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Mount Haven
When Rowdy Cooper's life is turned upside down he & his family must find a way to go on. Will the move to Mount Haven prove therapeutic or lethal? Bailey's on the run. For years she's been able to keep her secrets and fly under the radar. Will that all change now that there's a new sheriff in town? She loves Mount Haven but maybe it's time to move on before her past proves lethal for everyone.
510 pages, Hardcover
Published October 21, 2017
2 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Melanie P. Smith
37 books37 followers
Melanie P. Smith went to Dixie Collage and the University of Phoenix where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. She also has a Postgraduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution and Negotiation from the University of Utah. She worked for the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office for over 26 years, most of that time was in the Special Operations Division. She was part of the support staff for the SWAT team which required her to respond on call-outs where she manned the radio in the SWAT command post and coordinating communication and logistics. She was also on the logistics team of the Child Abduction Response Team. In addition, she worked closely with Search & Rescue, the Mounted Posse, K9 and the Motor Unit.
She has been able to utilize her knowledge of police and rescue operations as well as business practices to make her novels fun and exciting.
For years she used her creative writing skills for office related tasks such as awards programs and web content. Then one day, she decided it was time to start writing for fun again. Hopefully you will enjoy reading about this exciting new world as much as Melanie enjoyed writing about it.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 9, 2016
I did not have to think twice about rating Mount Haven as five star. It is well deserved. At 441 pages it seemed lengthy but I can tell you that you are getting great value for money. As I read, the pages were turned/flicked continuously and I didn't notice how quickly I was getting through the ebook. It had everything I look for in a book, great storyline, characters, a dog and writing of a high standard.
Characterisation and development was spot on. Rowdy is a great character, his life style and choices and scenarios he finds himself in are all believable. Secondary characters are given the exact same treatment and details and mannerisms of each individual have been well thought out and planned.
When I looked at the categories and saw 'Romance' I hesitated before clicking the buy button. I am dubious about this genre in books but the blurb did draw me in. I shouldn't have worried. The 'romance' wasn't what I imagined it to be even though it is in the sub-category. Melanie P Smith treated and wrote it so differently from other authors I have read. The love interest of Rowdy isn't predictable like most romances I have came across, the author's main character questions his own interest and feelings and makes the reader pause for thought - Example - It was better to not have her in the first place. So why did that feel so wrong? - This is excellent writing to draw the reading audience in and make them think.
I shall be reading more from Melanie P Smith.
Characterisation and development was spot on. Rowdy is a great character, his life style and choices and scenarios he finds himself in are all believable. Secondary characters are given the exact same treatment and details and mannerisms of each individual have been well thought out and planned.
When I looked at the categories and saw 'Romance' I hesitated before clicking the buy button. I am dubious about this genre in books but the blurb did draw me in. I shouldn't have worried. The 'romance' wasn't what I imagined it to be even though it is in the sub-category. Melanie P Smith treated and wrote it so differently from other authors I have read. The love interest of Rowdy isn't predictable like most romances I have came across, the author's main character questions his own interest and feelings and makes the reader pause for thought - Example - It was better to not have her in the first place. So why did that feel so wrong? - This is excellent writing to draw the reading audience in and make them think.
I shall be reading more from Melanie P Smith.
January 26, 2022
Mount Haven is a quiet town in Montana, and the perfect place for the Cooper brothers, Andy and Rowdy, to settle after Rowdy, the younger of the two, is seriously injured on the job. Little do they know that their quiet life wouldn’t stay quiet for long when two serial rapists/murders set their sights on the new manager of Rowdy’s bar and grill.
I loved everything about this novel—the relationship between the two brothers being my favorite. Their banter is hilarious, and their love for each other is unbreakable. The way the town and their friends rally around them to help them get through Rowdy’s injury and through all the drama and death that finds them in Mount Haven is amazing and shows how strong we can be as a people if we decide to stand against those who are corrupt and vicious no matter how much we fear them.
