Power Play

GIVEAWAY

DYLAN, RACHEL

POWER PLAY

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

When Vivian Steele, an attorney at the State Department, witnesses two ambassaders 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 start 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:

Eeeeppp! Another page-turning frenzy of a read in the Capital Intrigue series....but, sob, this is the last book and that makes me sad. Funny too, because I wasn't sure if I would like this series based on it's DC setting and the political thriller nature of the books. Especially since I'm Canadian and I was worried I'd be lost with all the US bureaucracy, but Dylan did a great job writing the legal and political parts so that a layman foreigner like myself could easily follow along. :-)

Intense is my buzz word for this series and Power Play keeps up the tradition of nerve-wracking suspense paired with toe-curling romance. And I loved that Viv is 'just' a lawyer. The previous heroines have been active federal agents so it was fun to have Viv caught up in the storm of intrigue that's way outside her comfort zone. She's all 'letter of the law' while Jacob is about getting the job done as efficiently (and creatively) as possible.

These two clash from day one and I love the unexpected chuckles that surface over their dialogue and inner thoughts. Jacob is all stoicism and so very serious but even his SEAL training hasn't prepared him for dealing with Viv.

"Stop frowning," she whispered.

"I'm really not. This is just the way I look." (p 25) (Snort. Guffaw.)

I love the way Jacob and Viv are reluctantly drawn together -- two seemingly opposites who slowly discover that they have enough similarities to build a foundation upon. All in the midst of desperate danger and time sensitive investigation. 

And there's a faith thread intricately woven throughout. It doesn't get much better than that, does it?

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Power Play, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 17 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Backlash

GIVEAWAY

DYLAN, RACHEL

BACKLASH

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. 

My Review:

"With every ounce of myself, I believe that God's there even when we think we can't feel Him or hear Him. Sometimes it may just be a whisper in the wind or a beautiful sunrise, and that's all it takes to remind me that the Lord is so much bigger than us."

Woohoo! Another multi-agency page-turning frenzy of an addition to Dylan's Capital Intrigue series. This time it's a CIA and DEA collaboration that goes awry in spectacular fashion. Once again, the author invites us into the nitty-gritty of investigative procedures as Layla and Hunter become embroiled in a colossal mess of epic proportions. 

Honestly, the plot twists have hairpin turns in this complicated game of cat and mouse. Layers of intrigue and danger and the crushing sting of betrayal. I began to suspect nearly everyone of nefarious purposes.  A great armchair sleuthing experience for sure! It got to the point where my eyeballs were galloping out of my head trying to read faster. I felt bug-eyed for days after finishing this book. :-)

I love a good reunion romance and this one is a doozy. Because what happened between Layla and Hunter back in college...oy! To say Layla was broken hearted is an understatement. But, if you read between the lines, you begin to suspect that there's something more to Hunter's behaviour at the time and the author teases readers for a good chunk of the book before the big reveal. Then I was all, Whhhhhaaaattttt????!!! I totally did not see that coming. At all. 

And as you can see by the quote I shared at the start of this review, Dylan has elevated an already riveting story that much more with a solid faith thread and some frank discussions between hero and heroine. I'm beyond thrilled when a work of Christian fiction includes a significant faith thread that inspires me along with the characters.

Now I'm all caught up with this series and anxiously awaiting the release of Power Play in June 2021. Can not wait! Luckily I have a tippily-toppily TBR pile to keep me occupied until then.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an ebook or paperback copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Backlash, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winners announced on Saturday March 20  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

End Game

GIVEAWAY

DYLAN, RACHEL

END GAME

When elite members of the military are murdered on the streets of Washington, DC, FBI Special Agent Bailey Ryan and NCIS Special Agent Marco Agostini must work together to bring the perpetrator to justice. Unfortunately, all evidence points to a Navy SEAL sniper whom Bailey refuses to believe is guilty.

