The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Cracking the CODE to Marital Bliss: How to go from pain, frustration & boredom to passion, pleasure and purpose
Because Cracking the CODE to Marital Bliss 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.
Bianka Walter
This isn't a book that I would have sampled without the first ten program. I am not married, nor do I see marriage in my near future, so this book doesn't apply to me. After reading the first ten pages, I enjoyed the conversational narrative of the authors, Tad especially, and can see why this book got such a good review from the OBC. The book seems well-edited; I found no obvious errors. I won't be reading this book further, as stated before - it just doesn't apply to me.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2018, at 3:25 am by Bianka Walter.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Annelore Trujillo
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover and title. I don't usually read non-fiction books, and this book about marriage didn't seem like something I'd enjoy. After reading the sample, I won't be finishing this book. I was disappointed that the sample only had the introduction and didn't include any of the actual book. I did like the way the story of Adam and Eve was written. It gave it a humorous twist with the way their encounter was described. I also think this could be a good book people struggling to find the passion in their marriage but I'm not married so this book doesn't pertain to me. I did like that the author gave a personal recount of how he surprised his wife with vow renewals and how they never really lost the honeymoon feel. I also appreciated that the book seemed to be professionally edited. However, I'm not interested in the content.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2018, at 2:56 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Vickie Noel
I'm not married. Even though I'm not averse to self-help books, most times, I don't just set out to purchase them; unless, perhaps, I'm in a certain mood.
So I can't say for sure whether or not I'd have sampled this book outside the program based on its looks. However, I must confess that I really enjoyed reading the sample. I'd started reading with eagle-eyed keenness - to find faults - and ended up quite captivated. Although I was almost put-off by the author(s) innuendo when they said, "What was presumably invented by God...," as if the institution of marriage could have come from anywhere else, or when they referenced God as a female by saying, "God herself," I found myself smiling at the conjured-up, mental scenario of the conversational exchange between the first human pair, Adam and Eve. Basically, the highly down-to-earth tone of writing employed in the book made it quite easy to read, and I appreciated the author's tongue-in-cheek expressions regarding his previous wrong attitudes. Yet, I think there was an unwritten swear off the use of commas at the beginning. Commas before coordinating conjunctions (especially the part where he did his soul searching), when introducing a quote, and when using sentence interrupters were lacking like a plague. For example, consider the following sentences: "They had the traditional credentials...but they weren't "life-experience" qualified to teach..."
"So he says "Hey Eve darling..."
"And amazingly, through my marriage I have the power to influence my children..."
Commas are needed before "but they," "hey Eve" and "I have" in these sentences respectively. The OBC review had effectively highlighted the book's strong points, but my fondness of the work is in the conversational tone of the author(s). However, it's a book for married couples, and since I'm not there yet, I would be holding off on my purchase until the most appropriate time. No point getting all fired up with ideas when there's no one to practice them on.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2018, at 1:12 am by Vickie Noel.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Heidi M Simone
If it wasn't for this program, I would not have sampled this book. Personally, I don't enjoy self-help books and the concept of marriage bliss isn't something that I'm struggling with. The cover does seem a bit wordy and I'm not sure why the word, "code", is capitalized in the title, but it's a bit off-putting. The blurb does give a general idea of what the book will be about, but again, it isn't a concept that's relatable to me. The positive customer and OBC ratings do not affect my opinion of the book. Based on what I read, the book could use another round of editing. For example, the line from "Why the Gods are Laughing", "The sky is azure blue; it's 72 degrees with a soft breeze; rivers and streams flowing..." has two semicolons. The sentence would be better broken up with periods or commas. As the authors speak about their marriage, the creation of man and woman, and about the purpose of the book, I found the tone to be conversational. With the tone alone, I can see many wanting to give this book a try. Personally, I'm not a fan of how the authors are emphasizing a marriage is between a man and a woman. Nowadays, there are several different types of marriage and I fear those in same-sex marriages/relationships, for example, would be turned off by this book. Also, I'm surprised that the authors mention this book isn't about how to have better communication; I would think this would be the first step of having a blissful marriage. In general, the concept doesn't apply to me and I don't enjoy self-help books, therefore, I do not plan on buying and reading the book.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2018, at 11:54 pm by Heidi M Simone.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sahani Nimandra
Cracking the CODE to Marital Bliss by James T. Horning with Kimberly A. Horning is a good read providing marital advice. Sadly, in Amazon a sample read isn't available, and the title isn't currently available for purchase. The official review provides a detail description about this read, but I don't wish to read this topic since I don't have an interesting toward it, and I don't belong to its target audience.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2018, at 10:28 pm by Sahani Nimandra.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
kfwilson6
Relationship improvement books and particularly guides to a happier marriage are always of interest to me. I believe you can always work to improve your marriage. I particularly like the synopsis indicates the concepts in this book are effective even if the reader's partner is not a participant in the "improving" process.
