The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime
by Ree Drummond
Publisher: William Morrow Cookbooks
Pub. Date: October 20, 2015
Retail: $29.99
ISBN: 978-0062225245
Pages: 400
Buy Link: Amazon  
Product Description: 



Billy's Thoughts:

It should be no secret to my blog readers that I love listening to music as it is a way that I can relax when I'm stressed. Ever since I got my new cell phone on my birthday (back in September), I've put most of the MP3 songs from my laptop to the new cell. Since the phone has a Bluetooth compatibility on it, I got a pair of Bluetooth headphones for it, but I had problems with the right earbud as it kept slipping out of my ear, despite the fact that I switched to a smaller earplug.

That being said, I was excited to try out the Firebird Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones by Talon, which are technically workout earbuds. The headphones retail for $99.99, but can currently be purchased on Amazon.com for $49.99.

The headphones are compatible with most iOS & Android devices. The Bluetooth operating range can reach up to 10m (33 ft) with talk time up to 4-6 hours. Standby time lasts up to 150 hours. It comes with a micro USB charging port, which takes 1.5 hours to charge. It can be paired with devices simultaneously, though I haven't tested this part of it out yet.

Refining Fire
Brides of Seattle, book two
by Tracie Peterson
Publisher: Bethany House
Pub. Date: July 7, 2015
ISBN: 978-0764210624
Pages: 320
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Between getting ready for Thanksgiving (which I'm glad is finally over) and clearing through my needs-to-be reviewed pile on desk, it has been a busy a month. I'm glad to say that I'm finally catching up on those long-awaited reviews, which includes Refining Fire. The second book in the Brides of Seattle series that has been sitting on my desk collecting dust since July. I finally got around to reading on Wednesday night!

Set in 1889, the novel centers on Militine Scott and her friend, Abrianna Cunningham, whom are both living at the Madison Bridal School in Seattle. After watching Lenore Fulcher fall in love and marry Kolbein Booth (Spoiler Alert: this occurred in the first novel, Steadfast Heart), Abrianna has had high hopes that the school will help her land a qualified husband. Militine is the complete opposite of her friend as she has no intentions of marrying.

Thane Patton, a fire fighter, and his pal Wade Ackerman occasionally help out with odd chores at the Madison Bridal School and over time they have become friends with Abrianna and Militine. Thane has feelings for Militine, but he is afraid of exposing his past to her. And it's pretty much vice versa for Militine, who feels the same way for Thane, but she also has a dark secret.

Product Description (taken from Cave Tools):

Meat Tenderizer Mallet is perfect pounder for chicken, steak, beef, and other tough cuts of meat. It's also the secret behind the best chef recipes such as country fried steak, weiner schnitzel and cordon bleu.

Unlike Aluminum or Zinc Alloy Models, our STAINLESS STEEL DESIGN IS DISHWASHER SAFE saving you tons of time cleaning up and also safely sterilizing any raw meat left behind.

Comes with 25 Professional Barbecue Recipes - Step by step instructions and detailed grilling tutorial videos are great for the family.

Billy's Thoughts:

Fire & Ice
Wild at Heart, book three
by Mary Connealy
Publisher: Bethany House
Pub. Date: October 6, 2015
ISBN: 978-0764211805
Pages: 336
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

As promised, I'm featuring my review on book three of the Wild at Series, Fire & Ice, on Black Friday, though I'm technically writing this in the early morning hours on Wednesday.

This time the heroine is Bailey Wilde, the oldest sister of her family, who is slight depressed that all her sisters have gotten married and that she is still single (and lonely). With a long dreadful winter approaching, she finds a way to get Gage Coulter to marry her, which is somewhat an odd choice for husband as she previously pointing a gun to him.

It seems that there is five-thousand acres of great grazing land on a canyon, but Bailey's farmhouse happens to be located on it. Therefore, Bailey owns all the lush grass there, so that's the only reason why Gage would ever consider marrying her - to get complete control of the land.

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews!

How reliable can you say you are in terms of having promised reviews completed for blog tours or publisher and author requests?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

  

My Answer: 

   If the review is for a blog tour, holiday guide or event, then I stick to the specific date that was either assigned to me or that I agreed to. If the review has no specific deadline, then it might take me a bit longer to get to it. 

The Golden Braid
by Melanie Dickerson
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pub. Date: Novemer 17, 2015
ISBN: 978-0718026264
Pages: 320
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/mdickerson
Buy Link: http://bit.ly/1NZuPiD 

Review:

I might seem a little odd for a male reader to like reading fairy tale stories, but for some reason in the last few years these have appealed to me. It might have something to do with the fact that I watch the television series Once Upon A Time. (Yep, even the current season, which is a complete mess.) Now available to purchase in bookstores is The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson, a retelling of the classic Rapunzel tale.

Of course, The Golden Braid centers on a seventeen-year-old Rapunzel, but she's slightly different than what we have seen in Disney's Tangled as well as countless short story and books. Her mother, Gothel, a midwife, is very protective and doesn't want any young man to close to Rapunzel. When one does, Gothel makes Rapunzel move with her to a new location. Rapunzel has never learned how to read, but she does know how to paint floral pictures. Also, she is an expert at knife throwing.

While moving yet again, they are attacked by rebels, but are rescued quickly by a knight, Sir Gerek. Coincidentally, Rapunzel ends up saving the handsome knight shortly after. Being raised properly, Sir Gerek wants to say 'thank you' by offering to teach Rapunzel how to read. This is the medieval times, so there's not many books available, so naturally Sir Gerek uses the scriptures to to the teach the golden braided beauty how to read, all of which is kept hidden form Gothel.

While I love having a cat in the house, there is the one thing that bothers me - the excess cat hair on the couch, chairs, beds, etc..

Yep, my cat shreds like crazy. The only decent pet brush that I've been able to find is actually made for a dog and it's way too big for her. The others that I have seen in the stores look to be a bit to rough, so I've never purchased one.

A few weeks ago, I was sent the Shed Ninja Pet Brush to test out and review. It retails for $46.95, but it's currently priced for $19.95 on Amazon.com. The brush is supposed to remove 90% of dead fur within a few minutes of use.

It features a different brush on each side -  one side has a shredding brush and the other side has a rak
The shedding blade easily removes loose hair that is beneath the topcoat. It gently releases the loose hairs in the undercoat, which will help prevent pet dander.The rake does exactly what it sounds like, it picks up any loose hair found in the fur.