The details…
- Author: E. J. Noyes
- Publisher: Bella Books
- Publication Date: May 12, 2022
- ISBN: 9781642473919
- Available formats: ebook, paperback
- Length: 286 page
- Genre: romance
- Themes: military hospitals, doctors, friendships, family, trauma
The blurb from the publisher…
Rebecca Keane has it all figured out. With a successful career as an Army surgeon and a fresh promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, she loves her life leading a surgical team. Even if that life means she’s spent years hiding her sexuality and ignoring her desires under the Army’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Then Captain Sabine Fleischer’s arrival sets off an attraction that cracks Rebecca’s carefully cultivated armor and brings about fresh complications.
As Sabine’s direct commanding officer, Rebecca knows she cannot act on her attraction, but that knowledge does nothing to squash her desires. Unable to keep her thoughts about the alluring other woman under control, Rebecca resigns herself to years of censoring her thoughts and feelings until Sabine’s time in the Army is done. She’s spent decades suppressing parts of herself for her job, so what’s a few more years?
But as Rebecca and Sabine work closely together on Army bases in Afghanistan and the States, the undeniable sparks between them begin to ignite. And despite Rebecca’s constant self-censure, her denials and her knowledge of every obstacle standing between them, her resolve crumbles with each passing day. But when the consequences of your love run deeper than just breaking one of the unbreakable rules of the military, you risk losing more than just your heart.
If I Don’t Ask is the must-read story telling Rebecca’s side of E. J. Noyes’ best-selling Ask, Tell.
My thoughts…
The latest book in the Ask, Tell series, If I Don't Ask, is absolutely fantastic. Noyes wraps up the final book of the series brilliantly, ending almost where she began. She displays a real mastery of her craft in this series by playing with point of view. This makes the series not only interesting but compelling. In Ask, Tell, Sabine delivers the narrative. In Ask Me Again, the narrative is shared, alternating points of view between Sabine and Rebecca. In If I Don’t Ask, the storytelling circles back to the beginning of Sabine and Rebecca’s journey, with Rebecca telling the story from her perspective. This writing style is perfect for this series. It has impact and weight, giving the storytelling an overall complexity and depth.
Because this is a complex and layered series, I would not recommend picking up If I Don’t Ask without reading book one first. Ask, Tell helps shape the series arc and define the inner conflicts of the main characters, especially Sabine’s. In Ask, Tell, readers learn what makes Sabine tick. They are presented a sympathetic character that has relatable desires and fears. Most importantly though, her perspective in Ask, Tell is the counterpoint to Rebecca’s narrative in If I Don’t Ask. It’s necessary for a full appreciation of not only If I Don’t Ask, but also Rebecca and Sabine’s journey.
This is a character-driven series and because it is, Noyes takes real care to meticulously construct her characters. She pays close attention to the details of their development. Because she does, her character work is phenomenal. She gives enough backstory to create a picture of what these women believe and trust. She does this with carefully crafted scenes and splendidly structured dialogue. In addition to that, she gives each of these women a distinct and identifiable voice, one that’s fitting with their personality. Because her character development is exemplary, these women jump off the page. Readers love Rebecca and Sabine; they care deeply about them. And because they do, their story—their journey—matters.
Final remarks…
I love this series, and I’m ecstatic that If I Don’t Ask allows readers to get to know Rebecca as intimately as they did Sabine in Ask, Tell. Being privy to Rebecca’s thoughts and inner logic is especially enlightening. She’s a gorgeous character and If I Don’t Ask dovetails her perspective beautifully with Sabine’s point of view. Most significantly though, it proves to be essential in rounding out the series. These two characters are two of my favorites in lesfic. Their love story is incredible and ranks in the top 3 for couples in series for me. If you like romance, then there’s no way you will want to miss out on If I Don’t Ask or its companion books.
Strengths…
- Captivating main characters
- Heartfelt and moving romance
- Engaging secondary characters
- Engaging themes
- Immersive story world
- Well-scripted dialogue
- Engaging writing style
This book is available from…
Want to connect with this author…
Other books in the series…
Comments
Post a Comment