Author: Ann Cuddy-Sullivan

Shenandoah Nights – A Book Review

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ 1 Comment

Shenandoah Nights (Winds of Change, #1)Shenandoah Nights by Lisa Belcastro

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am not a huge fan of fiction and I am definitely not a fan of “sci-fi” time travel. That is just my preference. I do read fiction, but they are typically summer beach reads. But I guess that when I read that the novel takes place off the coast of Massachusetts (my home state), that I decided I would read it. I LOVED IT!

This is a wonderful story of intrigue and romance and history and adventure and yes… time-travel. The research for this book is done so well and the writing is crisp and precise. The author paints a breathtaking picture of the Shenandoah under full sail while bringing the innocent and wide-eyed Rebecca O’Neil and the rugged and good-looking Captain Ben to life… and we are there witness to their tentative blossoming romance.

This is the first in the “Winds of Change” series. I am so looking forward to Ms. Belcasto’s next novel “Shenandoah Crossing”.

Disclaimer: I recieved a copy of this book through the “For readers IOnly” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

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This book is available online at:
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When A Woman Says Yes To God – A Book Review

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What Happens When Women Say Yes to God: Experiencing Life in Extraordinary WaysWhat Happens When Women Say Yes to God: Experiencing Life in Extraordinary Ways by Lysa TerKeurst

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What Happens When Women Say Yes to God is about surrendering your whole life to God. Through scripture and her own personal experience, the author is a guide to what can happen when you develop a complete relationship with God. From the beginning chapter the author uses examples of her own life, struggles and all, to bring the reader along her own journey of finally Saying Yes To God in a whole and complete way. This book is filled with simple wisdom and revelation to aid the reader in making that decision in their own life to Say Yes To God.
This is by far one of the best books I’ve read. Her ability to open up God’s desire for my life helped make me want to read some chapters over and over. I read this book in conjunction with the P31ministry.org online bible study. I would recommend this book to any woman (or man) who wants to take their life in Christ to the next level.

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This book is available online at:
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Jesus Is In The House

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Some years ago, I came across an article called, “What If Jesus Toured Your Business?” by Buck Jacobs.  The summary of the article poses the question to Christian Business owners, “If Jesus took a tour of the organization you run, would He see anything that would distinguish you from your secular counterparts?”  The article goes on to where the author invites the business owners through a spiritual audit of the business.

This article got me to thinking.  While I am no longer a small business owner, I am about the business of my family, my home, my work and my community.  If Jesus knocked on my door today and asked to spend the week with me — would I pass the “spiritual audit”? Continue reading →

The Gospel Of God’s Grace

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confident heart

“Have you I let the gospel of God’s grace move from your my head to your  my heart, so that you I know without a shadow of a doubt that you are I am known intimately and loved completely by God?” “A Confident Heart” pg 41.

I grew up in a wonderful, complete, warm and loving family.  Mom and dad saw to it that we were in church every weekend, that we attended weekly religious instructions, and received all of the Sacrements of the Church.

I grew up knowing about God.  I knew OF Him… I just didn’t KNOW Him.  I knew that God loved me.  I just didn’t know how deeply and how He truly loved me and how much He longed for a relationship with me.  I didn’t know that He wanted a relationship with me that would last for all eternity.  All is knew at that time is that if I followed all the rules that that would be good enough to get me into Heaven. Continue reading →

How to Read (More)

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This is a great post, with great ideas!

Andrew Toy's avatarThe Official Colonel Sanders Podcast

Believe it or not, you have more time to read than you think. Here are some practical tips to help you work through that lengthy reading list.

On average, I read 2-4 books per month, but I’m just as busy as you are. I’m a husband, homeowner, 2x dog owner, blogger, itunes addict (which, you know can be quite time-consuming), I work full-time as a freelance editor and author, plus I have a part-time job, and on top of that, working through the process of adoption. So I’m pretty busy just like you. And just like you, I have a long reading list that I’m just dying to dig into (it’s over 100 books long). The most likely difference between you and me is that I am steadily making my way through it.

Jealous? Just follow my five simple tips and soon you’ll find yourself marking up…

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The Long Awakening – A Book Review

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The Long Awakening, a memoirThe Long Awakening, a memoir by Lindsey O’Connor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The riveting true story of a life-threatening coma, a miraculous awakening, and the long quest to regain what was lost.

From the front flap: “The day our baby came into the world was the day I left. A day that began all smiles and excitement and anticipation and joy ended with running and panic and blood and tears. And then coma.I lay suspended in the deep, my newborn unknown. Nothingness. Layers where dark pulled from below, light called from above, and me, trapped in between, longing to break the surface. To live.
Forty-seven days later when I first saw my husband’s face leaning close to me, I knew where, and who, I was. But other things took much longer to know. Learning to restitch life–and love–when everything’s changed, and finding who we are afterward, can be the longest journey of all.