As I said, I loved this novel. I don’t have anything negative to say about it. I would like to know the results of Rowdy’s last MRI. His migraines seemed to cease or at least decrease after it, so I wonder what the doctors saw.
I hope this book is part of a series. I’d loved to go back to Mount Haven with the Cooper brothers.
I loved everything about this novel—the relationship between the two brothers being my favorite. Their banter is hilarious, and their love for each other is unbreakable. The way the town and their friends rally around them to help them get through Rowdy’s injury and through all the drama and death that finds them in Mount Haven is amazing and shows how strong we can be as a people if we decide to stand against those who are corrupt and vicious no matter how much we fear them.
As I said, I loved this novel. I don’t have anything negative to say about it. I would like to know the results of Rowdy’s last MRI. His migraines seemed to cease or at least decrease after it, so I wonder what the doctors saw.
I hope this book is part of a series. I’d loved to go back to Mount Haven with the Cooper brothers.
February 5, 2024
The Review
This was a gripping and compelling read. The author does a remarkable job of capturing the tension that builds between Rowdy and Bailey and in their lives, as well as these two dangerous individuals beginning to close in on Bailey. The intense action and suspense in this book allow the reader to get lost in the narrative itself, and the author’s descriptive writing allows the setting and atmosphere to become visualized quickly by the reader.
Yet, the character development really brought this story to life. From the dark and disturbing nature of the antagonists of this book and the horrific crimes, they committed to get to this point to the emotional core of both protagonists’ stories and the heated and passionate relationship that develops along the way, giving a nice balance of romance and action for readers to get lost in.
The Verdict
Memorable, exhilarating, and tense author Melanie P. Smith’s “Mount Haven” is a must-read action and suspense/romance novel. The twists and turns in the story and the shocking final stand against the antagonists will keep readers enthralled long after the book ends, eager for more from this incredible author.
This was a gripping and compelling read. The author does a remarkable job of capturing the tension that builds between Rowdy and Bailey and in their lives, as well as these two dangerous individuals beginning to close in on Bailey. The intense action and suspense in this book allow the reader to get lost in the narrative itself, and the author’s descriptive writing allows the setting and atmosphere to become visualized quickly by the reader.
Yet, the character development really brought this story to life. From the dark and disturbing nature of the antagonists of this book and the horrific crimes, they committed to get to this point to the emotional core of both protagonists’ stories and the heated and passionate relationship that develops along the way, giving a nice balance of romance and action for readers to get lost in.
The Verdict
Memorable, exhilarating, and tense author Melanie P. Smith’s “Mount Haven” is a must-read action and suspense/romance novel. The twists and turns in the story and the shocking final stand against the antagonists will keep readers enthralled long after the book ends, eager for more from this incredible author.
November 14, 2015
This book is truly... addicting.
When it opens, we meet Rowdy and his brilliant partner and I'm already set on edge wondering if they're both going to get out of the sticking situation that soon arises...
I'm later treated to a great cast of brilliantly designed characters who are all not too far into the process of starting over in a small town, and whose paths cross or are... intermingled is more like it.
It makes you think "everything happens for a reason" as things just ... coincide.
We're also treated to small town life - I absolutely love small towns and the quirky characters that tend to be involved - Mount Haven did not disappoint in this regard.
There is suspense and there is romance - and I do not mean together. The budding romance is in the midst of some intense action. The reader is repeatedly treated to the POV of the deranged antagonists in this fun adventure - making it all the more juicy.
I highly recommend this read - whatever genre you favor as it's got bits of many going on.
Very entertaining and I got sucked in to the point that, I missed it when I had to step away.
A really fun read.
*I did receive an advance copy for free in exchange for my honest review.
When it opens, we meet Rowdy and his brilliant partner and I'm already set on edge wondering if they're both going to get out of the sticking situation that soon arises...
