The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Wounded Angels
Because Wounded 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.
Vickie Noel
I wouldn't have read this book outside the program because of the image on the cover. I get this weird feeling seeing female angels because I know them to be messengers and male. Reading the sample, at least, provided a clearer perspective that indicated that reference was being made to humans. However, it didn't influence me to want to read the book. I was too sad about the fact that Maureen's father took his own life, leaving her such that she said, "What haunted me most was that Father abandoned me." I know that feeling all too well, even though mine didn't take his own life. It's too close to home, and I'd rather not go down that memory lane. The book is professionally edited; I found no errors. Thus, I have no recommendation for improvement. I saw an enthusiastic OBC review, but I couldn't read up to the point of catching the bug from the OBC reviewer.
First Ten review added on May 16, 2020, at 5:00 am by Vickie Noel.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ekta Kumari
The storyline revolves around Maureen, who, after losing her father at a young age and later her husband after over five decades of marriage, is overcome with despair and fear of abandonment. She eventually meets Doris who has her own trauma and personal life conflicts. Though both of them are completely opposite in nature and behavior, they end up becoming very good friends. And, through their friendship, both of them heal each other's wounds. I liked the premise quite a bit. But I wouldn't have read the book as it seemed a bit emotionally overwhelming. I did sample it, and the thing I liked the most is how the author has established the plot by portraying Maureen's childhood and the close relationship she shared with her father. I also like that the narrative moves at a relaxed pace. As for the editing, I didn't find any errors. So, I would rate the book as professionally edited. After sampling this read, I've changed my mind. And I would definitely read the whole book as I enjoyed the sample. I did see an official review for this book.
First Ten review added on May 16, 2020, at 4:39 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Catherine Hsu
If I had not read the sample, I would have read the book as the cover and blurb both really look interesting. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind. The writing was very interesting, and the way the backstory for the father developed was fleshed out, with the way he looked with his eyes "bulging and bloodshot" and how the narrator found him. I thought it added a lot of anticipation to the story. It was professionally edited. I read the official review and it made me want to read the book more, although I am not a person of faith.
First Ten review added on May 16, 2020, at 4:20 am by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Alice Heritage
I could potentially be interested in a book about angels. However, as the blurb and OBC review don't suggest that this book has a paranormal element, I probably wouldn't have sampled it on my own as it doesn't seem to reflect my reading preference. Although I enjoyed the sample, I won't buy this today as realistic fiction isn't a top priority for me. Also some of the content was quite hard to deal with emotionally. The book seemed generally well edited. I noticed some compound modifiers that might normally be hyphenated ("wide brimmed" and "plastic wrapped"); also, in the sentence ' "Are you sure you're talking to the right person," I asked' the speech should end with a question mark rather than a comma. I liked the idea in the foreword that we may often meet angels in human form without knowing it. I also loved the description of the father's tailoring work and the details of the Brooklyn setting as I'm familiar with Atlantic Avenue and Fulton Street. In terms of what could be improved, I was a little confused that Maureen revealed she'd been watching Frank skate as she seemed to be seeing him for the first time in the passage before. I also found the suicide scene harrowing but understand its importance to the book's theme.
First Ten review added on May 16, 2020, at 4:17 am by Alice Heritage.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Lorraine De Vos
I would have chosen to sample this book based on the cover and title. The first ten pages were very well written. My heart broke for young Maureen when she found her father after he committed suicide and then fluttered with butterflies when she met Frank at the roller rink. I think I am going to enjoy reading about her life. The book does appear to be professionally edited. The official OnlineBookClub review was excellent and confirmed that I will be adding this book to my reading list. I have no recommendations for improvements.
First Ten review added on May 16, 2020, at 4:17 am by Lorraine De Vos.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Cristina Chifane
Since this book is featured as Christian romance, I wouldn't have read it without the first ten program. Fans of the genre would appreciate the title and cover, though. The novel has only 12 customer reviews, but they mostly give it 5-star ratings. The OBC reviewer praises the interactions between Doris and Maureen. However, I was more drawn to the realistic descriptions of war. Although I like the optimistic message of the novel, I don't think I'd enjoy its religious undertones. The detailed description of Maureen's relationship with her father seemed to be dragging, but I understood that it set the stage for the scene when she discovers that he had committed suicide. The exchanges between Frank and Maureen were a bit boring too. In terms of editing, I didn't notice any errors. For those who like a more slow-paced story, the novel could be a good option. My suggestion for the author would be to include more action and suspense in order to attract those readers who are fond of adrenaline-high books. As it is, this book is not an option for me.
