The Woman Left Behind

by Linda Howard

[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.