Power Play By Rachel Dylan

POWER PLAY

by Rachel Dylan

Publisher: Bethany House

Series: Capital Intrigue

ISBN: 9780764234323

I'm always a little sad when the last book in a series comes out. I was excited to be chosen to participate in Rachel's launch team for the book. It's the first time I've been able to partner with her. She sent me her book to help facilitate this review.

Summary:

Trapped in a dangerous game, can she counter the enemy's deadly power play?

When Vivian Steele, an attorney at the State Department, witnesses two ambassadors collapse as if poisoned at a diplomatic dinner in Washington, DC, she is recruited to be a member of a joint FBI task force assigned to investigate. But she soon finds her by-the-book ways clashing with a special agent in the Diplomatic Security Service, Jacob Cruz. A former Navy SEAL and in charge of the event's security, Jacob takes the attack personally and is driven to act quickly, unhampered by rules and regulations. 

As Viv starts to work her diplomatic sources, her past as a State Department lawyer comes back to haunt her, and secrets held tightly by the government thrust her into a web of danger. Afraid, she turns to the one man bent on protecting others. But can she accept Jacob's reckless ways as exactly what she needs to stay alive and to discover the truth behind the attacks?

My Review:

Ok. I loved Viv's story in Power Play!! I enjoyed how unique each storyline was, but for some reason, I liked Vivian's the best. Maybe I'm just saying that because I just read it, but I don't think so. Viv wasn't a special ops person or have skills other than being an attorney. Unfortunately, that doesn't keep her behind the scenes like she would like. Two deaths at a dinner put her in danger and things spiral out of control from there.

And then, hello, there's Jacob. Brooding and intense former SEAL... he is at the diplomatic dinner for one reason only - security. I liked that neither was keen on each other from the start and he didn't have a favorable opinion of attorneys. hahaha

There were multiple storylines going on and each of them was intense. I liked that they veered off with each of the deaths and that we followed the trail with Delaney/Weston and Jacob/Viv. Oh, did I mention Viv and Jacob end up having to pair up to find answer to the deaths?

While there was a LOT going on, it was incredibly easy to keep up and I never lost sight of what was happening. I know it's easy to get lost in multiple storylines, but because they converge from the same dinner and as a full team, it's simple to keep the dots connected. There was one piece of the story that was easy to guess, but another that had me wondering until the very end. It's funny how you get pulled into what the characters thoughts and reactions are.

I appreciated that the main characters have a shared faith as well as the supporting characters from the previous book. While it's not in your face, it's there and talked about. I think it also plays a part in how Vivian reacts to Jacob as their story progresses.

There was a lot of action and there were twists I totally didn't expect. I actually woke up in the middle of the night thinking about how the story ended and could I have done the things Viv did. lol Yes, it got me thinking. These kinds of books always do. How would I handle these intense situations?

While I'm sad the series is over, I can't wait to get my hands on whatever Rachel Dylan writes next.

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.