First Ten review added on May 16, 2020, at 3:16 am by Cristina Chifane.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Annelore Trujillo
I would have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover, and title. I thought this story about Maureen and her trying to overcome abandonment issues seemed interesting. After reading the first ten pages, I won't be finishing this book. I liked the first chapter, even though it was sad. I liked reading about all the good times that Maureen had with her father prior to his suicide. I also thought the chapter did a good job portraying the time period. However, I lost interest in the second chapter. I thought the interaction with Frank was a little too cheesy. I found myself wanted to get to the end of the part. Since this relationship is so important throughout the book, I don't think I'll enjoy the rest of it. It did seem to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on May 16, 2020, at 1:43 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
va2016
The cover is meaningful. It aligns with the title in conveying the theme of the book. The Amazon customer reviews of the book give an indication that this book is about why one should not give up love and rely on things like friendship to guide one through. There are 12 Amazon customer ratings, which is not a significant number to make a decision. The Amazon summary gives a clear description of the story. Based on the story mentioned in the Amazon summary, I would have skipped reading the book if not for the First Ten program, as I was not interested in the story. As I sampled through the book, I found the narration describing the bad luck that descended upon Maureen's family, as her father lost all his clothing business in the town that they lived in. Although I enjoyed the exquisite narration about how the tides changed, I am not a person who reads sorrowful stories, so I am not going to read this book in full. I found the sample professionally edited. There were no grammatical or mechanical errors. What I liked about the book is its clear, detailed narration. I could not find anything that could be improved with the book. Although I found one OBC review of the book, my decision to not to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on May 16, 2020, at 12:46 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AvidBibliophile
The cover art feels ominously bittersweet, and the formatted layout feels professionally rendered. The Amazon product description feels a bit verbosely lengthy for a summary synopsis, but it thoroughly provides a solid background that persuasively entices prospective readers to find out more. From roller-skating rinks to war tragedies and young love, this story touches on a great myriad of relatable life situations. The prose offers some poetically lovely moments in examples like: "sunlit cellophane sparkling like ripples on a pond" and "butchers in bloodstained aprons." On page 1, there is a missing word in: "he visited each of clothing stores," but this book appears to have been professionally edited overall. The one published OBC review is complimentary and positive, as are the 11 currently posted Amazon user ratings. Since themes of suicide, crushing loneliness, and soul-altering, wartime atrocities encompass some personally sensitive topics for me, I will be passing on this one, but for those who enjoy faith-based depictions of life's many ups and downs, this one appears quite promising!
First Ten review added on May 15, 2020, at 11:44 pm by AvidBibliophile.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jsovermyer
The angel picture on the book cover is beautiful and the title, Wounded Angels, is also good. This is a character-driven story that tells of one woman's tragic life and a strange friendship that occurs between her and another woman who is her complete opposite. It is a deep emotional story filled with hope. I liked the part when little Maureen would ride on her daddy's clothes cart as he greeted the people they passed. His suicide was shockingly sad. The reviewer rated this book highly, and I agree it is a well written story. I found no grammatical or spelling errors in the pages I read and believe it has been professionally edited. The story so far is very good. I like to read stories with well developed characters. I would like to finish this one.
First Ten review added on May 15, 2020, at 11:10 pm by Jsovermyer.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jeremie Mondejar
The image of an angel on the cover page attracts me, which excites me to read the story. I admired the author's relationship with her father, she was treated like a princess. The Great Depression makes their family exhausted, too, especially when money is involved. The narrative is quite touching and it shocked me when her father hung on the tree. It's horrible and scary! Fortunately, the next chapter gives comfort because of the romantic skating scenario.
I like the plot and the writing style, but the OBC reviewer's warning (suicidal contents) declines me read the rest of the book. The book may need another round of editing because I spotted grammatical errors, like 'simply made do with' (simply made with) and
'I walked up to tailor shop' (I walked to the tailor shop). I suggest to proofread this book again.
