The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Double Redemption: The Story of Mike and Emma
Because Double Redemption 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 story is centred around two people, Emma and Mike, and how they come together in a relationship, after enduring years of emotional trauma and bad experiences, only to be thrown on a path to self-discovery. I liked that the book deals with themes that are all too common and are bound to surface between two emotionally damaged people. However, I wouldn't have read or sampled it as I'm not into the romance genre. The thing I did enjoy the most while sampling is the detailed background details about the characters. The first-person narration makes it easier to connect with their thoughts. The narration has intimate details. I read the part about Mike's childhood and all the trauma he endured along with the death of his mother. I really like that the chapters are based on the characters, and the writing gives space to get into the psyche of Mike and Emma. I did see two official OBC reviews for this book. After sampling, I would say I don't plan on reading the whole book as I'm not much into the genre. The editing needs some work as I found two errors. One of them is in this sentence, "I had come into the kitchen one morning hoping to get something to eat but finding my mother sitting at the table, slumped over with one arm dangling at her side." This sentence should have 'found' in the place of 'finding'. The other error was a comma splice. I would recommend rectifying these small grammatical errors. Otherwise, I don't have anything to recommend for improvements.
First Ten review added on September 22, 2021, at 4:59 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Vickie Noel
I would have read this book outside the program because of its subtitle, "The story of Mike and Emma." It has an intriguing feel to it. After reading the first chapter, I purchased it because I absolutely loved the story and the writing style. Although Mike was in a sad situation, bitterness wasn't reflected; I even picked up on his sense of humor in the sentence, "Then the top of the dumpster opened, and suddenly it was raining French fries. I'd heard of it raining cats and dogs, but I'd never heard of it raining French fries." It was also natural that he'd "named" the worker at McDonald "Pudgy" because that was the descriptive word he had for him. That sounds like something I'd write. I found no grammatical errors and have no recommendations for improvement. There was an OBC review, but the sample I read was what led to my purchase of the book.
First Ten review added on September 22, 2021, at 4:58 am by Vickie Noel.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Shrabastee Chakraborty
This is not my usual genre. After reading the official OBC review, I decided not to read the book because of its heavy content. I couldn't find a single error in the first ten pages. They described Mike's experiences, including how he was abused by one of his stepfathers, or how he discovered his mother's lifeless body. I loved that even within those initial pages, the author could grab my attention. I started rooting for Mike. I didn't find any area that could improve. However, the topics of childhood abuse and trauma made me shudder. I didn't feel inclined to read about those. That's why I decided not to read further.
First Ten review added on September 22, 2021, at 4:48 am by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
va2016
The title "Double Redemption" and the cover with some people gives an impression that the book is a crime thriller. There are only 10 Amazon customer ratings, which is not a sufficient number for me to decide if I should sample the book or not. The Amazon summary states that the story is about two individuals, Mike and Emma, and their struggles in life. As I am generally not interested in personal stories, I would have skipped sampling the book if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the narration containing Mike's narrative on how he became an orphan and nobody wanting to take care of him. As I am not interested in personal stories, I am not going to read this book in full. I found the sample professionally edited. I didn't find any grammatical or mechanical errors in the sample, although one of the OBC reviews mentioned finding some errors. I didn't like anything specifically about the book. I don't have any recommendations for the improvement of the book. Although I found 2 OBC reviews of the book, my decision to not to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on September 22, 2021, at 4:44 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sou Hi
If it's not for this program, I wouldn't read this. The official review from OnlineBookClub and Amazon's blurb look alright, but the genre is not my cup of tea. Besides, there are not many ratings on Amazon, and the cover is kind of creepy. The sample begins with Mike, an orphan whose mother died of an overdose. Being a neglected child, he had to feed himself with discarded food. When he grows up, he becomes a mechanic and meets Emma.
I like the way Mike struggles to live on. However, I don't really enjoy Emma's attitude. The editing is fine, but I think another cover is needed. Since the book can't pique my interest, I won't buy it.
Error example: I jumped inside the dumpster, letting the cover close behind me, and cloaked in the fragrant darkness, I picked up one of the burgers. -> I think there should be a comma before "cloaked" to avoid confusion.