After reading the sample, I am a bit uncertain as to whether or not the Hornings will offer useful, practical advice. However, I appreciated Tad's infusion of humor and his laid-back approach to the topic of marriage. I believe there is potential in the text and will finish reading the book despite the many missing commas and inconsistency I noted; Tad introduces the book by discussing the authors' vow renewal for their 20th anniversary, but then on the same topic he says it was their 25th anniversary.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2018, at 8:13 pm by kfwilson6.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Nelsy Mtsweni
The couple on the cover look happy and genuinely in love, and so I would have chosen to read the book to find out what their secret is. Having read the review and the sample, I discovered that I could learn a lot from the book. The book gives tips to make marriage a lovely success, with the partners delighting in each other just as they used to when dating. Although I am not married, I am planning on reading this book entirely so that I would recommend it to my friends who are already married. Also, I think the book would be useful to me for when I walk down the aisle (whenever that is:-).I have learned that a marriage can be as romantic as dating and that if it is not, then this book can fix that. The book was professionally edited. Thanks
First Ten review added on December 7, 2018, at 7:50 pm by Nelsy Mtsweni.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Chelsy Scherba
I really enjoyed the author’s engaging tone. His story about being arrogant to the point he drove his wife out of the car and learned from the experience to overcome his need to always be right, was interesting. The author’s desire to be inclusive to all religious faiths seemed a little awkward and uncomfortable. At one point, he referred to God as “her” which I found a little bothersome. He also tried to cater to atheists. The apparent lack of knowing exactly what the author believes was a little unsettling. It would be better if he unabashedly announced what he believes and leave it at that. At least then it would be clear as to where he’s coming from spiritually. Apart from that, the book flows well and I liked the reference to the Matrix he made. I’m not married or in a relationship, but still find the information interesting because it can apply to family relationships as well. I will add the book to my reading list. The editing was very professional and I didn’t see any errors. I really like the cover image and font.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2018, at 6:58 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Alice Heritage
I wouldn't have sampled this book had it not been for the program as the subject matter isn't relevant to me. I won't buy and read it for the same reason and because I suspect it stereotypes men and women. Also, I couldn't find a Kindle edition available in my region. The book appears professionally edited although I noticed a missing word in the cover blurb: "on the back their triplet bicycle". I liked the author's frankness when he says "knowledge is fluid with very few absolutes" - I am starting to appreciate this more and more in a different context entirely! I also liked the point that the self-styled experts who write books about relationships are hypocritical because they have not been in a long-term relationship themselves. I was not sure about the characterization of men and women as different, using popular "masculine" and "feminine" images - this seemed to be veering in the direction of gender stereotyping. I didn't see an OnlineBookClub review, which didn't affect my decision.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2018, at 5:05 pm by Alice Heritage.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
OloladeO
Based on the cover and title, I would have read the sample because I would love to learn how to enjoy marital bliss. From the sample, James started by introducing himself and his wife, Kimberly. They are creators of the www.GreatMarriageGreatLife.com couples training program. He talked about how his life as a marriage trainer started about 9 years ago when his and wife celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. He talked about Adam and Eve. James used to be certain that he was always right and Kimberly was usually wrong and one day, he went too far. They were arguing in the car and Kimberly became so repulsed by him that she screamed for him to pull over, so she could relieve herself of his presence. The book seems well edited. The OBC reviewer gave it a perfect rating, which makes me look forward to reading the rest of the book. I must say I like the authors use of words, It makes the book very relatable.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2018, at 11:56 am by OloladeO.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
ritah
Based on the title and genre, I wouldn't have sampled the book because I don't usually read books in this genre. I read the official review. However, when I went to sample the book on Amazon it stated, 'This title is not currently available for purchase'. Thus, I can't pin point specifics of the book, such as what I liked/ didn't like and if they're any errors. I'm not going to read the book because the topic of marriage and working on a marriage isn't something I'm interested in right now.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2018, at 11:23 am by ritah.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
