What Brings Us Joy by Teresa Wells + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Blog Tour for What Brings Us Joy by Teresa Wells, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! Isn't this cover just lovely? Be sure to check out the story excerpt below & then enter the giveaway!

About the Book

Title: What Brings Us Joy 
Series: The Truitts of Texas #1 
Author: Teresa Wells 
Publisher: Scrivenings Press LLC 
Release Date: July 15, 2025 
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

1895: After losing their Georgia home, eighteen-year-old Delia Truitt and her family move to Blooming Grove, Texas, to work for a relative on a ramshackle farm. Set on helping her family dig out of their impoverished circumstances, she plans to open a dressmaker’s shop, combining her sewing skills and her keen fashion sense. But owning a business takes money she doesn’t have. 

Unless she can finish her quilt in time to enter the county fair. The prize money would be just enough to open her shop. Determined and resourceful, Delia sets her sights on success—until her heart takes an unexpected detour when she meets handsome Clarence Parker. 

Bent on respectability, Clarence refuses to let his past get in the way of his future happiness, especially after falling for spirited Delia Truitt. But his hopes shatter when headlines declare members of his former gang have broken out of jail and are heading his way, set on revenge. Though Clarence doesn’t regret testifying against the outlaws, he fears his future with Delia is in jeopardy. Clarence will protect her from the killers, even if it means risking their future together. 

Can Clarence keep her safe? And will Delia love him after she finds out about his past?  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

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Excerpt

Shuffling of feet and belongings broke the silence. Someone called from the front, and Pastor Swenson gestured for the Truitts to follow. “Here we go, the Browns kindly gave up their front-row seats. Plenty of room for all your family.”

Delia kept her gaze on the wooden-plank floor as they filed up the aisle to the front pew. Standing between Rabb and Hazel, Delia shifted from one foot to the other as the congregation belted one hymn after another. Was there a rule about standing for the whole time? If so, she’d never return. At least not in this pair of shoes.

When the minister finally gestured for the congregation to sit, Delia could have cheered. Until Pastor Swenson said, “But let’s have our visitors remain standing so we might get to know you better.”

No, no, no. This was not the way she wanted to be introduced into the community. Heat crept up her neck. No doubt the tips of her ears were as red as a tomato. She stole a glance at Hazel, sure she would be on the verge of tears, bless her heart.

But her younger sister wasn’t tearful or shy. Instead, she faced the congregation with a bright smile, waggling her fingers.

Delia hissed, “Turn around this minute!”

Hazel blinked. “I’m being friendly, like you told me to.”

Chuckles fluttered through the room.

Lord, if You care about me at all, bring forth a tornado, or a herd of squealing pigs. Even a pair of skunks. Any diversion will do.

About the Author

A former teacher and librarian, Teresa Wells treasures a story threaded with redemption and hope. She loves people, history, and studying the Bible. Teresa is a member of Novel Academy and American Christian Fiction Writers Association, where she volunteers behind the scenes. She lives with her family outside of Dallas, Texas. What Brings Us Joy is her first novel.

Connect with Teresa by visiting teresawells.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon gift card, a print copy of What Brings Us Joy, and items related to the book!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 14, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 21, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

The Collector Of Burned Books By Roseanna M. White

The Collector of Burned Books

by Roseanna M. White

Publisher: Tyndale House

ISBN: 979-8-4005-0174-6

First, the cover... stunning, right? Second, Roseanna M. White! Third, I'm on her launch team and she sent me the book for my review!

Summary:

In this gripping World War II historical about the power of words, two people form an unlikely friendship amid the Nazi occupation in Paris and fight to preserve the truth that enemies of freedom long to destroy.

Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list . . . and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.

For the last six years, Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home.

Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party—he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over, and maybe find a lost piece of his heart.

My Review:

I have been a fan of the author's books for years. WWII is one of my favorite historical time periods to read. I was also intrigued by what this story might hold.

I liked Corinne from the start. She was a character who I could get behind and root for. Trying to learn how to be a spy from her uncle seemed like a task that would take forever. As Corinne learned, being a spy wasn't easy and patience hard to come by.

We also meet Christian, who is sent to Paris to go through the libraries to document and get rid of banned books. Being forced into this "work" that he doesn't have the stomach for gives readers an interesting insight into people who were put in positions working for the Nazi party who wanted to rebel against them, but doing so would've been dangerous! As the layers of his story are peeled back, we begin to understand the choices he made.

Corinne, of course, has no tolerance for the Germans who have invaded her country. Unfortunately, there are a couple who have taken note of her, which puts her in a very precarious position. Trying to keep out of their line of sight becomes harder and harder the more she becomes connected to Christian. There was danger pretty much at every turn, no one was safe, and scrutiny by the Nazi officers was to be avoided at all costs.

