book review

Virtues and Valor

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

I just finished reading the Virtues and Valor Series by Halle Bridgeman.  In this series, Seven valorous women — different nationalities, ethnicities, and social backgrounds — come together as a team called the Virtues.

As many of you know, I’m not a huge fan of fiction, however I am a fan of Ms. Bridgeman.  And after reading this series, I continue.  This is a do not miss.

I will be posting 7 different review links (my review’s on Amazon) here for each of the 7 novella’s that make up this series.  To read each review, please click on the Amazon Link or scroll down the page to this page to read all of the reviews

If you are a fan of Historical Fiction, this is a must read.  If you are a fan of great writing, backed up by impeccable research, this is a must read.  But be forewarned…  if you are anything like me, you will loose a couple of days reading this series.  I couldn’t put it down! Continue reading →

Spiritually Strong

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Spiritually Strong: The Ultimate 6-Week Guide to Building Your Body and SoulSpiritually Strong: The Ultimate 6-Week Guide to Building Your Body and Soul by Kristen Feola

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Spiritually Strong is a six-week program designed to help you get in better shape spiritually and physically. As Timothy says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (4:8). This book teaches you how to train yourself in godliness through the implementation of six disciplines—Bible study, prayer, fasting, healthy living, financial stewardship, and serving others.” Continue reading →

Life Unstuck

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Life Unstuck: Finding Peace with Your Past, Purpose in Your Present, Passion for Your FutureLife Unstuck: Finding Peace with Your Past, Purpose in Your Present, Passion for Your Future by Pat Layton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Everyone has felt stuck at some point in life. Our inertia is gone, momentum is wiped out, and life trudges on devoid of passion. But God has so much more than this planned for his daughters. With passion and enthusiasm, Pat Layton invites women to imagine their world unstuck–a place where they feel at peace with the past, find purpose in the present, and revel in the possibilities that the future holds. With her rousing Unstuck Manifesto, she delves deep into the areas readers get stuck in the most–relationships, finances, ministry, career, and more–and, with the Scriptures as her guide, unveils the path to positive forward movement.”

Had I not gone any further than page 13 to what the author titled “Unstuck Manifesto”, I would already have been beyond blessed by this book. However, I kept reading. And oh how I was blessed. In Life Unstuck, the author, Pat Layton, so readily shares testimony from her own life where she was stuck, and allows us into her journey of freedom.
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Word of Promise Audio Bible

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NKJV Audio Bible on 79 CD’s547965_large[1]

Overview
Featuring the voices of more than 500 popular actors, this faithful rendering of the New King James Version presents the Bible in more than 90 hours of compelling, dramatic audio-theater format. Includes an interactive Behind-the-Scenes DVD.

Publishers Description

This faithful rendering of the New King James Version(R) presents the Bible in more than 90 hours of compelling, dramatic audio theater format.

This world-class audio production immerses listeners in the dramatic reality of the Scriptures as never before with an original music score by composer Stefano Mainetti (“Abba Pater), ” feature film quality sound effects, and compelling narration by Michael York and the work of over 600 actors.

Each beloved book of the Bible comes to life with outstanding performances by Jim Caviezel as Jesus, Richard Dreyfuss as Moses, Gary Sinise as David, Jason Alexander as Joseph, Marisa Tomei as Mary Magdalene, Stacy Keach as Paul, Louis Gossett, Jr. as John, Jon Voight as Abraham, Marcia Gay Harden as Esther, Joan Allen as Deborah, Max von Sydow as Noah, and Malcolm McDowell as Solomon. Continue reading →

When Mountains Won’t Move

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When Mountains Won't Move: How to Survive a Struggling FaithWhen Mountains Won’t Move: How to Survive a Struggling Faith by Jacob Hawk

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Standing in the midst of majesty and might, Jesus said that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can look at the mountains in the distance, tell them to move, and they will (Matthew 17:20). But what happens when our faith is smaller than the smallest of all seeds? What happens when the mountains won’t move? The purpose of this book is to equip and exhort Christians to survive the most difficult days of life, so that the mountains which won’t move will move before them.”

When Mountains Won’t Move; How to Survive a Struggling Faith by Jacob Hawk is not a big book both in size and number of pages, but it certainly is big on wisdom. Death of a child, loss of a job, foreclosure of the house, your spouse is walking out, the bills can’t be paid, a serious illness is diagnosed… those are the mountains that show up in the lives of believers and non-believers alike with more regularity than we want. They are mountains that seem impossible for us to move under our own strength. Continue reading →

God’s Plan For Spiritual Battle

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ 1 Comment

God’s Plan for Spiritual BattleGod’s Plan for Spiritual Battle by Russell Stendal

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“I love a good fight. When unjustly attacked, I have learned to seek the guidance and leadership of the Holy Spirit and retaliate by Overcoming Evil with Good. There is a huge difference between a Peacemaker and a Pacifist!

This Battle Plan for spiritual warfare, gleaned from the life and message of Jesus, especially the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes.”

God’s Plan for Spiritual Battle; Victory of Sin, the World, and the Devil, is a book that is written to all Christians. The author, Russell Stendal, brings about the premise that we, as Christ Followers, not only should, but must be living our lives and interacting with this world in the way that Jesus spoke of when He taught the Beatitudes in order to live in victory over sin this world and most definitely the devil. The author walks us through each of the Beatitudes… not with flowery words, but real truth. Nothing in this book is sugar-coated. Continue reading →

Experiencing God in Your Everyday

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Simply Open: A Guide to Experiencing God in the EverydaySimply Open: A Guide to Experiencing God in the Everyday by Greg Paul

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“The simplest, most transformative prayer you may ever pray—the five senses prayer. This book invites you to a simple practice of prayer and awareness that can turn each ordinary workday into a deepening spiritual journey.
No matter where you are or how busy you get, your five senses are always “on,” your mind and heart responsive to what you perceive. These channels of awareness can take you deeper into God’s great mystery if you practice the discipline of submitting them to the One who is closer than you imagine. The beauty of such a contemplative path is that you can follow it anywhere—alone or in company, in quiet meditation or amid the bustle of your craziest day.“

This book, Simply Open; A Guide to Experiencing God in the Everyday, was a pleasure to read. It certainly gave me pause for thought on more than one occasion. It is based on our everyday moments, the moments where we encounter God by asking Him to open us up. Continue reading →

Finding Favor with the King

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Finding Favor with the King: Preparing for Your Moment in His PresenceFinding Favor with the King: Preparing for Your Moment in His Presence by Tommy Tenney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Have you ever had a “that night” or a “that day”? A point in time before which things were going wrong, but after which things began to go right? What are the ingredients for “that night”? What is mixed into the recipe? Understanding what goes into creating that moment of divine favor was Esther’s ultimate secret. She learned how to find favor with the king.”

Finding Favor with the King takes the reader into the life of Esther. Specifically into the one year prior to Esther’s fateful night with the king; the night that would save a nation.
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The Prosperous Soul

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ 1 Comment

The Prosperous Soul: Your Journey to a Richer LifeThe Prosperous Soul: Your Journey to a Richer Life by Cindy Trimm

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and letter life than they ever dreamed of.” “Prosperity comes from within. You were created to enjoy prosperity on every level – from a rich spiritual and intellectual life, to richness in your relationships and professional pursuits! The problem is that prosperity has often been reduced to a single measure: A dollar amount. Truth is, financial abundance is just one expression of what it means to live a rich life.”

I wondered when I asked to review this book if it was going to be another “do this and you’ll be rich… prosperity gospel” book. Oh how wrong I was. This book by Dr. Cindy Trimm is amazing! It truly spoke to my heart.
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When You Need Peace

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The Beauty of Grace: Stories of God's Love from Today's Most Popular Writers“The Beauty of Grace: Stories of God’s Love from Today’s Most Popular Writers by Dawn Camp

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

” This is your invitation . . . to slow down, take a deep breath, and know that you are loved “

“In this hectic life, it’s easy to forget that God is always near at hand, even though He sends us frequent reminders. The beauty amid the mess, a well-timed word of encouragement from a friend, the memories that won’t let go of our hearts–they’re all ways God extends an open hand to us. But if we’re not paying attention, we can miss it.

Combining heartfelt stories from some of today’s foremost writers with Dawn’s stunning photography of God’s incredible creation, The Beauty of Grace is your haven of calm contemplation amid the chaos. This inspiring collection includes stories of cultivating friendship, waiting on God, choosing joy, staying connected, learning to trust, and much more.”

This book, The Beauty of Grace, is just… peaceful. It is a wonderful compilation of stories written by women from all walks of life. They are stories of Grace. Grace in our Purpose, Our Surrender, Our Trust, in Our Hope and Encouragement, in our Lessons Learned and in Our Worship. These are more than mere stories written by some of the most popular writers, they are stories that almost make you feel that they are right there with you, sharing their words. Continue reading →