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 … 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.
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Howard always delivers!
I’m a Linda Howard fan!
Fun read and well written
Linda Howard never fails to disappoint. This military page-turner shows just how strong women can be. I love her female characters who are never damsels in distress, but somehow, the men seem to save them anyway. Swoon!
This one had me gripping my seat until the very end!
Fast reading!
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.
Edge of my seat page turner!! Very good. Didn’t want to put it down!!!
Liked the book but ending was abrupt
I’m a big Linda Howard fan. She is a reliably competent writer, producing easily readable prose, well-paced. While this was a pleasant read, it wasn’t as compulsively readable as her “Death Angel” was. I didn’t stay up until 4:00 a.m. to finish “The Woman Left Behind.”
Wished this was a series.
Couldn’t put it down! Love Jina, and how she was able to overcome challenges.
Wonderful book. I love the characters
One of the best writers out there. You can never go wrong with her books. Tightly plotted, excellent pacing, never drags Just the right amount of tension & suspense to keep you turning the pages Likable characters with enough humor to lighten the really dark parts. An auto buy author for me. You won’t be disappointed!
Loved it!
I really loved 90% of this book. So much good build-up, Jina is an awesome character and kicked so much butt, and the interactions between her and Levi were soo good! Classic Linda Howard in so many ways and the writing was excellent.
My only disappointment was the ending. It felt rushed and quite a few elements seemed to really go against Jina’s character, and the resolution for her and Levi felt too simplistic. The final events also seemed almost tacked on, rather than having been really built and again, felt to really conflict with the way Levi was portrayed in the rest of the story.
Still, I enjoyed most of the book so would still recommend it.
Loved it wish I could find more like it !!!
I loved this book. Had me going from the first page. I could have used less sexual content in all books. They are all so graphic. The story was great.
Loved this story!! I ALWAYS enjoy a Linda Howard book & am never disappointed!
I finished this book last week and am already eager to read it again!
Great story.