Backlash

What a thrilling read! This book has a ton of excitement from the first chapter and it keeps it up throughout the book. The mysteries(there's more than one!) are captivating and full of danger-both emotional and physical. There were a couple surprises along the way and all of it worked nicely for a perfect ending. If you like fast paced mysteries and suspense with a dash of romance, check out this series!

Great suspense novel that will keep you flipping the pages. The romance is heart warming and I love that we get to see some of the characters from the first book!

This book was awesome!! It was truly hard to put down and I could never figure out what was going to happen next. That’s the kind of book that keeps my heart pumping and my interest keen. Thanks Rachel for this winner!!

Danger lurks at every turn for CIA analyst Layla Karam. Forced by the head honchos at Langley from her desk comfort zone into a joint field op with the DEA in Honduras, Layla returns home to discover that members of her team are being targeted. When her boss brings in outside help to independently investigate, she is stunned to recognize her ex-boyfriend, Hunter McCoy. Can she see past her anger with him to the man who just wants to protect her, and maybe earn a second chance?

As her friends, Cassandra Ruiz and Izzy Cole fight their own battles, it begins to feel like the only person Layla can trust is Hunter. Can she set aside the way he torpedoed their relationship six years ago and trust the man he has become? When it becomes obvious that there is a mole somewhere in either the DEA or the CIA, can Layla even trust those in command of the operation?

This book was kind of like reading three stories at once - Layla & Hunter, Cass & Zane, and Izzy & Aiden. While Layla's and Cass' stories overlap since they were both on the same DEA operation, and both are being stalked as a result, Izzy's story is completely separate, but because they are all friends, the stories all get told together. I liked that. These women are all strong characters, and all of them have the ability to bring down those who are trying to kidnap, or kill, or discredit them. I also liked that I had no idea until the very end who the actual turncoat was. Every time I thought I knew, Dylan would dole out a new discovery that discredited my "bad guy" choice.

Readers who love suspense with a heavy dose of law, will enjoy Backlash. Rachel Dylan is a corporate lawyer, so she has great insight into how lawyers think. I like that several of the women are connected to the law in some way, either as prosecutors, or potential law school candidates. This book would make a great movie, or TV series, as there is quite a bit of action to visualize as you read. While this is the second book in the Capital Intrigue series, I think it can be read as a stand-alone. It refers to the characters in Book 1, but readers don't need to know that story to enjoy Backlash. I absolutely recommend this!

Have you ever finished a book and then, just because the ending was so unexpected, you just sat back to think about what you just read? That is what happened with me after reading Backlash. I've never read anything by Rachel Dylan before, but I am so glad I gave this book a chance! This book is filled with unexpected twists and turns, that keep you on the edge of your seat and make you want to keep reading. The story is about Layla Karam, a CIA analyst who just came back from a field op in Honduras, to find herself the target of the Mejia cartel. Then after an almost fatal attack at her favorite restaurant, she finds out that she is now under investigation, because there is evidence that she is in cahoots with a top ranking member of a terrorist group in the Middle East! Layla has no choice, but to accept the help of her ex-boyfriend whom she thinks cheated on her. And while all this is happening Layla's friend Izzy is being accused of murder and now she has to keep reliving the worst day of her life. I know that there is a warning at the bottom of the book about physical and sexual assault, but I wanted to let those who are not content sensitive, that there aren't any vivid or graphic descriptions - Izzy just has to tell her side of the story to the cops who thinks she murdered her attacker. Overall, I absolutely LOVED the book, and cannot wait for the third book to come out (at least I have the first book in the series to read in the meantime). I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and definitely list it as one of my Must Read's.

Special thanks to Bethany House Publishers,NetGalley and Rachel Dylan for allowing me to read and review this book – all opinions are my own.

Every time I read something from Dylan, I adore her more. She is definitely one of my favorite authors and best kept secrets in the Christian Romantic Suspense genre. I’m so glad to see her name pop more often in book conversations. I wish being an author paid better, because I wish she could write full time and give up more stories to enjoy!
This book is the second installment in the Capital Intrigue series. While I always advocate for reading series in order, this one can definitely be read as a stand-alone novel.
CIA secrets, DEA drama, and a seemingly successful op that is coming back to haunt them.
Layla is a CIA analyst that under investigation for something she has no part in, and her old, unfaithful boyfriend is the private investigator that is going to help prove her innocence.
This book had so many plot twists and action-packed scenes that I couldn’t have stopped turning the pages if I wanted to! Dylan kept me captivated and guessing until the very end.
One thing I love about Dylan is that she can introduce a number of different characters and plot lines, yet I never feel confused or have to go back and re-read to try and keep up. She spins a seamless story, start to finish, and I’m always sad when it’s over. There was no exception in Backlash, one of my favorites from her, so far.
I cannot wait for Power Play!

