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.Layla and Hunter soon discover a mole inside the DEA has sold out the team’s identity to the cartel. She must clear her name with the Agency and protect herself and her teammates from cartel retaliation. With threats on all sides, Layla must put her trust in Hunter–the man who broke her heart–and hope they both come out of it alive. For those who are content sensitive: this book contains non-graphic scenes and descriptions of physical and sexual assault.
more
From the FIRST page… sit down and buckle up because wooo boy are you going for a ride! Also, be prepared for some fingernail biting. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Do you ever set out with the intention to figure out “who done it” while you’re reading the book. I typically dive in, just trying to enjoy the story, but the more I read suspense novels, the more I want to see if I can deduce who the bad guy is. lol
Well, Rachel has enough characters in Backlash to keep you guessing. I pretty much guessed each person at some point throughout the story. Enough to drive myself crazy! I guess that’s a good thing because it means Rachel was keeping me on my toes. There are explosions, shootings, attacks and everything else you expect from a suspense novel like this! lol
Layla was an amazing character in this book! She’s not a field agent. She doesn’t want to BE a field agent. Thankfully she was required to do some training because she was going to need it in this story. And while she’s trying to protect herself from whoever is after her, people around her are dropping like flies. I also liked that Layla’s ex-boyfriend, Hunter, is brought in. He was easy to dislike from the start. You hurt Layla, you have to deal with all of us. hahahaha
Then there’s Izzy’s storyline and honestly, I appreciate that Christian fiction authors are tackling really tough topics such as sexual assault. Rachel handles it from the victim’s perspective and she does it very well. It’s important for people to also read about the men who support and care for women who have been assaulted, which Rachel does with Jay and Aiden.
As I continued reading this story, I wondered why anyone would want to work for a government agency. lol Do people get started there believing they can change the world? All “pie in the sky” visions and then they turn dirty? OR are they dirty and see an Agency as pay dirt? I don’t even know who to trust any more. Anything ever happens to me, I’m hoping Marco, Zane, Cass, Layla, Izzy, Bailey, and Viv are on my side.
Of course, I can’t forget the most important aspect of the story… their faith! When characters struggle with faith, I think we can relate to them on a level that helps us see ourselves better. The ladies, who are all friends, are able to encourage and support each other because of their shared faith.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic suspense in the heart of the Capital! I wish I would’ve had time because I would’ve loved going to Alexandria or DC to get some photos with the book!
*I am part of the launch team for Rachel Dylan. This is my personal opinion.
Rachel Dylan has done it once again with the second book in her Capitol Intrigue series, Backlash! I have the privilege of reading this suspense filled book and I was not disappointed.
In this second book, we get to know more about Layla Karam, a CIA analyst. After being recruited by the CIA out of law school – Layla’s desire was to be behind the scenes. She was content with her role in the background, analyzing data and supporting operatives in the field.
Her skills do not go unnoticed and she is tasked with an assignment in conjunction with the DEA in Honduras. Upon her return from the field operation in Honduras, things start to go terribly wrong. Layla and her team are being attacked and slowly eliminated. While Layla life is being threatened, she is also faced with questions regarding her integrity internally at the CIA.
Despite their complicated past and bad breakup, she must enlist her ex-fiance, Hunter, a private investigator with DEA ties to help her figure out what is going on and who is trying to kill her and their DEA team.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and loved how the characters were interwoven. The plot twists were not immediately obvious and I appreciate how Ms. Dylan was able to create flawed characters that were capable of redemption. And I was encouraged by how Layla portrayed her faith saying, “I didn’t say it was easy but it can be necessary. I find myself in a constant dialogue with God about things. I get frustrated and even angry, but at the end of the day, I know where I place my faith and that He will walk with me through it.” Like many of us when we face trials, we cry out to God and ask for wisdom and understanding but ultimately rest in knowing that He sovereignly ordains and will be faithful to uphold us.
I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review*
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 know, 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.
What a ride! Backlash by Rachel Dylan is the second book in the Capital Intrigue series. This book features Layla who is a CIA analyst and sometimes operative and her romantic interest Luke. He is her former boyfriend and he is tasked with being her lawyer and private investigator. This book has so many things going on that you have to pay attention. I really didn’t know who for sure the bad guy was until the end. If you like page turning action with some romance, then you will love this book.
Wowsers! What a great story Rachel Dylan has created! It was great knowing more about Layla and Hunter. Such a fast-paced, page turner, with lots of twists you didn’t expect. You got to see how life can take you sometimes down a different road and find out maybe that wasn’t the road you were supposed to take after all. What a great read! Highly recommend. Great job Rachel!
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.
