The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Broken Inn: (Relic, #5)
Because Broken Inn 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.
Ekta Kumari
The book essentially revolves around the mysteries of the Broken Inn where Hailey has witnessed a murder and suspects that the manager of the Broken Inn has something to do with it. This births an adventure where Hailey, Ash (the newspaper photographer), and a recluse named Relic must run for their lives while also attempting to find out the cause of the murder and the mystery behind the soon-to-be reopened Broken Inn. I wouldn't have read this book as I wasn't much intrigued by the blurb. Also, I've not read all the books in the series, and I assumed it would be important to read the other installments for a little background. However, while sampling, I liked that the author offered a brief description of the previous books in the series. Plus, based on sampling, I don't think reading all the previous books is really required to enjoy this one. What I liked most while sampling is definitely the writing, which is quite vivid. I was able to visualise Relic being stuck in the flash flood. I also like the suspenseful ending at the end of chapters. The only thing I missed is a little background detail of Relic's character, and that's where I presume reading the other books in the installment is important. I would recommend including some details about Relic's character for those who have not read the other books of the series. I did see an official OBC review before sampling. The book seems to be properly edited as I didn't see any editing errors in the portion sampled. I rate the book as professionally edited. I would hold up reading the whole book until I get to check out the entire series, which I probably will not as I'm not too intrigued by the themes. So, I will not be reading the whole book.
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 5:01 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ann Ogochukwu
The cover and title of this book were catchy. However, I wasn't intrigued by its OBC review, so I wouldn't have sampled this book outside this program. I also wasn't intrigued by the book itself, so I won't be completing it.
Nonetheless, I liked how descriptive the book was, especially in highlighting the topography of the creek. I also liked Relic's sense of humor after surviving the flood, especially when he said: "This is the worst thing that's happened since the last thing."
I didn't notice any errors while sampling. I don't think this book needs any improvement.
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 4:58 am by Ann Ogochukwu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
smolbird
Based on its official OBC review, I would have sampled this book based on its plot. Additionally, it has good reviews on Amazon, and I liked its cover's art style. I found the book to be well edited, as I did not notice any errors within the first ten pages. I like Baldwin's descriptive writing style. So far, I haven't found anything to dislike about it. However, I have decided not to read the rest of the book because its official OBC reviewer said that character development was overlooked in this novel. The characters and their development are important factors to me as a reader, so I suggest that the author pay more attention to this.
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 4:53 am by smolbird.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jeremie Mondejar
I'm familiar with the author, but I will not read this book because I haven't read the previous book, yet. I like the cover photo, the maps and the numerous reviews embedded in the beginning of the book. Like the previous sample of the prequels, the sample is quite entertaining and seems full of fun. The OBC review gives a detailed information about this book, which doesn't affect my decision. I also didn't notice any errors while sampling the book. The book doesn't have any issue, so nothing needs any improvements.
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 4:50 am by Jeremie Mondejar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
va2016
The title "Broken Inn" or the cover that shows a person falling does not convey the theme of the book. There are 13 Amazon customer ratings, which is good. The Amazon summary contains the story, which is about a press reporter Halley investigating the Broken Inn. As I am interested in this story, 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 Relic walking in and inspecting a Canyon. As I am interested in the overall story, I am going to read this book in full. I found the sample professionally edited. There were no grammatical or mechanical errors in the sample. What I liked most about the book is its overall story. I don't have any recommendations for the improvement of the book. Although I found one OBC review of the book, my decision to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 4:47 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Verna Coy
The cover of this book perfectly suits the story. It has elements of adventure as well as the suspense featured in the storyline. I don’t often read murder mysteries, so I don’t plan to purchase and finish this book, but I know that readers who love this genre will grab it right up! What I liked best about it is the vivid details in the scenery. Terms like ‘the twisted gorge’ bring to mind wonderfully descriptive scenes. I found no reasons for improvement on this work. I noticed no errors and it seems professionally edited in my opinion. I enjoyed the Official Online Book Club review, great work!
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 4:47 am by Verna Coy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Manang Muyang
This is the fifth book featuring the character Relic, a "moonshining hermit" in the remote canyons of Utah. In the earlier books, Relic always managed to stumble upon some crime that involved the destruction of the environment, and he assisted the good guys in stopping the bad guys and protecting nature. This one's no different. The official OBC review gave the book high marks but mentioned that character development was sacrificed. I wouldn't have sampled the book on my own because of that comment. The sample started with a flash flood that almost killed Relic. The author described the landscape vividly; I could almost feel the heat. Relic's struggle with the deluge was narrated in intricate detail. Here I told myself, "This is better seen than read. I'll wait for the movie." I decided not to read the rest of the book; it's also too deep into the series. There were hardly any errors. Two that I noted follow: At 78% of the sample, "You didn't used to be" should have had "use" although using "used" is a common mistake. Also, "Oh, god" at 87% should have used "God." Apart from those tiny flaws, I couldn't pinpoint any other need for improvement. I do like that Relic takes his role as guardian of the canyons seriously.
