About the Book

Book: Raging Waters

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Release Date: March 3, 2026

As the dam crumbles and water sweeps across the terrain, their battle for justice and survival is just beginning.

When Mackenzie Bardine’s brother Aaron was murdered in a drug deal gone wrong, she started a true crime podcast dedicated to exposing “Bullseye,” the drug kingpin responsible. But her protective heart has never let go of the blame she places on herself and Aaron’s best friend, Gideon Landry. On the run to the wilds of Washington to chase a recent lead, she meets none other than Gideon himself.

While conducting a wilderness survival class in remote Washington, Gideon never expected to cross paths with Mackenzie, and he’s certainly not interested in helping her after he’s already declined to participate in her vigilante podcasting. He carries a mountain of guilt about Aaron’s fatal choices, but not for the reasons Mackenzie suspects.

As killers begin to circle Mackenzie like sharks, it’s clear to Gideon she’s in over her head, and in light of his troubled past with her brother, he can’t bring himself to ignore her perilous situation. Then a flood threatens the town, turning their investigation into a race to escape the raging waters and the wrath of a powerful kingpin who wants to sink them both.

A gripping, clean romantic suspense featuring enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance, and high-stakes investigations set in small-town Washington, sweeping readers away on a turbulent wave of thrills and chills. Perfect for fans of forced proximity, wilderness survival, protective heroes, and justice-driven heroines.

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My Review:

What an absolutely phenomenal romantic suspense novel! I was enthralled at page one, and on the edge of my seat for all the rest of them! Mackenzie and Gideon were both fantastic characters, and I loved that they’d known each other growing up! I also loved that this book has the brother’s best friend trope (it’s one of my fave tropes so I always love to see it in a story!)

This book combined three things I love in stories: water danger, wilderness survival, and a Washington state setting, so in some ways it kinda felt like it was written with me in mind, and I just gobbled up every word of it!

In general I tend not to love suspense stories with the drug kingpin storyline because it feels so overdone, but I actually loved the way it was done in this book, and I loved the way danger from the goons combined with the danger of a massive flood and possible dam failure upped the stakes and kept the pages flying! It was written so brilliantly that I could feel the rain and see the raging floodwaters!

I seriously loved absolutely everything about this book and most highly recommend it! Definitely a favorite read of 2026! Oh, and even though it’s book two in a series, I haven’t yet read book one (though I definitely plan to go back and do that!) and I had no trouble at all following this one so it can absolutely be read as a standalone!

(5 Stars!)

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.

My review was not influenced in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the author of over fifty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell and Poisoned Pen Press.

More from Dana

I’m afraid of deep water. There. I’ve said it. I live in California, famous for beaches sand and surf. If that’s not enough, there are swimming pools aplenty. I should be enjoying the surfing, boating, kayaking, sailing culture, but I’d much rather sit on a deck somewhere and watch others partake. So what’s a gal like me doing writing an adventure that takes place as a dam rupture overwhelms a town? I love to write that type of wilderness story, where stakes are high and the help is scarce. Similar to the previous book, Fire Mountain, the characters will have to dig deep of their strength and faith to survive. And you and I can enjoy it from the safety of our decks! Are you ready? Grab your book and your cuppa and let’s go!