Heartfelt story that deals with difficult and not often talked about subject.

I enjoyed Mike and Will's story and their characters. In the romance genre, there didn't use to be topics like this that were talked about openly and lived through for the characters so I like how this book really went into that along with the implications on a relationship and how there's always light at the end of a tunnel, hope.

Thank you to NetGalley and NineStar Press for the earc in return for an honest review.

this was a nice read. the formatting of dates didn't really work with me, because i had to flip back and check the dates again.

this is a domestic discipline relationship (DD). but sometimes it didn't feel like a relationship for Will and he wasn't able to be human, and feel anger. it made me sad, because sometimes Will did it just for Mike and not for himself. i think Mike could've calm down abit, on the punishment, and understand Will's other feelings. maybe it's my lack of understanding of DD or/and BDSM here. what i love, was that Mike and Will never fail to express their love for each other all the time, near and far.

the healing of Mike and the ending was abit abrupt. i would love to see Mike struggling to adapt and his insecurities and his struggles, and maybe casual updates on how the progress of "saving America."

what made me rate down to 2 stars, was "the 9/11 attacks were carried out by people doing Allah's work." now, i understand this is a work of fiction, and the work of an author does not equal to the author's actual character. but if we are playing with religion, a sensitive topic for some, it would have been better to say, "doing the sin/crime in the name of Allah." maybe it's the lack of understanding, or just Mike being racist, or idk. but people commit sin/crimes and claim it's for their God, it is definitely not "God's work". it could've been phrase better.

This book was originally published in 2013, and the second edition seems unchanged.

Captain Mike Kelley is a military intelligence officer and West Point grad who’s spent a lot of time in counterintelligence and translating threats. He’s near the end of his commission and has no plans to re-up. It’s 2010 and President Obama has instituted “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” a policy that is meant to somewhat protect gay servicemembers from dishonorable discharge.

Mike is an orphan, and he made his way through life carefully, using ideals like respect, honor, and sacrifice as cornerstones of his life. He’s looking for a submissive partner who would be interested in Domestic Discipline, which–in my woefully uninformed opinion–means that one partner has authority, and the other follows the rules of the home, which they could form together. Mike has very specific ideas about domestic tasks, in that he has a “right” way and all other ways are not acceptable. Mike meets Will while out at a gay bay in Philly. Will is a bartender, but he’d like to own his own place, more of a coffeehouse for LGBTQ folk to feel safe.

Will is intrigued by the Domestic Discipline, and attracted to Mike. He’s not so sure about Mike’s OCD habits, or punishments for not meeting Mike’s exacting standards. And, he’s REALLY not into the military, especially since Mike’s work is highly classified. Their relationship grows close pretty quickly, within months Mike asks Will to move in and, in early 2011 when marriage equality is still being debated, there are two months until the end of Mike’s commission he asks Will to marry him. Though their marriage isn’t recognized by the military, Will agrees on one condition: Mike does not re-up. Mike doesn’t, but with mere weeks before his commission expires a surly commander tells Mike he’s being deployed to Afghanistan.

An arcane bit of military regulations allows commanding officers to extend commissions for up to one year following the expiry of service. This Stop-Loss program makes a big rift for Mike and Will, who were just about to open a business together. They do their best to navigate a fledgling marriage, new business, and transglobal interaction via Skype. The discipline part of their marriage is tricky to navigate remotely, but it’s helpful for both men to keep this piece of normalcy. Will’s friends are highly skeptical, with his female best friend making all sorts of trouble, to interfere with Will and Mike’s marriage–with some unexpected chicanery and definite violation of personal boundaries.

During deployment Mike and Will have a mantra: No Flag, which means Mike commits to make every effort to come home alive. They say this to one another every sign-off from every call. Mike’s stress levels are high, and Will’s being as accepting as he can of all the secrecy, but once Mike’s base is bombed and he can’t tell if his husband is alive or dead it marks a new level in Will’s commitment to Mike.

