What do you think?
Rate this book
GO-Team #2
The Woman Left Behind
Listening length: 11 hours and 36 minutes
Jina Modell works in Communications for a paramilitary organization, and she really likes it. She likes the money, she likes the coolness factor—and it was very cool, even for Washington, DC. She liked being able to kick terrorist butts without ever leaving the climate-controlled comfort of the control room.
But when Jina displays a really high aptitude for spatial awareness and action, she’s reassigned to work as an on-site drone operator in the field with one of the GO-teams, an elite paramilitary unit. The only problem is she isn’t particularly athletic, to put it mildly, and in order to be fit for the field, she has to learn how to run and swim for miles, jump out of a plane, shoot a gun...or else be out of a job.
Team leader Levi, call sign Ace, doesn’t have much confidence in Jina--who he dubbed Babe as soon as he heard her raspy, sexy voice--making it through the rigors of training. The last thing he needs is some tech geek holding them back from completing a dangerous, covert operation. In the following months, however, no one is more surprised than he when Babe, who hates to sweat, begins to thrive in her new environment, displaying a grit and courage that wins her the admiration of her hardened, battle-worn teammates. What’s even more surprising is that the usually very disciplined GO-team leader can’t stop thinking about kissing her smart, stubborn mouth…or the building chemistry and tension between them.
Meanwhile, a powerful Congresswoman is working behind the scenes to destroy the GO-teams, and a trap is set to ambush Levi’s squad in Syria. While the rest of the operatives set off on their mission, Jina remains at the base to control the surveillance drone, when the base is suddenly attacked with explosives. Thought dead by her comrades, Jina escapes to the desert where, brutally tested beyond measure, she has to figure out how to stay undetected by the enemy and make it to her crew in time before they’re exfiltrated out of the country.
But Levi never leaves a soldier behind, especially the brave woman he’s fallen for. He’s bringing back the woman they left behind, dead or alive.
Jina Modell works in Communications for a paramilitary organization, and she really likes it. She likes the money, she likes the coolness factor—and it was very cool, even for Washington, DC. She liked being able to kick terrorist butts without ever leaving the climate-controlled comfort of the control room.
But when Jina displays a really high aptitude for spatial awareness and action, she’s reassigned to work as an on-site drone operator in the field with one of the GO-teams, an elite paramilitary unit. The only problem is she isn’t particularly athletic, to put it mildly, and in order to be fit for the field, she has to learn how to run and swim for miles, jump out of a plane, shoot a gun...or else be out of a job.
Team leader Levi, call sign Ace, doesn’t have much confidence in Jina--who he dubbed Babe as soon as he heard her raspy, sexy voice--making it through the rigors of training. The last thing he needs is some tech geek holding them back from completing a dangerous, covert operation. In the following months, however, no one is more surprised than he when Babe, who hates to sweat, begins to thrive in her new environment, displaying a grit and courage that wins her the admiration of her hardened, battle-worn teammates. What’s even more surprising is that the usually very disciplined GO-team leader can’t stop thinking about kissing her smart, stubborn mouth…or the building chemistry and tension between them.
Meanwhile, a powerful Congresswoman is working behind the scenes to destroy the GO-teams, and a trap is set to ambush Levi’s squad in Syria. While the rest of the operatives set off on their mission, Jina remains at the base to control the surveillance drone, when the base is suddenly attacked with explosives. Thought dead by her comrades, Jina escapes to the desert where, brutally tested beyond measure, she has to figure out how to stay undetected by the enemy and make it to her crew in time before they’re exfiltrated out of the country.
But Levi never leaves a soldier behind, especially the brave woman he’s fallen for. He’s bringing back the woman they left behind, dead or alive.
12 pages, Audiobook
First published March 6, 2018
2318 people are currently reading
4656 people want to read
About the author
Linda Howard
223 books7,169 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,307 reviews
February 19, 2019
4+ Stars
Yum.
So the story is a bit unbelievable.
The characters are too badass.
And the romance is too slow.
So what?
Does it deserve 5 stars?
Probably not.
But I enjoyed it so much that I can't not give it a bonus star.
QUICK REVIEW:
Enjoyment: 5/5
Writing style: 4/5
Storyline: 3.5/5
Hero: 5/5
Heroine: 4/5
Secondary characters: 5/5
Hotness/steam: 4/5
Romance: 3/5
Angst: 3/5
Darkness level: 2/5
Humor: 2/5
Depth of the book: 3.5/5
POV: dual, 3rd person
Triggers:
Yum.
So the story is a bit unbelievable.
The characters are too badass.
And the romance is too slow.
So what?
Does it deserve 5 stars?
Probably not.
But I enjoyed it so much that I can't not give it a bonus star.
QUICK REVIEW:
Enjoyment: 5/5
Writing style: 4/5
Storyline: 3.5/5
Hero: 5/5
Heroine: 4/5
Secondary characters: 5/5
Hotness/steam: 4/5
Romance: 3/5
Angst: 3/5
Darkness level: 2/5
Humor: 2/5
Depth of the book: 3.5/5
POV: dual, 3rd person
Triggers:
March 21, 2024
As entertaining as the first book.
Babe was indeed a grenade. Best heroine ever!!
Jina's smart mouth, the team's rapport, the training backdrop and LH's slow paced romance, everything worked like a charm. Levi was a jerk (which LH hero isn't though??), but it was hard not to love him.
The Congresswoman's revenge plan was uninspired and tacky. That was the only flimsy bit in an otherwise decent plot.
And it wouldn't have hurt to add bits and pieces of Morgan's life after the teams. I kept expecting a Tricks's cameo. And a mellowed down Axel. Fat chance now. Though surly as ever, I'll miss the guy.
Rest in peace, you sour bastard.
Babe was indeed a grenade. Best heroine ever!!
Jina's smart mouth, the team's rapport, the training backdrop and LH's slow paced romance, everything worked like a charm. Levi was a jerk (which LH hero isn't though??), but it was hard not to love him.
The Congresswoman's revenge plan was uninspired and tacky. That was the only flimsy bit in an otherwise decent plot.
And it wouldn't have hurt to add bits and pieces of Morgan's life after the teams. I kept expecting a Tricks's cameo. And a mellowed down Axel. Fat chance now. Though surly as ever, I'll miss the guy.
Rest in peace, you sour bastard.
August 24, 2021
There was barely any romance in this book, however, the characters and plotline were well-drawn and I found myself riveted and unable to concentrate on anything else until I'd read the last page.
Linda Howard is a newly-found treasure.
August 3, 2022
This is a thriller, and it is the 2nd book in the Go-Team series. I cannot say much without spoiling the book. This is about an elite paramilitary unit that is assign a woman that is a gamer to control a flying camera. This book is all about the woman "Jina" trying to become part of a team made up by men. I really love this book. I would say the ending was fill of advance and was fast pace.
June 7, 2018
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
Linda Howard has once again outdone herself with this compelling romantic suspense story. The Woman Left Behind is the second installment in GO-Team series and it was really worth waiting for!
**Some possible mild spoilers here**
Jina Modell was an ordinary office worker. But with her tech skills, she was assigned to Levi Butcher’s GO-Team and her job was to operate the surveillance drone. And in order to become an official part of the team, she had to get through a lot of tough training like tech stuff, weapons, and the physical one, which she would be trained directly by Levi himself and also by his other team members.
There was an instant spark between Levi and Jina the moment their eyes met. But as a team leader, Levi couldn’t make any move on her, so he tried his best to keep his attraction towards her in check.
Jina knew that fantasizing about Levi was wrong and it would mess up the team. So as to avoid becoming increasingly more attracted to him, she tried to keep her mind occupied and concentrate on her (endless) training instead.
But as time went by, it became harder and harder for them to resist their growing feelings for each other. Nevertheless, both of them still stayed professional and never crossed the line.
She did her job and did it well. She laughed and joked, and sometimes he didn’t pay attention to what she was saying because he was too busy just watching her. To keep any of the guys from noticing, he tried not to look at her all that often, but sometimes he let himself tease her because all of them did, on one level or another.
