Everyone knows who Arnold Schwarzenegger is but do you know the whole story behind the man?

Now available available for the first time on digital HD download is the classic documentary Pumping Iron!

From Gold's Gym in Venice Beach California to the showdown in Pretoria, amateur and professional bodybuilders prepare for the 1975 Mr. Olympia and Mr. Universe contests in this part-scripted, part-documentary film.

Five-time champion Arnold Schwarzenegger defends his Mr. Olympia title against Serge Nubret and the shy, young, deaf Lou Ferrigno, whose father is his coach; the ruthless champ psyches out the young lion.

Sardinian Franco Columbu competes in the lightweight class; at home in Italy he solves a tight parking problem by lifting the car into place. Joe Weider is the marketer; Mike Katz and Ken Waller go for the title of Mr. Universe. Bodybuilding and a celebrity-to-be go mainstream.

Special Features:

• Still Pumping: Success in bodybuilding is a mental challenge as well as physical. In these newly recorded interviews, Arnold Schwarzenegger talks about the will power and focus you need to become a champion, and the mental attitude that has shaped his career.

• The Hard Science of Bodybuilding: Arnold Schwarzenegger and top bodybuilders give insights into the sport of bodybuilding and tips for building the body of your dreams. 

Pumping Iron (plus bonus content) Available Today: http://www.vudu.com/movies/#!content/611872/Pumping-Iron-plus-bonus-content

Tinhorn's Daughter
by L. Ron Hubbard
Publisher: Galaxy Press
Pub. Date: October 20, 2014
ISBN: 978-1592123438
Running Time: 123 minutes
Buy Link: Audio, Paperback, Kindle

Review:
 
While audiobooks have been around for decades, I didn't really start listening to these types of books until I was introduced to the Stories from the Golden Age series from Galaxy Press. This series features the short stories from the 1930s and 1940s by author L. Ron Hubbard. Galaxy Press has been adapting these stories into audiobooks for a whole new generation to enjoy. The stories are also being released on Kindle and paperbacks.

The western audiobook Tinhorn's Daughter was released just a few a months back and features the voices of Nancy Cartwright (the voice of Bart Simpson), Corey Burton, R.F Daley, Jim Meskimen (who also directs) and Tait Ruppert. The two-disc audiobook also features the short story When Gilhooly Was In Flower.

Tinhorn's Daughter first appeared in the December 1937 issue of Western Romances and centers on a man named Sunset Maloney, who is trying to fight back against the cruel land-stealer Slim Trotwood in the Big Sky country of Montana. While Slim may look like just another gambler, he has been stealing the Puma Pass lan from the homeowners. Sunset is known for his fast shooting  and he plans on taking Slim down that is until he meets the tinhorn's daughter, Betsy. Now blinded by love for his enemy's daughter, his trail for justice will be a lot harder than he thought it would be.

Description:

James Patterson brings the fifth and final book in the bestselling Witch & Wizard saga to a head by exposing the nature of power-and what it means for the heroes that have it.

Whit and Wisty Allgood have fought and defeated their world's most pernicious threats: the evil dictator, The One Who Is The One, as well as his wicked father and son. But just as the heroic witch and wizard start to settle into their new roles in governance, a deadly crime wave grips their city, with all signs pointing to a magical mastermind every bit as powerful and heartless as The One. Now the siblings find themselves persecuted as the city turns against all those who possess magic. They're questioning everything, including each other and their abilities. Can they confront the citizens' growing hostility and their own doubts in time to face the new enemy barreling toward their gates?


Billy's Thoughts:

Murder at the Mikado
A Drew Farthering Mystery
by Julianna Deering
Publisher: Bethany House
Pub. Date: July 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-0764210976
Pages: 366
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

One of my guilty reading pleasures is reading Agatha Christie mystery novels, so I was more than exciting to read "A Drew Farthering Mystery" series by Julianna Deering, which the plots of her books are inspired by the mystery novels of the 1930s. After reading Rules of Murder and Death by the Book, I was more than excited to read the third installment, Murder at the Mikado. Technically, I did read the book back in July, but a few things came up and I never got around to writing the review. Therefore, I reread the book recently, so I could refresh my mind before writing this review.

Drew Farthering, a young man who loves a good mystery, is once again the main character. It seems that murder just follows him wherever he goes. His ex-actress-girlfriend, Fleur Landis, seeks his help. Though she is now retired from acting, she is still connected to her troupe's production of The Mikado. The star of the show has been murdered and Fleur happens to be the police's number one suspect, though she convinces Drew that she is innocent of the crime.

A Bluebonnet Lake
Texas Crossroads Series
by Amanda Cabot
Publisher: Revell
Pub. Date: October 21, 2014
ISBN: 978-0800734343
Pages: 384
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:
 
I guess you can say that this week is going to be "review catch up week" for me in my attempt to finish to clear off  clear off all the books that are piled up on my desk before Christmas Eve, which isn't going to be an easy feat as there is less than 10 until  Dec. 24th.

