WD contest review Draw A Hard Line

Draw a Hard LineWriter’s Digest shared with me the judge’s review of Draw A Hard Line from their self-published ebook competition:
01/30/2025
Structure, Organization, Pacing: Please choose the statement that best applies to this book.
Reviewer 1
This book is exemplary in its structure, organization, and pacing. The structure of the chapters/parts aid in a compelling organization of the story or information. The pacing is even throughout and matches the tone/genre of the book.
Spelling, Punctuation, Grammar: Please choose the statement that best applies to this book.
Reviewer 1
This book has spelling, punctuation, and grammar corresponding with the region of the world from which the author hails (ex. British English or American English) or with where the book is set (including slang, vernacular, or dialect). These choices are intentional and implemented consistently throughout with few, if any, errors.
Production Quality and Cover Design: Please choose the statement that best applies to this book.
Reviewer 1
This book is exemplary in production quality and cover design. The digital file allows for easy and accurate toggling between chapters and URLs (if any) are hyperlinked. The cover appears to be professionally designed and is compellingly related to the content/genre of the book.
Plot, Story, or Topic Appeal: Please choose the statement that best applies to this book.
Reviewer 1
This book is satisfactory in its choice of topic or theme for the story. It has some unique elements and will appeal to many readers in its intended genre. If the book is fiction or narrative nonfiction, the book has a plot but could use some improvements. If the book is poetry or prescriptive nonfiction, the theme or delivery of information works but could use improvement.
Character Appeal and Development: Please choose the statement that best applies to this book.
Reviewer 1
This book is exemplary in character appeal (or interest) and development. All main characters (including antagonists) are unique and fully fleshed out with compelling, layered motivations and traits. Secondary characters are unique and have a meaningful purpose.
Voice and Writing Style: Please choose the statement that best applies to this book.
Reviewer 1
This book is exemplary in its voice and writing style. It has a unique voice, and the writing style is consistent throughout. The style and tone are also consistent with or will appeal to readers of the intended genre.
In a few explanatory sentences, please share with the entrant 1-3 of the most important aspects that need to be improved for this book to be more appealing/useful to readers and why.
Reviewer 1
While this is an excellently composed thriller that feels incredibly polished already, my only suggestion, or small note on my experience that I wish had been a bit improved is that I found the plot points of racism, sex trafficking, and drug addiction all in one book to be a little expected. I think those are very valid stories to tell and that the author does a wonderful job in addressing them, but there are a lot of books that address those issues and with writing skill of the level I found here, I would have loved to see some more unique, fresh, and more compelling plot points for E.J. to investigate.
In a few explanatory sentences, please share with the entrant 1-3 things that you enjoyed or that readers will find compelling about this book and why.
Reviewer 1
While I mentioned not being a huge fan of some of the plot points addressed in this story, I was enthralled with the writing and enjoyed my time with E.J. very much. I appreciated that the characters are able to confront these topics right up close and was impressed with the depth of the emotional writing in which E.J. does seem to deeply consider his roots, his history, and the overlap of how he has been raised and learned to do things might need an inspection as well. I think that will really resonate with readers who might be feeling a similar desire or prompt from current events to bring up those difficult questions about family, the values inherent in various heritages and what that means, and that is a very meaningful thing to accomplish in an already compelling thriller! I also was impressed that the book manages to accomplish as much as it does in a tidy length. It is paced excellently and I felt a trust between reader and writing that was great. E.J. was a great character to be with and I loved how resilient and smart he is. I would definitely read more in this series and think readers of the genre will be thrilled to discover it too.