I recently read The Woman I Left Behind. While I found the book a pleasant read, I didn't feel as though I connected with the characters. I doubt this is a book I'll be re-reading.
For the record, my favorite Linda Howard books are Mackenzie's Mountain and Now You See Her.
I liked it. It was a slow burn romance with a feisty h and an Alpha H. The alternating points of views ensured me that the pent up feelings were not one sided. I've been extremely disapppointed with Linda Howard in the past and couldn't see how the MCs would overcome the career issue and create a relationship. Based on the tilte I was worried much worse was going to happen to the h. Spoiler
I have no doubt that the H would have died to retrieve whatever was left of her after the others were secured. Even the way Linda put the h in the same life and death decision as the H healed any lasting issue and cleared the path for both of them to have their hea.
Post by imabookaddict on Jun 18, 2018 16:44:27 GMT -7
Going to give this one a try. Just finished Troublemaker (GO-Team #1) by Linda Howard and really liked it. Loved Morgan, Bo and her dog Tricks. Story kept my interest, but left a couple of villains swinging in the wind. When I saw this was book 2, I decided to see if it was a totally different story or continued the threat in book 1. After downloading from my library, I read the prologue and saw it seems to pick up from where book 1 left off as far as the political situation just with a different couple. From what people are saying,it's not as good as the first book, but I decided to give it a shot.
Why is it, the more books I read the taller my tbr stack gets?
Post by imabookaddict on Jun 18, 2018 21:06:49 GMT -7
Lol This book made it to several Listopia lists on Goodreads, but this one cracks me up.
Listopia
The Girl Who Didn't See Her Husband's Wife When She Disappeared Twice From the Train Publishers seem to be having trouble coming up with thriller titles these days.
Last Edit: Jun 18, 2018 21:19:48 GMT -7 by imabookaddict
Why is it, the more books I read the taller my tbr stack gets?
I read all her books up to the Blair and Wyatt books. I loved all her category stuff and longer books. Then it started to feel as if I wasn't reading romance anymore. I used to snuggle in with snacks and a coke when her book came out each year and read through the whole night to finish it. I really hated having to give up reading her books.
Post by imabookaddict on Jun 22, 2018 11:57:20 GMT -7
My review:
I read this book after reading the first one Troublemaker (GO-Team #1), which I really enjoyed. It was definitely more romantic and less intense than his one.
SPOILER ALERT
That being said, I actually enjoyed The Woman Left Behind. It was definitely a slow burn, where our couple got to know and respect each other over the year she spent training. They were attracted to each other and due to the no-fraternizing rule were stuck with sucking it up. Yes a lot of the book dealt with her training and her don't quit don't give up attitude. Being only human, they slipped a few times. He pushed her really hard, (1) hoping she would quit so they could be together and (2) so she would be prepared to the best of her ability if she didn't. I did find his standoffish attitude a bit disconcerting at times, but he was obviously determined not to cross the lines as long as she was under his command.
As soon as she did finally quit, he very quickly staked his claim both privately and publicly. And yes it was a slow build to this point, but it worked for me. His honor and integrity were definitely established by his restraint.
I was right there with her emotionally when she was left for dead and had to depend on herself alone.
I liked how she struggled with the decision of whether to quit the team or not after surviving her ordeal. She was obviously not a quitter, as established by everything that had already happened. However she was honest to admit she didn't ever want to be in that situation again. I can't blame her. No matter how much she loved being part of the team, I personally, can't see her ever trusting them with her life again.
I did find the wrap up of the ongoing intrigue to be rather abrupt, but they did tie the loose ends.
Intrigue was basically a group of traitors having a vendetta against the director of the Go-Teams. They wrapped it up in one quick sweep by one traitor requesting a private meeting with the director. Of course it was a trap and Director and hero walk into it. ALL three traitors are there. They shoot one of their own, tie up the director have the hero kneeling at gunpoint when our heroine arrives. The hero had texted her for backup when he realized his team was too far away to help. This all sets up a scenario where she has to struggle with who to save. Personally I don't think it's the same at all, but if it helped her clear the last hurdle to being with our hero then so be it. In the end not only are all three traitors dead, but the director as well, so who knows if she made the right choice.
This is one book where our hero actually appears to be continuing with where he's at. He doesn't change jobs for something safer, nor does he get promoted to Director. Of course if he had been promoted, it would have started the original conflict of no fraternization all over again.
Bottom Line: I actually enjoyed the book and would read it again.
Last Edit: Jun 23, 2018 7:46:19 GMT -7 by imabookaddict
Why is it, the more books I read the taller my tbr stack gets?
Thank you so much for you review, imabookaddict! I decided not to read this book, but now, after your review I think I'll give it a chance. I love slow burn books, I don't necessarily need sex scenes in a book if the plot is well done. I love the majority of Linda Howard's books, especially the old ones.
I just finished The Woman left Behind and I liked it. I especially liked the h, she was such a strong, feisty character. I appreciate the fact that the author made it real with regards of the h, that at first she was just a normal, regular woman with no training, that it was really hard for her, that she needed months to get in shape, but because she was strong, stubburn, not willing to give up at hard times she succeded. It didn' t bothered me that romance was so little, althought I would have liked a few more scenes only with H and h. A strong 4 stars for me.