Ask, Tell

Ask, Tell Series, Book 1

By: E. J. Noyes

Narrated by: Abby Craden

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Captain Sabine Fleischer is a skilled and dedicated US 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 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....

©2017 E. J. Noyes (P)2019 Tantor

Great book

This book deals with alot of truth on how the US military dealt with it's prejudices when it came to LGBT back in the the late 80's early 90's. It was a very frustrating and lonely time for many of our servicemen and women. I love how this book focuses on the difficulty having and maintaining a same sex relationship in the service. I did find that the two female MCs did fall in to their relationship quite fast, especially considering the situation Sabine was in at the time. All in all it was a really good read. Well written, and for my first book by this Author, I was quite impressed.

Hot

This read is AMAZING!! Had me hooked from the get go. I'll for sure be listening to this book again.

Enlist in this wonder book on love under fire!

You don’t have to be a veteran to enjoy this book. If you are a lesbian veteran, you will love this book, especially if you like romance. I thought the author captured the stress of soldiers under DADT while trying to serve their country in a combat zone, all the while bringing the human side of the relationship between two women. These women had to dance around their sexuality with subtle hints and fleeting glances all the while trying to determine if the clues to each other were worth the risk of exposing themselves as lesbians, even to each other, and worth being thrown out of the military with a dishonorable discharge. If you served before before or during “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the emotional turmoil of being a patriot and forced to stay in the closet may bring up memories of when you served.

Narrator: Abby Craden is one of the best narrators I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. She fit this series so perfect. I have been a subscriber to Audible for over 10 years and have been listening to audio books since cassette days. Craden is so good that I would listen to her read stereo instructions and actually enjoy the topic.

Amazing

If I could give it 10 stars I would. Great book. Real life dealing with DADT.

Loved it

I loved it, this book was some of the things most satisfying 9 hrs I ever spent.

Well written and narrated.

Loved this novel. Great characters and well researched. Abby Craden does a great job bringing them to life. And it's pretty hot too 😉

This chick can write!

This is not an easy listen.

I know queer people who lived through Iraq/Afghanistan deployment during DATD, who were in non-combat roles and still were injured in IED attacks. It is not something we have ever talked about.

Being gay is not the biggest part of who I am, but it touches on nearly every aspect of my life. I have lived being closeted in safe suburban America. That alone is more than some can handle. It is not one little secret, it is a hundred things every day to constantly watch and be on guard about. It is never being able to truly relax for fear something might slip in words or actions and reveal what you are trying to hide. It is distracting and exhausting. To think we ever asked our volunteer military to live and serve that way is shameful. We owe a debt of gratitude to all the generations before us who paved the way to our more open, more inclusive institutions and society of today. I certainly hope the experience of serving in the military post-DADT is better.

For my civilian ear, E. J. Noyes does an excellent job capturing the double standard, the unfairness, and the burden of saying one group can live, talk, and serve openly while another cannot. She also captures the terror of being injured, and how in that moment it matters not at all what we call ourselves or who we love. In that moment of human fragility all the boundaries of race, religion, nationality, gender, sexuality disappear. In that moment we are all the same, human.

Excellent narration by Abby Craden brings to life the words of E. J. Noyes.

If you can handle the heavy subject matter of this story, it is a must read/listen.

Better than expected

With the topic matter I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy the book. I did and think it talks about a growth spray in multiple areas of society. Take a chance and you'll get sucked in like I did... Just remember the are multiple books in this series and they are worth listening to as well..

Finally a lesbian story with a good ending

A positive ending to a lesbian love story! True experiences with DADT but a story that doesn't end in pain and misery. Thank you!! Loved it

Wow!

Wow, great book. It’s amazing that it was EJ Noyes’s debut. She did such a great job making you feel the emotional impact of living under the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, as well as the pressure of working in a combat zone.

The last two hours were absolutely riveting and moving.

Abby Craden also does her usual excellent work voicing the poignant moments perfectly.

I put “Ask, Tell” on my favorites shelf as soon as I finished it!