First Ten review added on September 22, 2021, at 4:40 am by Sou Hi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Manang Muyang
The cover and title point to a love story, and the blurb confirms that. I am not keen on romances, so I wouldn't have taken a second look at this book outside of the program. The sample convinced me to read to the end, though. The author's writing style was very engaging, and Mike's childhood woes tugged at my heartstrings. I especially liked Mike's recounting of his "dumpster nights." Emma also had an interesting personality. One of the two official OBC reviewers mentioned that there's not much erotica in the story and the book "has earned its place on a shelf beside the classics." Those are plus points for the book that further persuaded me to read it. I noticed a couple of errors, though. On page 16, I believe there was a missed word ("at") before "all" in "Oh hell, I'm not even going to make it all." On page 26, "Starbuck's around the corner" did not need the apostrophe. Clearing up the errors would be ideal. The author may also wish to rethink the cover, although there might be a reason for the negative image used. While this is not a genre I gravitate to, I believe I will not regret my decision to spend time with Mike and Emma.
First Ten review added on September 22, 2021, at 4:17 am by Manang Muyang.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Verna Coy
If I hadn’t seen this book on the First Ten program, I likely would have passed it up as it seems to lean toward the dramatic in the title and cover design. After sampling it I can say it is a dramatic story but a good one. What I liked best about what I read was how the trauma that happened to the characters affected them. It showed that they weren’t unfeeling or cold. I know that readers who enjoy drama will like how this book reads. I’m not a big fan of deep drama so I probably won’t finish the whole book. I enjoyed reading the Official review by the Online Book Club. A four-star review is a nice accomplishment. I found no errors in what I read today and it seemed to be professionally edited although the review mentioned a few errors. I saw no reasons for improvement in what I read today. Great job.
First Ten review added on September 22, 2021, at 3:18 am by Verna Coy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Catherine Hsu
If I had not read the sample as part of the First Ten program, I would have read the book. The blurb still sounds interesting, though I do not like to read spiritual books. After reading the sample, I have changed my mind. The writing style was unfortunately very robotic to me and too much "tell, not show". For example, I didn't like that the book felt like it was reciting events one by one: the narrator first "released his hand" and then "drove away", and "later that evening" this happened. I would change that. Still, it was professionally edited which I liked. The official review on OnlineBookClub did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on September 22, 2021, at 3:09 am by Catherine Hsu.
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 the author’s straightforward writing style. The book opens with Mike and his traumatic childhood. He was brought up in an abusive household. There was even a time where he had to scavenge food in the dumpster. 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 did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on September 22, 2021, at 2:56 am by Justine Ocsebio.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Annelore Trujillo
I would have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover and title. This redemption romance seemed like something I’d be into. After reading the first ten pages, I will be finishing this book. I really enjoyed the first chapter. I felt bad reading about the hunger he experienced as a child, but I was impressed by his resourcefulness. Checking behind grocery stores and McDonalds for thrown out food was a great idea. There wasn’t anything that I disliked or that needs improvement. The book did seem to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on September 22, 2021, at 12:23 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jsovermyer
The cover is intriguing and draws my attention. I would probably buy this book from the cover alone. The reviewer liked the story and gave it a high rating. I found no spelling or grammatical errors and believe it has been exceptionally well edited. The story of Mike's childhood was sad and disturbing. Abused by a stepfather and left an orphan after his mother overdosed on drugs, Mike moved from relative to relative. No one wanted or cared about him. I saw nothing I disliked about the sample pages I read. I am interested in Mike's story and want to see how it turns out. I will be finishing this one.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 10:50 pm by Jsovermyer.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Scerakor
After reviewing the title, genre, cover, blurb, and review of this book, I would not have read this book. I'm not a fan of romance novels. After reading the first ten pages I didn't change my mind and therefore will not be buying and reading the rest of this book. I liked how the author wrote the first chapter on Matt, concentrating on his permanent hunger. That being said, This one is both a genre I wouldn't usually read and likely not exciting enough for me. The book looked well written and edited; there weren't any objective errors I found. The thing I would have improved from the sample I read has to do with capitalization. Although there is some debate and style choices, I don't think that "french fries" should have a capital "F". There was an official OBC review, but it did not affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 10:37 pm by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gabrielle Sigaki
