The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for The Watchmaker’s Doctor: An Erase and Rewind Novella
Because The Watchmaker’s Doctor was Book of the Day, some of our most trusted members have carefully looked over the cover, the description, and other aspects of this book as a part of purchase-intent focus group. We then asked each participant in the focus group if they planned to buy and read the book, and why they planned to buy and read the book or not. Their answer to that question and reasons are displayed below. We call this awesome feature The First Ten Focus Group.
Keep in mind, the responses from the members are not reviews. This is purchase-intent focus group which means the participants are people who have NOT yet bought or read your book. A purchase-intent focus group is an important and extremely useful marketing tool for any product, not just books. For other products, you might walk on the street and show people an item in a package and poll them about whether they would buy if or $X or not. These kind of focus groups are one of the ways big marketing companies find the ideal price points for products and test the effectiveness of different packaging. The focus group can help you identify your market so you how to target ads of your book, and it can (but may not) provide you new useful info about your "packaging" (e.g. your book cover, your book synopsis on Amazon, etc.). The point of the focus group comments is to give you information from people who have not bought or read your book about why they plan to buy your book which will help you in marketing the book. These are not reviews or critiques of your book because they are not from people have read the book. This is a marketing tool, not reviews. The trick of book marketing and book advertising is that you have to convince people who have not read your book yet that your book is worth buying and reading. For marketing, it doesn't matter much if people love your book after reading it if you cannot convince potential buyers before they read it that they will love it.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable. This is because we only poll about 20 or so readers, and all readers have to say "no" to almost all books. Over a million books are published each year. Even a very active reader cannot come close to even reading 1% of books out there.
This is also why publishing books is such a tough industry.
Heidi M Simone
Without this program, I would not have sampled this book. The cover is extremely appealing, the title is clever, and the blurb gives a good idea of what the book will be about. However, I am always uncertain of the science fiction genre, as this is a genre that I tend to not enjoy. The positive reviews, including the OBC one, were nice to see. Based on what I read, the book does seem to be edited well. It was exciting to read about the white van that collided into Anaya, but she managed to stay alive due to Greg's watch that had turned back time. Choosing to go back to teenage years was an interesting choice, and I'm sure will play well with the rest of the story. However, I don't really feel any connection with Anaya. With the quick pace in the beginning, there isn't any time to fully understand who Anaya is as a person, which makes it difficult to care about what happens to her next. Due to this, I do not plan on buying and reading the book.
First Ten review added on July 22, 2018, at 7:35 am by Heidi M Simone.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Alice Heritage
I wouldn't have sampled this based on the cover, title, or genre as I'm working my way through a long reading list at the moment. I also won't buy and read it today based on the sample primarily because of the time factor - I am finishing some books before getting new ones, now! This book seems professionally edited as I noticed no errors. I liked best the idea of Alexandria's Genesis, involving special people with strengthened immune systems who can live longer lives without ageing. I also liked the concise style - all of Anaya's past and present issues were summed up succinctly in a brief chapter. There wasn't really anything that could be improved as this was a strong beginning, setting up the possibility of erasing and rewinding life very well - that's an intriguing concept. The quality of the writing was good and nothing really needs to be improved. I have made a note of this for when I have more time.
First Ten review added on July 22, 2018, at 7:30 am by Alice Heritage.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gravy
I did not notice any errors, though the dialogue was clumsy at first, and the relationship between Greg and Ana felt a little forced in the beginning. This also made the characters less attractive to me.
I probably would have sampled this. The genre is right, and the premise likely would have tempted me into it. However, the sample did change my opinion, mainly due to the character issues previously listed.
There is another issue that would prevent me from reading this. A physical copy of a book falls under the first sale doctrine, meaning the law protects the rights of the buyer to resell (or loan, giveaway, or basically anything they want to do with) the item. Trying to claim that it is in any way prohibited is, at best, naive. This annoys me, particularly, as I prefer to actually own that which I purchase (this is why I prefer physical copies, but I digress). I have no issue with this being stated for e-copies, as that is perfectly right, lawful, and I agree with it 100%. However, any author claiming the same for physical copies falls onto my do-not read list.
I like the cover, though the configuration makes it look a bit more sci-fi (aliens or cyborgs).
There was an official review of this book, but this does not affect my opinion.
Because of the issues listed above, I do not plan on continuing this.
