The Improbable Pair

Clara & Damien #1

by Sarah Noffke

Blood-sucking vampires and vegan psychics don't mix.

But to save the world from a magic-stealing madman, they're going to have to.

The Delta Underground Operatives, humanity’s last line of defense against evil threats, only enlist the brightest and the best.

Clara and Damien fit the bill.

So when a threat like no other can only be stopped by a perfect assassin team, the organization recruits these two unlikely vigilantes with complementary skill sets.

Too bad they can't stand each other.

He’s dangerous. She’s peaceful.
He’s loud. She’s meditative.

They don't see eye to eye, but they'll have to fight side by side.

As their target hunts the innocent and threatens to destroy the delicate balance of magic, everything rests on the duo’s ability to work together.

Clara wants peace. Damien wants vengeance.

Only they can take down evil.

But first, they'll have to learn to get along….

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

288 pages, Paperback

Published January 8, 2023

About the author

Sarah Noffke is a prolific USA Today Best-Selling Author, who writes YA and NA science fiction, fantasy, paranormal and urban fantasy. Most of her stories draw on her experiences living on the West Coast, growing up in Texas or traveling the world.

Her passion for art, culture and literature drives her to create stories that are full of whimsey, humor and philosophy. Her books appeal to readers who enjoy an escape, a bit of magic mixed with science and the unexpected--like a dragon who tells bad jokes and has a video game addiction, but fights for justice.

Noffke's books are top rated and best-sellers on Amazon. Her books are available in paperback, audio and in Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch and Italian.

To stay up to date with Sarah, please visit her website and subscribe to her newsletter: www.sarahnoffke.com

For a complete list of books by Sarah and a suggested reading order, please see: www.sarahnoffke.com/reading-guide/

Reviews

[Cali · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 22%. I found the book to be juvenile and poorly written. All of the characters acted like children and had the same word overuse. The male lead was vaguely homophonic and embodied toxic masculinity while the female lead was a cliche who “operated on the plane of peace and love and harmony” yet agreed to become an assassin and the moral compass of a stranger.
The author also, unfortunately, did not employ the maxim “show, don’t tell” and often described peoples “serious expression” and “chilled expression” and “tentative expression” and “sensitive expression” and “casual expression” and I could go on.

Other “gems”:

“Why would I get you killed? I’m strong and tough and can jump off a train. You get chased by a bird and run like a coward.” (Because jumping off a train and insulting people is the ultimate proof of your toughness and superiority)

“You two were chosen for specific reasons that I believe can defeat a very particular bad guy.
“As I was saying, you two were chosen for a reason, and currently, you both have powers that, independently, I’d rate an eight out of ten. But if you come together to work with DUO, then we can give you access to a power source that will heighten your skills to more like an eleven.” “Nice!” Damien exclaimed. “Is that safe?” Clara asked, leaning forward, looking worried. “Is that safe,” Damien said in a high-pitched voice, mocking her. (“Mysterious” leader of a bunch of assassins says he needs you to kill some evil bad guys and mentions some random power scale boost with no other info… and mentions that these two children are the only people in the entire world who even have a chance of taking down the bad guy… right)

What powers do you have?” The Director of DUO cut his eyes to the crow pecking around on the floor. “Not as many as I once did.” There was an element of regret in his voice. It was unmistakable. (Ugh, so many issues)

“Okay, now do we sign away our lives in blood?” Damien asked, pulling his hand from Clara’s. She shot him a worried look. He chuckled. “Hey, I drink blood. I make blood jokes. It’s my thing.” (And this is where I gave up)

And despite how the female lead was touted as being thoughtful and cautious, the questions she asked were virtually useless. Maybe consider asking “hey, who decides what evil people we kill?” or “is this binding thing permanent?” or “can we refuse to kill someone or leave the organization?” but I promise the perks are extraordinary and you’ll definitely get paid… right.

[Audrey Cienki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Improbable Pair by Sarah Noffke is different than I expected in a really great way. Clara and Damien would seem to be all set in the world, but then through an unexpected set of events they find themselves in a partnership and part of the Delta Underground Operatives (DUO). And it feels right. This story is the start of their adventures to make a difference in the world and take out the bad guy.
I am looking forward to the next book.