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 4:45 am by Manang Muyang.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Howlan
I think I would have read this book without the program. I like fictional mystery stories with good characters and this book looks great. The official OBC reviews put forward some constructive criticism about this book but I am still interested in reading it. In the first ten pages, we see Relic warning two people about a flash flood. Smith signs a contract with Edward selling his hotel to J and J Investments. Hailey visits her college advisor who advises her to take up an externship program after her mother's recent death due to covid. The narration is fast-paced and easy to understand. I am interested in the plot so I am going to buy and read this book today. 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 "3 out of 4 stars."
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 4:45 am by Howlan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
xsquare
Having sampled some of the other books in the series and choosing not to read them, I don’t think I would have sampled this book if it hadn’t been part of the First Ten program – although I really like the art style of the covers. The official OBC review did not convince me. I liked the map and the exciting start of Relic escaping the flash flood. I did not see any typos, and I don’t think that there was anything that the author could have done better. However, the genre does not really appeal to me. I don’t think I will be reading the rest of this book, especially when I’ve not read the others in the series.
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 4:35 am by xsquare.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sou Hi
The cover, the official review from OBC, and Amazon's reviews look alright. Since the blurb is promising, I decided to give the sample a try. It begins with Relic, who is almost killed in a flash flood. The scene then shifts to Edward, who is forced to accept an unsatisfactory deal. It also features Hailey, who is looking for a job.
I like the book's genre. The editing looks good, and I have no suggestions for improvement. However, the sample feels like a prologue to introduce the characters. I haven't seen how the three of them would be connected to each other. I will need more of the content to see if I should read the rest of the book. For now, I won't buy it.
Error example: He kicked to keep his feet downstream, buffers against rocks, trees, or cliffs. -> I think it should be "buffering"
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 4:30 am by Sou Hi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Shrabastee Chakraborty
The cover was intriguing. However, despite the OBC review's recommendation, I wasn't interested in reading this book based on the premise. I couldn't find any errors in the first ten pages. Relic comes across two strangers the moment a flash flood occurs in the deserts. I liked the sense of urgency in those pages. I didn't dislike anything, nor do I have any suggestions for improvement. However, the premise didn't interest me much. So I would not read the entire book.
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 4:24 am by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Atieno Magero
I would have still read this book had I not sampled it for this program. I became interested in reading this book after reading its favourable official Online Book Club review. I will be purchasing this book to continue with the story. I found the first chapter very entertaining. I'm curious to see how the storyline unfolds. The book seems professionally edited. I did not come across any typos or errors while reading. I like the inclusion of a map at the beginning of the book. It'll help readers track events in the story. I also like how well-written the book is. I like how the book is in general. I only wish the author would have included a table of contents for readers to know how many chapters the book has.
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 4:21 am by Atieno Magero.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mercy Bolo
This book's cover (though artistic) didn't invite me to read it. The OBC review piqued my interest when it mentioned that the story follows a reporter who witnesses a murder. When I read the sample, I liked that Relic took responsibility and admitted that it was his fault he got caught up in the flash flood. Since I spotted no errors, I will conclude that the text underwent professional editing. There is nothing I disliked about the book, but I won't read the rest of it since a crime thriller doesn't appeal to me. I wouldn't change anything about the bit I read.
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 2:45 am by Mercy Bolo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Justine Ocsebio
I wouldn’t have sampled the book based on the blurb, as I wasn’t interested in the premise. I like how the first chapter throws the reader right into the action. Relic is a hermit who lives in a desert land. In the first chapter, a flash flood swept Relic away. He almost drowned, but he managed to survive. I’m not going to read the book, as I’m not interested in the premise. I disliked nothing, and I didn’t see anything that needed improvement. The text is well edited. The OBC review helped influence my decision.
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 2:20 am by Justine Ocsebio.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Chelsy Scherba
I like how the book started off with a fair bit of action with Relic getting caught in a rockslide. I also thought the editing looked professional because I didn’t see any errors. I don’t have any suggestions to improve the book. The adventure genre and crime are not genres I typically read, so I wouldn’t have found this book to my liking outside of the program. The OBC review was fine, but it didn’t really inspire me to want to read the book because the genres just don’t interest me. I do like the cover design and the writing was decent. I’m going to pass for now though. The book isn’t my cup of tea.