bookowlie
The OBC review of this book is very positive, with comments about the conversational writing style and well-organized format. However, I don't care for self-help books about relationships, so I would not have sampled this one on my own. The Amazon blurb contains no errors and provides a clear explanation of what the book is about. The sample pages are also edited well with no errors. I enjoyed reading about the authors' backstory (their marriage and James' job as a marriage trainer). I didn't like the section about Adam and Eve, as it was long-winded with overly flowery descriptions. Based on the sample and my reading preferences, I am not planning to buy this book.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2018, at 10:23 am by bookowlie.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Yoli García
I would not have sampled this book without this program because I rarely read books about marriage. The OBC review, however, made me curious about it because it sounds like it has a lot of valuable advice. I also liked that a couple wrote it together. After I read the sample pages, I thought the book was professionally edited. I liked they have been married for over 29 years, and it impressed me. Nowadays, divorce is the common norm in the United States, so 29 years is an accomplishment. I also liked that one of the authors shared that he had a wake up call after having a big fight with his wife. They started investigating all about marriage to fix theirs. I will read this book because the authors have a lot of experience with marriage and helping others.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2018, at 2:53 am by Yoli García.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Allyseria
The title and book cover do not attract me because the subject is not something that I am interested in. The blurb also do not attract me because it explains that the book is all about how you can make a perfect marriage. When I read the review, I felt that it was good that the book had informative graphs and tables to help readers follow along with how to make a good marriage. The sample was good that it started with a chapter explaining why the authors were qualified to give these advice. However, Christianity was a main focus in the sample, and as I do not like reading religion focused books, I will not continue to read the book. Note: The book had been professionally edited.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2018, at 2:49 am by Allyseria.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ashiyya Tariq
The book review and the prologue were both good enough to retain my attention. The cover is nice and the author very clearly elaborates the secret of happy marriage and provide valuable suggestions that can help newly-wed couples to understand the philosophy of gay marriage. I consider it a very timely book as many people face difficult phases during their martial relationships. The most striking element of the book is its simple and practical approach. So I would definitely read the whole book and will recommend it to other married couples. The book is professionally edited. So my decision is OK for this book.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2018, at 2:22 am by Ashiyya Tariq.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Cristina Chifane
Without the first ten program, I wouldn't have sampled this book because I'm not interested in any marital advice. However, I like the title and the cover. Many couples may find the book helpful and enlightening for their relationships. All 5 customer reviews give the book the highest rating and recommend it to all those who want to build a strong relationship with their partner. I appreciate the author's honesty about his own marriage and the way he and his wife became marriage counsellors. They wrote their books taking into account both their 29 years of marriage experience and many books they read about happy relationships or seminars they have attended throughout time. I've noticed one extra word in the sample: "[...] one sentence later in Genesis 2: 24 (it) suggests that [...]" (p. 4). The author definitely has no inhibitions in expressing his opinions even when interpreting the biblical story of Adam and Eve. Despite the official OBC reviewer's high rating, I will not be reading the book mainly because I'm not interested in the topic.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2018, at 2:07 am by Cristina Chifane.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ladycraic
