Raging Waters

by Dana Mentink

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 3, 2026

About the author

USA TODAY bestseller Dana Mentink enjoys writing in many different capacities. She currently writes for Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense and Poisoned Pen Press.

Dana is the recipient of a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, two ACFW Carol Awards as well as a Holt Medallion.

Dana loves feedback from her readers. Contact her via her website at www.danamentink.com. and be sure to follow her on Bookbub!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/dana-...

Reviews

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raging Waters is one action-packed novel with lots of rain, a flood stage river, and a possible dam failure that the main characters are fighting along with some bad guys who are after them. Zee is consumed with finding Bullseye, the drug lord who had her brother killed. Gideon was her brother's best friend. Both are carrying some guilt. Someone connected to Bullseye is chasing them. What an adventure they have. This story has twists, surprises, danger from human and water, with healing and resolution in the end. Great inspirational read.
I received a copy for an honest review. These are my thoughts.

[Laura (kroosreadsandreviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt like I was white water rafting reading this book! The amount of time spent in the water by these characters was terrifying!!

Gideon is the all outdoors guy who you want on your side. His knowledge and preparedness came in handy in this book!

Zee is out for vengeance and won't stop until the kingpin is taken down. She is as tough as nails and at some point, you are left begging her to stop!

The story is fast paced and will leave you guessing on who is friend or foe.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book that was constantly full of action with twist and turns. You never knew what was going to happen next. There’s a very strong, willed female protagonist in this book. I was given a complementary copy of this book and the opinions are my own.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book kept my heart pumping wildly and my pulse pounding, too, as I read the danger that Mackenzie and Gideon faced as they try to survive waters rising and a drug dealer with his henchmen. Mackenzie (called Zee) is determined to get revenge for her brother Aaron’s death, so she is trying to find the head of the drug cartel that lives in the small town where Gideon, Aaron’s good friend, has a wilderness survival school. The adventure begins from the first page and their harrowing escapes from one threat after another continues throughout the story. The story was original, creative and terrifyingly realistic as the flood waters rose at the same time that the drug dealer’s lackeys got closer to finding them and killing them. The themes of the story include a quest for revenge, an issue with trust, the help of friends and letting go of the past to move into an uncertain future. I loved every minute I spent whirling and twirling in the “raging waters” with Zee and Gid, and I really enjoyed meeting the secondary characters who contributed so much to the central story. This is a book that was suspense-filled with escalating tension and a tightly written plot. With some jaw-dropping twists in the mix, this novel kept me guessing and shaking my head as I wondered what was going to happen next. The drama is believable as are the characters and I enjoyed the exploration of the emotional depth one suffers after the unexpected death of a loved one. This is a fascinating thrill ride to a deftly crafted and insightful conclusion. I would highly recommend this page turner to anyone whose heart is strong enough to withstand the propulsive pace and who enjoys a thought-provoking inclusion of faith as a firm foundation to an unforgettable story.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Raging Waters" is a Christian romantic suspense. The main characters were complex and grew throughout the course of the book. Mackenzie's determined to bring down the drug boss that was behind her brother's murder even if it means her own death. She started the story by robbing Gideon with a policeman nearby so she could get inside the jail to talk with her informant. No real planning, just reckless actions like later escaping from the police and refusing to evacuate the danger area because another contact might possibly still be around despite evacuation orders. Her brother was Gideon's best friend, and he's a rescuer at heart, so he couldn't stand by and watch her self-destruct. He repeatedly risked his life to save hers while trying to get through to her.

The suspense was high because of the heavy rains and constant threat of the dam breaking and flooding the area. Plus Bullseye controlled everyone in the area (so whom can they trust?) and had armed men out trying to kill Mackenzie. A map would have been helpful, though, because they hiked for several days and even rode in vehicles at times, yet it seemed like they were always still in the danger area below the dam. Even when next to a lake (which would be behind the dam?) or on a mountain ridge that we'd previously been told was out of danger range.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this this suspense novel.

I received a free ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect combination for a heart-pounding suspense read? Take an already dangerous situation, like being chased down by a killer... and throw in a good natural disaster to really raise the stakes even higher than before. It's a winning combination that certainly works for me every single time. This one was definitely no exception. I enjoyed Mackenzie and Gideon's romance, of course, but it was definitely the suspense that took center stage in this one for me. I found myself at the edge of my seat wondering how it was all going to play out. The mystery of Aaron's death brought out lots of secrets and twists that kept me guessing right through to the very end, and I loved it. I had said about the previous book in this series that it was my favorite by this author so far, and I have to say, this one is just as fantastic. I can't wait to see what comes next from her.

