"Cold and ice-pick pain bored into Kit Garrido's temples. her limbs were leaden, her body a deadweight in the driver's seat of her big rig. Grit coated her tongue and teeth. She tasted blood. Try as she might, she couldn't reach out to unbuckle her seat belt. Panic bubbled up inside her. She felt movement. Someone yanked hard on the passenger door, unleashing pulses of pain."

So begins one of the most intense books I think I have ever read. If you like tension, this book has all sorts of conflict including man verses: self, man, the elements, society, God, destiny and even a bit with technology. This one is a roller coaster. But I think it is worth riding.

Unpredictability is a driving force. So is teamwork and learning to trust. The entire plot kept me guessing and wondering. And you will not want to stop reading.

As one can tell from the cover, a volcano is involved. If that was the only struggle, the main character's life would be easy. Instead there was SO much more involved on the race to survival. I am keeping this review a bit vague because the surprises are what makes this book so unique and compelling.

I did get to read an early copy of this book through NetGalley for a book tour. I wanted to read and review it. All opinions are my own.

This high adventure book had it all-earthquakes, volcanos, shootings, running from the bad guys-danger at every turn!

I really enjoyed reading this clean, Christian fiction filled with drama and intrigue. I liked getting to know the main characters Tater Tot, Kit, Cullen and Archie as they race against the clock to save themselves before either the volcano or the bad guys get them. So much adventure in every chapter. I really enjoyed reading this book-highly recommend!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and views expressed are my own.

Gripping. Danger. Intense. Thriller. This is what awaits you as you journey with Kit and Cullen. The opening pages gave me chills as Kit awakens to find herself not remembering where she is. Let’s just say her life was in imminent danger as a stranger approaches her. With danger surrounding her damaged semi she needs to get to safety. Finding herself all alone on the edge of a mountain in a wrecked semi makes her start to realize just how much danger she is in.

Cullen tries to make sense of what he sees when the mountain roads have closed due to a volcano. You can feel the tension in Cullen as he races to convince Kit to trust him. I like that he is willing to help Kit when he sees her in a damaged semi. At first he is not met with friendliness but soon realizes that Kit has a concussion.

I was not expecting a baby to be in the truck with Kit. Who is this baby and where is the mother? Kit has no idea how the baby got in her truck which made Cullen a bit suspicious. After rummaging around Kit discovers more than baby items in the diaper bag. With that discovery, bullet holes in the truck and a bloody handprint, it is time for them to find shelter. Someone is out there who means harm.

The action is nonstop in this race to get answers while protecting Kit and baby Tater Tot. Ok. That name makes me laugh everytime. The author is gifted in bringing a little humor into her stories at a much needed time. I loved feeling as if I was with our main characters as they try to stay one step ahead of an unknown person or persons in this thriller. Be sure and grab a copy of this book and get ready for a bumpy ride through the danger of a volcano, fractured characters and a mystery this is a must read.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Thank you to @netgalley and to the publisher for my complementary copy of this title. All opinions are my own.]

Blurb from the publisher: “In the shadow of a threatening volcano, long-haul trucker Kit Garrido wakes up in her crashed big rig, unable to recall what happened or why she's suddenly in possession of someone's baby. Fiercely independent, she has to admit that perhaps this time she could use a little help.”

So many of my friends absolutely LOVED this title! For me, it fell a little flat, but there were still a lot of aspects that I did appreciate, and I think I’m definitely the minority here. I will say: this book really has page-turner potential! There was SO much action packed into this story.

Where it fell flat for me was the romance. The romance in this story didn’t feel believable to me and the pace was really fast. I felt like this relationship felt more like trauma-bonding, and I just couldn’t see the couple staying together. HOWEVER, I’m not a huge romance person. Truly! I’m in it for the suspense. If you’re in it for the romance, then you might really appreciate the amount of story dedicated to the romance and it being almost throughout.

I really appreciated the faith themes in this story (grace, forgiveness, redemption) and how unique this book was.

I would still definitely recommend this book, depending on reading tastes!

Whew! What an adventure this book was. Trying to escape a volcano, earthquakes, and bad guys, all while trying to save a baby? I barely took a breath! I was right there in the middle of everything. I felt the pain, felt the emotions, felt the "underwater sensation," and I also wanted to kick some butt.

I had never read Dana Mentink before, but I think I'll have to make room for her on my shelf.

*What kept this from being a five-star read for me is ALL the things. I love adventure. I love the thrill. But I do like it to be a little more realistic. It just didn't make sense to me that the bad guy would keep going in the midst of all that.

~I was given a complimentary copy of this book. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~

As if trying to get out of the path of a volcano explosion isn't enough, they have people shooting at them. Not only are the main characters fighting to survive, but they are also trying to keep a baby safe as well. This story was filled with action and elements of danger. I liked the strength and determination of Kit and how the two of them acknowledged and talked about they feelings they were experiencing in the moment. I did feel like the ending was a bit contrived and left me wondering how that was possible.