All in all, he couldn’t find a damn thing about her that he didn’t like, except that she was off-limits.
Meanwhile, MacNamara (the head of GO-Team organization)’s enemy plotted against him and there was no better revenge than to take down one of Mac’s beloved GO-Teams.
Therefore, in the midst of Levi’s team mission, they were unaware of the pitfalls and dangers that awaited them and then something really terrible happened. Finally, it was a life or death situation that made Jina come to the turning point in her life. Would she include Levi in her plan? And what would he do to make her his forever?
I’m not sure if I want to call the romance between the couple “a slow burn type”, but one thing I know for sure is that the sexual tension between them was off the charts! This was a kind of forbidden romance, so of course, there was a lot of push and pull here. Nevertheless, I had no problem with it at all because this sort of thing happened in an acceptable and inevitable way, at least for me.
Now, let’s talk about the star of this book—Jina. This is one of the few times where I find myself falling head over heels in love with the female lead of the book. Jina is an amazingly kick-ass character who has already become one of my most favorite heroines of all time. She's smart, straightforward, strong, determined, funny, and sassy at times. But the best of all, she's no quitter. One hell of a woman!
Several times today he’d had to stop himself from catching her when he saw she was going to fall, even if “catching her” would have meant grabbing her by the ponytail. Instead he’d let her splat, hoping she’d say, “I quit,” but she never had. She’d muttered, she’d cussed both under and over her breath, she’d called them sadists and told them numerous times how much she hated them all, but each and every time she’d gotten to her feet and kept at it.
Like most people with acrophobia (a fear of heights), the last thing on earth I would like to do is jump out of the planes. And of course, Jina was no exception. She's a fighter at heart and that was the thing I admired most about her.
She. Couldn’t. Quit. Doing so would betray everything she was, every sense of self. Maybe she drove herself past what a sane person would do, but didn’t the guys also do that? Being who they were, doing what they did, required more of them than, say, a regular nine-to-five job.
She had been happy with that nine-to-five job, but now this was her reality, and she wouldn’t, couldn’t, turn her back on it.
The ending was simply perfect. I couldn’t find anything to complain about. Needless to say, nobody combines love, laughter, and suspense quite like this author. I finished reading this one feeling on top of the world!
All in all, this was an absolutely impressive and enjoyable read. It is hands down one of the best books I’ve read this year.
Highly recommended!
Linda Howard has once again outdone herself with this compelling romantic suspense story. The Woman Left Behind is the second installment in GO-Team series and it was really worth waiting for!
**Some possible mild spoilers here**
Jina Modell was an ordinary office worker. But with her tech skills, she was assigned to Levi Butcher’s GO-Team and her job was to operate the surveillance drone. And in order to become an official part of the team, she had to get through a lot of tough training like tech stuff, weapons, and the physical one, which she would be trained directly by Levi himself and also by his other team members.
There was an instant spark between Levi and Jina the moment their eyes met. But as a team leader, Levi couldn’t make any move on her, so he tried his best to keep his attraction towards her in check.
Jina knew that fantasizing about Levi was wrong and it would mess up the team. So as to avoid becoming increasingly more attracted to him, she tried to keep her mind occupied and concentrate on her (endless) training instead.
But as time went by, it became harder and harder for them to resist their growing feelings for each other. Nevertheless, both of them still stayed professional and never crossed the line.
She did her job and did it well. She laughed and joked, and sometimes he didn’t pay attention to what she was saying because he was too busy just watching her. To keep any of the guys from noticing, he tried not to look at her all that often, but sometimes he let himself tease her because all of them did, on one level or another.
All in all, he couldn’t find a damn thing about her that he didn’t like, except that she was off-limits.
Meanwhile, MacNamara (the head of GO-Team organization)’s enemy plotted against him and there was no better revenge than to take down one of Mac’s beloved GO-Teams.
Therefore, in the midst of Levi’s team mission, they were unaware of the pitfalls and dangers that awaited them and then something really terrible happened. Finally, it was a life or death situation that made Jina come to the turning point in her life. Would she include Levi in her plan? And what would he do to make her his forever?
I’m not sure if I want to call the romance between the couple “a slow burn type”, but one thing I know for sure is that the sexual tension between them was off the charts! This was a kind of forbidden romance, so of course, there was a lot of push and pull here. Nevertheless, I had no problem with it at all because this sort of thing happened in an acceptable and inevitable way, at least for me.
Now, let’s talk about the star of this book—Jina. This is one of the few times where I find myself falling head over heels in love with the female lead of the book. Jina is an amazingly kick-ass character who has already become one of my most favorite heroines of all time. She's smart, straightforward, strong, determined, funny, and sassy at times. But the best of all, she's no quitter. One hell of a woman!
Several times today he’d had to stop himself from catching her when he saw she was going to fall, even if “catching her” would have meant grabbing her by the ponytail. Instead he’d let her splat, hoping she’d say, “I quit,” but she never had. She’d muttered, she’d cussed both under and over her breath, she’d called them sadists and told them numerous times how much she hated them all, but each and every time she’d gotten to her feet and kept at it.
Like most people with acrophobia (a fear of heights), the last thing on earth I would like to do is jump out of the planes. And of course, Jina was no exception. She's a fighter at heart and that was the thing I admired most about her.
She. Couldn’t. Quit. Doing so would betray everything she was, every sense of self. Maybe she drove herself past what a sane person would do, but didn’t the guys also do that? Being who they were, doing what they did, required more of them than, say, a regular nine-to-five job.
She had been happy with that nine-to-five job, but now this was her reality, and she wouldn’t, couldn’t, turn her back on it.
The ending was simply perfect. I couldn’t find anything to complain about. Needless to say, nobody combines love, laughter, and suspense quite like this author. I finished reading this one feeling on top of the world!
All in all, this was an absolutely impressive and enjoyable read. It is hands down one of the best books I’ve read this year.
Highly recommended!
June 18, 2022
Reread 06/18/20222
Loved this just as much second time around
I enjoyed "Troublemaker" the first one in this two book series...but this one is definitely my favorite.
**********************************
4.5 stars.🌟🌟🌟🌟
My second Linda Howard. I really love this woman's style of storytelling. It is so reminiscent of Mariana Zapata IMO.
Borrowed this book from the library but would really like to reread this one day.
Jina was a great character and a kick-ass heroine, so not a quitter even when her body was physically taxed to it's limits. I loved the slow build up between her and Levi .
Though this could loosely be considered an action book it isn't really as central to the story as the emerging dynamics when she joins Levi's unit as the only woman.
LOVED THIS BOOK.
Karla you really have to read this one. It was fabulous!!!!!
Loved this just as much second time around
I enjoyed "Troublemaker" the first one in this two book series...but this one is definitely my favorite.
**********************************
4.5 stars.🌟🌟🌟🌟
My second Linda Howard. I really love this woman's style of storytelling. It is so reminiscent of Mariana Zapata IMO.
Borrowed this book from the library but would really like to reread this one day.
Jina was a great character and a kick-ass heroine, so not a quitter even when her body was physically taxed to it's limits. I loved the slow build up between her and Levi .
Though this could loosely be considered an action book it isn't really as central to the story as the emerging dynamics when she joins Levi's unit as the only woman.
LOVED THIS BOOK.
Karla you really have to read this one. It was fabulous!!!!!
April 15, 2018
Jina is unfit.
She has no weapons training.
She's not motivated.
She doesn't even know that boots come in different sizes.
So she's just the sort of person you would want on a generic Romantic Suspense SEAL type team.
She's really annoying.
This whole book annoys me.
Why was it written?
She has no weapons training.
She's not motivated.
She doesn't even know that boots come in different sizes.
So she's just the sort of person you would want on a generic Romantic Suspense SEAL type team.
She's really annoying.
This whole book annoys me.
Why was it written?
October 20, 2020
I thought LH was done writing good books, since the last one I really enjoyed was published in 2008. But hey, she’s still got it!