I'm later treated to a great cast of brilliantly designed characters who are all not too far into the process of starting over in a small town, and whose paths cross or are... intermingled is more like it.
It makes you think "everything happens for a reason" as things just ... coincide.
We're also treated to small town life - I absolutely love small towns and the quirky characters that tend to be involved - Mount Haven did not disappoint in this regard.
There is suspense and there is romance - and I do not mean together. The budding romance is in the midst of some intense action. The reader is repeatedly treated to the POV of the deranged antagonists in this fun adventure - making it all the more juicy.
I highly recommend this read - whatever genre you favor as it's got bits of many going on.
Very entertaining and I got sucked in to the point that, I missed it when I had to step away.
A really fun read.
*I did receive an advance copy for free in exchange for my honest review.
November 17, 2015
I like a good police story. I've read most of Joseph Wambaugh's books and enjoy them very much, especially his earlier works. You can tell immediately he is very knowledgeable of the inner workings of police work, and it reflects in his writing.
Recently I read Mount Haven by Melanie P Smith. The cover didn't shout police story but I was intrigued by a small icon of handcuffs in the title. What a pleasant surprise this book was. Mount Haven is a police story, a good police story, told by an author who obviously knows the subject matter.
The book starts in high gear and doesn't let up anytime soon. I was immediately drawn into the story line and was kept wondering what was going to happen next. I felt like I was right there with the characters. A very good read. Hope to see more like this one from this author.
Recently I read Mount Haven by Melanie P Smith. The cover didn't shout police story but I was intrigued by a small icon of handcuffs in the title. What a pleasant surprise this book was. Mount Haven is a police story, a good police story, told by an author who obviously knows the subject matter.
The book starts in high gear and doesn't let up anytime soon. I was immediately drawn into the story line and was kept wondering what was going to happen next. I felt like I was right there with the characters. A very good read. Hope to see more like this one from this author.
March 15, 2017
Well done author, you got me with a romance. I am nor a fan of romance books as 9 out of 10 bore me to death. This is a book that rose above the rest for me. I don't bother reading reviews before I read a book nor do I even get too excited about the blurb. To be honest the blurb wouldn't have got me excited here but that is my only criticism apart from the fact that anyone is called Rowdy. Really good writing here and by that I mean, it is not just technically good, but Melanie has written a great story. The setting in particular comes alive under her pen and she has a skill with developing her story through stylish characterization, even if one of them is called Rowdy. But Rowdy is class. I would go so far as to extend that compliment to the whole book. A well deserved 5 stars.
July 12, 2018
The only thing to make retirement worse for a career cop, is to be compelled to retire through injury. In this tale of suspense, romance, action, and death, a remote town becomes the hub of a wide variety of relationships.
The cast of characters includes the injured retiree, his serving brother and family, people hiding from their pasts, psychopaths, and a smattering of others, who all play a part in the interconnecting drama. Let us not forget the retired cop’s sidekick, Knight, an ex-cop K9.
The various aspects of the tale are cleverly interwoven to maintain a steady pace and hold the reader’s interest.
If you like to be taken on a rollercoaster journey with a wide variety of well-developed characters, including the bad guys, then this story is for you.
***
The cast of characters includes the injured retiree, his serving brother and family, people hiding from their pasts, psychopaths, and a smattering of others, who all play a part in the interconnecting drama. Let us not forget the retired cop’s sidekick, Knight, an ex-cop K9.
The various aspects of the tale are cleverly interwoven to maintain a steady pace and hold the reader’s interest.
If you like to be taken on a rollercoaster journey with a wide variety of well-developed characters, including the bad guys, then this story is for you.
***
Read
August 22, 2016Mount Haven was one of my favorite books so far. I love the novel and hope you will do more of these types of cop novels. I do not have very much time to read at all, but when I do there is nothing like a good paperback book. I was hooked as soon as I started reading it and finished it on my recent camping trip. I love this novel and your dedication page so keep this series going Melanie.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews