If you're looking for a novel with extreme action, cool technology, some over the top athleticism, and some of the funniest humor, then you should make it a point to read THE WOMAN LEFT BEHIND by Linda Howard. It's also about incredible courage and strength in the most unbelievable situations and what it means to be a team. Just imagine what it feels like to be the only woman in this elite paramilitary unit who isn't particularly athletic and who is very comfortable working in a climate-controlled room where you get to play computer games as your job. But because she displays a high aptitude in her computer skills she now finds herself reassigned to work as a drone operator with this elite paramilitary unit. Imagine this unit's reaction when they are assigned this pint-sized woman to work with and train.

Jina Modell loves her job in Communications, but all that changes when her high scores gets her reassigned. Now in order to be fit for the field she has to work out and learn to run, swim for miles, jump out of planes, and learn to shoot a gun. Team Leader Levi, whose call sign is Ace, is not happy with this situation. The first time he heard Jina's raspy voice he tagged her with the call sign of Babe. Ace has already come to the determination that Babe will never make it through the rigors of training. But this team will learn the hard way what determination means when it comes to Babe. The scenes with her attempting to get herself up into Ace's truck and jumping out of the plane is priceless. Because of her grit and determination she wins the admiration of her hardened, battle-worn teammates. Even the usually disciplined team leader Ace finds himself constantly thinking about her. She may not like all the body weary training -- which she mumbles and cusses about frequently -- but she is not a quitter. Babe holds her own among these guys and has no problem speaking up in any situation.

When their last mission becomes a life or death situation you can have nothing but admiration for this team, especially for Babe who pushes herself beyond human strength to survive. The military motto "Leave no man or woman behind" proves true to the letter. One of the best novels I have read this year!