Where can you turn when you’re caught in a crossfire of war and passion? Captain Sabine Fleischer is a skilled and dedicated U.S. Army surgeon deployed to a combat hospital in Afghanistan. She is also one of the thousands of troops who are forced to serve in silence because of the military’s anti-gay policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT).” Usually driven and focused, Sabine finds that battles … battles raging both inside and outside the perimeter walls are making it more and more difficult for her to deal with her emotions. Dealing with loss and mortality, lack of privacy, sleep deprivation, loneliness and the isolation forced on her by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” are all taking their toll. Plus, her long-term relationship with a civilian back home is quickly becoming another casualty of war. Colonel Rebecca Keane is an enigmatic career officer who runs the surgical unit like clockwork. Well liked and respected by those who work with and under her, she walks a fine line to preserve the military’s chain of command while connecting with those under her care and supervision. Sabine knows the Colonel is way off-limits, but can’t help fantasizing about her. Especially when she starts picking up unspoken cues—a stolen glance, a secret smile, an “accidental” brush of hands. Or is it just wishful thinking? After all, Rebecca’s wedding ring shines almost as brightly as her deep blue eyes…
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An inspirational, but compelling look at a love under DADT. Also, just a page-turning romance 🙂
This book is the story of Sabine, an army surgeon on deployment in Afghanistan. She’s serving at the time of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, so hiding her lesbian identity is part of her everyday life. She has a girlfriend back home, but can never talk about her. Her best friend on base is a gay man, but they can never talk openly about their lives. Sabine is part of a program whereby the government paid for her medical training in return for 7 years service. The trouble is, she’s finding it harder to be motivated for that service, and struggling with life on base as well as the obvious disintegration of her relationship back home. She’s also struggling with her deep attraction for her commanding officer, Colonel Rebecca Keane…
It’s a great look at how much pressure LGBT service members were under during the time of DADA. It’s also brilliantly researched and written to give an insight into the horrors of serving on the front line in a medical capacity. It’s a romance, yes, but it’s much more than that.
Highly recommend, and also its brilliant follow up, Ask Me Again.
I randomly stumbled upon this while searching for “military” for a bookopoly game, and decided to try an LGBT book instead, best idea ever by the way! lol
I was a little hesitant about this one. I mean the whole DADT being a big factor into this one, had me wondering how I was going to deal if we had narrowminded so and so’s in the book. Thankfully, that was not the case at all.
Sabine is totally crushing on her boss, Colonel Rebecca Keane but with DADT being in full force and the fact she has a longterm girlfriend back home, not to mention Rebecca seems to be taken, Sabs just admires from afar. After receiving a crappy “Dear Jane” letter from her longterm girlfriend, Sabs is left to deal with her heartbreak, confusion, and anger alone. Rebecca, who sees her struggle, offers her a little lifeline.
Argh! I am at a loss on what to say about this story without giving everything away.
This story…. is beyond anything I could have expected.
This isn’t just another F/F story, sure the women are gay, but there is so much more to this captivating story.
Seriously, I am completely mind blown with how much I love this book and the characters. Don’t even start me with Mitch and Amy, these two were hilarious and so loving, and we definitely need more of these two in the future. But the superstars are Sabs and Bec.
This story is told in Sabines POV and from the very first page, you are dragged into the desert with her. You feel every overpowering and raw emotion from heartache, anger, and fear, to love, confusion, and everything in between. #ImNotCryingYourCrying Fine, I ugly cried just a little… ish.
I have already devoured the follow-up, Ask Me Again, and let me just say, I can not recommend this series or author enough. 5 Stars aren’t enough.
Poor E.J. Noyes has a new stalk…er fan
I also listened to this on Audible… The narrator, Abby Craden …. Whoa!
As a veteran who served under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, I’m very cautious of books written by civilians. So a book written by an Australian civilian about the US military during DADT? I was more than cautious.
It’s one of my favorite series.
EJ Noyes has clearly done her research. I laughed at some of the little military moments that are common to every branch. I felt everything they felt, knowing just how challenging their situation was. And I celebrated every win.
This series is so ridiculously good. Do note, if you struggle with combat related PTSD, you probably need to skip this series unfortunately. First person POV combat is likely triggering. Nothing was unnecessary, gratuitous, or worrisome otherwise.
Wow. I liked this book from the start but it took me way further than I thought it would.
Edit: I keep thinking I should have said something about the writing so I will: it’s one of the things I liked so much about Ask, Tell, how well written it is. I read a lot and most of the books I read are rather well written, but some are way above the rest. This is one of those.