Backlash By Rachel Dylan

Backlash
by Rachel Dylan
Publisher: Bethany House
Series: Capital Intrigue
ISBN: 9780764234316

I was SO excited to be part of Rachel Dylan's launch team for Backlash! I had read End Game and HAD to follow it up with book 2! She sent me her book to read for review. As with book 1, I want to point out that the topic of sexual assault is part of this storyline. I know there are people who are triggered by certain topics and I wanted to make sure this was understood. It is handled with the utmost care.

Summary:

With a target on her back, she's determined to find answers.
But can she escape the deadly backlash?

CIA analyst Layla Karam is thrust into a dangerous DEA field operation against a cartel, and 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 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 that a mole inside the DEA has sold out the team's identity to the cartel. She needs to clear her name with the Agency in order to 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.

My Review:

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!

About the Author:

Rachel Dylan (www.racheldylan.com) is an award-winning and bestselling author of legal thrillers and romantic suspense. Rachel has practiced law for over a decade, including being a litigator at one of the nation's top law firms. Her Atlanta Justice series has won the Holt Medallion, the Maggie Award, and the FHL Reader's Choice Award. Rachel lives in Michigan with her husband and five furkids--two dogs and three cats.