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Dissolve #1
Dissolve
Cora is thrilled to leave high school behind and kick start her summer with her boyfriend and best friend, Nessa. In an unexpected turn of events, tragedy strikes and Cora turns to Nessa for help.
Cora and Nessa discover they are not alone and become entangled in things much bigger than they expect. As the two of them meet new allies, it’s obvious that clearing Cora’s name and going home seem like the least of their worries. The further they travel; the more complicated their lives become. Someone is after them and they are just getting started.
Book one in the Dissolve trilogy
Cora and Nessa discover they are not alone and become entangled in things much bigger than they expect. As the two of them meet new allies, it’s obvious that clearing Cora’s name and going home seem like the least of their worries. The further they travel; the more complicated their lives become. Someone is after them and they are just getting started.
Book one in the Dissolve trilogy
424 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2012
2 people are currently reading
554 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Heltsley
15 books325 followersAuthor, biologist, book nerd, and Greyhound lover.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 10, 2012
Note : I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book had so much potential to me. I found the storyline original and engaging. That being said, I can honestly say that I wish I had never read this book.
Now I know that it doesn't make sense that I found the plot original and engaging, yet still regret reading it. There were just other aspects of this book I could not tolerate.
1 - Dialogue - I'm not sure if I just talk to a bunch of unintelligent people, but come on now. The dialogue was completely unrealistic. Everyone spoke so prim and proper. I understand that this does happen sometimes, but not so many random people. These people hardly used contractions. Seriously? No. I don't think so.
2 - Character Agreements - With each problem the characters faced, they all completely agreed on what to do next. There was never any disagreements on what they should do. Plus why would they just follow whatever the villian wanted them to do? That's silly, yet there was never discussion or disagreements on whether or not they were doing the right thing.
3 - Love - Oh God, the love. Cora lost her fiance in a murderer and she started having feelings for Noah in a week or so? Really? At that point, it's logical to think that she just didn't love her fiance, but she kept expressing turmoil over it. I understand that after the death of a loved one people often say, "He/She would want you to move on," but come on now. Maybe I'm selfish, but if I were to die, I'd want my husband to mourn for more than a week. It just seems that he feelings for her fiance weren't strong enough to really constitute having such emotional turmoil over being with Noah or not, if she's actually having these thoughts so quickly. Not to mention Nessa/Mia with Shawn. States are being vaporized, but it's important that they get with him? Mostly Mia, she just lost her entire family, PLUS found out it's all because of her cousin, and she's still just "Shawn! Shawn! Shawn!" It seems so fickle.
4 - The Villian - Okay. Stephan is a worthy advesary, and that's all great and all, but he dies like halfway through the book, and there's no real description or anything about who the new bad guy is. Really? I mean, it seemed at that point it was just Them Vs "THEM!" There should have at least been some hints as to what's going on other than, "He's just a pawn to a bigger bad guy!"
5 - Unanswered Questions - I left this book with the same answers I started with. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? Still no clue.
6 - Super Powers - Cora's power is to dissolve. This is obviously important, as the book has her as a main character, and it's also named "Dissolve" after her power. Why is it throughout the book, she never actually uses this power for the good of the group? She used it once out of convience to get into the graveyard to save Shawn, but that's really it. Other than that it was a lot of accidental sleep dissolves. When I first started reading this book, I was super excited because this was such a creative power, but by the end I couldn't help think, "This is a stupid power." That's because she never used it! It just seemed pointless.
7 - THE END - Okay. Before I got near the end of the book, I still had hope. I actually started getting really excited near the end, and I thought that perhaps it was going to overcome the obstacles I've had, and just pull it all together. I'm not going to lie. I finished this book and immediately wanted to throw my kindle. I don't feel that I have anger issues, but this ending literally made me angry. I felt like I had just gotten a big, personal middle finger. There's just no ending, basically. There was a miniclimax, but that's really it. The climax itself was weak, "Oh we're stuck in this red lit room and we can't find our way out! How'd we get there?" No, they just get out, still have ZERO answers, then the cops find them. THE END. MIDDLE FINGER TO YOU AUDIENCE.
I have other books from this author, that I really have high hopes for, and that I will give a solid try. I will not judge just based on this book, but honestly? I wouldn't suggest this book to even my enemies.
This book had so much potential to me. I found the storyline original and engaging. That being said, I can honestly say that I wish I had never read this book.
Now I know that it doesn't make sense that I found the plot original and engaging, yet still regret reading it. There were just other aspects of this book I could not tolerate.
1 - Dialogue - I'm not sure if I just talk to a bunch of unintelligent people, but come on now. The dialogue was completely unrealistic. Everyone spoke so prim and proper. I understand that this does happen sometimes, but not so many random people. These people hardly used contractions. Seriously? No. I don't think so.
2 - Character Agreements - With each problem the characters faced, they all completely agreed on what to do next. There was never any disagreements on what they should do. Plus why would they just follow whatever the villian wanted them to do? That's silly, yet there was never discussion or disagreements on whether or not they were doing the right thing.
3 - Love - Oh God, the love. Cora lost her fiance in a murderer and she started having feelings for Noah in a week or so? Really? At that point, it's logical to think that she just didn't love her fiance, but she kept expressing turmoil over it. I understand that after the death of a loved one people often say, "He/She would want you to move on," but come on now. Maybe I'm selfish, but if I were to die, I'd want my husband to mourn for more than a week. It just seems that he feelings for her fiance weren't strong enough to really constitute having such emotional turmoil over being with Noah or not, if she's actually having these thoughts so quickly. Not to mention Nessa/Mia with Shawn. States are being vaporized, but it's important that they get with him? Mostly Mia, she just lost her entire family, PLUS found out it's all because of her cousin, and she's still just "Shawn! Shawn! Shawn!" It seems so fickle.
4 - The Villian - Okay. Stephan is a worthy advesary, and that's all great and all, but he dies like halfway through the book, and there's no real description or anything about who the new bad guy is. Really? I mean, it seemed at that point it was just Them Vs "THEM!" There should have at least been some hints as to what's going on other than, "He's just a pawn to a bigger bad guy!"
5 - Unanswered Questions - I left this book with the same answers I started with. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? Still no clue.
6 - Super Powers - Cora's power is to dissolve. This is obviously important, as the book has her as a main character, and it's also named "Dissolve" after her power. Why is it throughout the book, she never actually uses this power for the good of the group? She used it once out of convience to get into the graveyard to save Shawn, but that's really it. Other than that it was a lot of accidental sleep dissolves. When I first started reading this book, I was super excited because this was such a creative power, but by the end I couldn't help think, "This is a stupid power." That's because she never used it! It just seemed pointless.
7 - THE END - Okay. Before I got near the end of the book, I still had hope. I actually started getting really excited near the end, and I thought that perhaps it was going to overcome the obstacles I've had, and just pull it all together. I'm not going to lie. I finished this book and immediately wanted to throw my kindle. I don't feel that I have anger issues, but this ending literally made me angry. I felt like I had just gotten a big, personal middle finger. There's just no ending, basically. There was a miniclimax, but that's really it. The climax itself was weak, "Oh we're stuck in this red lit room and we can't find our way out! How'd we get there?" No, they just get out, still have ZERO answers, then the cops find them. THE END. MIDDLE FINGER TO YOU AUDIENCE.
I have other books from this author, that I really have high hopes for, and that I will give a solid try. I will not judge just based on this book, but honestly? I wouldn't suggest this book to even my enemies.
April 26, 2012
Read more of my reviews at Nick's Book Blog
I was immediately mesmerized by the lovely cover and mysterious premise of Dissolve by Andrea Heltsley. Upon receiving my review copy, I immediately dived into the story with high expectations. However, my expectations were not fully met.
The story begins with the main character, Cora, feeling very ill after having a few drinks at a night club. Soon, her best friend, Nessa, decides that it's best for them to go back home. The next door, Cora wakes up still feeling very sick. She forces herself out of bed since she was meeting her fiance, his mother and her own mother for her wedding preparations. There, Cora faints and the next thing she knows is that she wakes with her fiance lying dead. Cora suddenly dissolves and somehow ends up naked at Nessa's place. Not understanding what's happening to her, Cora seeks Nessa's assistance in trying to find out the mystery surrounding her.