First Ten review added on May 15, 2020, at 10:53 pm by Jeremie Mondejar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Diana Lowery
I read the first ten pages and liked the whole scene at the roller skating rink. The review only mentioned one negative, which didn't lower my interest. I like the title and the message of hope that it portrayed. I did not notice any major errors, just a few subjective comma ones. I would probably not have chosen to read this book since it deals with suicide and other dark issues, but I did like the writing style. I will not finish reading this book now, but I will keep it on my to-read list.
First Ten review added on May 15, 2020, at 6:01 pm by Diana Lowery.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sarah_Khan
At first glance, I like the title and cover, they make me want to find out more. I definitely would have picked this up even without the First Ten program because I am a fan of historical fiction. I have to say that I think the Amazon blurb gave too much of the plot away. The first ten pages seem professionally edited. The beginning had me hooked. When Maureen tells her father that she is sorry he is sad, my heart broke. The OBC review was positive. Although the reviewer mentions the discontinuities in one character's personality, I appreciate when characters surprise us. I look forward to reading the rest. My one suggestion to the author would be to shorten the Amazon blurb.
First Ten review added on May 15, 2020, at 4:53 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
unamilagra
Before sampling this book, I probably would not have picked it up. Despite the positive OBC review, I don't enjoy religious storylines. The first ten pages did a good job detailing Maureen's father's descent as a man, and the time period sounds interesting. That said, there wasn't really anything that pulled me into the story and made me want to keep reading it. I don't plan to purchase the book. I didn't notice any errors in the pages I read.
First Ten review added on May 15, 2020, at 3:54 pm by unamilagra.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mbrooks2518
This is not the type of book I usually like to read, so I would not have read the sample without The First Ten. I like that with the characters of Doris and Maureen, the book shows the different ways people deal with heartbreak and troubled pasts. However, after reading the first ten pages and the official review, I am not interested enough to buy this book. There were no editing errors, and nothing needs to be improved.
First Ten review added on May 15, 2020, at 3:44 pm by Mbrooks2518.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
LeDiplomatique
I would have chosen Wounded Angels by Chuck Miceli based on the cover page and title because I found them to be interesting. After reading the First Ten, I was drawn to the story of Maureen. It was sad that his father had to kill himself due to inability to provide for his family, owing to the effects of the Great Depression. I would love to know how the life of Maureen turned out thereafter so I will be reading the book. I did not come across any errors and did not see anything to improve. I most like that the book is inspiring and uplifting to those who are experiencing low tides in life. I came across the official review of the book and I learnt that the wounded Maureen later found the solace she needed in her husband.
First Ten review added on May 15, 2020, at 12:03 pm by LeDiplomatique.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sanju Lali
I could not get any idea from the cover and the title about the content of the book because wounded angels meant many things to me. So, I was not sure whether or not to buy this book. The official review was helpful enough to let me know that this book follows two women who had faced many setbacks in their lives. Even though they are of the opposite type of character, they help each other. This idea motivated me to sample the book before making a buying decision. After reading the first ten pages, I found that this book was professionally edited with no grammatical errors found in it. The thing l liked the most in this book is the depiction of the quality of life during the great depression in America and its effect on the life of the protagonist, Maureen. However, Maureen's love life seemed to me like progressing unrealistically quicker. The reason for her coach and lover Frank getting attracted to her was not convincing. My suggestion to the author is to consider adding some more details about Frank getting interested in Maureen. Noting all these aspects of the book, I decided not to purchase and read this book today. I shall wait until the author considers my suggestion so that my reading becomes rewarding.
First Ten review added on May 15, 2020, at 10:38 am by Sanju Lali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Caffrey_19
The cover of Wounded Angels by Chuck Miceli together with the OBC review I read were what prompted me to sample it. The cover of the book entails mystery. Having sampled a few pages, I will not be buying and reading the whole book because this is not my area of interest. After reading a few pages, I noticed that the storyline was about sadness and romance. I was rather hoping it would be of mystery. Disappointing, isn’t it? Based on what I’ve read, the book seemed professionally edited and there was rarely any typos/errors. I liked the growing fondness between Frank and Maureen. I think the writer could do with less sadness in this book as I feel the intending romance will eventually turn sour.
First Ten review added on May 15, 2020, at 3:48 am by Caffrey_19.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Aditi Sapate
I would not have chosen to read this book based on the title, cover and genre, as it seems like a spiritual book, and while I appreciate their purpose, I'm not one to usually read these books. The official OnlineBookClub review informed me that this book has themes of war and suicide. This further deterred me from wanting to read it. While I was sampling the book, at first I liked the way Maureen described her life and her father's business. But her father's suicide really put me off. While I realise that the story demands this, it's not something I enjoy reading. I will not be reading the full book. The sample contained no grammatical errors.
