The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Walking with Angels: Journey to Santiago
Because Walking with Angels 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.
Stephanie Runyon
The cover and OBC review makes this book look appealing. I normally would have sampled this due to the spiritual appearance from the title. The beginning of the story really doesn't make it clear who or what Marcus is nor why she chose to start her journey when the weather was frigid. I didn't see any errors in the pages I read but I lost interest in the story. I won't be reading any further. I do believe the book is professionally edited. I don't have any suggestion for improvement at this time.
First Ten review added on August 4, 2020, at 4:57 am by Stephanie Runyon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ekta Kumari
The book documents the author's journey of finding her true self by walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela (Way of St James) in Spain. It also details her spiritual journey as she takes help of her spirit guides and finds herself through this expedition. I liked the inspirational premise but wouldn't have read the book as I wasn't into reading a memoir. The thing I liked the most while sampling, though, is the author's description of her travel experiences. I like how she details the surroundings and her inner thoughts while on the journey. The editing also looks clean as I didn't find any errors in the portion I sampled. I would rate the book as professionally edited. I did see an official review before sampling. In spite of liking the sample, I'll not be reading the whole book as I'm not up for reading a memoir right now. I've no other suggestion for improvements.
First Ten review added on August 4, 2020, at 4:52 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Aubrey Lewis
The overall appearance of the book is neat and pleasing to the eyes, in my opinion. When I read through the official OBC review, I felt that I wouldn't be able to appreciate the book since I'm usually not very fond of reading inspirational books. If I weren't a part of this program, I wouldn't have read the sample at all since the genres aren't my cup of tea, especially since it's an autobiographical story.
When I finished sampling the first ten pages, I decided not to read the rest of the book. The author's writing style was descriptive, but I spotted a few minor errors along the way. For example, the first paragraph was written in past tense, but the following paragraphs after that were in present tense. Basically, the tenses weren't consistent. Also, this passage here has a misplaced comma: "Within minutes the steep ascent has my chest heaving and struggling for breath, I am forced to pause often." Story-wise, the emotions were there; the risk of Linda getting hypothermia in the mountain was even a bit terrifying to imagine. I wonder why she was even traveling in the first place and I'm curious to know who Marcus is, but I'm not interested enough to want to read further, so I'll have to pass on this one.
First Ten review added on August 4, 2020, at 4:47 am by Aubrey Lewis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Vickie Noel
I wouldn't have read this book outside the program based on its title and cover art. Neither of them piques my interest and wouldn't have stopped me in my tracks at first glance. My opinion didn't change after sampling the first few pages. I really liked how the author kept pushing herself to strive despite the harsh weather conditions with words like, "I can do it," "Can't give up," "Gotta continue" and so on. I can't imagine how horrifying being out in such extreme conditions must have felt; I applaud the author's courage and resilience. However, I will not be reading this book because of the inclusion of supernatural abilities like extra sensory perception and the "presence" of her spirit guide. I don't doubt that such paranormal things exist, in fact, I know their true source. While this is a moving tale, I will not indulge in reading and getting awed by it because that would be tantamount to giving so much attention to the unseen power behind those abilities. Also, Linda's granddad saying goodbye and floating "upwards towards a dazzling place up near the corner of my bedroom ceiling" promotes the teaching of heavenly ascension at death which the Bible doesn't support. Therefore, it is clear that reading this book will not augur well for my Christian conscience. The book was professionally edited; I found no grammatical errors and have no recommendations for improvement. I saw an OBC review, but it didn't influence my decision.
First Ten review added on August 4, 2020, at 4:37 am by Vickie Noel.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
va2016
The cover and the title are indicative of the theme of the book. There are no Amazon customer reviews. The Amazon summary gives a clear description of the story, which is about overcoming fear and building a strong character, while being gentle on oneself. As I 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 the author struggling in the hike in 'The Camino'. As I was interested in knowing about her psychic abilities, I am going to read this book in full. I found the sample professionally edited. I didn't find any grammatical or mechanical errors. What I liked most about the book was its theme. I don't have any recommendations for the improvement of the book. Although I found 8 OBC reviews of the book, my decision to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on August 4, 2020, at 4:28 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Alice Heritage
I might have sampled this without the programme as I was intrigued by the Amazon blurb and informative OBC review. I noted that I would have to see how the paranormal element was handled. I probably won't read the rest of it because although interesting, it doesn't quite mesh with my belief system. The text seems generally well edited, but I noticed a couple of errors. A comma is missing from the list "body mind and spirit"; "Within minutes the steep ascent has my chest heaving and struggling for breath, I am forced to pause often" contains a comma splice; and "Ahrg" should be spelled "Argh". I liked the description of the French landscape and the climb in general. Some editorial corrections are required. Otherwise, nothing really needs to be improved in that this is a personal story, but I was uneasy with the spiritual encounters, especially as they did not seem benevolent.
First Ten review added on August 4, 2020, at 4:13 am by Alice Heritage.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jeremie Mondejar
By looking at the cover photo, I have in mind that this book is all about the summit. I enjoyed reading a few pages of the book, in fact, I read more than ten pages. I thought this memoir is coming from a man, but I am a bit shocked when it belongs to a woman. I like the way the author describes her memoirs while reaching Saint James of Compostella in Spain, in winter time. The OBC reviewer mentioned her reflections while she is trekking to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. The format of the writing style is easy to follow. I'm able to distinguish Linda's thoughts while she is simply narrated the events of her life. While reading, I didn't notice any errors. This book has been professionally edited. I will not read this book because spiritual memoir isn't my thing, though I respect Linda's experience. The OBC review is present, and it helps me decide about this book. I can't cite anything for improvement.