Cora was a fairly likable character. She was always nice and sweet to the people she cared, but I found her to be a little too naive for my liking. Also, when she gets these weird unexplainable abilities, her reactions to all of it was just too accepting. Moreover, I personally thought that she lacked back-bone. To be honest, I never could relate to her throughout the book. There were times when her actions or decisions did not really please me and I found them to be simply childish. Overall, Cora was not a main character, whose head I enjoyed being in.
In truth, none of the characters were to my liking. Somehow, I felt that they were not very developed. However, on my favorite aspect of the book was the friendship that Nessa and Cora shared. It was somewhat of a deep bond and the respect that they felt for each other was prevalent throughout the book. In my opinion, it's their friendship that really stood out in this book. I loved how supportive they were of each other. They stuck with each other through thick and thin. They shared all their thoughts and feelings and the trust that existed between them was truly admirable.
The plot was intriguing and highly original. It had huge potentials because it was somewhat unique. For that, I applaud the author. Her ideas were one of a kind and I don't I've ever read a book that had something similar to Dissolve. However, because of the way the story is executed, the book simply fell flat. There was a lot going on in the book and none of it was described in detail. What I'm trying to say here is that the book felt way too rushed for me. I suppose the author wanted to the story to be action-packed, but she didn't manage to do that. Plus, the writing style really didn't do it for me. There was something lacking in it. I suppose I wanted some excitement, but Dissolve didn't deliver.
To sum up, I feel that if you can disregard stuff like underdeveloped characters and rushed plot, then I recommend this book to you. Maybe I expected a bit too much from the book, but Dissolve failed to entice me and entwine in it's web. You never know, you might like it though !
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*
I was immediately mesmerized by the lovely cover and mysterious premise of Dissolve by Andrea Heltsley. Upon receiving my review copy, I immediately dived into the story with high expectations. However, my expectations were not fully met.
The story begins with the main character, Cora, feeling very ill after having a few drinks at a night club. Soon, her best friend, Nessa, decides that it's best for them to go back home. The next door, Cora wakes up still feeling very sick. She forces herself out of bed since she was meeting her fiance, his mother and her own mother for her wedding preparations. There, Cora faints and the next thing she knows is that she wakes with her fiance lying dead. Cora suddenly dissolves and somehow ends up naked at Nessa's place. Not understanding what's happening to her, Cora seeks Nessa's assistance in trying to find out the mystery surrounding her.
Cora was a fairly likable character. She was always nice and sweet to the people she cared, but I found her to be a little too naive for my liking. Also, when she gets these weird unexplainable abilities, her reactions to all of it was just too accepting. Moreover, I personally thought that she lacked back-bone. To be honest, I never could relate to her throughout the book. There were times when her actions or decisions did not really please me and I found them to be simply childish. Overall, Cora was not a main character, whose head I enjoyed being in.
In truth, none of the characters were to my liking. Somehow, I felt that they were not very developed. However, on my favorite aspect of the book was the friendship that Nessa and Cora shared. It was somewhat of a deep bond and the respect that they felt for each other was prevalent throughout the book. In my opinion, it's their friendship that really stood out in this book. I loved how supportive they were of each other. They stuck with each other through thick and thin. They shared all their thoughts and feelings and the trust that existed between them was truly admirable.
The plot was intriguing and highly original. It had huge potentials because it was somewhat unique. For that, I applaud the author. Her ideas were one of a kind and I don't I've ever read a book that had something similar to Dissolve. However, because of the way the story is executed, the book simply fell flat. There was a lot going on in the book and none of it was described in detail. What I'm trying to say here is that the book felt way too rushed for me. I suppose the author wanted to the story to be action-packed, but she didn't manage to do that. Plus, the writing style really didn't do it for me. There was something lacking in it. I suppose I wanted some excitement, but Dissolve didn't deliver.
To sum up, I feel that if you can disregard stuff like underdeveloped characters and rushed plot, then I recommend this book to you. Maybe I expected a bit too much from the book, but Dissolve failed to entice me and entwine in it's web. You never know, you might like it though !
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*
April 19, 2012
This is a condensed version. This review will appear in an extended form on April 20here.
My overall Thoughts/Impressions: First off I'd like to thank Cami Hensley from Reading Addiction Blog Tours for inviting me to be part of this tour. See disclosure at end of this blog post for more information on how this tour was set up.
Now for my review. I thought that Andrea Heltsley's idea was very original, engaging, and intriguing. I found myself getting sucked into the tale and found myself wondering what was going to happen next and curious to see how the characters developed.
I thought the plot was excellent and I enjoyed reading about Cora and her friends' adventures. Cora was a character who really grew on me as the story progressed and I enjoyed getting inside her head.
I really enjoyed this novel; however, it lacked that something to make this a 4 star review. There were parts where I thought that the writing was rushed and not thoroughly developed.
However, having said that, let me repeat that I really enjoyed this book. I feel like the plot was great and that left me thoroughly intrigued with the tale.
In Summary: A novel that I enjoyed reading, but one that I wished had been more developed. I especially liked the plot and the characters and was intrigued.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising
My overall Thoughts/Impressions: First off I'd like to thank Cami Hensley from Reading Addiction Blog Tours for inviting me to be part of this tour. See disclosure at end of this blog post for more information on how this tour was set up.
Now for my review. I thought that Andrea Heltsley's idea was very original, engaging, and intriguing. I found myself getting sucked into the tale and found myself wondering what was going to happen next and curious to see how the characters developed.
I thought the plot was excellent and I enjoyed reading about Cora and her friends' adventures. Cora was a character who really grew on me as the story progressed and I enjoyed getting inside her head.
I really enjoyed this novel; however, it lacked that something to make this a 4 star review. There were parts where I thought that the writing was rushed and not thoroughly developed.
However, having said that, let me repeat that I really enjoyed this book. I feel like the plot was great and that left me thoroughly intrigued with the tale.
In Summary: A novel that I enjoyed reading, but one that I wished had been more developed. I especially liked the plot and the characters and was intrigued.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising
November 15, 2012
I wasn't quite sure what I expected when I started reading Dissolve, but it has proven to be an intriguing, mysterious, and exceptional story. From the very first page, I was sucked in and have not been able to put the book down! The character relationships and the plot are very different from anything I have read before and I cannot wait for the sequel in this series to be published!!
Dissolve begins with two main characters, Cora and Nessa, and evolves to include Noah, Shane, Mia, Liam, and Vienna. They have found themselves to be thrust into a supernatural situation that leads them to track down any answers they can get. They discover that they have different individual powers that they learn how to use (and live with) as the plot progresses. They are trying to determine why they have been given these powers and what forces are at work behind all of the events that they have experienced. Is it evil forces at work, or is it something else? I was a little bit disappointed in the ending - it seemed a little anti-climatic to me. However, it does set the scene for the continuation of the story in the next book.
The editing of the book still needs to be reviewed, which the author made me aware of before I started reading Dissolve. The language reads as more of a "formal" dialogue instead of
"every-day"dialogue, however this did not detract from the book at all. I did find a few spelling/word-use errors, however they were so few and far-between that it did not affect the
story at all.
DISCLAIMER: This book was gifted to me by the author (through the Goodreads) website in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own, and no money or other compensation was provided for this review.
Dissolve begins with two main characters, Cora and Nessa, and evolves to include Noah, Shane, Mia, Liam, and Vienna. They have found themselves to be thrust into a supernatural situation that leads them to track down any answers they can get. They discover that they have different individual powers that they learn how to use (and live with) as the plot progresses. They are trying to determine why they have been given these powers and what forces are at work behind all of the events that they have experienced. Is it evil forces at work, or is it something else? I was a little bit disappointed in the ending - it seemed a little anti-climatic to me. However, it does set the scene for the continuation of the story in the next book.