When Bailey and Marco start to connect the dots between the victims, including a link to a powerful defense contractor, they wonder if there's a deeper cover-up at play. Then Bailey is targeted, and it becomes clear that someone is willing ti kill to keep their dark secrets.

With the stakes getting higher by the moment in a twisted conspiracy, there's a rush against the clock to determine whom they can really trust. As allies turn to enemies, the biggest secret yet to be uncovered could be the end of all of them.

My Review:

Seriously, seriously, seriously love this dialogue driven police procedural. It felt like I was watching one of my fave TV shows -- NCIS. One of the episodes where multliple agencies have to learn to play nice with each other. And it's a doozy of a case -- multiple layers that, when pulled back, reveal even more unanswered questions. 

And I love the way the author propels her readers through the investigation, piecing together clues and trying to make sense out of chaos right along with the team. I feel like I've earned the right to be called Rookie now. :-)

End Game is the perfect introduction to the Capital Intrigue series which features three law school friends who have high powered jobs in DC. This time round it's FBI Agent Bailey who gets to shine as she battles an intriguing case and soon crosses paths with NCIS Special Agent Marco. Whew -- and let the games begin as these two grow close as they work an impossibly complicated case. 

They don't have time for distractions and yet...Love that the romance isn't overshadowed by the suspense. The relationship grows realistically -- this isn't a case of insta-love (though I appreciate a good insta romance as well as the next avid reader), but rather a gradual warming from wary collaborators to respected colleagues to genuine friendship. And then the flirting begins. Oh my! Cue the toe curls and happy sighs.

This one ticks all my armchair sleuthing boxes -- cleverly developed suspense with lots of action and danger paired with a solid romance and great team building. I'm already eyeball deep into Backlash (book two) and loving it just as much!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of End Game, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winners announced on Saturday March 13  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

Breach of Trust

GIVEAWAY

DYLAN, RACHEL
BREACH OF TRUST

When an open-and-shut murder case gets complicated, can she overcome her need for justice?

Corporate litigator Mia Shaw suffers the shock of her life when she finds her colleague and frienc brutally murdered. Grief-stricken and furious, Mia vows that she will do anything to make the killer pay.

The man accused of the murder is a friend of security tech guru Noah Ramirez, but the evidence just doesn't add up. To save his former ATF partner, Noah needs to convince Mia that the real killer is still on the loose.

Mia soon has more to worry about than the criminal prosecution. She is tasked with taking over her friend's last case and learns he was hiding dark secrets about his client. She thinks she may have stumbled upon corporate espionage that has turned deadly, but she has no idea of the danger involved. Her only ally is Noah, despite their difference of opinion about the killer's identity. Can Noah win Mia over to his side and protect her from ever-growing threats?

My Review:

Whoospie -- forgot to schedule this review -- it was just languishing as a draft! Sorry for the delay!

"God has an interesting way of tugging at our hearts and opening up our minds. Using the dark and painful challenges of life to speak into our hearts." (p 168)

Enthralling doesn't begin to describe all that is good about Breach of Trust. I know very little about the law but Rachel Dylan manages to write the legalize in a way that I can understand. And the combination of legal drama and intriguing suspense is such a powerful lure.

This is the kind of read where the suspense slowly builds and unexpected danger snatches the breath right out of an unsuspecting reader. Over and over again. You're like -- wait...what just happened...did that...did he...did she...aaagggh! Talk about keeping a reader on the edge of her seat! And by the halfway point I was about jumping out of my skin in anxious anticipation of what was to come.

And my emotions were all over the place. I got so seething mad at injustice -- whether it was a corporate bigwig or a nasty coworker....gah --- I was right there ready to pull some punches on Mia's behalf! Not to mention the subtle undercurrents of romance that can't possibly come to anything -- not with Noah and Mia so solidly on opposite sides of a murder investigation. He's passionately positive that his friend is not a killer while she's just as passionate about seeing the man prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law -- which might mean the death penalty! Angst anyone?

What an adrenaline rush of a read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Breach of Trust, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 20 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Lone Witness

GIVEAWAY

DYLAN, RACHEL
LONE WITNESS

She's the only witness to a brutal crime. Now she can't outrun the target on her back.

Prosecutor Sophie Dawson has taken a new role at the Fulton County DA's office, and her first case involves a local bank employee who may be cheating customers. She's determined to bring justice to those who've lost their savings...but her life is turned upside down when she becomes the only witness in a double homicide involving a vengeful gang.

With her life at risk, friends and family convince her that she needs protection, and private security guard Cooper Knight is hired as a bodyguard. But as threats escalate, neither Cooper nor Sophie knows whom they can trust.

Unwilling to back down on either case, Sophie pursues the truth at any cost. But her bank litigation gets more complicated by the day, and the gang will stop at nothing to keep her from taking the stand. With all sides closing in, steadfast Cooper is the only man she can lean on. But drawing close may be the distraction that costs both of their lives.

My Review:

Warning: This book will hold you in its grip until you reach the heart-palpitating, breath-snatching conclusion so clear your calendar and prepare to settle down for a binge read. Wouldn't hurt to have an extra store of chocolate on hand as well as a security blankie because it's that kind of a suspense.

Tension builds as the complicated plots twists and turns and leads the unsuspecting reader into a maze of corruption, deception and danger. Cold and calculating villains pursue exacting revenge on anyone who gets in their way...like District Attorney Sophie Dawson. She's a lawyer for all the right reasons -- seeking to bring justice to the victims of crimes -- so it's no surprise that she doesn't back down from threats that urge her to keep her mouth shut and cease digging into matters that aren't any of her business. She's not crazy brave but she's wickedly stubborn and quietly courageous and once her ire's up she won't back down. No matter what.

Enter Cooper Knight, hired by her father to protect his defiant daughter. They've met before through mutual friends, both intrigued by the other but never pursued a relationship. Now they are thrust into close proximity, working together to thwart unscrupulous individuals while staying a step ahead of their lethal attacks.

I have to say right here how much I love the way Dylan draws out the romance amidst all the mayhem and madness. It never feels rushed. Even the shortest 'getting to know you' scenes feel like we have all the time in the world no matter what the bad guys are plotting. It's a delicate balance to build the romance without detracting from the suspense and this author does it beautifully. I likened her to an early Dee Henderson when I reviewed Deadly Proof, the first book in the Atlanta Justice series and I still feel that way. Scrumptious.

We're given occasional secondary character points of view which really made things interesting and managed to add an extra edge to an already edgy read because I just didn't know who would do what next. Impeccable pacing -- I'd settle into a lull and think we'd have a bit of a breather and then...wham!...something else happened. And there were a few 'aha!' moments as well as 'you dunderhead, why didn't you see that coming?' ones. Definitely the kind of novel that keeps you on your toes.

While this is the second book in a series, Lone Witness can easily be read as a standalone though Atlanta Justice fans will be happy to get a glimpse of characters from the first novel. And I'm thrilled that Mia and Noah's own adventure is coming out in February. Woot! Can't wait!!!!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Lone Witness, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 26 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Deadly Proof (Take Two)

GIVEAWAY

If you'be been following my blog you'll know that I already reviewed this book not too long ago -- October 2 to be exact. I reviewed it through Graf-Martin's Nuts About Books blogging programme (for Canadian bloggers) but also received another copy from Litfuse Publicity's blog tour. So I'm repeating my review and the giveaway. I'll send the second copy to the winner via snail mail.

DYLAN, RACHEL
DEADLY PROOF

Standing for what's right could cost her everything

Tapped as lead counsel in a corporate cover-up lawsuit against Mason Pharmaceutical, Kate Sullivan knows this case could make her career. What really drives her, though, is getting justice for the victims whose lives were ruined by the company's dangerous new drug. But when a whistleblower turns up dead, it paints a target on the back of everyone involved.

