About the Book
Book: Trapped in Yosemite
Author: Dana Mentink
Genre: Christian Fiction
Release Date: February 27, 2024
When a massive earthquake levels the region, secrets and unknown dangers are exposed…
The ground in still-icy Yosemite National Park isn’t stable, and K-9 handler Von Sharpe fears the worst. But his worries are pushed aside when he sees an SUV viciously forced off the road…with his ex-fiancée at the wheel. It’s only when Stella Rivers steps out of the vehicle that the very ground under their feet cracks and breaks with the onslaught of a terrifying earthquake.
When her meeting with a mysterious client is ambushed, Stella witnesses the man being gunned down by a sniper and becomes a target herself. With the threat of aftershocks triggering landslides and floods, the new mom has no choice but to run to save her baby girl—even if it means teaming up with the man who has no idea he fathered her child.
Trapped in a dangerously unstable wilderness with a killer closing in, Von and Stella are running out of time to get to safety. And every fissure reveals a new secret that will shake them to their foundation…Click here to get your copy!
My thoughts
This story was an intense and exhilarating one. There is a ton to unpack in this story.
I love Yosemite. As a native Californian, I’ve been there several times. I’ve experienced great memories, but also some crazy scary emergency situations, a couple bear encounters, etc. I actually am shocked there was no bear encounter in this story because that’s pretty typical of something that would happen in Yosemite… it’s always been known for bears.
Needless to say, I’m familiar with the landscape, topography, etc.
Mantik is adept at producing fast-paced stories that keep you on the edge of your seat, while creating intense visuals throughout all of her novels. This one is no different. But what I love even more than the great visual descriptions of every edge-of-your-seat scene, is the depth of the characters in this story. Traumas they experienced previously, played strongly into every scene as they experienced an insane natural disaster. It was all beautifully balanced.
Trigger Warning!!!!
I’d hate to spoil a book but there is a trigger warning – so if you’ve experienced the death of a child, and it’s difficult to read about, this book is probably something you might avoid.
Facts v. hypothetical scenarios:
Yosemite Valley has experienced some intense natural disasters: major blizzards, major flooding, and it has been threatened by major wildfires. I have personally not heard of any major earthquakes in the area so at first reading about a massive earthquake scenario in Yosemite seemed rather exaggerated. However, there is a volcano 40 miles east of Yosemite that has been causing some earthquake activity lately (yes I looked it up) so it’s not totally out of the realm of possibliities. Sometimes, you have to suspend your belief a little bit while reading suspense novels especially.
All that to say, this novel was a wild ride and I highly recommend it if you love suspense and wilderness disaster scenarios. It was so, so exciting to read, with fabulously crafted characters. Also, I love the addition of the rescue dogs!
Thank you to the publisher and Celebrate Lit Publicity for providing a complimentary copy to read.
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway! Read more about the author, and more about behind the story below.
About the Author
Dana Mentink is a USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and the recipient of a Holt Medallion. She’s written over fifty titles in the suspense, lighthearted romance and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Poisoned Pen Press.
More from Dana
I won’t ever forget October 17th, 1989. I was finished with my student teaching duties, chatting with my mother while we watched the World Series. It was an epic matchup of two Bay Area teams. As we watched, the floor lurched and the entire house began to rattle and pitch. We ran outside and watched the street undulate like ocean waves. We’d later come to learn it was a 6.9 earthquake on the Loma Prieta fault. The shaking only lasted 20 seconds but 63 people were killed, 3,757 were reported injured and 12,053 displaced. The damage estimates reached as high as $10 billion, with 18,306 houses leveled. Approximately 2,575 businesses were impacted and 147 were destroyed. The part I will remember most was the collapse of a section of the freeway in Oakland which trapped people in the pancaked structure. I remember watching the close space rescue teams work night and day to find survivors.
Little did I know that memorable event would someday lead to a book! This novel combines the iconic California setting of Yosemite and the big fear buried deep in every California’s mind…the big one, the massive earthquake we know will be coming someday. Of course you know there will be a happy ending in the novel, but I hope you will feel the edge of your seat suspense that keeps you turning pages. God bless you, dear readers!
Blog Stops
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 21
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 21
Bigreadersite, March 21
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, March 22 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 22
Texas Book-aholic, March 23
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 23
Lakesidelivingsite, March 24
Pause for Tales, March 24
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 24
Betti Mace, March 25
The Sacred Line, March 25
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 26
Daysong Reflections, March 26
EmpowerMoms, March 27
Life, Love, Writing, March 27
Cover Lover Book Review, March 28
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, March 28
Blogging With Carol, March 28
Tell Tale Book reviews, March 29
Simple Harvest Reads, March 29 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
For Him and My Family, March 30
Splashes of Joy, March 30
Blossoms and Blessings, March 31
To Everything There Is A Season , March 31
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 31
Holly’s Book Corner, April 1
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 1
Life on Chickadee Lane, April 2
Labor Not in Vain , April 2
Lily’s Corner, April 3
Lights in a Dark World, April 3
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, April 3
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize package of a $100 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/2a8f5/trapped-in-yosemite-celebration-tour-giveaway