The editing of the book still needs to be reviewed, which the author made me aware of before I started reading Dissolve. The language reads as more of a "formal" dialogue instead of
"every-day"dialogue, however this did not detract from the book at all. I did find a few spelling/word-use errors, however they were so few and far-between that it did not affect the
story at all.
DISCLAIMER: This book was gifted to me by the author (through the Goodreads) website in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own, and no money or other compensation was provided for this review.
June 6, 2012
Also posted at http://abbeyannsbookland.blogspot.com/
I went into this book not knowing what to expect. Because of that, I didn't really have any expectations. I'm glad I didn't, because I think not having them made me enjoy this book a lot more.
The first thing about this book I noticed was the cover. I find it incredibly beautiful. Getting past the cover, I was surprised by how much I was able to connect with the characters. The author did a great job in writing relatable characters. Cora was interesting, likeable, and more importantly, not annoying.
While most of the time the book flowed quite nicely, occasionally the writing seemed to drag on a little. Despite that, the book was enjoyable. It is quite apparent that Heltsley has a lot of talent. I look forward to reading more of her work. I just wish more people were aware of her.
*I received this book as part of a book tour in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.*
I went into this book not knowing what to expect. Because of that, I didn't really have any expectations. I'm glad I didn't, because I think not having them made me enjoy this book a lot more.
The first thing about this book I noticed was the cover. I find it incredibly beautiful. Getting past the cover, I was surprised by how much I was able to connect with the characters. The author did a great job in writing relatable characters. Cora was interesting, likeable, and more importantly, not annoying.
While most of the time the book flowed quite nicely, occasionally the writing seemed to drag on a little. Despite that, the book was enjoyable. It is quite apparent that Heltsley has a lot of talent. I look forward to reading more of her work. I just wish more people were aware of her.
*I received this book as part of a book tour in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.*
August 31, 2012
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for my honest review.
Cora, the main character of Andrea Heltsley's Dissolve, had the type of life that would make anyone jealous. She had a loving mother, a great best friend, and was preparing to marry the man of her dreams. Then suddenly, after a night on the town, everything turns upside down. She awakes to find her fiance, Tom, lying in a puddle of blood and a strange, new super power to control: she can dissolve into thin air! Now Cora and her best friend, Nessa, must leave town to ensure their own freedom and search for some much needed answers.
The very first thing to catch my eye was the beautiful cover art. The jewel-blue tones and whimsical feel drew me in immediately. This coupled with the product description, left me expecting a story jam-packed with action, magic and mythical creatures. As I read, I discovered that the story itself was less about magic and mythical creatures and more about chemical warfare and unknown adversaries. The plot was unique and though it wasn't quite what I was expecting I enjoyed the story enough to continue reading. I've never been one to turn down a good mystery and there were just so many questions I was looking forward to having answered.
The characters were likable enough, though I felt as though I didn't really know them that well. Some of their dialogue seemed a bit stilted and unnatural and I couldn't fathom their calm reactions to some of the horrors they witnessed. It just seemed a bit weird to me. I couldn't really identify with them. Maybe I'm just a scaredy-cat, but I think there are a lot of people who would have gone into flat-out hysterics after seeing the demise of thousands of people. It would have been refreshing if at least one person in the entire story had a breakdown, wept, gone catatonic, cried for their mommy... anything to show some real emotion, instead of the eerie calm acceptance they all showed.
As the story progressed, and the characters continued on their "road trip", I found several sections to be little more than filler. The author pays close attention to detail when describing the mostly unimportant trips to dive motels and dirty, run-down gas stations (and what was bought or pilfered), but when a major event takes place the details seem glossed over, hurried. In the midst of this, I waded through a myriad of grammatical mistakes and typos. This happens sometimes with even the most seasoned of writers (especially in Kindle editions), so I was prepared to overlook it. What bothered me the most though, was the fact that the author habitually switched between the past and present tense, sometimes in mid-sentence. I found this to be very distracting.
As the end grew nearer, I became increasingly worried: Was there still time enough to answer my questions? Or, at the very least, a couple of them? The answer, it turns out, was no. In the end I felt very dissatisfied. None of the loose ends had been tied up; everything was still as uncertain as it had been from the very beginning. I truly hope that the sequel gives readers the answers they're looking for.
Overall, despite all of its flaws, the story is a very imaginative one and I believe with the help of a good editor and a little polish, it could be great. Ms. Heltsley is quite talented and I hope she continues to write and hone her craft.
Cora, the main character of Andrea Heltsley's Dissolve, had the type of life that would make anyone jealous. She had a loving mother, a great best friend, and was preparing to marry the man of her dreams. Then suddenly, after a night on the town, everything turns upside down. She awakes to find her fiance, Tom, lying in a puddle of blood and a strange, new super power to control: she can dissolve into thin air! Now Cora and her best friend, Nessa, must leave town to ensure their own freedom and search for some much needed answers.
The very first thing to catch my eye was the beautiful cover art. The jewel-blue tones and whimsical feel drew me in immediately. This coupled with the product description, left me expecting a story jam-packed with action, magic and mythical creatures. As I read, I discovered that the story itself was less about magic and mythical creatures and more about chemical warfare and unknown adversaries. The plot was unique and though it wasn't quite what I was expecting I enjoyed the story enough to continue reading. I've never been one to turn down a good mystery and there were just so many questions I was looking forward to having answered.
The characters were likable enough, though I felt as though I didn't really know them that well. Some of their dialogue seemed a bit stilted and unnatural and I couldn't fathom their calm reactions to some of the horrors they witnessed. It just seemed a bit weird to me. I couldn't really identify with them. Maybe I'm just a scaredy-cat, but I think there are a lot of people who would have gone into flat-out hysterics after seeing the demise of thousands of people. It would have been refreshing if at least one person in the entire story had a breakdown, wept, gone catatonic, cried for their mommy... anything to show some real emotion, instead of the eerie calm acceptance they all showed.
As the story progressed, and the characters continued on their "road trip", I found several sections to be little more than filler. The author pays close attention to detail when describing the mostly unimportant trips to dive motels and dirty, run-down gas stations (and what was bought or pilfered), but when a major event takes place the details seem glossed over, hurried. In the midst of this, I waded through a myriad of grammatical mistakes and typos. This happens sometimes with even the most seasoned of writers (especially in Kindle editions), so I was prepared to overlook it. What bothered me the most though, was the fact that the author habitually switched between the past and present tense, sometimes in mid-sentence. I found this to be very distracting.
As the end grew nearer, I became increasingly worried: Was there still time enough to answer my questions? Or, at the very least, a couple of them? The answer, it turns out, was no. In the end I felt very dissatisfied. None of the loose ends had been tied up; everything was still as uncertain as it had been from the very beginning. I truly hope that the sequel gives readers the answers they're looking for.
Overall, despite all of its flaws, the story is a very imaginative one and I believe with the help of a good editor and a little polish, it could be great. Ms. Heltsley is quite talented and I hope she continues to write and hone her craft.
April 28, 2012
3.5 Stars
First I'd like to thank both the author Andrea Heltsley and the Innovative Online tours for providing me with the opportunity to read, review and help spread the word of this book.
The first thing that grabbed me about the book was the summary, at the time my computer was loading really slowly so I didn't have the opportunity to see the cover for awhile. The summary had me intrigued so I immediately signed up for the tour. Afterwards when my computer decided to cooperate with me I was stunned by the cover it's bewitching, beguiling and stunning but of course it would have to be since it's designed by Phatpuppy Creations. As you can see the cover is really striking and fits remarkably well with the book in my opinion.
I don't know about the rest of you but for me, when I'm reading a new to me author I tend to read it slower in order to adjust to a new writing style but before I knew it I was 10% through the book and I was really enjoying it.
The book itself started well and I really liked Cora, and Nessa because they seem like really sweet characters, and most of all they aren't snobby which is something I hate in books. As the novel went on though I was still glad to see that the author had their attitudes change as the characters themselves grew. Though Cora did come off as being a little to goodie goodie and naive for me she was still a good character. Though all the characters could have been aided by a little more character development.