I almost quit because the set-up took so long (and I was admittedly expecting it to be bad, because of the last few books), but I’m glad I stuck it out. No other romantic suspense author writes details as convincingly as she does, from the mindless terror of a free falling parachute jump to the crackling tension of an ambush during a covert operation. And yes, the sexual tension is FIRE—matched only by the die-hard code of honor that Linda’s characters are known for, which prevents them from getting together.
I’ve been doing a deep dive into LH rereads lately, and while this one isn’t her best (CRY NO MORE is probably my favorite of this type, though she’s dabbled in a lot of subgenres), I enjoyed it. It’s nice to see a good read from her again. *rubs hands gleefully in anticipation of future books*
I almost quit because the set-up took so long (and I was admittedly expecting it to be bad, because of the last few books), but I’m glad I stuck it out. No other romantic suspense author writes details as convincingly as she does, from the mindless terror of a free falling parachute jump to the crackling tension of an ambush during a covert operation. And yes, the sexual tension is FIRE—matched only by the die-hard code of honor that Linda’s characters are known for, which prevents them from getting together.
I’ve been doing a deep dive into LH rereads lately, and while this one isn’t her best (CRY NO MORE is probably my favorite of this type, though she’s dabbled in a lot of subgenres), I enjoyed it. It’s nice to see a good read from her again. *rubs hands gleefully in anticipation of future books*
March 27, 2018
Jina Modell goes from working in the office of a paramilitary group to being drafted for in the field operations as a drone operator. She’s assigned to a “Go-TEAM” and must go through and pass rigorous physical training to keep her job or she must quit. Jina’s fiercely determined even though she’d like to die by the end of each training day. Another motivation is showing Levi, her team leader, that she’s capable and no quitter when he’s made it clear he doesn’t want Jina on his team. Levi’s not convinced Jina will be an asset, and not a liability to his team. She meets his attitude with a bunch of her own, and they knock heads more than a few times. Simmering beneath all the tension is a powerful attraction neither wants but can’t deny. With each week that passes Jina proves her mettle and value. A good thing considering the dangerous situations Jina’s in for when she finally goes out in the field. Her training, determination and mental fortitude are what makes all the difference in one assignment that goes horribly wrong.
I loved this story! Much of it focuses on Jina’s training with her team, getting in battle ready shape, and overcoming challenges. She had her work cut out for her. I’m constantly on a fitness mission so I was really interested in her struggles and rooting for her the entire time. I adored Jina! I loved seeing her get stronger, gradually fit in with the team, and navigating her relationship/attraction to Levi! You could see them grow close and care even when they snipped and snapped at each other. The sexual tension between them was electric! Levi was one hard, focused male; protective and a little possessive, but a really good man underneath all the gruff.
Linda Howard combined her signature elements of playfulness, danger, action and a hot romance in The Woman Left Behind, and I ate it up!. I’m sure I’ll be doing a re-read in the future.
A copy was kindly provided by William Morrow via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
I loved this story! Much of it focuses on Jina’s training with her team, getting in battle ready shape, and overcoming challenges. She had her work cut out for her. I’m constantly on a fitness mission so I was really interested in her struggles and rooting for her the entire time. I adored Jina! I loved seeing her get stronger, gradually fit in with the team, and navigating her relationship/attraction to Levi! You could see them grow close and care even when they snipped and snapped at each other. The sexual tension between them was electric! Levi was one hard, focused male; protective and a little possessive, but a really good man underneath all the gruff.
Linda Howard combined her signature elements of playfulness, danger, action and a hot romance in The Woman Left Behind, and I ate it up!. I’m sure I’ll be doing a re-read in the future.
A copy was kindly provided by William Morrow via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
March 6, 2018
I've rated this a B- for AAR which is equal to 3.75 stars.
The Woman Left Behind is the best kind of romantic suspense in the sense that the heroine is no damsel in distress requiring rescue but neither is she a beefed up black-ops assassin as are found in so many female-empowered stories of this genre. Instead she's somewhere in between; she's basically tech support. Communications. But after scoring high on a spatial awareness test disguised as a video game, she and a few others from her department are reassigned to various GO-Teams to undertake surveillance and communications work on-site. As in boots on the ground, in hostile environments – oh, and jumping out of planes as required.
I’m not sure I can classify this book as feminist but there are some really attractively modern behaviours written into the choices and behaviours of both leads and while I can't say I've read a lot in this particular genre, what I have read has always lent itself towards.. misogyny? Overwhelming alpha characteristics? Which isn't to say Levi isn't an alpha male – he is – but there's a really great balance between Levi and Jina that I didn't expect, and I found their dynamic totally compelling.
Full review can be found at AAR.
The Woman Left Behind is the best kind of romantic suspense in the sense that the heroine is no damsel in distress requiring rescue but neither is she a beefed up black-ops assassin as are found in so many female-empowered stories of this genre. Instead she's somewhere in between; she's basically tech support. Communications. But after scoring high on a spatial awareness test disguised as a video game, she and a few others from her department are reassigned to various GO-Teams to undertake surveillance and communications work on-site. As in boots on the ground, in hostile environments – oh, and jumping out of planes as required.
I’m not sure I can classify this book as feminist but there are some really attractively modern behaviours written into the choices and behaviours of both leads and while I can't say I've read a lot in this particular genre, what I have read has always lent itself towards.. misogyny? Overwhelming alpha characteristics? Which isn't to say Levi isn't an alpha male – he is – but there's a really great balance between Levi and Jina that I didn't expect, and I found their dynamic totally compelling.
Full review can be found at AAR.
March 6, 2018
The Woman Left Behind is simply Linda Howard at her best. The story is rapid-paced and totally believable, the characters strong and likable, and the thrills are non-stop. This was a joy to read, and will go on my keep shelf.
Jina Model, “Babe” is a computer geek working for a special ops group, the GO teams. She is happy in her behind-the-scenes role in communications-until her ability to play video games gets her and ten others a job as a drone operator in the field. Of all the newly transferred drone operators, she alone is taken in hand by the team she is expected to work with, Her new boss, Levi “Ace” Butcher, makes it clear she is the least important member of the team. He also makes it clear that he expects her to wash out of the training.
But Jina is not a quitter. In spite of the fact that she likes to be clean and is terrified of parachute jumps, she takes on every challenge and is the first to graduate from drone training and report for active duty. From the beginning, she ignores her attraction to Levi, knowing that a romance while they are on the same team is asking for trouble. What makes it harder is the fact that he also makes his attraction to her clear, but only to her. He would love for her to wash out of the team so he could ask her out, but he won't do anything to make the job harder for her.
But his warning about being the least valuable member of the team becomes all too clear when the team is pulled into an ambush in Syria, and the bunker where Jina is hiding while operating the drone explodes. With two members of his team desperately wounded, Levi makes the call to bug out, intending to come back and find her body. But Jina has not been training for months without results-and runs through the desert by herself to the pick up point.
Now she has to decide: can she stay a part of a team where she is deemed expendable? And can her love for Levi survive the fact he left her in the desert without even checking to see if she was alive?
The intense force of the attraction between these two strong, stubborn people is drawn with a delicate hand, yet there is no denying the pull. Jina is one of Howard's best heroines to date and Levi is a yummy alpha male. Whatever the difference is between a good book and a great one, Howard takes this one across the line firmly into being a great one.
April 4, 2018
Almost 3.5 stars
I liked this one - it felt like a good linda Howard book in the beginning. But then a problem surfaced, that happens quite often with her current books. It kinda draaaaaaaged.
I would lie when I said I wasn't at least a bit disappointed. Because the story started so strong for me, with a female protagonist that was right up my alley. She is a real character and I loved her backbone throughout the whole book. No super special snowflake in the beginning - and fortunately not in the end either - she impressed with a whole lot of grit and balls of steel. What did I say? Right. Up. My. Alley.
But then the Linda Howard thing happened. She lost herself in scenes where she proved just HOW MUCH grit the heroine had. Again. And again. And again. Up to a point where I wanted to scream out of my window: "SHE IS NOT A QUITTER!!! I FUCKING GOT IT!!!!!"
The blurb mislead me a little, I was even expecting a little bit of survival story from the heroine - and I am a sucker for survival stories. But oh well - we got a survival, but it kinda wasn't worth mentioning.