A Bluebonnet Lake, book one in the Texas Crossroad series, arrived in bookstores back in October from Revell. As you can tell from the artwork, this has a contemporary setting. I'm more of a fan of historical settings, but I'm starting to like romances set in modern times.

The book centers on Kate Sherwood, a young woman who has taken the marketing world by storm. She finds herself checking into the Rainbow End, a Texas Hill Country resort! The last thing she ever wanted to do was to find herself in a place like this, but she made a promise to her grandmother that she would stay there. Fifty years back, her grandparents spent a a week at the resort and Kate promised her grandmother that she would visit the resort one day.

Courtesy of Bestof Bridge Holiday Classics by The Best of Bridge 2014 © www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with publisher  permission.

Description: 

Now available for the first time, the definitive collection of holiday recipes from the ladies of Best of Bridge.

For two decades thousands of families have made Best of Bridge recipes part of their holiday celebrations. These fans and new ones will enjoy the tried and true tradition of Christmas Morning Wife Saver on Christmas morning, Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes accompanied by Beef Tenderloin with Peppercorn Sauce for a dinner with family or company, and Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Squares for their neighborhood cookie exchange.

These classic recipes come from Best of Bridge fan favorites as well as new recipes which are sure to become instant holiday classics. The best holiday-worthy roasts and other special entrees for celebrations are here, along with fabulous recipes for holiday brunches and lunches, buffets and pot lucks, as well as festive libations and holiday cookies and squares.

What makes this collection extra special are the two chapters devoted to Leftovers and Food Gifts. Fortunately those sumptuous holiday repasts usually have leftovers. This handy chapter includes incredible recipes for transforming those unused portions into another delicious meal. Nothing says "happy holidays" more than a gift of home-made-from-scratch food. From homemade toffee to seasoned nuts and preserves the Bridge ladies provide a huge cache of gift giving ideas.

Billy's Thoughts:

 
From Elizabeth Byler Younts, the author of Promise to Return, comes the exciting sequel, A Promise to Cherish, from Howard Books. I enjoyed reading the first book in the series, so I eagerly signed up to review the sequel. Unfortunately, a few things came up and I'm just now getting to writing this review.

A Promise to Cherish centers on a nurse named Christine Freeman, who is working as the member of the Civilian Public Service unit at the Hudson River State Hospital (a mental hospital) in 1945. After being sexually assaulted by an old acquaintance (Jack), she learns that she is pregnant. Too make matters worse, she is fired from her job. She tries to get help from her parents, but they just want to send her to a home for unwed mothers.

The Device
Director: Jeremy Berg
Starring: Angela DiMarco, David S. Hogan, Kate Alden
Studio: Image Entertainment
Release Date: December 16, 2014
Retail: $27.97
ASIN: B00NC9TSY0
Running Time: 90 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on DVD this Tuesday December 6, 2014 from Image Entertainment is the scifi-drama The Device. The film is directed by Jeremy Berg and stars Angela DiMarco, David S. Hogan and Kate Alden. Special Features include an audio commentary with the writers, producers and director Jeremy Berg, an audio commentary with the cast and an audio commentary by Tracy Torme, screenwriter of Fire In The Sky and Intruders.

The Device centers on sisters Abby (played by Angela DiMarco) and Rebecca (played by Kate Alden), who both returns to their family's cabin, a place they haven't been to since the time Rebecca disappeared when they were younger. They never planned on returning to the cabin, but at the request of their late mother, they have returned here to scatter their mother's ashes in the forest and the nearby lake.


The sisters discover strange markings on the ground, which they presumed was from some sort of crash years ago. Abby finds a mysterious black orb and takes it back to her fiance Calvin (played by David S. Hogan), who think it may bring them into lots of cash if they they sell it. They return home the next day along with Rebecca and odd occurrences begin to happen, all of which is connected to the strange orb. Bizarre dreams haunt the sisters and Calvin begins to act differently, almost if he is interacting with the orb. Could the orb be connected to extraterrestrial beings?

Courtesy of EasyEveryday Slow Cooker Recipes by Donna-Marie Pye, 2014 © www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with publisher permission.

Whether cooking for two or serving a crowd, this book makes easy work of creating delicious, soul-satisfying slow cooker meals.

In this gorgeous, full-color book with more than 80 photographs, there are 200 recipes to explore and experiment with, featuring the best of North American regional cuisine, as well as globally inspired dishes from cultures around the world.

Each recipe is created with convenience in mind with a good balance of those that require a few extra minutes of preparation versus others where all the ingredients can be added at once.

Most of the recipes serve from four to eight people and can be adapted to every slow cooker size. There are also many recipes that will suit any family from chapters such as Meals for Two and Big-Batch Dinners. With a bit of advance planning the inspiring recipes in Double-Duty Dinners will turn tonight's dinner into tomorrow's feast, simultaneously banishing that dreaded remark, "...That again?"


Billy's Thoughts: