Monday, July 30, 2018

Author: Regina Rudd Merrick

Welcome...

To Hope-Inspired Stories, for anyone who'd like to discover more about books and stories that uplift and encourage.

Several years ago, while teaching high school art, I found out I was as thrilled as my students when they won awards or were acknowledged for their accomplishments, and that promoting other people's good works was very gratifying. 


So it's my hope you are blessed with a message of grace through the words of authors featured here. 

Please join me each week as writers of fiction, nonfiction, and devotionals; of romance, mystery, historical and contemporary stories share their work.

My guest this week to celebrate August's contemporary women's fiction and romances is Regina Rudd Merrick, author of the Southern Breeze Series, her second and most recent entitled, Carolina Mercy.  It's Regina's hope and mine that you'll find words of encouragement in her stories.






Carolina Mercy ~ Book II: Southern Breeze Series 
Publisher:  Mantle Rock Publishing LLC



She’s always gotten everything she’s wanted. 

He thinks he has to give up everything.

Her best friend’s wedding is foremost on Lucy Dixon’s radar. Her biggest concern is once again meeting Tom Livingston, who has ignored her since an idyllic date on the boardwalk of Myrtle Beach the previous summer.

At least, it is her biggest concern until tragedy strikes. Where is her loving, merciful God, now?

When Tom Livingston meets Lucy, the attraction is instant. Soon after, his mother is diagnosed with an untreatable illness, and his personal life is pushed aside. His work with the sheriff’s department, his family–they are more important. He knows about the love of God, but circumstances make him feel as if God’s mercy is for everyone else, not him.

Can a wedding and a hurricane–blessing and tragedy–bring them together?




Author: Regina Rudd Merrick








Carolina Dream ~ Book I: Southern Breeze Series 
Publisher:  Mantle Rock Publishing LLC (March, 2017)

Sarah Crawford wants more from life than to attend the wedding of her ex-fiancĂ©e. An unexpected inheritance in South Carolina comes at the perfect time, just as Sarah is willing to use any excuse to get out of town. When she meets potential business partner Jared Benton and discovers that a house is part of the inheritance, she is sure that God has been preparing her for this time through a recurring dream. 

But will a dream about an antebellum mansion, many rooms to be explored, and a man with dark brown eyes give her the confidence to take a leap of faith, leaving friends, family, and her job behind?


A reminder: The authors presented here value your insights, so don't forget to leave a comment. You will be included in a drawing for a book by the author featured during that week. 

...And as a Follower of Hope-Inspired Stories, your name will be added to a multiple-prize drawing at the end of this month. August's giveaway: a pretty tote filled with gifts that include this month's DVD--the Hallmark movie, "Bound by a Secret,"
 starring Leslie Ann Warren, a journal, a 25.00 gift card, lovely organic handmade bath soap and more, all reflecting this month's summery romantic mood. 


“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8).

Hope-Inspired Stories Photo:  The beautiful photo of Sodus Bay, N.Y. during a particularly harsh storm on Lake Ontario earlier this year was taken by photographer and sister in Christ, Ginger Strom. Note the courageous lone seagull taking flight in the upper right corner of the photo.   

Thank you...May you all be blessed and inspired! 
Pat Iacuzzi 







Saturday, July 21, 2018

Colonial American Authors

Welcome...

To Hope-Inspired Stories, for anyone who'd like to discover more about books and stories that uplift and encourage.

Several years ago, while teaching high school art, I found out I was as thrilled as my students when they won awards or were acknowledged for their accomplishments, and that promoting other people's good works was very gratifying. 


So it's my hope you are blessed with a message of grace through the words of authors featured here. 

Please join me each week as writers of fiction, nonfiction, and devotionals; of romance, mystery, historical and contemporary stories share their work.

I'm happy to celebrate the final week of July's Colonial America Month with guests Shannon McNear, and her new release, The Cumberland Bride. Debra Marvin's novella A Heart So Tender shares the spotlight with Shannon's Counterfeit Tory in the Backcountry Brides Collection
Rounding out the list are: Lynne Tagawa, author of The Shenandoah RoadElaine Cooper, author of  Fields of the Fatherless and Saratoga Letters, and Pam Hillman's Natchez Trace novels entitled The Promise of Breeze Hill and The Road to Magnolia Glen. 
It is their hope--and mine--that you will find words of encouragement in their stories as we learn from the struggles of the past. Enjoy!

Author: Shannon McNear
The Cumberland Bride (Oct. 1, 2018)
Publisher: Barbour Books 
The Backcountry Brides Collection: The Counterfeit Tory ~ novella (May 1, 2018)
Publisher: Barbour Books










Shannon McNear


~* ~



Author: Debra E. Marvin
Title: The Backcountry Brides Collection: A Heart So Tender ~ novella (May 1, 2018)
Publisher: Barbour Books 




Debra Marvin


~ * ~



  • Author: Lynne Basham Tagawa
  • Title: Shenandoah Road (July 11, 2018)
  • Publisher: Blue Rock Press 











Lynne Basham Tagawa


~ * ~




Author: Elaine Cooper
Title: Fields of the Fatherless (Oct. 22, 2013) Selah Award Winner for YA Fiction
Title: Saratoga Letters (Oct 4, 2016) Selah Award Finalist
Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas












Elaine Cooper


~ * ~


Author: Pam Hillman
Title: The Promises of Breeze Hill (August 8, 2017)
Title: The Road to Magnolia Glen (June 5, 2018)
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishing














Pam Hillman


~ * ~







...and to complete this month's celebration of the 18th century and American Independence, the hymn "Be Thou My Vision", played by two members of the Webb Family. This is a traditional hymn from Ireland; the words are based on a Middle Irish poem often attributed to the sixth-century Irish Christian poet Dallán Forgaill.  The English version was written by Eleanor Hull and published in 1912.  I feel this well-known hymn, captures the depth, sense of history, and variety expressed in the books here. 