First Ten review added on May 15, 2020, at 2:17 am by Aditi Sapate.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Washboard
I don't normally read books from this genre. The title and cover art seem to suit it well. The official review makes the book sound appealing. The sample I read contained at least one error - a missing question mark at the end of "how do you do, Mr. Bower" on page 3. The story begins with Maureen's happy childhood, until the Depression ran her father out of business, leading to his suicide. I think this book does a good job at expressing emotions, but did not like how it seemed to jump around in time with little warning. I won't be continuing to read this one, as suicide is a topic I try to avoid reading about.
First Ten review added on May 15, 2020, at 1:21 am by Washboard.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
J_odoyo
After reading the first ten pages of the sample, I’ve realized that Wounded Angels by Chuck Miceli is a wonderfully crafted book. Chuck weaves an engrossing and yet heart-wrenching story of Maureen. Maureen recalls a painful event when she lost her father, who committed suicide after his business collapsed. Maurine’s father had been affected by the Jewish immigrants, who thinned his tailoring business to collapse. Her family had faced tough moments when the life insurance company ruled out their claim stating that her father’s policy didn’t cover death by suicide. Maureen had lost someone who loved her. She is determined to get a new love that won’t walk out of her life again. And then Frank Russo appears. The progress of this book is so promising, and I can’t stop guessing what is next.
I think the cover page was wonderfully designed, and the title was also attractive. The various comments by this book’s previous readers (provided at the beginning of the book) were commendable. The book must have been professionally edited, and I could not find any error or anything to dislike about it (in the pages I've read). The book also had an official OnlineBookClub review, which gave insight into what the book entails. Although the author’s description could point out what the book entails (and could enhance easy and accurate guess), a professional review could still be very vital. It could have been a very easy thing, for me, to decide whether to buy this book or not, because all that I always look for (editorial reviews) were accessible. After reading the sample and the OnlineBookClub, I’m going to finish reading this book.
First Ten review added on May 15, 2020, at 1:18 am by J_odoyo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
gen_g
Based on the cover and title, I would not have sampled this book, as it seems like it contains much religious content, which I avoid. I have come across a positive review of this book. Having sampled it, there are a couple of minor errors present. For example, at 40% in the sample, there is a missing comma marking an introductory phrase: "Each morning(,) he wheeled his clothing rack...". I would suggest more editing. I enjoyed how the author gave the reader a little background about Maureen, as it helps to retain attention. For example, we learn that due to the Depression, Maureen's father lost his sources of income, and he became depressed. He turned to drinking, and on the 4th of July in 1937, the family was supposed to head to Coney Island, but her father's drunkenness and his loss of temper prevented that from happening. He bought out an insurance plan and then committed suicide, intending for the policy to pay out for his family. However, the insurance plan did not cover death by suicide, so in a way, he died for nothing. This made Maureen (who discovered the body) promise herself that she would find someone of her own who would never leave her. However, I will not be purchasing the book today, as I am not in the market for fiction set during and in the aftermath of WWII, and I am also not in the market for books that are heavily influenced by religion, despite not being obvious about it (as set out in the Foreword).