I’m Lindsey O’Connor, and this is the story of my long awakening.”

I just finished reading this book. This is, by far, one of the best written books that I have read in a very long time. It is a story of being alive just outside of deaths door. It is a story of love and despair. It is a story of returning back to life after being snatched back from the brink. Surviving the 47-day medically-induced coma is just the start to this beautifully written and brutally candid story.Be warned tho, The Long Awakening is no mere memoir…. if you pick up this book you will not soon put it down.

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This book is available online at:
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Time To Stop Complaining

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Oct 9 jesus calling

From:  Jesus Calling by Sarah Young – page 296

“You have been on a long, uphill journey, and your energy is almost spent.  Though you have faltered at times, you have not let go of My hand.  I am pleased with your desire to stay close to Me.  There is one thing, however, that displeases Me: your tendency to complain.  You may talk to Me as much as you like about the difficulty of the path we are following.  I understand better than anyone else the stresses and strains that have afflicted you.  You can ventilate safely to Me, because talking with Me tempers your thoughts and helps you see things from My perspective.

Complaining to others is another matter altogether.  It opens the door to deadly sins such as self-pity and rage.  Whenever you are temped to grumble, come to Me and talk it out  As you open up to Me, I will put My thoughts in your mind and My song in your heart.” Continue reading →

Examine Your Faith! A Book Review

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Examine Your Faith!: Finding Truth in a World of LiesExamine Your Faith!: Finding Truth in a World of Lies by Pamela Christian

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“If your faith were put to a test – if you encountered a faith challenging crisis today –would your faith sustain you?

“Are you confident about what you belive and why you believe it?

“If you are not sure that your faith is based on a solid foundation, then by all means, you should examine your faith.”

In her book, “Examine Your Faith – Finding Truth In A World Of Lies”, Ms. Christian answers these questions in her own life by bringing together a careful and consise commentary of the leading world faith – Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, humanism (including New Age), Islam, and Christianity, adding personal testimonies of people who practiced them. She provides the reader with a definition of sound faith and explores how truth is determinded and looks at evil and how the various faiths deal with it, in comparision to Christianity. The book ends with a case for Christ, where she encourages the reader to conclude with her that the Christian faith provides the best possible explanation for our world, the existence of God, the reality of pain and suffereing and the conclusion of evil (pg 194).

As readers we are priviledged to walk with Ms. Christian on her journey to examine what she believed and why she believed it as she was forced to examine her beliefs in order to find peace and have any hope at all.

While this book is not a “lite” read, it is both enlightening and educational in regards to the definitions, truths and falsehoods, and discussions of the basic tenents of the other world faiths descibed in this book ending with the discussion on Christianity. The book concludes with a case for Christ and Christianity as the only true faith… with no competitors.

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

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This book is available online at:
Deeper Shopping Christian Books and Bibles

Verse Mapping

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A few weeks back, while I was working on the Proverbs 31 Ministry – “When A Woman Says Yes To God” online bible study, we were given a reference to a blog that gave a teaching on Verse Mapping .  Verse Mapping is a unique way to learn scripture by meditating on the Word.  In this blog post, there was also reference to personalizing the scripture verses by crossing out words like “you”, “we”, “whoever”, “them” and write in your name.

This reminded me of something that my mom taught me many years ago.  It was shortly after I was married.  I was just a young bride and for whatever reason (I can’t even begin to remember the reason) I was being particularly snotty one day towards my new husband.

God-inspired I’m sure, but my mom just happened to show up at our home during the midst of my hissy-fit.  Of course, not to let her and dad know that we were argueing… we, or should I say I, dropped whatever it was about.  But my mom had a special gift of knowing when her children were being “stupid” (my word, never hers) Continue reading →

Preparing For The Storm

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This post was originally written in August 2011. This is something that I wrote a few years back.  With all of the storms that have been beating up New England in the last couple of weeks…  well I decided to repost it.

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storm-pic-for-blog
Winter 2013

Growing up in northern New England, we are used to having massive winter storms.  I learned from my parents at a very young age about being prepared.   The preparations for an upcoming storm typically included making sure that there was “Blizzard” food in the house (milk, cereal,bread, etc… especially with 4 children) and the vehicles were gassed up.  It’s not that we weren’t going to be able to get out of the house for months after the storm, as usually within 8 hours after the end of the storm, we would be out and about.  But then again, you never know. (In December 2010 a freak ice storm resulted in 14 days without power for 100’s of thousands of folks – never know)  Mom and dad were always prepared.

Continue reading →