This book is a race against nature and the bad guys from the opening paragraph. WOWZERS! There is so much happening, it is exhausting. Well worth the read and perfect for lovers of absorbing romantic suspense that's heavy on the page-turning pacing.

A long haul trucker wakes up after a crash, not knowing what happened, on a mountain threatening to erupt. A local comes to the rescue, but there's gunshots in the window and a baby strapped in a carseat, and she can't give answers to what's happened. Solving the mystery and getting off the mountain make for an action filled story.

*A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review!

“Not a family, not them. Just . . . united strangers. ‘I know you aren’t a blood family, but people can be put together in unexpected ways.’”- Archie

I wanted to check my blood pressure. It had to be high. After finishing Dana Mentink’s Fire Mountain romantic suspense novel, I felt so in tune with the characters, I thought I had run from men who built their money on exploitation. I was nearly sure I was trying desperately to escape a rumbling volcano. I lost myself in the drama, intrigue, baby care, and natural disaster unfolding in the book. So artfully told, I’ll never forget.

An everyman and everywoman hero. That’s what Cullen and Kit are. An ex-policeman, who can’t recover from his last call, and is now a horse rancher. A proud, independent, truck driver whose immediate memory is gone. Why is there a 9-month-old baby in her care? Kit knows nothing about babies. Worse, why is she headed back into the evacuation zone of Mt. Ember, threatening to blow her top? ( Do you either remember Mt. St. Helens or remember learning about her in school?) Since we were nearly across the nation, yet our summer weather was affected for months, I could only imagine how horrifying it would be to be in the danger zone! Plus, while injured, with baby in tow, Kit and Cullen discover someone is after them with deadly weapons!

Fortunately for the reader, Mentink has a great sense of humor. When I thought I would explode myself because of the building suspense, Mentink would insert levity. It might be trading witty lines between Cullen and Kit, or it might involve Archie, a crusty former Marine who had refused to leave his home on the mountain.

I loved Archie’s character!
He is an enigma to be sure! Rough and gruff, yet “grandpa” with the baby.

In some ways, this book reads like a nightmare. Just when you think Kit and Cullen might be safe, either the mountain creates terror or Nico and Simon are hot on their trail again. However, Fire Mountain has embers of hope, where romance, character strength, and faith shine through.

One faith message is that of forgiveness. Kit has struggled with the absence of forgiveness in her past. Plus, she has a past she’s not proud of. “God forgives you for all that, Kit,”says Cullen.
“You’re not credible to say that though, are you?”…”Because you don’t believe what you say, deep down. You don’t live like it anyway,” Kit retorts. Ouch!

I find it interesting that Kit compares two sides of unforgiveness to equating oneself to God. “If a person can’t accept forgiveness themselves, or refuses to give it to someone else, it puts them in the place of God, doesn’t it?” Just in case it sounds like there is a lot of headtime in this book, let me say there are snatches. They are sandwiched between the desperate and the good times, perfectly placed to stimulate thinking, without losing the quick pace of this breathtaking story.

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher through Just Reads and Netgalley. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“There’s your plan, and God’s plan, and yours doesn’t count.”- Kit’s father

“Rose- colored glasses aren’t going to keep us from dying.” “I prefer to attribute it to experience. I’ve seen God do plenty of miracles, so why not another one here and now?”- Kit, Cullen

“loving someone was one thing. Living it out was altogether different…”

“This moment, these days, his life, would be over when God said so. Not a moment before.”

Fire Mountain is my favorite book by Dana Mentink. I loved the suspense, danger, and the threatening volcano. This story was a page turner. Once I started reading, I could not put the book down. The author created great characters. I found myself rooting for them (I wanted them to survive this ordeal). I enjoyed all the twists and turns that kept me at the edge of my seat (and staying up late to see how the story would end). There is romance as well. The vivid descriptions made me feel like I was there with Kit and Cullen (and Tot). I could feel their emotions as well. I enjoyed Fire Mountain from start to finish. I can tell the author did her research on volcanoes and it was interesting to learn about them. I like how faith was woven into the story. Fire Mountain is a mesmerizing story with a wrecked eighteen-wheeler, baffled about a baby, a frightening volcano, a helpful hermit, armed men, a treacherous trek, and hopeful prayers.https://www.librarything.com/work/33848596/book/289527312

I've read a lot of Christian romantic suspense over the years and I love how different the premise of Fire Mountain is! A female truck driver? Who wakes up after a crash on a volcano that's about to erupt? With an unknown baby strapped into her rig? Yeah, I've never read anything like that before! I was fully committed to Kit's adventure and had to see how it ended, what a ride!

This was a pulse-pounding, romantic suspense. This fast-paced story follows a brave heroine and a protective hero as they confront both natural and human threats. The chemistry between the leads is strong, with a deep sense of faith and resilience woven throughout. But I have to admit that at times the romance felt flat to me. The author does a good job balancing action, emotion, and a touch of danger, making this an uplifting and gripping read. Perfect for readers who love their thrills with heart and hope.