First Ten review added on August 4, 2020, at 3:15 am by Jeremie Mondejar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Aditi Sapate
I wouldn't have chosen to read this book based on the title, cover and genre as I usually don't enjoy reading memoirs. When I started sampling the book, I realised that the book was about the author's journey of walking the Camino. However, in the sample pages, it wasn't explained clearly what exactly walking the Camino was. Thus I felt I wouldn't be able to appreciate the book thoroughly. However, the official OnlineBookClub review gave a brief explanation of the Camino. It also summarised the book well. From the sample and the review, I discerned that this book will be more suited to spiritual readers. As I'm not one, I will not continue reading the book. The sample did not contain any grammatical errors.
First Ten review added on August 4, 2020, at 2:42 am by Aditi Sapate.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sonya Nicolaidis
My first impression of this book was that it had something to do with a trip in South America somewhere, partly due to the fact that the sub-title mentions Santiago, and I assumed it took place in Chile. However, reading the OBC review, I was pleased to note that this is the story of a woman doing the walk of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. I have wanted to do this for such a long time and was so happy to find a book that takes a step-by-step look at the route and the woman’s experiences along the way. The paranormal side of things was interesting, but not the main reason why I would read this book. I liked the way Linda as a young girl describes her growing spirituality, and how she knew things in advance, especially how she divined where her gold ring was. The writing was descriptive and clear, and a pleasure to read. In the sample, I found no grammatical mistakes so I’m sure this book was professionally edited. If there has to be one thing I didn’t like, it would be that she relies heavily on her spirit guide for advice and support, even though so far in the sample, this was just mentioned once. I would suggest just clarifying the title slightly by stating that it is walking the Santiago de Compostela, just to avoid confusion. This is a great read — it’s very interesting and entertaining, and I would definitely read the whole thing.
First Ten review added on August 4, 2020, at 2:24 am by Sonya Nicolaidis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mai Tran
I have no interest in walking the Camino de Santiago, so I wouldn’t have picked up this book if it wasn't because of The First Ten. After reading the OBC review, I felt even more reluctant to sample this book because the conversations between the author and her spiritual guide sounded tedious. While the book could use another round of editing, the narrative actually flows quite well despite some punctuation errors, for example, “If I’m to survive[,] I’ve got to control fear […]” (p. 3). Nothing in the sample really pique my interest, but I’m a bit curious as to why the author was willing to risk her life climbing the mountain in the storm. I’m not interested in reading this book, but since I’ve already gotten a free copy, I may skim ahead to see what her reason is.
First Ten review added on August 4, 2020, at 2:15 am by Mai Tran.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Annelore Trujillo
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover and title. I don’t usually read non-fiction books. After reading the first ten pages, I will be finishing this book. I was sucked in by the trek on the mountain. I want to know what happened after she fell. I also was intrigued by the anecdote of when she “dreamt” that her grandpa had died. I’ve had similar events happen to me, and I want to know how the author handled it throughout her life. The book did seem to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on August 4, 2020, at 2:02 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Howlan
The cover looks nice. The synopsis gives us a general idea about what this book is about. The first ten pages introduce us to Linda as she gets half buried after falling from an edge in the mountain while trekking. Then we go into a flashback, we see about the supernatural events that happened in her childhood—seeing dead people, astral projection, and so on. Because of her travels, she saw her friend Annette who got hurt while jumping on the trampoline. The narration was fluent and easy to understand. However, I am not going to buy and read this book as I do not enjoy reading memoirs. I enjoy reading fast-paced mystery thrillers. No typos were found in the first ten pages. I found nothing to improve in the first ten pages. The Official Review is present, and the reviewer rates it highly.
First Ten review added on August 4, 2020, at 1:33 am by Howlan.
