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Joe
From the author of the Alexa Montgomery Saga, comes a book that will take you into the mind of a genuine psychopath, the lives of six ordinary people, and the world of a very special girl named Joe.
Joe is seemingly an ordinary college student. She works, studies and reads. But in between these activities Joe has a gift that promises to add a dose of color to her life at any given moment. Joe sees things before they happen. Bad things, and the worst thing she has ever faced is just around the corner. Someone is planning a massacre at the college university that Joe attends, and the only person with a hope of stopping the psychopath is her.
Oh, the beauty of foresight. More like a curse. Joe has four days to figure out the mystery, make plans to take down the psycho, and save the lives of people. People like you and me. Ordinary people.
Joe is seemingly an ordinary college student. She works, studies and reads. But in between these activities Joe has a gift that promises to add a dose of color to her life at any given moment. Joe sees things before they happen. Bad things, and the worst thing she has ever faced is just around the corner. Someone is planning a massacre at the college university that Joe attends, and the only person with a hope of stopping the psychopath is her.
Oh, the beauty of foresight. More like a curse. Joe has four days to figure out the mystery, make plans to take down the psycho, and save the lives of people. People like you and me. Ordinary people.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2012
16 people are currently reading
1391 people want to read
About the author
H.D. Gordon
46 books623 followersH. D. Gordon is the author of several fantasy series with strong female leads.
She is the mother of two amazing daughters, and a lover of nature. She believes our actions have ripple effects, and in the interconnectedness of all things.
H. D. spends her time with family, eating desserts, and taking strolls through the forests of New Jersey.
Please visit hdgordonbooks.com for more details.
She is the mother of two amazing daughters, and a lover of nature. She believes our actions have ripple effects, and in the interconnectedness of all things.
H. D. spends her time with family, eating desserts, and taking strolls through the forests of New Jersey.
Please visit hdgordonbooks.com for more details.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
September 30, 2012
Joe is not the type of book I would normally read and if it was a movie I would rate it R, for language, some drug use, and adult themes. It took me 2 days to read Joe, which tells you just what type of book it is. Joe was a page turner that was really hard to put down. I must say, I am so impressed by the writing in this book. This book is so incredibly well written I have to give huge props to HD Gordon for really working on her craft and becoming a truly polished writer. The writing was so realistic and flowed so naturally that it took almost no effort to read, which is my kind of book. The tension built over the course over the entire novel until it reached a fever pitch.
I can almost guarantee you'll fall in love with the main character, Joe, who is extremely unique in today's literature. I have no idea how Gordon managed to develop a character so well while developing 7 other characters at the same time, simply amazing!
I also loved how the author used very creative styling and sentence structure to manage the 8 points of view that are shown in the book. It was a major risk, but she completely pulled it off. Finally, the ending includes all 8 points of view flowing in and out of each other almost effortlessly and completely seamlessly--the only was to describe it is ART.
A big hats off to HD for pushing the boundaries and tackling a topic that is sensitive to say the least. I would recommend this book to any adults who like thrillers and suspense and don't mind a bit of swearing.
I can almost guarantee you'll fall in love with the main character, Joe, who is extremely unique in today's literature. I have no idea how Gordon managed to develop a character so well while developing 7 other characters at the same time, simply amazing!
I also loved how the author used very creative styling and sentence structure to manage the 8 points of view that are shown in the book. It was a major risk, but she completely pulled it off. Finally, the ending includes all 8 points of view flowing in and out of each other almost effortlessly and completely seamlessly--the only was to describe it is ART.
A big hats off to HD for pushing the boundaries and tackling a topic that is sensitive to say the least. I would recommend this book to any adults who like thrillers and suspense and don't mind a bit of swearing.
July 17, 2012
My Review
Gripping, thrilling, suspenseful, and a complete masterpiece.
H.D. Gordon continues to surpass what I expect in her books and Joe is no different. Her writing grows by leaps and bounds with every page turning book she writes.
Joe is a quiet clairvoyant that tugs on your heart strings. She says she is no hero but I strongly disagree. With all the hardships in her life I think most of us would end up in the fetal position. While she is nothing like Gordon's heroine Alexa, from the Alexa Montgomery series. She is just as much the warrior, maybe not the trained bad-ass, but a warrior none the less. This quiet girl with a stutter feels responsible for every vision she has and takes it upon herself to do everything in her power to stop her premonitions from coming to life.
This book is written from eight different perspectives so that you get to know every character and silently root for them to make it through the majorly horrific encounter they might face. "The Decider" is the psychopath they will potentianlly face when he decides he will try to accomplish the largest body count ever in a school shooting. "The Decider's" point of view is chilling and I can't believe how real his scenes were, it was truly like seeing into his psychopathic nature. I found myself rooting for every character that this Psycho plans to slaughter. Six of these characters you can identify with, could even be you, and I prayed that they would all make it.
The ending was utterly enthralling and I could not put it down, Gordon's "running scenes" never have I seen anything like this done before, never before have I read anything like this and was absolutely enthralled. If you read any other book this year... read this one. This heart pounding paranormal thriller has it all and it utterly magnificent.
Just stop reading whatever you are reading and pick this up immediately.
Available on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008GETO0O
And B&N
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/joe-h...
Other books by H.D. Gordon
Blood Warrior
(Book 1 of The Alexa Montgomery Saga)
Half Black Soul
(Book 2 of The Alexa Montgomery Saga)
Book 3 - To be release Fall 2012
Stalk H.D.
http://hdgordon.com/
https://www.facebook.com/HDGordonauth...
https://twitter.com/#!/hd_gordon
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
P.S. Even My husband read it and loved it! How cool is that!!!
Gripping, thrilling, suspenseful, and a complete masterpiece.
H.D. Gordon continues to surpass what I expect in her books and Joe is no different. Her writing grows by leaps and bounds with every page turning book she writes.
Joe is a quiet clairvoyant that tugs on your heart strings. She says she is no hero but I strongly disagree. With all the hardships in her life I think most of us would end up in the fetal position. While she is nothing like Gordon's heroine Alexa, from the Alexa Montgomery series. She is just as much the warrior, maybe not the trained bad-ass, but a warrior none the less. This quiet girl with a stutter feels responsible for every vision she has and takes it upon herself to do everything in her power to stop her premonitions from coming to life.
This book is written from eight different perspectives so that you get to know every character and silently root for them to make it through the majorly horrific encounter they might face. "The Decider" is the psychopath they will potentianlly face when he decides he will try to accomplish the largest body count ever in a school shooting. "The Decider's" point of view is chilling and I can't believe how real his scenes were, it was truly like seeing into his psychopathic nature. I found myself rooting for every character that this Psycho plans to slaughter. Six of these characters you can identify with, could even be you, and I prayed that they would all make it.
The ending was utterly enthralling and I could not put it down, Gordon's "running scenes" never have I seen anything like this done before, never before have I read anything like this and was absolutely enthralled. If you read any other book this year... read this one. This heart pounding paranormal thriller has it all and it utterly magnificent.
Just stop reading whatever you are reading and pick this up immediately.
Available on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008GETO0O
And B&N
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/joe-h...
Other books by H.D. Gordon
Blood Warrior
(Book 1 of The Alexa Montgomery Saga)
Half Black Soul
(Book 2 of The Alexa Montgomery Saga)
Book 3 - To be release Fall 2012
Stalk H.D.
http://hdgordon.com/
https://www.facebook.com/HDGordonauth...
https://twitter.com/#!/hd_gordon
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
P.S. Even My husband read it and loved it! How cool is that!!!
July 12, 2012
Wow. Just Wow.
H.D.- you've just bought yourself a life-long fan. I've already read her Alexa Montgomery series, and loved it... but this was oh, so different. Just the cover is so alluring- I honestly wanted to read just upon hearing she wrote it, and seeing the beautiful cover art. And then I started the book... Wow. I can't stop saying that!
"Mondays, as I knew them, had a nasty habit of flinging crap and flipping on fans."