Kit is a woman truck driver that revels in her independence, owning her own rig and on the road 300 days of the year. When she ends up in an accident, in the middle of a an evacuation zone she can't remember how she got there. Cullen, the last man on the mountain and still in the evacuation zone, sees the accident and goes running. There, he finds Kit, an unidentified baby, bullet holes in the windshield of the truck and a bloody hand print on the side window. Deciding that they need to hunker down until morning because the earth is shaking too much and rocks are raining down, they become hunted and soon are running for their lives. Both Kit and Cullen have a good sense of humor that comes into play, breaking up the tension of a volcano erupting and running from men with guns. Thank you to NetGalley and Revel for the digital ARC. This review is my own opinion. Three stars, because it was all a bit too much for me.

Explosive start to a new series!

The opening pages grabbed me...a female truck driver, a young woman running from sex trafficking and an abandoned baby. And if that's not enough, there's a volcano on the verge up eruption. LOTS of action in a short timeframe. And it all seems credible.

The banter between characters was fun. I especially loved former Marine Archie...age has given him a disregard for a filter and life experiences excellent advice.

Can't wait to see what book two will have in store.

Fire Mountain is a captivating romantic suspense novel that had me on the edge of my seat. I love the unique threat of a volcano, along with the many other looming challenges. The elements of faith set a solid foundation, and the slow-burning romance is a wonderful bonus.

Kit, a truck driver, and Cullen, a former police officer, are fascinating characters with a fresh and compelling storyline. I found myself deeply connected to both of them and could easily imagine being in their shoes, especially when it came to protecting the mysterious baby in their care.

If you enjoy a story filled with twists and turns that keep you hooked until the very end, this book is a great choice. I was quickly immersed and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

#CoverLoverBookReview received a review copy of this book. Opinions are 100% my own.

Book Review: Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink
3 Stars
Book 1 in the Elements of Danger Series

If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, high-stakes Christian romantic suspense, this one certainly delivers. The plot immediately throws you into danger, with a volcanic eruption, a mystery baby, and a woman with no memory trying to piece it all together. The tension never lets up, making it a definite page-turner.
That said, the romance aspect fell a bit flat for me. It leaned heavily into “trauma bonding,” / "trauma romance" with Kit and Cullen forming a connection during extreme circumstances without much time to genuinely get to know one another. Their relationship felt rushed, with a sudden kiss that didn’t feel entirely earned given how little groundwork was laid. It left me wishing we’d had a chance to see who they were outside of the crisis they were enduring and wanting them to have time to know each other outside of the trauma before jumping into a loving relationship.

Still, the action-packed storyline and the unique setting of an active volcanic zone kept me engaged. Dana Mentink knows how to write suspense and I appreciated the clean, faith-based elements woven throughout. While the romance didn’t quite hit the mark for me and didn't really stand out... this is a quick, adrenaline-fueled read for fans of survival-driven suspense reads with a light romance thread.

Thank you to Revell for providing a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Fire Mountain was my first book by Dana Mentink, but it definitely won’t be my last! From the opening scene, I was hooked—the action starts immediately and doesn’t let up, but somehow the fast pace never overshadows the characters or their story. I loved how the danger, mystery, and high-stakes moments were balanced with emotional depth and real character growth.

There’s a lot happening—amnesia, a baby in danger, armed men on their trail, and a volcano ready to erupt—but it never feels overwhelming or hard to follow. Instead, every twist kept me turning the pages. It was impossible to put down because I had to know what would happen next!

If you love non-stop suspense, natural disaster drama, and characters fighting for survival with a hint of romance, this one should definitely be on your TBR.

A volcano on the verge of erupting, a sex trafficker, a former police officer, a baby and a wrecked eighteen wheeler spell action and danger! Fire Mountain was a new storyline from beginning to end! I admired truck driver, Kit, and former police officer Cullen for their determination to protect the baby she found and get her safely off the mountain! All of the "good guy" characters were great as they came up with creative ways to protect baby "Tot" from the bad guys while staying out of the volcano's path. I feel like I have lived through a volcano! I highly recommend Fire Mountain to anyone who enjoys action books! I received a complimentary copy of Fire Mountain from Revell Fiction, NetGalley and Dana Mentink. This is my honest opinion.

Oh. My. Goodness.
A volcano ready to erupt, a wrecked 18 wheeler, an unknown baby and a man on the scene. What more do you need for an edge of your seat, gripping story that holds you transfixed from page to page?
Kit is a woman truck driver that “wakes up” to find her truck ruined with a strapped in baby she’s never seen before. Shortly after Cullen shows up trying to rescue them from an erupting volcano. Stubborn woman, squalling baby and a determined man. As they navigate through it all, a man following them with a gun hinders their escape. I was amazed at all they went through! Just when things are settling down, another pitfall in front of them. I was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time! Dana Mentick is the queen of narrow escape suspense novels. I try to never miss each one that comes out. I received an ebook copy of Fire Mountain from the author but was not required to write a review.