Then at some time the slow burn romance grated on my nerves a little. I loved Levi - you could feel how he was torn and sometimes too cruel in his intentions, but he did not make use of the situation, there was no secret relationship, what I feared and I don't like those.
Still a little too less romance for me to be quite satisfied.
The past part of the book really was the heroine. She doled out as good as she got, she was stubborn to a point where it was freaky, she refused to stand down and she held her ground in team of alphaholes that wanted her gone. That takes balls and Babe got more then enough of them. A great heroine can make up a lot for me. But still I not enough for me to miss that the first half of the book was nothing but training and getting in shape and then the second half going on missions she didn't like. PWP? Exactly Plot what plot? YOu had to search intensly to find some. And whil the antagonist could have been interesting and cool, we got to see so little of her that the whole concept didn't work. Now I didn't read the first book in the series, so perhaps we get to know more about that there - but for this book she was not good enough for an antagonist.
This was abook with quite some flaws. But I happened to enjoy it nevertheless, mostly because I really liked the gutsy heroine. I also liked parts of the tenseness between her and the H. Don't grab this book if you are expecting some serious suspense or one of Howard's steamier, hotter reads.
I liked this one - it felt like a good linda Howard book in the beginning. But then a problem surfaced, that happens quite often with her current books. It kinda draaaaaaaged.
I would lie when I said I wasn't at least a bit disappointed. Because the story started so strong for me, with a female protagonist that was right up my alley. She is a real character and I loved her backbone throughout the whole book. No super special snowflake in the beginning - and fortunately not in the end either - she impressed with a whole lot of grit and balls of steel. What did I say? Right. Up. My. Alley.
But then the Linda Howard thing happened. She lost herself in scenes where she proved just HOW MUCH grit the heroine had. Again. And again. And again. Up to a point where I wanted to scream out of my window: "SHE IS NOT A QUITTER!!! I FUCKING GOT IT!!!!!"
The blurb mislead me a little, I was even expecting a little bit of survival story from the heroine - and I am a sucker for survival stories. But oh well - we got a survival, but it kinda wasn't worth mentioning.
Then at some time the slow burn romance grated on my nerves a little. I loved Levi - you could feel how he was torn and sometimes too cruel in his intentions, but he did not make use of the situation, there was no secret relationship, what I feared and I don't like those.
Still a little too less romance for me to be quite satisfied.
The past part of the book really was the heroine. She doled out as good as she got, she was stubborn to a point where it was freaky, she refused to stand down and she held her ground in team of alphaholes that wanted her gone. That takes balls and Babe got more then enough of them. A great heroine can make up a lot for me. But still I not enough for me to miss that the first half of the book was nothing but training and getting in shape and then the second half going on missions she didn't like. PWP? Exactly Plot what plot? YOu had to search intensly to find some. And whil the antagonist could have been interesting and cool, we got to see so little of her that the whole concept didn't work. Now I didn't read the first book in the series, so perhaps we get to know more about that there - but for this book she was not good enough for an antagonist.
This was abook with quite some flaws. But I happened to enjoy it nevertheless, mostly because I really liked the gutsy heroine. I also liked parts of the tenseness between her and the H. Don't grab this book if you are expecting some serious suspense or one of Howard's steamier, hotter reads.
April 6, 2018
3.5 stars - Romantic Suspense
I loved the movie G.I. Jane, and this reminded me a lot of that. I was hoping/expecting more of a true military romantic suspense, but the romance and suspense parts fell somewhat flat.
*Jina's character was really annoying and abrasive at times, even though I did respect and admire her.
*There is way too much page/story time spent on Jina's training for the GO-Team (like more than 50% of the book).
*There isn't nearly enough story time/development on the team's actual/primary mission or the related suspense part of the book.
*There are way too many details on unimportant/unnecessary items and not nearly enough detail or development on the aspects of the story that really matter.
*The "romance" between Jina and Levi is practically non-existent for the majority of the book and poorly developed. It felt very rushed and disappointing.
So overall I liked this and enjoyed listening to the audiobook version, but it could have been better.
I loved the movie G.I. Jane, and this reminded me a lot of that. I was hoping/expecting more of a true military romantic suspense, but the romance and suspense parts fell somewhat flat.
*Jina's character was really annoying and abrasive at times, even though I did respect and admire her.
*There is way too much page/story time spent on Jina's training for the GO-Team (like more than 50% of the book).
*There isn't nearly enough story time/development on the team's actual/primary mission or the related suspense part of the book.
*There are way too many details on unimportant/unnecessary items and not nearly enough detail or development on the aspects of the story that really matter.
*The "romance" between Jina and Levi is practically non-existent for the majority of the book and poorly developed. It felt very rushed and disappointing.
So overall I liked this and enjoyed listening to the audiobook version, but it could have been better.
May 11, 2018
Linda Howard's editor and publisher must really, really love her.
Nine CD's for this audiobook of which five focus on her training with a touch here and there about the hidden fire between Jina and Ace, the massive alpha commander of their SEAL-like team. We have seven hunky, honorable fighters and what turns out to be their mascot, Jina the drone operator, and all we get is running, running, and more training/running. The camaraderie between Jina aka Babe and the guys is one of the best parts of the story
I'm going to stop now with hunky SEAL images.
It was interesting, but the transformation from wimpy civilian into a kickass Babe went on too long. I think there was a CD just about her parachute training, and I wanted to throw her out the plane myself by the end of it.
Jina is actually a pretty spunky heroine, and she is there to support the guys with the drone to keep a look out for bad guys. The middle child of five with older and younger brothers, she takes no guff off her male compadres and it was okay. But readers need more than that. Ace, the hero, says maybe ten words the whole book, but smolders with broad shoulder intensity
The team is finally sent off on a mission set up by the evil-doer where it goes pear-shaped, and any hope of three stars was gone.
Nitpicky spoilers/rant
There is a suspense part to the novel, but it is barely touched on.
H and h finally connect, bad guys are dealt with. I would love to say more about the HEA, but after 8 1/2 perfect CD's, the last three tracks on the 9th CD were so damaged who knows what happened.
Nine CD's for this audiobook of which five focus on her training with a touch here and there about the hidden fire between Jina and Ace, the massive alpha commander of their SEAL-like team. We have seven hunky, honorable fighters and what turns out to be their mascot, Jina the drone operator, and all we get is running, running, and more training/running. The camaraderie between Jina aka Babe and the guys is one of the best parts of the story
I'm going to stop now with hunky SEAL images.
It was interesting, but the transformation from wimpy civilian into a kickass Babe went on too long. I think there was a CD just about her parachute training, and I wanted to throw her out the plane myself by the end of it.
Jina is actually a pretty spunky heroine, and she is there to support the guys with the drone to keep a look out for bad guys. The middle child of five with older and younger brothers, she takes no guff off her male compadres and it was okay. But readers need more than that. Ace, the hero, says maybe ten words the whole book, but smolders with broad shoulder intensity
The team is finally sent off on a mission set up by the evil-doer where it goes pear-shaped, and any hope of three stars was gone.
Nitpicky spoilers/rant
There is a suspense part to the novel, but it is barely touched on.
H and h finally connect, bad guys are dealt with. I would love to say more about the HEA, but after 8 1/2 perfect CD's, the last three tracks on the 9th CD were so damaged who knows what happened.
March 12, 2020
If someone had told me that the hero was a jerk to the heroine, that there was very little romance, only a bit of suspense, and that the heroine was beyond stubborn? I would have missed out. I wouldn't have read this and I would have missed out because this was fantastic.
This is one of those books where I can't exactly pinpoint what made it so great, but I can tell you that it grabbed me from the very first chapter and I couldn't stop listening to this audiobook. First of all, the narrator was fantastic, but the story itself just held me captive.
Usually too much stubbornness in a heroine is not something I enjoy. For this book, it just worked.
What she has to do and the obstacles she has to overcome, she needed that grit to succeed. I enjoyed every second of it. I love the way she bit back at the guys and never let them walk all over her. I also like how she wasn't afraid to be honest when it might make her look bad.
