The Woman Left Behind

by Linda Howard

'Suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat' - Bella

***Featured in the 'WE LOVED IT' section on Woman's Own***

Levi Butcher is singularly devoted to his work. As team leader for the GO-Team, his unwavering focus is on the mission. Levi knows all too well that one minor distraction can hold deadly consequences. But with the soothing, sensual voice of "Babe," the team's communication expert, constantly in his ear, keeping his concentration on the dangerous work at hand is becoming extremely difficult.

Jina Modell definitely doesn't feel like a "Babe," especially when she's working with the gruff, no-nonsense Levi. When the base where she's stationed is attacked, Jina manages to escape but the rest of the team, working some distance away, is exfiltrated, thinking Jina died in the explosion-leaving her stranded. To survive, she's got to figure out how to get back to safety before she's discovered by the enemy.

Levi would never willingly leave a soldier behind, especially a brave woman whose sweet voice haunts his every thought. Once he discovers Jina is alive, the tenacious warrior will walk into fire to save this intriguing woman who has captured his heart.

• ISBN10: 0062419021
• ISBN13: 9780062419026
• Publish Date: 20 November 2018 (first published 6 March 2018)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Collins
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 432
• Language: English

Reviews

[wyvernfriend]

He needed training in how to deal with female co-workers. The blurb made it seem that she would spend a goodly chunk of the book getting herself back to the team or civilisation or whatever but actually it's only a few chapters in a story, though it is a pivotal point in the story for the heroines growth.
Levi Butcher leads a paramilitary unit of macho men and into this mix his boss puts a geek, and a female geek at that. She, Jina Modell, and the other geeks assigned to other teams, are unfit and would not be able to keep up with the team so they set about fixing that, trying to break her, but she refuses to break and becomes part of the team. After a few missions she ends up left behind and has to get to safety, ignoring pain and the fear of being trapped behind enemy lines.
It's interesting and the characters are well drawn, even if Levi Butcher comes across as being a bit of an ass sometimes while he tries to convince himself that the only feelings he has for Jina is that of a co-worker. I also had some issues with the resolution as it was a bit pat and easy. Still an interesting read with characters I was rooting for.

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

The Woman Left Behind is the second book in the Go - Team series.

I enjoyed this book not because the romance was hot, which it was not nor because of the suspense which it lacked. I enjoyed it mostly because of how the heroine was portrayed.

The story began with the villain from the previous installment plotting revenge against the head of the Go -Team. Determined to bring down the team the villain will use any means necessary to accomplish this goal.

Later on in the story readers were then introduced to Jina Modell aka Babe. Jina is a computer nerd and communications expert for Go-Team. Due to her expertise in video games, she was reassigned to work in the field as a drone operator. However, before she could fulfill her duties, she would need to undergo rigorous training. Remember, she has no field experience. Her team leader did not expect her to last, and he made it known in no uncertain terms. Now this was where my admiration for her grew. She took on every challenge that came her way. Not one to quit she set out to prove she was a worthy team member.

Levi Butcher aka Ace, team leader for the team Jina had been assigned. Not keen on having a woman on his team he was determined to make her feel unwelcome, hoping she would quit. However, when he realized how much of a fighter she was, his admiration, which morphed into an attraction for her, grew. Now his reasons for wanting her off the team has become personal.
There were lots of sexual tension but as team members, they could not succumb.

The story focused on Jina's training, mostly. She went through a lot at this juncture. I admired her fighting spirit. She triumphed despite the odds. The camaraderie she shared with the team was fun and had me laughing at various points throughout the story.

It was not until months after her training that the effectiveness of Jina's training was put to the test. It was at this point I experienced the suspense and action element of the story. However, it did not last long. In the blink of an eye, it was all over. However, Jina proved she was a worthy team member.

Just like the suspense element, the romance aspect proved to be disappointing. The romance was nonexistent. Both characters got to together after everything was over, but there was no build up to their union as a couple.

I wish I could say the story wrapped up nicely, but the ending was both weak and rushed. Sad to say I felt short changed as I did not get what I was expecting.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Readers who love stories featuring a strong heroine going through rigorous training and little or no suspense and romance, may like this book. However, for readers of romantic suspense who love a slow burn romance and nail biting suspense, this may not be the book for you.

[thebookdisciple]

The Woman Left Behind is a story that reminds me why I adore romantic suspense! Jina, the heroine, is intelligent and bold. She is thrown into a job she didn't want, but refuses to roll over and give up. Seeing her push herself beyond what she thought she was capable of is empowering. However, Jina never loses her believability. There are times she breaks down and cries and those times remind the reader that she is determined but she isn't a robot. The story is focused on her journey from her cushy desk job to being part of an elite special ops team. I found all of the story to be engaging, even when the tasks seemed mundane (like months of training).

Ace, the hero and leader of the special ops team, is certainly douche-y in the beginning. He doesn't want Jina or anyone on his team. He worries that the addition of a 'geek' would be a liability for his team. He also worries that Jina's presence will be a liability for him because he can't stop thinking about her. However, as long as they are on the same team, she is off limits to him (and the rest of the team!)

By the end, I was totally crying. What Jina endures could have been written in such a way to minimize what happened or given to the reader in a kind of information dump. But Howard gives us the inner and external struggle Jina faces and I simply couldn't hold back the tears of pain and sorrow I had for her character.

Whenever possible, I will always gravitate towards romantic suspense and The Woman Left Behind is one of the books that reinforces why. Well written characters, engaging plots, and real danger and emotions make these stories unputdownable!

 

• POV: 3rd


• Tears: yes


• Trope: special ops


• Triggers: none


• Series/Standalone: stand alone


• Cliffhanger: no


• HEA: yes but I still would have appreciated an epilogue to give more information about where they all go from the end

The Virtue Falls series by Christina Dodd, The Red Stone Security series by Katie Reus, The Tracers series by Laura Griffin, The Omega Sector series by Janie Crouch...then you will probably like The Woman Left Behind!

 

The Woman Left Behind

 See full review on The Book Disciple

[Lorelei's Lit Lair]

I really enjoyed The Woman Left Behind! I started reading a few days ago and every time I had to put it down to deal with life, I’d want to come back to it as soon as possible. Now it’s 3:57am and I finally finished the story. The heroine Jina is strong willed and never gives up. I loved her personality, banter with the GO Team and the chemistry with Levi.