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 1:39 am by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mary WhiteFace
Without the First Ten program, I would not have been interested in reading a murder mystery. I have never really cared for them. Reading the first ten pages did not change my mind. The presence of an OnlineBookClub review did not influence my decision.
The book seemed to be professionally edited. I have no suggestions for improvements. The part I liked best was after Relic was caught in a flash flood, tossed around by the surging water, practically drowning as he holds on to a barrel, while doing his best to avoid slamming into the truck that is being thrown around in the water alongside him, the force of the water finally subsides. He stands and casually smiles saying, "This is the worst thing that’s happened since the last thing." Then speaking aloud to his pants and boots he says, "I'll dry you out later." For some reason that end of the flood scene had me laughing as I reread it a couple of times.
Even though the first ten pages were entertaining, at some point I know someone will be murdered. Because of that, I will not be reading the whole book.
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 1:20 am by Mary WhiteFace.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Aubrey Lewis
The overall appearance of the book is interesting and a bit eye-catching, in my opinion. When I read through the official OBC review, I felt curious about the book since I am usually fond of reading mystery and well-written crime thrillers. If I weren't a part of this program, I think I still would've read the sample since the book's cover, genres, and summary interested me enough to want to check it out willingly.
When I finished sampling the first ten pages, I decided not to read the rest of the book. The contents seemed professionally edited so far, and the author's writing style was descriptive and polished. The premise started off confusing since I had no idea what was happening and I felt that there were too many details in each paragraph for me to be able to properly imagine what was happening. Also, in the next chapter, Edward seemed to be waiting for someone and in the end, after getting caught off-guard by the deal, eventually accepted. It seemed that the man Smith took an interest in Broken Inn but his intentions are still unclear.
Due to the confusing descriptions for a simple reader like me and also because nothing really interested me enough to want to read any further, I will have to pass on this book. Since my reason is due to my own personal preference, I don't think there are any improvements the author needs to make.
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 1:01 am by Aubrey Lewis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jennifer Donovan Smith
I would have sampled this book based on my familiarity with the author thanks to OBC. I find the cover and title appealing, and I like the wolf silhouette. The official OBC review rates this book 3 out of 4 stars, stating that character development is lacking.
I knew right away that I would not be purchasing this book because it is the fifth in a series, and I have not read the other books. I do not like reading books out of order, even when they can stand alone.
Throughout the sample, dashes are formatted incorrectly. There should not be a space before and after an em dash in American publishing. For example, at Loc. 88, "Devil's Roost canyon — one in the deep arroyo" should be written "Devil's Roost Canyon—one in the deep arroyo." (The word "canyon" should also be capitalized as it is part of the location name.)
I really liked the action and clarity of the scene where Relic is washed away by the floodwaters. Even though it was fast-paced, it was written clearly enough for me to picture in my mind's eye.
I have no suggestions for the author, and I could not identify anything needing improvement. Unfortunately, I cannot read this one without having read the previous books.
First Ten review added on September 6, 2021, at 12:09 am by Jennifer Donovan Smith.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jsovermyer
This book has an interesting cover, but it's not intriguing enough that I would buy it from the cover alone. The reviewer for this book gave it a high rating. I found no spelling or grammatical errors and believe it has been exceptionally well edited. I liked the character of Relic. He seemed like an ornery old man who really cared about preserving the land. I wish that Hailey had been a more likeable character since she is the main character of the book. She seemed ungrateful to Carol for finding her an externship. She seemed to think she was too good to take the job. I didn't like her or care what would happen to her. Although this seems to be an interesting story, I didn't get invested in it from the sample pages. I will not be finishing this book.
First Ten review added on September 5, 2021, at 9:55 pm by Jsovermyer.
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. The Amazon blurb did not seem to be edited and was difficult to read which would have turned me away from the book. After reading the first ten pages, I won’t be finishing this book. I liked the description of the flash flood and Relic’s journey through the arroyo. I felt like I could really see the scene playing out. However, I wasn’t as interested once it switched to Edward in the second chapter. I also didn’t like all of the quotes before chapter one started. The introduction section needs improvement as it was confusing and repetitive. I would suggest just deleting everything before chapter one. The book did seem to be professionally edited. It just isn’t my type of book.
