@GraceKrispy : First I will state categorically none of the reviews on Amazon or Smashwords are plants (assuming you mean ppl who are not expressing their real opinions but are putting 5 stars because I asked/hired/etc them too). I understand how you could see it that way, and appreciate your honesty.
The guy that rated it twice on Smashwords does know me from another internet forum (not real well, we have never met or chatted live), and it is his photo on the cover, but why he posted twice (and why Smashwords allows that) I have no idea. I actually think he did more far more harm then good because he equates the book to Tom Clancy, and my writing is nothing like that. If someone picks up the book expecting that kind of highly technical writing they will be disappointed. Others such as " T. Fruge", "Blake Bos", "Andres", and "Samantha S" are people who I have no idea who are. "Jim Hendricks" is one of my pre-readers, but he mentions that in the review. Most of the reviews on Smashwords and B&N come from people who I have no idea who they are.
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Overall, if you're looking to improve based on your reviews, I'd say that there was some talk of a simplistic writing style, and praise for the actual content and plot. So if you think the comments made are all honest and you want to take the suggestions, then maybe beef up the details and the level of language (a few commented it seemed more like a YA book) in your book, but keep the same great ideas.
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My problem with that advice is I am not sure what it really means.
I am wanting to improve and I really enjoy the craft, so I would like to understand this point better.
I have 3 college degrees and I am working on a Master's degree. My professors tell me that I write my term papers, thesis work, and other school work at the "graduate level." I typically score 90% or better on those papers. That work of course is formal writing and not novels, and it is done under much stricter requirements, with much artificial style placed on top of it so I do not know if it applies at all here. I am assuming you have not read the book, so I am just mentioning it to give some baseline.
I am not sure what I would need to make the writing less "simplistic". Is it the verbiage choices? Is it the number of details? Something else?
In book two I have addressed the "main character is super powerful" problem, I do recognize that criticism was completely valid. I also have added more depth to the characters, because I do feel that was lacking in first book. I added more introspection, and background. My pre-readers tell me book two is a big improvement, so hopefully that is an indication of something.
I know that I enjoy book two more then book one.