The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Conflict on the Yangtze
Because Conflict on the Yangtze 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.
Alice Heritage
The cover picture is beautiful and the OBC and Amazon reviews are interesting, but I probably wouldn't have sampled this without the programme as I haven't read the preceding three books in the series. I also won't buy and read this today after sampling it because I'm not currently prioritizing postwar historical fiction. The book seems professionally edited; I thought a comma could be inserted for clarity after "height" in the phrase " ...was of medium height and his bright blue eyes and tanned face ...". I liked the maps and photograph of the Bund, as well as the way the characters decided to have a cup of tea after receiving momentous news. Such tea-drinking in a crisis is a sign of the shared heritage of my native England and Australia. Nothing significant needed to be improved - I would say this is better than the previous books, just not my "cup of tea" at present. Some might not appreciate the rendition of Sarah's speech? My decision was based on the sample rather than the OBC review, which indicated that this is a good book.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 4:59 am by Alice Heritage.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Fu Zaila
The cover is pretty dull and the blurb and reviews weren't appealing to me, just like Greg Kater's previous books. The writing is edited professionally and I can easily say that the author has done his research. The description of the Chinese land seemed concise, but I thought it could have used a bit of descriptive emotion and depth. There wasn't anything I particularly liked or struck me as good. Though I do like how the author draws in the reader with a suspenseful beginning, with Drake and Stafford, even taking the time to describe their appearance. I don't like that my technical knowledge seems inadequate to discern terms like MI6 without feeling incompetent. Either way, war stories aren't for me so I won't be reading this book.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 4:32 am by Fu Zaila.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ekta Kumari
I wouldn't have read this book as I usually do not read historical fiction. Though, I think the book would appeal to fans of action and thrillers too. I like that the plot is action packed and appreciate that the author provides maps and picture for reference. This proves that the book is well researched and has elements of realism. I didn't find many errors, though I spotted a capitalization issue, where 'he' is not capitalized after using a question mark. This is the fourth book in the Warramunga series, and I think it would be more enjoyable for those who have already read the previous books. As I'm not into historical fiction, I wouldn't be reading it but would recommend to those who like espionage stories, history, and action. Those interested can check out the official review.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 4:20 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
va2016
The cover and title are indicative of the theme of the book. There is only one Amazon customer review. The Amazon summary is pretty detailed and gives a good idea of what to expect from the book. As I am interested in the theme, I would have sampled the book even if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the narration describing Stafford's and Drake's progress through the poppy fields. As I have already read a Warramunga series book, I am going to read this book in full. I found the sample professionally edited. There were no grammatical or mechanical errors. I didn't like anything specifically about the book, nor do I have any suggestions for improvement. Although I found one OBC review of the book, my decision to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 3:29 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Gravy
I did not notice any errors in this sample. This is not my genre and I have chosen note to read the prior books in this series, so I would not have sampled this one.
I have to not that I wasn't a fan of the placement/formatting of the maps/pictures. They appeared sideways in the sample, which made them difficult to see well. I also think the backstory could've been handled better. Backstory is always hard, but it really shouldn't be a chore to read, especially for someone who is unfamiliar with it.
I can't say that I particularly liked anything (aside from it being well edited), but only due to this not being to my taste, and because it isn't my taste, I won't be reading it. There was a review for this book, but that does not affect my opinion.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 2:58 am by Gravy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Vickie Noel
Bearing in mind that the author has a lot of raving reviews on his works and his writing style is always engaging, I would have sampled this book outside the program. After doing so, I am not disappointed. I enjoyed the easy conversation between Jacko and Jamie and how it's spread to their wives. The story kickstarted immediately and I was sorry for the murder of Daniel Stafford. I also appreciated the historical details like the map of The Bund Shangai in 1946 as well as those of Central part of Greater Shanghai and The Yangtze River which I had never heard of. The book would make a rich, informative, yet easy and enjoyable read. It was flawlessly edited. I saw an OBC review which boosted my interest in checking it out.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 2:49 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, OBC review, cover and title. I also didn’t read the other books in the series, and I don’t like to start a series in the middle. After reading the first ten pages, I won’t be finishing this book. I wasn’t really interested in the setting of the book. A story about busting an opioid trade in China post World War II isn’t a story I was really interested in. I also wasn’t a fan of the immediate shooting of one of the characters within the first chapter. This kind of thing just isn’t for me. However, I did like the descriptions, and the switching perspectives helped add suspense to the story. It did seem to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 1:03 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AA1495
Had I not sampled the book, I would not have read it. I usually read pure romance books. However, from the OBC review, it seemed like a good read for those who like historical fiction. Having read the sample, I was a little disappointed by the lack of a proper introduction. I would have liked a prologue and some favorable reviews of the book. Further, the index had only chapter numbers (not chapter titles), which made it look plain. While there were a few images in the introduction, they were at an angle which made it difficult to read. They should have been rotated. However, I liked how there was enough line spacing between paragraphs. Further, I thought that Jamie and Jacko's characters were introduced well. In terms of editing and formatting, I thought that some sentences were rather long and should have been broken down into smaller ones (such as the first sentence in chapter one). Further, while some paragraphs were extremely long, some paragraphs had only one line. Since I do not read the genre usually, I will not be buying the book today.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 12:15 am by AA1495.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kristin Ransome
This is not a book I would have normally picked up, because I am an avid science fiction reader. After reading the first 10 pages, the book was unable to convince me to continue reading. Having found no errors, I'd say the book was professionally edited. My favourite part how how detailed the writing is, especially in how the man Stafford was interested in is described, even mentioning his accent! My least favourite part would have to be that there are a few books that come before this one, and so it likely contains spoilers for the books prior.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2019, at 11:24 pm by Kristin Ransome.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
OliviaLouise
This is the second book I have read by Greg Kater, so the author's name caught my attention first. The cover image is also very appealing. If I saw this in the store, I would definitely pick it up and take a look out of curiosity. The review made the book sound pretty interesting as well. After reading the sample, I think Kater has a very appealing and engaging writing style. He uses a lot of intense imagery and sensory language that makes you want to keep reading. For example, "the pervasive stench of human excrement" (loc 54) and "a beefy, moon-faced scoundrel" (loc 289). One thing that I did not like about the book was the long stretches of dialogue without action. This occurred at great length between chapters 1 and 2. I felt like I wanted to see more of what was going on while the characters were talking. I did find one editing error on the first page. Where it reads, "Large high-stepping cranes..." there should be a comma after the words "large" because adjectives are being listed. I will be reading the rest of this book because the topic is interesting and the book is well-written.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2019, at 8:59 pm by OliviaLouise.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
unamilagra
Before sampling the book, I may have picked it up because I typically enjoy historical fiction novels. After reading the first ten pages, I found the first section regarding Drake and Stafford hard to get into with all of the descriptions. The next scene had many characters I was confused about. I feel like this book would be better to read if I had read the previous novels first. I don't plan to read the book. I didn't notice any errors in the pages I read.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2019, at 7:46 pm by unamilagra.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sarah_Khan
At first glance, I would not have picked up this book because the plot does not interest me. The cover and title are average. I remember sampling some of the other books by this author. The first ten pages were well-edited. Unfortunately, this book just does not keep my interest. I found myself a little bored while reading about the men creeping towards the settlement, military books are not my thing. I will not be reading the rest. I did not read any OBC review.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2019, at 6:12 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sonya Nicolaidis
The cover is certainly bright and eye-catching, and I liked the look of this book from the start. It was a little different from the first three novels in this series, and it was only because of the OBC reviewer’s comments that I realized that it did form part of the series. It was very pleasant to meet the old familiar characters once again, like Jacko, Sarah, and Jaime. I really liked the wonderful descriptions that we have come to expect from this author and that were once again evident in this book. The only point I didn’t really enjoy is near the end of the sample, when Jaime asks Col Cook what they should wear on their mission. One would think being seasoned operatives, they wouldn’t ask such a question. Nevertheless, the book was brilliantly written and flowed easily. I didn’t see any typographical or grammar errors in the sample. There was also a lot of suspense delivered right from the outset which should thrill adventure fans. I won’t read this whole book, as spy thrillers have only limited appeal to me, especially ones set in China. There isn’t anything I could suggest changing about this book as I feel it is a very well-executed and well-delivered story.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2019, at 3:45 pm by Sonya Nicolaidis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Delaney35
This isn't a book I wouldn't look at without this program. I have not read any of the other books in this series, so picking up in the fourth book would be a bit odd. That is not to say I would consider reading the series; I do enjoy historical fiction. I also think the official reviewer held a strong case for this one. However, I think I would start with the first book. My reading of the first few pages further solidified this stance. It jumped right into the action with a detailed description of a quick fight. Then it jumped into Janko and Jamie's lives. These two are, I'm assuming, from the first few books so the characterization was a bit lacking. However, I believe that is because they were established in previous books. The dialogue between the two was quick, and fun to read. They both appear to be witty characters. I liked the opening and didn't notice any grammatical issues. I will not be buying and reading this book at this time, however, I may reevaluate my decision if I read and enjoy the first few books.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2019, at 3:38 pm by Delaney35.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
danielleamy
The image on the cover is eye-catching and serene. I would not have sampled this without this program as I don't usually read historical fiction. The official review made this sound quite interesting, especially as it can be read as a stand-alone novel. I have not read any of the previous Warramunga novels from the series.
