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No Ordinary Day #1

No Ordinary Day

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If the power grid collapses, will you be prepared?

Emma bides her time as a temporary lab tech, counting the days until she stands up before Congress to testify against her former employer. When the power goes out during a ride down the elevator for lunch, a handsome stranger offers to help.

When the odds are stacked against you, what will you do to survive?

John might appear like an average good guy, but underneath, he’s a seasoned killer. Hired to snuff out an unsuspecting whistleblower, he’s more than prepared to handle a little blackout.

As society crumbles, everyone is put to the test.

With limited communication and chaos unfolding outside, Emma and John forge a tenuous alliance. Will the pair survive the end of the world as we know it, or will nothing stand in the way of a hitman’s mission?

The EMP is only the beginning.

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 23, 2021

368 people are currently reading
146 people want to read

About the author

Harley Tate

47 books159 followers
When the world as we know it falls apart, how far will you go to survive?

Harley Tate writes edge-of-your-seat post-apocalyptic fiction exploring what happens when ordinary people are faced with impossible choices.

Subscribe to Harley's newsletter for two exclusive prequels you can't get anywhere else: www.harleytate.com/subscribe

The end of life as we know it brings out the best and worst in all of us. The apocalypse is only the beginning.

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5 stars
497 (54%)
4 stars
292 (32%)
3 stars
92 (10%)
2 stars
18 (1%)
1 star
10 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Profile Image for Michele Rene.
141 reviews66 followers
March 28, 2021
I was so excited to see Harley Tate wrote another book. I have been waiting for a year, lol. She did not disappoint. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Rebecka Jäger.
Author 6 books110 followers
August 15, 2021
Overall, this is an enjoyable book about the aftermath of the EMP. But oh f***k was the main character naive. I sort of understood that in the beginning but as the story progressed into more danger, she disturbed me: the waste of bullets and making John deal with everything that the breaking up of society threw at them. Then bitching about it afterward.

But: all books don't need rough and ready heroines. Ordinary people make great main characters. I give the author credit for writing Emma. She made me re-think my preferences in reading the post-apocalyptic genre.

What would the average woman do in such circumstances? Act like Emma. We're not all preppers and gunslingers. Well, I am (or think I am) but you get my point.

John develops most through the book and I enjoyed his POV. Someone had to have a tactical assessment of the situation.

Harley Tate's book is a welcome variety. I'll be reading more.
Profile Image for Pam Shelton-Anderson.
1,962 reviews66 followers
April 10, 2021
This story flows well with good writing and editing; not a lot of errors which is nice. "No power to the entire United States, except maybe a few pockets in Texas"-- I kind of wonder at what point post-apocalyptic authors will stop holding up Texas as a pinnacle of a grid when they weren't even prepared for cold weather much less an EMP. Initially, I didn't think it was possible to get behind an assassin who ends up helping the main character etc. He does kind of grow on you though...hmmm... Emma is a bit all over the place, not unusual during an extreme disaster and fleeing killers, but I found it odd she would have some scruples over John wounding (not killing) a couple of abusive rapists. I'm glad there are some good people in the story and you can't go wrong with a dog. I look forward to seeing what happens next.
Profile Image for Erica Hernandez.
263 reviews5 followers
May 15, 2021
Readable but unbelievable

The story line is really hard to buy into. The characters barely likable. The female lead, pitiful. She’s supposed to be a PhD yet comes across wimpy and not very smart. The male lead changes like a chameleon, completely impossible. Yet it is readable. The younger, supporting character is good.
55 reviews
July 6, 2021
Ugh. This book was BEYOND RIDICULOUS! Horribly written. EVERY character was either a cliche or a caricature. Totally unrealistic EMP scenario (working electronics? really??). The main character was so annoying and unbelievably STUPID that I was rooting for the hitman to kill her just so the book would end. But then I realized he was so vapid and incompetent that I wanted him to kill himself while he was at it. Do yourself a favor...don't bother with this book. It was almost bad enough to make me never want to read a book again...ever. I would give it negative stars if I could. I have NO CLUE how this book was rated so highly by others. They must be relatives of the so-called writer.
Profile Image for Sasha.
400 reviews12 followers
March 25, 2021
Self Righteous

I feel that for a scientist, Emma is stupid. I was cool with her at first. I think it started with the dog. It is ok to try to save the dog, but when you know danger is getting to close, a dog is not worth three lives, including a 15 year old. It’s cool that they saved the dog, but not what they were willing to sacrifice.

Then, Emma gets mad when a rapist is shot with a flesh wound. That knocked her straight off my list. She knew there were no cops yet she still dwelled on it. I guess she would rather watch a rape in horror since she has no skills to help. She is too self righteous.

The saving grace is John. I liked John. He made sense to me.
Profile Image for Laura.
20 reviews2 followers
March 27, 2021
A good apocalyptic tale.

