Book Review of 'What Brings Us Joy' by Teresa Wells

Happy Tuesday Bookworms!

I hope the day finds you well and that everyone is staying safe. I live north of where the deadly flooding occurred in Texas, and it’s been so heartbreaking to witness and scary as our area also has been dealing with multiple flood warnings. Thank goodness my family has been safe so far, but more rain is on the way, and it is distressing to say the least. Is it just me, or does this summer feel like one of the wettest ones we’ve had in recent memory? I’m ready for more sunshine but until then I continue to pray that everyone can stay safe in this crazy weather.

To keep my spirits up, I have been living in multiple literary worlds like the one I am featuring today. I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this historical romance and don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours!

Welcome to the Blog Tour for What Brings Us Joy by Teresa Wells, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

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

My Review

Wow! I enjoyed this novel so much and was blown away when I realized this was the author’s debut novel! It’s clear she has a raw talent for capturing readers’ hearts and imaginations with her vivid characters and breathtaking scenery. It’s a delightful bonus that she’s a fellow native Texan and shares my love for our home state.

What first struck me about this novel was the camaraderie between the family as they embark on a new endeavor that none of them particularly want to go on, but they have each other, and that’s all that matters. It was in this opening scene that I felt myself falling in love with this family, and my adoration only grew from there.

Delia is a progressive woman that should be celebrated for her uniqueness, yet she’s taunted for going against the grain. For a girl who has always been shunned for not cooking for my family, I felt those moments where Delia is getting lambasted for her poor cooking to my core. While I can’t say that I agree with all of Delia’s choices, I can’t help but admire her tenacity, staying firm in her convictions and passions despite it going against the norms of the time.

This novel is truly one that has all the feels, and the climax was pretty intense with a few twists that I had not expected. There was something truly mesmerizing about this novel that continued to draw me to it time and time again. For a debut, as well as the first in a series, What Brings Us Joy knocks it out of the park and shows “Sometimes we must walk a hard road before we find joy.”

My Rating: ★★★★★

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.

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

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