The addition of the map at the beginning looks like it could be useful. When I am reading a book I like having the map to imagine where each place is set. However, I was not interested in reading past the sample. I am not the target audience, as this is a genre I do not tend to enjoy. There was nothing that I could pinpoint as an issue, nor were there any typos. I will not be buying the full book though, as the conversations about war, who was missing etc. were boring me a little. I did not feel invested in any of the characters so far. This could be due to the genre, rather than the book itself.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2019, at 3:29 pm by danielleamy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Erin Dydek
The cover is eye-appealing and after reading the Onilnebookclub review, I was mildly interested in Conflict on the Yangtze. Historical fiction is not my first choice, but I do enjoy well-written historical fiction with an exciting plot. From the sample available on Amazon, this book does seem professionally edited and had an action scene in which a character gets shot within the first ten pages. I enjoyed reading the sample and what got me further interested were the comments left on the official book club review. Other readers had expressed how much they enjoyed the Warramunga trilogy and how excited they were to read this fourth installment. Their excitement made me want to read this book too! I have a limited budget right now that will prevent me from buying the whole book at this time, but I would consider using one of my review bonuses to buy this book. I have also added it to my “want to read” shelf.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2019, at 8:08 am by Erin Dydek.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mercelle
Judging by the cover, I wasn't going to read this book. The OBC review urged me on when it mentioned that the story follows Jamie Munro and Jack O'Brien as they investigate a drug trafficking ring in China. When I read the first ten pages, I liked that Drake reminded Stafford that he needed someone to watch his back as he crawled through the Poppy fields. Since I noticed no errors, I will conclude that the text underwent professional editing, and there's nothing I would change about the bit I read. I will, however, not read the rest of the book because it doesn't appeal to me.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2019, at 6:55 am by Mercelle.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Emy Katherine
The story is set in 1946 and follows two ex-soldiers, Munro and Jacko, who move to China to investigate and stop an illegal opium trade. Even though this is the fourth book in the Warramunga War series, it can be read as a standalone story. As I enjoy reading espionage thriller novels, I would have read the book based on the cover, title, Amazon blurb, and genre. Luckily, reading the OBC review and sample increased my interest. I enjoyed the descriptive, fast-paced writing style and the humorous, engaging dialogues between the characters. Moreover, the inclusion of Spanish and French words made the characters more believable. I also liked the story was told from multiple perspectives, which made the plot more intriguing. Based on the positive OBC review, this story is full of adventure, mystery, action, and suspense. Fans of historical fiction novels will surely enjoy it. I did not find any typos or grammatical errors, so the book was properly edited.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2019, at 6:10 am by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Verna Coy
Had I not sampled this book through the First Ten program, I would have looked at it anyway because the cover design is eye-catching and interesting. I don’t plan to buy and read the whole book because, although I do like novels based on historic fact, it isn’t my preference to read about wartime. Reading the first ten pages confirmed that the book is interesting. It captured my attention and held my focus as I read it. The book seems professionally edited, and I saw no errors. What I liked most in what I read was the vivid detail in the descriptions of the surroundings and background of the story. I know people who love the genre of adventure will love this story. I saw no need for improvement in what I read. I did read the Official Online Book Club review and found it to be detailed and insightful.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2019, at 3:41 am by Verna Coy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Dolor
I was not sure (at first) if I would read the entire story without The First Ten program. The cover photo is vibrant. The title is thought-provoking. The first ten pages talked about Commander Daniel Stafford and Lee Drake spying the enemy's site to track down a suspected conspiracy smuggling opium out of China into the USA, Australia, and the Philippines. Using the binoculars, Stafford saw that not all of them were Chinese. Three of them were white men. The enemies saw Stafford and Drake and started shooting at them. Stafford was hit on the shoulder and at the back. He ordered Drake to escape. Here are the errors I noticed:
*fragmented sentences*
No Chinese red-
tiled roofs.