I would not have chosen to sample Cracking the CODE to Marital Bliss apart from First Ten. From the cover, I realized immediately that I didn't fit into the author's targeted audience. Nonetheless, I proceeded onward to the blurb, which I was intrigued by. I was genuinely curious to see the authors' thoughts on what constituted a long-lasting, healthy, and happy marriage. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the first few pages. I resonated deeply with James Horning's perception of marriage. For example, I couldn't hold back my huff of agreement when he went on to say that marriage is so important - it is, after all, what the future generation will build their values on as they look to the relationship that their parents share and the home they build. I also agreed with Horning that marriage is wonderful, and such a great gift! I plan on reading the rest of this book due to my genuine curiosity. This book seemed professionally edited and I didn't notice any grammatical errors.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2018, at 1:04 am by ladycraic.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jsovermyer
I liked the book cover with the smiling couple. The title is also compelling. But after reading the 10 pages, I do not think that I would buy the book. I liked the author's conversational style of writing. The book is professionally edited. The idea of having a more loving relationship with passionate sex is something that I am interested in reading about more. I didn't like all of the parts about God and spirituality. When the author wrote that Adam and Eve were on the earth about 6,000 years ago,I was astonished at the author's fundamentalist viewpoint. I believe in same sex marriage and thought that the book would be improved by being more open minded. The official review rated this book very highly. I was not as impressed.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 11:55 pm by Jsovermyer.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
FictionLover
I would not have read this book without the first ten. I am not interested in any self-help books at this time. The cover and title are to the point and very appropriate. I think they both will attract their intended audience. The first ten was interesting, and the author's style is humorous and easy to read. His anecdote about his wife making him pull over on a mountain side so she could get out of the car reminded me of one or two vehicular arguments with my spouse. I liked his idea that marriage is the elixir of life and a grand pursuit. He is obviously very passionate about the topic. I can't think of any way to make this any better, it seems fine, just not something I am interested in reading. I thought the book was professionally edited. I did not notice any errors and the formatting was very good. I liked his sidebars and they lined up well.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 10:51 pm by FictionLover.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
va2016
The title and the cover adequately indicate the theme of the book. The Amazon summary that I read describes the theme of the book well. There are a few Amazon customer reviews. Based on the above factors, and the fact that I am not interested in this genre, I would have skipped sampling the book if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the book to be the same as I thought - an inspiration for building and sustaining successful marriages. This is exemplified a bit through the personal sharings of the author James and Kimberly in the first few pages. Since this is not a theme that I look forward to read at this point of time in my life, I am not going to read this book in full. I found the book to be professionally edited. I didn't find any grammatical and mechanical errors. What I liked most about the book is the authors' willingness to put together the tips to make a successful marriage. I didn't find anything that could be improved with the book. Although I found one OBC review that gave 4 out of 4 stars rating for the book, my decision to not to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 9:54 pm by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
CinWin
I liked the cover of "Cracking the CODE to Marital Bliss" by James T. Horning and Kimberly A. Horning. It portrayed a couple really enjoying their love for each other. I read the first 10 pages and really enjoyed the enthusiasm he had for the institution of marriage. By being married and still passionately in love after 29 years, James was talked into writing this book so he could share their secrets. It looks to be a great self-help book for those that are willing to make a commitment to a better life with their loved one. I won't be reading it because I am not married nor in a relationship. There were no typos and there was an onlinebookclub review.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 9:53 pm by CinWin.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AA1495
Had I not sampled the book, I would not have read it. I usually read pure romance books. Further, from the title, it is obvious that this book is primarily for those who have a troubled marriage. The cover seemed a little plain to me, and did not catch my attention. Having read the sample, I felt like the introduction was very long. While it helps to know the author and what to expect from the book before reading the actual content, this introduction seemed a little excess. However, the cover and sample left me with a very good impression about the content of the book. I feel like this book could help many couples improve their marriages. The book seems professionally edited. I do not need marriage advice at the moment, and hence, I will not be buying the book today.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 9:25 pm by AA1495.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