First Ten review added on July 22, 2018, at 5:18 am by Gravy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
klwoodford
I like that this book is a science-fiction novella. The cover really draws me in, and I find the shades of purple used very appealing. The offical OBC review, alongside Amazon customer reviews, gave me a good idea of what to expect before sampling this. With that said, I would have sampled this book regardless of this program. I'm intrigued by the idea of time-travel and the option of a redo in life. I like that the author opened the story and jumped right to where Anaya received the timepiece from Greg. I thought adding the twist of him being a superhuman way very creative. I also thought that it was interesting that, even though Anaya can change events in her past and live differently, she can't escape the moment of her death. I especially love Anaya's awareness and acknowlement of her mental health and how that correlates to he work in the health field.I did not notice any grammatical errors, the book is beautifully written. I also can only recommend one improvement. I think it would be beneficial if the author were to clearly state Anaya's role in the health care system. It is suggested that she is a physician, but not very clearly. Drawing on my own experience, I've never had a physician like her, and my mind pictured her as more of a mental health counselor. I think the first 10 pages are great, and I want to keep reading.
First Ten review added on July 22, 2018, at 4:43 am by klwoodford.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Bianka Walter
This is a very cool concept. I like that once Ana was given the choice to go back in time, she was told that her death day wouldn't change. You can't cheat death. I enjoyed the sample. This isn't a book that I would usually sample without the first ten program. I love time travel stories, but they have been overdone in my opinion. I think this is a different concept. This is not going back in time in order to change the future. It's going back in time in order to change the past. The book flowed smoothly and I found no editing errors. The OBC review solidified my choice; this is a book that I will be reading.
First Ten review added on July 22, 2018, at 4:38 am by Bianka Walter.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Vickie Noel
This book is captivating with a befitting title and matching book cover. I definitely would have read it outside the program. The sample further reiterated my earlier convictions with the intriguing plot of Amaya's accident and her new watch buying her some time to relive life and choose a different destiny. Since she received the watch as a gift from her medical patient, she is indeed "The Watchmaker's Doctor." I love when a title matches the plot in such a decipherable manner. I have no issues with any part of what I read. Having concluded the entire sample, I have no other option than to acquire and finish up the story. I found no errors because the author's editor did a thorough job. The OBC review was equally fascinating and that spiked my interest from the get-go.
First Ten review added on July 22, 2018, at 2:18 am by Vickie Noel.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Annelore Trujillo
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, and OBC review. I'm not really into books about time travel. I also wasn't a fan of the Amazon blurb. I don't like when quotes for the book come before the actual summary. After reading the first ten pages, I won't be purchasing this book. The time travel aspect just is not for me, especially since it was introduced so soon in the book. I just can't see a watch being able to turn back time. I did like the style of writing. I thought it flowed well and was easy to read. It also seemed to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on July 22, 2018, at 12:40 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MarisaRose
After reading the blurb for “The Witchmaker’s Doctor,” I wasn’t interested in purchasing it. The themes of time travel and re-doing one’s life just didn’t appeal to me. After reading the OBC review, my initial opinion didn’t change. The reviewer’s summary of the book made me more sure I wouldn’t like the premise. Personally, I’d hate nothing more than to relive my youth! After sampling the first ten pages, the thing that stuck out to me the most was the writing. I wasn’t a fan of the author’s prose; I felt it was clunky and lacked fluidity. Although there were no grammatical errors, there were many awkwardly worded sentences. As for the story, I thought Anaya seemed interesting and I was curious to know more about her; why was she self medicating? What sort of issues was she battling? On the other hand, I didn’t really care for Greg. He seemed rather cliched, and his portion of the dialogue felt forced. After reading the sample I wasn’t convinced that I’d enjoy the book going forward, mostly due to the writing style, so I won’t be purchasing it.
First Ten review added on July 21, 2018, at 10:02 pm by MarisaRose.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
KRay93
The design of the cover is quite compelling and it is very well conceived around the themes of time travel and looking back in one's life that proposes the blurb. The official review speaks of a short but attractive book, with a powerful and well-achieved message. The first ten pages introduce the conflict immediately as the protagonist receives from his patient the object that will allow her to go back in time. The prose is simple but fluid, and the editing work looks acceptable since I did not find typos or grammatical errors. Both the premise and the theme of the book are of my preference, and although I had doubts about its brevity, the official review ended up convincing me. I will continue reading this book.
First Ten review added on July 21, 2018, at 9:50 pm by KRay93.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Ahlily
I love the cover and title of this book, as well as the genre and description, so this would've definitely been a book I would have considered reading, even without reading a sample. Reading the sample only made me more interested in reading the entire book. I loved how descriptive the author is immediately and how the story dives right into the action. Some books like this take forever to set up background and build up to the main plot, which is tedious.
The sample held my attention from the very beginning and drew me in. It also seemed edited very well.
The official review I read gave me a good understanding of the plot, and the first ten pages already answered some questions the review gave me, making me want to read on to see if my other questions are answered. If I had the funds, I would definitely buy this book today to read as soon as I finish the other books I'm reading. I will definitely look into purchasing this novel when I have the spare funds.