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 as I do not think this is my genre. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind. It may need more professional editing as some of the writing did not flow very smoothly. For example, "Within minutes the steep ascent has my chest heaving and struggling for breath, I am forced to pause often" is a sentence that has a comma splice error. However, I did enjoy the very abstract writing style combined with the italicized thoughts. The official review did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on August 4, 2020, at 12:25 am by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Juliana_Isabella
I wouldn't have chosen this book because I don't usually enjoy nonfiction. Even though the review was positive, it didn't convince me that I personally would enjoy the book. I didn't find any errors in the first ten pages, but there seemed to be a lot of repetition. The first two sentences both end with the word "refuge" and the word "fear" (or "fearful") appears near the end of the third sentence and at the beginning of the fourth. I found these instances of repetition distracting. Because of this and my general dislike of nonfiction, I won't be finishing the book.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 5:13 pm by Juliana_Isabella.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jsovermyer
The cover is okay, but I think it could be improved with a photograph of the author. When I saw the title, I immediately decided not to read the book because I dislike religious books. After reading the 10 pages, I found it more supernatural than religious and liked it better. Walking the Camino is a pilgrimage to the shrine of a Saint in Spain. This is the story of a woman who walked this path for six weeks alone to find herself and to converse with her spirit guide. This review is based on my reading alone and was not affected by an official review. I found no spelling or grammatical errors and believe this book has been professionally edited. I liked what I read, especially the part about her seeing people who had died and the astral projections when she slept. I would like to read more about this and would like to finish the book.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 4:16 pm by Jsovermyer.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mbrooks2518
The summary for this book didn't interest me, so I would not have sampled the book without The First Ten. I liked the descriptions of the French countryside, which I was able to picture in my mind. The first chapter was also a good one to start off the book because the storm creates some excitement that pulled me into the story. However, after reading the first ten pages and the official review, I am not interested enough to read the rest of the book. I did not find any editing mistakes, and nothing needs to be improved.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 4:15 pm by Mbrooks2518.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ritah
Based on the title and genre, I wouldn't have sampled the book because it didn't appeal to me. I read the official review and then sampled the book. I liked the vivid description of the author climbing the mountain - I felt like I was there. I also liked that he kept pushing himself to keep going even when he felt like he should turn back. The book appeared to be professionally edited as I saw no obvious errors. I also didn't see any areas that need improving. However, I won't be reading the rest of the book because the content isn't for me right now.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 1:07 pm by ritah.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
edztan15
I'm not really a fan of memoirs, especially those written by people that I'm not familiar with. The review and blurb did not raise my interest in this book. The premise seems to focus on spirituality, and it is a subject that's not within my cup of tea. Sampling the first ten pages confirmed my impression of the book, although I was surprised that there's also a paranormal aspect in it. As a skeptic and a non-religious person, I personally did not like the spiritual aspect of the book. I'm also not familiar with Camino so I don't think I would be able to relate to it. I think the book will appeal more to a broader audience if it has been published as a work of fiction. On a positive note, the book seems to be professionally edited, though I will have to take a pass on this.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 12:51 pm by edztan15.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
gen_g
Based on the title and cover, it seems like a non-fiction/motivational book, which I am not in the market for; hence, I would not have sampled it. I have also come across a positive review of the book, but this would not have changed my decision not to sample, since this book does not belong to a genre that I am looking for. However, after sampling, there are a couple of errors present. For example, at loc 20, there are spaces before and after the use of ellipsis, which should never be present: "But( )...( )I walked...". Also, at at location 38, there is a missing comma to separate the introductory phrase: "Before long(,) the sun's warm rays...". I highly suggest more editing. Still, I appreciate how the author is rather descriptive, and Stanley also chooses to start in media res. For example, we learn that the author is trying to climb the mountain, trying to make good time. However, in the late morning, the weather suddenly changes: a light rain had started falling, but it certainly increased in severity really quickly – it quickly becomes a heavy icy shower, with strong winds. The winds were so strong that the narrator's poncho was ripped, and visibility plummets due to the ice that is being rained down – this has the effect of trying to drive the narrator down the path she climbed up. However, as I am not in the market for motivational/spiritual books, I will not be reading the rest of the novel.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 11:32 am by gen_g.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
riyosha
I read a review and thought that it wasn't really my cup of tra. Though, since the cover is pretty I'd have definitely checked it out. The book seemed professionally edited and I may read it some day, but not today or tomorrow.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 10:59 am by riyosha.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Leen282
I love walking, and have read several nice stories about people taking on a challenge and walking a trail. The Camino de Santiago de Compostela is one I'd like to walk myself, so this is a book I'd be interested in to read. Unfortunately, after reading the review, I don't think it is a book for me. The element of the spiritual guide is making it too philosophical for my taste. Where the first chapter is giving a beautiful description of the struggle of the start of the Camino, the second chapter is about a childhood memory and I am no longer interested to continue reading.