Just very plain
buildings bathed in sunshine.
*missing punctuations (, - " ")*
Stafford had an athletic build,
was of medium height and his
bright blue eyes and tanned face
were topped by straight, light
brown hair.
... the USA, Australia and the Philippines.
English, American or both? he
wondered, unable to distinguish
their features at this distance.
Three shots rang out and he
sensed a bullet passing close to his
head.
With or without the official OBC review, I had decided to read on. I find the story thrilling. I don't have any further improvement suggestion for this book. Conflict on the Yangtze by Greg Kater is the fourth standalone #HistoricalFiction tale in the Warramunga series. It follows the adventures of Jamie Munro and Jack “Jacko” O’Brien. They were sent to China in order to assist in the investigation of a drug cartel who were believed responsible for killing one of Colonel John Cook's operatives.
#Action #Suspense #Espionage #Friendship
First Ten review added on July 24, 2019, at 3:31 am by Dolor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Nisha Ward
So, I really like Greg Kater's work. I knew that I wanted this when I read the blurb and found out that it was a continuation of Jamie and Jacko's adventures and I still do. It's funny and engaging, but also a bit heart-warming, as with the small sequence where Jacko talks to Sarah about her schooling. It's also well-edited, as usual. I'm going to continue this one.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 11:46 pm by Nisha Ward.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
sarahmarlowe randomeducator
I like the color on the cover, but that wouldn't have been enough for me to pick it up. The sample was well written. I found no errors, although I am still learning about Australian grammar rules. I recognized many names from the previous series, and the author blends them in with new characters in these new settings. A lot of this is done through dialogue, which also sounds natural. And, as in previous books, the author does a good job writing in dialect. I won't be reading this book because it's not a genre I enjoy. I haven't read an OBC review of this book.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 10:26 pm by sarahmarlowe randomeducator.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
srividyag1
The cover page has a beautiful image. It's also clearly based in China. The OBC review told me that this is the fourth installment of the Warramunga series. In the sample, two MI6 operatives Stafford and Drake move along the poppy fields near the Yangtze river. Stafford get shot and killed. Jacko is back from his honeymoon with Monique. Jamie and Jacko receive the news of Stafford's death and they decide to travel to China. The book seems professionally edited. I have not read the earlier books in the trilogy. I read that this is a standalone book. However, since I'm not a big fan of wartime fiction, I am not going to read this book.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 10:18 pm by srividyag1.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Washboard
The cover, genre, title, and official review all caught my attention. I enjoyed reading the first ten pages as well, and really enjoyed the character development of both presumably minor characters (Drake and Stafford), as well as the protagonists (Jamie and Jacko). I am unsure of the level of involvement of the women in the novel, but it seems like they are being set up to be background characters, which is a little disappointing. I did not notice any errors in my reading. I am going to add this to my "to read" list.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 9:05 pm by Washboard.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
LV2R
I liked the book cover, and the title made it clear that the story would be centered in China. The Amazon Blurb introduced the main characters of Jamie Munro and Jacko O'Brien from the Warramunga Series. They were asked to go and investigate a drug cartel along the dangerous Yangtze River. The first ten pages opened with Daniel Strafford and Lee Drake crawling through the poppy fields to spy on what they think might be the place of the opium smuggling ring. They were chased and Strafford was shot. I best liked how the author described Strafford and Drake crawling through the stinky poppy fields and the buzzing insects. This reflects on the author’s style and talent. I also liked that the story was located in China because the author will give historical and cultural facts of the post-WWI era. The book seems to be edited well, as I did not notice any errors. British spellings are used. The OBC review made me want to read the book because the story is full of action, danger, and suspense. It is written well and includes historical facts about China, the Philippines, and Australia. I want to know if the team can shut down the opium cartel in Tongling, China or not.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 9:04 pm by LV2R.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
CataclysmicKnight
I love the image on this cover, but the title font is a little harsh with the black-on-orange coloring. Despite hat minor sin, the cover absolutely would've caught my eye and made me look into it more if it wasn't the book of the day.