LV2R
The book cover and title are very good and show clearly what the book will be about. The Amazon Blurb mentioned that the goal of the book is to help couples fall in love with each other over and over, to have a passionate and meaningful relationship, and to guide people to understand what they really want and to get that. The sample starts out with the fact that James Tad and Kimberly have been married for 29 years and that they have read over 100 books about marriage and relationships. Tad shares that they want to help couples find that “missing ingredient” of marriage that will fill a void and complete a picture. I best like that this couple is experiencing a passionate and meaningful relationship and want to share with others how to achieve the same. This book would be very exciting to read if a person was married! The book is well edited, as I only noticed that the number two should be spelled out on page one: “at least 2 suggested I write a book…” The OBC review mentioned that the suggested action steps toward enjoying each other’s presence and delighting in one another were based on love, polarity, and self-development. I am not married, so I do not want to read the book. Though, I will recommend this book to the married couples I know. It sounds like a very useful and thought-provoking book for married couples.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 9:09 pm by LV2R.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Seraphia Bunny Sparks
After reading a few pages of, Cracking the CODE to Marital Bliss by James T. Horning with Kimberly A. Horning, I have decided that I will not be purchasing this book. When I saw the cover of this book, my interest was not piqued. My first thought was this looked like a relationship book. As I am not in a relationship of any kind, I don't feel this book will appeal to me. Also, self-help novels aren't a genre I find appealing. If I had not read a sample of this book, I would not have picked it up. The subject matter of this book does not appeal to me. As I read a few pages of this book, my interest is not piqued. I appreciate that the author lets the reader in on their (the author's) highs and lows in their relationship. Ups and downs in relationships are common so should be implied, but I appreciate their openness. I like that they put so much work into putting this book together. I didn't think that they would read so much, attend seminars, programs and more to get things right. I appreciate that the authors take the time to explain why their book and approach to marriage is different in comparison to others. I feel that these authors will be more insightful and educational. Based on what I have read this book appears to be professionally edited. This book does have an official OnlineBookClub review. The reviewer speaks positively of this book but does not alter my interest. I don't think that this book will be a good fit for me. This book is about marriage and improving it. I am single and unmarried at this time. I will not be putting this book on my to-be-read shelf.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 7:46 pm by Seraphia Bunny Sparks.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Catherine Hsu
If I had not read the sample I would not have read the book. I am only nineteen and this book does not really apply to me yet. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind for the same reason. I also think this is a topic I cannot really learn from a book and need to figure out for myself. It was professionally edited. Throughout the sample, I did like how the author had real terms and historical anecdotes such as from Greek mythos, Japanese terms, or scientific formulas. I did not read the official review but that did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 7:13 pm by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
revna01
The Online Book Club reviewer liked this book for its relationship wisdom and conversational tone. I think the cover and title are great. The Hornings have put together a book designed to help people achieve great satisfaction in their marriage. They themselves have been married 29 years and have renewed their vows and passionately research marriage advice and relationship expertise. I like that the author uses a very personal, charismatic tone and noted no editorial errors. I didn't like that the author gives the impression that he and his spouse have had nothing but a dramatic love affair of Bliss and happiness for almost three decades. Call me a skeptic, but I'm not sure that anyone would truly buy that. It was way too sugary for my realist taste. I understand that the author states he is a marriage advisor, but I'm curious if that comes with legitimate training. In any case, the book doesn't appeal to me in any way, so I won't be purchasing it.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 6:47 pm by revna01.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'Cracking the CODE to Marital Bliss' by James T. Horning and Kimberly A. Horning is a guide for married couples. I would not have chosen to read this book as I am not married. However, the OBC review, and the customer reviews in Amazon make an excellent job of convincing the reader to give the book a try.
