy faces her own challenges and tries to decide what her future will hold.
I like that Dylan challenges these characters to look beyond the surface and not assume they know what they think they know. I like the mystery that ebbed and flowed with each thread they pulled.
Backlash is book two in the Capital Intrigue series and is a great followup to End Game. I'm excited to see where this series will take us next.
Thank you Bethany House for the opportunity to preview this book. All opinions are my own.

Layla Karam, CIA field agent just got back from a black op in South America, dealing with a drug cartel. She and her team accomplished the mission but the Kingpin’s younger brother was killed in the operation. Someone is now stalking everyone on the team including Layla and in addition, someone on the inside is trying to destroy her career. Much to her dismay, the only one who can help her is her ex-boyfriend, Hunter, who is now a private investigator and works with the agencies in D.C. doing undercover work. As the situation gets more involved and frightening, Layla gets very dependent on Hunter’s help and support and begins to forgive him a little for the past. When she finds out what happened in the past was not what it seemed at the time, she wonders if they can repair their relationship.
This is another one of those books that I had to stay up till I finished. I love this author’s books and always get excited when there is a new one out for review.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Backlash ( Capital Intrigue #2 )
By: Rachel Dylan
Backlash is book two in the series Capital Intrigue. Dylan has did it again, another action packed , suspense, and some romance. I was hooked at the start and did not want to put it down. There are twist and turns all through the book that will keep you holding on.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Rachel Dylan has very correctly named her series Capitol Intrigue. She once again delivers quite good suspense with intrigue, including some twists that will take the reader by surprise. Dylan knows exactly what she is doing in writing novels so full of suspense that the reader is completely caught up in everything taking place. Recommended.

*My thanks to Bethany House Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinion here is my own.
3 likes

this is a revitting story to the end. she just wants to work behind a desk but they want her in the field on her last op someone killed the head of the cartels brother and now he is out to get them, but how does he know who they are? with several attempts on her life and the death of another of the team they need protection. she has to work with her ex boyfriend they know there is a mole but who and why? if you like suspense and romance and characters that learn to trust in God to get them through, you will want to read the story. lots of twists and turns. i was given a copy of the book by netgalley but this is an honest review. i could not put the book down till the end. it is a well written story, the characters are flushed out and you see the good and the bad and what happened , and what causes them to act the way they do, and how they handled the situation , the right or wrong way and how that changes the way things turn out.

"Backlash" is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the second in a series, but it works as a stand alone. The story follows several characters, including two other members of Layla's team and one of her friends. They're all suspected of some level of crime and have to defend themselves legally. The DEA team (including Layla) also needs to survive attempts by the cartel to kill them. Perhaps because there were so many investigations going on, it felt like things got wrapped up very quickly at the end. The reader isn't clued into which people are behind the different events, but it also wasn't a surprise to me when the bad guys were uncovered at the end (since the subtle clues were pointing that way).

The three main couples all had relationships based on friendship and sacrificial love. They built each other up and supported each other. I loved that Hunter and Layla took turns saving each other and that Hunter was secure enough that he could thank and admire Layla for her skills. The main characters were engaging, interesting people that reacted realistically to events. Hunter's relationship with God was strengthened through the events and from talking with Layla about how her faith withstood some of the things she's been through. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting story.

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!