First Ten review added on September 5, 2021, at 9:47 pm by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MsH2k
I recognized both the character Relic and the style of the book cover from a previous book in the series, Diamonds of Devil’s Tail. I would not have sampled this book if I were not part of this program—I remembered the previous book as being well written, just not my cup of tea. The sample pages moved quickly, with lots of action. It was exciting to experience Relic maneuvering the currents in that flash flood. I loved his expression when he was safely back on the ground: “This is the worst thing that’s happened since the last thing.” The action of the sample pages was a fun ride, but I will not buy this book book because I’m not interested in this much action and adventure at this time. The book appeared to have been professionally edited. I did not notice any grammatical errors in the first ten pages of the story. The featured OnlineBookClub review had no bearing on my decision, and I have no suggestions for improvement.
First Ten review added on September 5, 2021, at 8:48 pm by MsH2k.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gabrielle Sigaki
Broken Inn by A.W. Baldwin is a book about a western adventure with crime, mystery, and a lot of suspense too. If I didn't sample this book, I wouldn't read it based on its Official OnlineBookClub review since I'm not interested in western adventures with crime like this one. After sampling it, I didn't change my mind and I won't read the entire book since its theme didn't interest me. However, the book seems professionally edited, I think there's nothing to be improved in it, and I liked the fact that the author includes suspenseful descriptions in the scenarios. For example, not explaining everything that is happening in order to make the readers curious about what is going to happen.
First Ten review added on September 5, 2021, at 6:25 pm by Gabrielle Sigaki.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sarah_Khan
The cover and title of this book are average. After reading the Amazon blurb, I would not have sampled this book because the blurb was missing punctuation and adequate spacing, which made me think this book will not be professionally edited. The beginning of the book started with action. Relic seemed like a fun character and I loved the quote "this is the worst thing that's happened since the last thing". I was happy to see that the book itself was well edited. The OBC review was mostly positive. The reviewer did mention a lack of character development. I've always thought the characters are what make the story, so I will have to pass on reading the rest of this book. I do not have any suggestions for the author.
First Ten review added on September 5, 2021, at 5:25 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sanju Lali
When I looked at the cover and title of this book, I guessed that it is a crime thriller loaded with mystery. Therefore, I considered reading the OBC official review of this book to know more about the setting of the story. The OBC official review gave me the idea that the book focuses on Carol and Hailey, who are looking for a job opportunity in Utah besides a mysterious canyon. This information motivated me to read the sample of the book before purchasing it. When I read the first ten pages, I realized that this book is not professionally edited because I found some grammatical errors in the sample. For example, the sentence, "Pressure rose in his lungs to near explosion, his diaphragm tensing, preparing to blow his final breath from his chest, when finally he spun upward, his head breaking through, and he gasped." The sentence could have been as follows, "Pressure rose in his lungs to the near explosion, his diaphragm tensing, preparing to blow his final breath from his chest, when finally he spun upward, his head breaking through, and he gasped." The thing l liked the most in this book is the scene where the coffee-colored water of flash flood was carrying Relic and showed how dangerous could the flash floods are in the narrow canyons. I found the scene was much gripping. My suggestion to the author would be to go for a round of professional editing and make the book easier to read. I also suggest minimizing the use of irony because it confuses a bit sometimes. Anyway, despite the shortcomings, I find the story very much captivating. Therefore, I decided to purchase this book and read it today.
First Ten review added on September 5, 2021, at 2:23 pm by Sanju Lali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kirsi Cultrera
The cover picture of this book had some exciting elements. However, I also recognized the author’s name and was familiar with his writing style from some earlier books. Unfortunately, I was not particularly fond of what I read before and would probably not have sampled this book without this program. There is always continuous action in his books, and he is very good at creating action scenes. Based on the sample, that seemed to be the case with this book as well. From the very beginning, this book was full of breathtaking moments. For starters, I read how Relic was swept away by a sudden flood in the canyons. However, I feel that this book lacks some serious character development. It also seems to me that the author might have written this book focusing on male readers. That is perfectly acceptable, and I think many of his target group will enjoy this book. The editing seemed professional to me. The Official OnlineBookClub review did not manage to alter my decision one way or the other. I will not read this book. I’d rather leave it to pure action lovers to discover.
First Ten review added on September 5, 2021, at 1:59 pm by Kirsi Cultrera.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Dzejn_Crvena
Outside this program, I wouldn't have sampled this book based on the blurb and genre. The OBC review convinced me to read the book because I thought it's a fast-paced novel. When I read the sample, I had a hard time getting through chapter one. The description is too long for me, and I couldn't focus on reading too many details. The first ten pages are about Relic's attempt to warn some men of an incoming flood, but one of them pointed a gun at him. He fell into a lower ground after trying to defend himself, and he was caught in the flood. The book seems professionally edited, and I like that there's a map in it. I don't have suggestions for improvements because I didn't find any errors.