So far I'm enjoying the beginning of this book just as much as the other Warramunga books. There's a terrific scene setting the tension and uncomfortableness of scouting in war, and then there's proof of the danger with some action as well. After that, the book shifts to the lead characters of the series, and I appreciated that there was what seemed to be some recap of the previous books as well. I didn't see any errors, and the writing was perfectly smooth, but I'll say the same thing about this one as I did about the second and third Warramunga books: I would really want to read the first book in the series before diving into the rest. As such, while I may get this book eventually, I won't be buying it today.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 8:42 pm by CataclysmicKnight.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mary WhiteFace
Without the first ten program I would not have wanted to sample this book, because it is a continuation of the Warramunga Series. I have no interest in reading a book from this series. My recollection of previous books is that the violence is very graphic.
Reading the first ten pages did not change my mind. There wasn't any particular part that I liked, or didn't like. The first part of the narrative was about Commander Daniel Stafford and Lee Drake attempting to gather intel about a poppy field. The rest of the sample explained some background on Jamie and Jacko, and why they were being sent to China. There wasn't anything that drew me to want to continue reading.
The book seemed to be professionally edited. I have no suggestions for improvements. There was an OnlineBookClub review which did not influence my decision. I am not interested in reading a military/espionage type of story .
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 8:34 pm by Mary WhiteFace.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Tamorie Hargro
The title and cover of the book are enough to get me to pick it up and give it a read, or at least sample it. The cover's brilliant reds and the ship with the dramatic structure on the Yangtze, confirming an interesting setting, are alluring. As I have read Greg Kater before, I knew I would enjoy his characters before even reading any part of the story. From the sample I read, I most enjoyed the gang heading to dinner before their mission in China, teasing Jamie whose character is generally very shy. I found myself chuckling and greatly anticipating what would happen next. I have no suggestions on improvements. Though the novel seems professionally edited, I did notice a few missing words, small words, such as the word "a" in this sentence: "Harry was wearing khaki shirt and slacks and his signature Texan hat." As I enjoyed what I read, and find myself encouraged by the official review I read stating that the book would be a great addition to any reading list, I will gladly buy and eventually read this book.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 8:11 pm by Tamorie Hargro.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Chelsy Scherba
I like that the book is set in China and continues the story of the characters from the last three books, especially Jacko. I really love the cover art, it’s stunning. The book is very professionally edited. I couldn’t find any errors. The part where Stafford is shot from behind and blacks out was very heart pounding. I’m curious to find out who the ginger guy is and what his purpose in post-war China is. The review was very positive and made me curious to read the book. I don’t like to read sequels out of order though, so until I read the trilogy, I’ll keep this book on my list for future reading.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 7:37 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Scerakor
From the cover, blurb, and review of this book, I might have read it. I've loved the samples that I've read from the others that came before this one in the series and this one sounds just as good. After reading the first 10 pages I didn't change my mind and therefore will be buying and reading the rest of this book eventually. I like how the action starts relatively early within this book. Particularly, our protagonists think they are able to surveil the area without being caught but eventually end up getting shot at. I really enjoy the action and a style of these books and therefore want to read the rest of it eventually. The official review did not affect my decision at all, the book look well written and I did, and I didn't see anything specifically that I would have wanted changed.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 6:53 pm by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Heidi M Simone
Since this is the fourth in a series and I haven't read the previous three, I would not have sampled the book without this program. I do find the cover done well, but war or post-war related books aren't for me. Therefore, the title, blurb, and genre do not pique my interest. Though there are positive OBC and customer ratings, these do not affect my opinion of the book. I didn't see any glaring errors while reading, which is always nice to see in any read. The author does a nice job in describing the opening scene as Drake and Stafford are being attacked, and ultimately Stafford gets shot. On the other hand, it was hard to relate to any of the characters as Jacko, Jamie, Sarah, Monique, and Carna are introduced and Darwin is explaining the situation in China. He wants Jacko and Jamie to investigate Stafford's death. Due to this and the fact that I don't enjoy war or post-war related books, I do not plan on buying and reading today's book.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 6:23 pm by Heidi M Simone.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