[Kelly Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dodgers should eat magical turnips to win. There, I said it! LOL! (go ahead and read it to find out why, I dare you)
Psychics that are allergic to the sun and vegan vampires….what a pair! Wait, I think I got that mixed up, or did I? Clara and Damien are quite the improbable pair. These two are literally the exact opposite of each other. They are brought into the world of the Delta Underground Operatives and are put on a special mission as the newest assassin duo. The way these two get along is great. In true Sarah Noffke fashion, these two are witty, sarcastic, and aren’t afraid to throw a punch either. The banter is hilarious but will also ground you as they become closer. Awwwww! I think they like each other! Whoa! Maybe not…. Jk!
These two are presented with an impossible mission with little training but come together as a force to be reckoned with. I couldn’t stop turning the pages and ABSOLUTELY need more. I am incredibly happy that Sarah continues to write books for me! 😊

[Georgia Tumbleweed McNabb · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters are shallow, and the world building requires some serious work as well. Because the characters are so shallow I didn't really care what happened to them. The premise behind the story and the reason these characters were brought together is haphazardly thrown in at the end, while the middle of the story runs exceedingly long. It struck me as though the author just wasn't sure WHAT story she wanted to tell, resulting in a breakdown of continuity.

[Rita Whinfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start

First book in a new series is always hard. Introducing the characters, the story and the world they live in. I was hooked from the first chapter, intrigued by Clara’s situation. And her reaction to it. Damien seems a lot more ‘worldly’ we will see. I’m really looking forward to the next book.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

New and Intriguing

A interesting new world and a very unusual dynamic for a pair of Agents make this a 5 star for me. Although it's early days yet for the characters to thrive, the situation was what interested me. The world building possibilities with multiple UF authors to choose from are exciting and despite feeling a little light in page count for the story im hooked as to what happens next for our intrepid pair.

[allen collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great surprise!

Really enjoyed this new book by a favorite Author. This is more along the lines of Ren, one of my personal favorites. I love the characters and story line. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. Peace Tiny Ninja

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Improbable Pair was a great start to a new series. I loved how Clara and Damien interacted and the relationship they formed. Damien was a once rock star turned vampire, and Clara was his opposite in every way. They were bought together by the Delta Underground Operatives to stop an evil being who is preying on the weak. Clara and Damien learn to live with each other and make the most of their differences to form a strong team. Great story with plenty of action, magic and mayhem.

[Rabid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun first book in the Delta Underground Operatives series. It has interesting characters, lots of humour, action and a storyline that keeps you entertained. Two total opposites have to join forces to try to prevent an evil being from becoming an unstoppable force. With very little training and a few surprising bumps in the road to overcome, the pair have to learn to work together and use each others strengths to become a cohesive team able to face what threats they are presented with. The humour created by the characters witty, and often sarcastic, banter is excellent and it totally endears you to the two very different protagonists in this story. I love that the author has hints of her Dream Traveller series in this story too. Great start to this interesting series.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, Sarah Noffke has done it again!

This is a great start to the new Delta Underground Operatives Series, and I can see it going from strength to strength, with this first book as an excellent first example.

I really wasn't sure what I'd be reading when I started this, as I deliberately kept away from any description of the book - I wanted to come on to this totally unaware - and I was more than pleasantly surprised.

Not at the quality of the writing, or the way in which the characters, quite quickly, revealed themselves, as I'm used to such excellence from Sarah's writing, but I was surprised at just HOW quickly the characters of Clara and Damian slipped into my mind, and then my heart!

What a brilliant idea for the series, and how wonderfully the couple fit together, despite being total strangers, on meeting for the first time - and how totally opposite to each other they seemed, at first, anyway!

This was a wonderfully fast paced story, with an excellent plotline, and some great surprises along the way!

I am so very pleased that the second, and third, books in Sarah's contributions to the series, have already been published - as, having to wait for them, would be quite painful for me, right now!

This is the first series, ever since I started collecting Kindle books, where most of the books it comprises of, are still waiting to be published.

When I first came across a particular Publishing House, that has produced so many wonderful books already, it had already been publishing for at least five to six years, and so I had a huge list of books - with their various author's - that I wanted to read.

There still are so many books, and series, that I own, but haven't read yet, and I was coming to the end of most of Sarah's published books, when I heard of this series, comprising of several other authors, along with Sarah Noffke, was announced.

So, of course, I pre-booked every single one that I possibly could, no matter who wrote them - and now I'll have to wait, for the very first time, for most of the others to be released!