While Joe is the main character, the story is still told from 8 different perspectives. You get inside the psychopathic mind of The Decider; absolutely chilling. Joe's more innocent (and jaded at the same time) clairvoyant mind. A soon-to-be-retired professor looking forward to her 'freedom', a heart broken college student longing for his first love, a stressed young girl on the precipice of an irrevocable choice, an ex-convict trying to rebuild a life and connect with his daughter, a single mom trying to raise two boys and improve their lives, and a young man drawn to Joe finally finding the courage to approach her. They all have their own story to tell, and make you root for each of them and empathize with their struggles. No one is perfect, life can change on a dime and end in a moment.
"Claire had a hole in her heart the size of Texas"
Towards the end, there was an amazing technique of running points of view together... almost a stream of thoughts jumping from character to character. It was amazing. It was not difficult to follow and had an chilling effect on me... it gave me goose-pimples. Words just cannot express how impressed I was with this book.
"Faith. County fairs, carnivals and circuses always made Mina think of it. More so than any Bible study"
If you are a fan of Koontz's Odd Thomas books, this paranormal thriller will be right up your alley. It was simply stunning. Joe was vulnerable and strong; scared and brave; a soldier of fate. I absolutely loved it.
"But that's life, baby, and that shit ain't always fair."
H.D.- you've just bought yourself a life-long fan. I've already read her Alexa Montgomery series, and loved it... but this was oh, so different. Just the cover is so alluring- I honestly wanted to read just upon hearing she wrote it, and seeing the beautiful cover art. And then I started the book... Wow. I can't stop saying that!
"Mondays, as I knew them, had a nasty habit of flinging crap and flipping on fans."
While Joe is the main character, the story is still told from 8 different perspectives. You get inside the psychopathic mind of The Decider; absolutely chilling. Joe's more innocent (and jaded at the same time) clairvoyant mind. A soon-to-be-retired professor looking forward to her 'freedom', a heart broken college student longing for his first love, a stressed young girl on the precipice of an irrevocable choice, an ex-convict trying to rebuild a life and connect with his daughter, a single mom trying to raise two boys and improve their lives, and a young man drawn to Joe finally finding the courage to approach her. They all have their own story to tell, and make you root for each of them and empathize with their struggles. No one is perfect, life can change on a dime and end in a moment.
"Claire had a hole in her heart the size of Texas"
Towards the end, there was an amazing technique of running points of view together... almost a stream of thoughts jumping from character to character. It was amazing. It was not difficult to follow and had an chilling effect on me... it gave me goose-pimples. Words just cannot express how impressed I was with this book.
"Faith. County fairs, carnivals and circuses always made Mina think of it. More so than any Bible study"
If you are a fan of Koontz's Odd Thomas books, this paranormal thriller will be right up your alley. It was simply stunning. Joe was vulnerable and strong; scared and brave; a soldier of fate. I absolutely loved it.
"But that's life, baby, and that shit ain't always fair."
July 5, 2012
A 12-star read!!
An amazing and multi-layered novel, “Joe” was a story I did not want to put aside till I finished it. Sleep was immaterial. Joe and other characters are multi-dimensional, and rendered in unbelievable depth. Even though the story is a thriller/mystery, the reader is kept on the edge of her seat not only because of the high tension level, but also because of the treatment of these characters. The impending event, with its potential for high fatality, is tuned to an almost painful level of tension-nearly fatalistic, yet the reader continues to root for Joe to solve a nearly unsolvable event. Joe’s recurrent guilt over a foreseen event she could scarcely have prevented at age five; her mother’s contempt, even hatred; and the implacability of the event she now foresees blackening the University, make for exciting, yet terrifying storytelling.
I can scarcely recommend “Joe” highly enough. This has been one of the happy occasions when I wished to read a book based on its description, and found it not just enjoyable, but truly a worthwhile and fulfilling read.
An amazing and multi-layered novel, “Joe” was a story I did not want to put aside till I finished it. Sleep was immaterial. Joe and other characters are multi-dimensional, and rendered in unbelievable depth. Even though the story is a thriller/mystery, the reader is kept on the edge of her seat not only because of the high tension level, but also because of the treatment of these characters. The impending event, with its potential for high fatality, is tuned to an almost painful level of tension-nearly fatalistic, yet the reader continues to root for Joe to solve a nearly unsolvable event. Joe’s recurrent guilt over a foreseen event she could scarcely have prevented at age five; her mother’s contempt, even hatred; and the implacability of the event she now foresees blackening the University, make for exciting, yet terrifying storytelling.
I can scarcely recommend “Joe” highly enough. This has been one of the happy occasions when I wished to read a book based on its description, and found it not just enjoyable, but truly a worthwhile and fulfilling read.
July 9, 2012
Quick review:
Cover: Love It!
Rating: R
Thumbs Up: 5
Overall: A story it was hard not to read and think about.
Characters: Well done.
Plot: A crime told by many POVs, potential victims, heroes, and killer.
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Yes
Recommend: Yes
Book Boyfriend: Michael
SUMMARY (50 words or less)
This is a crime thriller with a bit of paranormal in it to spice it up. Everyone has something going on in there life that makes them a little good or even some bad. Although some strangers, one event will tie them all together. And this is their story.
To see my full review and yummy pic, check out my blog post below.
I will post link later.
Cover: Love It!
Rating: R
Thumbs Up: 5
Overall: A story it was hard not to read and think about.
Characters: Well done.
Plot: A crime told by many POVs, potential victims, heroes, and killer.
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Yes
Recommend: Yes
Book Boyfriend: Michael
SUMMARY (50 words or less)
This is a crime thriller with a bit of paranormal in it to spice it up. Everyone has something going on in there life that makes them a little good or even some bad. Although some strangers, one event will tie them all together. And this is their story.
To see my full review and yummy pic, check out my blog post below.
I will post link later.
July 21, 2012
Must. Have. This. Book. Period.
Joe was a really great read! I had difficulty choosing my rating between a 4.5-5 stars because I'm not really into the dark thriller type stories... but I had to sit back and think of a few things..
1.Did I like the story? Yes.
2.Did you like the main character? Yes.
3.Did the story flow? Yes, for 8 different point of views.
4. Did the balance between real and fantasy work? Yes.
5. Were all the characters believable? Yes, especially the Psycho lol.
6. Did the story come together as a whole? Yes, somewhat
7. Did the writing flow? Yes!
After all of the questions and deliberation I decided to go with 5 stars obviously!
H.D. was able to let us regular people (no offense) into the mind of a Psycho/Deranged college student and let us tinker in his crazy mind for a few chapters and that was all it took for me to believe this guy was crazy and a good villain to complete this thriller. This book absolutely played out in my mind like a movie and I can feel the fear building inside me when we were with "The Decider" for a few pages. I was glad we didn't have to stay in his mind for long because this guy is creepy!
Joe, the main character/protagonist is the bright side of this whole entire scenario. You would think that the touch of paranormal would be off in this story but it actually brought the story a light sense of hope. Joe is just plain weird. Weird in a good way and her weirdness makes you want to get inside her head because you know she different and theirs something about her that you want to know because you can feel she's good. The fact that Joe can see the future actually kicked the whole story into motion and I could not wait to find out about her child life and past with her gift or so she calls it her "Curse".
The only trouble I had with the story was with some of the POV's like Merrion...her story was not easy to read. I dont know if it was because she was an older woman and she just didn't have much going on.
I also wish we had more Joe! I absolutely loved her story and I wish we could of had more of her than the others.
Overall, this was an exceptional book! Although thriller is not my thing this book was great for what it was and I think the author did an amazing job of tying all the stories together!
Great story.Buy it.Read it.
Did anyone who has read the book notice that Joe was really "The Decider" at the end? :D
Joe was a really great read! I had difficulty choosing my rating between a 4.5-5 stars because I'm not really into the dark thriller type stories... but I had to sit back and think of a few things..
1.Did I like the story? Yes.
2.Did you like the main character? Yes.
3.Did the story flow? Yes, for 8 different point of views.
4. Did the balance between real and fantasy work? Yes.
5. Were all the characters believable? Yes, especially the Psycho lol.
6. Did the story come together as a whole? Yes, somewhat
7. Did the writing flow? Yes!
After all of the questions and deliberation I decided to go with 5 stars obviously!