First Ten review added on July 21, 2018, at 9:20 pm by Ahlily.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
JuliaKay
I like this cover. I think the colors and the design look good and capture attention. The title makes me want to know more about the book. The blurb and reviews were also good and made me want to know more. The onlinebookclub.com review really got my attention. Sometimes I like this genre, and other times I do not. Anaya has bipolar disorder, which I appreciate the author writing about. A lot of times in fiction, we don't see these disorders as much. On one page there was an error with capitalization: "...and left Greg with, 'We'll speak more about this soon.'" The w on we did not need to be uppercase. The idea of a person who doesn't age normally is interesting, though not entirely unique. When Anaya gets hit by the minivan, it is unexpected, but it does seem clear that this would be when time begins to turn back. I am on the fence about reading more because of the writing style and the rather rushed start to the story, but the story itself does make me want to read more.
First Ten review added on July 21, 2018, at 6:12 pm by JuliaKay.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Eryn Bradshaw
The Watchmaker's Doctor is based off an interesting concept. I think we all have points in our lives where we want a redo button. Based on the premise of the book, I was a little interested, however, after reading the first part, I won't be continuing it. I don't like the main character knowing about when they are going die. I don't know how this book plays out after the first chapter, but I assume at a point, Anaya will have to come to terms with it. The book seems professionally edited though. If I could change one thing, it would just be Anaya knowing about her death. The book is interesting nonetheless and I might read it later, but for now, I will pass on it.
First Ten review added on July 21, 2018, at 5:15 pm by Eryn Bradshaw.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
RebeccasReading
This is not a book I would have normally read. I normally don't read science fiction books. After reading the sample, my opinion is the same. I don't think this story will interest me very much. I did enjoy the open discussion of mental health problems. That was very refreshing to see. It's not a topic that's usually mentioned with such honesty. There was nothing in particular that stands out to me as needing improvement. I don't think this book is for me, but it seems like a good one for those that like this genre. It seems to be professionally edited..
First Ten review added on July 21, 2018, at 4:12 pm by RebeccasReading.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
IsabelMay
The cover is well done and the description sounds rather original so I would've probably sampled this book even without this program. The reviews are positive but this time (which is rare) I share the same opinion thanks to the sample. The writing style is good, even though some dialogue lines are a bit implausible, they are more on the poetic side than being spontaneous. Anaya is a likeable character and I like that the book starts pretty much in medias res, without any unnecessary description of the characters or the setting. So far, it seems edited. The chapters and the sample in general are short as well, but I've read enough to become interested. Therefore, I'll buy the book.
First Ten review added on July 21, 2018, at 4:10 pm by IsabelMay.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
micoleon13
This is an interesting cover page which got my attention. I was interested in finding out more about the book. The OnlineBookClub review was very complementary and outlined a story that I would be interested in. I liked the idea of traveling back in time and going through your teenage years again but with the thoughts of an adult. The pages which I read were well written and edited and I really liked the start with introducing Greg and Anaya's sudden death. This is a book that I would be interested in continuing. I have no ideas for improvement.
First Ten review added on July 21, 2018, at 4:02 pm by micoleon13.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
ritah
I read the official review. Based on the cover and genre, I would have sampled the book because the cover captured my attention. I liked feeling like I was eves-dropping on Anaya and Greg's conversation about self-medicating and bipolar. This may sound silly but I really didn't know that doctors aren't allowed to self-medicate and that it is considered unethical in their field. I did not spot any errors in the pages I read. I will be reading the rest of the book because the narrative and characters held my interest and I'm curious to find out how the story unfolds.
First Ten review added on July 21, 2018, at 2:53 pm by ritah.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
britt13
I did not have a chance to read the official review so that had no barring on my first opinions of the book. The cover and title intrigued me though. Schuilling does a good job of explaining things, like the differences between Bipolar I and II, without seeming like it is annoying exposition. I appreciate that. I also immediately liked Anaya as a character. I did find one error. It was not necessarily an error in grammar, but if I was the editor, I would have rearranged the sentence. All that being said, I really did like the writing. Right now I do not have the funds to be buying books but I will add it to my list I want to buy later on.
First Ten review added on July 21, 2018, at 10:41 am by britt13.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
melissy370
I don't like time traveling stories and I would not read this book. The sample was well written and without errors, but I still don't think I will finish it. I was curious how Anaya got her position in the first place when she was dealing with bipolar herself. I think some of her decisions unethical like taking a present from a patient and meeting him in a secluded spot. Perhaps these things will be made clearer later on in the book, but it does not hold my attention to go further.
