Dana Mentink

“Being around Mackenzie Bardine was hazardous to a man’s health.”

When Dana Mentink publishes a new Romantic suspense, I run, not walk, for my favorite bookstore! This newest series of hers, Elements of Danger, now includes bk #2, Raging Waters. As someone who has only experienced being on the edges of a hurricane, Mentink’s descriptions of a violent storm, waterlogged earth, and threatened dam break were terrifying. But in a good way. The kind of terrifying of watching a scary movie show more or choosing a wild ride at the fair. Adrenaline pumping fast, I made sure I was breathing air, not choking on water, as I swiped my pages hoping that MacKenzie ( Zee) Bardine and Gideon (Gid) Landry could learn to get along. Maybe that would make the job of staying alive and out of the enemy’s crosshairs a tad bit easier.

Unfortunately, MacKenzie, now a cold crimes podcaster, has lost her brother Aaron a few years back. After helping police solve a few other cold cases with her results, Zee takes on her brother’s murder. She is upset when Gideon won’t help her in her endeavors, as he was Aaron’s best friend. “Their rapport since Aaron’s death had been at the matches and gasoline type of reactivity level.” Will the secrets that Gideon is hiding protect MacKenzie or will they backfire and leave her ripe for attacks? Fighting the awesome power of nature, some extremely powerful people, their own secrets, plus their attraction for each other...Whew! That’s a lot of conflict that makes for a very fast-moving, nail-biting suspense. Every character they meet is suspect. Can they trust anyone they meet? Can they trust each other? Most importantly, can they trust God?

Great twists! I loved the faith arcs, and loved how Gideon chooses to be present for MacKenzie even when he doesn’t feel like she has all the information, and she can treat him like a heel at times. As Gideon tells Zee, ““I have a choice in all this, too. I choose to stay.” Sometimes I thought he was crazy! I was grateful to still be on dry land when the book was done, feeling safe and satisfied with the mystery of the novel worked out.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought an ecopy, and a few pb copies for myself and a friend. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“In that moment he knew she was trapped, unable to free herself any more than her brother could from his torment. She was bound to this man by her need for revenge. It would blind her.
It would kill her.” ( Gideon)

“How easy it would be to kiss him properly, to let the feeling seep into her fragile glass heart that hadn’t beat right for a very long time. But there was such a thin coating around that battered organ. One crack, one tiny fissure and it might disintegrate into a pile of useless shards.”
(MacKenzie)

“Whom to trust? The environment might be hostile, but it was nowhere near as dangerous as a human enemy, the kind pretending to be a friend.”

“God will bring justice in this world or the next. In His time, not yours.”- Gideon

“Ugly and vengeful . . . Mackenzie wondered suddenly if that described her too. She shook the thought away. Maybe it had until Gideon convinced her otherwise. She’d let that be her core for way too long. That wasn’t the identity God meant for her, and he’d used Gideon to deliver the message.” show less

Grab on and hold tight for this thrill ride that has you wondering if you will make it to the end of the story with your heart intact. This is intense with the earth groaning and having labor pains before the volcano erupts and characters running for their lives without knowing who or why. Great characters who bounce off each other with wit, charm, and romantic tension and a suspenseful storyline has you engrossed from the beginning. You will feel like you are racing for your life alongside show more them as it feels that real. This book is high octane fuel driven and you cannot turn pages quick enough to find out what happens next. I loved the addition of trying to keep a baby safe and guessing where is the mama. I have to say this is now my favorite book by this author and I’m excited to read what is next in the Elements of Danger series. You won’t want to miss reading this one.
I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit/author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required. show less

This book was seriously hard to put down! Nonstop action starting on page one and not letting up until the very end. I liked the complex relationship of Stella and Von; their past relationship and present interactions made them feel realistic. I thought Von’s temper was a bit much at times, but I think this was reflective of his military service and did make sense with his character. I also got a little frustrated with Stella not telling Von her secret, even though most everyone else at show more the base camp knew it. The faith element was well integrated into the story. I think the action was well written and the twists near the end made it not too predictable. I also loved the dogs! Overall, I really liked this story. It was my first by this author but it will not be my last!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. show less

A dam break, outdoor survival, bringing down a drug kingpin, & second-chance love make this Elements of Danger sequel unputdownable! Raging Waters is an apt name. Dana Mentink delivers an exciting romantic suspense with a complicated heroine seeking justice for her brother’s murder, if she can convince her brother’s best friend that her cause is just. Facing wicked storms in a remote Washington town with a dam on the verge of breaking, Gideon & McKenzie fight both nature & a vicious drug show more kingpin to survive.

When McKenzie Bardine’s brother Aaron is murdered in a drug deal gone wrong, she vows to bring down “Bullseye,” the mysterious kingpin responsible for his death. When she receives a tip during her podcast dedicated to fighting injustice, she travels to a small Washington town to finally learn the name of the man who killed her brother & bring him to justice. But her plans are derailed when she accidentally runs into Gideon, her brother’s best friend whom she once had a crush on & also blames for Aaron’s death.

Wilderness survivalist Gideon Landry carries a great deal of guilt when it comes to Aaron, but not for the reasons McKenzie believes. When she appears out of nowhere during a tense moment in his survival course, his world is turned upside down. Forced to help with her vigilante quest, Gideon tries to keep them both alive when “Bullseye” & his minions discover her presence. Fighting both nature & man, Gideon & McKenzie must work together if they’re going to survive.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! It’s a white-knuckle adventure filled with twists & turns. The setting & descriptions were so vivid. I could feel the achingly cold temps, the freezing water, & the desperation of wilderness survival. Not only are they facing unimaginable danger from the elements, but a ruthless mobster bent on destroying McKenzie. His people are everywhere, & it’s hard to know whom to trust.

I also enjoyed the second-chance romance between “Zee” & Gideon. Her brother was no angel, & Gideon is forced to reveal hard truths as he tries to convince Zee that her need for revenge & justice is misplaced, & becoming all-consuming. I loved how their enemies-to-lovers dynamic shifted as they’re forced to rely on each other.

Highly recommend this dynamic story of faith, courage, making peace with the past, & love. I received an advanced copy from the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily. 4-4.5 stars! show less