H.D. was able to let us regular people (no offense) into the mind of a Psycho/Deranged college student and let us tinker in his crazy mind for a few chapters and that was all it took for me to believe this guy was crazy and a good villain to complete this thriller. This book absolutely played out in my mind like a movie and I can feel the fear building inside me when we were with "The Decider" for a few pages. I was glad we didn't have to stay in his mind for long because this guy is creepy!
Joe, the main character/protagonist is the bright side of this whole entire scenario. You would think that the touch of paranormal would be off in this story but it actually brought the story a light sense of hope. Joe is just plain weird. Weird in a good way and her weirdness makes you want to get inside her head because you know she different and theirs something about her that you want to know because you can feel she's good. The fact that Joe can see the future actually kicked the whole story into motion and I could not wait to find out about her child life and past with her gift or so she calls it her "Curse".
The only trouble I had with the story was with some of the POV's like Merrion...her story was not easy to read. I dont know if it was because she was an older woman and she just didn't have much going on.
I also wish we had more Joe! I absolutely loved her story and I wish we could of had more of her than the others.
Overall, this was an exceptional book! Although thriller is not my thing this book was great for what it was and I think the author did an amazing job of tying all the stories together!
Great story.Buy it.Read it.
Did anyone who has read the book notice that Joe was really "The Decider" at the end? :D
November 3, 2016
What I liked:
the story was fast paced and flowed beautifully-this felt much more natural than the first book by the author
the concept was pretty interesting & kept me engrossed
the indiscriminate hate that the Decider had for everybody-he didn't need a reason, he just hated.
What I didn't like:
the multiple POVs were fine but at the end of each such POV, the author hammered the upcoming events into the reader-delicate foreshadowing, I'm all for it but this wasn't it.
after reaching the last quarter of the book, the POVs suddenly began with a quote or an excerpt from some book-that might have worked, if the author had done this from the very start.
Steady storyline & an interesting MC-if Joe can be called that-you might want to try out this YA novel.
Also reviewed at:
Shelfari
Amazon
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2014
Being a huge fan of H.D Gordon's Alexa Montgomery series, it was no surprise that I was dying to read a copy of "JOE" the moment I saw it on Goodreads. So imagine my suprised face when I saw it on READ & REAP. And when I got my copy, I started doing my Happy Dance (you really do not want to see it, please save your eyes!)
"They would be heartbroken and crying to their mommies. They would light candles and say
prayers and mutter condolences, like any of them were even intelligent enough to give a shit about
another worthless human being. The police chief and reporters would call him a madman, a psychopath,
a murderer. They would analyze the video journals and poetry he left scattered about his apartment.
And they won’t learn a damn thing. Because that’s how fucking stupid they were."
This quote is from Prologue, from second page and this was enough for me to started thinking that I'll love this book. And of course, I fell for "JOE" really hard.
It's so different from Alexa's series! It's not ya. It's so much more. "JOE" is a deliciously creepy, dark, twisted, and complex story fulled with danger, suspense and lot of actions scenes. It will kick you so hard, that you will be thinking about this book, not only one day, or a week, you simply won't stop thinking about it for months!
My only issue with this book was the fact that it has eight (!) point of views (that's why I gave it only four stars), I know that a lot of people say it made "JOE" more interesting, but for me it was overhelming. I really like to meet one character and stick to him or her, you know? I would like to meet Joe much more,becouse she was fantastic, kick ass main heroine and I would kill for more of her.
"First, I should tell you that I am no hero. At some point I feel that you may come to the
conclusion that I am, but this would be a misconception, and though I am not heroic, I am not a liar, either."
I loved her even more than Alexa (I can't freaking belive that I wrote it here!)
"JOE "is an engaging story from the very first page. It'll capture you, and you will fall in a fever reading it. So if you want something different than usual paranormal read, something more complex you should get your hands on work by H.D Gordon.
"But I had come too far. It was too late to turn back now and change my mind. And, if I’m
being honest, I spared no thought for this either. I had the only two thoughts that mattered.
Don’t hesitate. Shoot to kill."
If this not making your hand itch with anticipation to read it, you should visit a doctor.
"They would be heartbroken and crying to their mommies. They would light candles and say
prayers and mutter condolences, like any of them were even intelligent enough to give a shit about
another worthless human being. The police chief and reporters would call him a madman, a psychopath,
a murderer. They would analyze the video journals and poetry he left scattered about his apartment.
And they won’t learn a damn thing. Because that’s how fucking stupid they were."
This quote is from Prologue, from second page and this was enough for me to started thinking that I'll love this book. And of course, I fell for "JOE" really hard.
It's so different from Alexa's series! It's not ya. It's so much more. "JOE" is a deliciously creepy, dark, twisted, and complex story fulled with danger, suspense and lot of actions scenes. It will kick you so hard, that you will be thinking about this book, not only one day, or a week, you simply won't stop thinking about it for months!
My only issue with this book was the fact that it has eight (!) point of views (that's why I gave it only four stars), I know that a lot of people say it made "JOE" more interesting, but for me it was overhelming. I really like to meet one character and stick to him or her, you know? I would like to meet Joe much more,becouse she was fantastic, kick ass main heroine and I would kill for more of her.
"First, I should tell you that I am no hero. At some point I feel that you may come to the
conclusion that I am, but this would be a misconception, and though I am not heroic, I am not a liar, either."
I loved her even more than Alexa (I can't freaking belive that I wrote it here!)
"JOE "is an engaging story from the very first page. It'll capture you, and you will fall in a fever reading it. So if you want something different than usual paranormal read, something more complex you should get your hands on work by H.D Gordon.
"But I had come too far. It was too late to turn back now and change my mind. And, if I’m
being honest, I spared no thought for this either. I had the only two thoughts that mattered.
Don’t hesitate. Shoot to kill."
If this not making your hand itch with anticipation to read it, you should visit a doctor.
July 9, 2012
OMG....THIS WAS EPIC.
The Story
Joe is the type of person that sticks to herself, she has not lived the easiest life and on top of that she can see snippets of the future. Sometimes, she sees a major event. This is the story of one said event, a student at her university is going to shoot up and bomb the school. This book chronicles how she handles this information, it also tells of a bit about the people who are also affected by this event.
Likes and Dislikes
-Okay, so my copy had a couple of errors...a name messed up here and there, but I think this was just due to calibre conversion.
-Also, I didn't really care for Marion's side of the story. I kinda skimmed over it.
--EVERYTHING ELSE was great. The writing poured emotion out of me, I cried at the ending. The author did a great job eliciting those emotions.
--Joe was an amazing person and I felt connected to her while reading. I wanted to scream at the author and tell her to make Joe's life easier.
--Michael, while this is not a romance story in the slightest, with Michael you know there is possibility and I sooooo badly want for that quiet romance, where the characters grow into each other. So in my minds eye, this is what happens after the book is over.
Conclusion
READ THIS BOOK!!!
The Story
Joe is the type of person that sticks to herself, she has not lived the easiest life and on top of that she can see snippets of the future. Sometimes, she sees a major event. This is the story of one said event, a student at her university is going to shoot up and bomb the school. This book chronicles how she handles this information, it also tells of a bit about the people who are also affected by this event.
Likes and Dislikes
-Okay, so my copy had a couple of errors...a name messed up here and there, but I think this was just due to calibre conversion.
-Also, I didn't really care for Marion's side of the story. I kinda skimmed over it.
--EVERYTHING ELSE was great. The writing poured emotion out of me, I cried at the ending. The author did a great job eliciting those emotions.
--Joe was an amazing person and I felt connected to her while reading. I wanted to scream at the author and tell her to make Joe's life easier.
--Michael, while this is not a romance story in the slightest, with Michael you know there is possibility and I sooooo badly want for that quiet romance, where the characters grow into each other. So in my minds eye, this is what happens after the book is over.
Conclusion
READ THIS BOOK!!!
July 2, 2012
H.D. Gordon tackles a serious subject without seeming too sentimental or movie-of-the-week, populating this rather mature work with astoundingly realistic characters and superb writing. "Joe" is one of the most suspenseful books I've read in awhile, rapidly building tension as the book proceeds, right up to the stunning conclusion. Emotionally satisfying (I admit it - I cried), this is a book that haunts you long after the final page.
April 8, 2013
deleting reviews if you want to take a look at them you can do so on my blog, link on my profile
July 10, 2012
Okay, so I finished this yesterday. I'm still struggling to review Joe by H.D. Gordon for a few reasons, but the main is this is not my normal read.
I go for rainbows and sunshine, which this book had very little of. I'm a huge fan of H.D. Gordon and I still am. Although I did not like much of this book, I felt emotion throughout the whole thing. When I say I didn't like it, what I'm saying is I don't like to know the inner workings of a psycopath. I did not like being in his head. He was one major mess job, and that is the beauty of this book. Ms. Gordon has once again created characters that feel real.
She has infused this story with tension and flat out horror if you ask me. I felt many things while reading Joe...sick to my stomach first thing...sorry for Joe...sorry for other characters...frustration for some of them...anxiety for all of them up until the end.
I pretty much figured out what was going to happen before it did, but that didn't matter because it played out like a nightmare almost. Especially the climax where Joe has to face the Decider. That scene is written so well that it makes me gasp to think about it.
Great job, Ms. Gordon...now I want more of Alexa Montgomery. LOL. She is more to my taste, but this was a book I will remember for a very long time.
Thanks to Shut Up and Read Group and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I do want to leave a warning here, though, this is not a book for children. 18+ in my opinion.
I go for rainbows and sunshine, which this book had very little of. I'm a huge fan of H.D. Gordon and I still am. Although I did not like much of this book, I felt emotion throughout the whole thing. When I say I didn't like it, what I'm saying is I don't like to know the inner workings of a psycopath. I did not like being in his head. He was one major mess job, and that is the beauty of this book. Ms. Gordon has once again created characters that feel real.
She has infused this story with tension and flat out horror if you ask me. I felt many things while reading Joe...sick to my stomach first thing...sorry for Joe...sorry for other characters...frustration for some of them...anxiety for all of them up until the end.
I pretty much figured out what was going to happen before it did, but that didn't matter because it played out like a nightmare almost. Especially the climax where Joe has to face the Decider. That scene is written so well that it makes me gasp to think about it.
Great job, Ms. Gordon...now I want more of Alexa Montgomery. LOL. She is more to my taste, but this was a book I will remember for a very long time.
Thanks to Shut Up and Read Group and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I do want to leave a warning here, though, this is not a book for children. 18+ in my opinion.
July 12, 2012
H.D. Gordon’s newest book Joe is probably one of the better books I’ve read this year. HD Gordon is one fantastic author I have no idea how she researched this book to tell us readers this amazing thriller. It’s written with eight different POV’s and HD has done a terrific job, it flows well and I never once did I feel like … OMG what’s going on. Fantastic writing HD Gordon.
Joe is a clairvoyant who ends up in a situation where she must stop a disaster from happening; she has to face the Decider who is as evil and send shivers down your spine. You meet some interesting characters and truly feel for them. The one thing I will say that is negative about this book Joe is that once you start reading it you cannot put it down as have to know what is going to happen next. Without giving too much away all I can say is you must go read this novel. HD Gordon’s writing is amazing, truly one of the better written books I’ve read lately.
This story is a thriller/suspense/heart wrenching and oh a few tears may be shed. I have rated Joe 5 stars and if I was allowed I would say 6. Everyone should read this book especially if you love a good thriller/suspense novel and this is absolutely a book you need to purchase.
Joe is a clairvoyant who ends up in a situation where she must stop a disaster from happening; she has to face the Decider who is as evil and send shivers down your spine. You meet some interesting characters and truly feel for them. The one thing I will say that is negative about this book Joe is that once you start reading it you cannot put it down as have to know what is going to happen next. Without giving too much away all I can say is you must go read this novel. HD Gordon’s writing is amazing, truly one of the better written books I’ve read lately.
This story is a thriller/suspense/heart wrenching and oh a few tears may be shed. I have rated Joe 5 stars and if I was allowed I would say 6. Everyone should read this book especially if you love a good thriller/suspense novel and this is absolutely a book you need to purchase.
July 17, 2012
Joe is not the usual type of book I read, but I heard so much about it that I had to see for myself. It is a thriller written from eight different points of view. The author does a good job of developing each character and weaving them into a compelling story.
Joe has a gift/curse of seeing the future. She never knows when these visions will come to her. This gift, coupled with her stuttering problem, has filled her life with ridicule and rejection. While attending college, she gets one of her visions and will have four days to try and prevent the coming massacre.
I enjoyed this story even with the eight points of view. I would definitely recommend it to adults looking for a gripping thriller.
Joe has a gift/curse of seeing the future. She never knows when these visions will come to her. This gift, coupled with her stuttering problem, has filled her life with ridicule and rejection. While attending college, she gets one of her visions and will have four days to try and prevent the coming massacre.
I enjoyed this story even with the eight points of view. I would definitely recommend it to adults looking for a gripping thriller.
July 7, 2012
(Book read and reviewed for {Read It & Reap 76} in the Shut Up And Read group.)
I had never read anything from this author in the past, but I wanted to review it after noticing a few people writing about it on their blogs, as well as being attracted by the kind of plot it deals with. It turned out to be quite the gripping novel in many aspects, and I found myself drawn to it more and more with each page.
The themes perused in the book are of the kind that tend to hit home. Enjoy life while it lasts, because you never know what will happen tomorrow. Don't put back what matters until tomorrow, because tomorrow might just not come. It's when you're about to lose your life that you finally understand its worth. And, of course: if you were able to foresee such a terrible event as presented in "Joe", what would you do? Would you face it, even knowing there's no chance to win? Or would you run away, saving your life at the cost of that of dozens of people? Perhaps such themes will seem overrated or hackneyed to some readers, but to me, they always provide perspective and questioning, and I like that. I like being confronted with such conundrums.
The eight people whose points of view we follow through the story all have questions and/or problems of their own to deal with. The almost-retired teacher with only two months left before she is 'free' from her job at last. The depressed student who's taken a terrible decision. The kid who can't wait to meet his teenage-years sweetheart. The single mother wondering if she should allow herself a new chance at loving, and find a new father for her children. The young man estranged from his family because of one mistake, with a fierce desire to get a new start. The killer—the Decider, with his cold point of view that will send shivers down your spine. And, of course, Joe herself, struggling with her insecurities, her power that may or may not be a curse, the decision she will have to make. All of them I found interesting to follow. All of them I wanted to see survive in the end.
As a side note, since the "eight POVs" aspect was mentioned by other people, I must say that it didn't bother me. I've read stories with even more POVs than that, and here I think the voices of all those characters were introduced clearly enough each time (if only because their names are mentioned) to make them flow nicely. Also, the way they were used near the end was a clever addition, giving the feeling of cut scenes interweaving into each other. I quite liked that. The only thing I couldn't determine until well into the novel was: why make Joe's point of view the only one in the first person? I couldn't decide if it was justified or not, because I feel the story would have worked just as well had it been in the third person. In the end, though, I chose to view it as a good point. It marks the centre of the whole web, gathers all the threads together, while setting Joe apart, which is also justified if we consider her odd ability that has always made her different.
I had never read anything from this author in the past, but I wanted to review it after noticing a few people writing about it on their blogs, as well as being attracted by the kind of plot it deals with. It turned out to be quite the gripping novel in many aspects, and I found myself drawn to it more and more with each page.
The themes perused in the book are of the kind that tend to hit home. Enjoy life while it lasts, because you never know what will happen tomorrow. Don't put back what matters until tomorrow, because tomorrow might just not come. It's when you're about to lose your life that you finally understand its worth. And, of course: if you were able to foresee such a terrible event as presented in "Joe", what would you do? Would you face it, even knowing there's no chance to win? Or would you run away, saving your life at the cost of that of dozens of people? Perhaps such themes will seem overrated or hackneyed to some readers, but to me, they always provide perspective and questioning, and I like that. I like being confronted with such conundrums.