First Ten review added on July 21, 2018, at 9:20 am by melissy370.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mary WhiteFace
The cover and title looked interesting. So much so that I honestly wanted to purchase the book right away. Because of that, I took a slightly different approach to the First 10 program today. I went directly into the book without reading the editorial comments or checking for any reviews.
The cover picture is unique. When I first saw the cover, I thought, "There are many directions this could go." It could be a romantic adventure. Possibly a mystery of some sort. I wondered if the clock overlay on the head represened the watchmaker or the doctor, or both. I was intrigued enough that I wanted to approach this as if I was in a physical book store picking up a physical book. If that were the case, I wouldn't be looking to other people for advice. I would simply start reading to see how it made me feel.
Side note: Even though I approached "The Watchmaker's Doctor" as if I happened upon it in a physical store, without the First 10 program I may never have been exposed to it. This program is invaluable to an avid reader such as I.
It did not even take ten pages for me to reach the decision that I wanted to read the whole book. The narrative grabbed my attention and held it. After finishing the first chapter, "Present Day", I knew I would be totally absorbed until the very last page.
"‘Alexandria’s Genesis’...‘perfect human beings,’ with purple eyes that glowed, pale skin that shimmered, and immune systems so robust they could live past one hundred and fifty." (Location 178 of the sample) and the unique ability of Gregs' watch make for an interesting combination.
The book seems professionally edited. I did not notice any errors. I have no suggestions for improvements.
I saw that there was an Official OnlineBookClub review, but I did not read it before posting this review. As I stated earlier, I wanted my decision to be made completely on the book cover, title, and my own response to the first ten pages. With no influence from other sources, I have decided that I will read this book. I have a feeling that I will thoroughly enjoy it.
First Ten review added on July 21, 2018, at 2:39 am by Mary WhiteFace.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
va2016
The title and the cover are indicative of the story in the book. The Amazon summary of the book is very intriguing. There are only 2 Amazon customer reviews of the book, but I would have still chosen the book for reading even if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the narration pretty interesting, rich in content and vocabulary. I especially liked the interactions between Anaya and Gregory, the watchmaker. When Gregory gives the choice for her to go back to her past and change her life to be different on how she lives her life till her death, the story picks up steam. Because of this, I am going to read this book in full! I found the book to be professionally edited with no grammatical or mechanical errors. What I liked about the book is the high quality of narration and rich vocabulary. I could not find anything that I could suggest as improvement for the book. I found one OBC review that gave 4 out of 4 stars for the book, but my decision to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on July 21, 2018, at 12:27 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sicily Joy
The description of this sci-fi thriller is very appealing to me. I also liked the reviews including the official review. The only downside in my mind from the official review was that go back to high school plots are overdone. But based on the good reviews, interesting cover, and description I would have at least sampled the book. The first ten pages intrigued me enough that I would consider reading the whole book. Mainly, I enjoyed the characters: I wanted to know more about the strange Watchmaker and I want to know why Anaya is so flawed. It did bother me how unprofessional she is with her patient. Yet, that aspect makes me want to learn more about her and their relationship. The book seemed professional edited, I liked the writing style and it was easy to read so far. I found no errors. Since I won the book in a giveaway and I want to see how the characters develop, I will read it eventually. However, I think one negative is the book is very short for the listed price.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 10:26 pm by Sicily Joy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
ladycraic
I would not have chosen to sample The Watchmaker's Doctor apart from First Ten due to my lack of interest in the cover and title. Reading the blurb stirred my interest in the plot of this novel. The idea of a watch that is able to turn back time and even gave Anaya a second chance to ditch her regrets seemed fascinating. The first ten pages were epic. I don't know - seeing Anaya come back to life after a tragic death was thrilling. In addition, I found the fact that she would never live past her current age a unique twist to the whole time traveling concept. Overall, I find this book interesting but not to the degree where I'm willing to purchase it right now. The possibility that I could in the future is very much up there, hence why I added this book to my WTR shelf. This book seems professionally edited and I didn't notice any grammatical errors.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 9:44 pm by ladycraic.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kristy Khem
The cover design is very modern and I could tell that the story had elements of science fiction and fantasy which I hardly ever bother to willingly explore. The blurb did not interest me and despite the excellent Amazon reviews, I would not choose to buy this book. Since I am a First Ten participant, I read the sample. Instead of losing interest, I found that the story captured my attention. The Alexandria Genesis myth was vaguely mentioned, but this only made me more curious about the superhuman race of people that descended from Alexandria Augustine. Greg, the watchmaker, was also a very interesting character since he was seventy years old, but appeared young, healthy, and virile, almost as if he had stopped aging. Furthermore, I did not notice any errors and I believe that the book was professionally edited. The 4/4 rating on Online Book Club also encouraged me to buy this book, so I have changed my initial decision.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 9:03 pm by Kristy Khem.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Chelsy Scherba
The cover and title for this book made me excited right away because I love the idea of time travel and correcting past mistakes. Then I read the review and learned more about the story, and I couldn’t wait to read the sample. I wasn’t disappointed. I agree with the reviewer that this book flows with a fast elegance that draws you in. I love the author’s use of color and the subtle descriptions of Anaya’s stiff arm that she injured in her twenties. The pictures painted were so vivid and the characters so intriguingly realistic; I had no trouble seeing it; I felt like I was watching a movie. Anaya’s patient is very intriguing with his aging that stopped at age fifty, even though he’s over a hundred. I like that he gave her the watch he made, almost like he knew she would get in a fatal accident after she left him. I honestly can’t wait to read the rest. The editing looks pristine, I didn’t notice any errors. This book is right up my alley, so if I were searching for a time travel novel, I would definitely be eager to try this one. I’m really glad I won the giveaway!