Definitely intriguing.

The twists and turns of this book had no end. I was curious to see how things with Hunter would be worked out. I did not see that coming but what a noble sacrifice. The betrayals really hurt and I felt so bad for Layla. You just never know who is good and who is bad. I got my wish though for more of Izzie's story.

There were kind of three storylines going at once - Layla, Izzie, & Zane/Cass. While they all wrapped up pretty well, I think I would have liked the book to be longer to give more time to each story. They could have used some more fleshing out. I liked each set of characters. They had unique stories and it was fun getting to know more secondary characters.

CIA Analyst Layla Karam never planned to be a field agent, but she is thrust into what is supposed to be an open and shut field mission with the DEA only for the mission to fall apart, making Layla a target of a drug cartel and an internal investigation.

A fast-paced, suspenseful read, Layla feels trapped with nowhere to turn, she finds herself reconnecting with a former flame, Hunter McCoy who happens to be an independent contractor for the DEA. This was a quick read for me, it keep me on the edge of my seat, with so much unknown and twists that kept me guessing. I loved how this book's plot unfolded with tension that builds throughout.

Layla is determined to not let them steamroll over her, I admired her strong faith, and he unwillingness to compromise what was important to her. There was great character interaction throughout, as she and Hunter slowly dissolve the distrust between them.

Overall, this was a page turning thriller, with high stakes and heart-pounding suspense. This book could be read as a stand alone, but I think that readers will get more out of Izzy's story if the book are read in order. Fantastic characters, and plot that kept me guessing till the end!


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

Review This story truly had me on the edge of my seat as I was reading it. I was stayed up way too late because I couldn’t go to bed in the middle of tense situations!

I love that Dylan gave Layla and Hunter a past history. For me, that always makes the romance part of the story more believable. It adds a dimension to the characters that makes them more believable.

This story had me guessing until the last moment. I did not catch on to who the mole was until I got to that exact moment in the story. It was so well written! I also loved the thread of the story that talked about God being with us through the struggles. There were no trite answers in this story. Only honest and open dialogue about the journey of faith.

Rachel Dylan has become one of my favorite authors. I always look forward to the next release, And I could definitely see myself going back and reading all of the stories in this series again back to back.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion.

Another excellent book from Ms. Dylan! The plot was expertly woven together to keep the guilty party(ies) hidden from the reader until the end. I loved Layla as a character and enjoyed seeing how things would unfold between her and her ex-boyfriend. The twists and turns definitely keep the reader's interest up--would recommend!

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Bethany House. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Rachel Dylan amazes me. Just when I think I’ve read her best book ever, she comes along with another incredible, suspense-filled storyline that keeps me on the edge of my seat. I won’t be giving specific details so as to not spoil the suspense of the story, but following Layla and Hunter as they seek to clear her name, and escape from the danger that surrounds them, will keep you reading and swiftly turning pages. The mystery in this book is not easily solved, and there’s never really a lull in the storyline. Once you finish this book, you’ll want to read more from Rachel Dylan. Don’t miss this one!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The product description of this book includes this notice: “For those who are content sensitive: this book contains non-graphic scenes and descriptions of physical and sexual assault.”

I now wish I had read "End Game" first! (So I am totally ordering a copy as soon as is possible!)

I highly enjoyed "Backlash" and it was a wonderful introduction to Rachel Dylan for me!

I loved seeing a difference in how this suspense has several different agencies that are often only shown by themself in fiction.

I was somewhat lost for some things since this was the second book but I still enjoyed it very much.

Content: Mentions of sexual abuse, killing, and attempted killing among other things.

18+

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Backlash by Rachel Dylan – Likeable Characters, Interesting Storyline, Filled with Intrigue

I’ve read several books by Rachel Dylan and really enjoyed them. That is why I was excited to read her latest book, Backlash, the second book in the Capital Intrigue series.

Layla Karam is a CIA Analyst, which fits her perfectly, but because of her skills, she has been pushed to work as a field agent. Her assignment was part of a DEA operation in Honduras. The team is back in the US, but they are not safe because someone is targeting the team. Following a break-in, bombing, and murder, Layla is just trying to stay alive and figure out who is targeting her and the team? Is it someone from the drug cartel? Is there a mole within the CIA or DEA? Why in the world is Layla at the center of an IG investigation? To get through this mess, she’s going to have to seek help from the one person she’d like to steer clear of, her ex-boyfriend Hunter McCoy.