In the very beginning we get to know that most of the book is written by James T. Horning. The first ten pages of the book leads me to believe that he is very passionate about his marriage. Also, from the conversational tone of the book, I could garner that the authors genuinely want to help couples. I liked these aspects of the book. However, I have to mention that I found a few errors in the first ten pages. For example, it should have been “marvellous adventure" instead of “marvelous adventure". This leads me to believe that this book was not professionally edited. To my utter surprise, I did like reading the first ten pages. However, I will still give it a pass for now as I am unmarried, and the subject matter is not very useful for me.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 4:35 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
britt13
The official review spoke highly of the book but for me, nothing seemed appealing about it. I do not like self-help books. Even more so, I hate books on marriage. I know that it may have some great tips, but my marriage is different from the next person and the next. I think that for advice on marriage to work, the person giving said advice needs to know you and your spouse. I also absolutely hated the cover. It was busy with words and the image looks so unbelievably staged. Nevertheless, I read the first ten pages. I did like that the Hornings gave a little taste of who they are in the first chapter. I think that gives them some credibility. I did not really love the tone of the writing though. I also hated the start of the second chapter, even being a Christian. It felt so preachy. I found no grammatical errors though some formatting spacing errors were annoying. I will not be reading any further in this book because nothing about it is appealing to me.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 3:39 pm by britt13.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Laura Ungureanu
"Cracking the CODE to Marital Bliss" is a self-help book for married couples that is supposed to help them find "passion, pleasure, and purpose" in their marriage. I think the cover should be changed because it made me not want to try this book. I liked how the author told the story of his marriage like a normal marriage, with fighting and challenges, not a fairy tale. I didn't like the parts about Adam and Eve. I don't see their relevance. I didn't find grammar mistakes. Since I usually don't read self-help books and because I am not married, I won't continue reading this book.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 3:01 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
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’m not looking to improve my marriage and self-help books like these are not what I would usually read. 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 loved the concept behind the book, in that using short, concise, and relevant examples, people who want to improve their marriage could take advice from someone who has done just that. In particular, I liked the personal examples that the author gives early on to show that this is coming from a real-life background and not preachy psychoanalysis. That being said, I really dislike self-help style books and I didn’t see anything within the sample that would have changed my mind. 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 December 6, 2018, at 2:30 pm by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sonya Nicolaidis
I generally appreciate self-improvement books and think that there is something useful to be learned from most of them. This book is no exception, and I was pleased to see it selected as Book of the Day today. The cover is cheerful and attractive, and with the endorsement from Amazon in the forefront I can say that I would have been interested in having a closer look at this one from the outset. Generally, the book was well received by reviewers, except for those who do not like the self-help genre. The sample reads well; it is written informally, and I was very interested in what the author had to say from the first few lines. His candor and the fact that he's just an ordinary guy is another appealing aspect of this book. Too many authors have a string of credentials after their names but lack the experience to give practical advice. I saw no grammatical errors in the sample and the formatting was good. I really like the inclusion of pull-quotes to highlight important points, and also the fact that the author uses action steps after each chapter to keep the reader focused. I didn't really enjoy the recounting of the story of Adam and Eve - it was a bit too informal for my liking and it might alienate Christian readers who take such accounts very seriously. This book promises to share a wealth of useful advice to get tired marriages back to being great, and I would definitely like to read this book in its entirety.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 2:16 pm by Sonya Nicolaidis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kendra M Parker
Generally, I try to avoid self-help books. I found myself surprisingly interested as I read the first ten pages, though. I didn’t find any errors, which was the first nice point. Secondly, I found a lot of humor in the second chapter where the author talks about creation and the fall and the first marriage. His quote at thes tart of the third chapter was also great, comparing marriage to a Ferrari treated like a pick-up truck. I like the tone, and I may actually consider reading this one, especially since it is on Kindle Ultimate right now.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 12:19 pm by Kendra M Parker.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
desantismt_17
