Book Reviews

The Princess Within

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

The Princess Within for Teens: Discovering Your Royal InheritanceThe Princess Within for Teens: Discovering Your Royal Inheritance by Serita Ann Jakes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“It’s time to get ready for the ball. Girls of all age want to feel like Cinderella at the ball. But, maybe o feel more like Cinderella before the ball – overlooked, inadequate, hurting, maybe even used and abused. Sometimes it’s heard to fell beautiful, in God’s eyes or your own, when something or someone has robbed you of your inner beauty.”

From time to time, I will pick up a book that isn’t totally relevant to my life or me at the time. Such was my thoughts on this book – The Princess Within for Teens – Discovering Your Royal Inheritance… for full disclosure – note that I am a 50+-year-old woman.

However, I did enjoy reading this book. Yes some things are different than when I was a teen – social media, etc. That being said, the message of this book is relevant. I do remember feelings of rejection, being hypercritical of myself, knowing that I was made for more, but not knowing how to get there.

So, in truth, perhaps a few peripheral things have changed, but the thought process of the Princess within each of us really hasn’t.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Christian Book, Deeper Shopping, Goodreads

View all my reviews
This book is available online at
Deeper Shopping Books and Bibles

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The Hope Quotient

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The Hope Quotient: Measure It. Raise It. You'll Never Be the Same.The Hope Quotient: Measure It. Raise It. You’ll Never Be the Same. by Ray Johnston

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“What’s at the heart of every thriving person, every thriving marriage, kid and business? Hope! The Hope Quotient is a revolutionary new method for measuring—and dramatically increasing – our level of hope. Hope is more than a feeling; it’s the by-product of seven key factors. When these are present in your life, they cause hope to thrive.”

Continue reading →

Love. Period.

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Love. Period.: Loving Those Who are Not Like YouLove. Period.: Loving Those Who are Not Like You by Rudy Rasmus

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“What would happen if we truly loved those who are different from us in race, background, abilities, gender, economic status, identity, or physical condition? How would our communities change if we stopped being afraid of those who don’t fit our definition of “loveable”? How would our hearts find greater joy if we acknowledged the risk of living without conditions – and did it anyways?”
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Sincerely Yours

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Sincerely YoursSincerely Yours by Jane Kirkpatrick

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Four unexpected letters. Four intrepid women. Four lives changed forever. Spanning a century and a continent, these romantic novellas will lead you on a journey through the landscape of love. Four young women find their lives altered after each receives a letter that set her on a new path From a Hudson River steamboat to a lush drawing room, from a carousel carver’s workshop to a remote hospital, you’ll be swept into the lives of women who are making their way in the world and finding love where they least expect it.”

Sincerely Yours is a collection of four novellas penned by four different authors – Jane Kirkpatrick, Amanda Cabot, Laurie Alice Eakes, and Ann Shorey.

Each of these four stories introduces us to four different women with one thing in common… each receives an unexpected letter. With each letter, lives are changed as these women set out on a path of discovery, redemption, mystery, romance and suspense. To say much more, will rob the reader of the twists and turns of each story.

I did enjoy these four stories. Each of them is under one hundred pages and yet, while that may seem too short… the skill of the authors in the character development and story telling brings the feeling and completeness of a novel twice it’s size. Very well done.

*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.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Christian Book, Deeper Shopping, and Goodreads

View all my reviews
This book is available online at
Deeper Shopping Books and Bibles

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The Israeli Solution

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

I will let this review speak for itself with only these words.  If you want to be informed about the Mid-East Peace Process and why it seems that it will never be acheived… do not miss this book.

 

 

The Israeli Solution: A One-State Plan for Peace in the Middle EastThe Israeli Solution: A One-State Plan for Peace in the Middle East by Caroline Glick

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“A manifesto that exposes the flaws in the tw0state policy of the United States toward Israel and the Palestinians and offers a direct and powerful call for Israeli sovereignty in the region.”