I did not find any spelling mistakes.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 10:32 am by Leen282.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Melisa Jane
I wouldn't have sampled this book based on its title because the title sounds like a eulogy. After sampling this book, I'm not going to finish reading it because I don't understand the connection between the said walk and spirituality. I like that, instead of taking the usual format of a self-help book, the author wrote this in a story format so that even those who like fictional novels might as well enjoy it. I don't have any improvement suggestions. I didn't find any grammatical errors while reading. This book has an official OBC review.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 8:32 am by Melisa Jane.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Diana Lowery
I liked the background of the cover; I thought the silhouette was odd-not angelic. I liked the subtitle because I like things dealing with South America. I liked that the chapter titles were actual titles and not numbers. Reading the first ten pages were confusing. After reading the blurb, I thought this was a description of one journey, but the chapters were disconnected. In chapter one, I wondered who Marcus was. I agree with the reviewer that the spirituality component was my least favorite part of reading this book. Because I do not enjoy reading about clairvoyant episodes, I will not finish reading the book even though the writing style was excellent, and I did not notice any errors.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 8:16 am by Diana Lowery.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Elvis Best
Based on the book's title and cover, I would not have read it because I did not find them to be attractive enough. Still, I would not read the rest of it because I felt like it was not my kind of book. Although I found the first few pages interesting, memoirs are just not my cup of tea. Also, I believe the book has been professionally edited, as I found no errors in the first ten pages. The one thing I liked most was how the author took the time to describe her environment into detail, as it pulled the reader deeper into the book. Consequently, I couldn't possibly suggest any improvements at this stage. I did read an Official OnlineBookClub review that I think presented the book very well.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 3:18 am by Elvis Best.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sanju Lali
It was evident from the cover and the title that this book portrays a motivating spiritual journey of the author, knowing that, I considered reading the official review of this book before buying it because I was curious to know more about the author's experiences on her spiritual journey. The official review was very helpful to let me know that this book follows the author’s life and her pilgrimage by walk, and she was a clairvoyant and had a spiritual guide with her. This idea piqued my interest to sample the book. After reading the first ten pages, I found that this book was professionally edited as I did not notice any grammatical or typing errors. The thing l liked the most in this book is the elegant writing style and clear description of scenes. For example, I was amazed by the way Linda communicated with the spirit of her grandfather. It would have been great if the author had maintained chronology in the depiction of the important events that took place in her life. My suggestion to the author is to maintain chronology, as stated above. After looking at all these aspects, I decided not to purchase and read this book today. I will wait until the author considers my suggestions so that I could relate one event in her story to another and invest my time in the author's story and get motivation from it.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 3:17 am by Sanju Lali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Shrabastee Chakraborty
The title was suggestive of a spiritual book. The blurb is captivating and the official OBC review rates it a full 4 stars. However, both the blurb and the review mention paranormal/spiritual activities that made me skeptical. Based on these, I wouldn't have read the book. The first ten pages were without editing issues. They describe the author's perilous hiking through a severe snowstorm. Not heeding the warnings, she ploughs on and ultimately finds herself fallen. I liked the excerpt immensely. The urgency of the situation was palpable. However, a spiritual guide was mentioned here as well. I would not suggest any improvements for the book. I would have read the book myself had it not contained this clairvoyance aspect in it. But since it does, I have decided against reading the book.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 2:41 am by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Chelsy Scherba
I like the way the author writes her account like a novel. She really brings her experiences to life for the reader. I could feel the cold wind that ripped her jacket and caused her to lose a shell she’d brought from Australia. I like the title as well, and was very curious about “Marcus” after I read the review. She relies on her spirit guides to take this journey. The book appears to be professionally edited without errors. I like the cover image as well. I can think of no improvements to the book.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 2:32 am by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Samgum50
My interest in reading this book began way before I sampled the first ten pages of it. The title, the cover and the official OnlineBookClub review piqued my interest. This book reminded me of Paulo Coelho and his pilgrimage. I think the whole concept of making a pilgrimage is quite interesting. Reading the sample increased my interest in reading Walking with Angels. I'd love to purchase and finish reading this book to get to know Linda's experience. I concluded the book was professionally edited because I didn't came across errors. What I love about this book is the fact that the author describes things in vivid detail. I don't think there's anything that could be improved. The quality of this book shows that the author put in a lot of effort to make the book great.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 2:21 am by Samgum50.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
aacodreanu
Had I not actually sampled the first ten pages as part of this program, I would have chosen to read or sample this book based on the cover – an inspiring image of someone walking with crutches, the title – which reminds us that we always walk with at least our guardian angel, the genre – people’s real experiences and happenings feel more real than fiction, and the compelling editorial review that I saw. I ”bought” the book and will read it, and I will also recommend it to someone who will be very happy to read it too. Reading the first ten pages confirmed my original guess. A potential ”walk” to Compostella would seem closer to me that way. The book seems like it was professionally edited. I like the simplicity of the style and the vivid description of the first leg of the trip. I cannot see anything that can be improved.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 1:44 am by aacodreanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Rodel Barnachea
I have read the official OnlineBookClub review, and considering the cover, the title, and the official review, I am not convinced that I want to read this book. It’s because of the religious tone of the book and its premise that seems depressing. But after reading the first ten pages, I’ve changed my mind. I find the story captivating and Linda to be amusing. It turns out that the book has a more spiritual tone rather than a religious one. The book’s premise is also not depressing, unlike what I originally assumed. What I like most is probably what encouraged me to want to read the rest of the book. I find the captivating plot and amusing protagonist a perfect setup for an enjoyable autobiographical read. I didn’t catch any errors, so I think the book is professionally edited. I don’t think there is anything that I can suggest to improve the book.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 12:44 am by Rodel Barnachea.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
MeganDJ
From the title and cover alone, it gave a clear indication of the events that will take place in the book - The protagonist trekking through mountains and going through some sort of spiritual experience. It did pique my interest, and I must admit that I would have picked this one up regardless of the first 10. The book was free, but I do intend on reading the rest of the book as the first 10 leaves you on a real cliffhanger, and I want to know what the author experiences during her struggle in the mountains. It seems that it was professionally edited, as I did not encounter a single error. What I like the most is that it captured your attention immediately and the first chapter really did encourage me to read more. I did read an Online Book Review, and I agree with the reviewer. It is definitely an inspirational story to pick up.