The eight people whose points of view we follow through the story all have questions and/or problems of their own to deal with. The almost-retired teacher with only two months left before she is 'free' from her job at last. The depressed student who's taken a terrible decision. The kid who can't wait to meet his teenage-years sweetheart. The single mother wondering if she should allow herself a new chance at loving, and find a new father for her children. The young man estranged from his family because of one mistake, with a fierce desire to get a new start. The killer—the Decider, with his cold point of view that will send shivers down your spine. And, of course, Joe herself, struggling with her insecurities, her power that may or may not be a curse, the decision she will have to make. All of them I found interesting to follow. All of them I wanted to see survive in the end.
As a side note, since the "eight POVs" aspect was mentioned by other people, I must say that it didn't bother me. I've read stories with even more POVs than that, and here I think the voices of all those characters were introduced clearly enough each time (if only because their names are mentioned) to make them flow nicely. Also, the way they were used near the end was a clever addition, giving the feeling of cut scenes interweaving into each other. I quite liked that. The only thing I couldn't determine until well into the novel was: why make Joe's point of view the only one in the first person? I couldn't decide if it was justified or not, because I feel the story would have worked just as well had it been in the third person. In the end, though, I chose to view it as a good point. It marks the centre of the whole web, gathers all the threads together, while setting Joe apart, which is also justified if we consider her odd ability that has always made her different.
July 14, 2012
I won’t rehash the blurb, it tells what you need to know about what this book is about. I was glued to this book, all the way to the very climatic end. I will however say that it is told from eight point of views. This was definitely intriguing and different. Not many books are written this way. You get in the heads of key characters of the book. Knowing of their possible impending doom makes for a gut wrenching read, especially the role of the Decider. Definitely not for the light hearted or those searching for a light read. I did however, not care for the eight point of views. It felt a little jumpy to me. It was definitely done well though, like a massive web woven together expertly to pull together at the end and make one breathtaking story.
When I say that I found this book seriously disturbing, I mean that in a good way. Not that being in the head of a psychopath is not disturbing, but I found Joe’s prospective even more so. Her life is haunting. One would akin it to a horror story almost. I won’t give anything away but I found her absolutely fascinating in how she has dealt with her life and all that has happened or been given to her, even in the darkest times of her life. She is a brave person if I ever saw one. Even portrayed as a quiet, reclusive and does her best to fade into the background due to her gifts and her ever present stutter. I understood her demeanor well but it also made it seem so lonely. I kept rooting for her the whole way through.
Definitely not your everyday read, I highly recommend this book, it’s stomach twisting, intriguing and makes you hold your breath a little too long. A must read.
When I say that I found this book seriously disturbing, I mean that in a good way. Not that being in the head of a psychopath is not disturbing, but I found Joe’s prospective even more so. Her life is haunting. One would akin it to a horror story almost. I won’t give anything away but I found her absolutely fascinating in how she has dealt with her life and all that has happened or been given to her, even in the darkest times of her life. She is a brave person if I ever saw one. Even portrayed as a quiet, reclusive and does her best to fade into the background due to her gifts and her ever present stutter. I understood her demeanor well but it also made it seem so lonely. I kept rooting for her the whole way through.
Definitely not your everyday read, I highly recommend this book, it’s stomach twisting, intriguing and makes you hold your breath a little too long. A must read.
November 4, 2012
Joe, a story about a girl with a special ability to forsee certain tragic events that involve people who are directly or indirectly in her life. I was lucky enough to receive this book through the Shut Up and Read R2R program and first and foremost I have to thank the author for the opporunity to read her book. Joe told in multiple POV reads like a script for a movie, the writing seems a little hestitant at times but I think the author is trying to really give into the element of drama. The characters are real and the heroine is honest and heartfelt; the storyline reads like something out of Law & Order episode giving a 360 view account from all the different characters point of view with flashbacks to provide insight to the characters' mental state leading up to the climax of the story. I love a book that allows me to escape for a little while and while this book did just that; the formatting and switching tenses in between characters bothered me a little. The ending was as one hopes it to be however towards the end I had to go back and forth a little to make sure I was keeping up with the right character. My hats off to the author for writing such an awesome story with such honest emotion and relatable characters.
July 11, 2012
First I have to say that this book was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!!!!!! Man I am a huge fan of H.D. 's Alexa Montgomery Series and when I found out she was writing another book I just had to have it. I want to thank Nicole for allowing me to be a part of this tour and to share in this great story that will touch your heart and stay with you long after you have read it.
Ten years ago school shootings were never heard about. If a kid had a problem they would go out and fight after school but in this day and age where guns and other weapons are accessible kids are going postal and not in a good way. Joe is a story about a girl who can see the future, a clairvoyant or psychic. She is a shy quiet girl who is in college taking classes and minding her own business and trying to help people out who she has had a premonition off. Joe will tell no right off the bat that she is no hero but I beg to differ. She is helping this people who are going to get hurt and to me that is a hero in the purest sense. She will do whatever it takes to uncover who the school shooter is and as he is called in the book the psycho because that is what he is.
I also have to tell you that you may find it strange to read a book from eight peoples point of view but I promise you this book is totally EPIC! What it does is give you glimpses into each persons story and how they feel and what they are going through. H.D. did a great job of not over whelming you with info but allowing each person to tell their story the way they see it.Boy oh boy what they have to endure and face is the craziest thing I have ever read but truth be told no one really knows what people are like on the inside because if we did we would probably die with fright. People are demented and this psycho path is very demented and wants to destroy people's lives and then kill himself.
Joe is a MUST READ and I can't stress it enough! It will tug on your heart and have you at the edge of your seat wanting to read faster to see what is happening and how the ending will play out. After the last page I was like what the heck with my kindle because I wanted more and more and then I sat to write the review and couldn't because I was emotional and did not want to put in any spoilers because this is one of those stories where you have to read it to believe it. So happy Reading!
Ten years ago school shootings were never heard about. If a kid had a problem they would go out and fight after school but in this day and age where guns and other weapons are accessible kids are going postal and not in a good way. Joe is a story about a girl who can see the future, a clairvoyant or psychic. She is a shy quiet girl who is in college taking classes and minding her own business and trying to help people out who she has had a premonition off. Joe will tell no right off the bat that she is no hero but I beg to differ. She is helping this people who are going to get hurt and to me that is a hero in the purest sense. She will do whatever it takes to uncover who the school shooter is and as he is called in the book the psycho because that is what he is.
I also have to tell you that you may find it strange to read a book from eight peoples point of view but I promise you this book is totally EPIC! What it does is give you glimpses into each persons story and how they feel and what they are going through. H.D. did a great job of not over whelming you with info but allowing each person to tell their story the way they see it.Boy oh boy what they have to endure and face is the craziest thing I have ever read but truth be told no one really knows what people are like on the inside because if we did we would probably die with fright. People are demented and this psycho path is very demented and wants to destroy people's lives and then kill himself.
Joe is a MUST READ and I can't stress it enough! It will tug on your heart and have you at the edge of your seat wanting to read faster to see what is happening and how the ending will play out. After the last page I was like what the heck with my kindle because I wanted more and more and then I sat to write the review and couldn't because I was emotional and did not want to put in any spoilers because this is one of those stories where you have to read it to believe it. So happy Reading!
August 12, 2012
After finishing this book, all I can think about is if there is going to be sequel! I'm about to Google the universe until I find out. The last chapter of the book certaintly leaves it open to one... and I really want to see more of Joe. OK, so I'm jumping ahead of my review a bit!
I really enjoyed this book. The character development was great. There were multiple prospectives in the book. It's hard to write without spoilers... but I'll just say - I was stressed worrying about all the characters and wondering what was going to happen to them. You hear their stories... you see what they've gone through... you don't want anything to happen to them. I was totally invested in each and every character. I was to the point where I didn't want to know more about the characters because I was so scared of what the outcome would be!
"No one plans on dying, you see. No one should have to."
When the ending happened, I have to say, I shed a few tears... I really felt for all the characters. It happened so fast. It was pretty realistic, cause isn't that how things happen - so suddenly.
"Because that is how it works. Rapid and unexpected. Most of us wouldn't know it, but this is a gift."
