Craving clean romantic suspense with danger, true crime twists, wilderness survival, and second chances? Dana Mentink’s Raging Waters delivers a gripping story of a determined podcaster seeking justice, her former friend turned reluctant protector, a massive flood threat, and the powerful truth that God sees your story through to the end.
In this exclusive author interview on the Christian Romance Book Nook, Dana opens up about the burning drive for vengeance, the friends-to-enemies-to-lovers heart of the romance, and the reassurance that no failure or success can separate us from God’s secure love.
Meet Dana Mentink
Dana Mentink is a lifelong Californian and writes romantic suspense and wholesome mystery. The bear cubs are grown now (Yogi and Boo Boo) and Papa Bear is retired, but he works part time as her business associate! She pretty much never knows where she is. She is generally speaking lost if she has to get anywhere outside of her neighborhood. Friends and family know this about her so they’re not surprised when they get the “I’m lost” text!
Fun Fact: I pretty much never know where I am. I am, generally speaking, lost if I have to get anywhere outside of my neighborhood. Friends and family know this about me so they’re not surprised when they get the “I’m lost” text!
About the Book: Raging Waters
What happens when a true crime podcaster chases a dangerous lead into the wilderness and runs straight into the one person she blames most?
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.
Dana Mentink delivers pulse-pounding romantic suspense full of high stakes, emotional depth, and unwavering faith. Readers will root for the determined heroine chasing justice, the burdened hero stepping in to protect her, and the powerful message that God knows your story completely and will never abandon you. This clean, uplifting Christian fiction blends danger, redemption, and hope in a way that leaves you encouraged and reminded of God’s secure love—no matter the circumstances.
Author Interview: Behind the Scenes
What inner struggle or desire drives your main character(s) at the beginning of the story? How does that shift as the story unfolds?
The heroine has a burning desire to avenge a terrible loss she experienced. She must come to terms with what her life will look like if that doesn’t happen…and what it will look like if it does.
What would you say is the heart of the romance in this story?
This is a friends to enemies to lovers story. They are bound together by their relationship with the heroine’s brother and their own sense of duty and honor. Mackenzie is willing to risk her life to make her brother’s murderer pay. Gideon can’t stand to see her throw her future away. There’s a very large dam failure looming and an extremely violent villain pitted against them.
What is one takeaway you hope readers carry with them after finishing this book?
God knows your story and He’s going to see it through. He will never abandon or forsake you.
What Bible verse encouraged you during your writing journey or that reflects this story’s message?
The one I always go back to is Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… It reminds me that my standing in God is secure no matter what I do or if I fail or succeed.
About the Author
Dana Mentink is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of suspense and mystery. She writes for Harlequin, Sourcebooks, and Revell. A two time Carol Award winner for romantic suspense, she has been honored with a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. She shares her writing den with a husband, an aged box turtle, and her rescue dog Junie. You can learn more at Dana’s website: www.DanaMentink.com
About the Christian Romance Book Nook
Hosted by Kelly Jo Wilson, the Christian Romance Book Nook is your cozy, faith-filled corner of the internet for Christian romance. Kelly connects readers with uplifting stories, honest author interviews, exclusive giveaways, and the joy of knowing you’re never alone in your love for clean romance focused on Jesus.
Come join our growing community, new friends, new books, and plenty of bookish encouragement are always waiting for you!
Join the Christian Romance Book Nook Community
Want early access to Christian fiction author interviews, new releases, and exclusive book giveaways?
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Christian romance book updates
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🎁 The current Christian romance book giveaway is open now — subscribers always hear about giveaways first.
Looking for your next heartwarming Christian romance? Amy Clipston delivers a tender tale of second chances, small-town charm, and faith-filled love in her latest release, The Lighthouse at the Cove.
Meet Amy Clipston
Amy lives in the Charlotte area of North Carolina with her husband, younger son, mother, and a herd of cats. She works full-time for the City of Charlotte as a Senior Human Resources Generalist, and she is also a bestselling author of more than 60 heartwarming Christian romance novels. She has written Amish romance, Amish romantic suspense, and contemporary romance.
Fun Fact: Amy donated a kidney for her husband so that he could receive a second kidney transplant at Johns Hopkins in 2011. She wasn’t a match for her husband, but she did match another woman waiting for a kidney. On the day of the transplant, Amy gave her a kidney that morning to the woman. Later that afternoon, that woman’s husband gave a kidney to Amy’s husband. She is a champion for both organ and blood donation, and that passion has worked its way into a few of her books, including the book of her heart, which is Finding You. This book details two kidney transplant recipients who fall in love and she poured her heart and soul into the story.
About the Book: The Lighthouse at the Cove
Sometimes the road home isn’t on a map.
After a painful breakup and a stalled career, journalist Kaiah Ross sets out on a reporting road trip down the East Coast, hoping the miles will help her find her way again. But when car trouble strands her in the postcard-perfect town of Coral Cove, she’s forced to stop running–and unexpectedly finds herself drawn into a life that feels like something out of a dream.
Reid Turner has spent years putting others first–his career as a firefighter, his spirited young daughter, Piper, and the small town he’s always called home. The last thing he’s looking for is a relationship. But from the moment Kaiah arrives, her kindness, warmth, and quiet strength stir something in him he thought was long buried.
When Kaiah agrees to help promote the town’s annual “Light the Dark” Festival–a celebration meant to save Coral Cove’s historic lighthouse–what begins as a simple arrangement quickly turns into something more. Late nights of planning under string lights, shared laughter over coffee, and quiet, heartfelt moments with Piper begin to weave Kaiah into the fabric of Reid’s life . . . and into his heart.