Luckily, I do have books two, and three, of this series, those written by Sarah, on my Kindle already, plus one other author's contribution, so I'll be able to immerse myself within them - for a little while, anyway!

So, without ado, I'm going straight on to book two of the Clara and Damien Duo, to see what happens next in the series!

I'll catch you on the flip side, when I can then tell you what happened next, and if I liked it as much as I've done this one!

[Kathy Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is just something about the main characters chemistry!

Clara is a hippy through & through. She dressed like one, has psychic powers, does yoga & pilates. She is trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life after breaking up with her boyfriend. And he's a piece of work. How someone as nice as Clara ended up with a guy who verbally abused her & wore lime green pin-stripped suits I'll never understand! Then we have Damien a hot rock star. While on tour a female vampire sneaks back stage. She proceeds to bite him & turn him into a vampire. He hides his new status from the band members. That was his first mistake. I truly believe that if he had told them they might have understood. They started to question why he couldn't travel during the day. Why he had to rearrange the tour schedule. He knew if they found his blood juice boxes he would be in trouble so he quit. They both get recruited by DUO to be partners. They're mission is to stop a madman from draining coma patients so he can use their powers. He travels with 2 evil people who help him achieve his success. A woman who is has telekinesis and can get him into the coma wards. The second is a big brick wall of a lone wolf. And because he's a lone wolf he's unpredictable. Taz, the villian, is determined to figure out how to harness these other supernaturals powers. However, he gets to greedy usually & the patients die. Once they die so do their powers. And Clara & Damien are in a hurry to train, find a replacement for Damien's blood that he drinks & catch the bad guys. And time is ticking.

[Spinneretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

WARNING: cliffhanger! This is book one of a three book story arc, so the book ends with the main plot as yet unresolved. It rates about a 3/5 on my trauma scale, not terrible and not exactly happily for now either.

When Clara and Damien wake up on an otherwise empty train, they don’t know what to expect; but it isn’t to be convinced to join a group of paranormal assassins, and tasked with the removal of a powerful and insane man draining the life out of coma patients.

Fast paced and full of snark, this is a quick read in the shared world of the Delta Underground Operatives. This one features clairvoyant Clara, and Vampire Damien, who have been paired for their apparently complimentary skills (and not their terrible jokes!).
It’s an interesting story, with a particularly creepy villain, and an intriguing premise as far as the world building is concerned. It will be fun to see how the other authors address this, and I look forward to finding out.
It’s a quick read, with a high action content that fans of the author will be familiar with, which will keep the reader engaged.
It’s a good choice for urban fantasy lovers with a penchant for intense stories and in need of a quick read.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clara and Damien are polar opposites, but they must come together and learn to work as a team if they are to protect magic from the evil forces in the world. Clara a quiet, shy vegetarian and Damien an outgoing, loud, vampire must learn to live with each other’s gifts and quirks now that they are bonded and that includes meals. It is a lot to take on but they must try hard.
This is the first book in the series and I am grateful for the beginnings. I like knowing how things start and not just drop in along the way. The voice actor for this book, Annalee Scott will have you lost in the book like you are there living with them and helping the pair along so you might want to take the long way home. The characters are fun and believable, they remind me of brother and sister with bad sibling rivalry. This is a great series so far and I cannot wait for more

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fab start to this series which promises to be incredible. Well written and definitely fast paced as we are introduced to our hero pair, Clara & Damien. These two couldn’t be more different if they tried, ones a vegan, one drinks blood, ones human, ones a vampire, ones an empath and ones super strong and fast and finally one is as quiet as the mouse she carries around with her whilst the other is loud and brash. But they are the improbable pair who have been picked to pair up together by DUO and take down the bad guys. It’s exciting, it’s thrilling, there’s magic and a whole paranormal, supernatural vibe going on as we see these two go from strangers to partners and stand together on this strange and chaotic journey. Can’t wait for book two.