CrescentMoon
After reading the blurb, I wouldn't pick this book up. I'm not a fan of historical fiction or books on wars and this is also the fourth in a series. I feel like I would be lost not having read books 1 through 3. After reading the first ten pages, I didn't see any spelling or grammar errors. I thought the writing was very descriptive and well-edited. I could easily picture and feel the hot day with the scorching sun and sweat and I could also imagine the stinky fields and how bad they smell as Daniel and Lee walk through it. I definitely think the writing is very well-done. I also liked the descriptions of Daniel Stafford and Lee Drake as it made it easier for me to imagine how these characters look. However, I don't like this genre and I'm not the target audience for this so I won't be reading the rest.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 5:38 pm by CrescentMoon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Hiruni Bhagya 81
The colourful and bright book cover made me curious about it. So, even before sampling it and reading the OBC review, I was interested in it. But, the OBC review made me wary in selecting it to read. This was because I have read the first book in Warramaunga trilogy and wanted to know what happened in its sequels. What I liked most in this work is the author's ability to portray everything realistically. Since it appeared to be properly edited without errors, it doesn't contain anything that needs improving. But, it would be better if the author found a way to include the translations of expressions of other languages.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 5:35 pm by Hiruni Bhagya 81.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Erin Painter Baker
If this book were accidentally mis-shelved in the Fantasy section, the cover is pretty enough that I would pick it up and read the back cover, but on it's own, there is nothing about this book that would draw my attention. I simply do not read World War II fiction. That said, the great OnlineBookClub review of this book, and the previous books in this series, have gotten my attention. And World War II fiction is something my father reads. After reading the first 10 pages of this book, I have decided to pick up all of the Warramunga books as gifts for my father. I liked that the author included enough information in the opening pages that I could understand the relationships of the characters without having read all the previous books. The characters and their relationships seem very well rounded and complete. The only thing that really bumped me was Sara's behavior being more like that of a child than an adult. Just because she doesn't speak English doesn't mean she is a child. So the regular breaking down into tears about not getting her way bothered me. The book appears to be very well edited. I found no formatting or punctuation mistakes. I thought I had noticed one grammatical mistake, but when I went back to re-read and note the mistake, I realized I was wrong.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 4:40 pm by Erin Painter Baker.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
lavellan
I probably would have not read the sample of Conflict on the Yangtze if it had not been a part of the First Ten program. While the Book of the Day review was positive, I'm not very interested in this book series or historical fiction. The book seemed like it was professionally edited, and I did not notice any errors while reading. I enjoyed the perspective change from Stafford and Drake in China to Jacko and James in Australia. I didn't like how the author had Sarah speak in severe broken English. It seemed a little stereotypical to me. As a result, I will not buy the book today.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 4:19 pm by lavellan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'Conflict on the Yangtze' is a book written by Greg Kater. The title, blurb, and cover did a good job at convincing me to give this book a try.
The first ten pages leads me to believe that it is set in post-war China. Commander Stafford and his companion is in a village on Yangtze. Jacko and Monique has come back from honeymoon. After, they came to know that Jaime and Jacko will have to go to China to complete the mention. I liked the sense of humour. I did not find any error. I consider it to be professionally edited. I will give this book a skip as I am not in the mind-frame to read a book like this as of now.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 4:18 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
cpru68
Readers are taken right into the thick of things as two agents who work for M16 are creeping up on a small Asian settlement where there are suspicions of an illegal opium operation. Drake and Stafford move along cautiously to go undetected so they can do a bit of surveillance. Taking a preliminary look, Stafford decides to turn back and come back at night when he felt they would get a better view. On their way out, Drake escapes, but Stafford is shot. This then leads to a connection between Jacko and Jamie.
