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They say the past repeats itself. But does the past repeat, or is it a continuing story?

The Reid and Toles families are settling into their roles at the White House. President Candace Reid is grateful to have the counsel and support of close friends Alex and Cassidy Toles.

Alex assumes a position as Deputy National Security Adviser. She searches to determine the cause of the Russian president’s death. Her brother, Jonathan Krause, continues to decrypt a data disc from a lab in Kaliningrad. And her partner, Claire Brackett, infiltrates the inner circle of a power broker in Poland.

Candace juggles a complex agenda while supporting her children through life changes. Jameson makes a trip to Germany, where the chancellor sends a message of caution to Candace. Alex and Cassidy are preparing to move their family to Washington, DC. An explosion at one of Candace’s campaign events stops life in its tracks. As Alex searches for answers to the attempt on Candace’s life, she learns a plane carrying her older brother has crashed over the Baltic Sea. The fallout sets everyone on a collision course with a conspiracy that has tentacles stretching decades into the past.

FALLOUT brings together the Alex and Cassidy and By Design Series like never before. Rediscover the journey that led Alex, Cassidy, Candace, Jameson, and their families to this moment. Begin a new journey that will test alliances and strengthen personal bonds in an unlikely circle of friends brought together by the sins of the past.

352 pages, Paperback

Published July 24, 2023

104 people are currently reading
31 people want to read

About the author

J.A. Armstrong

70 books491 followers

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5 stars
165 (71%)
4 stars
50 (21%)
3 stars
11 (4%)
2 stars
5 (2%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Jane Shambler.
799 reviews32 followers
September 13, 2023
Excellent

Armstrong has the ability to bring out every emotion possible. She has you laughing one minute and crying the next. She has you angry then bewildered.
This book really is all about emotion. It's a rollercoaster ride with the people who really come across as real and not fiction.

In this book you discover the sadness of death and the highs of life. Everyone is different. There is no set path for anyone. We all muddle through life, never really knowing if we got it right or wrong.

Secrets and lies. Do we ever escape that. I'm keen to know what that means to this series of books. Will we find out? I hope so. And not let it destroy the characters that I have come to love.

Enjoy!
Profile Image for Terri.
166 reviews9 followers
August 18, 2023
Another Great Chapter

This novel was fun with the combination of Cassidy and Alex, with Candace and Jameson. It was packed with mixed emotions. I am looking forward to the next book.
205 reviews2 followers
September 11, 2023
The First Family, Family First

JA Armstrong has crafted another excellent installment in the By Design — with Jameson and Candace Reid — and the Alex and Cassidy Series, this time bringing them all together as main characters in one book.

I am enthralled with the individuals who populate these Armstong series — from the brilliant, intuitive, powerful President Candace Reid to a secondary character like Cassidy and Alex’s sensitive oldest son Dylan or their strong and sassy daughter MacKenzie.

Every relationship and each interaction gets Armstrong’s full attention. She’s created what I believe is one of the most engaging blended families in sapphic lit, presenting multifaceted characters involved with each other in authentic ways.

I’m eagerly awaiting what’s next.
471 reviews2 followers
August 29, 2023
Good book

This story is getting better with each book. A bomb goes off and everyone's live is changing. Madame President is ok Dana will survive. Alex and Claire are working to find out who. Then a plane goes down with Alex's step brother, Elena husband and Edmond her father. With all that is going on this just brings the whole group together in a tighter circle. They are all learning to bear through the fears they have. With each step they are learning the truth of what all their fathers are hiding, to make live easier for all of them to understand the past.
1 review
October 16, 2023
Best series!