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 8:26 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
scratchcat318
I literally purchased this book as soon as I finished reading the sample, and I am definitely bumping this up on my current reading list. As far as I'm concerned, this book has done almost everything right so far, and I have very little negative points to be said about it. The cover art is absolutely gorgeous. It's obvious the author chose a very talented illustrator to design this cover because I was in awe of it from the moment I saw it. The blurb is brilliantly written, revealing enough detail about the plot to immediately hook a potential reader. I love that the blurb starts off with the simple question of "If you could go back in time and redo one thing in your life, what would it be?". It's a question that I feel a lot of people could easily find themselves pondering for a long time and asking multiple times over the course of their lives, and it was a smart idea to ask this question on the very first sentence of the blurb to hook readers in like this. Anaya, the main character, is very easy to relate to right from the beginning as a girl with bipolar disorder who is currently in a very bad funk. I feel like a lot of readers, though they may not understand what it's like to be bipolar, will definitely understand the feeling of being completely drained after suffering all of the difficulties of life. They would also relate to her immediate decision to turn back the clock and fix some of her past mistakes. I do wish that we had received a bit more of an introduction of Anaya, as the conflict of her impending death seems to distract from the lack of proper introduction to her character and all that she's been through. However, I feel like this problem will be quickly rectified in later chapters, so it does not bother me as much as it might with other books. In conclusion, I am definitely giving this a read in the near future. Hopefully the book stays strong with its moral and premise and delivers the great story that I'm hoping for.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 8:15 pm by scratchcat318.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Seraphia Bunny Sparks
After reading a sample of, The Watchmaker's Doctor by G. M. T. Schuilling, I have decided that I will finish reading this book. When I first saw the cover and title of this book, I didn't think it would be for me. My first thought was this book sounded like a war story. After reading the blurb, I learned that this was a science fiction/time travel story. My interest was piqued. Anaya is gifted a beautiful watch by an older watchmaker. He knows that she is going to die. I'm curious as to how he knows this. She's given the opportunity to go back and redo one thing in her life. I am eager to find out what she chooses. As I read this book, my interest is piqued. I like that the story starts in the present day. I find Greg both interesting, and strange at the same time. He seems to know Anaya very well. I like how Anaya herself has issues that complicate her life. Her poor choices have shaped her current life. I appreciate the author for the detailed description of the watch Greg gives Anaya. I like being able to imagine it in my mind. Based on what I have read this book appears to be professionally edited. This book does have an official OnlineBookClub review. The reviewer helps to pique my interest. I'm intrigued by the characters and storyline. If I had not read a sample of this book, I would have picked it up. I won a copy in a giveaway, so I am looking forward to reading this novella.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 8:02 pm by Seraphia Bunny Sparks.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kendra M Parker
I saw this book’s official review a while ago and thought this one looked really good. I added it to my reading list at that time but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. As I read the first ten pages I was reminded about how much I had enjoyed the official review. The fact that the Anaya is bipolar and yet also a psychiatrist for a retirement home was even more interesting than I had thought. The genetic engineering was an interesting detail as well. I’m intrigued and I want to know more. I think I will probably read this one, especially since it was well edited.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 7:31 pm by Kendra M Parker.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
lavellan
I probably would have read the sample of The Watchmaker's Doctor even if it had not been a part of The First Ten program. The Book of the Day review was positive and left me interested in the book. The book seemed like it was professionally edited and I did not notice any errors while reading. I enjoyed how the time-traveling aspect was incorporated into the book. It was very unique how the watch allowed Anaya to travel back in time. I didn't like how Anaya was incompetent at her job. As a result of this and not having the time to start another book, I will not be buying the book today.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 7:31 pm by lavellan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
juliecsa