I thought that the whole idea of the book was really neat, different and a must needed departure for me. Forgive me if my review seems a bit more vague than I usually write them it's because the book is written in such a way that I don't want to give off any spoilers to future readers. The way the book is written was in my opinion quite good because while you're left going "What the heck just happened?" in some places it all works out in the end. You just have to read it to watch it come to pass.
However, though I did indeed enjoy the book there were a couple of area's that the author could work on in the future. At times like I said in the previous paragraph I was left puzzled and lost with the direction in which the story was going. There would be like in any other book times where the book would stop and good and it was as if the author had written some stuff in just as filler I could have done with more detail in the main parts of the book and less detail in the filler parts. This isn't an issue but I think at times there was a wee bit too much filler. She could also do with working on her conjugating as well. She would conjugate words like isn't, didn't, won't etc. but rarely if ever conjugated words like we're, they're, you're etc. and that made it a little harder for me to keep focus because I'm so used to authors conjugating maybe it's just a preference of mine.
All in all the book was pretty good, one that I'm glad I read because I enjoy trying new authors because you never know who may be the next big thing in the writing world. I'd recommend this to those who like a mixture of science fiction and fantasy. I would advise that if you find the book a little slower that the pace does pick up after awhile so I suggest sticking with it.
First I'd like to thank both the author Andrea Heltsley and the Innovative Online tours for providing me with the opportunity to read, review and help spread the word of this book.
The first thing that grabbed me about the book was the summary, at the time my computer was loading really slowly so I didn't have the opportunity to see the cover for awhile. The summary had me intrigued so I immediately signed up for the tour. Afterwards when my computer decided to cooperate with me I was stunned by the cover it's bewitching, beguiling and stunning but of course it would have to be since it's designed by Phatpuppy Creations. As you can see the cover is really striking and fits remarkably well with the book in my opinion.
I don't know about the rest of you but for me, when I'm reading a new to me author I tend to read it slower in order to adjust to a new writing style but before I knew it I was 10% through the book and I was really enjoying it.
The book itself started well and I really liked Cora, and Nessa because they seem like really sweet characters, and most of all they aren't snobby which is something I hate in books. As the novel went on though I was still glad to see that the author had their attitudes change as the characters themselves grew. Though Cora did come off as being a little to goodie goodie and naive for me she was still a good character. Though all the characters could have been aided by a little more character development.
I thought that the whole idea of the book was really neat, different and a must needed departure for me. Forgive me if my review seems a bit more vague than I usually write them it's because the book is written in such a way that I don't want to give off any spoilers to future readers. The way the book is written was in my opinion quite good because while you're left going "What the heck just happened?" in some places it all works out in the end. You just have to read it to watch it come to pass.
However, though I did indeed enjoy the book there were a couple of area's that the author could work on in the future. At times like I said in the previous paragraph I was left puzzled and lost with the direction in which the story was going. There would be like in any other book times where the book would stop and good and it was as if the author had written some stuff in just as filler I could have done with more detail in the main parts of the book and less detail in the filler parts. This isn't an issue but I think at times there was a wee bit too much filler. She could also do with working on her conjugating as well. She would conjugate words like isn't, didn't, won't etc. but rarely if ever conjugated words like we're, they're, you're etc. and that made it a little harder for me to keep focus because I'm so used to authors conjugating maybe it's just a preference of mine.
All in all the book was pretty good, one that I'm glad I read because I enjoy trying new authors because you never know who may be the next big thing in the writing world. I'd recommend this to those who like a mixture of science fiction and fantasy. I would advise that if you find the book a little slower that the pace does pick up after awhile so I suggest sticking with it.
June 17, 2012
This book was fabulous. Imagine going out with friends for drinks one night and waking up the next day with a throbbing headache… okay we can imagine that, but supposing the headache didn’t clear up by day 2? Then you hear something and wake up to discover your fiancé brutally murdered. Wouldn’t you just want to melt away and float through the air away from problem? Well what would you do if that actually happened? Yes, that’s right, you broke up into little molecules and floated away only to reappear at your best friend’s house… naked… and covered in blood. Yeah, I can just see the faces on the police when you told them.
This is exactly what happens to Cora. Then she and her friend Nessa decide to go on the run to find out who exactly killed her fiancé. While they are trying to decide what to do the man who bought Cora a drink stabs Nessa with a needle and she passes out. When she gets better after her massive headache and hung-over feeling, she has unique gifts too.
As the story progresses, they find more people like themselves. All have recently had contact with the mysterious man. As they find out more about their abilities, people start disappearing…lots of people… and they still don’t know what is going on, but their little group has grown to 7 people. They end up in a trap and escape from that only to be arrested by the FBI. And then……….. the book ends. (screams “nnnooooo”).
The sequel comes out in 2013, which can’t come soon enough for me. I highly recommend this book. It is fabulous. I give this book 5 clouds. I can’t wait for the sequel.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
This is exactly what happens to Cora. Then she and her friend Nessa decide to go on the run to find out who exactly killed her fiancé. While they are trying to decide what to do the man who bought Cora a drink stabs Nessa with a needle and she passes out. When she gets better after her massive headache and hung-over feeling, she has unique gifts too.
As the story progresses, they find more people like themselves. All have recently had contact with the mysterious man. As they find out more about their abilities, people start disappearing…lots of people… and they still don’t know what is going on, but their little group has grown to 7 people. They end up in a trap and escape from that only to be arrested by the FBI. And then……….. the book ends. (screams “nnnooooo”).
The sequel comes out in 2013, which can’t come soon enough for me. I highly recommend this book. It is fabulous. I give this book 5 clouds. I can’t wait for the sequel.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
June 21, 2012
Cora's life was going just the way she wanted it to be. She had a wonderful fiancé and was looking forward to marrying him soon. Her best friend, while wacky at times, kept her in line, even if they got into mischief, every now and then. She had everything she could ever ask for, loving the little niché she'd carved out for herself. Yet never once did she imagine losing it all within the blink of an eye.
Plagued by dreams she can't explain, Cora dismisses them as if they're nothing to worry about. Yet when they become reality, she realizes there's something more sinister afoot. She can now dissolve into a million particles and appear in unexpected places, something she's never done before. How she got the ability to do so is beyond her, yet she knows she needs to find the answers to her questions. Her only ally is her best friend, Nessa.
Fearing that she could be implicated in Tom's murder, she escapes and winds up in Nessa's home, naked and bereft. While the two can't exactly explain what's going on, they know they need to find the person responsible for the whole fiasco. They set off to do just that, setting off an unexpected chain reaction of events. Yet never once did they expect to find more than what they were looking for.
This was a very intriguing book. The action takes off from the beginning and the reader is catapulted into a world where the characters unexpectedly find themselves with paranormal powers. It sort of reminded me of X-Men. There were certain parts of the story that did leave me a little confused as I thought certain parts of it could be further explained, here and there. There were also some minor editing issues. Despite that, the story is a good read. It's a different take on all things paranormal.
Plagued by dreams she can't explain, Cora dismisses them as if they're nothing to worry about. Yet when they become reality, she realizes there's something more sinister afoot. She can now dissolve into a million particles and appear in unexpected places, something she's never done before. How she got the ability to do so is beyond her, yet she knows she needs to find the answers to her questions. Her only ally is her best friend, Nessa.
Fearing that she could be implicated in Tom's murder, she escapes and winds up in Nessa's home, naked and bereft. While the two can't exactly explain what's going on, they know they need to find the person responsible for the whole fiasco. They set off to do just that, setting off an unexpected chain reaction of events. Yet never once did they expect to find more than what they were looking for.
This was a very intriguing book. The action takes off from the beginning and the reader is catapulted into a world where the characters unexpectedly find themselves with paranormal powers. It sort of reminded me of X-Men. There were certain parts of the story that did leave me a little confused as I thought certain parts of it could be further explained, here and there. There were also some minor editing issues. Despite that, the story is a good read. It's a different take on all things paranormal.
December 15, 2018
Note I re-read this book and decided that my rating should have been 5 stars... it is so original. It is really a great book. I wish there was a book 2... cause that CLIFFHANGER!
