First Movie Review!"Stick It"

Hiya peeps! I'm super excited today, because it's my first movie review on DRR! I have previously shared this review on my UnPlugged blog, and since it's in my top 3 favorite films of all time, I thought it only fitting to cross-post it here, to kick off the movie reviews on this blog.

So, without further adieu, here we go!

Stick It

~Starring: 

Missy Peregrym, 
Jeff Bridges, 
Vanessa Lengies,  
Kellan Lutz

~Released: April 28th, 2006

~Written & Directed by: Jessica Bendinger

~Genres: Comedy, Drama, Sport

~Plot (from IMDb):

After a run-in with the law, Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym) is forced to return to the world from which she fled some years ago. Enrolled in an elite gymnastics program run by the legendary Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges), Haley's rebellious attitude gives way to something that just might be called team spirit.

"Only If" by Ariana R. Cherry!

Hiya guys and dolls! Check out this psychologically thrilling novella!

Only If

~Author: Ariana R. Cherry

~Released: September 9th 2016

~Length: 52 Pages

~Genres: Novella, Psychological Thriller, Drama

Goodreads

Amazon

"Only If" tells the horrific tale of Billy, who has gone crazy from sitting in a jail cell for years and blamed for the murder of his wife... Throughout the years, he relives that specific night, when he lost his beloved wife, Clara. Stuck in a jail cell, locked away from everyone who had loved him and a memory that continues to haunt him each waking day. To most, he looks and sounds to be a crazy lunatic murderer, but deep down, Billy is just a scarred man with graphic disturbing memories that carry him to the edge of his sanity. Written in a poetic epic style, "Only If" will surely entice the reader to join Billy down memory lane and experience the tragedy that brought him to this very moment in life.

"Case of the Cursed Dodo" by Jake G. Panda!

Hiya peeps! I'm excited to share this old-school style drama mystery, with plenty of humor. If you're a fan of mysteries, audiobooks, Zootopia, or film-noir, be sure to check out the audio excerpt and my review below, and enter the giveaway at the end of the post!

"The Final Year Project" by Mehana Usha Rani!

Hiya peeps! I've got a new release to share with you today, fitting for college students and fans of college-age drama stories.

Check it out, and be sure to let me know what you think in the comments below!

The Final Year Project

~Released: November 29th, 2017

~Genres: New Adult, Young Adult, College, Contemporary, Drama

Goodreads

Om Prakash, a senior at Amra College of Technology, is getting ready to spend his final year with his friends, Vikram, Sid and Dev. They want to do something special to commemorate their last year but with no plans yet, they attend the Freshers’ Day Inauguration Ceremony.

Enter Sara, the class topper of the freshers batch who looks as perfect as her test scores. Om is instantly smitten. With that, Vikram announces their final year project: Om ♥ Sara. Om has no objections.

But Sara does.

Unamused by their harassment and hell-bent on revenge, Sara infiltrates their all-male Boxing Club joining as their team manager. Om tries hard to keep peace amongst the team; struggling to hide his affection for her while his friends suffer under her leadership. But when a ghost from the past comes back to haunt the boys, Om finds reason to believe Sara joining the club might have nothing to do with what happened at the ceremony. The very friends he’s trying so hard to protect have secrets of their own. And it’s up to Om to dig deeper before someone gets hurt. 

Born and raised in sunny Singapore, Mehana Usha Rani is an alter ego residing in the mind of a 23-year-old.

Despite holding a degree in Economics, Rani has a special interest in writing all things noneconomic and is set to publish her debut novel, The Final Year Project, by the end of 2017.

~ Connect with Mehana Online ~

Goodreads ~ Website

3 1/2 Roses

PG-17

Drama meets danger, settled in the boxing ring.

College is a place of jokes and drama for this group of friends. With a sassy chick giving a group of guys a hard time, you're bound to run into some laughs, drama, and a few fights. While Om tries to keep the peace between his crush and his prankster friends, secrets break free of their shadows, turning the little group into a mess.

While this particular style of novel isn't my personal taste, it wasn't bad. Written in a way most college students tend to act and think, it would be fitting for readers of that nature. From the first paragraphs, you get a taste of the drama that drips from nearly every page. High in emotion and energy, the whole story ends up being quite exhausting, even though it's not all that long.

I like the way the chapters were set up, breaking up the story by semesters, which fit the setting. The writing style is very bullet point written, as each new emotion and reaction is listed and pointed out. Set up almost as a screenplay with play-by-play movements and reactions, detailing each character in a somewhat detached sort of style. While it wasn't bad, it isn't my particular taste, and I had a difficult time really getting into the story.

Overall, this book wasn't bad, by any means. I think it holds a lot of appeal for many readers, and could easily grow to have a large following of fans and satisfied readers. If it sounds like your cup of tea, give it a shot. There is a bit of language throughout both the dialogue and narrative, which would be my only warning. If that doesn't bother you, hopefully you'll enjoy it!

*I was given a complimentary eCopy of this book, from the author, to read in exchange for an honest review.

Let me know what you think of this book, in the comments below!

Thanks for visiting!

Have a great day! =D

"Wickedly They Come" Audiobook Review!

Hiya peeps! DRR has another audiobook review to share with you today!

Please feel free to check it out below, and let me know what you think of this book in the comments below!

Wickedly They Come

~Author: Catherina Constantine

~Released: January 22nd, 2017

(Audiobook Edition)

~Length: 7 hours and 46 minutes

~Parent's Guide: PG-13

~Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Dark Fantasy

Goodreads

Amazon ~ Audible

A gripping, dark fantasy!

A Destined Prophecy: “The White Warrior will be one with Lucifer and God will weep.”

Haunting visions and supernatural talents are the norm for the sixteen-year-old warrior, Jordan and her mother Seeley. Together with their formidable angels they find themselves in peril when a wicked sorcerer is determined to fulfill the prophecy to his lord, Lucifer.

After an ominous vision of spirits inhabiting teenagers in a local school, Jordan enrolls in the social culture of teendom at Elma High to combat soulless demons. She encounters Mark, a mysterious new classmate, who is hell bent on keeping her unscathed from the forces of evil.

The battle between Heaven and Hell is escalating—and Earth is their battleground.

Crime Drama Review!"Still Black Remains" by Kevin Michaels!

Hiya guys! Hope your week is going super well so far!

DRR has a brand new book to share with you guys! It's a dramatic mob-filled adult fiction, just released this week! Check out our review, and a guest post from the author! =D

Still Black Remains

~Released: April 1st, 2017

~Length: 242 Pages

~Parent's Guide: R

~Genres: Adult Fiction, Crime, Drama

Goodreads

Amazon

Purchase from Publisher

Still Black Remains is an original work of fiction.  It tells the story of Twist, one of the leaders of an inner city gang named the Skulls, and the architect of his gang’s decision to kidnap a mafia soldier in a last-ditch attempt to end a violent turf war.  The war started when the Skulls tried taking a bigger piece of the drug business in their Newark, New Jersey neighborhood from the organized crime family who had once been their partners.  Like most great ideas, the plan doesn’t turn out as expected. Negotiations between the gangs deteriorate, words fail, the violence escalates, and the only recourse left is the inevitable execution of the hostage.  Chosen to be the one to execute the prisoner, the story covers Twist’s ability to pull the trigger, the consequences of that action, and his internal struggle.  As the volatile situation grows more explosive by the hour, the lines between right and wrong blur; resolution comes with a price and Twist has to decide if pulling the trigger will get him what he wants, and if he can live with that cost.

*Review*"Elemental Secrets" by Elle Middaugh!

Hiya! DRR has a new review to share with you guys today. We were intrigued by the cover and synopsis for this young adult fantasy novel, and hope you guys like it as well!

Elemental Secrets

(The Essential Elements #1)

~Released: Feb 27th, 2016

~Length: 368 Pages

~Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

Goodreads ~ Amazon

With her mother long deceased and her father recently deployed, Valerie Moore is sent to live with her eccentric aunt in a tiny town nestled in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Being a Navy brat has made her into a bit of a loner, and making friends isn’t high on her list. 

Time with her aunt, however, soon convinces her that a life of loneliness really isn’t what she wants. So, she opens up and makes a few friends - friends with secrets. 

Her love life quickly becomes a mess. Torn between the conflicted heartbreaker next door, the persistent jock at the top, and the rugged college bad boy, Valerie finds it almost impossible to choose just one guy. 

Romance isn’t her only problem, though. 

Secrets are revealed about her family, her friends and relationships, and her whole world… 

But the biggest secret of all is unveiled when Valerie discovers she has Elemental powers, unleashing a rapid chain of irreversible events.

Law and Crucible Saga, by Ioana Visan! *Release Blitz & Giveaway*

*Materials & images provided by the author.

Hi guys! Hope you're all having a wonderful week so far.

I'm participating in a blitz today, for the Law and Crucible Saga. All three novellas/short stories were released today (December 15th, 2015). This would be a perfect series for fans of the sci-fi genre, and space operas. Check it out!

*Book Blast & Giveaway* "Wedding Haters" by Melissa Baldwin!

Wedding Haters

(Event to Remember, #2)

~By: Melissa Baldwin

~Released: March 5th, 2015

~Length: 243 Pages

~Genres: Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Drama, Romance, Humor

Goodreads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

The exquisite dress, the dazzling menu, the family drama . . . It’s the day every girl dreams of, and Madison Wales is no exception. Her wedding plans seem to be going perfectly thanks to her very talented wedding planner, Sienna Harris. That is, until her grandmother and her two overachieving, bullying cousins suddenly want to become very involved in her big day. But . . . why? 

Madison’s perfect wedding dreams are dashed as things slowly start to unravel. With family drama in her midst, she wonders if her cousins are behind each disaster or if she has truly become a paranoid bridezilla. 

Will Madison be able to withstand all of the pressure and finally stand up for herself? The idea of eloping with her fiancé, Cole, is looking better everyday, even if it means leaving her dream wedding behind. Will she make the right choice? 

*Blitz & Giveaway* "Clarity" By Loretta Lost!

Clarity

The Complete Series

~By: Loretta Lost

~Publication Date: December 17th, 2014

~Length: 600 Pages

~Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance, Fiction, Drama

Goodreads ~ Amazon

Barnes & Noble

This bundle contains all three books in the Clarity series!

*Blitz & Giveaway* "After I Fall" by Amity Hope!

After I Fall

~By: Amity Hope

~Released: December 15th, 2014

~Length: 262 Pages

~Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Drama

Goodreads ~ Kindle

On sale now for only $.99, limited time only!!

When EmLynn’s dad loses his battle with cancer, the last thing she wants is to move across the country to live with her Mom. Her mom left her dad years ago to start a new, improved family with her new, improved husband.

When Eric finds himself in the middle of a mess of someone else’s making, the last thing he wants is to be dumped into the foster care system. He’s spent most of his life on his own, so he doesn't see the point of having a pretend family now.

A chance meeting leaves them both thinking that maybe their new town of Roseville isn’t so bad. But as they grow closer, a mutual enemy, along with a tangle of secrets and a web of little white lies, may just be enough to make their new found love unravel completely.

*Blitz & Giveaway* "Betrayed" by Felicia Starr!

Betrayed

(Breaking the Darkness #2)

~By: Felicia Starr

~Released: October 29th, 2014

~Publisher: Crushing Hearts Black Butterfly

~Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Drama

Goodreads ~ Kindle

Kasha Alexander has been through a great deal since the death of her Gram, kidnapped, and abused, she has fought her way out of captivity with the help of the one man who just might be her saving grace, Graven.

Graven has been searching for Kasha for a millennia and now that he’s found her, he’s not about to let her go. He will protect her in any form, no matter what the cost…

Little does he know how high that cost will be….

*Review* "The Best Kind of Trouble" by Courtney B. Jones!

A few months ago, I participated in a book tour hosted by Itching For Books, for the first book in the "Trouble" series, by author Courtney B. Jones.  From the synopsis and cover, I figured it would be a book I'd really enjoy.  Since it ended up being a not-so-good rating and review, I waited to post my review until the tour ended.  As the tour ended several months ago, I'm going to post my review for it today.