I would have chosen to sample this book based on its description, because I enjoy time-travel stories, even though they are often overdone. After reading the sample I will not continue to read, because I found the pace of the story too fast — so much happened in the first 10 pages and it felt extremely rushed. I liked that the author was open about the main character's mental illness, as this is rare in books. The editing seemed well done.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 6:35 pm by juliecsa.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kat Berg
The official OBC review of this book peaked my interest. I would have picked it up based on that. I also find the title somewhat intriguing. I find time travel books exhausting (think of the movie "The Butterfly Effect" to comprehend why) but the review encourages me to set that prejudice aside and read a sample to see if it grabs my attention. The first unusual thing I noticed when starting to read is that Ana is bipolar, a psychologist, but also that she seems to not have especially good boundaries with the very first patient we are introduced to. Fortunately, there is a certain awareness of this as she chooses to go back in time to her most regretted mistake and have a do-over instead of dying. Although the book seems to be professionally edited and the sample was entertaining enough to read, I still don't like the going back in time storyline, in spite of the "live life now" message that the reviewer says is there. I enjoy the writer's style, and would probably enjoy books with a different storyline, but this was is not for me. I will not be buying or reading the book.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 6:22 pm by Kat Berg.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sarah_Khan
I really like the cover and title of this book. I would not have picked it up because I am not a fan of books that deal with time travel. The first ten pages were professionally edited. The explanation of how the watchmaker made a watch that allows time travel, left me wanting more. The OBC review was favorable but it did not change my mind. This seems like a more serious version of the movie 13 going on 30. So unfortunately, with the serious aspect, I don't think this is my cup of tea.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 5:36 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Catherine Hsu
If I had not read the sample I would have read the book. I think the editing of the image on the cover is very interesting! I also think the blurb is right up my alley, as I love time travel books. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind. I think the writing style was really engaging. Lines like "coil magnetically around her wrist" and how the hand sped "manically around. Backwards." were extremely well-written, and they had the right rhythm to add intensity and anticipation to the book. The sample was professionally edited. I did not read the official review but that did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 4:57 pm by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
CrescentMoon
I really liked the blurb and I think I would pick the book up because of it. The premise is very intriguing and there are many thought-provoking questions about how you would live your life if you had a chance to restart. After reading the first ten pages, I didn't see any spelling or grammar errors. I was really impressed with the writing. It was very descriptive, and I could easily picture the scenes such as when Anaya was describing the watch, what the weather was like and what she was wearing. I felt like I was actually in the scene. I would like to read the rest of the book in the future but unfortunately I don't have the time right now. I think people who enjoy science fiction and time travel type stories would like this.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 3:47 pm by CrescentMoon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Dolor
Even without The First Ten program, I would have chosen to read this book by just looking at the thought-provoking cover, and reading the blurb and the well-written official OBC review. Reading the first ten pages made me lock in my final answer. I'm into this genre and the plot has piqued my interest. This is the only error I found:
Looking him over long and hard... => should have been Looking AT him...
Anaya had bipolar II. Her friend, Greg, who has a gene that stopped aging at around 50, gave her a watch which began to speed maniacally around counterclockwise. I have no improvement suggestion for this professionally-edited book. The Watchmaker’s Doctor by G. M. T. Schuilling is a well-crafted time-travel story of a 35-year-old Anaya trying to relive her life at 16. Will she be successful in living the life she pleased with a watch that can turn back time and a relentless effort to undo past mistakes? Let's read to find out. ????
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 3:03 pm by Dolor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sahani Nimandra
The Watchmaker's Doctor by G. M. T. Schuilling is a time travel fictional read that's filled with romance and unexpected turmoil in the protagonist life. The title suits this read and the cover illustration is exquisite.
The official OBC review is good, the reviewer has done a good job but it would have been better if the reviewer mentioned how this read affected the reviewer. The review opened certain doors of wisdom in my mind. I was delighted by this review. The start of story is slow and weak. The characters played at their own pace, but as the story develops it changed it's course into something amazing. I noted several sentences embedded with words of wisdom which inspired me. I read the sample till the end. This story reminded me of a film called the "Butterfly Effect". The read was professionally edited, I didn't encounter any hindrances while reading. Since my hands are full I will pass this read for now but would not mind reading it if I get the opportunity in near future.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 2:04 pm by Sahani Nimandra.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
CataclysmicKnight
I love sci-fi and fantasy, so I was interested in this one as soon as I saw it and would've at least looked more into it even if it wasn't the book of the day. It already had a lot going for it - an interesting premise, a perfect OBC review and a great book length at right around 100 pages. I'm definitely hooked, with Anaya dying, being brought back to life with the watch, and told she can go back to any point to correct her mistakes but with the knowledge that she'll still die the same day. The writing could be a little smoother, perhaps, but it still seems professionally edited as I found no errors at all. With all of that said, I don't see myself buying it when I have so many other books to read. I've enjoyed what I read quite a bit and I really am hooked, but without it available on kindle unlimited or free I don't see paying the $1.99 for it.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 1:16 pm by CataclysmicKnight.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MsTri
Both the cover and the title for "The Watchmaker's Doctor" caught my eye right away, and I was happy to see a synopsis that describes the kind of book I like to read. I adore time travel tales, and the idea of just starting over is one I've had many times myself. OBC's review (the only one I read) further encouraged me. Upon reading the sample, I couldn't put it down, and it ended much too fast. I was glad that the book seems to be professionally edited, and my favorite part was when Anaya came to on the bench beside Gregory, realizing that she wasn't dead after all. I have zero suggestions for changes because the book seems perfect already.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 11:51 am by MsTri.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Scerakor
From the cover, blurb, and review of this book, I don’t think that I would have read it. Despite the interesting premise, I don’t get the impression that it has enough action/excitement to keep me interested. After reading the sample, I didn’t change my mind and therefore will not be buying and reading the rest of this book. Despite the above, I did enjoy the short period of time where Anaya was deciding how far back to go before starting her life. Realizing that the choices at 17 defined her life, it is impressive to see where one’s mind goes in a time like this. Unfortunately, even after sampling the book however, I didn’t get the impression that it would be exciting enough to maintain my attention throughout the book. I didn’t see anything specific that I would have changed in the sample. The official review did not affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 11:50 am by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
kfwilson6
Time travel stories are always of interest to me, and I particularly like that this book and the series revolve around regrets one might have when death is approaching. The cover art of this book is absolutely amazing and really captured my interest. The 4/4 star OBC review only further piqued my curiosity about what will happen to Ana when she gets a second chance. What really intrigues me about time travel is the discovery of the consequences of changing the past.
After sampling The Watchmaker's Doctor I really want to know what happens. The first few chapters start off with a great deal of intensity. Although it is clear from the synopsis of this book that Ana does go back to her past, I am curious how things will turn out for her and if she will end up still dying again on the same date and time, or if death can be cheated. This appears to be well-written and thoroughly edited. I didn't notice any mistakes. I am anxious to find out what happens to Ana.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 11:37 am by kfwilson6.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Cristina Chifane
Interesting title, cover and concept for the entire collection! Had it not been for the first ten program, I would not have had the opportunity to check the first novella in the collection. Although there are no editorial reviews, 94% of the 35 Amazon customer reviewers give this novella a 4 or 5-star rating. I didn't find the sample so spectacular, but there are no editing errors and the story flows smoothly. When Anaya receives Gregory's watch and learns that she can travel back in time, the decision she makes is one that most of us would have probably made. I guess we all have thought of some bad decisions or crucial moments in our lives we would have liked to change. The OBC reviewer recommends the book both for the riveting story line and the profundity of its message. Although I have many books on my reading list, I am much too curious about what happens to Anaya next not to add this novella to my list too.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 11:30 am by Cristina Chifane.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
ccrews0408
Based on the review, had I not read the first 10 pages, I would have read this book. The storyline sounded unique and intriguing. Now that I have read the first 10 pages, I still plan on reading this book. The reviewer mentioned that it was a short book which was evident with how quickly the plot began. Within the first 10 pages, the main character had already uncovered her bipolarism, received the watch and cheated death. I am very interested to see what will happen next. I didn't notice any typos or grammatical errors and there was an official OnlineBookClub review.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 11:29 am by ccrews0408.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mely918
The cover art itself would have been enough to draw me to this book. There is something magical about it that makes me want to pick it up immediately. Reading the first ten pages only confirmed to me why I would like this book. I really enjoyed Anaya's interactions with Greg during those first few pages. I also like the notion of being able to relive your past in an older mindset. It certainly gives a different perspective to what was going on at the time. I found no grammatical errors or typos while reading this. It is very well written and incredibly descriptive. There is not much that I have to criticize from what I read. The official review for it made me want to read this book all the more. I will most definitely be keeping this book in mind for the future. I simply won't be purchasing it today due to the amount of work I have right now.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 11:25 am by Mely918.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
lesler
Had I not sampled the book and just looked at the cover, I would not have chosen to read this book, as the cover looks weird and does not interest me. Upon sampling the book, I was slightly intrigued and liked the storyline, but am still not interested enough to read the book. It looks boring. This book appears professionally edited, with no typos or grammatical errors that I noticed. I loved that this time travel novel has a moral compass to it, with the theme resembling a Christmas Carol rather than the Sci-Fi stuff I've been reading lately. Analya sounds somewhat boring, but I bet I would connect to her character eventually. I liked the dialogue between the doctor and watchmaker in the beginning of the book. I did not care for the somewhat boring story line that has been done before, where she goes back in time minutes before her death.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 10:51 am by lesler.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
bookowlie
Once I saw on Amazon that the book is in the sci-fi genre, I knew I wouldn't have sampled this story on my own - this genre is not my cup of tea. That being said, the well-written Amazon summary intrigued me. I liked the concept of the doctor being able to choose the time and place to reset the clock, in order to turn back time in her life. However, one term, new adults, is confusing; what is a new adult? At the very least, the sentence is awkwardly worded. Surprisingly, I became quickly absorbed in the sample pages. It was interesting that Greg was 101 years old, yet looked about 50. Also, I liked the storyline of Greg giving the doctor his watch and later explaining how he tinkered with it and found a way to rewind time. Although I usually don't care for the sci-fi genre, the sample pages had me hooked and I would like to read the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 10:28 am by bookowlie.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Laura Ungureanu
Time travel stories have always been captivating. I adore the fact that Anaya, our main character, has bipolar disorder. She is also a doctor. Too bad she can't help herself, but that makes her fascinating.