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, as always the opinions are my own.
This book did take a few chapters to get into, but as I got into the book I realized that the world building was necessary in order to make the book flow.
This story is very original and unique and I really can't wait to see where we go with this story. The characters were slowly developed throughout the book and I find myself liking each character more and more as the story progressed.
The ending has a heck of a cliffhanger though, so I really can't wait for the next book especially since I really really need to know who is behind the mayhem. I also have a feeling one of the characters is bad... but that could be because I really just don't trust people in general. lol
That being said I know a lot of people have reviewed that the book starts off a little slow, but trust me it is necessary in order to get the story going. There are a few moments that I was like now way, no way would someone do that, but then I quickly realized that these kids are 19-21 and all of the sudden have super powers. I remember how I was at 21 and if I woke up with super powers it is safe to assume I would do some crazy stuff.
This is a fun read that will end on a cliffhanger that will make you face palm and beg the author for the next book. Believe me I am going to beg, cause I can't wait for the next installment and see if my theory is correct that one of the characters is no bueno. :)
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, as always the opinions are my own.
This book did take a few chapters to get into, but as I got into the book I realized that the world building was necessary in order to make the book flow.
This story is very original and unique and I really can't wait to see where we go with this story. The characters were slowly developed throughout the book and I find myself liking each character more and more as the story progressed.
The ending has a heck of a cliffhanger though, so I really can't wait for the next book especially since I really really need to know who is behind the mayhem. I also have a feeling one of the characters is bad... but that could be because I really just don't trust people in general. lol
That being said I know a lot of people have reviewed that the book starts off a little slow, but trust me it is necessary in order to get the story going. There are a few moments that I was like now way, no way would someone do that, but then I quickly realized that these kids are 19-21 and all of the sudden have super powers. I remember how I was at 21 and if I woke up with super powers it is safe to assume I would do some crazy stuff.
This is a fun read that will end on a cliffhanger that will make you face palm and beg the author for the next book. Believe me I am going to beg, cause I can't wait for the next installment and see if my theory is correct that one of the characters is no bueno. :)
June 23, 2012
Dissolve was an interesting read. This title falls into the upper YA or mature YA genre. Cora is the main character, a young woman who is planning her wedding to fiance Tom (and it's his mother who is really planning their wedding). Nessa is Cora's best friend, the type of friend any girl would love to call her bestie. When the story opens Cora is drunk and goes into the establishment's restroom where she sits on the floor of the stall. Anyone who uses a public restroom knows this is a definite and disgusting no-no and I couldn't believe Cora did this. Always the dependent friend, Nessa comes in and gets Cora home so she can sleep it off.
Then there's a tragedy and Cora and Nessa have to embark on an unplanned trip to not deal with the police. On their road trip they discover they have 'superpowers' and meet others who also have powers of their own. As I said, Dissolve was certainly a different take on the paranormal. I wasn't crazy about Cora's voice at times, her immaturity, and some of the the decisions she made. I found her lacking emotion in pivotal scenes and could not connect with her. I enjoyed the friendship between the two friends, despite occasional dialogue sounding unreal. The author's writing style was easy to read but at times I found it uneven with some scenes missing key information or others having too much information. The pace was fast which kept me reading and wondering who the bad guy was. Still, for a debut novel, Ms. Heltsley has created a YA novel with an intriguing storyline and I wonder what the rest of this series will hold.
Then there's a tragedy and Cora and Nessa have to embark on an unplanned trip to not deal with the police. On their road trip they discover they have 'superpowers' and meet others who also have powers of their own. As I said, Dissolve was certainly a different take on the paranormal. I wasn't crazy about Cora's voice at times, her immaturity, and some of the the decisions she made. I found her lacking emotion in pivotal scenes and could not connect with her. I enjoyed the friendship between the two friends, despite occasional dialogue sounding unreal. The author's writing style was easy to read but at times I found it uneven with some scenes missing key information or others having too much information. The pace was fast which kept me reading and wondering who the bad guy was. Still, for a debut novel, Ms. Heltsley has created a YA novel with an intriguing storyline and I wonder what the rest of this series will hold.
May 1, 2012
Dissolve by Andrea Heltsley is another amazing book that I discovered thanks to a blog tour that I was asked to take part in. I am sure happy that I did take part in this tour because I was able to come in contact with another amazing author.
I would like to mention that the plot was original and the storyline was fast paced, so it was very easy to find myself caught up in this novel. I enjoyed seeing the characters develop before my very eyes. The friendship between Cora and her friends was so sweet. I even enjoyed the villain, who is both creepy and intriguing at the same time.
I would also like to say that I for one can not wait for the next book so that I can see what other great adventures Cora and her friends are going to do in the next novel. Again thanks for allowing me that honor of reviewing this great novel by a great author.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising
I would like to mention that the plot was original and the storyline was fast paced, so it was very easy to find myself caught up in this novel. I enjoyed seeing the characters develop before my very eyes. The friendship between Cora and her friends was so sweet. I even enjoyed the villain, who is both creepy and intriguing at the same time.
I would also like to say that I for one can not wait for the next book so that I can see what other great adventures Cora and her friends are going to do in the next novel. Again thanks for allowing me that honor of reviewing this great novel by a great author.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising
October 7, 2012
"Two days ago I never would have dreamed of grave digging........."
Cora is days away from becoming a newly wed. Well at least she was until her fiance is murdered. Now she and her best fiend, Nessa, are on the run and prime suspects. Cora didn't mean to run....
Together Cora and Nessa venture on a series of strange, unusual, and unfortunate events. They meet other characters equally displaced; and their motley crew of individuals are forced to race against time to find answers.
"I had dragged her into something that was clearly so much bigger than us."
This book is:
♥ Suspenseful
♥ Eerie
♥ Mystical
♥ Romantic
Dissolve is one of those really tricky post-apocalyptic novels that initially starts off as a murder mystery then transforms into a paranormal suspense thriller with super hero elements you're rooting for yet don't know what will happen next. I was really enthralled.
This novel offered so many different dimensions of plot, setting, and characters. It was entertaining and original through and through! My only complaint was that the drama was a bit mild. I was secretly wishing for someone to get irrate or not be as aggreeable. The ending leaves on a scene of shock. I wanted to be optimistic, but I was bewildered by the situation. Yet it was the best plotted cliff hanger for a return reader.
Thanks to the author and AToMR Tours for entrusting me with an honest review!
3.5 Hearts!
Cora is days away from becoming a newly wed. Well at least she was until her fiance is murdered. Now she and her best fiend, Nessa, are on the run and prime suspects. Cora didn't mean to run....
Together Cora and Nessa venture on a series of strange, unusual, and unfortunate events. They meet other characters equally displaced; and their motley crew of individuals are forced to race against time to find answers.
"I had dragged her into something that was clearly so much bigger than us."
This book is:
♥ Suspenseful
♥ Eerie
♥ Mystical
♥ Romantic
Dissolve is one of those really tricky post-apocalyptic novels that initially starts off as a murder mystery then transforms into a paranormal suspense thriller with super hero elements you're rooting for yet don't know what will happen next. I was really enthralled.
This novel offered so many different dimensions of plot, setting, and characters. It was entertaining and original through and through! My only complaint was that the drama was a bit mild. I was secretly wishing for someone to get irrate or not be as aggreeable. The ending leaves on a scene of shock. I wanted to be optimistic, but I was bewildered by the situation. Yet it was the best plotted cliff hanger for a return reader.
Thanks to the author and AToMR Tours for entrusting me with an honest review!
3.5 Hearts!
June 14, 2012
The book starts in a totally different flavour than the one it takes on later, so that is a good surprise element.
It is fast -paced and has lots of action in it, you will also find some romance and of course the thrill and mystery are all there. Lots of genres there, right? Something for everyone.