Fire Mountain is such an intense read! I love that Kit is a female truck driver amidst a story of action and chaos - she wakes up from an accident in her rig with no memory of what happened…plus there’s a baby present now? This storyline had me hooked from the very beginning because - what on earth ?! 🙈 I enjoyed the setting SO much, with it being on a mountain/volcano that could erupt at any time. This aspect really made it a ticking time bomb of a situation. Insert Cullen who comes to her rescue - stubborn but cute as he may be. This story was a ride from start to finish!

I am totally impressed by this author's creation of unique suspenseful events, as well as the unique characters! Kit's introvert and strongly independent spirit leads her to a satisfying occupation as a long haul truck driver. Cullen is a former cop, still learning to cope with the death of his partner's death, for which he feels responsible. They happen to meet when Cullen discovers Kit's wrecked truck and Kit, with a concussion and memory problems, and a baby in the back. There is immediate danger due to evacuation because of immanent volcanic rupture. Their race for safely is complicated by mysterious men seeking a missing woman and something else, and they are willing to kill anyone who gets in their way. How the pair try to survive while keeping a baby safe is quite a story I am glad I did not miss. I especially liked how the characters grew in their character and faith.
I was able to read this book with permission from the authors, and the views expressed are my own personal opinion.

As a new reader of Dana Mentink, I was reeled in from the beginning and enjoyed reading the journey of Kit and Cullen. Fire Mountain was exceptionally thrilling, suspenseful, filled with witty and sharp prose that danced across the pages. The female character as a long-haul truck driver in her 30s really broke the stereotypical mould, and the author did a fabulous job of tying the character’s line of work and love for this profession into the storyline. The light and clean romance that was tempering under the surface during their perilous run to safety was a nicely added touch that had you rooting for the two lead characters. I am keen to explore more of Mentinks work, and will be looking out for her books at the local bookstore. If you like Lynn H. Blackburn, Irene Hannon and Lynette Eason, you will definitely love Fire Mountain.

🌋 “There’s God’s plans… and then there’s your plans. Yours don’t matter.” 🙏
Kit—a long-haul trucker with no memory of how she ended up in a wreck with a baby in the backseat—and Cullen, a former cop living in self-imposed exile, are unlikely allies brought together by divine intervention. Both are wrestling with guilt, grief, and a faith that feels far away.

Kit has a bone to pick with God. Cullen won’t accept the grace he desperately needs. But when their paths cross, they’re thrust into a life-or-death race against a volcano ready to erupt 🌋, dangerous criminals 🕵️‍♂️, and a desperate search for a missing human trafficking survivor—whose baby now depends on them 👶.

What follows is a series of powerful, heart-pounding moments. One quote that truly stayed with me:

“He had fallen in love before, but never the challenging kind that made him want to be a better version of himself. Not the type of love that made it worth the struggle and sacrifice. To his mind, God gave every couple an empty box, and each person had to be prepared to put more in than they take out.” ❤️📦
As Kit begins to confront the weight of her past and the pull of something new with Cullen, she’s left with a question: will she choose to share that "box"? 💔➡️❤️ You’ll have to read to find out! 😉
Between volcanic eruptions, life-threatening chases, and tender spiritual breakthroughs, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Dana Mentink masterfully weaves suspense, grace, and spiritual truth into a story that’s not just thrilling—it’s redemptive.

This book reminded me that God is always working—through pain, through people, even in the darkest moments—for the good of His Kingdom. ✨

If you love faith-filled romantic suspense that challenges your heart as much as your pulse, you won’t want to blink. 👀🔥📖

In the shadow of an erupting volcano, Kit and Cullen find themselves thrown together in an unimaginable race against time to unravel what happened and who left a baby girl in their charge.

Kit Garrido is a long-haul truck driver who awakens to find her truck crashed and a baby girl in her sleeper cab, Cullen Landry is a local former cop who is refusing to evacuate in the face of the coming volcano. Together they work together, determined to survive and find answers. I liked how Cullen steps up to help Kit and little Tot, despite having no former connection to either. Cullen knows the mountains and the people; he has good survival instincts. I admired his strong faith and protectiveness of both Kit and Tot. Kit has been through a lot in her life, but she can't remember what happen right before the crash. She is resilient and capable in the face of danger. I liked how she just kept going, even with everything being thrown at her.

I liked how there was a lot going on, but Kit and Cullen take their time learning to trust each other and I liked how they work together to keep Tot safe and find answers. A fast-paced suspense, with something coming at them from multiple angles, with the survival aspect, as well as some unsavory characters in pursuit. Hard to put down, with great relationship building and strong themes of faith!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Fire Mountain
by Dana Mentink
Pub DateJul 01 2025
Revell
Christian| Mystery & Thrillers| Romance



I am reviewing a copy of Fire Mountain through Revell and Netgalley:


Kit Garrido wakes up in her crashed big rig, as a life threatening Volcano approaches. She’s unable to recall what happened, or why she woke up in possession with someone else's baby. She’s fiercely independent but this time she knows she can’t do it alone.



