Welcome to the JustRead Blog Tour for ...

What is something interesting readers would enjoy learning about you?

One thing readers might find interesting about me is how deeply I connect to the emotional undercurrent of my characters—especially the ones who carry quiet burdens. In Through Smoke and Secrets, that thread shows up most clearly in both Eleanor and Annie. Though they live nearly a century apart, they share something I’ve always been drawn to exploring: what it means to carry fear, truth, and responsibility when no one else quite sees the full picture.

I’ve always been fascinated by characters who appear composed on the surface but are fighting battles internally—especially when those battles are tied to protecting others. That interest is rooted in my own love for mystery, history, and faith.

It’s also deeply tied to where I’m from. Appalachia isn’t just a setting I write about—it’s home. There’s something about these hills, the way the land holds stories, the way history lingers in quiet places, that has always stayed with me. That connection to the land has also shaped my faith. There’s a closeness to God I feel here—in the stillness, in the mountains, in the sense that you’re part of something older and greater than yourself.

I’m drawn to stories where the past refuses to stay buried, where truth matters, and where faith isn’t just a background detail—it’s a lifeline. Annie’s quiet prayers reflect something very personal to me. Faith, especially in uncertain or frightening circumstances, isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s just a whispered, “Guide me, Lord,” in the middle of the unknown.

What research was required for your book?

This story required more research than I initially expected—but in the best way. I spent time studying Victorian-era jewelry, especially lockets and how they were used. They weren’t just decorative pieces; they often held deeply personal or even secretive items—hair, photographs, messages. That detail alone opened the door for so many possibilities within the story.

I also researched inheritance laws from the early 1900s, particularly how wealth and property were passed through male heirs. That piece became a crucial foundation for Eleanor’s situation and the danger surrounding her unborn child.

For the setting, I drew heavily from the Appalachian region—not just visually, but culturally and emotionally. I didn’t have to look far for inspiration because it’s something I live with every day. Small towns where everyone knows each other, where stories are passed down, and where the land itself seems to remember. That familiarity helped shape Fairview into a place that feels lived-in and layered with history.

What does a day in the life of your characters look like?

For Annie, a typical day is rooted in the tangible—sorting antiques, researching pieces, and building her shop from the ground up. There’s a steady rhythm to her work, something grounding and almost comforting. But underneath that is constant awareness. She’s always reading between the lines, always sensing when something doesn’t quite add up.

Jack’s days look very different. His world is built on structure—cases, evidence, procedure. But beneath that control is a man wrestling with loss, faith, and the fear of letting someone close again. When Annie comes back into his life, it disrupts that carefully maintained balance in ways he isn’t prepared for.

And then there’s the town itself. Life in Fairview appears ordinary—people working, running shops, gathering in familiar places. But beneath that normalcy is a shared history that connects everyone. In a place like this—like Appalachia—nothing truly stays hidden. The land holds onto things. So do the people.

What was the inspiration behind your story?

The inspiration for this story grew out of something I’ve always loved—family heirlooms and the stories they carry. The pieces that get passed down quietly from one generation to the next. A locket. A Bible. A box tucked away in an attic. Objects that seem ordinary on the surface, but hold layers of memory, meaning, and sometimes secrets no one talks about.

In my own experience, those heirlooms don’t just tell one kind of story. Some reflect moments of faith—how a family came to Christ, the prayers that shaped them, the legacy of belief passed down like something precious. Others, though, carry a different weight. Hard truths. Choices made in the dark. Things hidden because they were never meant to be found.

That contrast is what sparked the heart of this story. The idea that something small—something easily overlooked—could hold both light and shadow. That an heirloom could preserve truth long after people have tried to bury it.

There’s also a strong spiritual thread woven through it all: the belief that God sees what is hidden, even when people don’t. That truth, no matter how deeply buried, still matters. And that justice, even when delayed, is never forgotten in His eyes.

In many ways, that idea is reflected in the landscape I love. The mountains, the quiet places, the sense that something deeper exists beneath what we can see. Just like those heirlooms, the land holds stories too—some beautiful, some broken—but all of them part of something greater.

What did you learn while writing this story?

One of the biggest things I learned was about trust—both in the writing process and in the journey the characters take. Sometimes answers don’t come right away. Sometimes the story unfolds slowly. But that doesn’t mean the truth isn’t there.

It reminded me that growth—spiritual and personal—often happens in the waiting, in the uncertainty, in the moments where we have to choose faith over fear. I also learned how important it is to let characters wrestle honestly. Annie doesn’t always feel fearless. Jack doesn’t always feel steady. But they keep moving forward anyway, and that’s where real strength is found.

And in a way, writing this story deepened my appreciation for the place I call home—the quiet resilience, the faith, and the enduring sense that even in the hardest moments, you’re never walking alone.

What encouragement do you hope readers will take away from your story?

At its core, this story is about facing the kind of evil that doesn’t announce itself—the kind that shows up suddenly, disrupts everything, and leaves you questioning what’s safe and what’s true. 

It’s about courage—not the absence of fear, but the choice to stand, to act, and to hold onto truth even when everything in you wants to run the other way.

That’s where my entire branding around Romans 12:21 comes in: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” That verse isn’t just a theme—it’s the foundation beneath this story. 

Because the kind of darkness my characters face isn’t always loud or obvious. Sometimes it’s subtle. Sometimes it’s hidden. And sometimes it feels like it comes out of nowhere. But it doesn’t get the final word.

If there’s one message I hope readers carry with them, it’s this: evil doesn’t win when you choose truth. Even when that truth is buried. Even when uncovering it comes at a cost. And even when the path forward feels uncertain, God is already there—steady, present, and working in ways we can’t always see.

Because sometimes the smallest clue can unravel the biggest secret.

And sometimes, choosing what is right is how you overcome what was meant to harm you.

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.