I did have a few problems with the book like I didn't agree with the reactions of some characters and the reality of the situation. A lot of it was unreal to me and I could not identify with the situation and characters. Also, somehow I had a difficulty with the pace. Sometimes there was no time to develop the situation and sometimes it was all too slow. *sigh*
The killer? I mean seriously. The book has a huge cliffhanger. Andrea, you CANNOT do that! I was panicking as I noticed the percentage on my Kindle as 96%..98% and I was like no, no, no, this can't be happening. You absolutely cannot do this. So the whole reason the book was being devoured quickly was taken away from me. *sigh* The mystery still intact and guess what, Detour, the next in the series comes out in 2013. I feel like killing someone right now. I mean how could you base a book on one thing and not reveal THAT thing itself.. :(
It is fast -paced and has lots of action in it, you will also find some romance and of course the thrill and mystery are all there. Lots of genres there, right? Something for everyone.
I did have a few problems with the book like I didn't agree with the reactions of some characters and the reality of the situation. A lot of it was unreal to me and I could not identify with the situation and characters. Also, somehow I had a difficulty with the pace. Sometimes there was no time to develop the situation and sometimes it was all too slow. *sigh*
The killer? I mean seriously. The book has a huge cliffhanger. Andrea, you CANNOT do that! I was panicking as I noticed the percentage on my Kindle as 96%..98% and I was like no, no, no, this can't be happening. You absolutely cannot do this. So the whole reason the book was being devoured quickly was taken away from me. *sigh* The mystery still intact and guess what, Detour, the next in the series comes out in 2013. I feel like killing someone right now. I mean how could you base a book on one thing and not reveal THAT thing itself.. :(
September 3, 2012
First I would like to thank AToMR tours for allowing me to be a part of this tour.I loved the book cover when I saw this and the story was great. In Dissolve we meet Cora who has everything going for her. She has a fiance and she is planing her wedding. She has a great best friend who shares everything with her. Life is going great until tragedy strikes and her fiance is murdered. Cora not knowing what else to do goes to her best friend for help.
As she and her best friend are on the run she will have to figure out what happened. Cora soon finds out she posses powers. She is not sure who they came from and why and she will have to figure how to use them to stay alive. She will meet others that have powers and together they embark on a journey to find the truth out.
Reading Dissolve had me on the edge of my seat because I never knew what was going to happen. I really enjoyed how it left you guessing and never knowing what was going to happen. The people she meets along the way also posses powers and together they will get the answers they seek. This is a great read and if you love magical reads with lots of twists and turns then this book is for you.
As she and her best friend are on the run she will have to figure out what happened. Cora soon finds out she posses powers. She is not sure who they came from and why and she will have to figure how to use them to stay alive. She will meet others that have powers and together they embark on a journey to find the truth out.
Reading Dissolve had me on the edge of my seat because I never knew what was going to happen. I really enjoyed how it left you guessing and never knowing what was going to happen. The people she meets along the way also posses powers and together they will get the answers they seek. This is a great read and if you love magical reads with lots of twists and turns then this book is for you.
November 15, 2012
This one was probably the most interesting one out of the three r2r's I got from this author. I LOVED all the characters (maybe less of Mia, no offence) as they were well-developed and special in their own ways. I support the couples in this story because they were all just to cute to resist. When I found out that Shane and Mia had gotten together instead of Nessa and Shane, I admit, I was kind of shocked and pissed because I had felt that Nessa had every right to go for Shane and blah blah blah. Well, once I completely got over that, all the couples had made me smile for each moment they had alone. I loved how the plot was carefully planned out and I am really hoping for the second book. I would totally get it if I could (I have no money and my mom won't buy it for me) so I could see each character's powers developed and who the mastermind is behind all these "disappearances". Loved this book and it deserves a 5 :)
September 30, 2016
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down. The only reason I did was I needed sleep.
This book starts out about a woman named Cora, but slowly starts to include others that end up like Cora including Cora's best friend. They all somehow end up with "superpowers" of some sort which they learn has to do with either a drink or an injection given by the same man.
All 7 people by the end of the book are all originally from the same area of the country and they have something in the DNA that makes whatever they are given react with some sort of supernatural ability.
I loved the ending. I can't wait for book 2 to find out what happens.
I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down. The only reason I did was I needed sleep.
This book starts out about a woman named Cora, but slowly starts to include others that end up like Cora including Cora's best friend. They all somehow end up with "superpowers" of some sort which they learn has to do with either a drink or an injection given by the same man.
All 7 people by the end of the book are all originally from the same area of the country and they have something in the DNA that makes whatever they are given react with some sort of supernatural ability.
I loved the ending. I can't wait for book 2 to find out what happens.
December 11, 2012
I thought this book was great!
It has a plot that was not easily forseen, and quite unique. The plot is really what made this book for me. I have never read anything like it, and could not predict what would happen next as I can with many books.
The characters are wonderful. You grow to love Cora instantly, and her relationship with her BFF is one mostly all of us can relate to.
The thing that gives this book a 5 star rating is when I flipped the last page I was upset it was the end. The cliffhanger for the next book is exactly as it should be...leaving the reader wanting more!!
I cannot wait to see how this story comes to a climax, as I think there is much more to come.
High expectations for book 2!
It has a plot that was not easily forseen, and quite unique. The plot is really what made this book for me. I have never read anything like it, and could not predict what would happen next as I can with many books.
The characters are wonderful. You grow to love Cora instantly, and her relationship with her BFF is one mostly all of us can relate to.
The thing that gives this book a 5 star rating is when I flipped the last page I was upset it was the end. The cliffhanger for the next book is exactly as it should be...leaving the reader wanting more!!
I cannot wait to see how this story comes to a climax, as I think there is much more to come.
High expectations for book 2!
April 24, 2012
The concept for this book is very unique. The characters were enjoyable, and the friendship between Cora and Nessa was sweet. It has a great villain, creepy and mysterious. I did however, find that the lack of contractions made the writing seem stilted and it didn't flow for me. I found the overall "voice" of the book to be flat. I would have liked to have seen more emotions from the characters. Some situations called for some histrionics, but the characters were too accepting. Having said that, I still found myself wanting to know what was going to happen next. Over all, I loved the concept, liked the book.
September 2, 2012
I enjoyed Dissolve, the concept was interesting and unique. The story was well written and most of Dissolve was at good fast pace. The characters were good but I needed just a bit more development, I wanted to learn more about them. There was a great mystery aspect to Dissolve, however the mystery isn't solved, meaning Dissolve ends in a cliff hanger! I'm not a fan of cliff hangers but I enjoyed Dissolve enough to continue reading the next book, Detour, which will be published next year.
November 21, 2012
This is my first read by Andrea Heltsley, and it was a very interesting story to say the least. There were lots of twists ans turns, things you didn't think really were going to fit into the story. Personally, it took my a bit to get into this story, but one I did I didn't want to stop and then....it ended! The characters were all very different, but they all had their purpose, and went together well.
If you like something a little weird and different, give this story a read.
If you like something a little weird and different, give this story a read.
July 20, 2012
This was a great read, I couldn't put it down. The main thing that got me was the fact that I was trying to figure out what was going on and what was going to happen next. Very original story line, my only complaint is that it ended with still so many questions unanswered and now I have to wait until 2013 to continue on. Can't wait to read the next book.
June 29, 2012
I love the cover and sounds great cant wait to read it...
November 24, 2012
I loved this book i couldnt put it down so glad i part of the r2r.
February 11, 2015
Review posted on Audible
May 6, 2012
The following review is my own opinion and not a paid review. To form your own opinions please support the author and acquire you own legal copy of this book. I received a free copy of this book as part of a book blog tour. The gift of this book does not influence my opinion of this book. Please be aware that I try to write my reviews without spoilers but sometimes they get through so there might be a few minor spoilers in this review.
To purchase your own copy of this book please click the title highlighted in blue
This book starts out with two females Cora and Nessa that are out in a club. Cora is intoxicated and gets sick on the dirty floor of the public restroom. Okay, maybe it is I but that is just revolting. I understand why the author added this to the book but still if I did not have a mysophobia or fear of germs before I did something like this then I would after.