I won't be finishing this book as I read the first one, and I know the two main characters well. I would want to read the other titles first to keep up with the ongoing process of these men and their lives. Just reading a little bit about what happened in their lives from the first book to this one made me feel like I had missed a lot along the way. So, as of now, I won't be reading this one for that reason.
I think the author has done a great job with the writing just as much as the first one, and I did not see any errors in punctuation, spelling or grammar, so it would seem that this has been professionally edited.
I appreciate the opportunity to have read the sample pages of this one, and I probably wouldn't have found it without the online book club. While I did read the first, this one is further down in the entire series, and I would like to read the others first.
I will send it out on my social media for others to look into.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 3:52 pm by cpru68.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Laura Ungureanu
I'm familiar with Greg Kater's books and his attention to detail, so I was eager to look through this book. This time we follow our heroes Jacko and Jamie to China after the end of World War II. They must assist in the investigation of a drug cartel. I loved the maps at the beginning. The sample starts with Commander Daniel Stafford and Lee Drake crawling through a field of poppies to inspect a strange activity near the Yangtze River. They are attacked and Stafford is shot. I want to say that I'm going to read this book, but I still have to find the time to read the first ones. I want to be familiar with the characters, even if this book can be read as a standalone. Without being able to promise that I'm going to read this book, I have to say 'no' for the moment. The book is professionally edited.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 3:14 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mbrooks2518
From the review and plot summary, this book promises to be thrilling and action-packed. That's the type of book I love to read, so I will buy this book. I liked the descriptive writing. I was easily able to picture the fields and village in China in the opening scene. There were no editing errors.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 2:57 pm by Mbrooks2518.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kelyn
Had I not been a member of this program it is unlikely that the author, title, genre or customer review would have prompted me to pick up this book. The author is unknown to me, and the title, genre and single customer review indicate that it concerns 'conflicts (i.e. a war) in China. Books with topics of war hold little interest for me. However, separate from these things, the cover may well have attracted my attention. the boat and sails have a distinctly "fantasy" feel to them and that is a genre I highly favor. Reading the sample did not convince me to read the book as it verified that the book does, indeed, involve war or war-like themes. Although I found the characters of Jacko and Jamie interesting and the introduction when Staford was shot engaging, it remained that the overall theme is one that does not hold my interest. I am a bit familiar with the books before this one and thus knew that there was likely a mystery element involved but, unfortunately, that is not one of my favored genres either. The book seemed professionally edited. I found no errors.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 2:50 pm by Kelyn.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mai Tran
I wouldn’t have sampled this book because I’ve read another book in The Warramunga Series before and didn’t really enjoy it. This book has an appropriately fast pace with the main characters being dispatched to the Philippines after the first chapter. I don’t follow the series, so it’s a pleasant surprise to learn Monique and Jacko have gotten married. Other than that, the book seems well-written and free of grammar errors. Unfortunately, I’m not very taken with the story, so I won’t continue to read it.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 1:53 pm by Mai Tran.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
HRichards
I probably wouldn't have picked this book up as I've read the first book in this series and didn't like it very much. Having read the sample I won't be continuing on with the book as nothing has changed from my original impression of the series. The sample deals with Drake and Stafford in China spying on people. As they try to get a closer look at what is going on, they are attacked and Stafford is apparently shot. I didn't notice any grammar errors and the writing is pretty good. Those who like historical fiction might like this book. I was rather bored by the beginning of the series and there is nothing here to really draw me back in. I have not read any other reviews of this book.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 1:41 pm by HRichards.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
evraealtana
As much as I love historical fiction, I've never been able to get into Greg Kater's "Warramunga" series, and this installment is no different. Although I was wary about starting a later book in a series without reading the first, the beginning of this one reads like a stand-alone novel, which I appreciated. Men were over-represented among the characters, but that is to be expected given the setting and premise. I felt that Sarah in particular was a valuable character, but I wish her heavily-accented dialogue was written less stereotypically, particularly since within the first ten pages it was revealed that she is learning to speak "properly" and apparently does very well with it. I don't think I'll continue with this one; there was nothing "wrong" with it per se, I just don't really care about the characters enough to invest time into following them. I found no errors within the first ten pages.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 1:32 pm by evraealtana.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ritah