First Ten review added on September 5, 2021, at 11:50 am by Dzejn_Crvena.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jorge Leon Salazar
I think the cover and title fit the story and the crime thriller genre. Hence, I consider potential readers should be attracted. The blurb exposes the basis of the plot around the murder Hailey witnessed. Plus, it mentions several items that add mystery like the mob, the corrupt guard, and the uranium mine. Customer reviews are flattering and highlight the plot, characters, and settings. The crime thrillers are of my liking. Based on those elements I am prone to give this book a try. The sample begins by counting when Relic spots men in pickup trucks in Demon’s Root Canyon. Next, it starts to rain and a cloudburst occurs. Relic warns them of the danger of a flash flood but strangely one of the men points a gun at him. Relic manages to overcome the flash flood in which he nearly drowns. The following part of the sample tells about Edward and Mr. Smith conducting a lease deal, in which organized crime appears to be involved. The sample's last part narrates about Hailey and her college advisor, Carol. Carol suggests Hailey apply for an externship program in Utah to complete her grade. What I read raises some interesting situations like the mysterious men in Demon’s Root Canyon. In addition, the presence of gangsters is an element that adds mystery to the story. The official OnlineBookClub review highlights that Hailey witnesses a murder. Later, Relic saves her, and both along with Ash have to escape from the mobsters. The editing looks professional as I didn't see any details to comment on. In general, I did not see anything that I believe could be improved. What I sampled presents an intriguing plot of a crime thriller with a lot of mystery. Therefore, I will read the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on September 5, 2021, at 11:04 am by Jorge Leon Salazar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Diana Lowery
The cover did not appeal to me, but I liked the title because of the multiple meanings and connotations for both words. The blurb had some formatting errors, which I did not like. The OBC review did not change my mind about the book. The first ten pages, which described a flash flood, held my interest. I liked the line that Relic said, "This is the worst thing that has happened since the last thing." There was a capitalization error: Demon's Roost [c]anyon. I am not going to finish reading the book because this is part of a series.
First Ten review added on September 5, 2021, at 9:21 am by Diana Lowery.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Rodel Barnachea
After I went over the title's Amazon page and official OnlineBookClub review, I decided not to acquire the action thriller novel. I did not find myself intrigued in finding out what happened during the time when Hailey witnessed a man being murdered. I am also not curious about the identity of the murderer, and I am not fascinated by Relic's role in the canyons. Poring over its Amazon sample did not change my mind. I would not purchase it because nothing in the text piqued my curiosity, captured my attention, or compelled me to read the rest of the story. It is also because my sampling of the title failed to dispel the initial opinions I had about the title. The first ten pages cover Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and some pages of Chapter 3. My favorite part is when one of the men pulled a gun and pointed it at Relic even though he (Relic) did them a favor by warning them about the flash flood. I could not identify any errors in the sample; I believe the book is professionally edited. I have no advice to offer to the author.
First Ten review added on September 5, 2021, at 8:58 am by Rodel Barnachea.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
gen_g
Looking at the title and cover, the book seems like a thriller or mystery – I am not looking for books from these genres, so I would not have sampled it. I did come across a mainly positive OBC review of the book, but I would not have changed my mind regarding sampling because of the genre mismatch. After sampling for First Ten, it becomes obvious that there are grammar errors present. To illustrate, at 39% in the sample, there is a missing comma to mark the introductory word: "Now(,) the sound of thunder...". I suggest more editing to improve the book quality. I appreciate that author's consideration to include a topographical map at the beginning of the book, which will help the readers form a clearer image of the background. In addition, I like that the story starts with an exciting scene – Relic is aware that a flash flood is coming, and he yells at two men in the dry creek bed below him to run before the deluge arrives. Other than the need for more close editing, I have no further suggestions for the improvement of the book. However, as I am not in the market for thrillers/mysteries, I will not be buying the book today.
First Ten review added on September 5, 2021, at 5:54 am by gen_g.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Catherine Hsu
If I had not been part of the First Ten program, I would not have read this book. There are already errors in the blurb where there are sentences missing punctuation and indents. After reading the sample, I have changed my mind. The book was actually professionally edited and while I am typically not a fan of financial fiction, the book managed to make Smith's financial woes, worries, and dreams really relatable. The inn is a great theme as well. There's really nothing I'd change about the book. Although the official review says characters' "feelings were shallowly portrayed," I think I will still give the book a shot. The OnlineBookClub official review thus did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on September 5, 2021, at 1:19 am by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Ari Martinez
If it wasn't for this program, I wouldn't sample this book based on its title, cover, or Official OnlineBookClub review because the plot did not seem like something I would enjoy. Reading the sample did not change my mind. I just don't see myself enjoying this type of book. My favorite part of the sample was Relic getting caught in the flash flood. It was written in a very interesting and suspenseful way. The book seems well edited, and I don't think it needs improvement.