Double Redemption by Francis Gene Collins is a romance novel that brings Michael and Emma as the main characters. If I didn't sample this book, I wouldn't read it based on its Official OnlineBookClub review and its genre since I'm not interested in love stories like this one. After sampling it, I didn't change my mind and I won't read the entire book since I don't enjoy romance novels. However, the book seems professionally edited, I think there's nothing to be improved in it, and I liked the author's descriptions of the characters' emotions and feelings since they were mixed with the scenario.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 9:22 pm by Gabrielle Sigaki.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sarah_Khan
The cover and title of this book are average for the genre. I would not have sampled this without the First Ten program because the plot did not seem unique. I saw one OBC review that mentioned editing errors, but I did not notice any. I could not help but feel terribly sorry for Michael. The horrible things he had to go through seemed endless (the abuse, the overdose of his mother, the hunger). Overall, I can see how this book could appeal to some readers. Personally, I still think the plot lacks originality. Therefore, I will not be reading the rest. The official OBC reviews did not change my mind. I do not have any suggestions for the author.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 5:56 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mariana Figueira
Before reading the book's first pages, I was interested in it because romance is one of my favorite genres. After sampling the book, I want to continue reading it because I like love stories where at least one of the characters had a rough start in life, and Michael J Michaels definitely fits into that category; it's unusual to see the male character's point of view first, and that was my favorite thing about what I read. 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 21, 2021, at 4:40 pm by Mariana Figueira.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Diana Lowery
Neither the creepy cover nor the title interested me. The blurb and the OBC review did nothing to convince me to read the book. However, after reading the first ten pages, I was captivated by the character of the young boy and wanted to continue with his story. I did not see any errors. I do not have any suggestions for the author. I am going to finish reading the book. I liked the scene when it rained french fries. There was nothing that I did not like except the cover.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 1:51 pm by Diana Lowery.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Aubrey Lewis
The overall appearance of the book seems interesting, but it's not very eye-catching, in my opinion. When I read through the official OBC review, I felt that I wouldn't be able to appreciate the book since I'm not usually fond of romance novels. If I weren't a part of this program, I wouldn't have read the sample at all since the book's cover, genres, and summary didn't interest 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 fast-paced enough to my liking. The premise already made me sad when us readers were given a bit of Mike's sad backstory from the start; I winced when he was being abused by his stepfather, and I also felt pain when he found his mother dead at such a young age. It must have been a horrible experience for a child, especially when everybody made it clear that they didn't want him. The few scenes that followed was when Mike kept suffering from hunger and unexpectedly had to feed himself from McDonald's dumpster. He was only seven years old.
Although the book held promise, nothing really interested me enough to want to read any further, especially because the genres are not my cup of tea, so 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 21, 2021, at 12:38 pm by Aubrey Lewis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
gen_g
Based on the title and cover, the book seems like a thriller/a piece of realist fiction – I am not in the market for such books, so I would not have sampled it. However, I did come across a positive OBC review of the book, but due to the genre mismatch, I would not have changed my mind regarding sampling. Unfortunately, there are still a couple of errors present. At 1%, there is a missing comma to mark the introductory phrase: "This time(,) I was less...". I suggest more editing to improve the book. Still, what I appreciate are the little details that the author has included to help flesh out the characters, even if these little details seem random. To illustrate, we learn that Michael's first conscious memory is of pain – he was three when his designated stepfather twisted his ear so hard until it began to separate from his head. His stepfather, to make things worse, then lied to the nurse in the emergency room that the injury was caused by a dog bite. Other than the need for more editing, I have no further suggestions for the book's improvement. I do also quite like the cover image, which piqued my interest. Nonetheless, as I am not in the market for romance stories, in addition to the fact that the number of grammar errors present detract from reading flow, I will not be reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 11:38 am by gen_g.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jeremie Mondejar
