Heaven to Betsy

What Doesn't Kill You #5

by Pamela Fagan Hutchins

A former rodeo queen turned paralegal. A criminal attorney with a soft spot for lost causes. To find a missing girl, they'll team up for one wild ride…

Dumped by her husband for a man, ex-rodeo queen Emily Bernal yearns for a fresh start. When a handsome local attorney named Jack offers her a gig, she's not sure if it's the right fit. But after a dead body takes a swan dive right in front of her and she learns a missing six-year-old girl is caught in the aftermath, Emily's heart sends her from barrel racing to paralegal work in a hurry.

As she and Jack interrogate the young girl's tight-lipped mother, a string of strange coincidences don't seem to add up. When sparks fly between her and her boss and dead ends start to become dead bodies, the race to save the girl comes down to the wire. Can Emily and Jack decipher their feelings and the contradictory clues before they become the next victims?

Heaven to Betsy is a mystery thriller with a romantic twist. If you like strong-minded women, heart-pounding plots, and a side-serving of humor, you’ll love Pamela Fagan Hutchins’ nail-biting novel.

An alternate cover edition can be found here.

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Cozy Mystery, Ebooks, Fiction, Amazon, Contemporary

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 2, 2015

About the author

I'm a USA Today bestselling mystery/suspense/thriller author and a big horse and sled dog enthusiast.

My hunky husband and I ride our beloved draft cross horses way up in the frozen north of Snowheresville, WY, where we run a rustic, off-the-grid lodge on the face of the Bighorn Mountains. When I'm not writing or riding, I'm passionate about wilderness sports, always with a couple of rescue dogs, bear spray, a mountain lion knife, and my Judge. NO ANIMALS HAVE BEEN HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS LIFE ADVENTURE (but don't sneak up on me).

I've made some lists and won some awards, yada yada. Amazon Charts Top 25 bestseller. USA Today Bestseller. The Silver Falchion for Best Adult Mystery WINNER (Fighting for Anna), the WINNERS for USA Best Books Fiction: Cross Genre (Hell to Pay, Heaven to Betsy), and others. With books "in print" of over 3,000,000, readers seem to enjoy the books—I think they have exceptionally good taste. {insert goofy grin here} Lots of them follow my show Wine Women & Writing, too, where I fangirl my favorite authors and interview them for your listening and viewing pleasure. Subscribe free at http://bit.ly/PamelaWWWR <--case sensitive.

You can read my series in any order or as standalones, but they're a lot of fun if you do them like this:

* Detective Delaney Pace (coming soon!): Her Silent Bones, Her HIdden Grave, Her Last Cry, Her Forgotten Shadow, Her Burning Lies, and Her Cold Heart.

* Patrick Flint Wyoming-based series (PG):
Switchback, Snake Oil, Sawbones, Scapegoat, Snaggle Tooth, Stag Party, Sitting Duck, and Skin & Bones. #9 coming in 2026.

* The Jenn Herrington Wyoming Mysteries (PG-13):
BIG HORN, WALKER PRAIRIE, and RED GRADE coming in 2026.

* What Doesn't Kill You Super Series:
1.Caribben-based Katie Connell (PG-13): Saving Grace, Leaving Annalise, Finding Harmony, and Seeking Felicity
2. Texas-based Emily Bernal (PG-13): Heaven to Betsy Earth to Emily, Hell to Pay
3. Texas-based Michele Lopez Hanson (PG-13): Going for Kona, Fighting for Anna, Searching for Dime Box
4. Wyoming-based Maggie Killian (R, language): Live Wire, Sick Puppy, Dead Pile (plus shorts Buckle Bunny and Shock Jock)
5. Caribbean-based Ava Butler (R, sexual situations): Bombshell, Stunner, Knockout

I also have a children's book series featuring Poppy, the world's best grandfather, and Petey, his blind Boston terrier.
Free starter library https://pamelafaganhutchins.com/maili...

If after all that you still want to learn more about my books, my podcast, or me, then God Bless Ya.