Based on the title and cover, I wouldn't have sampled the book because it didn't appeal to me. I read the official review and then sampled Conflict on the Yangtze. I liked the intense moment when Stafford and Drake realized that several armed men were running after them. I was shocked when Stafford got hit by a bullet, I thought he and Drake would both be able to get away. The book appears to be professionally edited. However, I don't think the book is for me in terms of the main plot, which is why I won't be reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 1:13 pm by ritah.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Catherine Hsu
If I had not read the sample, I would not have read the book. I would have to read the previous books, but I overall did not think that this was my genre. After reading the sample, I have changed my mind. The writing was very engaging, and details like insects and bleeding knees really allowed me to visualize the situation the characters were in. The broken English confused me for a second, but I quickly understood it. 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 23, 2019, at 1:07 pm by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
gen_g
I have not come across reviews of this book; it also seems professionally edited. I currently have no suggestions for improvement. I am intrigued by Kater's take on the Chinese civil war - especially when he has mentioned Johnnie wants to send Jamie to infiltrate the Chinese political parties in order to find out if the KMT is complicit in opium smuggling. However, I will not be buying the book today, as adventure thrillers are not my cup of tea.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 12:23 pm by gen_g.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gabriel Merêncio
I wouldn't have chosen to sample or read the book since I thought I had to read the Warramunga trilogy first. Indeed, having read the first 10 pages, my main complaint is how exposition-heavy the novel is, easily overwhelming the reader who isn't familiar with the series. It doesn't feel like a standalone read. As for typos and grammar errors, I couldn't spot any. What I liked the most were the author's vivid descriptions. Overall, I don't plan on reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 10:42 am by Gabriel Merêncio.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
dorebri2020
The cover art shown is absolutely beautiful. I love the design of the ship as it reflects the culture that the novel centers on, and the colors are extremely appealing. Despite this being historical fiction, I would read this based purely on the design. The official review also definitely praises the novel for it's writing, and I was captivated by how much the writer of the review enjoyed it. After reading the first ten pages, I was fairly interested in the story. The character dynamics and dialogue sound amusing, and I was amazed by the description included in the pages. The imagery was beautifully conveyed. I was definitely surprised that this was part of a series, as it definitely could appear as a stand-alone. The novel was also very well-edited, and I have no complaints so far. Overall, I will definitely read the novel.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 10:02 am by dorebri2020.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Juliana_Isabella
I wouldn't have chosen this book because I don't usually read historical fiction, but I was impressed by the positive review. I didn't find any grammatical mistakes in the first ten pages. However, the background about Drake and Stafford pulled me out of the scene, and it felt disjointed when I was forced back into the poppy fields. Because of this, I won't finish the book.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 9:55 am by Juliana_Isabella.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Theresa Moffitt
This book caught my attention. The colors and imagery on the cover attracted me. I would have picked this book up based on the cover alone. I haven’t read a review of this book yet. The first ten pages tell the story of two army men ona reconnaissance mission. They are trying to obtain information while crawling through a Poppy field. One of the men ends up getting shot and blacking out. The book then skips to another storyline about a couple just getting back from their honeymoon. The story is well-written and interesting. I didn’t see any errors in the first ten pages so I believe the book was professionally edited. I would like to finish reading this book.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 9:28 am by Theresa Moffitt.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
gali
I wouldn't have sampled the book on my own, as this is the fourth book in the Warramunga Trilogy. I didn't change my mind after sampling the book. I didn't read the previous books in the series, and I am not interested in reading this one either. This is just not the type of books I enjoy reading. Jamie Munro and Jack “Jacko” O’Brien are back. This time they fight a drug cartel in a post-war China. I love the cover, the maps, and the photos. I liked that the sample opened with an action, an attempt to infiltrate a Chinses village. Unfortunately, the sample didn't blow me away. Although I didn't notice any glaring errors, I didn't care for the style of writing or the pace. I won't buy and read the book, as the sample didn't pique my interest. The official review didn't sway my decision either way.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2019, at 6:54 am by gali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 31%
Conflict on the Yangtze earned a score of 31%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 31% 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 Conflict on the Yangtze