The cover photo is quite attractive and shows a captivating romantic aura. I sampled this book based on the program, genre, OBC review and Amazon blurb. The first scenario is very eye-catching when the protagonist recalls his childhood experiences. The sample looks realistic, but I'm not convinced to read the rest of the book because the theme seems so heavy for me. The OBC review also didn't pique my interest. Fortunately, I didn't notice any possible errors, so I assumed this book was professionally edited. The sample flows well, and there's nothing that needed any changes at all. I will not read this book because the book may contain a lot of emotional distress, which is not good for me.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 11:07 am by Jeremie Mondejar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sanju Lali
I could not guess anything about the book by looking at its cover and title because double redemption meant many things to me. Therefore, I decided to read the OBC official review to know more about this book. The OBC official review gave me the idea that the book follows Michael and Emma. Both of them had a difficult childhood. 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, "No one wanted me, and for a long time I didn’t even want myself." The sentence could have been as follows; "No one wanted me, and for a long time, I didn’t even want myself." The thing l liked the most is Michael's delightful experience when he found some burgers in the dumpster near Mc Donald's restaurant to satisfy his hunger. My suggestion to the author would be to go for a round of professional editing and make the book easier to read. I found the story quite heart-touching, and it reflected on the reality of life closely. I decided to purchase this book today and read it because I find the story quite captivating.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 10:53 am by Sanju Lali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Rodel Barnachea
Upon perusing the title's official OBC review and Amazon page, I decided not to purchase the romance novel. I did not find myself interested in how the two protagonists, Mike and Emma, will get to know each other and how their romantic relationship will begin and develop. I also do not usually read romance stories unless I found myself really liking the characters, which is not the case with the book. Sampling the title failed to change my mind. I would not acquire it because nothing in the Amazon sample compelled me to pore over the rest of the story. I believe the novel is not my cup of tea. The first ten pages include Chapter One: Mike and a few pages of Chapter Two: Emma. What I liked most is when Mike goes to the grocery store to search for discarded expired food that he can eat. I was not able to note any errors in the text. The book seems professionally edited to me. I have no advice to offer to the author.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 10:14 am by Rodel Barnachea.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Eunice Geres
I wouldn't have picked it up for the cover, I thought it was a vampire novel. On the other hand, the blurb seemed like a romance I usually read. The first ten pages consisted of only the first chapter. I enjoyed reading it. I loved reading the back stories of main characters. Mike's past is cliche, but those kinds of tragic stories are what I like. I think I would complete this book. I like the author's smooth writing style. It was not that excellent, but it was consistent. I would recommend that the author should put more effort on narrating. I find every scenes a little too short. I believe it can be expounded to capture the essence of the narration. I didn't notice any grammatical mistakes.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 8:01 am by Eunice Geres.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mercy Bolo
This book's cover didn't inspire me to read it, and the OBC review dissuaded me when it mentioned that the author narrates the story of two lovebirds with traumatic childhoods. When I read the first ten pages I liked that despite the difficulties, Mike scavenged for food and was able to feed himself. I will read the rest of the book because the bit I read already has me invested in the story. I noticed no errors in the text, so I will conclude that it underwent professional editing. There is nothing I disliked about the bit I read, so I wouldn't change anything about it.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 5:14 am by Mercy Bolo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kaitlyn Canedy
If Double Redemption hadn't been the OnlineBookClub's book of the day, I likely would have skipped it. I am so glad that I decided to read it though because I like that there are two characters with interesting backstories. Michael's adventures with McDonald's burgers were entertaining as well. Romance is not normally a genre that I read, but I have enjoyed reading about the characters so far. Because of this, I will be finishing the book. I did not notice any grammatical errors in the sample, and I can think of no improvements. There is an official OnlineBookClub review for this title, but I did not need to read it to decide to finish the book. Readers who love romance novels may find pleasure in reading this one.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 1:51 am by Kaitlyn Canedy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Dzejn_Crvena