It is good to have friends who have your back:
This was book 2 in the series and I would recommend reading them in order and preferably fairly close together as I had forgotten who some of the key players were by the time I came to read this. Nevertheless it is an enjoyable fast paced, action filled romantic suspense with a gentle Christian theme.
Layla is a CIA analyst who suddenly finds herself a target yet it is unclear who the perpetrator is. Ex-boyfriend Hunter was tasked with getting to the bottom of things but along the way he could no longer deny his feelings for feisty Layla. Meanwhile she had to work through her issues of trust and forgiveness to decide whether she could give him a second chance.
I really enjoyed how the personal and faith aspects did not just take a back seat to the mystery and suspense, but were strong elements in their own right. The many twists and turns kept me on my toes and now I can’t wait for the final book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Rachel Dylan stirs together an alphabet soup of government agencies with heart-pounding suspense to create an unforgettable story of betrayal, forgiveness, and intrigue with her latest book Backlash. Fans of NCIS won’t want to miss this one!
While the main character doesn’t work for that particular agency, it is in the mix, as well as many others. I found it a bit complicated at first as I tried to keep each character matched with their proper places of employment, but soon the action takes over and tracking employment didn’t matter.
I really enjoyed Layla’s character and found myself cheering her on throughout the book. You can’t help but root for her as she encounters one obstacle after another. I like that she knew what she wanted and was determined to do her best, even when things weren’t going her way.
On the other hand, Hunter is a more complicated male lead. His story isn’t quite as straightforward, and I enjoyed the way that Dylan dribbled the details out as you crave more of the back story.
I must admit, I did figure out who the ‘bad guy’ was fairly early on in the story, but I wasn’t able to guess the other twists and turns that this plot takes – and there are a lot of them! I enjoyed trying, though, and catching all the red herrings that Dylan throws out is half the fun.
While Backlash can stand alone, it’s the second book in the Capital Intrigue series, and I liked the large part that Izzy played in this one. I think you’ll definitely enjoy this story more if you’ve read End Game.
If romantic suspense and governmental intrigue is your thing, though, you’ll want to put Backlash on your TBR list now. It’s fast-paced, mysterious, and well-written, making it the perfect choice for fall and winter reading.
I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
Another page-turner from Rachel Dylan! And actually the book featured two storylines, one that isn’t really mentioned in the book summary, but I felt was just as important. First, though, there is Layla, dealing with not only a drug cartel out for her head but also an internal investigation where she’s been set up. Into the midst of all this comes her ex-boyfriend, Hunter, who she has never stopped loving. Besides the intrigue and suspense, this storyline also dealt with the past and how things aren’t always as they seem and then dealing with that knowledge. Secondly, we see Izzy, who was secondary figure in End Game, the first book in this series. She is dealing with the murder of the police sergeant who assaulted her and changed her life forever. Both storylines focus on God’s timing and forgiveness and the trust and being truthful are so important in all relationships. This book was definitely hard to put down! And while it featured lots of spy action and lot of people, it was actually pretty easy to follow. Can’t wait for the third book in the series!
I received a copy of the book for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.
What a great book! Just finished Backlash by Rachel Dylan. Highly recommend it! End Game is the 1st book in this series. Backlash is # 2.
Rachel Dylan is still a somewhat new author to me, and I have loved everything I have read by her. The series of hers I read previously was more on the law and courtroom, whereas this series focuses on law enforcement: The CIA, NCIS, and the DEA.
Backlash is the second book in this series, and is even better than the first one. With killers after some of the team that had been on a major drug raid, the action and suspense are non stop amid the search for a mole.
A side plot involves sexual assault, and this warning is on the publisher’s website: “For those who are content sensitive: this book contains non-graphic scenes and descriptions of physical and sexual assault.” The description is very general, and not graphic at all.
This is romantic suspense, so of course there is a romantic angle to the book. I actually enjoy that these days and was rooting for Hunter to win Layla back, especially when the truth came out on the breakup.
There is a lot to like about this book, and it is one I couldn’t put down, and I did read it in one evening. And it left me wanting more.
I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.
This is book 2 in the Capital Intrigue Series. I have read the first book – but they can be read as a standalone. I love everything that I read by this author. She always writes stories that leave you in shock. Just like her other books – this one starts off with a bang and does not let up. Layla Karam, a CIA Analyst is clearly a target when her favorite restaurant gets bombed, a member of her team turns up dead and a team members house is broken into. Who would want her dead? Her ex boyfriend, Hunter who is a private investigator is tasked with trying to figure out who is involved. Is it the DEA? Is it the CIA? What will happen if sparks start to fly. This book will take you on many twists and turns throughout the journey. The author always has a way of throwing wrenches into the the path.