The Alex and Cassidy series has been my favorite since I found it on Audible a few years ago. I also LOVE the By Design series, but I listen to books rather than sit down and read anymore. When I read that Fallout merges the 2 (again) and The Swan And The Sparrow picks up where it leaves off, I knew I would be sitting down and reading. Still my favorite series! I LOVE how Fallout ended!!! Finally 2 particular parts to the story were worked out. One that has been going on since the series started!
Profile Image for Frances Bell.
429 reviews11 followers
August 14, 2023
So Good

I so love this book joining both books and all the characters What's perfect the blended stories made the book more interesting also love the characters I can't wait to Read the next book I feel love both but these are Authors . I recommend this book I recommend both series.
Profile Image for Jen.
1,300 reviews2 followers
October 14, 2023
They're back & all together

“Having people who care about you, and who you care about, is the whole point of this existence.”

“We’re not destined for anything. We make our choices along the way. The best any of us can hope is that we find purpose in what happens to us so we can make better decisions.”
• ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ •

They're back & all together si You know All the s#it is most definitely getting ready to hit the fan— unfortunately it's just not in this book. But the stage is being set...
Profile Image for j good.
271 reviews4 followers
September 28, 2023
Love it

I have been reading about Alex & Cassidy and Candace & Jameson for over 6 year, before I even switched to Kindle Unlimited, I actually own a few of the earlier ones.

I love these series and I like how the characters are appearing in both. I also find it funny, that until "Fallout", I didn't realize that the authors are one in the same 🤣
Profile Image for Michelle.
506 reviews6 followers
August 12, 2023
Never enough

I absolutely love these characters! I’ve devoured all of the Alex n’ Cassidy and By Design series. I can honestly say I never want their stories to end. On that note, I look forward to the next books in the series.
8 reviews
August 27, 2023
Another Winner from JA Armstrong!

Very easy to follow the storyline, with very appropriate and timely inserted information that would explain the many family connections and past interactions. Love reading anything written by JA. Thank you once again for this wonderful series!
542 reviews3 followers
September 1, 2023
wonderful series

If you haven’t read the first story don’t pick it up here. Go back and start from the beginning- by the time you get here you’ll be part of the family. Some authors keep you looking for more, this is one of them.
97 reviews1 follower
September 27, 2023
All the feels, all the memories, all the love of these characters in the beautiful words of this author. I have loved this series since the beginning and want to know more about this extended family! JA Armstrong is a talented writer and continually amazes me with her ability to draw me into her world.
Profile Image for Lindsay Ottens.
414 reviews8 followers
October 1, 2023
I need more Jameson and Candace!!!! Their relationship is endgame and nothing will change my mind of that. I dread the day she write the death of Pearl but let’s be honest she’s in her 80s so we all know it’s coming.
65 reviews2 followers
November 6, 2023
Intriguing!!

Another suspenseful "spy-type" adventure with a bit of comedy mixed in. Great family support. Love how everyone is connected. Can't wait until the next installment (s). Keep cranking them out, JA!!
379 reviews2 followers
April 16, 2024
best series

I absolutely love this series. The characters are intriguing. The story is fascinating. The plot thickens. What more could a reader want from such a novel! Terrific reading material which challenges the mind and the heart on every page.
79 reviews4 followers
August 6, 2023
Many secrets

Loved the book but I always love her writing. I'm going to have to read the 2 before this one. I have a hard time remembering who is ego who belongs to who etc .
Profile Image for Edna  Moore.
623 reviews1 follower
August 25, 2023
3.5 ⭐ rounded up. This was another Crossover book with the By Design series. I enjoyed some of the flashbacks (to both series). Looking forward to the next book.
65 reviews
September 5, 2023
Wow!

Great joining of the two series. I love the interaction of the characters. Looking forward to another installment to keep the stories going.
Profile Image for Patty.
378 reviews1 follower
September 12, 2023
Excellent book. I really enjoy this series and am so glad "Alex and Cassity" characters are blended into this ongoing story of a woman in politics.
Profile Image for Lisa.
574 reviews7 followers
September 28, 2023
loved it

Really love Candace and Jameson. Liked having Alex, Cassidy and Claire join the story. So many moving parts! Stick together!
Profile Image for Amy.
167 reviews
October 21, 2023
Past and present