Former cop Cullen Landry refuses to leave his cabin in the evacuation area, as the threat of eruption grows which is why he's the only one lwho can help Kit escape the crumpled cab of her truck. He doesn't want to get wrapped-up in the mystery of the beautiful woman with an abandoned infant, but when he sees the bullet hole in the windshield and a bloody handprint on the interior, he realizes that he's in it whether or not he like it!



After two armed men with bad intentions approach, the race is on to stay alive, discover the truth, and locate the infants Mother all while a deadly mountains while a deadly mountains rains fire from above.


I am reviewing a copy of Fire Mountains five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Quite a wild ride, right from the beginning! Not really something I would have imagined, either. Some of the adventures are a bit unbelievable, but overall, it's a good story with real characters.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book! All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Fire Mountain is book one in the Elements of Danger series by Dana Mentink. This book is explosive (sorry for the pun) right from the very first page. Our main character, Kit Garrido, is a truck driver who crashed her truck on a volcano that is about to explode. Kit awakens to a mystery man, Cullen, trying to help her. Oh, and she has a baby in her truck, but has no idea whose baby this is. If the volcano about to erupt and a mysterious baby isn’t enough of a mess for Cullen and Kit, they are being chased down by a band of bad guys that will stop at nothing to track them down.

This is a very edge of your seat kind of book! Archie was my favorite character, but I’m biased. Archie is a Marine, and I’m married to a Marine. He’s very likable! This was a great book that will keep you guessing at every turn. However, it’s very insta-love with our main characters. Nothing more than kissing as far as intimacy goes. This is a Christian book, so we see faith elements woven throughout the novel. We really see Cullen lean into his faith as he tries to lead Kit and the mastery baby, lovingly nicknamed ‘Tot’, out of danger and off the mountain. We see both characters grow and change, and their hearts turn as the book progresses.

There is talk of trafficking and murder in this book. This may not be suitable for teen readers, so use discretion.

Thank you to @bethanyhousefiction for sending me this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own, and a positive review is not required.

So good. What a unique plot line. I loved every minute of this story. The characters were well developed and very relatable. I quickly fell into the story and couldn’t drag myself out. I didn’t want to stop reading. The characters depended on God throughout each literal roadblock thrown at them as they tried to escape both an erupting volcano and men that would murder them if they got to them first. I highly recommend this book, and I can’t wait to read more of this series.

**I received a copy of this book as part of the CelebrateLit blog team. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow! This is one action-packed adventure from the get go. As Mount Ember is about to blow, two strangers are brought together to protect a baby and get themselves to safety, stay alive, and avoid some bad guys. Cullen sees Kit's semi rig go off the road from his house and goes to help her but a bump on her head keeps her from remembering what happened, including how a baby got in her rig. This has great characters, whose banter is fun to hear, as they work through lots of danger and perils. Romance and faith round this out for a great read.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.

Dana Mentink is a new to me author and I like the writing. This story was intense from the very first page! If you like action, edge of your seat trouble, this story is for you.
I will say, the start of the romance between Cullen Landry and Kit Garrido seemed a bit contrived to me - like it needed to be thrown in - so here it is. But I didn't feel that way the more the story developed. Beyond the first indication of interest things seemed to progress more naturally. Of course life-is-on-the-line drama often sends characters down faster emotional paths.
I really enjoyed the one liners and quirky descriptions this author threw in throughout the story. I often chuckled at the way things were described because her words were so aptly chosen. Here are two: "... this slender woman with a truck-sized helping of grit and grace." and "The moment popped like a soap bubble against an unforgiving thorn."
Well done, Dana Mentink!
Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for the opportunity to explore this story. All opinions are my own.

Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink will give readers quite the intense ride as they race with Kit and Cullen to outrun an erupting volcano as well as murderous men. I found it very interesting that one of the main characters was a very independent woman truck driver--new-to-me profession for a heroine. I enjoyed how Kit and Cullen responded back and forth with each other and with an abandoned baby they named Tater Tot. This edge-of-the-seat read needs to be on readers who love suspense stories with a bit of romance reading list! What a page-turner. I read a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

Another amazing story by Dana Mentink. She is such a gifted writer that I always enjoy her books. She writes with such intensity and depth that it holds your interest from start to finish. You will definitely want to read this one and I look forward to the next book in her series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All words are my own.

Fast paced, nonstop action is a trademark of this authors writing.

Packed full of danger, racing against the clock of Mother Mature, killers and the unexplained presence of an infant. Lives are on the line and every second counts.


Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy of this book.