The author has created some strong, well written characters. She has written a very suspenseful storyline that will keep you guessing. I am sad to see the series end – but excited for what she may release next.
I received a copy of this book through the author – all thoughts are my own.
This book had a few different storylines which all worked well together. The pace was fast and the story kept my interest. I really enjoyed this book.
From the moment CIA analyst Layla Karam answers the late-night knock at her door, Backlash propels you through a high stakes page turner filled with revenge, false accusations and more than a little romance. When Layla’s life and livelihood are on the line, she is forced to work with Hunter, the man who broke her heart to find out who is behind the attacks. Is the Cartel she helped hit after her, or is the threat coming from inside the CIA itself? Throw in a murder investigation with NCIS agent Izzy Cole in it’s cross-hairs and you’ve got a book that will dare you to put it down before you’ve turned the last page.
I definitely recommend this book for fans of Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason or Irene Hannon!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Backlash is a fantastic addition to the Capital Intrigue series. Well developed plot and characters. This book is a real page turner. I received an advance copy of the book from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.
This thrilling novel is rife with danger. Most of the cast of characters face threats on their lives or reputations or both. The author juggles multiple gripping suspenseful plot lines that keep readers on edge as they race through the pages to see how it will all play out. DEA, CIA, and more get involved with the cases and agents in this story. Who can be trusted, and who may betray them? Will they even survive? Two of the main women targeted in this tale are Layla Karam and Izzy Cole. Troubles from their painful pasts follow them into their present areas of service. You can’t help but root for them to overcome. And the book packs a powerful surprise near the end. I received a copy from the author. All opinions are my own.
Sit on the edge of your seat, can’t put down suspense at its finest. This book is wonderful. I fell in love with Layla. Hope I will read more of her and Hunter in future books. Can’t wait to read the next book in this series. I was given a copy of this book from the publisher. These words are strictly my own and my true thoughts of this book.
“I can’t help but think trouble followed us home from Honduras.”
Trouble did follow CIA analyst Layla Karam home from Honduras. . . . .her team members are being strategically stalked and in one case, murdered. Ironically, her trip to South America was a DEA mission that Layla had been pulled into, “on loan” from one department to another, so to speak. Evidently a high ranking cartel member had been taken out and the team’s identity severely compromised; the obvious question being “how”?
Adding to Layla’s personal stress, an internal intelligence investigation pops up. Layla’s supervisors suggest that she get legal representation and seek the assistance of an investigator, but she is hardly prepared to come face to face with Hunter McCoy; the man who had previously decimated her heart and shattered her dreams. Layla never thought Hunter’s actions or explanations made sense back then, so it looks like they will have the opportunity for closure, no matter how fortunate or unfortunate the timing might be.
This romantic suspense actually offers two story lines, which some may consider rather distracting; nonetheless, the author confidently weaves in and out of case details bringing a myriad of possibilities to the forefront . . . . who to believe, who to question, what are the facts, what do they mean? An added bonus is great inspirational messaging, an example being “I thought I could make it on my own, but all of that showed me how much I need the Lord in my life”.
Enjoy this captivating addition to the “Capital Intrigue” series! I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher, the opinions stated above are entirely my own.
Rachel Dylan’s books are full of intelligent characters, lifelong friendships, ensemble casts, and multi-layered plots with plenty of twists and surprises along the way. Backlash (book two in the Capital Intrigue series) is no exception.
While Dylan’s experience as a lawyer is evident in the details, she also delves into government agencies such as the CIA and DEA. And all of it makes for a fast-paced, entertaining read that is hard to put down.
The balance between suspense, action, romance, and faith is precise, and while there’s a lot going on with multiple investigations and questions, the storyline never got confusing or convoluted.
Fans of authors like Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason, and Susan May Warren who have multiple points of view and layered plots will enjoy Backlash.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
With no surprise, Rachel Dylan has penned another fast-paced, action-packed adventure with plenty of twists and turns to keep you captivated and the pages turning. I always enjoy diving into her stories and this one was no exception. Although it’s part of a series it could also be read as a standalone, however full warning there’s quite the cast of characters regardless of reading the first or not, so it takes a bit to get everyone and their relationships straightened out. In a way it comes with the territory with writing series that shift the main characters between books when they’re all friends.
Although I felt the action and suspense were very well written, I struggled with some of the dialogue. It felt cheesy and juvenile in it’s delivery, which unfortunately made the characters feel more 2D. If the “team spirit” could be toned down a little bit, I think it would have felt more genuine and realisttic. But dialogue aside, the story kept my attention and author managed to keep moving the plot forward. And I’m still looking forward to the next one when it releases.
*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.