A reminder: The authors presented here value your insights, so don't forget to leave a comment. You will be included in a drawing for a book by the author featured during that week. 

As a follower of Hope-Inspired Stories, your name will be added to a multiple-prize drawing at the end of this month. July's giveaway: a patriotic tote filled with gifts that include DVD's--(stories of revolutionary heroes such as Sybil Ludington), a journal, a 25.00 gift card, lovely organic handmade bath soap and more, all reflecting an early American theme. 








“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8).

Hope-Inspired Stories Photo:  The beautiful photo of Sodus Bay, N.Y. during a particularly harsh storm on Lake Ontario earlier this year was taken by photographer and sister in Christ, Ginger Strom. Note the courageous lone seagull taking flight in the upper right corner of the photo.   

Thank you...May you all be blessed and inspired! 
Pat Iacuzzi 









Saturday, July 14, 2018

Author: Heidi Chiavaroli

Welcome...

To Hope-Inspired Stories, for anyone who'd like to discover more about books and stories that uplift and encourage.

Several years ago, while teaching high school art, I found out I was as thrilled as my students when they won awards or were acknowledged for their accomplishments, and that promoting other people's good works was very gratifying. 


So it's my hope you are blessed with a message of grace through the words of authors featured here. 

Please join me each week as writers of fiction, nonfiction, and devotionals; of romance, mystery, historical and contemporary stories share their work.

My guest this week to celebrate July's Colonial America Month is Heidi Chiavaroli, author of two historical novels, her most recent entitled, The Hidden Side.  It's Heidi's hope and mine that you'll find words of encouragement in her stories as we learn from the struggles of the past.






  • Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 

  • Publication Date: May 8, 2018


Author: Heidi Chiavaroli

Heidi's first novel ~




  • Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (August 8, 2017)

  • Publication Date: August 8, 2017







"Amazing Grace", a Christian hymn written by the English poet and Anglican clergyman John Newton, (1725–1807) was published in 1779. I feel the lyrics, sung by the group Celtic Woman, express the beautiful blend of women's contemporary and historical fiction in Heidi's books today. 


A reminder: The authors presented here value your insights, so don't forget to leave a comment. You will be included in a drawing for a book by the author featured during that week. 

As a follower of Hope-Inspired Stories, your name will be added to a multiple-prize drawing at the end of this month. July's giveaway: a patriotic tote filled with gifts that include DVD's--(stories of revolutionary heroes such as Sybil Ludington), a journal, a 25.00 gift card, lovely organic handmade bath soap and more, all reflecting an early American theme. 








“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8).

Hope-Inspired Stories Photo:  The beautiful photo of Sodus Bay, N.Y. during a particularly harsh storm on Lake Ontario earlier this year was taken by photographer and sister in Christ, Ginger Strom. Note the courageous lone seagull taking flight in the upper right corner of the photo.   

Thank you...May you all be blessed and inspired! 
Pat Iacuzzi 




Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Author: Laura Frantz

Welcome...

To Hope-Inspired Stories, for anyone who'd like to discover more about books and stories that uplift and encourage.

Several years ago, while teaching high school art, I found out I was as thrilled as my students when they won awards or were acknowledged for their accomplishments, and that promoting other people's good works was very gratifying. 


So it's my hope you are blessed with a message of grace through the words of authors featured here. 

Please join me each week as writers of fiction, nonfiction, and devotionals; of romance, mystery, historical and contemporary stories share their work.

My guest this week to celebrate July's Colonial America Month is Laura Frantz, author of ten historical novels, her most recent entitled, The Lacemaker.  It's Laura's hope and mine that you'll find words of encouragement in her stories.








  • Publisher: Revell (January 2, 2018)





Laura Frantz ~ Author


Exciting news! A peek at Laura's forthcoming book.... 

A BOUND HEART

Releasing January 2019

Though Magnus MacLeish and Lark MacDougall grew up on the same castle grounds, Magnus is now laird of the great house and the Isle of Kerrera. Lark is but the keeper of his bees and the woman he hopes will provide a tincture that might help his aling wife conceive and bear him an heir...

Laura Frantz's prose sparkles with authenticity and deep feeling as she digs into her own family history to share this breathless tale of love, exile, and courage in Scotland and Colonial America.
Pre-order:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Lifeway, Christianbook.com








"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" ....A hymn written by Robert Robinson in 1757, and played by Taryn Harbridge captures the setting and characters of Laura's stories so well.  Enjoy! 








A reminder: The authors presented on Hope Inspired Stories value your insights, so don't 
forget to leave a comment. You will be included in a drawing for a book by the author featured during that week. 

As a follower of Hope-Inspired Stories, your name will be added to a multiple-prize drawing at the end of this month. July's giveaway: a patriotic tote filled with gifts that include DVD's--(stories of revolutionary heroes such as Sybil Ludington), a journal, a 25.00 gift card, lovely organic handmade bath soap and more, all reflecting an early American theme. 








“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8).

Hope-Inspired Stories Photo:  The beautiful photo of Sodus Bay, N.Y. during a particularly harsh storm on Lake Ontario earlier this year was taken by photographer and sister in Christ, Ginger Strom. Note the courageous lone seagull taking flight in the upper right corner of the photo.   

Thank you...May you all be blessed and inspired! 
Pat Iacuzzi