[America · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seriously, did we read a different book? I found this juvenile, annoying, with so many potholes, and a lot of telling and not showing. Not even the cliffhanger is going to make me read the next one. And I'm so done with this series and this author. I mean, come on! what was this actually about? The characters and their reactions made absolutely no sense! you wake up in a train, somebody tells you that you're going to become an assassin and the your life and your soul or whatever is going to be linked with this stranger forever, and you don't stop to ask questions about it? no, just no. sorry. it was an interesting plot very poorly executed

[LeeAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly executed. There's a promise of a story there, somewhere, but this is disjointed and does not flow well. The characters are shallow, and the world building requires some serious work as well. Because the characters are so shallow I didn't really care what happened to them. The premise behind the story and the reason these characters were brought together is haphazardly thrown in at the end, while the middle of the story runs exceedingly long. It struck me as though the author just wasn't sure WHAT story she wanted to tell, resulting in a breakdown of continuity.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: I was very entertained by this first book in the "Delta Underground Operatives" series. The author wrote a creative story combining action, humor, and great characters. Damien was the epitome of dark lords, and Clara was the perfect humanitarian. I enjoyed their sparks and clever dialogue. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Annalee Scott's narration was great, and her performance enhanced the story's entertainment. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.

[Roger]

The Improbable Pair - Clara & Damien (Book 1): Delta Underground Operatives, my thirty=second read from author Sarah Noffke. A well-written, interesting read, with intriguing, well-developed characters. “I received a free Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author and in this series. Annalee Scott's narration adds to the book’s enjoyment. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Dorothy Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome characters, great series

I love the way Sarah writes about her characters. They come to life so quickly and capture your heart. She excels at putting people into situations that shouldn’t work, but somehow always do. This story left me feeling like I want to read the next one immediately!
It also made me feel good. After all, what more could you ask for in a book, than a smile inside when you finish?

[Peter Trist · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've said it before ...

... and i'll say it again - I love it when a storyline surprises me and keeps me enticed from beginning to end.
Of course I wouldn't have been as surprised if I'd have conciously recognised the author was none other than Sarah Noffke who has never failed to keep me reading from beginning to end.
Thank you Sarah.

[Nita · Rating 5 out of 5]

New and different!

10 authors and 20 new Heroes! I've just finished the first book of this amazing new world where Sarah Noffke starts us off with Clara and Damien's fight to take down the evil mentalist Taz!

Damien is a vampire, Clara a powerful vegan clairvoyant!! Improbable Pair is right! They clash and complete each other! It's amazing!

[Ann Zdunczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clara and Damien wake up on a train and have no idea how they got there.

She is a vegan physic and he is a vampire. They end up meeting a mysterious man and his crow and they are invited into a secret society. The will become assassins and share each other’s abilities. Read to see what transpires.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Duo

Clara and Damien wake up on a train not knowing how they got there or where they are going and thus starts a fun and action filled adventure. I really enjoyed this book, the storyline is different and definitely keeps your interest, and the characters are a little snarky and fun. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[John Nicolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome starting book in this series!!!

Congratulations to Sarah Noffke for this book in this amazing series. It’s extremely hard to find such an interesting and exciting author who not only writes intelligently but also provides top rated plots, characters and excitement in the stories.

[Shannon Risdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want more....

Oh boy, one of those unput -downable reads!! n unlikely pairing that really does work on multiple levels...and really want to find out where this journey goes. Looks like this is a mixed author world but won't put me off ;-)!!! With The Little Ninja leading the charge know it won't be a disappointment!!!!

[Wolf Montey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Written and Witty

An excellent read from Sarah Noffke aka Tiny Ninja ( yes i know who you are Sarah! Lol )
Very uniquely put together and a high recommendation for those who like Tiny Ninja's books.
Looking forward to more!
Keep up the Great work!

[2TNWalkers · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 40%…6 of first 7, chapters was about the FMC and MMC on an empty train having to most childish conversation…both seem indecisive on what to do…but these are suppose o be the badasses to save the world…Fuck, they cannot figure out how to get off the train.

[Joy Ki`Ili · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning

The first book in a series is usually character building and we have that here. Impromptu meeting followed by a lot of learning curves. The POVs are both looking for something meaningful in their lives and this new career choice seems to fit them both.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reasons why I hated this book. 1. First 13 chapters started “on a train. Unknown location. 2. Next chapters start “training facilities in mountains east of Salt Lake City Utah, u.s.a.” 3. The magical pool is called the puddle. Need I say more.

[Phillip Burch · Rating 2 out of 5]

hard to relate to main characters

Since both were extremes they were hard to relate to super hippy and a vampire . it probably sounded good on concept but the story is hard to get into. I hope for better in the next book