First Ten review added on May 15, 2020, at 1:02 am by gen_g.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Shrabastee Chakraborty
I loved the cover. Also, I love reading memoirs. The official OBC review praised this book, which piqued my intrigue. The first ten pages were without editing issues. They showed Maureen in her childhood, making the rounds with her father, who was a tailor. However, post-war, the business dwindled, the credits accumulated, and his father committed suicide. Maureen discovered his body. Her trauma is clearly expressed in the pages. The abrupt transition from good times to a miserable life was portrayed so well that it shocked me. I don't have any suggestions for improvement. I will be reading this book.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 11:51 pm by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
CrescentMoon
After reading the blurb, I don't think I would pick this book up because the genre isn't for me. I tend to read books like action, mystery, and suspense. After reading the first ten pages, I did spot a few grammar errors and inconsistent tenses. In chapter one, "Each morning he wheeled his clothing rack..." there should be a comma after morning. What I liked best about the sample I read was the dialogue between Frank and Maureen. I found their banter to be very entertaining and adorable. I like how confident and sure of himself Frank is, and I found Maureen's self-doubt and insecurity to be really relatable. What I liked least about the book so far was the writing style. For me, the sentences were very awkwardly worded and it made it kind of hard to read. For example, in chapter one, "When he finally stumbled through the door in mid afternoon, he reeked of alcohol and smoke." This sentence is not technically incorrect but it is very passive. I just think it would have been better worded as "In mid-afternoon, he finally stumbled through the door reeking of alcohol and smoke." This is just a personal preference. There was an onlinebookclub review but I still would choose to not read this book because the genre is not for me.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 11:35 pm by CrescentMoon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kaitlyn Canedy
I would have read the sample of Wounded Angels even if the OnlineBookClub had not presented it to me. The description was enough for me to want to take a peek and see if this is the book for me. After reading the sample, I can say that I want to give this one a try! I loved how the author uses his idea that God is never one to cause human suffering aa the basis for his story. After I had read the first chapter, I got the sense that it has a country background and I feel that I can relate to this personally because of my family background. I am happy to report that I did not see any grammatical errors in the sample that would affect the enjoyment of the book, nor could I suggest any improvements. There is an official OnlineBookClub review for Wounded Angels, and it was simple enough for me to get the idea behind the book as a whole. I can say that it helped make me more confident in my decision to read it, and I look forward to doing so.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 11:26 pm by Kaitlyn Canedy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
HRichards
I normally wouldn't have picked this book up as the summary didn't really appeal to me. Having read the sample I won't be continuing on with the book since I didn't find the content that interesting. The sample deals with a girl who idolizes her troubled father. Saddled with domestic problems, she ends up finding him after he commits suicide. The writing is fine, but there was a grammar error in the line "Mother, my brother, Ralph, and I..." where there should not be a comma after brother since I think Ralph is the brother, not a separate person. Those who like family drama might like this book. I wasn't really interested in the content even though the author seems to have a well thought out plot. I read the OBC review of the book and still don't think the content would appeal to me.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 8:34 pm by HRichards.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Juliana_Isabella
I wouldn't have chosen this book because I don't usually read historical fiction, but the reviewer's positive comments made me reconsider. I didn't find any grammatical errors in the first ten pages, and I liked how the author gave us enough information about the relationship between the narrator and her father to make his death sad. However, I just can't get past the historical aspect, as it feels like the ending is already a little spoiled because I know how the Great Depression and World War 2 progressed. Because of this, I won't be buying the book.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 8:12 pm by Juliana_Isabella.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Juliet+1
Based on the title, cover, blurb, and OBC review, I thought I would not enjoy reading "Wounded Angels." It appeared to have too much war, suicide, and religion for me. Reading the first ten pages did not change my mind. The writing and editing are fine, and I appreciated the first-person narration that made the book seem like a true memoir. But the story is very slow paced, and the characters are not particularly interesting. I do not intend to read any more of the book.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 8:11 pm by Juliet+1.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Brenda Creech
I love the title and cover of this book. As soon as I saw the cover, I wanted to check it out. The official review did a great job of summarizing the story, and I felt I wanted to read "Wounded Angels." As I read the free sample, it didn't take but a few pages for me to know I wanted to read the book. The portion I read was well-edited, and I didn't find anything that needed improving. If there were any errors, I didn't notice them as I was engrossed in the story from the first page. I will definitely be reading the rest of this book.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 6:56 pm by Brenda Creech.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Laura Lee
I appreciated both the Amazon blurb as well as the book review. They described a story that was complex and multi-faceted, but well-executed. The sample pages impressed me. The author writes clearly with a modicum of words. Making every word count, makes what he does say that much more powerful. I really enjoyed the author's "voice" and elegant use of words. There wasn't anything I particularly disliked in what I read in the sample pages.