When I saw the genre and cover, I wouldn't have sampled this book outside this program because I thought it was only about romance. However, I loved that it was very engaging to read, and I didn't notice I read past the pages of the sample. Also, the OBC review convinced me to read more about the female protagonist in the story. In the first ten pages, I learned about the childhood experiences of the male protagonist. He grew up in poverty, and he was hungry most of the time. To survive, he ate the burgers and fries he found in the trash bin every night. The book seemed professionally edited, so I don't have suggestions for improvements.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 1:47 am by Dzejn_Crvena.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mutai Marshal
Romance is one of my least favorite genres. Therefore, I wouldn’t have read this book outside the First Ten program because the cover page insinuated that the book falls under the genre. I liked the way the narrator reveals his ordeal and his hatred-centric family. The dialogues portray the abuse he received from his step-father and close relatives. Neither the OBC review nor sample changed my mind about this romance read. Consequently, I will not buy it. I didn’t find any grammatical errors, and I believe it was exceptionally edited. Lastly, I didn’t find anything worth improvement.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 1:44 am by Mutai Marshal.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Howlan
I do not think that I would have read this book without the program as I do not prefer reading books that have romance as the main plot. I generally like stories where romance is a minor subplot and the main plot involves mystery. In the first ten pages, we are introduced to one of the main characters of the story, Mike. We witness the horrible childhood Mike has endured. Abuse from his stepfathers, his mother's death, his days full of starvation and how he had to salvage food from the dumpster beside McDonald. The narration is fluent and easy to understand. The concept of this book is that two people come to love each other and together they overcome their sad past. I like the concept, but I did not find myself invested in the story or the characters. As I prefer a bit of thrill and mystery in my books, I do not think I would enjoy reading the rest of this book. So, I am not going to read the rest of it as I am not interested in this story. No typos were found in the first ten pages. I found nothing to improve in the first ten pages. The official review is present and the reviewer rates it highly.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 1:36 am by Howlan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
J_odoyo
After reading the first ten pages of this book (Double Redemption by Francis Gene Collins), I’ve realized that the book seems to have been well-written and riveting. The book has a captivating plot, and I must say that Francis Gene Collins has a talent for developing a captivating plot. The sample captured my emotions as I follow the heart-wrenching story of Mike (Michael J Michaels)—an uncared-for orphan, findings his daily bread in dust bins. To be concise, the book’s cover page was well designed, and the title was also okay. I liked the OnlineBookClub review; it gave insight into what the book was all about. I didn’t encounter any errors in the sample, and I would guess the book was professionally edited. I have no recommendation for the improvement of this book; the sample was well written. The Amazon website’s book description was also informative. Having read the sample and the OnlineBookClub review, I’m not going to finish reading this book because I’m not a fan of romance novels.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 12:59 am by J_odoyo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ari Martinez
If it wasn't for the First Ten program, I wouldn't sample this book based on its cover, title, or Official OnlineBookClub review because I wanted to take a break from romance novels for a few weeks. After reading the first ten pages, I will not read the rest of the book because I have a feeling the book is filled with angst, and I'm not in the mood to read that type of story right now. My favorite part of what I read was the first person narration. It makes the characters' emotions and experiences more personal and relatable. The book appears professionally edited, and I don't think it needs improvement.
First Ten review added on September 21, 2021, at 12:38 am by Ari Martinez.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Hazel Arnaiz
It seems like a suspense thriller because of the cover and title. The book cover is dark and reminds me of seeing things in “night vision.” It takes a while to figure out the shapes. I am unsure if it is intentional. Also, romance is not my genre, and I will skip this outside the program. From the blurb, the past holding back the lovers sounds like a typical plot. Feedbacks from customer reviews are positive. What I like after sampling is how the mysterious backstories build up to add intrigue. The story moves a bit slow to my liking. But switching from a flashback to the present and the alternating perspective jogs the pace. For editing, there is a spelling concern.
Page 11. Spelling. Consider adding a hyphen.
The [second grade] teacher, Mrs. Watkins, was given to ruler-slaps on the fingers of unruly or inattentive children.