Raging Waters is a Christian romantic suspense and is the second book in the Elements of Danger series. While I very much enjoyed and would recommend the first book, I do think this could be enjoyed just fine as a standalone as well.

**ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Karen R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an exciting, action-packed story! Set in the Cascade mountains of Washington State, a pair of former friends are on the run from a drug lord as a storm surge threatens to flood the town. Never a dull moment in this inspirational tale of courage, friendship, and sacrifice in pursuit of truth and justice.

The plot moves along quickly, keeping pace with scenes of survival in a setting full of danger. Not knowing who to trust, the pair has to unite and work out their own differences from the past, and move together to make it out alive.

I loved the character of Gideon, who had no clue what he was getting into, but stuck by 'Zee' to get her out to safety repeatedly. They faced some intense situations with split decisions. The author does a great job of interspersing the action scenes with moments of reflection so their past conflict is revealed and worked out. There are some plot twists and 'aha' moments later that bring it all to an exciting conclusion. Some quick prayers and mentions of God here and there add a touch of faith.

Terrific read! Recommend to readers who like inspirational fiction with suspense, perilous action and clean romance. 5 stars!

(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)

[Dali Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

Raging Waters is an absolutely amazing action-packed story! It captivated me from the start. It had me holding my breath on more than one occasion and turning pages as fast as I could to see what would happen next. The combination of suspense, intrigue, romance, and inspiration all rolled into one made it even more captivating.

Mackenzie and Gideon's backstory was a difficult one, but watching as it changed was fantastic. While I could understand Mackenzie and why she felt the way she did, it took some time for me to like her. However, Gideon immediately captured my heart. His faith and caring attitude brought much to the story and greatly impacted his and Mackenzie's relationship as well as everything they went through.

If you like a sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat story blended with romance and faith, Raging Waters (such an appropriate title) is definitely for you. And if you don't, I highly recommend you try it out. You will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and voluntary.

[Jane Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mackenzie Bardine is set on revenge no matter what. Mckenzie's brother was murdered by a drug lord named "Bullseye". Mckenzie is a podcaster who helps solve cold case murders, but this one is especially close to her heart. Her leads take her to a remote place in Washington where she finds her brother's childhood best friend and former Army buddy. Gideon Landry has known Mckenzie and her brother, Aaron for years and has covered for her brother when he shouldn't. What Mckenzie didn't count on was a massive flood endangering the dam above the town she knows is where her brother was known to visit. Bullseye owns the town and Mckenzie and Gideon don't know who to trust to help them escape killers meant to stop their investigation. Enter Aaron's fiancé that Mckenzie had never met and things get even crazier, especially when the dam breaks. This is an action-packed book, and I highly recommend you read it. I was given an advance copy by the publisher, but these are my own thoughts and words.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Thank you to Revell Publishing for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!**

I mostly enjoyed this book! I thought the characters had good chemistry, and the arcs of redemption and forgiveness were great. However, the villain felt like a cartoon villain, and I truly could not keep track of the side characters. The pacing also wasn't my favorite; the middle of the book was really hard to get through. Somehow it felt like there were high stakes but also no stakes at all.

I still enjoyed this book and the Christian themes/elements. I think the author did a better job than other Christian romantic suspense authors at integrating the faith aspects more naturally, and the book was still really clean. But there were some issues that also meant I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

From beginning to end we are holding our breath. This is a story of justice and, of course, greed.
We are offered a man, giving wilderness survival training, and it sure does come in handy. A women who has made it her purpose in life to get justice for the murder of her brother.
This became a page turner, and yes, there is a lot of water, rain doesn't seem to stop here, and the characters seem to be plunging into raging waters, will they survive?
This is a Faith based read, and Good vs Evil, but whom to trust, and I kept changing my mind!
Did enjoy the epilogue!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Hilary Hamblin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between a drug kingpin and a dam about to burst, Mackenzie and Gideon won’t be safe until they escape the flood zone. Mackenzie is single minded when it comes to finding the drug kingpin who she blames for her brother’s murder. She’s a risk taker at heart and often leaps before she thinks. Thankfully, her brother’s best friend is in the right place at the right time to save her. Again. And again. There’s plenty of action with moments of self reflection that move Mackenzie and Gideon toward healing and toward each other.

[Dog&CatMomBooksNicorette&tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dove into Raging Waters, by Dana Mentink only to find myself carried away by the current of an action backed thriller. The wonderful characters, so carefully articulated, the continuously evolving plot, and the action that never stops.
I simply couldn't put this one down.

Disclaimer: I received an e-copy ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. No positive review was required. All opinions are my own.