Levi was mostly a jerk. I'm glad we got his POV because it helped me as a reader to understand where he was coming from and why he was behaving the way he did. As much as I wish there was more time with him and Jina as a couple, it just wouldn't have worked in the story so I'm ok with it.
It really just goes to show that just because a story has elements you usually don't like or enjoy, it can surprise you.
This is one of those books where I can't exactly pinpoint what made it so great, but I can tell you that it grabbed me from the very first chapter and I couldn't stop listening to this audiobook. First of all, the narrator was fantastic, but the story itself just held me captive.
Usually too much stubbornness in a heroine is not something I enjoy. For this book, it just worked.
What she has to do and the obstacles she has to overcome, she needed that grit to succeed. I enjoyed every second of it. I love the way she bit back at the guys and never let them walk all over her. I also like how she wasn't afraid to be honest when it might make her look bad.
Levi was mostly a jerk. I'm glad we got his POV because it helped me as a reader to understand where he was coming from and why he was behaving the way he did. As much as I wish there was more time with him and Jina as a couple, it just wouldn't have worked in the story so I'm ok with it.
It really just goes to show that just because a story has elements you usually don't like or enjoy, it can surprise you.
July 4, 2018
4.25 ‘Babe’ stars 🌟
I don’t know how to write a review for this book 🤨
Er.... story of Snow White and Seven Dwarfs with a twist?
Only our Snow White actually is a nerd who had been forced to be a kick ass heroine to join a Special Forces Team, yeah instead of dwarfs, the guys all Tall, Dark and Handsome! 🙄😂
Hm.. yes the villain is a woman too! LOL.
So, half of the story more about her training with the guys how to qualify to be in their team.
I thought the book will be boring! LOL 😂
But hello, it’s a Linda Howard’s book, once I started I get hooked, and I love it!! 😘
❤️❤️❤️
I don’t know how to write a review for this book 🤨
Er.... story of Snow White and Seven Dwarfs with a twist?
Only our Snow White actually is a nerd who had been forced to be a kick ass heroine to join a Special Forces Team, yeah instead of dwarfs, the guys all Tall, Dark and Handsome! 🙄😂
Hm.. yes the villain is a woman too! LOL.
So, half of the story more about her training with the guys how to qualify to be in their team.
I thought the book will be boring! LOL 😂
But hello, it’s a Linda Howard’s book, once I started I get hooked, and I love it!! 😘
❤️❤️❤️
March 15, 2021
4 angsty slow burn stars
I enjoyed this book - solid characters, great development, and interesting subject matter. The blurb was a little misleading bc about 75% of this book was Jina going through training; the incident where she was separated from her group was maybe a chapter or so; the way it is described is as a main plot point (not to mention the title of the book!), and while it was a significant event, it was not as described in the summary. There were some times where I felt like things were dragging, and it made me a little crazy with how long the couple was playing the "should we/shouldn't we?" game, but overall, a good story!
Jina Modell has never backed down from a challenge in her life, and she isn't about to start now. Her job working for a paramilitary group as a tech/analyst has been drastically modified: she is now one of ten individuals who will be on-site support for the GO-Teams, the elite and highly trained groups that take on often dangerous missions. In order to keep her job, Jina now has to transform herself from a couch potato into warrior woman, and she is not at all pleased at the idea. Not only is this not what she signed up for, she is the only female "selected" for this new assignment, mostly due to her highest scores on the war games that were installed in the office several months ago that were (unbeknownst to the players) actually evaluating the abilities of the techs to take on this kind of role. All Jina can hope for is to not stick out, so on the first day, she does her utmost to remain in the middle of the pack so that she isn't first or last, and can thus slip through the program without drawing attention to herself. But once she arrives at the training field, she soon learns that is not going to happen as her assigned team has decided to undertake her training themselves. So while the rest of her cohort continues to train together, Jina finds herself at the mercy of 7 giant men with stamina and skills for days... and they are intent on making her the best of the bunch or running her out if she isn't tough enough. And the toughest of them all just happens to be the leader of the group.
Levi Butcher is as alpha male as they come - he is the largest of the bunch, the most demanding, stoic AF, and impossible to read. The last thing he needed was to be saddled with the only woman in this new program the big boss is trying to implement, and he is certain she will fail to meet his standards. On their first encounter, when he hears her raspy voice, he gives her the nickname "Babe," which immediately pisses her off. But he doesn't care - his way or the highway, and this woman might just be stubborn enough to make the team in the end. What he doesn't expect is his reaction to Jina... not just physically, but her attitude and her desire to make it through the training come hell or high water appeals to him on every level. But it is his job to keep the team running smoothly, and having a "couple" on it would change the dynamics which would eventually lead to issues on the team, so he has to follow his own non-fraternization rules as difficult as it might be. And it seems to get more and more difficult as time goes on. Levi doesn't want Jina on his team.... not because she can't handle the job, but because he wants her, and as long as she is his teammate, she's off limits.
Jina can't believe she has the hots for Levi - of all people! He is insufferable, straight up cruel at times, and she knows he doesn't want her on his team. He never smiles, never jokes, and never lets up. But her body and heart respond to him despite his flaws. And when she learns the attraction is mutual, it only makes things harder because she know they cannot be together, and she doesn't want to quit. She also doesn't want to change teams as she has truly been accepted by this group and cannot fathom leaving them. But what will happen when Levi's team is targeted by an external force bent on revenge in the form of destroying it? And when Jina is in trouble, will Levi choose to save her or the rest of his team?
What I liked:
--- Jina's internal dialogue was often hilarious and definitely entertaining
--- Great character development - we got to know the team members very well after spending all that time with them through Jina's training
--- The subject was interesting - I learned a lot of things I didn't know about paramilitary/military (training, acronyms, protocols)
--- Chemistry between Jina and Levi was really hot
What I didn't like as much:
--- SLOW BURN - way too slow
--- While the character development was very solid, I felt like we could still have gotten that with less detail - the story dragged at times bc so much of it was spent in the mundane - would have liked more actual action
--- It became completely obvious that Levi and Jina were both too into each other to be neutral when shit went down - they may as well have been dating each other bc their emotions were compromised regardless (and it was Levi's rule, not a company policy)
--- I didn't really understand the villain's reasons.... maybe it was discussed in the first book in this series? But there wasn't enough explanation in this one for me to understand why the person was so bent on destroying a GO-Team other than they lost a loved one and blamed it on the leader of the GO-Teams
--- I wish there was another book or two about the other members of the team (the unattached ones especially) bc we did invest so much time with them, it would be nice to see them get their HEAs
Overall, an interesting story with memorable and strong characters that you wanted to see get their HEA, preferably a little sooner and with a little more steam, but they still got there in the end.
(As a note, I listened to the first 30% or so on Audible bc I was traveling, and the narrator did a good job, so I would recommend that media if you like listening to books.)
Plot --- 4/5
Main Characters --- 4/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level* --- 3/5
Violence --- some battle scenes; injuries; nothing overly graphic
Language --- yep
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild (nothing descriptive); 2/5 - 3rd base action/1 home run; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere (a couple of full-on steamy scenes); 4/5 - yes please! (erotica territory); 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
I enjoyed this book - solid characters, great development, and interesting subject matter. The blurb was a little misleading bc about 75% of this book was Jina going through training; the incident where she was separated from her group was maybe a chapter or so; the way it is described is as a main plot point (not to mention the title of the book!), and while it was a significant event, it was not as described in the summary. There were some times where I felt like things were dragging, and it made me a little crazy with how long the couple was playing the "should we/shouldn't we?" game, but overall, a good story!