First Ten review added on August 3, 2020, at 12:24 am by MeganDJ.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
J_odoyo
Walking with Angels: Journey to Santiago is an engrossing and inspiring story of Linda (the author). The story seems to have been well-written. From the first ten pages I’ve read, I’ve realized that it has a good plot motivation, which not only grips but also entertains. I loved the book’s cover page (the design was so creative and attractive), and the title was also relevant and attractive. I liked the author’s description on the Amazon website; it was precise and informative enough to allow for an accurate guess of what to expect in the book. The OnlineBookClub review gave insight into what the book entails. I did find some errors—which were mainly punctuation errors (comma errors). For instance, in the preface section: “A rugged testing journey of the body mind and spirit.” However, I would say the book seemed to have been professionally edited. As the author narrates her precarious journey along the pilgrim trails, I couldn’t help but ponder how gifted this author is. Her childhood memories also penned in this book constructively added to the story. The story is promising, and I can’t stop guessing what is next. Having read the sample and the OnlineBookClub review, I’m not going to finish reading this book, because I’m not a fan of this genre.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 11:39 pm by J_odoyo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
CrescentMoon
After reading the blurb, I wouldn't pick this book up because I don't tend to read non-fiction books. After reading the first ten pages, I spotted a few punctuation errors. In chapter one, "Before long the sun's warm rays..." there should be a comma after "long." What I liked best about the book so far were the descriptions and imagery. The author does a great job describing the scenery such as the cobblestone road, the mountains and farmland. I also like how she describes her own fear and loneliness. She does a great job showing rather than telling. I do not have any suggestions for improvement. I think those who enjoy traveling and expeditions and reading about people's journeys would enjoy this book. There was an onlinebookclub review, however I tend to read action, mysteries, and fiction books so this genre isn't for me so I won't be reading the rest.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 11:24 pm by CrescentMoon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mary WhiteFace
I'm not much into reading memoirs, so I would not have been interested in reading this book, if not for the first ten program. Reading the first ten pages changed my mind.
I found the narrative well-written, entertaining, and easy to envision. My favorite part was how she was less concerned about the fact that she had nocturnal journeys where she visited other people than she was about what she was wearing; "Although I knew that people didn’t seem to be able to see me on my travels, I still feared they might, and travelling in boys’ pyjamas was an embarrassment (pg.10)."
The book seemed to be professionally edited. I have no suggestions for improvements. The OnlineBookClub review was informative and revealed that the book was filled with interesting adventures and motivational experiences. When I reached the tenth page I found myself curious about what would happen next. I am looking forward to reading the whole book.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 11:07 pm by Mary WhiteFace.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
kljrox
The cover and title are nice but doesn't make me feel interested in the book. I read the description and OBC review and they made a difference in my opinion because they both emphasized the inspirational pilgrimage. After reading the first ten pages I feel like this would be very interesting to read because of the inspirational journey made by the author and the descriptions along the way, but I don't think reading about spirit guides is not for me. This would be a great book for anyone who wants to know more about spirit guides and overcoming great odds. This book seems to be professionally edited but I do not wish to read the rest of it because of the spirit guide aspect. My favorite thing about what I have read is the fact that it is well written and beautifully descriptive.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 10:18 pm by kljrox.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kelyn
If I had not been a member of this program, it is unlikely that the cover, title, genre, or author of this book would have prompted me to pick it up. I am actually uncertain of the genre. Is this a memoir, or is it fiction? Amazon did not specify this. Memoirs are not a genre I generally read. Fiction, especially if it involves the paranormal, I find greatly intriguing. Neither of these can be told by the cover or title, however. The author is unknown to me, so that would not have affected my decision. The blurb makes the book both interesting and uninteresting at the same time. Let me explain. The part about Linda's clairvoyance and paranormal abilities I find very intriguing. The journey to find herself and achieve spiritual/life awakening, not so much. The only customer review was the one from this program. I read it with interest to find out what our reviewer thought of the book. That his/her comments were all very positive gave me a good impression. In reading the sample, I found aspects that were fascinating, such as Linda's grandfather coming to tell her goodbye at the very moment of his death. I was also fascinated by Marcus, Linda's spirit guide. It made me wonder if we all have one. Though her journey has certainly been eventful thus far, Marcus was really the only thing that genuinely captured my interest. I've read many stories about ill-fated journeys through the snow. Ultimately, I had to measure my interest in the paranormal aspects of the book against how much of the book would actually be more focused on the 'finding herself' part of the journey. I'm afraid I decided to err on the side of caution and not finish the book. The book seemed well-edited. I found no countable errors in the sample.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 10:04 pm by Kelyn.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Verna Coy
Had I not sampled this book through the First Ten program, I would likely have chosen it because I like the title. For this reason, I intend to read the whole book today. I received a free copy through the Online Book Club. Thanks! Reading the first ten pages confirmed that I would find this book interesting. The beginning drew me into the story right away. Based on what I read, the book seems professionally edited, although the Official Online Book Club review mentioned that the book had a few typographical errors. I didn’t see errors in the first ten pages. What I liked most about what I read is the amazing descriptions of the surroundings that the author journeyed through in this book. I know that fans of travel memoirs will enjoy this story. As far as improvements, aside from proofreading for minor errors as mentioned in the review, I could see no need for any in what I read. I did read the Official Online Book Club review and found it insightful. It didn’t affect my views of the book.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 9:40 pm by Verna Coy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kaitlyn Canedy
I likely would have skipped the sample of Walking with Angels had it not been the book of the day through the OnlineBookClub. The coverart is attention grabbing, and gives potential readers a clue as to what the book will be about. I love how the author uses their personal journey as a way to teach others about what they learned spiritually; I feel that this is the strong suit in the book. This topic does not interest me too much, so I will be passing on it. There were no grammatical errors that I could find, and I was unable to find any areas in need of improvement. I read the official OnlineBookClub review, and the reviewer had nothing but good things to say about it. However, it was not enough to convince me to change my decision. Readers who enjoy books about personal experiences and what authors have gained from them should not skip this one, but readers who are not fans of this kind of material should pass.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 8:57 pm by Kaitlyn Canedy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Odette Chace
I don't like how the model is floating in space on the cover. The title is a bit corny for my taste. While I am interested in reading about how Stanley handled others' reactions to her abilities, I myself am skeptical of them, which would seriously undermine my enjoyment of the book. The official Online Book Club review gave the book a perfect rating of 4 out of 4 stars, but also mentioned that Stanley would ask her spiritual guide too much, like what she should eat for dinner. If I weren't part of this program, I wouldn't sample this book. "Within minutes the steep ascent has my chest heaving and[,] struggling for breath, I am forced to pause often" (pg. 2). This entire sentence should be in past tense to match the preceding paragraph. I noticed quite a few errors in the sample and don't believe that the book was professionally edited. The sample was far more suspenseful and grounded in reality than I anticipated. However, I don't plan to finish the book.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 8:17 pm by Odette Chace.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jorge Leon Salazar
At the beginning of these first ten pages, the author's journey to the Camino is briefly recounted. She started from France and confronted severe situations with significantly low temperatures, very cold. She feels the need to stop; she feels like if she is going to her death. She describes it as a physical and mental battle with no choice but to keep going.