Interesting how she weaved parts of each characters past story into the current story. Not really flash backs, but little snippets to memories.
122 reviews1 follower
July 2, 2024
Over 70 characters, many countries, it was too hard to concentrate and or follow. I put the book too many times to really understand it. Who created the bomb?
295 reviews1 follower
May 19, 2024
I am guessing the dates. I am glad it is on audio but it seems the last on audio and the author is so rude about it and starting new series before finishing this overlapping one. Wonders why Fealty didn’t sell well so is breaking her word in future releases because “because I can.” So that I will now even know who is who. And because of a new vision disability in my 50s I can only use audio so she destroyed both series for me. Robbed us watching Dylan grow up and he is so different and no longer an Alex-clone. Who knows how or why MacKenzie is the was she is. Seeing her on fb as a young teen (11-13??? or younger but not looking it) in an image sitting next to Connor broke my heart. Another element of surprise robbed.

I love the characters (most of them - NOT all) but I feel so bad for Jameson. She gave up her youth for love. Her ability to work in her chosen field and her ability to ever have children - even adopt from baby on … and married to the president … it isn’t exactly an economic concern. And it gets brushed aside as if infertility isn’t devastating to someone who wants babies (bio, surrogate, adoption) because her wife doesn’t feel young enough. Jameson is like Alex … so lovable, especially kids love her, is a big kid who knows how to be an adult and she gives up everything for a wife. She gets love. But she can’t work. Can’t walk her dog without guards, can’t DO anything, all to support a wife who halfheartedly says after saying she doesn’t want more kids (because she got her share) that she will finally support Jameson. But by then Jameson knows her heart isn’t into it.

All of a sudden Cassidy is Candace’s best friend we never heard knew each other and it becomes contrived. And Dylan’s girlfriend making a life decision about THEIR child without him … sure her body but they were together 4-5 years … he doesn’t get any opinion?????

I am angry. And angry the author keeps flitting off to new books and new series.

A series is a series for a reason and people deserved regular updates without “I changed my mind because I can.”

The author is writing LONG chapters into short books instead of 2-3 long books. It seems greedy and sad. And at this point I am angry a large portion of my limited income has gone into a series the author doesn’t seem to care about after making me care. And if / when there are new books I won’t be able to hear them. It is over for me.

And I am angry. Take a look at the Sentator’s Wofe series by Jen Lyon … all perfectly long, perfectly written, perfectly narrated in a timely manner. And done. Or Lee Winter having book 2 come out 1 month after book 2 and audio released same day.

Don’t give a series list and have people dutifully follow just to lie about the next release and forget those who have been waiting.

I hear constant complaining about people being mean - but never saw it once. Have recommended these series to death to others if they can use print as well - I can’t. Different ability matters.

But then no respect for the loyal readers.

I am angry as can be. I ALSO LOVE THE CHARACTERS but can’t enjoy any future books and half the ones I had to rush through on spending more $ to get a kindle and buy every kindle book one by one. Because people who have super low vision and can’t read don’t have kindle unlimited and text to talk is disgraceful.

But if you actually read-read and have the patience of Job … read both series! The characters are excellent. The books are great as a whole - the delivery and wait time is unreasonable. But really the nooks are excellent. But it does seem like each book is more of a chapter.
Profile Image for Deb.
471 reviews2 followers
September 10, 2023
mind blown

Words aren’t enough to explain just how much I love this series… it’s one I look forward to drowning in every time a new book is released.
So, so much going on in this one. I got kinda mixed up at first with what was happening but once I got my head around it I was ok. So many different points of view and quite a bit of back and forth in time, which was kinda confusing yet not at the same time. It’s hard to explain…
If you’ve followed this story from the beginning you know what to expect, if you haven’t then read ALL the others first or your head just might explode! I’m seriously considering going back to the start again as some of the excerpts in this one reminded me how good past books have been.
Profile Image for Lyric Vickers.
173 reviews
July 20, 2024
4.3 stars. I’m so happy my favorite couples are together in this book! It brings immense joy but also sadness. The couple I’ve been shipping since I knew about them are finally cultivating a relationship! This book was incredible! On to the next one!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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