Overall, I have no suggestions. Several official OnlineBookClub reviews are available and are equally insightful. They are helpful for those keen on this genre. But I will skip this because of preference.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 10:42 pm by Hazel Arnaiz.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Stephanie Runyon
The book title and genre would have been enough to entice me into sampling this romance story. I liked the alternating point of view that is used, and how each character relayed the message of “I met someone.” Professionally edited, there is nothing that I would change about the book. The OBC review did not influence my choice to continue reading. The pages I read held my attention well, and I am curious how the story will unfold.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 10:06 pm by Stephanie Runyon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jorge Leon Salazar
I think the cover and title are in keeping with the romance genre and a love story. I believe the combination of cover and title should capture the target audience. The customer reviews are favorable and mention that the story is credible and includes healing and love. The broad blurb offers an overview of the history between Mike and Emma. It comments they suffered traumatic experiences in both childhood and adulthood. The romance genre is not my favorite, but I could give it a try. In the first ten pages, Mike tells of his disturbing childhood. His childhood's main memories are when his stepfather Newt beat him and when his mother died apparently of an overdose. Subsequently, no one in his family wanted to take care of him. It is impressive how hard his life was since he was deprived of essential things like food. It was striking that for some years he was eating McDonald's food from a dumpster. I found it interesting he began to spend time at the library and develop the skill of reading. Plus, the first ten pages narrate a little about Emma and the moment she met Mike in a parking lot. Emma's car broke down just as he was passing by. Undoubtedly, what I read leaves the expectation of the budding relationship between Mike and Emma. The official OnlineBookClub review highlights that Emma and Mike have endured painful experiences that make it difficult for them to initiate and sustain a relationship. The editing seems outstanding since I did not see any details to comment on. Overall, I didn't see anything that I believe could be improved. What I read adds little to the plot's development and the genres of romance and drama are not the most attractive to me. Hence, I think I will not read the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 9:37 pm by Jorge Leon Salazar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MsH2k
I don’t read many romance novels, and after reading the blurb, I would not have sampled this book if I were not part of this program. It also seemed rather long. I enjoyed meeting Mike in the sample pages. He seemed like a good kid with way too much time on his hands. The writing was very smooth and descriptive. I am hooked. I want to see how Mike survives and hopefully finds peace and contentment with Emma. The book appeared to have been professionally edited; I did not notice any grammatical errors in the first ten pages. I have no suggestions for improvement. The featured OnlineBookClub review reinforced my decision to finish this book.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 7:43 pm by MsH2k.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Emy Katherine
The story follows the journey of an English literature professor (Emma) and a mechanic (Mike) as they fall in love with each other. In order to build a healthy relationship, though, they have to be brave and face their past demons. To be honest, I would not have read the book based on the genre. I am pleased to say, however, that I changed my mind after reading the first ten pages. The OBC review also increased my interest in reading the rest of the story. I especially liked the engaging, humorous interaction between Emma and Mike when they first met. The writing style was also clear and descriptive. Although I found some errors, they did not distract me from my reading. For example, it should be written "the second-grade teacher" instead of "the second grade teacher." (page 11) There should not be a comma before "but" in the following sentence: "I almost laughed, but held myself back." (page 21) As the book has received many positive reviews on Amazon, I am looking forward to reading this intriguing story. I would only suggest the author shorten the Amazon blurb; I found it too long.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 6:24 pm by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Yvonne Monique
The book cover looks nice and not like a typical romance novel. I would probably pick this book up to have a closer look if I would see it in a bookstore. The blurb and OBC review are very positive, but make me realise that this is not a book of my favourite genre. The first ten pages are well edited. The beginning of the story is quite shocking, with Mike discovering his dead mother. I must admit that I felt drawn into the story. Nevertheless, I have decided not to read the book because I usually do not read romance novels, but I am sure that romance lovers will have a great read. I have no suggestions for improvement.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 4:37 pm by Yvonne Monique.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
markodim721
I would choose to read a sample of this book because of the title and cover. The title is interesting and intriguing. The cover represents the main characters of the book and fits well with the title, although I think that the double appearance of a male and female character is unnecessary. I’m not going to read this book because it’s not the genre I prefer. Reading the sample didn’t change my mind from my original guess. While reading the sample I didn’t notice any typos or errors and the book seems like it is professionally edited. I like how Michael, in his childish naivete, thought that Ronald McDonald owned all McDonald’s restaurants. That is a really striking detail. I don’t think anything needs to be improved in the book. The book has an Official OnlineBookClub review.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 3:42 pm by markodim721.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kirsi Cultrera
