In one day, Jina—code name “Babe”—goes from computer geek to drone operator in a non-military special forces unit. Narrator Saskia Maarleveld presents the horror and determination Jina feels as she drags herself through basic training and fights her attraction to team leader Levi “Ace” Butcher. Maarleveld delivers Jina's low Georgia drawl and Levi’s curt commands with exquisite precision. The men on Jina's team emerge as frightening giants, speaking little and viewing her physical performance with disdain. But soon enough, Maarleveld exposes minute cracks in their stony demeanors, along with Jina’s growing affection for “her guys.” Narration and story exist in perfect synchronicity, continually daring each other to “top this.” C.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

01/15/2018
Howard (Troublemaker) delivers an exciting standalone romantic thriller, featuring nuanced characters in extraordinary circumstances who still feel relatable and warm. Jina Modell has a desk job in communications for a secret government agency; she’s surprised to be transferred to a black-ops group that needs someone to run its comms. Jina’s never been a quitter, but the training that team leader Levi Butcher puts her through makes her reconsider whether she wants this exciting new gig. Almost half the book covers her intense workouts and long runs while she learns to use a high-tech drone and proves herself a tough, capable member of Levi’s team. As the team travels the world to conduct surveillance and complete missions, she regrets that she can’t act on the intense attraction drawing her and Levi together. Howard skillfully delays Levi and Levi and Jina’s coming together until it feels like a well-deserved payoff, using the time to show relationships between the close-knit crew, who work seamlessly together. A subplot involving a crooked congresswoman is barely needed. (Mar.)

Romantic suspense maven Howard returns with a darkly intense and gripping new thriller. Readers will be on the edge of their seats with this one!

High-adrenaline action and high-octane passion once again prove to be an irresistible combination in best-selling Howard’s latest addictive suspense novel... the literary equivalent of pure gold.”

There’s a great romance in Linda Howard’s latest novel, The Woman Left Behind….With dialogue that’s often bluntly hilarious, each conversation they share is fraught with underlying sexual tension and rich with growing affection.

In one day, Jina—code name “Babe”—goes from computer geek to drone operator in a non-military special forces unit. Narrator Saskia Maarleveld presents the horror and determination Jina feels as she drags herself through basic training and fights her attraction to team leader Levi “Ace” Butcher. Maarleveld delivers Jina's low Georgia drawl and Levi’s curt commands with exquisite precision. The men on Jina's team emerge as frightening giants, speaking little and viewing her physical performance with disdain. But soon enough, Maarleveld exposes minute cracks in their stony demeanors, along with Jina’s growing affection for “her guys.” Narration and story exist in perfect synchronicity, continually daring each other to “top this.” C.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine