• The Woman Left Behind

  • A Novel
  • By: Linda Howard
  • Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
  • Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (2,223 ratings)

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The Woman Left Behind  By  cover art

The Woman Left Behind

By: Linda Howard
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
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Publisher's summary

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's very cool, even for Washington, DC. She likes 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 - whom 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.

©2018 Linda Howington (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about The Woman Left Behind

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Training and Teams!

I really enjoyed this book! I thought the author did a great job building the story with the training and teamwork. I could visualize so much of what Babe was going thru, and loved the humor that was incorporated into the book. I loved how Ace (Levi) and Babe (Gina) fought their attraction, keeping things at a slow burn and not real romance. The team members all had endearing qualities and showed great companionship. I hope that some of them get their own stories told, or that of Jina's brother. The spy/security sector has so many intriguing stories that need to be written and told. I also agreed with Jina's comment that only a moron would voluntarily jump out of an airplane. I will definitely listen to this book again and found it to be a credit well spent. The narration on this book was perfect too!

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35 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thank you, Linda!

Linda Howard does not disappoint. She is magic with her pen. Wonderful characterization and a great story. Also, I am very hard on narrators. They can make or break a good book I had not listened to anything narrated by Ms. Maarleveld and I was concerned. She was excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and plan to “read” it again soon, in case I missed anything.

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34 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Book doesn’t live up to the title or description

I used to Love Linda’s books, but this is the second one lately that was disappointing.
There was all this buildup and physically getting ready for missions, that was about 7/8 this of the book, Then she’s left behind.
She rescues herself, keeps going on in her head about” he kissed me like that and left me” !!
She quits and he shows up with a bag to stay the weekend and she just gives in, !!!
I expected them to get together, it’s a romance!
But the story just fell apart at the end,
Sorry Ms. Linda, but I think I’m done with your new books,
the older ones were much better.

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28 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliantly written beautifully read

While reading this latest Linda Howard novel, I was struck by the fact that not only have I read everything she's ever written; but when I looked back over all the authors I adore, Linda Howard is the one I've reread the most, and the one who's left me with the most visceral responses to her books. Without a doubt, The Woman Left Behind is one of her best. I've never been on a journey like this from a non-military woman's perspective. Our heroine is thrust into a new, scary world - and, while acknowledging that she's out of her depth and terrified - nevertheless forges on with courage and tenacity. And the romance! Linda Howard writes alpha males like no other. What I liked most is that Ms. Howard skillfully allows us to fall at the same rate, and with the same trepidation as our heroline, making the journey more satisfying for the bumps along the way. Also, I Whispersync-ed with the Audible book; and the narrator (Saskia Maaleveld) was fantastic - flowing between female an male voices smoothly, while enriching every funny, suspenseful and sexy moment. Enjoy!

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

A half told story

I'm a huge fan of Linda Howard and like many others, have been disappointed by recent books.
This starts out great. The story line, the characters are told in such depth and personalization that I couldn't put it down.
But like many recent books, the story started lagging. I wondered why the background story wasn't brought forward. Then, finally, the last chapter it finally culculminates. WTHeck! It was like, "Oh ya, I have this other storyline I have to finish" when it would have been building the entire book. While I appreciate the telling of Babe's transformation, more time should have been spent with the storyline that opened the book.
It's not a total failure, but half of one.

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15 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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disappointed

1/2 the book was about the main character wanting to go to bed with her team leader, while getting in shape for her mission. One good section with action and interest, then back to sex and love/hate relationship. I thought this was a mystery book. I don't get much time to enjoy a good book and this was a total waste of my time. I love good mysteries and usually enjoy them.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

“Yaaasss Queen”

I’ve been waiting on Linda to deliver and she did on this book. All her work is good but this is great. Good female lead that doesn’t all of sudden become weak and in need of a man when called out. The main character didn’t question herself throughout the book making it seem like she was helpless. There was a good amount of give and take between the love connection.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Miss the old Linda Howard

Linda Howard used to be an automatic purchase for me. I'm another one who thinks the newer books just don't measure up. I got about halfway through this book and suddenly thought - why? I was not at all interested in the outcome of any plot lines. So I put it down and walked away.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

awesome

The narrator was excellent.
This audiobook made my 8 hour drive pass a lot quicker.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great book

loved it
great book
did not want it to end. wound like to see more of her books

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5 people found this helpful