I liked this one a bunch, and I was glad for the reminder of the rapid changes our society has undergone in the past 10-15 years. Repeal of the prohibition of gay service members, national marriage equality, and enhanced efforts to make veterans whole, be they amputees, or suffering depression/PTSD. Mike is the only member of his unit to survive the blast and subsequent raid, and he has vital information that could save thousands on American soil, if only he can remember/relive those horrific memories. It’s interesting that so much of the story (the first half) is told in flashback, and when we finally reach the “present” we experience flashback through Mike’s fractured memories. Both Mike and Will are compelling characters, though I will admit to loving Will more than Mike, whose OCD is a little nerve-wracking. I will admit to not quite understanding the nuances of Domestic Discipline versus a 24/7 D/s power exchange, but I think it was made adequately clear that both Mike and Will benefited from this experience. They seemed to have a deep connection that was only strengthened by their adversity.

Mike is a different man when he’s returned to Will, mostly due to his lack of confidence following amputation. He is not sure he can be the man that Will needs, that Will will find him less attractive, and that his disability will render him unable to exert his discipline. This seems to be mainly resolved by the end of the book, but it’s still early days of his recovery. Also, this is the first book in a series, so I’m left with the feeling that there will be further conflict and PTSD moments for Will and Mike to weather. I would definitely read on.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of No Flag by Liz Borino.
I wanted to like this book, so bad. I enjoy male/male romance, I enjoy domestic discipline relationships, even if they trigger my anxiety, and I enjoy a good romance book. However, there is one big piece of this book that really makes me struggle to like this book and that is the way that OCD was handled in this book. I was able to enjoy the majority of this book but it felt like there was background problems being solved instead of the major problem that was right in my face.
I do not have OCD so I don't know if it was represented well or not but it was written in as if it was no big deal that Mike was unable to focus on anything if there were dirty dishes left in the sink, or if clothes didn't immediately make it into the hamper.
I could understand at the beginning of the story, where we had a very cut and dried introduction to a domestic discipline relationship (which could have used a bit more something), that this was the reason Mike gravitated toward DD relationships. However, when Will expresses hesitation about living with Mike because of his OCD, even though they are both in love, this should have begun the turning point for Mike into finding a way to cope with his OCD. It wouldn't be perfect but showing some change in Mike before the story took off would have gone a long way to making this more palatable for me.

✎↷: 𝗔 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.

𝙍𝙚𝙥: Gay MCs, one is a soldier.
𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨: Violence, death, sexual explicit contents that includes Domestic Discipline relationship, and drugging.

What I really love about this book is the title. ‘No flag’ has a story that connects with the two protagonists. Before Mike have to leave for his involuntary deployment, Will — his husband — asked him to promise that he will not come back as a folded flag; a military thingy for deceased soldiers.

It’s only chapter two and I already fell in love with the book and with Will and Mike. I can’t put into words on why I felt that I like them already, nor explain why I felt some ease towards them. And the first time they met, I also felt like they just clicked and their different worlds just aligned themselves perfectly.

The core of Will and Mike’s relationship is trust and respect that they have agreed upon. When Will and Mike met, Mike refused to have sex with Will for the reason that he wants to get to know him better, and to ensure that it will not be a one night thing only. Once they already built their trust and shown interest for a long term relationship, Mike told Will what he requires to their relationship — i.e. a DD relationship wherein one is the dominant one and who controls whatever they agreed upon that the dominant one can, and the submissive one have to do whatever the dominant one ordered.

At first, I thought the type of relationship and the structure of their relationship would be a problem for me, and would be the reason not to continue reading the book — but I was wrong. Because all throughout the book, all they have were consensual and based on astute judgment. Will also has the control on their relationship but not as much as Mike, but Mike fiercely respect and trust Will; even without stating it in their contract. So if you are having doubts or worries or second thoughts if this book will be super uncomfortable, let me tell you that it’s not and everything is perfect.

I want to talk about Will’s friends, but I cannot do it. They are absolutely messed up especially that unhinge Casey, although, Seth came around between the middle and the end. I love to say that the author pretty much did a job well done on this part too.