This book, The Israeli Solution: A one-State Plan for Peace in the Middle East, is perhaps one of the most insightful books written about the generations-old “problem” of what to do with the Israeli’s and the Palestinian’s. It seems like every US president, past and current, have or have had “the answer”. Yet not one of them has or did. In this 250+ page manifesto, that is so impeccably researched and cited, the author, Caroline Glick, offers a one-state plan for peace in the Middle East – The Israeli Solution. Continue reading →

Shift Your Brilliance

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Shift Your Brilliance: Harness The Power Of You, INC.Shift Your Brilliance: Harness The Power Of You, INC. by Simon T. Bailey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Brilliance is a decision. It’s time to disrupt your current reality and experience your Shift Into Brilliance”

Shift Your Brilliance: Harness the Power of You, is an interesting book. On one hand it appears to be a run of the mill, typical self-help “listen to me and succeed” handbook. Yet on the other hand it is far more than that. The author, Simon T. Bailey does appear to “drop” a lot of names in the stories he relates through this teaching. But, in my opinion, the name-dropping is what makes this book credible. Not only do we hear about the “who” of the success stories, we also hear the methods of the successes.

As for myself, after 20 plus years in the same industry, just not the same employer, I have seen the entire gambit from “that’s how we’ve always done it” to “okay, who’s got some big ideas”. I did very much enjoy this book and especially enjoyed this passage… “Shifting your brilliance is, in essence, using a fresh set of eyes to see the same thing everyone else see, but in a unique way and responding brilliantly as a result. “ That is not sage advice for your chosen career field, but I think is advice for life.

More about this author at: www.simontbailey.com

*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.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, and Goodreads,

View all my reviews
This book is available online at
Deeper Shopping Books and Bibles

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SuperGal vs. God

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ 2 Comments

I’ve thought for years, that I should write my story….  the story of those 56 days that started in December 2005.  The story of my husband’s home-going.  As I read this book, I thought that I was reading my own story.  This author, Lori Hynson,  she get’s it.  She was so able to write not just my story – no matter how similar the circumstances – but the story of every SuperGal out there.  This book has left me thinking through alot of old lately.  Memories I should have put away a long time ago.  Thank you Lori. Continue reading →

The Illusion of More

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

Read this and let your imagination run away with the beauty of the words….

“….. God’s display of talent is nothing short of supernatural. He put on the original magic show.
With a spoken thought the Creator turned an infinite void into an ever-expanding universe. Giving voice to His own imagination. He ignited the inferno of countless stars and sent worlds spinning into orbit. Like an inspired painter doodling on a three-dimensional canvas. He sketched out continents and colored in the oceans. Then, with mere words, God brought life — to Life!

“Grass, please.” And with the echo of His voice, a carpet of green covered the world. Continue reading →

The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind

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The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind Expanded Edition: Access to a Life of MiraclesThe Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind Expanded Edition: Access to a Life of Miracles by Bill Johnson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“Many Christians believe in miracles, but they are not accessing the supernatural as a way of life. Is this you? Are you ready to experience the miraculous lifestyle that Jesus made available to you because of the Cross? Your access to a lifestyle of signs, wonders, and miracles starts by changing the way you think.”

The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind is an interesting book. The author, Bill Johnson, presents the reader with biblical references as to how we Christians living in today’s world can access the same healing power and grace that the Apostles and Jesus himself had while they walked this earth. This book is an interesting read with a large number of stories of folks that have accessed this power by transforming their minds and walk in a life of miracles.

*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.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, and Goodreads

View all my reviews
This book is available online at
Deeper Shopping Books and Bibles

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Praying Through Hard Times

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ 3 Comments

As I am writing the review of this book…  I am trying to keep myself from thinking about the appointment that I have tomorrow morning for a breast biopsy.  I’m not sure that this book could have come at a better time.

With an ovarian cancer diagnosis 4 years ago…. and Praise Jesus, no reoccurence… I have been struggling with this appointment – playing out all of the worst case scenario’s over and over in my thoughts

But after finishing this book this morning… all I can do is take my heart and my fears to Him.  To take them to His throne, and at that throne… I find my strength.

I found solace in the words of this book… I pray that you do too. Continue reading →