Rachel Dylan’s Power Play, the final book in the Capital Intrigue series, released this week – and it’s worth a read! Here’s what it’s all about:
When State Department attorney Vivian Steele 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, even ahead of the 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, Viv 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?
Power Play is the perfect ending to the Capital Intrigue series! I love the way that Dylan incorporated main characters from other books in the series to play important roles in this one – that definitely increased the connection between the books and provided fun updates on previously loved characters.
Although technically a romantic suspense, Power Play is definitely heavier on the romance end of the scale for me. Many scenes consist primarily of conversation of different types, keeping the drama and tension low. That makes it perfect for people who enjoy this genre but are bothered by high-stakes action and suspense.
Which isn’t to say that there aren’t big action scenes in this story – there definitely are; but they also occur with a minimum of description and lots of speed, leaving the reader with a front seat for the action’s aftermath. The story felt more sweet and romantic than tense and scary – it’s definitely a more personal story than most.
Perhaps that’s because Viv seemed brutally honest about her feelings and what she wants. She kept laying her cards out on the table, leaving nothing back, keeping the emotional stakes high – and showing that she wasn’t the type to play games. With that kind of all-in attitude, the romance stayed at the forefront of the story for me.
That made Jacob feel a bit more realistic to me. Maybe because I’m not that willing to throw myself out there, or maybe because I kept wanting to shake Viv a bit and remind her of the stakes – not only of the romance, but of the case they were pursuing. That made me want to side with Jacob as he felt like the more experienced, wise main character – though I cheered each time that Layla entered the picture, too.
Power Play – and the whole Capital Intrigue series, really – is the perfect book for someone ready to take on more suspense and higher stakes but without too much tension or fear. It’s a sweet, romantic story full of political intrigue and transparent emotion.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