The book appears to be carefully edited, although I did find a few, very minor typos. They probably wouldn't even be noticed if you weren't looking for them. I won't be finishing reading the book simply because stories spanning decades, stories of pain and heartache, do not appeal to me. If you do enjoy character-driven novels, though, give Wounded Angels a try. It's certainly well-written.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 6:21 pm by Laura Lee.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MsH2k
The title and the cover caught my eye. It was hard to tell what this book would be about, so I would have read the blurb even if I had not been part of this program. The blurb is too long. The only advantage to reading the sample pages after the blurb is to get a feel for the writing style. The author writes vividly, and I could picture young Maureen as the apple of her father’s eye. What a horrible experience to look up and see your father’s body hanging from a tree. I wonder if he would have stuck it out if he knew his family wouldn’t get his insurance settlement for suicide. How sad. I will not finish his book. I don’t want to go through all the hardships with Maureen. I did not notice any grammatical errors in the sample pages. A suggestion for improvement would be to have a shorter blurb. The featured OnlineBookClub review had no bearing on my decision not to read this book.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 6:17 pm by MsH2k.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Verna Coy
Had I not sampled this book through the First Ten program, I would have passed it up because the title feels sad somehow. For this reason, I don’t plan to buy and read the whole book today. Reading the first ten pages didn’t change my mind about my first impressions. The early part of the book is very sad. Based on what I read, the book seems professionally edited. I didn’t see errors in the first ten pages. What I liked most about what I read is Maureen’s deep love for her father. I know that fans of a book with some drama will appreciate aspects of this work. As far as improvements, although I didn’t notice errors, the Official review mentioned there being minor errors in the book, so a round of proofreading for the minor errors would be a help. 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 May 14, 2020, at 5:46 pm by Verna Coy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'Wounded Angels' is a book written by Chuck Miceli. The title, cover, and Amazon review did a good job at convincing me to give this book a try.
The sample of the book leads me to believe that it is the story of Maureen. Maureen lost her father when he committed suicide due to poverty in the 1930's. It was the time of WWII. As Maureen's family was German, their tailoring business was losing money. Her father committed suicide in the hopes of getting life insurance for his family. However, the insurance dud not cover death by suicide. Maureen was heart-broken. She waited for someone who would love her and never leave her. I like the journal format of the book. I found some errors. For example, it should have been “..each of the clothing stores..” instead of “..each of clothing stores..” I do not think that it is professionally edited. The editing can be improved. I will give this book a try as I like reading books of this genre as of now.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 5:40 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Nikolas Farmakis
This is a piece of Christian romance about themes such as faith, grief, and loss. It is set during the years after the Great Depression before World War II. I would not have read the book based on the cover, the title, or the genre, as I do not like romance books related to life in the US after the Great Depression. I will not read the book, as I do not like books related to romance, while I also found the book boring. The book seemed professionally edited, as I did not notice any errors in the sample I read. What I liked most about this book was that it contained a realistic plot that followed a real-life scenario. To improve, the author should add more drama and tension to the text to engage the reader more in the story. The book had an Official OnlineBookClub review, which did not affect my choice.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 5:16 pm by Nikolas Farmakis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Stephanie Runyon
The narration through Maureen's point of view was done so I could feel what she was going through. The cover of this novel is nicely done. When I read the OBC review, I was hesitant on whether I would like reading a memoir, as I avoid them in general. After reading the ten pages, I changed my mind, finding the story was very realistic. I found no errors, and have decided to continue with reading the whole book. I have no improvement suggestions as I enjoyed what I have read.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 3:49 pm by Stephanie Runyon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Chelsy Scherba
I really enjoyed the first part of the book I sampled. Maureen is very well-depicted by the author. I liked how he described the setting of the depression era and Maureen’s father’s tailor business. As the Jewish refugees began to move into the district, the Jewish residents stopped going to him due to his German ancestry and went to Jewish tailors instead. I really like that the author emphasizes God’s work through other people. As someone who lost my dad recently, the kindness of others has proved this to be true to me. I’m interested in reading more of this book. The cover and title really caught my eye and made me want to read the review. I enjoyed the review, but I think I would enjoy the book even more. The book is well-edited without errors. I would not have found this book outside of the program.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 3:36 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Laura Ungureanu
The cover seemed nice, but the title is a little bit of a clique. However, I was willing to give it a chance until I read in the OBC review that this is a Christian romance. I have nothing with the book, but I don't like Christian fiction and I don't like romance, so I'm sure that I also won't like a combination of the two. The sample starts with the time Maureen's father left. It describes lovely memories of him. The writing seems natural, and I can already feel the focus is going to be on character development. Although I don't have anything bad to say about it, this just isn't my genre. The article seems to be missing in "By noon, he visited each of clothing stores". Other than this minor thing, the editing looks fine.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 3:01 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Odette Chace
While I like the cover, the title seems a bit corny to me, and the blurb on the cover is even more so. The synopsis on Amazon was interesting, but it seems like it gives away the entire book. I'm also not sure how much of the synopsis is background information. It makes me worried for the writing style of the book. The official Online Book Club review gave the book 3 out of 4 stars, but didn't offer much criticism, so it didn't sway my opinion one way or the other on whether or not I want to read the book. I noticed a few minor errors while reading. For instance, "By noon, he visited each of [the] clothing stores on Atlantic Avenue and Fulton Street..." (41% of sample). While for the most part I enjoyed the sample, I was very disappointed in the reveal of the protagonist's father's death. The emotions that Maureen felt should have been shown, not explained. The writing in that scene felt very similar to what was in the synopsis on Amazon. As I feel I already know what's going to happen in the book, I don't feel compelled to read it.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 2:54 pm by Odette Chace.