I like that the story already has taken the path to time travel and to the plot. I already saw elements that I'm sure are important to the story, like Greg's watch. The way the first chapter ended is how I wish every first chapter would end. I don't have anything to change.
I would have probably picked up the book without this program. The cover and the title are wonderful. It looks professionally edited.
I would love to continue reading the book, but I am very busy at the moment, so I will have to say no for now.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 10:27 am by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
DancingLady
This book gave me mixed feelings right from the description. Based on the review I can tell the author put a lot of thought into the message of this story. The first 10 pages are well written and edited. I enjoyed the mystery of the watch and it’s connection to time. The idea of doing your life over is intriguing, but I have contemplated this before and personally would not want to do so. I hope others benefit from this book, but it is not for me.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 10:25 am by DancingLady.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
cpru68
This sample was perfectly crafted without any mistakes that I could see in punctuation, spelling or grammar. I found it interesting that Anaya, who is supposed to be the doctor treating Greg, ends up being offered help by him through a watch being turned back to when she was seventeen so she could live her life again. There are elements such as her own bipolar condition that are an undercurrent to make a reader wonder if this is all real or an imaginary interaction. When Greg’s eyes were described as purple, that's when I realized this was not a usual encounter. Up until that point, I thought it was a story of a doctor/patient love affair. Quite the plot turn in just the sample! I'm not a big science fiction reader especially books that are a series, so I am passing on this one for now. I would probably have not ran across it on my own looking for something to read so the online book club was helpful in having me read this one so I can recommend it to sci-fi fans.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 10:01 am by cpru68.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
desantismt_17
This book’s title caught my attention right away. The subtitle especially made me very curious—“a race in rewind.” What could it mean? The description told me it wasn’t the speculative time-related adventure I hoped for, but I was still interested. Before sampling, I was thinking about reading. After sampling, I’ll definitely read this. The book appears professionally edited. I noticed no errors. Though I read the ten pages, it didn’t take that long for me to want to read this. Really, it happened in a few paragraphs. Anaya’s narrative voice is strong and relatable. She’s troubled without being over-the-top. She’s just someone who doesn’t know how to deal with her current situation. In short, she’s someone I can understand, and the author’s beautiful writing helped me flow into Anaya’s headspace all the more. I have no improvements to suggest. The OnlineBookClub.org review I saw was glowing and cemented my desire to read this book.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 9:30 am by desantismt_17.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
gali
I would have sampled the book on my own, as I love time-travel books. Sampling the book cinched it. I love the cover and find the concept of rewinding time fascinating. Anaya was given a chance to go back in time and fix her bad choices, and I am curious to see how it turns out. While the blurb gives a good sense of the content, it didn't hook me. I was pleasantly surprised by the sample and read more than the required pages. I liked the writing and thought the sample was well edited. I liked that the sample jumped straight into the time-travel element without any ado. When I checked the book on Amazon, I was happy to discover that I have purchased the book already. I will read the balance of the book, as I enjoyed the sample. It captured my attention from the very first sentence, and I am interested to see where this story goes. The official review didn't sway my decision either way.
First Ten review added on July 20, 2018, at 7:16 am by gali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Total ~ 49%
The Watchmaker’s Doctor earned a score of 49%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 49% plan to read the whole book.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable.
Over a million books are published each year. Any given person could not even read .0001% of the books out there. This means readers have to be very selective. Even taking the time to look over reviews and blurbs, let alone read samples, is more time than most readers can afford for most books. The First Ten is a powerful focus group that addresses those issues. It creates a helpful tool for authors, publishers, and other readers.
Go to main Bookshelves page for The Watchmaker’s Doctor