This book’s title made me curious. The description made me wonder if the information within would actually be useful. I’ve seen many help books claiming to be able to turn marriage around. Before sampling, I was thinking about reading. After sampling, I’ll give this a shot. The book appears professionally edited. I did notice a few missing commas and the following typo: “That’s sounds really nice, Honey.” They weren’t so much to make the book appear unedited, though. The voice and writing style won me over to reading this book. It’s so casual and conversational while talking about such a big-picture idea. I found myself hooked and even chuckling at points. When the author got into the bit about Adam and Eve, I went from chuckling to outright laughter. The modern translation of the lines in the Bible was so funny. The author’s description of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (complete with 72-degree weather) struck me as hilarious. I want to read any book by anyone with such a great sense of humor. I have no improvements to suggest at this time. The OnlineBookClub.org review offered insight into what comes later in the book, and I’m excited to give this a try.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 12:17 pm by desantismt_17.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Azeline Arcenal
After reading the first ten pages, I decided not to finish reading the book. The sample does not pertain to me since I am not married. While reading the sample, I noted that there were a couple of good points that the author made. For example, the author state that the belief that people in long-term relationship eventually fall out of romantic love is wrong. I do like the book cover and title so if I were to sample the book based on just the cover and title, I probably would have chosen to sample it because they both look interesting. While reading the sample, I didn't notice any grammatical errors either. I also read the official OBC review for this book which was helpful in solidifying my decision on taking a pass on this book. There isn't anything I would change anything about this book.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 11:30 am by Azeline Arcenal.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ObsessedBookNerd
Had I not read the sample as part of the program then I would not have read the book based on the title, cover, genre, blurbs or reviews because it seems boring to me and I don't have interest in marriage advice. The cover doesn't look professionally designed and turns me away from reading the story. The book seems professionally edited and I found no spelling or grammatical errors. The sample did not change my mind on reading the whole book because there is not a lot that I enjoyed about the story. I have no interest in reading a self-help book on marriage. I did like that the author put a link to their website in the book. I think it is great that it includes couples training; online or private training and live events. I like that James T. Horning (Tad) and Kimberly have been married for 29 years and still are happily together. I also like that the author references many things such as the Matrix code, other marriage books, and even the Bible. I like the humor in the story. One of my favorite quotes from the book is, ” For most of us, marriage is like having a Ferrari in our garage that we treat like a pickup truck. We just don't know what we've got, how to use it or what its grand purpose really is.” I think it was a good idea how the author put in a chapter of what the book is and isn't about. Though I personally wouldn't read this book, I do recommend it to people who are looking for marriage advice. It has an easy flow for the reader to understand the book. It also has advice from other references so it has advice from different sources.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 11:22 am by ObsessedBookNerd.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
cpru68
This co-authored book gives readers insight to what it takes to create a successful marriage. While buzzing along in the car, trying to win an argument, the author’s wife tells him to pull over so she can escape listening to one more second of his insistent banter. Before he can slow to a complete stop, she gets out and hurriedly walks away. It is in this moment that he realizes he isn’t doing something right to win her affection. They must have made the necessary changes because they celebrated their anniversary in Hawaii amongst friends all wanting to know how they have made it last. From there, they were determined to share their lessons with other couples to spread the message that marriage is a gift from God and should be valued as such.
There were a couple of spacing issues in the 2 and 3 percent locations of the sample. I was reading this on my kindle app for iPhone, so maybe it’s just my device causing the issue. It was right around the sentence explaining how the author and his wife are the creators of their website. Another sentence that seemed to have a spacing issue was this one:
It’s more a marvelous adventure that might be
likened to backpacking
across Europe...
There was too much space around the word ‘to’.
In 20 percent of this sample, this sentence needs an addition of some punctuation:
So he says “Hey Eve darling...”
It should be written: So he says, “Hey, Eve darling,...”
Other than those minor issues, I did not find any other errors. The review awarded this a four star rating which would indicate that this has been professionally edited.
I liked the humor that was used to speak about the fine intricacies of marriage and the idea that it is a gift from God. I think that is lost on a lot of people in a relationship and eventually causes a rift and split.
