Impending Strike is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the first line: Thursday, 11:00 p.m. Did the crazy girl want to get herself killed?
First the photo and Scripture verse. I love it when the sun peeks out from behind clouds. This happened as I was walking one afternoon, and the sun was directly in my path. It really made for an interesting photo! And I love that verse from Psalm 67. Verse one is lifted straight from Numbers 6!
Now for Impending Strike by Sami Abrams.
First of all, if you noticed the title, Lynette Eason is presenting Sami Abrams. I think it is wonderful when well-known authors promote new authors. Here’s the back cover copy:
Protecting him just might cost her everything…
Elite Guardian Charlie Lee knows that there is no future with the woman he loves—fellow Guardian Lizzie Tremaine. And, he gets it—as a single mom, Lizzie has to protect her daughter. But more than anything, he wants the chance to prove himself.
Then, the unthinkable happens—while working undercover, Charlie is seriously injured…and his memory of the past four years is lost. Could it be the fresh start that he didn’t realize he longed for?
Despite a friendship that’s turned flirtatious at times, Lizzie Tremaine holds Charlie at arms’ length. She’s lost all the men she’s ever loved, and is unwilling to risk her heart again. Still, she’s glad to keep an eye on him—as his bodyguard. While she’s at it, she helps him put the pieces of his past together, including discovering who attacked him, and why.
But Charlie seems to have forgotten their agreed-upon professional distance—and suddenly, all the rules are off the table. She’s seeing a side of Charlie she could possibly let into her heart. Problem is, the closer he gets to uncovering his memories, the closer he gets to trouble.
It’s her heart…or his life. What will protecting Charlie cost her?
Impending Strike is another edge-of-your-seat Elite Guardians thriller!
My take:
I read Impending Strike about a month ago, and I truly enjoyed it. Sami Abrams is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Like the other books in the Elite Guardians series, the action is non-stop. Lizzie Tremaine is attracted to fellow Elite Guardian Charlie Lee, but she can’t fall for him. So of course, she does. Only it’s the Charlie Lee who has no memory of who he is and the guilt he carries around. This Charlie Lee is different. Softer, kinder, and this draws her to him.
The villain almost kills Charlie when he overhears something. It dances on the periphery of his mind as they try to discover who’s dealing drugs and instigating a gang war. This is a great, fast-paced read that suspense readers will enjoy. And keep an eye on Sami Abrams–she is going places!
Impending Strike is part of a series. Do you like reading books in series? How many books do you think should be in a series? Leave a comment, and I’ll enter you in a May drawing for a book from my library. Oh! Grab the book you’re reading and leave the first line!
Sami Abrams' Impending Strike is this week's Reader Friday. Check out my review on the blog and leave a comment--you might win a book from my library! Click To Tweet
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Comments 32
I love this author, usually 3-4 books in a series seems a good number.
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Me, too, Phyllis! I roomed with Sami at Writers Police Academy.
I thought that I was reading the Numbers Prayer at first. I think series are probably best with three or maybe four. Cozies can have more. Lynette Eason is a favorite of mine and I keep hearing about Sami Abrams. The first line from Bridges by Deborah Raney is:
J.W. McRae braked at the stop sign where St. Charles dead-ended at Clark Tower Read.
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That sounds like an interesting book, Gloria. Keep your eye on Sami. She’s a fantastic writer.
What a calming verse to go with such a beautiful photo! There is so much variety in the world that God has given us. There are beautiful photo opportunities everywhere. We just have to look for them.
I am looking forward to reading “Impending Strike”. I have it on preorder. Thanks to you, Pat, I’ve become a fan of Sami’s work, too.
I prefer a series to stand-alone. With a series, the author can develop recurring characters, and the resulting continuity brings realism to the books. As for number of books in a series, it depends. Some are done for me after 3 or 4. A good author can keep them going for a long time. A master of the latter is Susan Sleeman. She has constructed a series of series. By that I mean she brings characters from a past series into a new series, and does it skillfully.
“Chaos assaulted her as soon as she opened the door.” is the first line of “Rising Danger”, first book of the Guardians Unleashed series by Jerusha Agen. I’ve had this book on my TBR for way too long. I wish I’d gotten to it sooner. Highly recommended.
I forgot to mention, I’m about to start “Hiding in Montana” by Laura Scott. It’s part of the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit series (Love Inspired Suspense). I love K-9 stories.
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And I’m about to start my own K-9 story with Mark Lassiter in my new series. 😀
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Oh! I like that opening line, Tim. I agree about the series being stand-alone. I.Do.Not.Like a book that leaves me hanging! So glad I turned you onto Sami.
It just occurred to me that when talking about a book series, there are two (that I know of) kinds. There are those by a single author. There are also the continuity type by several authors adhering to a guiding outline. The Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit series I mentioned earlier is of this type. I think there are pros and cons to both. Multiple authors means different styles, and the authors are constrained by the governing outline. This may force authors to move a plot in a way they would not otherwise choose. On the pro side, there may be one book a month for a year which means shorter waits for the next book. A single author series might require a year before then next installment is out. Either may have a cliff-hanger that doesn’t get resolved until the last book, but I’ve noticed this is more common for the multi-author series. Personally, I like both types. I’ve been introduced to authors I might never have noticed without their writing for a multi-author series.