The book then moves to Cora and Tom. Cora and Tom are planning their wedding, or Tom's mother is planning the wedding Cora and Tom just plan to attend the wedding. I honestly hope I am not like this when my son decides to get married. I am like wow; the wedding is for the bride and groom not the mother or mother-in-law to be.
Soon Cora is pale again at a lunch to assist in helping Tom's mother plan her wedding. Cora's mother is there also along with Tom and Nessa. Cora and Nessa go to the restroom and Nessa tries to talk Cora into telling everyone she is ill so she can go home and get some rest. After Cora and Nessa leave the restroom, Cora faints to the floor. She wakes up sitting on concrete. Okay this woman was supposed to faint. How can she be sitting (and the way I understand sitting is in an upright position) when she crumpled to the floor. There is no description of any person catching Cora when this happened. In the book, it does have that Nessa was holding Cora up when she came to but it does not describe Nessa catching Cora.
Sorry for ranting the author spoke several times that Cora did not have time to shave. Okay, shave what? Her face, her eyebrows, her legs, her armpits what is it she did not have time to shave.
While I did enjoy the plot of this book, I felt that the author either dragged one point along to far or did not describe something in further detail that needed describing. I feel that this would be an awesome book if it had some more editing. Please be aware that this is not a book to be read by teenagers, there is a hint of sexual relations, drinking, and drugs in this book.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series. The author left an amazing cliff hanger at the end of this book. I do not know the title of the next book or when it will be released but I will be looking for it.
To purchase your own copy of this book please click the title highlighted in blue
This book starts out with two females Cora and Nessa that are out in a club. Cora is intoxicated and gets sick on the dirty floor of the public restroom. Okay, maybe it is I but that is just revolting. I understand why the author added this to the book but still if I did not have a mysophobia or fear of germs before I did something like this then I would after.
The book then moves to Cora and Tom. Cora and Tom are planning their wedding, or Tom's mother is planning the wedding Cora and Tom just plan to attend the wedding. I honestly hope I am not like this when my son decides to get married. I am like wow; the wedding is for the bride and groom not the mother or mother-in-law to be.
Soon Cora is pale again at a lunch to assist in helping Tom's mother plan her wedding. Cora's mother is there also along with Tom and Nessa. Cora and Nessa go to the restroom and Nessa tries to talk Cora into telling everyone she is ill so she can go home and get some rest. After Cora and Nessa leave the restroom, Cora faints to the floor. She wakes up sitting on concrete. Okay this woman was supposed to faint. How can she be sitting (and the way I understand sitting is in an upright position) when she crumpled to the floor. There is no description of any person catching Cora when this happened. In the book, it does have that Nessa was holding Cora up when she came to but it does not describe Nessa catching Cora.
Sorry for ranting the author spoke several times that Cora did not have time to shave. Okay, shave what? Her face, her eyebrows, her legs, her armpits what is it she did not have time to shave.
While I did enjoy the plot of this book, I felt that the author either dragged one point along to far or did not describe something in further detail that needed describing. I feel that this would be an awesome book if it had some more editing. Please be aware that this is not a book to be read by teenagers, there is a hint of sexual relations, drinking, and drugs in this book.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series. The author left an amazing cliff hanger at the end of this book. I do not know the title of the next book or when it will be released but I will be looking for it.
September 5, 2012
Title: Dissolve
Author: Andrea Heltsley
Date of Release: April, 4th, 2012
Number of Pages: 424
Source: Author for tour review.
Summary from Goodreads:
Everything seemed to be going right for Cora. She had a wonderful fiance, a great best friend and a fulfilling life. One day, a tragic event caused that life to crumble around her. She turned to her best friend in her time of need. They embarked on a search for answers, delving deeper into a web of magic and destruction. The closer they got to the truth, the more questions they had. To Cora, magic was the stuff of fairy tales. Immersed into a very different kind of world, the real storm was just beginning to take hold.
“It felt like I was nowhere yet everywhere all at once. I was invisible and completely panicked. The millions of pieces I had dissolved to drift on the breeze and away from my nightmares. It was kind of like floating weightless in a pool, perfectly relaxing. The warm breeze from the window embraced and soothed me. I let the air current carry me as far as it could through the summer city.”
“Defeated, I closed my eyes and took a few calming breaths trying to relax myself. I pictured the dandelion in the park today and took a deep breath as to blow the fluffy seeds in all directions. I pretended I was light and fluffy and started to feel a tingling in my body. I began to feel as light as the dandelion seeds and soon I felt like mist floating. This time, I tried to keep myself in the room, swirling in a humid block.”
Review: I was excited to read this book, because it is in the new genre loosely labeled New Adult. Also the cover sounded good and the plot interesting. I wouldn’t say it didn’t live up to all my expectations. I did enjoy reading Dissolve for the most part. Their were just parts that grated at me. Andrea Heltsley was able to capture my attention and keep me guessing.
I was fascinated to find out what was up with Cora. The sudden bouts of illness I knew meant something more. Not to mention the premise of the book is that she Dissolves. Anyways, I didn’t like that it felt like she brushed off her fiancé’s death. I loved the relationship between Nessa and Cora, but it was all a little unsettling, after that. When we were introduced to new characters I was fascinated. I watched the plot unveil with questions spinning in my head and all my answers were incorrect.
I still don’t know who the bad guy is in the novel. I thought I had it figured out, but I don’t!! That ending!!! MAN! That hasn’t happened in a long time!! There is set to be a sequel and I am just invested yet to want to read more.
Author: Andrea Heltsley
Date of Release: April, 4th, 2012
Number of Pages: 424
Source: Author for tour review.
Summary from Goodreads:
Everything seemed to be going right for Cora. She had a wonderful fiance, a great best friend and a fulfilling life. One day, a tragic event caused that life to crumble around her. She turned to her best friend in her time of need. They embarked on a search for answers, delving deeper into a web of magic and destruction. The closer they got to the truth, the more questions they had. To Cora, magic was the stuff of fairy tales. Immersed into a very different kind of world, the real storm was just beginning to take hold.
“It felt like I was nowhere yet everywhere all at once. I was invisible and completely panicked. The millions of pieces I had dissolved to drift on the breeze and away from my nightmares. It was kind of like floating weightless in a pool, perfectly relaxing. The warm breeze from the window embraced and soothed me. I let the air current carry me as far as it could through the summer city.”
“Defeated, I closed my eyes and took a few calming breaths trying to relax myself. I pictured the dandelion in the park today and took a deep breath as to blow the fluffy seeds in all directions. I pretended I was light and fluffy and started to feel a tingling in my body. I began to feel as light as the dandelion seeds and soon I felt like mist floating. This time, I tried to keep myself in the room, swirling in a humid block.”
Review: I was excited to read this book, because it is in the new genre loosely labeled New Adult. Also the cover sounded good and the plot interesting. I wouldn’t say it didn’t live up to all my expectations. I did enjoy reading Dissolve for the most part. Their were just parts that grated at me. Andrea Heltsley was able to capture my attention and keep me guessing.
I was fascinated to find out what was up with Cora. The sudden bouts of illness I knew meant something more. Not to mention the premise of the book is that she Dissolves. Anyways, I didn’t like that it felt like she brushed off her fiancé’s death. I loved the relationship between Nessa and Cora, but it was all a little unsettling, after that. When we were introduced to new characters I was fascinated. I watched the plot unveil with questions spinning in my head and all my answers were incorrect.
I still don’t know who the bad guy is in the novel. I thought I had it figured out, but I don’t!! That ending!!! MAN! That hasn’t happened in a long time!! There is set to be a sequel and I am just invested yet to want to read more.
April 11, 2013
This was listed with a lot of books I thoroughly enjoyed, so I thought I would check it out.
Awful. I can't believe I finally finished this. It was torture. I finally had to treat it as a horribly cruel joke, and even then it was painful.
This...story...was little more than sleeping, getting snacks, switching cars, staying in hotels, showering, getting dressed, and running.
There's something about powers in there, but it made little sense, and they rarely served a purpose. In fact, when they could be used, they weren't.
The dialogue was atrocious!