Subsequently, the narrative focuses on episodes where the author exposes her ability as a clairvoyant. Sincerely, these supernatural themes have never been to my liking. The prediction of her grandfather's death and the inconvenience with her friend Annette produce a bit of a demotivation for me. I think that I might like the book's part regarding the walking on the "Camino de Santiago de Compostela" but not the one associated with clairvoyance.
The official review is motivating as it focuses on the pilgrimage adventure. However, based on the bit I read, I am not curious enough to read the rest of the book. The editing seems outstanding since I didn't detect any errors. The cover is excellent for the title and content of the book.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 7:57 pm by Jorge Leon Salazar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MsH2k
The cover didn’t grab me, but the title of this book was interesting, so I would have read the blurb even if I had not been part of this program. Usually I don’t read the featured review until after I’ve sampled the book, but this time I did it in reverse order. The OnlineBookClub review shared that the author and protagonist Linda had a spirit guide that accompanied her on her journey. That helped me understand who Marcus was that she was calling for at the beginning of the story. The writing is lovely and very descriptive. The sample pages moved quickly. They painted an interesting picture about how she recognized her clairvoyance as a child. I would like to find out more about her walk along the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, but I’m not interested in reading about her supernatural experiences. I do not doubt that they are real, I would just rather not read about them. I will not finish this book. I did not notice any grammatical errors in the sample pages, and I have no suggestions for improvement. The featured review gave me a good understanding of the story, but I would have decided against finishing it on my own after reading the sample pages.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 7:27 pm by MsH2k.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
unamilagra
Before sampling this book, I probably would not have picked it up. ALthough the OBC review was positive, I don't normally read inspirational nonfiction stories. In reading the first ten pages, I was impressed with the way the author described her difficult trek over the mountains through the storm. I really felt like I could see her struggling. That said, I didn't really like all of the included internal dialogue, I thought it was a bit too frequent and detracted from the pace of the story. Then going back in time to Linda's childhood seemed like it will make for a well-rounded book. That said, it didn't pique my interest enough to make me want to keep reading it. I didn't notice any errors in the pages I read.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 7:15 pm by unamilagra.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gabrielle Sigaki
Walking with Angels by L. S. Stanley is a non-fiction and inspirational book about pilgrimage through the Camino. At first, when I read its Official OnlineBookClub review, I thought the theme didn't catch my attention and that there were too many detailed descriptions. After sampling it, I didn't change my mind, and I won't read the entire book since the descriptive scenes slowed the pacing of my reading. However, the book seems professionally edited, and I enjoyed that the author chose a different and unique premise. But it could be improved if it had more succinct scenes.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 7:08 pm by Gabrielle Sigaki.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AvidBibliophile
The selected cover art image seems appealing enough, but the orientation of the printed information appears to be slightly angled; it's not clear whether such a choice was intentional or done in error. The Amazon product description clearly indicates that the contents will explore a test of strength and character, especially with mentions of Linda's life-changing pilgrimage and all that her healing quest entailed. I appreciated seeing each section introduced with a clear timestamp and geotag. Pain, panic, ice, and rain threatened to deter forward progress, but this heroine pushed valiantly on. Earthy aromas, tinkling cow bells, and trek poles on ancient cobblestones immediately enticed me, but verb tenses started shifting from the very first page (this will bother some readers, while others will likely be able to overlook it entirely). At location 33, there is at least one comma missing in: "testing journey of the body(,) mind and spirit" and further (subjectively optional) commas are missing after introductory phrases. At location 91, the compound term "half buried" should appear hyphenated, so upon first glance, this book appears to need further professional editing. The two published OBC reviews offer positive impressions and honest critiques, but there are no currently posted Amazon user ratings to additionally peruse. Since I enjoy gripping tales of hardships, triumph, courage, and tenacity, I look forward to reading this book in its entirety!
