Sometimes you have to travel across the world to discover where you belong.

For ten years, Gwen Thorton has chased Christmas magic for a living by scouting charming towns for heartwarming romance films. But now that magic feels more like monotony and an ache for something new. Then she's offered a project far outside her comfort zone: a cozy murder mystery filming in a small town in South Africa. It’s a world away from where she lives and everything familiar, but it's something she believes will revive her spirit.

Preston “Ham-the Hammer” Forsythe has forged his path with discipline, order, and a heart locked away for the sake of his career. Known for his adrenaline-fueled action hits, he’s ready for a break from the films that have boxed in his reputation as a director. This movie is his shot at a career-defining breakthrough to redefine himself as a multi-dimensional director. He refuses to let anything or anyone derail that goal.

But God has a sense of humor. When Gwen and Preston first meet as strangers on a quiet hiking trail, they share a breathtaking view, a few easy laughs, and a spark neither of them can quite shake. When they discover they’ll be working together, that spark becomes a tension neither of them expected. As production hurdles mount and the town splits over having a filming crew interrupt their quaint town, Gwen and Preston find themselves drawn together to complete the film and redirect their lives.

As the cameras roll and the lines between script and life blur, they’ll have to confront what they truly believe about love, purpose, and faith. Because sometimes the most meaningful stories aren’t the ones we plan… they’re the ones that find us, just when we need them most.

Escape to the breathtaking beauty of South Africa in this heartwarming inspirational romance filled with hope, second chances, and the unexpected ways God leads us home. Order your copy today and discover the story waiting just beyond the next bend in the trail.

Research That Didn't Make It Into the Story: Don't Throw the Baby Out with the Bath Water

"Don't throw the baby out with the bath water" is an old saying that reminds us it's okay to discard what isn't useful—as long as we don't lose what truly matters. That lesson applies perfectly to writing fiction.

When I decided to join this 15-book series set in the fictional South African town of Cedarfontein, I knew I was taking on a challenge. I'd never been to South Africa and, unfortunately, knew very little about the country. Friends who had visited mostly talked about the incredible wildlife they saw on safari. Fascinating? Absolutely. Helpful for my story? Not really—because there isn't a safari in The Location Scout's Quest. That meant it was time to dive into research.

My novel follows Gwen Thornton, a location scout who has spent the past ten years searching the United States and Canada for picturesque towns to use in sweet romance movies. Then she's offered an assignment unlike any she's ever had. She’ll be finding filming locations in South Africa for a cozy murder mystery television series.

Like me, Gwen has never been there. Which meant I had to experience South Africa through research before I could let her experience it on the page.

I started with her journey from San Antonio, Texas, to Cape Town. I researched flight routes, airport executive lounges, first-class accommodations, layover options, and total travel time. The trip would involve about nineteen hours in the air and another eight hours in airports between flights.

I found all of it fascinating. In fact, I wrote a full chapter describing Gwen's trip. Then I deleted almost all of it as it didn't move the story forward.

The final novel only includes the first leg of Gwen's journey—from San Antonio to New York. That portion mattered because it's where she meets another passenger who has spent time in South Africa and encourages her to take a safari during her visit. It's a brief conversation, but it's important because that traveler unexpectedly reappears later in the story.

Everything else? Gone.

The same thing happened when I researched Gwen's arrival in Cape Town. I studied aerial photographs of the city and learned about the terminal and surrounding landscape. After hours of research, all of that information became a single paragraph describing Gwen's first glimpse of South Africa.

One area of research I kept returning to, however, was language. I wanted the dialogue to feel authentic without overwhelming readers. I compiled pages of South African slang, idioms, and everyday expressions, then contrasted them with the familiar sayings Gwen would naturally use as someone born and raised in the American South.

Most of that research never appears in the book. But it shaped how the characters speak, think, and interact. Those subtle differences helped make the conversations feel genuine, even though readers only see a fraction of the work behind them.

That's one of the hidden joys of writing fiction.

Readers may only encounter a sentence, a paragraph, or a brief conversation, but those moments often rest on hours—or even days—of research. While much of that work never makes it onto the page, it gives the story depth, authenticity, and heart.

One of the biggest areas of research involved learning what it actually takes to bring a movie from concept to the big screen. I spent hours studying the entire filmmaking process—from pre-production planning and location scouting to principal photography and post-production editing. Surprisingly, only a small portion of that research made it into the novel. Most of it simply helped me create an accurate timeline for the production schedule and gave me a better understanding of the pressures and decisions my characters would face. 

I was also able to draw on my own experiences from my days in college studying script writing. During that time, I obtained a press pass to visit a local movie set during filming. That gave me the opportunity to chat with some of the cast and crew and learn how scenes were cut and added to with bit players and action changes. I used the concept of what I saw there in one of the scenes of this book

Perhaps the most valuable research, however, came from conversations with several of the South African authors writing in this series. Since they live there, they could share the little details no travel guide can capture—everyday routines, local customs, expressions, and what life is really like. 

One of my favorite parts of working with this varied group of authors was putting together a recipe book based on recipes their character would probably like to eat. I was the one in charge of compiling the recipes into a book, which I enjoyed doing as I love learning new recipes. Some of the recipes were a little hard for me to understand at first because cooking pan measurements were in centimeters and Celsius was used for temperature. I use inches and Fahrenheit. It wasn’t until I translated the differences that I could tell if the recipes looked correct or were missing a line or two in details – which only happened twice. 

Although much of the research done in writing my story in Cedarfontein is not included in my final edit, it helped me add depth to the story, making it more than merely a setting. It became a town with relatable characters who felt emotions that we all feel during our lives.

The best way to stay connected is through my weekly email, Fireside News. You’ll receive cozy updates, behind-the-scenes book notes, and a complimentary historical romance novelette when you subscribe.

Until next time, may your reading bring both light and encouragement.

Happy reading!
~ Danielle.

Welcome to the JustRead Blog Tour for ...

The riveting start to an adventure-driven romantic suspense series from a debut author

Determined travel blogger Julia Stevens is on her final assignment in snowy Silverberg, Colorado. She's running from her past-and God-but the charm of small-town life brings little comfort when she's face-to-face with the winter sport that killed her sister: skiing. Upon her arrival in town, she discovers a dead body and is compelled to research the situation, give justice to the man's story, and kick off her new career in journalism.

Cade Haskins is back home after a failed mission and his subsequent retirement from the DEA. His father's declining health has pushed Cade to prioritize family, and he helps at the historic Silverberg Hotel on his dad's behalf. When Julia shows up at the hotel, Cade becomes her local contact. He quickly realizes she has a knack for sniffing around where she shouldn't, and he attaches himself to her side.

With the local death connected to a meth ring, Julia's investigation has unknowingly put a target on her back. As the danger increases and she begins to learn more about Cade and his family, she finds herself trusting the God she was running from. And Cade? He doesn't want to get dragged back into DEA work, but it seems like he may not have a choice if he wants to protect Julia . . . and his growing attraction to her.