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 would have attracted me to this book. Both the cover and title hint at a religion-based novel with themes tending more toward darkness than light. The genre is Christian romance. That's a triple-whammy in my book. Firstly, based on past experience, I know that I generally do not enjoy books that are either religion -based or which contain 'darker' themes of the type that would put 'wounded' in the title. The author is unknown to me, so that would not have affected my decision either way. The blurb describes the book as being fashioned as a memoir of love, loss, and, ultimately, healing. From this description and the customer reviews that follow it, I gathered that the book had heart-rending moments that were likely to bring tears. That clinched it. It was at this point that I decided not to read the book. I cry easily and prefer not to read books sure to cause tears. I did not see a review specifically identified as being from this program, but if I had, I likely would have given it at least slightly more weight than the others as I trust the reviewers in this program. Through the description of her childhood and losing her father, Maureen was both an interesting and engaging character. One could not help but feel for her when she discovered her father's body. In contrast, my favorite part of the sample was the moment when Frank informed his friend, very matter-of-factly, that she was "the future Mrs. Russo." I couldn't help but smile. Despite the fact that I had already become fond of and somewhat invested in Maureen, I had to keep in mind the high potential the book had of bringing tears. Ultimately, and somewhat reluctantly, it was for this reason I decided not to continue to read the book. The book seemed well-edited. I found no countable errors in the sample.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 1:31 pm by Kelyn.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Howlan
The cover is quite nice. The synopsis is quite lengthy and gives a detailed description of the book. The Official OBC review is present, and it gives a very good introduction to the book. The first ten pages start with Maureen describing her childhood and the sweet memories of her father. It was followed by her father's suicide in 1937. The story then continues to 1940 at the Cypress Avenue Roller Rink, when she meets and falls in love with Frank Russo as she skates with him. The narration is good and easy to understand with a vibrant emotional tone. The story starts nicely with a tragic background followed by a sweet romantic scene. However, I am not really interested in the genre of romance, and also the first ten pages failed to draw my interest in this story. The presence of conflict in the first ten pages would have been better. So I am not going to buy and read this book. Also, the use of humor in this book is quite a cliche and could be improved. No typos were found in the first ten pages.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 1:16 pm by Howlan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda
I love the cover of the book and the catchphrase is very compelling. However, the blurb is way too long. So much so that Amazon cut it mid-sentence. I think some readers could get bored and I don't like getting so much of the story revealed. Now I know that Maureen will fall for Larry. Despite this, the story sounds perfect for my taste and the book has great ratings so I would've bought it based on first impressions.
The first ten pages confirmed this book is right up my alley. I was deeply moved by the relationship between Maureen and her father before things turned dark. It's so endearing! What a lovely man! Especially because men in that time often disengaged themselves from child-rearing. The descriptions are fascinating, too. I could see the women bustling about while the men smoked outside. I'm intrigued to know what's in the envelope!