The outward appearance made it very clear that this book belonged to the romance genre. Unfortunately, it is not my favorite genre. The only exception is historical romance books, and this one clearly was not one of those. I would not have sampled a plain romance story without this program. I liked the characters, Mike and Emma. They were described plausibly and were not the most typical characters of this type of book. Both had some burdens of the past to carry with, which gave an interesting extra spice to the story. I also liked that it was written with flowing text. Based on what I read, the book seemed well-edited to me. The Official OnlineBookClub review promised that the plot would not be the most predictable one, but even if I liked what I read so far, I still decided against reading this book. I could not find anything specific that should have been done otherwise, and I think this book will appeal to those who enjoy this genre. As for myself, I am too pessimistic by nature. Romance stories never seem relatable or enjoyable to me. Therefore, I’ll leave this book for others to read.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 3:27 pm by Kirsi Cultrera.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Chelsy Scherba
I like how we’re introduced to Michael and his difficult childhood. After losing his mother, it was sad to read about him dumpster diving for food at McDonalds. I sort of enjoyed the retro feel of the book since Ronald McDonald was mentioned. I like how Michael will eventually meet a woman who also has a traumatic past and they’ll fall in love. I generally don’t read romance books, so I wouldn’t have found this book outside of the program. The OBC review was very positive, but I’m not sure I’ll continue reading right now. The writing was very good and I really didn’t see any errors, but because of the genre, I’m not really eager to keep reading. I received a free book, so it’s possible I’ll read it in the future, but today, the answer is no. I’m just not that interested in the story. I have no suggestions for improvements.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 1:49 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AntonelaMaria
I read a lot of romances. Maybe because of that, I am very picky when it comes to reading new authors. The sample of this book is very depressing. It seems like Mike and Emma come from rough backgrounds, and both have some past trauma. I'm not in the mood to read such a heavy-hitting book. I usually prefer lighter-themed romances. This book has an excellent Official Onlinebookclub review that is very helpful. It points out the good parts of the story. There is also something that needs to be improved. I agree that clarity in timelines would benefit to better reader's understanding. I didn't notice any grammatical errors.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 1:09 pm by AntonelaMaria.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'Double Redemption' is a book written by Frances Gene Collins. After losing his drug addiction mother at a young age, Mike was made to stay with unwilling relatives. He spent his childhood scavenging food and reading books. Mike meets Emma when her car breaks down on her way to the university. I like the way the author showed the emotions of a child who knew that he was not wanted. The editing is professional. There is nothing in need of an improvement. I would read this book without the sample based on the cover, title, genre, blurb, editorial reviews, and customer reviews as I like the title. The OBC review is insightful. I will read this book as I wish to see Mike and Emma find love.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 1:05 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Valkyrie9
Double Redemption by Francis Gene Collins is a romance novel telling the story of two emotionally scarred adults who are destined to find each other and be the key to the other’s redemption. The cover is striking, if a little creepy, and the blurb on Amazon gives just enough away to get the reader interested. If I had not read the sample, I might still read this book based on the blurb – the genre is not entirely one that I am typically drawn to, and the cover is a bit dark.
Having read the sample and the OBC review, I know I will definitely enjoy this book. What I liked most about the sample that I read was the clear distinction between the characters’ voices as the narration switches between them. I did not notice any errors, so I believe the book was professionally edited. I thoroughly enjoyed the sample and would love to read further to find out what happens. In fact, I was so absorbed I read past the ten-page mark. I did not notice anything that could be improved.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 1:04 pm by Valkyrie9.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda
The cover made me hesitate because "redemption" is one of those words that are usually loaded with religious meaning. I appreciate the author included a few lines about the narrative style in the blurb ("Empathetically portrayed with careful precision, smart dialogue, and incisive narrative deliver finely detailed portraits of quiet desperation, illuminating deeper universal truths.") Few authors know how important this is. However, the topic seems a little trite. I wouldn't have bought the book based on my first impressions, despite the high ratings.
Mike's narrative tugged at my heartstrings. It reminded me to be grateful for things I take for granted. It reminded me that there are kids out there who don't know "the comforts of clean sheets and pillowcases." I also appreciated the childish remarks, such as "I’d heard of it raining cats and dogs, but I’d never heard of it raining French fries." I'm glad to have discovered an author with such a talent for character development. I stopped the first ten pages just in the middle of the meet-cute, and I'm excited to keep reading.