I loved Joe! Her character, her thoughts, what she does with her gift, and her imperfections were all very endearing. "Simple Joe" was the most complex character of the bunch.
"One of the greatest mercies in life: not knowing what's going to happen next."
I really liked Michael. He was a perplexing character for me. Partially because he contradicted the typical sterotypes for the "jock" guy. Getting inside his head was interesting. He surprised me most of all with his observations and constraint. But man, did he pull a stupid dumb jock move at one point...!
It was kind of eerie to have the "bad guy" narrate... Getting into his head, hearing his goals, his thoughts... Yikes. There are some people in this world that think like that and do the unthinkable acts and relish in it. It was intriguing and disturbing at the same time.
The build-up and suspense was very creative and really held my attention. I was stressed at one point wondering "What day is it?!"
Great characters, nice build-up, and good suspense. I want more of these characters! Hopefully a sequel is in the works :)
I really enjoyed this book. The character development was great. There were multiple prospectives in the book. It's hard to write without spoilers... but I'll just say - I was stressed worrying about all the characters and wondering what was going to happen to them. You hear their stories... you see what they've gone through... you don't want anything to happen to them. I was totally invested in each and every character. I was to the point where I didn't want to know more about the characters because I was so scared of what the outcome would be!
"No one plans on dying, you see. No one should have to."
When the ending happened, I have to say, I shed a few tears... I really felt for all the characters. It happened so fast. It was pretty realistic, cause isn't that how things happen - so suddenly.
"Because that is how it works. Rapid and unexpected. Most of us wouldn't know it, but this is a gift."
I loved Joe! Her character, her thoughts, what she does with her gift, and her imperfections were all very endearing. "Simple Joe" was the most complex character of the bunch.
"One of the greatest mercies in life: not knowing what's going to happen next."
I really liked Michael. He was a perplexing character for me. Partially because he contradicted the typical sterotypes for the "jock" guy. Getting inside his head was interesting. He surprised me most of all with his observations and constraint. But man, did he pull a stupid dumb jock move at one point...!
It was kind of eerie to have the "bad guy" narrate... Getting into his head, hearing his goals, his thoughts... Yikes. There are some people in this world that think like that and do the unthinkable acts and relish in it. It was intriguing and disturbing at the same time.
The build-up and suspense was very creative and really held my attention. I was stressed at one point wondering "What day is it?!"
Great characters, nice build-up, and good suspense. I want more of these characters! Hopefully a sequel is in the works :)
July 27, 2014
Joe is a strange girl who struggles with visions of the future.
This story is told from multiple points of view, but it couldn't flow more smoothly. I loved that you got to see what was going on with multiple people that would be involved the day of the shooting. I really loved Mr. Landry.
Joe receives a vision of a shooter standing in the middle of a massacre at the college she attends. This is the only piece of the puzzle she receives though and she needs to figure out when this horror will happen and how to stop it. She has received visions in the past, but has not been very successful preventing them. Will she be in the right place in enough time to help the potential victims, or will she fail yet again?
HD Gordon's writing just gets better and better. I've read all of her novels and they just can't come fast enough. I received this book for review from the Goodreads group Pulp Fiction. Thanks for the opportunity to review!
This story is told from multiple points of view, but it couldn't flow more smoothly. I loved that you got to see what was going on with multiple people that would be involved the day of the shooting. I really loved Mr. Landry.
Joe receives a vision of a shooter standing in the middle of a massacre at the college she attends. This is the only piece of the puzzle she receives though and she needs to figure out when this horror will happen and how to stop it. She has received visions in the past, but has not been very successful preventing them. Will she be in the right place in enough time to help the potential victims, or will she fail yet again?
HD Gordon's writing just gets better and better. I've read all of her novels and they just can't come fast enough. I received this book for review from the Goodreads group Pulp Fiction. Thanks for the opportunity to review!
September 11, 2016
This book was one of those that I had a hard time putting down so I could get some sleep and then go to work. But once I picked it back up tonight, I knew there was no way I'd be able to go to sleep without finishing it, and yup, here it is, 1:00 a.m. and I have an early morning!
The main character was one of the most unique and likable characters I've come across this year. She's clairvoyant but it's her sense of self and integrity that I fell in love with. The story weaves flawlessly through the POVs of eight different characters, each with a voice that was easily distinguished from the others.
As the book continues, the suspense continues to build until you can barely breathe once you get to the last chapters.
I am sure this story and Joe will stay with me for days! And I sincerely hope that Joe's story will continue to be told with a sequel or two! Well done, Ms. Gordon!!
The main character was one of the most unique and likable characters I've come across this year. She's clairvoyant but it's her sense of self and integrity that I fell in love with. The story weaves flawlessly through the POVs of eight different characters, each with a voice that was easily distinguished from the others.
As the book continues, the suspense continues to build until you can barely breathe once you get to the last chapters.
I am sure this story and Joe will stay with me for days! And I sincerely hope that Joe's story will continue to be told with a sequel or two! Well done, Ms. Gordon!!
May 3, 2013
The story of Joe is not the sort of book that would of stood out for me, its YA and its not a romance story as such but saying that I loved it.
First of all it has eight yes eight POV,
Without giving too much a way, its about a girl named Joe who has a gift if you can call it that, its really a hindrance for her a premonition to see terrible things happen before they do.
She has 3 days to solve this before disaster strikes.
I really enjoyed it.
First of all it has eight yes eight POV,
Without giving too much a way, its about a girl named Joe who has a gift if you can call it that, its really a hindrance for her a premonition to see terrible things happen before they do.
She has 3 days to solve this before disaster strikes.
I really enjoyed it.
July 26, 2012
I received this book for review from H.D.Gordon's agent, Nicole, who is a friend of mine on Goodreads.
First thing I want to say is, that JOE isn't a YA book. Not due to any sex scenes, but because of the language. There are too many expletives, that could really bother a person. They sort of bothered me too, but then again, I think they were written all in the right places. Without those offensive cuss words, I don't think that the same effect could be accomplished.
And second, I just want to say a HUGE thank you for letting me review JOE. This novel was beyond my expectations. I truly didn't expect it to be so amazingly well written, judging by the style I was used with from the Alexa Montgomery Saga.
But.
The difference is indescribable. The writing style is UNIQUE, in a Tahereh Mafi sort of way, but it's nothing alike. It's just completely Heather Gordon, and I just LOVED IT!!!
The story itself was totally absorbing. It was impossible to leave the book. It was full of action, thrill, psycho elements. And it was obvious that Heather did more than enough research in order to write JOE. I think that this is like an author's rebirth :) I'd love to see a second installment - at least I was left with the impression that there could be one.
Anyway, this story is told from the POV of JOE, and a third person POV of several more characters. I didn't expect to see the uniqueness of each character's mindset and all, but it was there. There weren't two characters for whom I could say that they were alike. They were all different, with all sorts of personality traits. Some of them I loved, others I hated. That, I think, is a great thing - having real feelings for fictional characters. It means the author did her job very well.
*Joe was simply amazing. She was no hero - as she pointed out in several places. But she was brave, hard-working and selfless. She knew her limitations, she lived with her past mistakes, and she didn't want to continue living with guilt. So, Joe decided for once not to be an observer, but a doer. And I was simply impressed by the steady character and hand of this girl. It takes real guts to do what she did.
*Danny, the Decider was a psychopath of a higher class than I had thought at first. *Thanks Heather for describing the difference between psychopath and sociopath, I had no idea.* He was organized, calculating and cold-blooded. I didn't understand his motives, and urges, and honestly I thought he was a complete nut. I hated him, but I loved how well he played his role. The mass-murderer profile was complete in him.
*Michael was a guy to kill for. And I was excited that found Joe not only likeable, but loveable. She was, truly, and I loved Michael for not ever even thinking about her speech impediment as a negative trait. I loved him for appreciating her.
*Mina was a brave girl and loving mother, and I think she had every right to be happy. She and Russel were just great for each other.
*Eric - I kinda liked that guy, he was someone who wanted to change his life. I enjoyed his story very much.
