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.

Y'all!! This book was everything! It's fast-paced and full of danger, suspense, fabulous characters, a little romance, and an erupting volcano. I would give it 50 stars if I could.

Many thanks to Revell Fiction Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

I also received a paperback copy of this book.

This is a very high action Christian romantic suspense. With a volcano, an FMC trucker who has amnesia, a baby, and a former cop, there’s no end to the suspense and danger. When Kit wakes up she finds that she’s been in an accident in her truck, she’s on the wrong path in a volcanic evacuation zone, and she has no memory of her day. When Cullen arrives to help her they discover that things are worse than they thought, there are bullet holes and a baby. When pursuers catch up to them they race against time with the volcano shuddering beneath them as they are struggling to stay alive from multiple unknown assailants. While this book is non stop action, I didn’t get completely engaged until the second half. I could’ve done used a bit more on the romance angle and a few character things and moments felt a little off to me. However, this was a thrilling ride and I look forward to more from this author. It was such a unique setting and I loved learning more about volcanic eruptions through it. This was a just kisses romance, intimacy level 1.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. With the backdrop of a mountain/volcano ready to explode, the suspense is unbeatable. A female truck driver has an accident and is rescued by a former cop only to find there is a baby inside. It is easy to find yourself drawn into this novel and rooting that they all make it out alive.

This was such a fantastic read! It grabbed me from the opening pages and it did not let go until the end! I loved so many things in the story: the library shelter, the development of the relationship between Cullen and Kit, my absolute favorite character-Archie, the excitement and danger, everything. I read a lot of suspense novels and this is one of the best I’ve read. It was such a great story!

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Dana masterfully weaves together intensity, fear, thrill, dread, and hope in a gripping story that keeps you on edge. As Cullen and Kit race against both nature and evil, you're pulled into every heart-pounding moment. Their unwavering determination to protect Tots adds a layer of tenderness that lifts your heart. The weight of their guilt is palpable, making you root even harder for love to carve a path toward their redemption.

4.5 stars

Whew. Pardon me a moment to let my tense muscles relax and to restart my breathing after the intense ride that was Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink. From the very first chapter, we are plunged into a high-stakes race against time – survival not guaranteed! Between the injuries and memory loss that Kit sustains in her accident, the bloody handprint and the baby – both of unknown origin – that Cullen finds in Kit’s truck, the guys with guns who are chasing them down, and … you know… THE VOLCANO THAT’S ABOUT TO ERUPT (and the various ‘labor pains’ to the landscape that precede such an event), I found it impossible to put this book down until I’d read the last word. I’m also not going to lie, there were some moments when I wasn’t sure who would live to see the end of this story (myself included, given how deeply immersed I was in it haha).

Cullen and Kit are a great combination of personalities, as much for the people you want to battle villains and volcanoes with as for the romantic possibilities between them (although of course I loved that part of it too). At first I thought they were complete opposites, and they are in some ways, but the longer we spent with them I realized they’re more alike than I initially believed. This balance of differences and similarities serves them well as they fight for their own lives and especially that of the little baby unexpectedly in their care. I particularly enjoyed watching one be strong for the other when strength flagged or injuries worsened or emotions overwhelmed. It’s here, I think, that relationships begin to deepen and this certainly proves true for Cullen and Kit. And on a completely shallow note, watching Cullen go into ‘daddy mode’ with precious Tot had me all a’swoon. There’s something knee-weakening and heart-melting about a rugged cowboy-cop-type holding an infant with ease, taking care of her with no complaint, and treating her with affection.

Bottom Line: Fire Mountain had me riveted to the pages and deeply invested in Cullen, Kit, and baby Tot’s battle to survive. Dana Mentink masterfully increased the tension with each new page turned, whether it was the mounting threat from the volcano breathing down their necks or the murderous men close on their tail. I hardly dared to breathe in some places and certainly couldn’t have put it down unless my own life depended on doing so. (Thankfully, no volcanoes or murderous men encroached on my reading, although a wayward meteorite briefly did.) The high-stakes danger is accompanied by a sweet romance subplot, meaningful explorations of faith, and the author’s trademark wit along with endearing characters like Archie (who totally won my heart). I am SO glad this is the start of a new series because I can’t wait to see what’s next (while hoping that Gideon’s story is coming soon). Fans of Susan May Warren, Elizabeth Goddard, and of course Dana Mentink herself need to prioritize reading Fire Mountain too!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

A crashed big rig, an abandoned baby, bullet holes and blood, and an imminent volcanic eruption...what did long haul trucker Kit Garrido stumble into? Thankfully former cop Cullen Landry comes upon her and wants to help. Now these two need to figure out what is going on while keeping themselves and the baby alive, not only from a human killer, but a natural disaster one, as well.
This fiery read brings the heat! It will have you tensing up and clenching your hands as you hold either the physical copy or your e-reader. The tension and suspense slowly give way to the Lord bringing two strangers together for His purpose. He's giving Cullen and Kit a foundation forged in fire (say that five times fast!), but it'll be built to last. Highly recommend, and while there is no defined epilogue (which is always my favorite), the last chapter, to me, is close enough.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but my opinion is entirely my own.

Trucker Kit and ex-cop Cullen meet in a volatile situation during the imminent eruption of Mount Ember. Their motto becomes: “Faith not Fear” in the face of danger.
Ms. Mentink conveys the human condition through the frailties of her characters. She shows how they are unforgiving of themselves and others because of what they encountered in their pasts. But she also shows how they come to realize that they are not God and He requires them to forgive so that they can move on.
There is non-stop excitement during the days leading up to an eruption similar to Mt. Saint Helens. Complications in the form of bad guys looking for a girl that Kit helped ramps up the tension. Through it all, Cullen is tough and staunchly defends Kit and an abandoned baby. “Let’s see what you’re up to here, God.”
This author sure knows how to put her characters through the wringer and test their mettle. She ramps up the action and had me on the edge of my seat in this exceptional story.
A harrowing and riveting story with a spiritual dimension.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revel on behalf of the author and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*