I won’t be finishing this one as I am not seeking help or improvement in a marital situation at this time. However, I will share it to social media so others who wish to take a look at it can. I don’t know if I would have found this title on my own as the genre is flooded with so many books on relationship advice, so it was nice to have the chance to preview it and recommend it to those who would benefit from it.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 11:15 am by cpru68.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
HRichards
I would not have picked this book up on my own as I am not married, so this book doesn't really apply to me. Having read the sample, I will not be finishing the book for the simple reason I'm not married. The sample deals with the author giving some of his career and life background to explain why he feels qualified to give marriage advice. Then rest of the beginning deals with him introducing the idea of appreciating and working on your relationship without doing something "stupid". The author seems qualified to talk about relationships and he retains a lot of humor in the sample. Those interested in marriage advice might like the book. I found some of the talk a little too casual. There was also a grammar error in the sentence "the year was 4,000 BC give or take, or about 6,000 years ago" where the sentence is laid out awkwardly and has comma errors. I have not read any other reviews of this book.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 10:31 am by HRichards.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
lesler
Looking at the cover, I am not interested in this book. Their pose is disturbing. Reading the sample, it was ok, but I didn't like the lighthearted style of the writing and the subject matter enough to keep reading. This book appears to be professionally edited, with no grammatical errors or typos that I noticed. I liked the idea of this book, and some of the stories the author told. I chuckled when he talked about how he and his wife were in an argument, and she ended out jumping out of the moving car to get away from him. That being his wake up call is insane. I did not like how lighthearted this book is. I get that the's joking around, but it turned me off from wanting to read this book and be informed. I will not be reading this book.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 10:10 am by lesler.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
sarahmarlowe randomeducator
Unfortunately, I knew this one was not for me from the beginning. I am not married and am not interested in being married. And, the cover is a little "handsey," too. The picture looks like he's trying to do something intimate for all the world to see.
I do think it would be a helpful read for people who are married or who may be getting married. The authors seem well-qualified to give advice. I liked that they talked about themselves so that readers would know their background. I didn't like that they referred to God as "her." The sample was well-edited. I have not read an OBC review of this book.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 9:55 am by sarahmarlowe randomeducator.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ferdinand_Otieno
I would not have read this book if I weren't in the first ten community. I found the title uninteresting. Having read the first ten pages, I would not want to buy and read the whole book. This is because the premise of the book assumes every relationship is the same. That, to me, is simply not true.
I did not encounter any reading errors and that led me to believe that the book was professionally edited.
In the first ten pages, I found the concept of a new interpretation of marriage interesting. The author's advice is aimed to get the most out of yourself, your relationship and your life. The principles he highlights are interesting.
I would not change anything about the book. It was written masterfully. No improvement was needed and I found the OnlineBookClub review refreshing. It did not however, change my view of the book.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 9:17 am by Ferdinand_Otieno.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Camille Turner
I would not have sampled this book without the program because I'm already happily married and not that interested in relationship help books anyway, which this clearly is based on the title, cover, and Amazon blurb. While I don't have Kindle Unlimited, I read the available paperback sample on Amazon. For starters, let me say that I liked the initial disclaimer which suggests those in failing marriages seek a professional counselor. It was refreshing to see a note that not all advice will work for everyone and that those needing serious help should seek qualified doctors. Many self-help books approach topics as the absolute authority on their subjects and neglect to mention counselors, so that was a big positive aspect of this book for me. The beginning also included a note about why readers should see the author(s) as an authority on marriage and began with conjecture about the biblical story of Adam and Eve and then a personal marriage anecdote. I liked the mixture of personal story and conjecture. I wouldn't improve anything, but my impression that the book isn't for me has stayed the same. I won't be buying the book because I just don't like the subject matter. As a side note, I didn't see any grammatical errors, so I believe the book to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 9:11 am by Camille Turner.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
gali
I wouldn't have sampled the book on my own, as I don't read self-help books. I didn't change my mind after sampling the book. This self-help book offers a new way to look at marriage and guides how to make it even better. The author "cracked the code to marital bliss" and wants to share it with us. I like his approach and the way he inserted the Adam and Eve tale into his message. I agree with the author that one has to work at marriage and not take the other partner for granted. I like his writing and didn't notice any grammatical errors. There were a couple of missing commas, though: "Now chronological speaking, God makes a woman for Adam." (should be a comma after "now"). While I like the concept of the book, the beginning was a bit long-winded. I won't read the book, it isn't relevant to me. I am happily married for many years, and I don't need a book to tell me how to live my life. The official review didn't sway my decision either way.
First Ten review added on December 6, 2018, at 8:56 am by gali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 21%
Cracking the CODE to Marital Bliss earned a score of 21%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 21% 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 Cracking the CODE to Marital Bliss