*Claire - I sort of hated her at first, until she realized that what she'd been planning at first was not what she really wanted. Glad she opened her eyes to reality.
So, I would totally recommend this novel to any thrill seeker. It's truly an amazing ride.
First thing I want to say is, that JOE isn't a YA book. Not due to any sex scenes, but because of the language. There are too many expletives, that could really bother a person. They sort of bothered me too, but then again, I think they were written all in the right places. Without those offensive cuss words, I don't think that the same effect could be accomplished.
And second, I just want to say a HUGE thank you for letting me review JOE. This novel was beyond my expectations. I truly didn't expect it to be so amazingly well written, judging by the style I was used with from the Alexa Montgomery Saga.
But.
The difference is indescribable. The writing style is UNIQUE, in a Tahereh Mafi sort of way, but it's nothing alike. It's just completely Heather Gordon, and I just LOVED IT!!!
The story itself was totally absorbing. It was impossible to leave the book. It was full of action, thrill, psycho elements. And it was obvious that Heather did more than enough research in order to write JOE. I think that this is like an author's rebirth :) I'd love to see a second installment - at least I was left with the impression that there could be one.
Anyway, this story is told from the POV of JOE, and a third person POV of several more characters. I didn't expect to see the uniqueness of each character's mindset and all, but it was there. There weren't two characters for whom I could say that they were alike. They were all different, with all sorts of personality traits. Some of them I loved, others I hated. That, I think, is a great thing - having real feelings for fictional characters. It means the author did her job very well.
*Joe was simply amazing. She was no hero - as she pointed out in several places. But she was brave, hard-working and selfless. She knew her limitations, she lived with her past mistakes, and she didn't want to continue living with guilt. So, Joe decided for once not to be an observer, but a doer. And I was simply impressed by the steady character and hand of this girl. It takes real guts to do what she did.
*Danny, the Decider was a psychopath of a higher class than I had thought at first. *Thanks Heather for describing the difference between psychopath and sociopath, I had no idea.* He was organized, calculating and cold-blooded. I didn't understand his motives, and urges, and honestly I thought he was a complete nut. I hated him, but I loved how well he played his role. The mass-murderer profile was complete in him.
*Michael was a guy to kill for. And I was excited that found Joe not only likeable, but loveable. She was, truly, and I loved Michael for not ever even thinking about her speech impediment as a negative trait. I loved him for appreciating her.
*Mina was a brave girl and loving mother, and I think she had every right to be happy. She and Russel were just great for each other.
*Eric - I kinda liked that guy, he was someone who wanted to change his life. I enjoyed his story very much.
*Claire - I sort of hated her at first, until she realized that what she'd been planning at first was not what she really wanted. Glad she opened her eyes to reality.
So, I would totally recommend this novel to any thrill seeker. It's truly an amazing ride.
July 22, 2012
Ok, I will start off with this is a fantastic book. I think I will classify it as a dark fantasy thriller. Yes, Joe has this supernatural power, but a lot of the book is not based on fantasy. So let me ask, if you had the ability to see a terrible event in the future, would you stop it, even if you knew you would most likely die in the process, or would you save yourself and let a whole lot of other people die? Trust me it’s a hard thought, and this is not a happily ever after kinda book. I will tell you that there is death, and not all are saved. But you should expect this just from the blurb.
I will tell you that this is not a typically styled written book. It’s got multiple point of views. This of the movie crash. There are like 8 different POVs and they all intersect somehow. Now heads up, I’m gunna get slightly spoilerish. Not bad just a little. There are a few classmates, each with depressing type lives, a few classmate not so bad, a teacher, a killer and Joe, as Joe is the only POV in first person. It makes for the most unique type of story I’ve ever read. You see all these people’s life stories as the countdown goes until the shooting. A good 80% of this story is this. That didn’t make it boring, it made it suspenseful. At the literally almost end, the time has finally come and you get to see how everything plays out from each one of this character’s choices.
Joe is a unique character. I felt like I actually knew her in real life and to see how the others perceive her makes it seem more real. And she is so believable. She states in one of the first sentences that she is NOT brave or a hero, or even courageous, she’s just strange. And she’s ok with that. She’s ok with who she is. I love that about her.
And Michael, well think of a hot BUT SMART jock! Oh and he’s nice those don’t usually exist hahaha I love his character and his outlook.
To each of the other characters, in my rule I don’t give away spoilers, I would like to say that I loved you in here. Even if I didn’t like you as a character, I liked having the insight into your brain and thought, and it also makes you think about others in life. For example, the pretty, popular girl is not always as pretty on the inside, and the very young man who went to jail for some bad choices isn’t always the horrible criminal you think. There is one character I’m very sad they died, and 2 characters I’m happy that lived. As for the other 6 characters, you’ll have to read on to find out what happens and who lives and dies and why I’m happy/sad about the end.
I’d like to say that this story wasn’t just a story for me. It was an insightful look at to just what is right and wrong and how you look at life and others is important. Try not to judge so easily. Try to make choices that are right, but maybe not so easy. I know that there weren’t any fireball throwing, spell casting, shape shifting, blood sucking fantasy delights in here, but that didn’t make the story any less heartfelt and completely enjoyable. Yes it’s dark, and sad, and very real, but I still think its a great book. I will recommend it to everyone over 13, as I think even kids should learn of the consequences of their choices. You get another 5 PAWS from me, Ms Gordon! Well done!
I will tell you that this is not a typically styled written book. It’s got multiple point of views. This of the movie crash. There are like 8 different POVs and they all intersect somehow. Now heads up, I’m gunna get slightly spoilerish. Not bad just a little. There are a few classmates, each with depressing type lives, a few classmate not so bad, a teacher, a killer and Joe, as Joe is the only POV in first person. It makes for the most unique type of story I’ve ever read. You see all these people’s life stories as the countdown goes until the shooting. A good 80% of this story is this. That didn’t make it boring, it made it suspenseful. At the literally almost end, the time has finally come and you get to see how everything plays out from each one of this character’s choices.
Joe is a unique character. I felt like I actually knew her in real life and to see how the others perceive her makes it seem more real. And she is so believable. She states in one of the first sentences that she is NOT brave or a hero, or even courageous, she’s just strange. And she’s ok with that. She’s ok with who she is. I love that about her.
And Michael, well think of a hot BUT SMART jock! Oh and he’s nice those don’t usually exist hahaha I love his character and his outlook.
To each of the other characters, in my rule I don’t give away spoilers, I would like to say that I loved you in here. Even if I didn’t like you as a character, I liked having the insight into your brain and thought, and it also makes you think about others in life. For example, the pretty, popular girl is not always as pretty on the inside, and the very young man who went to jail for some bad choices isn’t always the horrible criminal you think. There is one character I’m very sad they died, and 2 characters I’m happy that lived. As for the other 6 characters, you’ll have to read on to find out what happens and who lives and dies and why I’m happy/sad about the end.
I’d like to say that this story wasn’t just a story for me. It was an insightful look at to just what is right and wrong and how you look at life and others is important. Try not to judge so easily. Try to make choices that are right, but maybe not so easy. I know that there weren’t any fireball throwing, spell casting, shape shifting, blood sucking fantasy delights in here, but that didn’t make the story any less heartfelt and completely enjoyable. Yes it’s dark, and sad, and very real, but I still think its a great book. I will recommend it to everyone over 13, as I think even kids should learn of the consequences of their choices. You get another 5 PAWS from me, Ms Gordon! Well done!
August 6, 2012
I loved this book. I bought it on sale because I felt loyal to the author since I had received her previous Alexa books for free to review. I wasn't that impressed with them, the stories were good, but they weren't really polished and had issues. (There were a few, editing issues in this book, but not bad enough to distract). Not true here. This book was very well done. First, the story was unique. It was closer to a regular mystery than an urban fantasy or paranormal romance.
Next, I loved the narrative style. Joe tells her own story in the form of a journal entry, in first person, however, there are other characters told through third person. Narrative shifts are very difficult to do, but they were well done in this book. Finally, the climax melds all together very cleverly with the thought of one character melding into the thoughts of another quite masterfully.