First Ten review added on September 5, 2021, at 1:04 am by Ari Martinez.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
J_odoyo
After reading the first ten pages, I have realized that this book envelops a riveting story that will appeal to many fans of crime thrillers. Broken Inn by A. W. Baldwin is indeed a seemingly well-written book. In the earlier pages, Relic is caught up in a flash flood and nearly drawn while warning others about it. He is unsure of what the men and the two vehicles were doing in the Demon’s Roost Canyon. The progress of this book is inviting, and I can’t stop guessing what is next. Besides an attractive cover page, the book also has a catchy title. I appreciate the fact that this book had an OnlineBookClub review, which gave insight into what the book is all about. The sample was well-edited, and I couldn’t spot any errors. It is easier to wager that the book was professionally edited. I liked the author’s narration skills, and the book’s description on the Amazon website was also okay. However, reading this sample didn’t change my mind to finally finish reading this book; I’m not a fan of this genre. I have no recommendation for the improvement of this book; the sample was well written.
First Ten review added on September 5, 2021, at 12:19 am by J_odoyo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kaitlyn Canedy
Because I recognize the author's name, I likely would have read the sample of Broken Inn. I liked the fact that the author included so many characters early on; this helped demonstrate to readers that there won't be any lack of diversity. Hailey shows determination, even though she has been through a tough time. Based on what I know about the book, I do not think that it needs any improvements. There were no grammatical errors either. I am not sure if I can keep up with the characters because I do not think that I know enough about them; it is for this reason that I will be passing on this title. There is an official OnlineBookClub review for this book, but I did not need to read it to make a decision. Readers who enjoy suspenseful and descriptive mystery books may enjoy this title.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 9:19 pm by Kaitlyn Canedy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Stephanie Runyon
I have sampled books by A.W Baldwin previously, and I wasn't really a fan of the stories. I would have bypassed the book. The sinister start to the plot was a feature I liked. I noted no errors and would believe the book is professionally edited. Improving the character development would be a great benefit to the overall story. I am not sure why Relic lives in the desert and is alone. The OBC review assisted with my choice to pass on this book, as it aligns with my thoughts on the character development. I will not finish reading the book.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 8:04 pm by Stephanie Runyon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Hazel Arnaiz
I enjoy suspense and thrillers, but I will skip this book outside the program. I cannot find an association between the title and the cover, which leaves me clueless about the story.
Also, the color scheme of the book cover seems pale and might need some contrast to liven it up a bit. Based on the blurb, the story of a reporter uncovering a murder sounds typical. I am looking for something fresh. Customer reviews are positive, and the common feedback is that the story is action-packed.
Sampling confirmed that there is indeed a lot of action, and it is also fast-paced. The chapters are a quick read and leave enough suspense to keep on turning the pages. I appreciate how the story weaves the advocacy of protecting the environment into the action and suspense. These factors changed my mind about the book. For editing, I noticed a typo error.
Page 11. Typo. Consider changing "I" with "in."
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied [in] critical articles or reviews.