While I liked the story, it had a much different feel than her previous stories. I can't put my finger on what the difference is, but it just didn't hit the same for me. There is a faith element that's Catholic in nature so I wasn't really able to connect with that part of the story.

About the Author:

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award–winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books . . . to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at RoseannaMWhite.com.

Names of God: Knowing Peace By Grace Fox + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Names of God: Knowing Peace by Grace Fox, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! Be sure to read Grace's guest post below and then enter the giveaway!

About the Book

Title: Names of God: Knowing Peace 
Series: Names of God Devotional Studies #2 
Author: Grace Fox 
Publisher: Aspire Press 
Release Date: July 8, 2025 
Genre: Christian Living; Devotional study

Peace. 

The very word evokes images of serene landscapes and quiet stillness. In today’s chaotic world, peace is a valuable commodity. The Bible has a lot to say about peace, claiming that God himself is the ultimate source. In this follow-up to Names of God: Living Unafraid, Grace Fox reflects on how the following names of God point to the peace our souls so desperately crave:  

Yahweh Shalom—The Lord Is Peace 
Abba—Father 
El Shaddai—God Almighty 
El Roi—The God Who Sees Me 
Yahweh Ori—The Lord Is My Light 
Yahweh Nissi—The Lord Is My Banner 
Immanuel—God with Us 

Knowing Peace uses examples from Scripture and compelling real-life stories to illustrate how these names can bring inner peace amid life’s storms. Each session includes a guided prayer, reflection questions, and a video link providing additional insights from Grace. Perfect for individual or group study, this new addition to the Names of God series will encourage and inspire readers to draw near to God and receive his peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7).  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Tyndale House | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop

More in This Series

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Guest Post

What inspired you to create this series? How many books will be in the

devotional study series?

During the pandemic, I thought about my readers sitting in isolation and wondered if they might enjoy connecting through an online Bible study. I’d never done such a thing, and I didn’t have a clue how many might participate, but I moved forward with a plan anyway.

I used the Bible study I’d written based on my book Moving from Fear to Freedom: A Woman’s Guide to Peace in Every Situation. To my delight and amazement, 80 women registered. We had a great time and sweet friendships blossomed. When the seven weeks ended, they asked me, “What study will we do now?”

My first thought? The names of God. For several weeks prior, during my personal Bible reading times, I’d come across multiple verses with phrases about praising God’s name and trusting in His name. My interest had been piqued, so I invited the women to join me in a deep dive about the significance of God’s names and their relevance to our lives.

I spent several hours every day researching God’s names and writing the study as we went. During that time, the lockdowns grew tighter. Those circumstances were difficult enough, but then my mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor and died a few months later.

The truths I’d discovered about the character of God as manifest through His Hebrew names filled me with peace in that dark season. In Names of God: Knowing Peace, I cite the example of getting into my car a couple of hours after Mom’s funeral and driving hundreds of miles to speak at a women’s event. There’s no human explanation for having the strength to do this apart from His presence and peace.

Sooner or later, we all land in hard places where our souls crave inner peace. Understanding and living from the truth about who God is – loving, present, sovereign, and more – prepares us for those challenges and empowers us to not only survive them but thrive in them. I want to share the truths I discovered to

bless others as they have blessed me.

This devotional study series has three books:

Names of God: Living Unafraid (July 2024)

Names of God: Knowing Peace (July 2025)

Names of God: Growing Strong (July 2026)

Every chapter delves into one of God’s names – where it first appeared in the Bible and what it means, how Jesus fulfilled it, and personal stories and interviews to show what experiencing God by that name looks like. Each chapter also includes reflection questions and a QR code for bonus video teaching.

The name Yahweh infers God’s desire for relationship with us, and it appears more than 6,000 times in Scripture. It’s obvious that He wants connection with us, but He knows it’s difficult for us to trust Someone we don’t know. Making His character known to us through His names is one way He reaches out to us, so let’s avail ourselves of the provision He has made for us. Let’s explore His names so we can get to know, love, and trust Him. Know God; know peace.

About the Author

Grace Fox is the award-winning author of 15 books including Names of God: Knowing Peace. She’s a popular Bible teacher at international women’s events, a member of the “First 5” Bible study writing team (Proverbs 31 Ministries), and an annual contributor to the Mornings with Jesus 365-day devotional published by Guideposts.

Grace has been a career missionary for more than 30 years. She and her husband co-direct International Messengers Canada, a missionary sending agency with 300 staff in more than 25 countries. They currently live fulltime aboard a sailboat in Vancouver, British Columbia. Married in 1982, they celebrate three grown kids and 14 grandchildren.

Connect with Grace by visiting gracefox.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of "Names of God: Knowing Peace," a print copy of "Names of God: Living Unafraid," a $10 Amazon gift card, two downloadables, and a fun assortment of little beach-themed gifts!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 7, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 14, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!