Backlash (Capital Intrigue Book #2)

I loved this fabulous, edge-of-the-seat thriller!! Second in the Capital Intrigue series, I was very happy to see these Christian friends who work in the CIA, FBI, State Department, and NCIS that we met in End Game, the first explosive novel in the series. The characters are realistic, likable, and well defined. The mystery is incredible and the whodunit was not anyone I would have anticipated. Stunning and intense, it will keep one up late at night turning pages. Layla, Vivian, and Bailey were law school students together and have kept a very close friendship since their days at Georgetown University. Layla loves her analyst position at the CIA, but the powers that be have different plans for her. In the top one percent of employees, they want Layla to work in the field. While it is not her preference, she has gone on a few missions. The most recent was in Honduras in conjunction with the DEA. The head of the drug cartel had not been captured, but a huge haul of drugs and cash were confiscated and a couple thugs killed. One of the DEA agents, a woman, found an intruder tearing apart her home. Fortunately, he left rather than harming her. He had tattoos of cartel symbols, so she wanted to let Layla know in case someone came to her home. The next day Layla went to meet her friends at their usual Saturday lunch place. They were unable to get their usual table. When a bomb exploded in the restaurant, they were minimally injured. The tourists who insisted on taking their usual table were killed. Then a third member of the four-person team who went to Honduras was found murdered at his home. There is no doubt about it, someone is targeting and killing the team Layla went to the Honduras with. Layla was met at the hospital by long-ago college boyfriend, Hunter, who caused their devastating breakup when he had a drunken fling with another student. Now he is a private investigator who does contract work for the DEA. He may be the only one at this point who can save her life by finding who the killer is. It is suspected that there is a mole in the DEA, so Layla must look at her co-workers and former co-workers with a new eye, people she wanted to trust. Whether she can trust her life to Hunter is another matter. The characters are defined well through their thoughts, conversations, and actions. One thing that caught my attention is that Rachel has written some of herself into this thrilling novel. I especially enjoyed getting to know Layla much better, learn of her faith struggles over recent years as she shares them with Hunter, who has grown far from the Lord. I definitely appreciated seeing Izzy again as part of this group of faith-filled ladies. Her story, past and present, continues throughout. The best part, for me, is the reflection of faith in each character’s life, including the struggles and how they get through them. The plot is excellent, the suspense breathtaking. The author had several surprises for us readers, and I would never have suspected who was really working with whodunit!! All loose ends were tied up, and I cannot wait to see these four friends in their next adventure! I highly recommend this to those who appreciate Christian thrillers with protagonists working in various government agencies, faith challenges, danger, and romance. From a thankful heart: I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

God is there even when we think we can’t feel Him or hear Him - Layla This statement is one she is sure to repeatedly remember as you follow her through this incredible book! Layla is an accomplished analyst for the CIA, specializing in the Middle East since among her vast skills, she fluently speaks several of the necessary languages for that area of the world. A required assignment with the DEA sends her whole world and the rest of her team into chaos. The author has once again done a fabulous job of creating multiple stories in one, causing the non-stop action to keep you guessing who or what is behind it all. I will admit, the end result is not what I expected. Murder, a mole in the CIA or is it the DEA, safe houses that aren’t safe, etc. - the suspense won’t let you put the book down! This story can stand alone, but reading Capital Intrigue Book 1 first, gives you even more insight into who Layla is. You don’t want to miss this series! This ARC was received through Baker Publishing Group, Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley. The impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.

BACKLASH....Rachel.Dylan.. CIA Layla and her friend DEA Cassie had.an intruder in her.home noticing the Mejia tattoos.on him. Seeing them in Honduras an op they just did. There was casualties one of which was the cartels little brother, were they behind these attaches. Layla has felt like she was being followed for several weeks. Then a bomb at the restaurant where her friends gather on Saturday's, injuring Viv and Layla. PI Hunter and his friend Elijah with Alexandra police, he came telling Hunter about Layla being in the hospital and to go see her. While Layla still in hospital her boss telling her she is on leave while being the subject of an IG investigation. Her mentor telling her it could damage her career and to fight it, hard. Layla had a team, of the four of them on the last op, did she really know them. Intrigue and action to the last page. Showing that loyalty is not always a given or sure thing, when money and power come into play. Another good plot and characters of Hunter and Layla in this story. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion by Net Galley and. Bethany House