But just as love begins to blossom, Kaiah is faced with an offer that could relaunch her career and take her far from Coral Cove. Now, she’s forced to choose between the life she thought she wanted and the unexpected love that’s given her a glimpse of home.
The Lighthouse at the Cove is a tender, romantic escape to a coastal town where hearts heal, hope shines, and love finds a way–right when you least expect it.
Tropes & Themes
Tropes & Themes
Friends to more
Firefighter hero
Single dad hero
Travel story
Damsel in distress
Emotional scars
Sworn off relationships
Small-town Christian romance
Second chance love
Hometown return
Release Details
Release Date: December 2, 2025 Publisher: Tyndale House Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance Buy Link:Amazon
Why Readers Will Love This Story
Amy Clipston delivers another tender, faith-filled romance full of hope and second chances. Readers will fall in love with the charming coastal setting, the sweet single-dad firefighter, and the gentle way faith weaves through every page. This clean, uplifting Christian fiction story reminds us that God can turn an unexpected detour into the very place our hearts have been searching for.
Author Interview: Behind the Scenes
What inner struggle or desire drives your main character(s) at the beginning of the story? How does that shift as the story unfolds?
Amy: After a painful breakup and a stalled career, journalist Kaiah Ross sets out on a reporting road trip down the East Coast, hoping the miles will help her find her way again. But when car trouble strands her in the postcard-perfect town of Coral Cove, she’s forced to stop running and unexpectedly finds herself drawn into a life that feels like something out of a dream.
Reid Turner has spent years putting others first, his career as a firefighter, his spirited young daughter Piper, and the small town he’s always called home. The last thing he’s looking for is a relationship. But from the moment Kaiah arrives, her kindness, warmth, and quiet strength stir something in him he thought was long buried. At the beginning of the story, neither of them are looking for love. They each start to feel their heart come back alive as they get to know each other.
What would you say is the heart of the romance in this story?
Amy: When Kaiah agrees to help promote the town’s annual Light the Dark Festival, a celebration meant to save Coral Cove’s historic lighthouse, what begins as a simple arrangement quickly turns into something more. Late nights of planning under string lights, shared laughter over coffee, and quiet, heartfelt moments with Piper begin to weave Kaiah into the fabric of Reid’s life and into his heart. But just as love begins to blossom, Kaiah faces an offer that could relaunch her career and take her far from Coral Cove. She’s forced to choose between the life she thought she wanted and the unexpected love that’s given her a glimpse of home. The tropes for this book are friends to more, firefighter hero, single dad hero, travel story, damsel in distress, emotional scars, and sworn off relationships.
What is one takeaway you hope readers carry with them after finishing this book?
Amy: I always hope that readers feel inspired and a sense of hope after reading my books, and this one is no exception. I hope readers find encouragement that God is always with us and that they will find a way through their hard times after reading this book. And I hope that readers will know that they are never alone, and there is always a chance to find love if they are hoping for it.
About the Author
Amy Clipston is an award-winning and bestselling author and has been writing for as long as she can remember. She’s sold more than one million books, and her fiction writing career began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan University and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. Amy works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC, and lives in Monroe with her husband, two sons, mother, and five spoiled rotten cats.
Hosted by Kelly Jo Wilson, the Christian Romance Book Nook is your cozy, faith-filled corner of the internet for Christian romance. Kelly connects readers with uplifting stories, honest author interviews, exclusive giveaways, and the joy of knowing you’re never alone in your love for clean romance focused on Jesus.
Come join our growing community, new friends, new books, and plenty of bookish encouragement are always waiting for you!
Join the Christian Romance Book Nook Community
Want early access to Christian fiction author interviews, new releases, and exclusive book giveaways?
You’ll receive:
Christian romance book updates
Author spotlights
Early giveaway access
Behind-the-scenes goodies
The current Christian romance book giveaway is open now — subscribers always hear about giveaways first.
In this heartfelt episode, Kelly chats with author and podcaster Tricia Goyer about her debut novel Finding Forevermore—and the surprising ways God redirected both her writing and her walk of faith. What began as a love story on paper quickly became a real-life testimony of surrender, trust, and divine timing. Kelly opens up about how the plot of her book took an unexpected turn and how leaning into Proverbs 3:5–6 helped her release control and embrace God’s perfect plan. This conversation is a must-listen for writers, readers, and anyone who’s ever had to trust God with a story they didn’t see coming.
Kelly Jo Wilson writes Christian romance that reflects God’s grace, redemption, and love. As a nurse, she has witnessed firsthand the brokenness that inspires her to create stories of healing and second chances. She loves being a wife, mom-ing two energetic boys, and cuddling with her Rottweiler. Kelly’s a firm believer that hot cocoa tastes better in a Christmas mug, that Hallmark movies count as research, and that Jesus is the King of plot twists. Her greatest joy is crafting stories that remind readers no heart is too broken for God’s love to restore.
Her family secrets. His guilt. One road trip that changes everything.
Raven Cunningham has built a quiet life between the shelves of a small-town bookshop, ghostwriting stories for others while hiding her own. She’s long believed her father abandoned her, until a letter from her late grandmother reveals a shocking truth.
Convinced the reclusive author J.C. Nevermore is her father, Raven sets out to uncover the real story. When her childhood friend Cole Walker, an Army medic wrestling with his own scars, offers to help, she’s not sure if she can trust him . . . or herself.
As they chase clues and revisit old memories, what begins as a search for answers becomes a journey toward something deeper.
Finding Forevermore is a heartfelt story about faith, family, and the kind of love that’s anchored in God’s unfailing grace.
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