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 7:06 pm by AvidBibliophile.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Twylla
I would not buy and read this book because I am not interested in the topic. The text that I read was very interesting and the book is well written and professionally edited. I did not see any errors.
My favorite thing about the book was the spirit guide. It was interesting that she had conversations with Marcus.
I can't think of any way to improve the book.
The official online book club review is very well written and informative.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 6:30 pm by Twylla.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
elisathelvarik
I would not have chosen this book based on its title, cover, and description. I do not know much about clairvoyance and spirit guides. I would not seek it out on my own. The official review helped me gauge the tone of this novel. It has a nice premise for a memoir, but the review warned me of one big flaw. The review mentions that the spirit guide is used for trivial decisions like what to have for dinner. I find that ridiculously reckless and off-putting. Regardless, I gave this book a chance and read the first ten pages. I decided that I will not read the rest of this book. It was free, so I didn't have to buy it, but I would not buy it. I do not read memoirs very often and did not find the first few pages very intriguing. I love the author's descriptive language. Her words are powerful and purposeful with each page. Even though I do like the writing style, I just was not interested in the content. I do not have any notes of improvement because I do not have experience with these types of books. I did not find any errors or typos. The book seems well-edited.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 6:04 pm by elisathelvarik.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Brenda Creech
I was instantly drawn to this book by the title and wanted to check it out even if I wasn't doing this review. After reading the official review, I knew I would not be interested in reading this book as I don't read anything about the supernatural. The review did make me curious about the author's pilgrimage trek across the Camino. As I read the first ten pages, I was interested in the journey Linda was taking. The first day on her journey turned into a near disaster. However, I was put off by the incident when she cried out to her "spiritual guide" Marcus. Although the journey is challenging and exciting, I won't be reading the rest of the book as I don't believe in clairvoyance or spiritual guides. The portion I did read held my attention and was well-edited - I found only one error. The statement found on Kindle page 6, "It was not long after my tenth birthday when he came to my bedside one night at 2.10 am and gently shook me." The time of 2.10 should be 2:10. What I liked most about what I read was the author's description of the scenery she saw while climbing up the mountain. I did not find anything I thought needed improving. I prefer to refrain from reading books based around anything supernatural. Therefore, I will refrain from reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 5:52 pm by Brenda Creech.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
moowshiri
I decided against reading the book after going through one of its reviews from OnlineBookClub. The review paints it as the author's memoir, a fact that I confirmed after sampling its first ten pages- I don't fancy reading memoirs. I loved several things about the book in the few pages I sampled. I loved Stanley's 'personal journal' approach in organising the book. For instance, she begins by pointing out 16-08-2006 as the date of her first day on her pilgrimage. I also didn't find errors in the small bit I sampled, a factor that smoothened my reading experience. I'm also glad to report that I didn't come across any part of the book that needs improvement.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 5:48 pm by moowshiri.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Tonika632
Since this is the spritual guide, I would not sample it, and the first ten pages confirmed that. I simply don't like spiritual books, therefore, I will not read it. One thing I like is that the author wrote this book in the first person. There are many chapters in this book, and I like that some of the intern conversations are written in cursive. I would not change a thing. I have found no errors, and I think it is edited professionally. This book has the official review.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 4:41 pm by Tonika632.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
LinaJan
Whilst I am a passionate world-walker, neither the title nor the cover art of ‘Walking with Angels’ by L. S. Stanley would have captured my attention. Not because they aren’t fitting but because books of this genre aren’t usually among those that I head to in a bookstore. Having said that, I could not be more pleased that this book had been brought to my attention by way of being awarded the ‘Book of the Day’ title on onlinebookclub.org. I have a deep personal connection to the Camino, and so I may be biased. However, what I learned about this book from the editorial reviews as well as the official onlinebookclub.org review was that it has so much more to offer than just another pilgrim’s perspective. Having had an opportunity to sample ‘Walking with Angels’, I was pleased to see that the book was professionally edited and proofread. I loved the ‘time travel’ format in which the book is written. And I really look forward to re-visiting the Camino and meeting Marcus!
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 4:36 pm by LinaJan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Scerakor
From the cover, blurb, and review of this book, I wouldn’t have read it. I don't read religious or spiritual type books. After reading the first ten pages I didn’t change my mind and therefore will not be buying and reading the rest of this book. I enjoyed the writing style, and in particular how the author was able to verbalize their internal thoughts and doubts to the reader. That being said, I'm just not religious enough to enjoy this one. I didn’t see anything specific that I would have wanted to change within the sample that I read, but it did seem well written and edited. The official review did not affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 4:28 pm by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
LeDiplomatique
I would not have chosen Walking with Angels by L. S. Stanley based on the cover and title. Nevertheless, after reading the First Ten, I was drawn by Linda's paranormal encounters and astral travels. I did not come across any errors and did not see anything to improve. I most like that the book provides lessons on coping with life. Laughing your way to healing was the best i picked up. I did not come across the official review of the book but definitely, this is a book I must read to the end.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 4:27 pm by LeDiplomatique.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
AntonelaMaria
When I read the blurb of this book, I was immediately interested in reading it. The Offical OnlineBookClub review that I read helped me to realize that this is a book for me. After reading the sample of this, it only made me more curious. It sounds like an engaging book. Linda, as a protagonist, is very captivating. I like the tone and the pace of the writing. I want to read this book. It seems that this book was professionally edited. I didn't encounter any grammatical errors. My favorite is the writing style. It seems easily understandable. Going back to the past in telling her story, the author is making this book even more appealing. I wouldn't change a thing from a part that I have read.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 4:22 pm by AntonelaMaria.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Laura Lee
This is a very intriguing, well-written book. It appears to be professionally edited. In the sample pages, I only found a couple of missing typos. The Amazon blurb is what first captured my attention. The book review, likewise, is well-written. I confess that on part of it, such as the author recounting her relationship with Ethan, I started to get a bit bogged down. It obviously has significance for her, but I'm not sure how it ties into the overall thematic arc of the book.