Former Army Ranger turned Private Investigator Landon James steps in to handle security for Kate. He's still haunted by mistakes in his past and is determined never to let something like that happen again. But it soon appears someone is willing to do anything -- even commit murder -- to keep this case from going to trial.

As danger closes in, Landon can't help bu admire Kate's courage and resolve -- but will her determination not to back down become too great of a risk?

My Review:

I have such a book hangover! Stayed up until three in the morning because I could not put Deadly Proof down. So I'm all frazzled nerves and discombobulated brain but valiantly trying to put into words how good this book is. And I don't even like legal thrillers. Mostly because I get so confused by the legal jargon. But Dylan didn't lose me once. She deftly wove layman descriptions into the technical bits so I totally understood what was happening, why certain procedures were so important and boy, did I learn a lot about the legal system. All seamleslly blended in with the suspense and romance.

I am definitely a champion of the underdog and so my emotions were immediately engaged since Kate is taking on a big chunk of Corporate America -- a disgustingly corrupt pharmaceutical company that deserves to be taken down. Betrayal and intrigue and danger soon follow and then, when Kate hires on PI Landon things really get interesting.

My toes still haven't uncurled fully. The romance is stupendous. Slow and deliberate, from colleagues to friends to...cue the toe-curling swoons! In fact, Rachel Dylan's style reminds me very much of an early Dee Henderson. Has that same kind of balance and detail, so a reader doesn't feel hurried. It's easy to stay anchored in the moment and just let the story unfold around you.

And I'm thrilled to report that this is the first book in the Atlanta Justice series so there are more compelling reads ahead for us and I can't wait!

My thanks to the publisher and Litfuse Publicity for providing me with a copy of this book.

http://litfusegroup.com/author/RDylan

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like to win a copy of Deadly Proof leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday November 19 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Deadly Proof

GIVEAWAY

DYLAN, RACHEL
DEADLY PROOF

Standing for what's right could cost her everything

Tapped as lead counsel in a corporate cover-up lawsuit against Mason Pharmaceutical, Kate Sullivan knows this case could make her career. What really drives her, though, is getting justice for the victims whose lives were ruined by the company's dangerous new drug. But when a whistleblower turns up dead, it paints a target on the back of everyone involved.

Former Army Ranger turned private investigator Landon James steps in to handle security for Kate. He's still haunted by mistakes in his past and is determined never to let something like that happen again. But it soon appears someone is willing to do anything -- even commit murder -- to keep the case from going to trial.

As danger closes in, Landon can't help but admire Kate's courage and resolve -- but will her determination not to back down become too great of a risk?

My Review:

I have such a book hangover! Stayed up until three in the morning because I could not put Deadly Proof down. So I'm all frazzled nerves and discombobulated brain but valiantly trying to put into words how good this book is. And I don't even like legal thrillers. Mostly because I get so confused by the legal jargon. But Dylan didn't lose me once. She deftly wove layman descriptions into the technical bits so I totally understood what was happening, why certain procedures were so important and boy, did I learn a lot about the legal system. All seamlessly blended in with the suspense and romance.

I am definitely a champion of the underdog and so my emotions were immediately engaged since Rachel is taking on a big chunk of Corporate America -- a disgustingly corrupt pharmaceutical company that deserves to be taken down. Betrayal and intrigue and danger soon follow and then, when Rachel hires on PI Landon things really get interesting.

My toes still haven't uncurled fully. The romance is stupendous. Slow and deliberate, from colleagues to friends to....cue the toe-curling swoons! In fact, Rachel Dylan's style reminds me very much of an early Dee Henderson. Has that same kind of balance and detail, so a reader doesn't feel hurried. It's easy to stay anchored in the moment and just let the story unfold around you.

And I'm thrilled to report that this is the first book in the Atlanta Justice series so there are more compelling reads ahead for us and I can't wait!

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Deadly Proof, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday October 8 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!