Jina Modell has never backed down from a challenge in her life, and she isn't about to start now. Her job working for a paramilitary group as a tech/analyst has been drastically modified: she is now one of ten individuals who will be on-site support for the GO-Teams, the elite and highly trained groups that take on often dangerous missions. In order to keep her job, Jina now has to transform herself from a couch potato into warrior woman, and she is not at all pleased at the idea. Not only is this not what she signed up for, she is the only female "selected" for this new assignment, mostly due to her highest scores on the war games that were installed in the office several months ago that were (unbeknownst to the players) actually evaluating the abilities of the techs to take on this kind of role. All Jina can hope for is to not stick out, so on the first day, she does her utmost to remain in the middle of the pack so that she isn't first or last, and can thus slip through the program without drawing attention to herself. But once she arrives at the training field, she soon learns that is not going to happen as her assigned team has decided to undertake her training themselves. So while the rest of her cohort continues to train together, Jina finds herself at the mercy of 7 giant men with stamina and skills for days... and they are intent on making her the best of the bunch or running her out if she isn't tough enough. And the toughest of them all just happens to be the leader of the group.
Levi Butcher is as alpha male as they come - he is the largest of the bunch, the most demanding, stoic AF, and impossible to read. The last thing he needed was to be saddled with the only woman in this new program the big boss is trying to implement, and he is certain she will fail to meet his standards. On their first encounter, when he hears her raspy voice, he gives her the nickname "Babe," which immediately pisses her off. But he doesn't care - his way or the highway, and this woman might just be stubborn enough to make the team in the end. What he doesn't expect is his reaction to Jina... not just physically, but her attitude and her desire to make it through the training come hell or high water appeals to him on every level. But it is his job to keep the team running smoothly, and having a "couple" on it would change the dynamics which would eventually lead to issues on the team, so he has to follow his own non-fraternization rules as difficult as it might be. And it seems to get more and more difficult as time goes on. Levi doesn't want Jina on his team.... not because she can't handle the job, but because he wants her, and as long as she is his teammate, she's off limits.
Jina can't believe she has the hots for Levi - of all people! He is insufferable, straight up cruel at times, and she knows he doesn't want her on his team. He never smiles, never jokes, and never lets up. But her body and heart respond to him despite his flaws. And when she learns the attraction is mutual, it only makes things harder because she know they cannot be together, and she doesn't want to quit. She also doesn't want to change teams as she has truly been accepted by this group and cannot fathom leaving them. But what will happen when Levi's team is targeted by an external force bent on revenge in the form of destroying it? And when Jina is in trouble, will Levi choose to save her or the rest of his team?
What I liked:
--- Jina's internal dialogue was often hilarious and definitely entertaining
--- Great character development - we got to know the team members very well after spending all that time with them through Jina's training
--- The subject was interesting - I learned a lot of things I didn't know about paramilitary/military (training, acronyms, protocols)
--- Chemistry between Jina and Levi was really hot
What I didn't like as much:
--- SLOW BURN - way too slow
--- While the character development was very solid, I felt like we could still have gotten that with less detail - the story dragged at times bc so much of it was spent in the mundane - would have liked more actual action
--- It became completely obvious that Levi and Jina were both too into each other to be neutral when shit went down - they may as well have been dating each other bc their emotions were compromised regardless (and it was Levi's rule, not a company policy)
--- I didn't really understand the villain's reasons.... maybe it was discussed in the first book in this series? But there wasn't enough explanation in this one for me to understand why the person was so bent on destroying a GO-Team other than they lost a loved one and blamed it on the leader of the GO-Teams
--- I wish there was another book or two about the other members of the team (the unattached ones especially) bc we did invest so much time with them, it would be nice to see them get their HEAs
Overall, an interesting story with memorable and strong characters that you wanted to see get their HEA, preferably a little sooner and with a little more steam, but they still got there in the end.
(As a note, I listened to the first 30% or so on Audible bc I was traveling, and the narrator did a good job, so I would recommend that media if you like listening to books.)
Plot --- 4/5
Main Characters --- 4/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level* --- 3/5
Violence --- some battle scenes; injuries; nothing overly graphic
Language --- yep
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild (nothing descriptive); 2/5 - 3rd base action/1 home run; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere (a couple of full-on steamy scenes); 4/5 - yes please! (erotica territory); 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
April 30, 2025
4 Stars for The Woman Left Behind: Go-Team, Book 2 (audiobook) by Linda Howard read by Saskia Maarleveld.
Nina works in communications for a paramilitary organization based in DC. She loves her job where she gets to help take down terrorists from her air conditioned control room. Unfortunately for her, the custom video games that she’s been playing in the office were actually a test to see who is most qualified to fly drones in the field. And she had the highest score. Management wants her to go through training and deploy with one of the Go-Teams so she can provide her team with the best surveillance. This desk jockey is going into the field with some of the best trained soldiers in the world. She better get training.
Nina works in communications for a paramilitary organization based in DC. She loves her job where she gets to help take down terrorists from her air conditioned control room. Unfortunately for her, the custom video games that she’s been playing in the office were actually a test to see who is most qualified to fly drones in the field. And she had the highest score. Management wants her to go through training and deploy with one of the Go-Teams so she can provide her team with the best surveillance. This desk jockey is going into the field with some of the best trained soldiers in the world. She better get training.
January 7, 2019
4,5*
Loved it! It was really action packed with paramilitary training and missions that I craved and haven't read for a long time. It's a safe, slow-burned romance, very little of it, and don't expect any smut until 90%. Super yummy alpha asshole hero and a strong-willed, stubborn heroine had a great chemistry.
Loved it! It was really action packed with paramilitary training and missions that I craved and haven't read for a long time. It's a safe, slow-burned romance, very little of it, and don't expect any smut until 90%. Super yummy alpha asshole hero and a strong-willed, stubborn heroine had a great chemistry.
March 11, 2018
I want to say this was a waste of time, but it wasn't. For the biggest part of the book, it's pure action and thoroughly entertaining, but for the love of me, I cannot forgive the horrible romance part of this book.
November 3, 2019
Vaya forma de cambiarle el sentido a toda la novela con ese título. Qué fuerte, la verdad. El titulo original ES la novela
Le daría más solo por lo que me ha enganchado, pero analizado fríamente el suspense es flojo y la relación de pareja también. Eso sí, chapó por la autora como consigue atrapar al lector con una novela en la que prácticamente no pasa nada.
Lo cierto es que es una novela en que ni el suspense ni el romance tienen un gran peso, lo mejor es el crecimiento de Jina y la forma en la que se mete de lleno en el mundo de un grupo de machos alfa. Me lo he pasado genial con ese día a día de entrenamiento y con la novela tan feministas que ha conseguido la autora
Con Levi ni fu ni fa, un macho alfa muy tópico, que tampoco acabo de entender qué tiene a parte de músculos y carácter fuerte para conquistar a esa pedazo de mujer que es Jina
La tensión sexual salta de las páginas, muy bien llevada por la autora pues la novela no necesita de escenas de sexo para que nos demos cuenta del fuego que se cuece entre ambos
Eso sí, me ha durado dos sentadas
Tengo que leer algo más de esta autora, creo que solo he leído Sombras de crepúsculo y, desde luego, el suspense está mucho más trabajado
Se aceptan recomiendaciones ;)
Le daría más solo por lo que me ha enganchado, pero analizado fríamente el suspense es flojo y la relación de pareja también. Eso sí, chapó por la autora como consigue atrapar al lector con una novela en la que prácticamente no pasa nada.
Lo cierto es que es una novela en que ni el suspense ni el romance tienen un gran peso, lo mejor es el crecimiento de Jina y la forma en la que se mete de lleno en el mundo de un grupo de machos alfa. Me lo he pasado genial con ese día a día de entrenamiento y con la novela tan feministas que ha conseguido la autora
Con Levi ni fu ni fa, un macho alfa muy tópico, que tampoco acabo de entender qué tiene a parte de músculos y carácter fuerte para conquistar a esa pedazo de mujer que es Jina
La tensión sexual salta de las páginas, muy bien llevada por la autora pues la novela no necesita de escenas de sexo para que nos demos cuenta del fuego que se cuece entre ambos
Eso sí, me ha durado dos sentadas
Tengo que leer algo más de esta autora, creo que solo he leído Sombras de crepúsculo y, desde luego, el suspense está mucho más trabajado
Se aceptan recomiendaciones ;)
July 1, 2018
Levi was “one bad man” and I loved him. The slow simmer romance was great. Linda Howard’s writing keeps getting better with each one of her books I read.