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I so agree, Tim. And for the record, I don’t like leaving cliffhangers! I quit reading one very popular and good author for that reason. 🙂 I do like the idea of having one book a month with different authors. That makes the wait not as long! Thanks for weighing back in!
Delightful photo. Did you notice the thick power line? It looks like it divides a lake and mountains instead of clouds and sky. Yes, May the Lord be gracious to us, for surely it is his fresh mercy upon us each day. That is grace! Thanks for this verse.
Good review Pat. I haven’t read anything by Sami Abrahams, but did enjoy The Elite Guardian series. This looks like a TBR for the near future.
I like books in a series, although it’s torture waiting for the next one. I like a stand alone as well.
“It was quickly becoming evident that she, Miss Gabriella Goodhue, might very well be arrested in the not-to-distant future, and all because she’d convinced herself that sneaking into a high society costume ball would be a relatively easy feat, given her past life as a street thief.” By Jen Turano
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I must get this book by Jen Turano, Barbara. I love her books. And I love looking at photos and imaging how it could be different.
Oops, Sorry i misspelled Sami’s last name
I enjoyed Lynette Eason’s Guardian series. I haven’t read any of Sami Abrams, but I will add her to my growing list of authors.
I like a good series. I agree 3-4 in a series is good, but some authors can pull me in for longer series. I enjoy a good stand alone every so often, too.
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Suzanne, I’m glad to be learning about how many readers like to see in a series. Thanks! And I think you’ll really enjoy Sami’s books.
sounds like a wonderful book!
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It is, Shelia!
I am thoroughly enjoying the books I have read by Sami A Abrams and look forward to reading Impending Strike. I like series that give the reader a chance to get to know all the main characters. So I guess as many books as that would take, would be about right…lol. Di recently finished a series that was 5 books and I looked forward to reading each one.
Love the picture and the verse fits so well!
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Thanks, Betti. I like your take on the series, and I believe you’ll enjoy Sami’s book!
I love pictures like that as well. The verse suits it.
I enjoy Lynette’s books. I have not read any by Sami Abrams. I’ll be on the lookout for her books.
“On the day his life changed forever, Derek Gaines rolled his road bike from the garage at half past five.” From The Emerald Tide by Davis Bunn. I actually finished it yesterday, but the book I started is out of reach right now. Maybe I can share a line from it next week.
I enjoy book series. Some series like Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor series seem to develop a life of their own. If you read my review of her latest book in the series, I comment about certain characters appearing in every book, but there being several new characters. In that series, I especially enjoy Charley who serves up the best fish tacos. The funny thing about that is our daughter tried to convince me to get a fish taco years ago but I refused. It just seemed wrong. Then I read the first Hope Harbor book and the description of Charley’s fish tacos made me drool. Supposedly, there will be several more books in this series. Others only have three books. I often sense a letdown when I read the last book in a series. In some cases, I haven’t discovered until a year or more later that the book I read last year was the last one. Bummer.
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Edward, I’ve never eaten a fish taco! I may have to remedy that after your comment. 🙂 Actually, Impending Strike is written by Sami rather than Lynette. The cover makes you think otherwise. lol Thanks for stopping by today!!
I’ve been reading Lynette for a long time. I read the first in this new series and can’t wait for Sami’s!
Presently reading The Songs That Could Have Been by Amanda Wen.
The book I chose this week for First Line Fridays will release on June 7.
In Honor’s Defense by Karen Witemeyer
St. Louis, Missouri. 1895
Invisible people rarely received correspondence. A fact that Damaris Baxter had accepted long ago.
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Very interesting first line, Paula! Thanks for sharing.
I enjoy series. Recent rains that had broken the long Texas summer heat had swollen the Guadalupe River so that it churned and foamed as it roared over the rocks along the bank. A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma
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I like that first line, Lucy!
I think there should be three or four in a series. This comes from Wildfire Threat by Cathy McDavid: Aden Whitley stepped out of his truck and into a cloud of smoke thick and heavy enough to fell a man twice his size.
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Love that first line, Diana. I’ve learned from the answers today that 3-4 is the usual number readers want to see in a series. Thank you all!
only like books in a series if standalone
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I’m with you on that one, BN!
I do love series books! I think it gives the main story so much depth, both in characters and settings.
For me, if the books are longer (say 300-400 pages), three maybe four books in a series is good. If they are shorter (say Love Inspired length of about 200 pages) I don’t mind 6 or so. For me it just really depends on how invested I am in it & when I’m ready to move onto the next series the author has in store. I have read some that I felt were just too long & I became disinterested or two short and I want more…lol! It all depends on my mood too 🙂
I HAVE to put these books on my want-to-read list because they sound so good! Lynette Eason is already a very good writer and for her to endorse the authors who are writing them is pretty cool…definitely would read anything she recommends or endorses!
First few lines from the book I just started (am reviewing it) is called “To Begin Again” by Emily Conrad, a new-to-me Christian writer:
(Voicemail from Michaela Vandhey to Gannon Vaughn) “Gannon, it’s Michaela. I don’t know if I should be calling you, but…I’m sorry about the waterworks. This is harder than I expected. You probably haven’t been keeping tabs on me since “Audition Room”, but I think my label’s going to drop me, and I don’t know what to do because I’ve already done everything they asked.”
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Trixi, that sounds like a great book to read. Love the first line! And I agree about the series…often it depends on what mood I’m in when you ask. lol Thanks so much for stopping by!
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