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!

Midnight Offensive By Elle E. Kay + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Midnight Offensive by Elle E. Kay, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! Be sure to check out the excerpt below and then enter the give away!

About the Book

Title: Midnight Offensive 
Series: Toxic Truths #1 
Author: Elle E. Kay 
Publisher: Faith Writes Publishing 
Release Date: May 14, 2025 
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense / Thriller

Former Navy SEAL Craig Malone is now a Tactical Operations Leader for Homeland Security with a critical mission: protect the only antidote to Viper-X, a stolen bioweapon about to be sold to the highest bidder. But the mission becomes dangerously personal when the investigation leads him to Sadie Kline—an emergency room nurse and his best friend’s little sister. He’s always kept his distance, but now her life is on the line. 

As a ruthless enemy closes in, kidnapping their loved ones and setting deadly traps, Craig must protect the woman he can’t get out of his head while stopping a catastrophic attack. 

Duty and a decade of unspoken feelings collide in a race to stop a traitor before it’s too late. 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy from the Author | Amazon | BookBub

Also Available

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Book Excerpt

Craig grinned and stopped in front of her, blocking her path. “What kind of welcome is that, sunshine?”

“Sunshine?”

“I was trying it on for size. Isn’t that what your dad used to call you?”

“You are so not him.”

“Nevertheless, I think I like it.”

“Why are you here?”

“Can’t a guy walk the corridors of a hospital without getting questioned by the staff?”

She put a hand on her waist and waited for an answer. 

“We have a tip that a guy we’re looking for was brought in the other night after a multi-car accident involving a bus. Gave a fake name to police at the scene, but facial recognition was run on the officer’s dash cam footage, and we think it’s him.”

“Him who?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know, sweetheart?”

“Stop it with the nicknames. I’m Sadie. I’ve always been Sadie. I’ll always be Sadie.”

“Okay, Sadie. The guy’s a doctor, but he’s not the Mr. Nice Guy type. He created something bad and then absconded with it. We need to take him into custody before he follows through with some pretty awful plans.”

“I think you can probably be a bit more specific.”

“Wish I could, but…”

“It’s classified.”

“Yep.”

About the Author

Elle E. Kay is an Angel Award–winning Christian author known for her gripping suspense and engaging romance. She lives on a hobby farm in Central Pennsylvania near Red Rock Mountain with her husband, three dogs, and a variety of farm animals. A devoted follower of Christ, Elle is active in her church’s youth ministry and shares her love of Jesus through music.

Since her debut novel Shadowing Stella released in 2016, Elle has written over two dozen books spanning romantic suspense, contemporary romance, historical fiction, and children’s literature. Her award-winning Pennsylvania Parks series blends faith and thrills against the backdrop of the state’s stunning natural landscapes. She’s also the author of the Endless Mountain series and a contributor to several multi-author projects, including the Lawkeeper, Blushing Brides, Heroes of Freedom Ridge, and Christmas in Redemption Ridge collections. 

Elle writes children’s books under the pen name Ellie Mae Kay and connects with readers through her blog, newsletters, and social media. Whether writing fiction, singing in church, or caring for her animals, Elle lives out her faith—and crafts stories where love, hope, and perseverance prevail.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a Romantic Suspense Prize Pack which features 5 of Elle's most recent romantic suspense releases, including Midnight Offensive, along with a tote bag and swag!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 30, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 7, 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!

A Lesson In Propriety By Jen Turano

A Lesson in Propriety

by Jen Turano

Publisher: Bethany House

Series: Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies

ISBN: 9780764243851

If you've been here for any length of time, you know that I adore Jen Turano! Her characters always crack me up, and the situations they get me in keep me hostage to the story! I was on her launch team for her new release A Lesson in Propriety, which was sent to me for review.

Summary:

LESSON ONE: Stand in the way of the Windy City's criminal world and expect a most improper proposal from an eligible gentleman in return. 

With her father dead, her fortune stolen, and her fiancé casting her aside, Miss Drusilla Merriweather's privileged life has been upended. She is left with only one option: to provide for her family by opening a finishing school in the allegedly haunted castle she's inherited from her eccentric aunt. However, her plan is immediately threatened by unscrupulous developers keen on claiming the coveted estate for themselves by any means necessary. 

Mr. Rhenick Wittenbecker, a dashing architect with a tendency to charm his way out of trouble, is convinced he can protect Drusilla but is challenged by her fierce independence. Yet when strange occurrences--walking suits of armor and unexpected ghostly visitors--arise within the castle's grounds, Drusilla must decide whether to risk her family's safety and her school on the gallant architect who seems to have found his way into her heart. 

Laugh-out-loud witty banter, swoon-worthy romance, and delightful mischief in the Gilded Age string together this entrancing series starter. Fans of clean romance, Christian fiction, and strong female characters will enjoy this read.

My Review:

One always knows what to expect from a Jen Turano book. There will be hijinks and hilarity. That happened in spades with A Lesson in Propriety. 

Drusilla is cast aside by her fiancé after he learns her fortune disappeared when her father's solicitor absconds with their fortune after her father passes away! The interaction between Druscilla and Elbert is amusing, but has us feeling for poor (literally) Drusilla. 

The Merriweather ladies venture off to a property that was left to them in order to find a way to support themselves. The only issue is, it's apparently haunted! Their first encounter with the castle leaves much to be desired and quite a bit of confusion for everyone involved. There may have also been an inadvertent wedding proposal at the end of said encounter!

You can imagine that there's a lot of craziness and cute moments throughout the story. Drusilla tries to uncover the secrets of the castle while trying to create a finishing school for young ladies in the area. Someone tries to thwart them and scare them at every turn, but Drusilla as well as the other ladies, aren't having it! 

Rhenick tries to do his best in regards to the Merriweather ladies, but he keeps running into issues along the way. The biggest of which is they believe he's after the castle! Growing up around a bevy of ladies in his family, he tends to do well with all of the women he encounters. Unfortunately, the first time he meets Drusilla they don't part on the best of terms.

This story was overall amusing pretty much the entire time. Sometimes, I'll admit, it was a bit more than I cared for. There was a lot of explaining of the situations the characters were in, and I would've preferred to have more of the story. Overall though, I enjoyed the characters and story.

About the Author:

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She's been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers' Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Ormond Beach, Florida. Readers can find her on Facebook and Instagram, and at JenTurano.com.