The way the sweet and spicy scenes danced in this book is perfectly well-coordinated, and it’s on a right level; steamy while the romance between Will and Mike balance it. I actually like it since I’ve read numerous M/M romances and sometimes, the steamy scenes overlap the whole point of the story; but, in No Flag, all is perfectly balance.

I also really love the fact that Mike is really committed to their relationship, and when he said that he will take care of Will, he did it without hesitation; especially when Will got sick. No one can convince me otherwise that Mike isn’t an actual sweetheart, because the proposal was super sweet, and there was a time he literally scooped Will like a damsel in distress when he saw him having a hard time walking to his house! It’s so cute! Mike is hot but I can’t deny that he’s so cute too!

One of the most beautiful scene in the book was how Will responded to Mike’s situation in the hospital when he came to visit him. He didn’t pushed nor asked his husband what happened but only the swelling happiness inside of him that Mike is alive. He didn’t care that Mike lost his left arm. He didn’t care at all at the tragic physical appearance of Mike. Will’s love for Mike is pure, and that’s one of the proof that whatever Casey is thinking about the relationship structure of Mike and Will is not true. They love each other wholeheartedly and it’s not about fear, lust, or whatsoever.

Overall, I recommend this to all! This book is nothing to what you are imagining it to be. Please give this a try and you won’t regret this!

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ Highly recommended!! ♥

𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙚𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.

Overall an okay read.

It was a bit hard to get into and connect with as there was some choppiness in the narrative that I had a little trouble following. There is a time skip in between each chapter that sometimes interrupts the flow of the story itself.

At times the dialogue felt a little immature and awkward. I think this was my biggest problem with the book as a whole. It was a lot of telling rather than showing in terms of their dynamic, and the characters felt flat. I wanted to like them, I just felt like I didn't know them.

This was a book I was really excited to jump into. I love M/M stories, I love BDSM stories, so this should have been a story I loved. But it fell flat for me in a lot of ways. It wasn't what I was expecting it to be.

I was expecting the sexy times to be sexier than they were. I guess a Domestic Discipline Relationship is just too tame for what I like to read in a book tagged BDSM because I found the moments of intimacy to be disappointing. I know that's something that just comes down to my own personal preference, so I was trying really hard not to let that cloud my judgement when it came to the rating

I also didn't like the formatting of the story. There was a time jump between each chapter. Regardless of it being a few days or weeks, it made the story a bit disjointed for me. There were moments in those time jumps that we missed that helped propel the relationship along. Without those moments, it was hard to connect to the relationship I was reading about. Imagine you're reading a fanfiction of a couple with characters that have already been established, with each chapter being a fluffy domestic one shot, and that's what this book feel like. Only I don't know these characters

There was so much time spent in the beginning with these fluffy domestic chapters, that the important stuff was often rushed through, but honestly, I didn't really care much

This review has been posted to Goodreads

I didn’t expect to enjoy this read as much as I did. The story tells you what happens when a gay officer falls in love with a civilian. What a fantastic plot, beautifully written, intertwining the relationships between the characters in such an ingenious and realistic way.

No Flag by Liz Borino was a well-written, solid 4 star read. I would definitely recommend it if you like military romance and don't mind reading through the ups and downs that come with that. I was not positive if I would like the domestic discipline aspect of it, but it worked for Will and Mike. It was consensual and made them aim to be better versions of themselves. Go read it!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book from an author I've come to like.

I've read a couple of Liz Borino's books in the past. This was different as it gave you an insight into the relationship between a civilian and an Army Captain. Homosexual is a taboo subject in the army/navy and Liz Borino writes about it in a way that explains things. What happens if you get caught in a situation where the serving officer is a homosexual. Yes, there is BDSM in the book, but nothing that would make you turn away and go "I can't read this as I can't see a storyline". But this story tells you what happens when a gay officer falls in love with a civilian and then gets told a month before he's discharged that he HAS to go back. What happens when you lose a limb and have to go home? What happens to your relationship? Can Mike save the US with the intelligence or will he lose his husband over the secrets he can't say.

I liked the storyline and the way it was told. I look forward to reading more by Liz Borino in the future.