This is a pretty decent apocalyptic survival book. The addition of a hired killer was an interesting one which added to the novel. It's an easy read - I read it in one evening, but enjoyable. There is no foul language, the violence is enough to add tension, but not so graphically described as to be disturbing, and adult situations (of which there are very few) are handled in such a way that a younger teenager could read this book. You come to care about the characters and the evolution of one of them is really quite good. All in all a good read!
Profile Image for Barry Jenkins.
332 reviews5 followers
May 28, 2023
Unimpressive

It seems this author prefers their heros to be female which is great. But do they all have to be naive, dumb, or stupid?
This is the third book I've read of Tate's and the first was just ok, the second story not so good so I did not read more of that series but I figured I would give the author one more chance with this book. It's been a waste of my time. All of the main characters in these books are about the same--intelligent but naive and stupid. Why? It makes for poor reading.
I won't read anymore of Tate.
1,147 reviews5 followers
March 30, 2021
Survival

When the lights go out, what happens? Emma Cross is a woman at a cross road, so her last name fits. John, the hit man assigned to take her out is also at a cross road. Throw in a teenager, Holly and a dog, Tank. The beginning of an action packed novel. This story can be read as a standalone but look forward to the next novel in the series.
1,014 reviews11 followers
April 1, 2021
Great characters

I really enjoyed this story. Apart from being an interesting thriller and EMP disaster, the characters were really engaging. There is depth and understanding in who they are and what motivates them. Emma is really strong minded and determined to do the right thing. Maybe there’ll be more to challenge her soon.
109 reviews
April 24, 2021
Well written different twist

I have read some of the author's others and this is predictable as a genre is, but with a slightly different twist to the characters' motives. Enough to make me download the next in the series but not enough to keep me up reading it tonight. Recommend.
Profile Image for Nanette Mitchell.
377 reviews
May 31, 2021
Great pace and characters

What started out as a mission to kill a scientist turned whistle blower it all changes when the world is hit with a solar EMP. You are grabbed from the beginning when the killer and the mark (Emma) are trapped in an elevator for hours. Then as they combat the extent of what happens they are forced to work together. Fast read and good entertainment
36 reviews
January 1, 2022
logical premise

An enjoyable read. All of us in the book and the reader begin to see what a destroyed world looks like, acts like. And it’s terrifying. Seriously contemplating a garden come Spring of 2022! I’ve already decided that prepping is most wise! And, I look forward to seeing how our characters manage to survive!
August 24, 2023
Excellent

No Ordinary Day is so easy to read. This is a book full of everything, an assassination a hitman travelling with the very person they have to eliminate and an EMP. What else could possibly added to make this book any more interesting? It's an amazing book and well worth reading.
Profile Image for Consuelo Ashworth.
40 reviews1 follower
March 26, 2021
Really goood

Great storytelling, never a disappointment. 3 people who would testify against a big company are hunted by assassins. When the united states shuts down all bets are off.
488 reviews3 followers
March 30, 2021
5 stars

This was a very good book to begin this series. It provided enough information for plot development and good character development and dialogue. Looking forward to book 2 and a continuation of the action.
Profile Image for Linda Craun.
2 reviews
April 2, 2021
Harley Tate is prolific author with several series published.

Having read most of Tate's post apocalypse series I can attest to their exciting and fast-paced action and detailed backgrounds.
127 reviews
April 11, 2021
No Ordinary Day

This author is a great writer, the story stakes you away to interact with the characters. This CME has turned out the lights,and turned on humanity in some, and killers in others. Cannot wait for book two, glad its a clean read and a page turner!
Profile Image for Janice Mickolas.
15 reviews9 followers
April 13, 2021
Great story line

A very good book with likable characters. Love where the story takes place -Blue Ridge has my heart. A believable story line, easy to read. Mystery, suspense, romance and an apocalyptic story all in one.
483 reviews4 followers
April 16, 2021
Wow a must-read new series!

This book was a fast-paced action-filled thrill ride from start to finish. Love the new characters and can't wait until the next book. The sad thing is I can see the government doing this and probably funding the company making the seeds too. I highly recommend her other series too! Get the books and leave your reviews.
Profile Image for Smiling_dragon.
92 reviews5 followers
April 25, 2021
Disgusting

Disgustingly good! The character development is outstanding. The mix of action and tension perfect! The story pace is absolutely amazing.

Harley knows how to write a good story and it disgusts me how good she is (in the best way possible). ;)
630 reviews2 followers
May 3, 2021
Wow

This post apocalypse story is so different. I get tired of reading about the inner city gangs targeting people. This is about a gun for hire killer and some people who seem poorly prepared. Fascinating!
3 reviews7 followers
May 9, 2021
Better than your average post apocalyptic fiction

Well written, interesting characters. Fast moving. A bit of moral ambiguity which I thought was interesting and made the book stand out.
Profile Image for Charlene.
680 reviews6 followers
May 18, 2021
Great

Another great book by Harley Tate. I love the characters in this book and series. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. I would recommend this book and all of Harley’s books.
5 reviews
May 31, 2021
Good writing

The story was was good but the facts of an EMP were not there. No planes fell from the sky, no fires, all cars worked and a dead phone worked when passing a working cell tower.
This author could be really good if she checked the subject matter better.
Profile Image for Sandi Dalton.
71 reviews
June 2, 2021
Worth reading

The characters are likeable and seem to be well thought out. I am really looking forward to the next in this series. It’s a different twist on the usual post apocalyptic tale.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
34 reviews
November 28, 2021
Decent read

I enjoyed this book, there were a few things hard to overlook…..I guess I’ve read too many post apocalyptic books and prepper manuals to not notice. But, overall an engaging read and worth your time!
Profile Image for Marsha  Ronquist .
251 reviews5 followers
January 11, 2022
Held my interest

The story moves at a quick pace. The characters are believable and life like. This is not a Christian themed, end times story. They are my favorite. It is still worth reading.
10 reviews22 followers
January 18, 2022
Super sweet

I liked this, not gonna lie, although it falls a little bit on the romantic/slow moving end of this genre's spectrum. :) sweet story, thoughtful characters, & a story that moves forward without too much conflict or violence.
336 reviews
January 9, 2023
Entertaining

Not into survival yet, just trekking across the state to friends, bad guys and good guys, collecting a dog and teen. We are just starting to prepare for looters, assassins, and whatever.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews

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