I didn't find editing mistakes. My suggestion would be to include an extract of the book, or of the official OBC review on the Amazon blurb, to show the reader what makes this book worthwhile. The official OBC review was instrumental in my enthusiasm for the book, because it confirmed that though the topic of the book might seem trite, the development is wonderful.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 11:41 am by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Iva Stoyanova
I wouldn't have chosen to sample or read this book based on the cover and the title. The cover didn't get my interest at all as it seemed to me that the book is a drama. I don't usually read drama books. Also, the title sounded too dramatic for me. I don't have anything against the genre, although I don't usually choose to read romance novels. The official review gave me a good idea of the book. It confirmed my opinion that the book is a bit dramatic and romantic. I will not buy and read this book. As I mentioned above, I don't usually read dramatic and romantic books. Also, I didn't change my mind after reading the first ten pages, although I was intrigued by them.
I think the book was professionally edited. I liked the flow of Mike's story. It was nicely written, the language was simple and easy to follow. I'm sure many fans of romance will find this book interesting and will be engaged. I have no suggestions for improvement as the first ten pages were nicely written.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 11:34 am by Iva Stoyanova.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Bertha Jackson
The book’s cover, title, and genre all grabbed my attention, and I would have checked this book out. Most of the customer reviews’ ratings were high, and the blurb promised mystery, intrigue, and romance, which I look for in books. The first ten pages did not disappoint me. I can not imagine how seven-year-old Michael survives to adulthood and the scars he must carry. I am curious if Michael and Emma overcome their obstacles. For this reason, I have purchased the book and will eventually read it. The book appears to have been edited by a professional editor as I did not find any errors in the first ten pages. The OnlineBookClub confirms this observation. The plot in the first ten pages flows smoothly, and I have no recommendations for the author
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 11:31 am by Bertha Jackson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Michelle Menezes
I couldn't guess the content of the book based on the title. However, the blurb gave me a clear idea, and I also found the story interesting. The Official OnlineBookClub review had good things to say about it but also mentioned that the main characters have a traumatic life. It discouraged me from picking up the book, as I do not want to read anything emotionally heavy at the moment. After reading the first ten pages, I have decided to stick to my decision and not read the book. The beginning spoke about Mike's childhood where he faced abuse and neglect. Emma was also struggling with her life. It was heartbreaking. I liked the part where Mike eventually finds a place he gets food from regularly and doesn't go hungry after that. Also, his love for reading made me happy. This book was well written and does not need any improvement. If it wasn't for the trauma, I would have read it. I did not find any errors, so it seems professionally edited.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 10:35 am by Michelle Menezes.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Timothy Rucinski
I don't typically read romances, so I won't be reading this book. The cover was quite nice and if I hadn't read the Official OBC Review I would think this might be more than just a romance. Even though the OBC Review hinted at some mystery, this still strikes me as a solid romance and not of any interest to me. Still, the author writes extremely well and I enjoyed the pages that I read. I particularly liked the episode where Mike discovers the public library. Although I didn't have a horrible childhood as did this character, I was the same kind of kid that spent hours in the library and this imagery brought those memories flooding back. There was nothing about what I read that I disliked. It's only the genre for which I don't care. I assume that the book was professionally edited as I found no errors.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 9:37 am by Timothy Rucinski.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Laura Ungureanu
The cover is not one I like. It is too dark and has people on it, so I wasn't attracted to the book's appearance. The OBC review made me want to check the book out. Reading the childhood memories felt like a traumatic event, especially when Michael's mother died. I think that reading about two broken people falling in love could potentially be an enjoyable reading experience, so I'm eager to see more of this book. I don't think there is something that could be improved, as the book seems very pleasant. The editing also seemed flawless.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 8:48 am by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Satwik Mohanty
The first thing that put me off was the headings. Each chapter's name was either Emma or Mike. The first chapters for both were kind of an introduction to their characters. Emma's story was told in the present while we get a flashback of Mike's past for his intro. This is another thing that I did not like. I would have liked to explore Emma's past in her intro. Except for that, the editing was professional.
First Ten review added on September 20, 2021, at 8:46 am by Satwik Mohanty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 40%
Double Redemption earned a score of 40%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 40% 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 Double Redemption