Kit wakes up in the cab of her crashed big rig and discovers there's a baby in the cab with her. The problem is she doesn't remember the crash or how the baby got there. Former cop Cullen comes across Kit and helps her our of her cab. While assisting her bullets start flying. Not only do they have that problem, there's a volcano about ready to erupt.

This is a fast paced book. I enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to all who enjoy a good mystery with lots of action.

I was given this book by Revell Publishing via Net/Galley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

‘And he wouldn’t have a whole new way for his heart to beat.’

You’ll need to take a break after reading this one just to catch your breath! Right from page one the action is going full throttle and doesn’t stop until the last page is turned and it’s well worth the ride. Suspenseful, heartbreaking and terrifying for our main characters Kit, Cullen and baby Tot (not to mention Grandpa Archie... I absolutely loved Archie!) that are fighting for their lives, not just against a repulsive villain, but mother nature herself. Amazing!

"Fire Mountain" is a Christian romantic suspense. Kit's been let down by everyone she's ever cared about, so she's determined to take care of herself and work as a solitary long-haul trucker. She has short-term memory loss after a concussion from the crash. Why was she in the danger area of a volcano about to erupt and with a baby in her care? Ex-cop Cullen feels responsible for his partner getting hurt when he rushed into a dangerous situation, so he quit the force. He stayed in the area of the volcano to help his neighbors evacuate their animals when he spotted the crash. They need to get out of the area immediately, but several men seem intent on killing them and the missing woman.

Cullen quickly realized that he needed to treat Kit as a capable teammate and not just someone to rescue or give orders to. They worked well together and built each other up. The danger came from the volcano's imminent eruption (blocked roads, mudflows, etc.) as well as the men after their property. Considering the real danger, it was a little strange that the men didn't just wait and attack outside the volcano danger zone since they weren't in danger of losing track of their target. Also, a few of the descriptions were a little hard to follow, though the important points were clear enough. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful novel.

I’ve been reading Dena Mentink for years, so I was thrilled to hear she had a new debut coming from Revell! The moment the news broke, this story went straight onto my TBR—and let me tell you, it absolutely exceeded my high expectations.

Where do I even begin? I loved everything about this book—especially Cullen. His personality was so well-written, and the way he interacted with both Kit and baby “Tot” completely won me over. The banter between Cullen and Kit as they navigate intense, high-stakes situations was spot-on. Their chemistry was authentic, and I appreciated how their faith journeys helped each other grow and overcome their pasts. Cullen’s humor was the perfect touch, offering just the right amount of levity to balance the tension.

And speaking of tension—wow! There were so many heart-pounding scenes that had me practically holding my breath. It truly was a thrill ride from start to finish. I also have to give a special shoutout to Archie—one of the best secondary characters I’ve read in a long time. I’m so glad he was part of this story!

Fire Mountain is hands down one of the best adventure-thriller romances I’ve read in a long time—definitely a top read of 2025 for me. I really hope this turns into a series, because I would love to read Gideon’s story next!

I received a free copy of Fire Mountain, by Dana Mentink, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book one in The Elements of Danger series. Kit is a truck driver, used to be on her own, she is awakened one day with a baby in her rig, and no memory of she has a baby. This was a really intense religious read. I really liked Kit and Cullen.

Wow! The stakes do not get much higher than in this thriller. In most mysteries/thrillers the characters are on the run for their lives from armed men and possible car accidents with occasional explosions, but with this one you have the added danger of an unstable volcano which is going to erupt at any time. There is no where safe and evacuation is an impossibility at this point.

Kit Garrido has worked hard to realize her dream of owning her own rig. Now it is literally about to go up in smoke. When former police officer, Cullen Landry, finds her hanging off the side of a mountain, they both find a little more than they expected. There is an infant buckled into the back of the truck and bloody handprint on the window. Kit has temporary amnesia and has no clue where the baby came from. A baby Cullen quickly names "Tot". You will quickly learn that someone is not happy with Kit and will stop at nothing to punish her for something she has no clue about.

This was a fascinating story as I learned so much about volcanoes while the author spun a story of two people who had a lot of time on their hands for self-reflection as their survival instincts kick in. Kit was my hero. This woman had a lot of spunk, determination and was very resourceful, but she was also extremely stubborn. Cullen needed to forgive himself. He was carrying a heavy burden. However, to give him full credit, he forgot all about himself when he realized a woman and child needed to be protected. Time is not on their side. There were a few scenes when things got a little hairy and scary.

This faith-infused story explores so many things and opens up wounds, both old and new, for the main characters, who found themselves in a position of vulnerability that they never could have dreamed of.

My heart is still pounding after finishing this book. When there was action, it was intense. It is not for the weak-hearted.

Thank you to the author, Revell and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Sadly, this book was not for me. The plot was predictable and I didn't love the dialogue. I still plan to carry this in my store, because I think there will be people that will enjoy it.