Aside from the previously mentioned comment about the book cover, I have no other suggestions. Likewise, the insights from the official OnlineBookClub review are helpful. They contributed to my decision to finish reading the book.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 6:13 pm by Hazel Arnaiz.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Emy Katherine
In all honesty, I would have read the book on my own. I am a huge fan of crime thrillers, and reading both the OBC review and the sample increased my interest in reading the rest of the book. The story is set in Utah and follows Relic, a gin-brewing recluse who finds himself in a dangerous situation after helping Hailey, a reporter who witnesses a homicide after arriving in Utah. I liked the story was told from multiple perspectives, making it easier for me to be invested in the story. The first chapters were also filled with suspense and action, and I only noticed minor errors that did not distract me from my reading. For example, I noticed a missing comma before "and" in the following sentence: "The only thing she owned was her old Chevy Blazer and its transmission was starting to slip." (location 243 of 288 • 84%) Personally, nothing needs to be improved.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 5:46 pm by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
TheMazeRunner
After Hailey witnessed a murder on her bike ride, she questions everything. Having to write an interview with the murderer, she doesn't know what to do. Is her dream of finding happiness in Utah a failure? I would sample the book, and I will read the rest of it. I love the writing style and the suspense is perfect. It has the official OBC review and no errors in the sample. I wouldn't change anything in it.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 4:31 pm by TheMazeRunner.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mariana Figueira
Before reading the book's first pages, I wasn't interested in it because nothing on the cover got my attention, though I liked the pun in the title. After sampling the book, I don't want to continue reading it because the plot didn't intrigue me. I like the main character's name, Relic, and it was interesting to find out about flash floods because I didn't know there could be any kind of flooding in the desert. This book seems professionally edited and has an official Online BookClub review. There was nothing I saw that needed improvement.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 4:10 pm by Mariana Figueira.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kelyn
As I am not a fan of mysteries, it is unlikely that I would have run across this book. Even if I had, there is nothing in particular about the title or cover that would have caught my eye. However, the author and the blurb certainly would have! I am familiar with (and fond of) Relic, from a previous book written by this author. He was my favorite character. It seems like he is just a magnet for trouble and, from reading the blurb and the sample, now Hailey has been pulled into it too - just because she took the externship near the canyon. Talk about bad luck. She's merely looking through her binoculars one day and witnesses a murder! Once she gets involved with Relic, things are sure to turn into a wild ride. (Some of these events were not revealed in the sample but rather in the customer reviews on the Amazon site and the official OBC review on this site, all of which made the book sound quite interesting.) I did not see an OBC review on the Amazon site. If I had, I would have been interested in what the reviewer had to say. I think my favorite part of the sample was when Relic managed his ride in the flash flood safely. I cannot think of anything I would change. The author's writing is superb. In the end, I had to weigh my engagement with the characters against my ambivalence about the mystery genre. Although I enjoyed reading about Relic in the previous book, I have decided, due to the genre, not to continue to read this book. I will leave that to those more invested in mysteries than I. The book seemed well -edited. I found no 'countable' errors in the sample.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 3:40 pm by Kelyn.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Brenda Creech
Both the cover and the title of this book caught my attention, so I would have checked it out because I enjoy crime novels. After reading the OBC review, I was somewhat intrigued. As I read the first ten pages I did not find any errors or anything I felt needed improving. As I was only able to get a small dose of the story in the first ten pages, I didn't find my interest piqued enough to continue. What I read was about Relic discovering the two pickup trucks and seeing two men walking up a dry creek bed. When Relic realized a flash flood was coming and tried to warn the men to get out of the creek bed one of them pulled a gun. But before they could shoot they were all caught up in the roaring water. I admit Relic's tumble in the raging flood was scary, however, I didn't find out what happened to the two men. I was able to read enough to determine this isn't quite the type of story that would keep me enthralled. Therefore, I have decided not to continue reading this book.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 2:18 pm by Brenda Creech.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda
I recognize the style of the cover art from other Books of the Day. The blurb, though full of hooks for the reader, also has a sloppy edition, which is an ominous sign in my book. That's why I wouldn't have bought the book based on my first impressions, despite the high ratings.
What I liked the most about the first ten pages is how the raw narrative style complements the ruggedness of the setting. For example, the following metaphor: "The cliffs above him seemed to glow, slivers of clay injected into the blood-red sandstone like fat marbled into raw steak." Or later on how "The newborn river hurtled him around the bend, a choleric infant wailing at the world."