"I guess I won't need this bridesmaid dress now." Said minutes after learning that Cora's fiance was murdered. Can we say "too soon"?
"Really, thanks for the complement. That's really flattering and my breasts, thank you." What does that even mean? By the way...It's compliment.
"I agree."
"That's a very valid point."
"Do you think it is a trap?"
"I don't want to walk into a trap!"
"Morbid."
You have Cora's dead fiance, who was quickly replaced. It was pushed on you, then it was taken away because of poor dead Tom, and then it was right back in your fucking face again. Honestly, it was just disgusting.
I had a hunch this person was Nessa or Vienna. Wasn't that an intelligent statement considering she had already found Mia?
This was not well written at all. The execution was...horrid. The plot was never truly established. It was incredibly redundant. I was so wound up reading this book, it was ridiculous. The dialogue...it wasn't even just that it was choppy...it was close to robotic! Every character spoke the same way, often repeating the last thing the other said before them. There was no real connection between the characters. Nothing came together. This book actually told you nothing. You found out nothing. There was no purpose to the powers, there was no reason for them to have it, none of these things were touched. And what the fuck would they do with these powers once everyone else was gone? It was just absolutely horrible. The tenses were all over the place. Wrong words were used all the time. There was a major lack of punctuation. This would be one of the worst books I have read yet. In fact, it's a toss up between this and Alyson Noel...and sadly, I think I'd rather have read Noel's shit.
Awful. I can't believe I finally finished this. It was torture. I finally had to treat it as a horribly cruel joke, and even then it was painful.
This...story...was little more than sleeping, getting snacks, switching cars, staying in hotels, showering, getting dressed, and running.
There's something about powers in there, but it made little sense, and they rarely served a purpose. In fact, when they could be used, they weren't.
The dialogue was atrocious!
"I guess I won't need this bridesmaid dress now." Said minutes after learning that Cora's fiance was murdered. Can we say "too soon"?
"Really, thanks for the complement. That's really flattering and my breasts, thank you." What does that even mean? By the way...It's compliment.
"I agree."
"That's a very valid point."
"Do you think it is a trap?"
"I don't want to walk into a trap!"
"Morbid."
You have Cora's dead fiance, who was quickly replaced. It was pushed on you, then it was taken away because of poor dead Tom, and then it was right back in your fucking face again. Honestly, it was just disgusting.
I had a hunch this person was Nessa or Vienna. Wasn't that an intelligent statement considering she had already found Mia?
This was not well written at all. The execution was...horrid. The plot was never truly established. It was incredibly redundant. I was so wound up reading this book, it was ridiculous. The dialogue...it wasn't even just that it was choppy...it was close to robotic! Every character spoke the same way, often repeating the last thing the other said before them. There was no real connection between the characters. Nothing came together. This book actually told you nothing. You found out nothing. There was no purpose to the powers, there was no reason for them to have it, none of these things were touched. And what the fuck would they do with these powers once everyone else was gone? It was just absolutely horrible. The tenses were all over the place. Wrong words were used all the time. There was a major lack of punctuation. This would be one of the worst books I have read yet. In fact, it's a toss up between this and Alyson Noel...and sadly, I think I'd rather have read Noel's shit.
November 24, 2012
R2R: Dissolve
(I received a free copy, for a review)
Cora's life seemed to be going in the right direction. A wonderful fiancé, the best friend ever and the only stress seems to be planning her upcoming wedding. Then, it all takes a turn. She wakes up, after a night out with her best friend, to find her fiancé murdered and blood all over her. Not being able to remember what happened, she called 911 and then, for no apparent reason, dissolves, into a million particles, to land up in her best friend's apartment. And that is only the beginning.
"No Nessa I am not, "I admitted. "Tom was murdered and then I freaking dissolved. Now here I am. I think I am in shock."
Thus begins an interesting journey, where these two best friends, find others, that under the same circumstances are all changed.
While the main story line is interesting and very X-Men, I felt that the main character of Cora was very annoying. Once Noah was introduced, into the story line, there was too much time dedicated to her thinking about Tom and her guilt over the way she lost him and her new growing feelings towards Noah. It just got to be too much 'woe is me, how can I ever continue with my life and look at another male.'
Also, the other factor I found to be a bit unbelievable was how all of the characters just accepted the situation, in terms of their powers. IDK, if it was me, I think I would be a bit more freaked out and not so nonchalant about it. I did like how the Green Vixen was introduced, into the book (having read Dreamwalker.) I think it's clever when authors can tie all of their books together, in some small way. It makes you want to read the other books.
All in all, it was a fun read and the ending was a great cliff hanger. Can't wait to read the next one, to see what becomes of these wayward strangers!
(I received a free copy, for a review)
Cora's life seemed to be going in the right direction. A wonderful fiancé, the best friend ever and the only stress seems to be planning her upcoming wedding. Then, it all takes a turn. She wakes up, after a night out with her best friend, to find her fiancé murdered and blood all over her. Not being able to remember what happened, she called 911 and then, for no apparent reason, dissolves, into a million particles, to land up in her best friend's apartment. And that is only the beginning.
"No Nessa I am not, "I admitted. "Tom was murdered and then I freaking dissolved. Now here I am. I think I am in shock."
Thus begins an interesting journey, where these two best friends, find others, that under the same circumstances are all changed.
While the main story line is interesting and very X-Men, I felt that the main character of Cora was very annoying. Once Noah was introduced, into the story line, there was too much time dedicated to her thinking about Tom and her guilt over the way she lost him and her new growing feelings towards Noah. It just got to be too much 'woe is me, how can I ever continue with my life and look at another male.'
Also, the other factor I found to be a bit unbelievable was how all of the characters just accepted the situation, in terms of their powers. IDK, if it was me, I think I would be a bit more freaked out and not so nonchalant about it. I did like how the Green Vixen was introduced, into the book (having read Dreamwalker.) I think it's clever when authors can tie all of their books together, in some small way. It makes you want to read the other books.
All in all, it was a fun read and the ending was a great cliff hanger. Can't wait to read the next one, to see what becomes of these wayward strangers!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2012
I got this book because the cover sold me. Beautiful cover and I thought based on that this story would be more about the Fey. Instead this turned out to be more like the show Heroes. Ms. Heltsley has a vivid imagination and writes a unique story. She takes you on a supernatural road trip where the passengers are trying to save the world. It was entertaining but a little lacking.
Cora and BFF Nessa embark on a road trip to escape the authorities after Cora's fiance is mysteriously murdered. They realize that they each have mysterious powers and are not sure how they got them. As they travel they come across other people who are from the same area they lived in and have mysterious powers. The band of misfits come together to try to save the world from extinction and figure out why they all have powers and how they got them.
I did enjoy the relationship between Cora and Nessa. You don't find too many close friends who would do absolutely anything for each other.
I also liked the concept of the story. People with superhuman powers working together to find the truth and save everyone.
I liked that the villain in this story really isn't known. You think that it is one person but about part way through the story takes a turn. You are still left in the dark though. So even at the end you still don't know who is the bad guy, but there is a sequel coming in 2013.
There were parts of the story that were a little lagging. It is an interesting take and I hope that the author follows this path in the next book. I enjoyed the book and recommend it to those who enjoy the fantasy genre.
Cora and BFF Nessa embark on a road trip to escape the authorities after Cora's fiance is mysteriously murdered. They realize that they each have mysterious powers and are not sure how they got them. As they travel they come across other people who are from the same area they lived in and have mysterious powers. The band of misfits come together to try to save the world from extinction and figure out why they all have powers and how they got them.
I did enjoy the relationship between Cora and Nessa. You don't find too many close friends who would do absolutely anything for each other.
I also liked the concept of the story. People with superhuman powers working together to find the truth and save everyone.
I liked that the villain in this story really isn't known. You think that it is one person but about part way through the story takes a turn. You are still left in the dark though. So even at the end you still don't know who is the bad guy, but there is a sequel coming in 2013.
There were parts of the story that were a little lagging. It is an interesting take and I hope that the author follows this path in the next book. I enjoyed the book and recommend it to those who enjoy the fantasy genre.
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