I really like Rachel Dylan’s writing style. From the get-go, she draws the reader into the story. The characters are likable, and the storyline is interesting. Several mysteries are going on in Backlash. Who is behind the murder and attempts to kill the DEA Honduras operations team? How did straight and narrow, law-abiding Layla end up the subject of an IG investigation? The characters from the first novel End Game have returned in Backlash, including NCIS Agent Izzy Cole. Layla is not the only one facing an investigation. Her friend Izzy is a prime suspect in the murder of her former police sergeant that had sexually assaulted her. Layla and Izzy will rely on the support and help of good friends who care.

I appreciated the friendships, people who were committed to each other. There were some surprises in this book, like who the “bad guy” was. I was guessing but got it wrong. Faith was a small part of the book, mostly seen with Layla’s character. I appreciated that this was a clean novel. There were times towards the end that the story seemed to drag a bit, but I still liked this book.

I would recommend Backlash, especially for those who like suspense, mysteries, intrigue, or stories involving law enforcement. I look forward to reading more of Rachel Dylan’s books and the next book in the Capital Intrigue series.

I would like to thank Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for an opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Backlash by Rachel Dylan. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Their lives are about to be upended...

Wow! If you are looking for an edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense that reads more like a thriller have I got the story for you! The newest novel in Rachel Dylan's exciting Capital Intrigue series is an intense thrill-a-minute ride of danger, intrigue, romance, and betrayal. I thought I really liked End Game but I loved Backlash!

There were so many twists and turns and surprises I could hardly keep up! But I enjoyed every single minute of it! The guessing, second guessing, the smugness when I was proven right, and the 'I didn't see THAT coming' moments as well. And there were definitely a few of those moments!

One of my favorite things about Backlash were the bits and pieces of her own experience that Rachel Dylan added to the second book in her Capital Intrigue series. As I read the author's note at the end it made the story just that much more real to me.

So, if you are looking for a story that will keep you up late into the night anxiously flipping the pages to find out what happens next you really need to read Rachel Dylan's newest Capital Intrigue book. Trust me, Backlash is a doozy!

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

The second installment in the Capital Intrigue series gives readers all the thrills, chills, and heart stopping moments I’ve come to expect from Rachel Dylan.

Layla Karam joined the CIA as an analyst, she never wanted anything more, especially after she was thrust into a dangerous operation with the DEA against a major drug cartel that puts a target on her back. When one of her team members ends up murdered, she and the rest of the team scramble to stay safe. Along with staying alive there is now an internal investigation against her causing Layla to turn to the one person she never wanted to see again for help, her ex-boyfriend Hunter McCoy. Hunter is a private investigator and uses his skills to try and find out who is trying to sabotage Layla’s career. Together they discover a mole inside the DEA that has given information to the cartel on the team. Layla must do the hardest thing imaginable, put her trust in the man she used to love to keep her alive and keep her heart safe from him.

This is the second book in the Capital Intrigue series and is just as enjoyable as the first. With all the characters in high risk positions, the story starts with a bang and doesn’t stop until the very end. I liked Layla, she wasn’t looking for danger and high stakes missions, she preferred to stay back and do the job she was brought on for, an analyst. However, others higher up had different plans for her though. She could have played the pity card, but she never did, she got mad and fought back. The relationship aspect of the novel was well played, there were several different directions it could have gone but I was pleased with the way Dylan wrote it. Even though this book is mainly about Layla and Hunter I couldn’t help but be pulled in by the scenes with Izzy, (I’m hoping the next book in the series focuses more on her.) There was just something about her story line that pulled me in faster than the others. There are a lot of tense scenes and violence, but it is never written in a way that would turn squeamish readers away. With that being said, the whole story was an enjoyable read, I read it in just over a day. It had been a good while since I read the first one and it didn’t keep me from enjoying any of the story which leads me to say that even though this is the second in the series it could be read as a standalone without any problem. Fans of the romantic suspense will not want to miss this one.

I love Rachel Dylan's books and the second installment from her series, Capital Intrigue, does not disappoint. I am giving Backlash five stars.

This is book 2. This is an insane must read from Rachel Dylan. You should read book 1 first and then this one as you will understand what is going on better.

Who is targeting CIA analyst Layla Karam? Who
is targeting her team members? With one dead,
another in hiding and several attempts on her
life and an internal affairs investigation on the
horizon, Layla needs to rely on an old college
flame who is now a private investigator and
a lawyer. Will they get to the body of this
vendetta against her and her team members
before they get to her?
Get ready to participate in an action packed,
suspenseful escapade as this well plotted
stories winds the reader through many a twist
and turn in the story. I felt the author made
me a tag a long it was so well described.
This is book # 2 in the Capital Intrigue series.
It can be read as a stand alone.
Come along...join in this adventure for a chilling
read.
I volunteered to read Backlash. Thanks to the
author via NetGallery for the opportunity to read.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.

Backlash is the second book in Rachel Dylan's Capital Intrigue series and another thrilling suspense. I found the characters likeable and I liked how there were some unexpected twists.