Unfortunately, I don't care about the plot or the action-packed narrative that left my head spinning. The official OBC review didn't change my mind. Although I didn't find editing mistakes in the text, I would suggest fixing the editing flaws of the blurb because it gives an awful first impression.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 2:13 pm by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
markodim721
I would choose to read a sample of this book because of its title and cover. The title of the book reminds me of adventure, action, and reminds me of a detail from a Western. The cover is designed to clearly indicate danger and uncertainty and fit well with the title. I will buy this book because I am intrigued by the sample I read. I also like that the characters are designed very convincingly. Reading the sample didn’t change my mind from my original guess. While reading the sample I did not notice any typos or errors and the book seems like it is professionally edited. I like the way the landscape in Demon’s Roost canyon is described as well as the weather conditions. I think the flash flood is very convincingly described. I think Chapter 3 should be better linked to the previous two. The book has an Official OnlineBookClub review.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 2:08 pm by markodim721.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Laura Ungureanu
I had a deja-vu when I saw this cover. I thought I knew this book, but it was just the same author and the same cover design. I remember not enjoying the first book I sampled from this author, but my memory didn't help me remember why. Anyway, I definitely like the way this cover looks because of the contrasting colors. The OBC review presented some highlights of the book. Even though I find the plot to be intriguing, crime thrillers are usually not what I like, so I wasn't going to sample this book if it wasn't for the program. When I got to sample it, I noticed I didn't like the Western atmosphere. Everything seemed emphasized and cold. It was fast-paced and captivating, as Relic was carried away by the river. However, I'm not interested in reading more of this book. I feel disconnected from the plot and the characters. A warmer writing style could really help readers like me get into this book. I didn't notice any grammar errors.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 1:56 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Michelle Menezes
From the title and cover, I thought it was an adventure novel with Indiana Jones kind of vibe. The blurb was interesting, and I realised it was a suspense-thriller. The Official OnlineBookClub review had positive things to say about the book, but also pointed out that it lacked character development. It made me skeptical about picking the book. After reading the first ten pages, I have decided not to continue with it. The only thing I liked was Relic, the protagonist. He came across as brave and a little reckless. The beginning didn't excite me, as all it consisted of was Relic warning two men about the flash flood and getting caught up in it, and a meeting between two other men regarding the lease of an inn. In terms of improvement, I think an intense beginning would be great to keep the reader interested. The murder could have been included in the prologue. I didn't find any errors, so the book seemed professionally edited.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 12:55 pm by Michelle Menezes.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AntonelaMaria
From the cover, I thought this was a comic book. I would never guess it was a thriller. The genre of this book is not for me. After reading the sample, I'm not curious enough to continue reading. I like Relic and his sense of humor. In the beginning, we have a map, which is very helpful. I'm not the right audience for this book, but I can see other readers enjoying it. There is an informative Official Onlinebookclub review of this book. I didn't notice any grammatical errors, and I wouldn't change anything about this book.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 12:45 pm by AntonelaMaria.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'Broken Inn' is a book written by A.W. Baldwin. Two appraisers visited Demon's Roost Canyon. They experienced flash floods. This posed a problem for Edward. Hailey had lost her mother to Covid. She promised her mother to graduate with honors. She takes up an externship in Utah to pay the bills. I like how the author refers to the sadness that COVID havoc. The editing is great. There is nothing in need of an improvement. I would not read this book without the sample based on the cover, title, genre, blurb, editorial reviews, and customer reviews as I am not in the mind-frame to read books of this genre as of now. The OBC review is informative. I will skip this book as I am not invested in the story.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 12:15 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Theresa Moffitt
The cover and title of this book look interesting to me. It looks to be a murder mystery or adventure story. I definitely would have picked this book up based on the cover alone. The Online Book Club review was very complimentary about the book and the characters. This increased my interest and provided enough information that I didn’t need to read any additional customer reviews. The first ten pages were written very well and I didn’t see any errors. So, I believe the book was professionally edited. I also didn’t see any area that he author could improve upon. Relic lives in the canyons and is instantly alarmed when he sees two trucks there. He wants to learn what the strangers are up to and gets closer to the trucks to see what he can find out. As he is looking at the trucks, there is a flash flood and he is swept away. He tries to shield himself from hitting the trucks when they are also picked up but he rush of water and carried away. I liked how the story begins with such dramatic action. It really pulled me into the story immediately. It makes me want to learn more about Relic and the strangers in the canyon. I would like to finish reading this book.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 12:09 pm by Theresa Moffitt.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Bertha Jackson
The cover and title of this book were enough to arouse my interest in this crime thriller. The blurb, editorial reviews, customer reviews, and the OnlineBookClub review promised adventure, mystery, and suspense. The first ten pages did not disappoint me with a flash flood and a gun pointed at Relic. The first page had me sitting on the edge of my seat with anticipation, and I knew I wanted to buy and read this book. The book appears to have been edited by a professional editor as I did not see any errors or anything I would change in the first ten pages. There was nothing I disliked in the first ten pages. This is a fast-paced and action-packed book. I have bought the book and will eventually read it.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 9:35 am by Bertha Jackson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Melisa Jane
I wouldn't have sampled this book based on its title because it's not suggestive of the contents of the book. After sampling it, I won't finish reading it because the sample pages weren't enough to help me make an informed decision. I liked the storyline in the author's blurb; it seems Relic and Wyatt had the adventure of their lives. I don't have any improvement suggestions. I didn't find any grammatical errors while reading. I haven't seen an official OBC review of this book but that's because I haven't checked yet. However, this didn't affect my decision.
First Ten review added on September 4, 2021, at 9:01 am by Melisa Jane.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 24%
Broken Inn earned a score of 24%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 24% 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 Broken Inn