I found one editing mistake on position 191: "By noon, he visited each of clothing stores on Atlantic Avenue..." The preposition of is unnecessary. Other than these minor mistakes I don't think anything needs improvement. The book has an official review but I would've bought it with or without one. I'm very excited to read this story.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 12:56 pm by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Maria Esposito
I knew I would not be interested in reading this book before I sampled it. The main reason is that the blurb seems to be a thorough summary of the book, rather than a short excerpt to encourage readers to pick it up. While I wholeheartedly reckon that the story is poignant and captivating, I feel like the author gave everything away about the story in the blurb. Hence, I do not see a reason to buy the book when I already know exactly what is going to happen. The book only has two Amazon customer reviews, which are positive. However, this had no influence over my initial decision. Reading the first ten pages did not make me change my mind. The first ten pages describe Maureen's relationship with her father and his suicide, which happened as a result of his business's failure due to the Great Depression. My favorite thing about this book is the author's writing style. The dialogues are captivating, and the way the author carries the reader through the story made me want to read more. However, I did not like that the blurb gave so much away about the book. I think that the author could work on a blurb that gives away less information about the storyline, so to encourage readers to actually buy the book. The book has been professionally edited since I did not come across any errors. I came across an official review of the novel on Online Book Club, but this did not shift me from my initial decision.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 12:54 pm by Maria Esposito.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Emy Katherine
I would not have read the book without The First Ten program. I am not interested in reading Christian romance novels, and I did not change my mind after reading the sample and OBC review. The story follows the journey of Maureen as she struggles to deal with her fear of abandonment throughout her life. Unfortunately, her life changes for the worst after her husband's death. She starts suffering from depression, and the only person who seems to help her is Doris, a self-centered woman with a dark past. Although it is not my genre, I enjoyed reading the sample. The writing style was descriptive, and the characters were also relatable. In fact, I had no problem connecting with Maureen. As I found some grammatical and punctuation errors, I would suggest another round of editing. For example, it should be written "wide-brimmed hat" instead of "wide brimmed hat." (location 185 of 390 • 47%) It should also be written "to sit" instead of "sit" in the following sentence: "He would invite me sit on the bottom shelf of the clothing rack." (location 185 of 390 • 47%) I would also suggest the author shorten the Amazon blurb; I found it too long. I am not the target audience, but it will appeal to those who enjoy reading a story of hope, faith, and survival.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 12:42 pm by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Drakka Reader
I was not too interested in the book from the start. I do understand that character-driven plots can be nice, but I don't usually like them. The fact it is in reality also doesn't interest me because I like books to escape, not to read about depressing events.
Reading the first ten pages, I was still not interested. The main character's family falling into poverty because they keep losing workers due to being German was a depressing way to begin the story that turned me away.
The book didn't have any mistakes that I noticed, seeming well-edited. I liked that the family of the main character are not portrayed as mean or cruel, as it is too easy to make a character's past more depressing simply by making the family cruel. Her father and mother truly tried their best, even falling into poverty.
I didn't like that the book chose to start on this note. Knowing the main character's life went from good to bad just made me not want to read on, because the mood was depressing. I would change it to get the reader hooked before the inevitable fall of the family.
I will not be reading this book because the mood and premise do not interest me.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 11:33 am by Drakka Reader.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Scerakor
From the cover, blurb, and review of this book, I wouldn’t have read it. I tend to read books that have a bit of action or adventure in them and this one sounds like it wouldn't be exciting enough for me. 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 liked and appreciated the commentary this book shows on how hard it was to live and provide during the great depression. Discussing the feeling of guilt and the provisions of watery soup/stale bread is heartbreaking. That being said, I just don't think there is enough action in this book to keep me interested. It seems simply too dramatic for me. 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 May 14, 2020, at 10:25 am by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Theresa Moffitt
I like the cover and title of this book. The cover art of the angel makes me think the book will be inspiring or religious. I would have picked this book up based on the cover alone. I haven’t read a customer review of this book, but I did read an Online Book Club review of this book. The OBC review gave this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars and described the themes as including suicide, loss and the Great Depression. The OBC provided additional details about the story that I couldn’t determine from the first ten pages alone. This additional information was helpful in deciding whether I would finish reading this book. The first ten pages were interesting and well-written. I especially liked the characters. They had depth and were relatable. Maureen is the daughter of a tailor in New York City and describes her father and their relationship. They are living during the Great Depression and she describes how their lives changed as a result. When she experiences the horrific loss of her father due to suicide, her life changes drastically. I didn’t see any area that the author could improve upon. I also didn’t see any errors, so I believe the book was professionally edited based on the first ten pages alone. Although I enjoyed reading the first ten pages of this book, the themes seem too sad and dark for me to enjoy reading the rest of this book. I won’t finish reading this book.
First Ten review added on May 14, 2020, at 9:52 am by Theresa Moffitt.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 30%
Wounded Angels earned a score of 30%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 30% 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 Wounded Angels