August 24, 2022
3 Stars
Overall Opinion
The Good: I liked the h. I’m usually tough on my hs, so that says a lot! I liked experiencing the training she went through and acknowledging her own personal growth. I liked the team/family aspect that she ended up with too.
The Not-So-Good: Some of the suspenseful aspects seemed weak. Maybe I needed to read another book to get it more or something. I felt like the Syria scene was pretty good, but all their other missions felt like they needed some more development. The congresswoman drama was kinda lame imo.
The Bad: The ending. The pacing towards the end was way too rushed and it seemed like Ms. Howard was just anxious to tie up the loose ends with the suspense part of the story. While that was understandable and needed, I think it could’ve been a little longer if needed to have some time focused more on the romance and closure for the couple. I don’t think they even share “ILYs” with each other on page! It was too much lead up and not nearly enough pay off.
Overall: I have always liked the action movies that focus on someone’s training (Rocky 4, Dark Knight, etc), so this was enjoyable because of that. I was extremely disappointed in the way it all ended though and I wanted much more of the romance! Overall, I enjoyed this at times but for the most part, I thought it was just okay.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Jina and Levi’s story. Jina get reassigned as a drone operator for a secret elite team that Levi is the leader of. They bump heads at first, since Levi isn’t all that thrilled to have the only female assigned to his team. Jina is stubborn though and will not give him the satisfaction of quitting. There is a lot of training, some suspenseful moments, and some sexy times…and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing mainly on Jina and Levi in 3rd person narrative with some parts focusing on other side characters.
Overall Pace of Story: Good except the end (last 10ish%) where it all seemed to be way too rushed. I never skimmed.
Instalove:No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings. Probably more hate-to-love than anything.
H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Levi. He was alright. I didn’t really connect with him because we don’t get all that much backstory/character development with him.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Jina. I liked her. I appreciated her strength, her loyalty, and how she liked to be a nerd.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and a few scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. This is definitely a slow burn as they aren’t intimate until 91% in my kindle app!
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Mild jealousy
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No, once they get together they pretty much stay together
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends super abruptly with what I would call a HFN ending , but I’m sure others would be fine with calling this a HEA. I needed much, much more to be satisfied with this ending!
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion
The Good: I liked the h. I’m usually tough on my hs, so that says a lot! I liked experiencing the training she went through and acknowledging her own personal growth. I liked the team/family aspect that she ended up with too.
The Not-So-Good: Some of the suspenseful aspects seemed weak. Maybe I needed to read another book to get it more or something. I felt like the Syria scene was pretty good, but all their other missions felt like they needed some more development. The congresswoman drama was kinda lame imo.
The Bad: The ending. The pacing towards the end was way too rushed and it seemed like Ms. Howard was just anxious to tie up the loose ends with the suspense part of the story. While that was understandable and needed, I think it could’ve been a little longer if needed to have some time focused more on the romance and closure for the couple. I don’t think they even share “ILYs” with each other on page! It was too much lead up and not nearly enough pay off.
Overall: I have always liked the action movies that focus on someone’s training (Rocky 4, Dark Knight, etc), so this was enjoyable because of that. I was extremely disappointed in the way it all ended though and I wanted much more of the romance! Overall, I enjoyed this at times but for the most part, I thought it was just okay.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Jina and Levi’s story. Jina get reassigned as a drone operator for a secret elite team that Levi is the leader of. They bump heads at first, since Levi isn’t all that thrilled to have the only female assigned to his team. Jina is stubborn though and will not give him the satisfaction of quitting. There is a lot of training, some suspenseful moments, and some sexy times…and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing mainly on Jina and Levi in 3rd person narrative with some parts focusing on other side characters.
Overall Pace of Story: Good except the end (last 10ish%) where it all seemed to be way too rushed. I never skimmed.
Instalove:No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings. Probably more hate-to-love than anything.
H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Levi. He was alright. I didn’t really connect with him because we don’t get all that much backstory/character development with him.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Jina. I liked her. I appreciated her strength, her loyalty, and how she liked to be a nerd.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and a few scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. This is definitely a slow burn as they aren’t intimate until 91% in my kindle app!
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Mild jealousy
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No, once they get together they pretty much stay together
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends super abruptly with what I would call a HFN ending , but I’m sure others would be fine with calling this a HEA. I needed much, much more to be satisfied with this ending!
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
March 7, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this military like romantic suspense novel - The Woman Left Behind by Linda Howard. It was pure escapist reading, that kept me up reading two nights in a row.
Jina or "Babe" as her team name her to her disgust, is a gritty, sassy and very able young woman who just cannot quit. Her brothers have given her the basis for that and now when she finds herself thrown into a entirely new and different experience, she does not give up.
The team is a little like a Seal team, they train hard and they go on missions that involve stealth and secrecy. They might be government approved but they are not 'official'. The team is led by Levi or Ace as he is known to his team, on the first day that Jina turns up for training with a new group, they draw her out and make sure they train her. Its gruelling stuff, not for the fainthearted. However Jina is not one to take any nonsense and she has a mouth on her and the ability to stand up to them. And very soon bonds are formed and they are moving towards trust. I loved the whole team aspect and the guys on the team. The training period takes up a good deal of the story, and I liked that - all the challenges and the final one of parachuting which Gina finds really difficult.
Then they are out on missions and Gina is out with them, its her job to operate a drone that surveys the field while the team carry out there task - which usually involves weapons. And then one time things go really wrong and Gina is left on her own and lets just say it rocks her world.
A romance is obviously brewing - Gina and Levi are attracted to one another, but because they work on a team together they can't let it go any further. Watching the two sidestep each other was very entertaining - right through to the final resolution.
Action, romance, a little suspense and team comradeship. Now and then its just the kind of read I find perfect.
Jina or "Babe" as her team name her to her disgust, is a gritty, sassy and very able young woman who just cannot quit. Her brothers have given her the basis for that and now when she finds herself thrown into a entirely new and different experience, she does not give up.
The team is a little like a Seal team, they train hard and they go on missions that involve stealth and secrecy. They might be government approved but they are not 'official'. The team is led by Levi or Ace as he is known to his team, on the first day that Jina turns up for training with a new group, they draw her out and make sure they train her. Its gruelling stuff, not for the fainthearted. However Jina is not one to take any nonsense and she has a mouth on her and the ability to stand up to them. And very soon bonds are formed and they are moving towards trust. I loved the whole team aspect and the guys on the team. The training period takes up a good deal of the story, and I liked that - all the challenges and the final one of parachuting which Gina finds really difficult.
Then they are out on missions and Gina is out with them, its her job to operate a drone that surveys the field while the team carry out there task - which usually involves weapons. And then one time things go really wrong and Gina is left on her own and lets just say it rocks her world.
A romance is obviously brewing - Gina and Levi are attracted to one another, but because they work on a team together they can't let it go any further. Watching the two sidestep each other was very entertaining - right through to the final resolution.
Action, romance, a little suspense and team comradeship. Now and then its just the kind of read I find perfect.
March 9, 2018
This book was way better than the first one in the series. I enjoyed reading it.
The one thing I absolutely loved about it was the Heroine. She made the story. Jina was the bomb. Reading about her journey was inspiring. She's one tough woman, doesn't give up and pushes herself stronger than anyone else. I loved her in the team. She belonged.
The team members were cool. They were unique characters and became a new family for the Heroine.
Now about the things that I didn't really like.
There wasn't much romance in the book. There was attraction and lust. The Heroine wanted the Hero and he wanted her. But they couldn't be together while working in the same team. This went on about 95% of the book. Hero tried to ignore her, tried to build up walls. He wasn't mean or anything. He just held his distance.
(Heroine and Hero know and work together for more than a year, and there is no mention of other women at all. As it was written, I believe that the Hero didn't have any other women in this timespan, because his focus was only on the Heroine from day one, and he isn't the type to look for other things when he there is a woman he wants.) A huge plus in this story is that there isn't OW/OM drama at all. Hero is definitely not flaunting other woman in Heroines face and doesn't need to get her out of his system with OW.