That said, I do plan on reading the rest of the book. I find it intriguing and well-written.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 3:59 pm by Laura Lee.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sarah_Khan
The cover of this book is generic, but I do like the title. I would not have sampled this if it was not a part of the First Ten program because the plot does not sound interesting to me. I am not a huge fan of books about self-discovery. I really don't like when books start out with paragraphs of description. I am guessing the author wanted to bring excitement to the readers by describing a dangerous hike, personally I was just happy to get to chapter 2. I thought it was sweet that Linda's grandfather came to her dream to say goodbye. The OBC review was mostly positive, the reviewer mentioned a few editing errors having to do with past and present tense, but I did not notice any. In conclusion, I have to say that this book is not my cup of tea. Therefore, I will not be reading the rest. I do not have any suggestions for the author.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 3:46 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Adrianna Melillo
While I love traveling and hiking, I’ve found I don’t usually enjoy reading about it. This is largely because I’d rather experience the hike for myself, and I often find these books are mostly a journal of the author’s thoughts while walking. For this reason, I’d likely pass on this book based on the cover alone. However, the Official OnlineBookClub review explains that this is a spiritual trail/journey, so that does intrigue me a little further. I think it makes the read feel more purposeful. The first thing that caught my attention in the sample is the descriptive writing. In a book like this, I think it’s very important for the reader to be able to visualize as much as possible. The second thing that caught my attention is the way the story has an action-packed start. This is different from any other hiking or biking novel I’ve read. In addition to these two things, I found no spelling or grammatical errors, indicating that this book was thoroughly edited. I honestly have no suggestions for improvement. I will certainly be downloading the full book today and am looking forward to continuing my read.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 3:37 pm by Adrianna Melillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Emy Katherine
I do not read non-fiction books, so I would not have read the book without The First Ten program. Neither the OBC review nor the first ten pages changed my mind. Throughout her book, the author shares how she embarked on a journey of self-discovery while walking the Camino de Santiago. The author's writing style was very descriptive and enjoyable to read, but I would suggest another round of editing. I encountered some distracting errors while sampling the book. For example, there should be a comma after "door" in the following sentence: "As I crept towards the front door Mum appeared ahead of me." (page 7)
There should also be a comma after "pain" in the following sentence: "Intently focused on pushing through the pain I’m unaware the terrain has changed." (page 3) Those interested in reading inspirational stories of determination, courage, and triumph will surely appreciate this one.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 3:20 pm by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Laura Ungureanu
I tend to stay away from anything that touches on spiritual subjects. Although this has many more topics included, I almost never seem to enjoy a book on spirituality. Its appearance was self-explanatory, so I was going to keep my distance. The OBC review presented the book in a positive light. As a travel enthusiast, I wanted to at least give this book a chance after reading the beautiful review. The author vividly describes the French mountainside. Her experience feels real and possible. I enjoyed her rich vocabulary, but I maintain my position of disliking the genre. The passage containing "journey of the body mind and spirit" could use some commas in there. That could be easily fixed though, so it seems good in rest.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 2:51 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kirsi Cultrera
Walking With Angels was a whole new acquaintance for me. I have encountered no editorial reviews, samples, or OnlineBookClub reviews before reading this ten-page sample. Overall, I love hiking and find spirituality an interesting theme, and therefore, I might have chosen to read a sample without having further information. I found the first few pages engrossing and were there more sample pages available, I would have continued reading. I did not find any flaws and got the impression of a professionally edited work. I was not thrilled about the protagonist hiking on a difficult mountainside alone as it sets a bad example. Every hiker knows this kind of action can prove to be dangerous. I would still vote for reading this book since I am desperate to know what happened to the protagonist!
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 2:35 pm by Kirsi Cultrera.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda
The cover of the book didn't speak to me, so to speak. But I loved the blurb, I've always wanted to travel the Camino and my father's from Galicia so I feel a strong connection to it. The book lacks ratings and opinions but I've still would've chosen to buy it.
The first ten pages made me hesitate because they're completely focused on the physical difficulties of the trek. On the tempest, and the exhaustion and so on. But what I'm interested in is the spiritual aspect of it. I do wonder who is Marcus.
The official review did influence me this time because it shows that there's more to this book than the physical aspect of the journey. I didn't find any editing mistakes. I would suggest making the beginning less mundane.
First Ten review added on August 2, 2020, at 1:26 pm by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Total ~ 32%
Walking with Angels earned a score of 32%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 32% 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 Walking with Angels