Joe can see the future, unfortunately that doesn't always help her change it. Suffering from a horrible speech impediment, not ever fitting in, and having visions of horrible things that are going to happen are hard to live with, especially when they aren't always clear enough to change. Joe spends the book trying to balance her real life, a possible love interest and her obligation to stop a crazy gunman determined to kill a bunch of her college peers.
I would recommend this to reader's of supernatural mystery, maybe Koontz or King fans. Not a YA book, lot's of bad language and dark themes. Excellent quick read!
Next, I loved the narrative style. Joe tells her own story in the form of a journal entry, in first person, however, there are other characters told through third person. Narrative shifts are very difficult to do, but they were well done in this book. Finally, the climax melds all together very cleverly with the thought of one character melding into the thoughts of another quite masterfully.
Joe can see the future, unfortunately that doesn't always help her change it. Suffering from a horrible speech impediment, not ever fitting in, and having visions of horrible things that are going to happen are hard to live with, especially when they aren't always clear enough to change. Joe spends the book trying to balance her real life, a possible love interest and her obligation to stop a crazy gunman determined to kill a bunch of her college peers.
I would recommend this to reader's of supernatural mystery, maybe Koontz or King fans. Not a YA book, lot's of bad language and dark themes. Excellent quick read!
October 24, 2013
Joe Knowe is not a boy. She is a 21 year old woman. Her father named her Joe because he wanted a boy. She has 2 issues to deal with in her life and being named Joe is not one of them. 1st she stutters, so she stays quiet whenever possible. 2nd she is psychic. There are times when she has no choice but to pick up a writing implement with her left hand and put it to paper. The rest is autopilot. When her left hand stops she has to force herself to look at the horror in front of her that will occur in the future.
This is mostly Joe's story. Her early life is shown in flashbacks. Joe is used to being misunderstood, the stuttering and her psychic ability. She tries to stay off everyone's radar by hiding both.
This book is a mystery/thriller, a story of misfits (?) or just people with less than perfect lives. They are each given their own chapters. They all are travelling to the same place on the same awful day that Joe "sees". There is a tempo to the writing that drew me in and accelerated and then relaxed, a kind of purging of all the tension. Until the last page.
H.D. Gordon said in the end notes that she will write another "Joe" book. I hope everyone who reads my review will read this book for the great writing, great characters, and like me, will wait for the next "Joe".
This is mostly Joe's story. Her early life is shown in flashbacks. Joe is used to being misunderstood, the stuttering and her psychic ability. She tries to stay off everyone's radar by hiding both.
This book is a mystery/thriller, a story of misfits (?) or just people with less than perfect lives. They are each given their own chapters. They all are travelling to the same place on the same awful day that Joe "sees". There is a tempo to the writing that drew me in and accelerated and then relaxed, a kind of purging of all the tension. Until the last page.
H.D. Gordon said in the end notes that she will write another "Joe" book. I hope everyone who reads my review will read this book for the great writing, great characters, and like me, will wait for the next "Joe".
July 23, 2012
Where do heroes come from? Sometimes heroes are just every day men and women who do the right thing, whether they possess courage or not. They do not do it for the glory, but just because it IS the right thing to do. Joe is this type of remarkable unassuming hero.
Joe is more than your average college student. She has the gift of clairvoyance. She will argue as to whether it is a gift or a curse. Though she often claims that she is not a hero, she will take heroic steps to make sure that her horrific vision will not become reality.
H.D. Gordon gives us a rare glimpse into the horrific mind of a murderous psychotic. We are also introduced to some special and gifted people. An incredible story with a suspensefully climactic ending that will have you on the edge of your seat flipping pages just as quickly as you can read.
If I had to give some criticism about this book, it would be my usual complaint. The editor should have taken the time for another read through, or maybe even two. But even with the annoyingly plentiful errors, the plot itself is quite remarkable and highly entertaining. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys suspenseful thrillers with a touch of the paranormal on the side.
Joe is more than your average college student. She has the gift of clairvoyance. She will argue as to whether it is a gift or a curse. Though she often claims that she is not a hero, she will take heroic steps to make sure that her horrific vision will not become reality.
H.D. Gordon gives us a rare glimpse into the horrific mind of a murderous psychotic. We are also introduced to some special and gifted people. An incredible story with a suspensefully climactic ending that will have you on the edge of your seat flipping pages just as quickly as you can read.
If I had to give some criticism about this book, it would be my usual complaint. The editor should have taken the time for another read through, or maybe even two. But even with the annoyingly plentiful errors, the plot itself is quite remarkable and highly entertaining. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys suspenseful thrillers with a touch of the paranormal on the side.
December 31, 2012
I. HAVE. NO. WORDS...
I simply do not have any words. This book was so amazing! As I sit here at 4am on morning when I have to go to work, I am wide awake and absolutely shocked and awed by what I've just experienced at that the hands of this author.
Just wow. I know I sound like a bumbling idiot, but you have to read it to truly know what I mean. A book that strikes so close to home especially in the most recent tragedy that we've experienced in this county is just really eerie and profound. To go into the mind of a killer the way H.D. Gordon does sent chills down my spine at some points in the book.
I know that I am not doing this novel justice but I can't competently convey how fantastic this story was. I loved everything about it. The anti-hero, Joe. The cast of characters who we got to know over the course of the story. It was all so good. And the outcome was more real that I wanted it to be--not touchy-feely, everything comes out roses endings here. BUT, I did feel satisfied with the ending.
However, the author left a bit of an opening for the possibility of another book. If that it at all possible, I'm there.
I simply do not have any words. This book was so amazing! As I sit here at 4am on morning when I have to go to work, I am wide awake and absolutely shocked and awed by what I've just experienced at that the hands of this author.
Just wow. I know I sound like a bumbling idiot, but you have to read it to truly know what I mean. A book that strikes so close to home especially in the most recent tragedy that we've experienced in this county is just really eerie and profound. To go into the mind of a killer the way H.D. Gordon does sent chills down my spine at some points in the book.
I know that I am not doing this novel justice but I can't competently convey how fantastic this story was. I loved everything about it. The anti-hero, Joe. The cast of characters who we got to know over the course of the story. It was all so good. And the outcome was more real that I wanted it to be--not touchy-feely, everything comes out roses endings here. BUT, I did feel satisfied with the ending.
However, the author left a bit of an opening for the possibility of another book. If that it at all possible, I'm there.
August 17, 2012
JOE is written is different POVs. In each one we get to know the characters, their backgrounds and what each one of them is looking forward to in the near future. H.D. Gordon weaves this story so well, and how each of these characters are connected to Joe, the main character, the silver-eyed, raven haired girl who has the ability to see things before they happen.
The author also did a great job of getting into the villain's mind, drawing the kind of emotions appropriate for this type of character. This guy makes other psychopaths one meets on the streets look like amateurs. Very well done.
This story is gripping, emotional and I was eager to know the outcome after all was said and done. So much action, emotions, conflicts packed in a four days.
I felt some descriptions were a bit too long, though, not that it hindered me in any way. Still enjoyed this story alot.
And I loved the ending :) To see a simple girl who doesn't talk much change so many lives was amazing. Hopefully we will be seeing more of Joe. What a loveable character!
The author also did a great job of getting into the villain's mind, drawing the kind of emotions appropriate for this type of character. This guy makes other psychopaths one meets on the streets look like amateurs. Very well done.
This story is gripping, emotional and I was eager to know the outcome after all was said and done. So much action, emotions, conflicts packed in a four days.
I felt some descriptions were a bit too long, though, not that it hindered me in any way. Still enjoyed this story alot.
And I loved the ending :) To see a simple girl who doesn't talk much change so many lives was amazing. Hopefully we will be seeing more of Joe. What a loveable character!
November 9, 2017
The writing style was creative and was what kept you in each of the eight well-developed characters. Using the character's name as the heading instead of chapter title shifted the POV that didn’t leave you lost as to whom you were involved with at any given point in the story. The ending put tension up as you flow from one-person thoughts into the next without the break of the former characters with the continued sentence. Distinguished story to have read. Glad there is a second book in the works.
There's only one area I would have like addressed.
There's only one area I would have like addressed.
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