I just found it so sudden, that they got together. The Heroine quits the team after a horrible experience. And this was the start of their relationship, because they were able to move forward. Hero goes to Heroine and they sleep together. Boom. And he doesn't leave. He want's her for his. She wants him too, but has mixed feelings.
We don't get to experience their relationship growing. We don't hear "I love you's". There's no heart to heart. No communication. Their just together and that's it. No apologies, no explanations about past decisions.
The book ends with their wedding, but again the reader doesn't experience it at all. The story tells us their married and that's it.
I would have loved more feelings in the book. More romantic details, more love. I'm not quite convinced that the Heroine and the Hero share this monumental love for each other, because we don't get to experience it. For me it's only attraction and lust.
All in all I enjoyed the read from start to finish. I'm definitely going to look out for book III in the series, with the hope of more.
The one thing I absolutely loved about it was the Heroine. She made the story. Jina was the bomb. Reading about her journey was inspiring. She's one tough woman, doesn't give up and pushes herself stronger than anyone else. I loved her in the team. She belonged.
The team members were cool. They were unique characters and became a new family for the Heroine.
Now about the things that I didn't really like.
There wasn't much romance in the book. There was attraction and lust. The Heroine wanted the Hero and he wanted her. But they couldn't be together while working in the same team. This went on about 95% of the book. Hero tried to ignore her, tried to build up walls. He wasn't mean or anything. He just held his distance.
(Heroine and Hero know and work together for more than a year, and there is no mention of other women at all. As it was written, I believe that the Hero didn't have any other women in this timespan, because his focus was only on the Heroine from day one, and he isn't the type to look for other things when he there is a woman he wants.) A huge plus in this story is that there isn't OW/OM drama at all. Hero is definitely not flaunting other woman in Heroines face and doesn't need to get her out of his system with OW.
I just found it so sudden, that they got together. The Heroine quits the team after a horrible experience. And this was the start of their relationship, because they were able to move forward. Hero goes to Heroine and they sleep together. Boom. And he doesn't leave. He want's her for his. She wants him too, but has mixed feelings.
We don't get to experience their relationship growing. We don't hear "I love you's". There's no heart to heart. No communication. Their just together and that's it. No apologies, no explanations about past decisions.
The book ends with their wedding, but again the reader doesn't experience it at all. The story tells us their married and that's it.
I would have loved more feelings in the book. More romantic details, more love. I'm not quite convinced that the Heroine and the Hero share this monumental love for each other, because we don't get to experience it. For me it's only attraction and lust.
All in all I enjoyed the read from start to finish. I'm definitely going to look out for book III in the series, with the hope of more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2018
First 80% is a solid four star read then the last 20% is a two star read.
Howard was doing such a good job building the team and showing Jina growing into her role then bam, nosedive. To top it off the ending was weak and rushed so it just magnified the disappointment.
Howard was doing such a good job building the team and showing Jina growing into her role then bam, nosedive. To top it off the ending was weak and rushed so it just magnified the disappointment.
March 11, 2018
Linda Howard is one of my favorite authors. She always has a twisted suspense plot and a hot romance and "The Woman Left Behind" is no exception. The prologue starts with the baddie lamenting the death of her husband and vowing revenge against Axel MacNarhama. But, this book is not about this twisted plot of revenge, well not totally. Jina is a complicated character and prickly as all get out. Levi is one stone cold SOB, except when he smacks up against Jina. But, the Team comes first. Oh, the smoldering goings on.
Jina Modell loves her job in communications with a covert organization and is not at all happy when she is reassigned. When she finds out that she has to actually "train" physically, she is really not happy. But, quitting is not an option for this middle child with two very competitive brothers. An added complication, the team leader "Ace" Levy Butcher is a major babe magnet and the sparks ignite even though it is forbidden.
Now Jina is training with the big dogs and learning a state of the art drone program. The program is no problem, the physical training . . . Jina is not exactly the athletic type. Add jumping out of planes and shooting a gun and she is really out of her depth. To Jina, quitting is just not an option and she soon earns the respect of the whole team, even hard-ass Levi.
Team leader Levi, call sign Ace, really didn't think that Jina, who he quickly named Babe, would make the cut as the Teams Drone Operator, but she has grit and determination and did everything she had to do to be a true part of the team, much to his disappointment. That meant she was firmly in the hands-off category, much to his frustration.
That grit and determination along with all that physical and arms training are what saved both Jina and Levy when an op goes sideways.
Jina Modell loves her job in communications with a covert organization and is not at all happy when she is reassigned. When she finds out that she has to actually "train" physically, she is really not happy. But, quitting is not an option for this middle child with two very competitive brothers. An added complication, the team leader "Ace" Levy Butcher is a major babe magnet and the sparks ignite even though it is forbidden.
Now Jina is training with the big dogs and learning a state of the art drone program. The program is no problem, the physical training . . . Jina is not exactly the athletic type. Add jumping out of planes and shooting a gun and she is really out of her depth. To Jina, quitting is just not an option and she soon earns the respect of the whole team, even hard-ass Levi.
Team leader Levi, call sign Ace, really didn't think that Jina, who he quickly named Babe, would make the cut as the Teams Drone Operator, but she has grit and determination and did everything she had to do to be a true part of the team, much to his disappointment. That meant she was firmly in the hands-off category, much to his frustration.
That grit and determination along with all that physical and arms training are what saved both Jina and Levy when an op goes sideways.
August 24, 2018
2.5 Stars rounded down.
I didn't realize that this was the second in the series until I finished it and looked it up on Goodreads. I had read the first book and looking back some blanks were filled in for me...but not enough to save the story.
I give the h points for being stubborn but then subtract them back for too many clueless and stupid moments. The boots issue just made her appear like she was just a clueless wonder. How am I supposed to believe she's has a brain after not knowing that boots come in different sizes and levels of quality?
The H was totally unappealing. The romance was absent due to them both being on the same squad with an ironclad no fraternization between members. The attraction is mentioned numerous times. His method of claiming a relationship at the end was gag worthy but then I didn't like him throughout the book.
Most of the book was about her physical training and then at the end you finally get somewhat of a plot.
The final "ugh" to this story is her nickname by the squad of "babe". It's not the 80's anymore.
I didn't realize that this was the second in the series until I finished it and looked it up on Goodreads. I had read the first book and looking back some blanks were filled in for me...but not enough to save the story.
I give the h points for being stubborn but then subtract them back for too many clueless and stupid moments. The boots issue just made her appear like she was just a clueless wonder. How am I supposed to believe she's has a brain after not knowing that boots come in different sizes and levels of quality?
The H was totally unappealing. The romance was absent due to them both being on the same squad with an ironclad no fraternization between members. The attraction is mentioned numerous times. His method of claiming a relationship at the end was gag worthy but then I didn't like him throughout the book.
Most of the book was about her physical training and then at the end you finally get somewhat of a plot.
The final "ugh" to this story is her nickname by the squad of "babe". It's not the 80's anymore.
March 11, 2018
Yes, this story starts out a little slow. Yes, there is only some sex with just one couple. Yes, I loved this book anyway! I'm pretty sure there will be another book written to follow this story. I loved the character of Jina and Levi was just plain hot! PBJ tattoo..just hilarious :) If you are looking for romance then go somewhere else. No time for romance in a war zone. Plenty of action and a final "O Shit" moment....on to #3 please.
March 25, 2018
*2,5 stars*
I would like to say that I only discovered that this book was part of a series after I finished it.
I don't really know how to rate it. The book is well written, and I liked the heroine as well as the secondary characters. But I didn't like the hero much, the end felt rushed to me AND, for reasons inherent to the plot, the romance in this book is almost non existing.
I would like to say that I only discovered that this book was part of a series after I finished it.
I don't really know how to rate it. The book is well written, and I liked the heroine as well as the secondary characters. But I didn't like the hero much, the end felt rushed to me AND, for reasons inherent to the plot, the romance in this book is almost non existing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,307 reviews