I'm not sure if it was just me and my reading mood at the time, but the storyline was a little difficult to completely follow at times. It might be because I wasn't really in the mood to read at the time and trying to get over a slump. It was still enjoyable…but I think some things went over my head.

All in all, Backlash was a good read. I look forward to reading the next book when it releases. If you are a fan of romantic suspense, then I think you'll like this one, too.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Another hit from the queen of legal thrillers! I absolutely love reading Rachel Dylan's novels. She has a knack for thoroughly researching and developing her story lines to feel realistic and absolutely fast paced. I sat down to read this one and had it finished in less than 24 hours! Flaw filled characters, inspirational messages, and twists and turns galore, this book will leave you on the edge of your seat, and wanting more instantly! Well done, Dylan!

Backlash by Rachel Dylan is the second book in the Capital Intrigue series and a must read if you love inspirational romantic suspense.
Layla Karam and her team are put in danger when a mole leaks information about them to the cartel. Not knowing who she can trust she goes to her ex-boyfriend Hunter McCoy for help even though he broke her heart.
I'm looking forward to reading more books in this wonderful series!

I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.

4.5
Backlash by Rachel Dylan is a great addition to the Capital Intrigue series. I enjoyed this second chance novel about Layla and Hunter. Dylan has written a story full of intrigue in which everyone is a suspect. I was kept guessing throughout the story and was very satisfied with the tie-up at the end of the book. The romance was sweet as Layla and Hunter were reunited to work together after a painful separation and end to their relationship.
A secondary story continues from book 1 and, for this reason, reading the first book in the series before this one is a good idea (and also a good read).
Dylan is a must-read for me in the area of romantic suspense. I definitely recommend this second book in the series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions given are my own.

Backlash is the second book in the Capitol Intrigue series by Rachel Dylan. The author blends suspense with romance with a complex plot. There's a mole within the CIA and DEA, and Layla Karem is fighting to save her reputation and her life. With the help of DEA agent and ex-boyfriend, Hunter McGray, can they find the culprit before it is too late? Get ready for a page turner!

This was as good as the first book in the Capital Intrigue series. You will get caught up in all that goes on and not want to put the book down. Rachel Dylan keeps you guessing on who is behind everything. Lots of twists and turns!

This story opens with a bang and just keeps going from there. An explosion in a downtown cafe where a CIA analyst and her friends meet on a regular basis. Members of the team from her last operation are targeted at the same time which brings in the DEA and a private investigator who has a past history with her. Very fast paced action keeps you guessing until the end.

Backlash is a wonderful suspense novel! It had me on the edge of my seat and I didn't want to stop reading until I reached the end. I felt for Layla and wanted her to solve the case before she found herself arrested for something she didn't do, but when all the evidence points in her direction, it becomes more and more difficult to prove this was a setup. I enjoyed the romance between Layla and Hunter and how their broken hearts found healing. If you love suspense and danger, and a deep dive into the DEA, I highly recommend Backlash. This is the second book in the Capital Intrigue series, but I felt it stood on its own.

Oh Wow! I love this nail biting thriller! And I didn’t get to read book one, and though I am going to read it later, I had no problems keeping up with the characters. The author does a fantastic job of giving enough details to fill readers in. I love these close knit characters and enjoyed getting to know them as the story unfolds. Layla, Vivian and Bailey are longtime friends after meeting in college and now all three work in some form of law enforcement. Which is exciting!! But someone is out to get Layla, and it seems they will go to any length to succeed.

Back Lash is one of those stay up all night and read books, and it’s exactly what I did. I couldn’t put this book down. There was too much going on and things were happening too fast to stop reading! After ending up in the hospital, a private investigator was brought in to help keep Layla safe. But because they had a past, Layla was not happy to have Hunter around. But she really has no choice.

Being a lawyer, author Rachel Dylan is full of knowledge about writing a legal thriller. This is why I love her books so much! She is spot on with the info. And the cast of characters she creates for Back Lash are so realistic I feel like I’m reading the news. And yet I also feel like I’m living the story with them. They seem like good friends to me now, and I love feeling this with characters. There were so many twists and turns, just when you think you have the bad man, another twist pops up and you are back where you started. Keeping us guessing. But in the end, Ms. Dylan weaves everything together into a wonderful ending. I also love that this author weaves faith and the Christian life into the lives of her characters. And it’s done in a subtle way not to offend anyone.

And oh, I can’t forget. I read the authors note and find it very interesting that the author writes a bit if herself in one of the characters, which I thought interesting and intriguing. Theres a lot to love about this book! If you enjoy a good clean thriller, this is your book!! This one deserves more than Five Stars, but that’s all I can give.

A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.