There are many ways: My website and its blog. The aforementioned newsletter. Email me: Pamela at PamelaFaganHutchins dot come. And you can follow me around the web:

Website: https://pamelafaganhutchins.com
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/pamel...
Pamela's Posse for Readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pamel...
Facebook http://facebook.com/pamela.fagan.hutc...
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/pamelafa...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamela_faga...
Twitter http://twitter.com/PamelotH
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/pamelafaganh...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/pamelafaganhu...
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@pamela_fagan...
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pamelafaganhu...

And, finally, to learn more about my fellow SkipJack Publishing authors, visit: http://skipjackpublishing.com/.

Reviews

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was a freebie. I guess I’d give it more stars if it hadn’t taken me so long to finish it.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book!! It took on a different tone than the author's other books. It was kind of a little more lighthearted than her other ones and there were even some laugh out loud moments. The interaction between Emily and her boss was at times hilarious and you could feel the heat without having to read about it in detail. I know I'm going to really like this series (hopefully, it will be one!) and can't wait to read more.

Having read the Annalise series, I knew that Emily had worked with Katie at a law firm in Dallas prior to her move to the islands. Other than that, I didn't really know that much about Emily other than she introduced Nick and Katie. I also didn't know that Michelle from Going For Kona knew these girls. Maybe it was implied and I skipped right over it. Nevertheless, I loved how the author has tied all her books together. I feel like I belong to a big huge circle of friends when I read these books. And I'm so glad I have been there reading her books since the beginning.

The best part was this was set in Texas! I love reading books that are located in places I've seen or been. And not only did it have the locales, but the language, the traditions and just everything Texas.

I definitely recommend this book!!

[Rhonda Erb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pamela Fagan Hutchins just keeps getting better. Heaven to Betsy is serious and suspenseful, yet crackling with wit. I love the characters in this story. They become friends you want to know more about. I hope to see these characters in future stories--especially Wallace! I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Patricia Pagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pick it up for the compelling mystery and charming romance and you’ll put it down with a new understanding of the joys and hardships of life in the borderlands. As always, Fagan Hutchins creates a feisty and endearing heroine whom you want to follow on to her next adventure.

[Bella Crooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this one! this is a new to me author and i cannot wait to read more of this author!!!

[Ridgely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cancel your dinner plans- you won’t take time for dinner or anything else. You’ll be reading Pamela Hutchins’ newest book, Heaven to Betsy- NON-stop. Hutchins engages the reader immediately as main character, Emily Bernal, meets Little Joe Cartwright aka Jack Holden. You sense their connection immediately, just as Emily does when she feels a tiny shock rocket up her arm as she shakes Jack’s hand. What follows next is what Hutchins does best. She tells a story with ingenuity and verbal skill intermingled with lough out loud moments. Hutchins develops her characters with vivid descriptions. The reader meets Emily’s mother, Agatha Phelps, “the best blonde from the shelves of Wal-Mart: trailer Park meets Southern Church Woman. The reader can actually see Agatha as she walks around the room quizzing Emily about her immediate plans. See, Emily is mid-divorce, kind-of, home for a cousin’s wedding. Her future is unclear which adds to the anticipation of this three book series. At the “wedding” the plot unfolds as a grisly murder ensues followed by the traumatic kidnapping of a little girl. Jack, court appointed attorney for the frightened, enraged mother and paralegal, Emily, somehow finding herself in the midst of a criminal case- a place she has never been.
Hutchins continues to capture the reader with the budding romance and the “what-ifs” happening between Jack and Emily leaving us anxious for Earth to Emily (Emily #2). Hutchins writes pictorial prose with freshness and clarity not often seen in today’s fiction. The reader becomes completely immersed in the life of Emily Bernal. Isn’t that what a good book is about? Taking us away…

[Ruth Mccurry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heaven to Betsy is a book that you just can't put down.

Emily and her new boss Jack (Jack Ass as she so teasingly calls him) have
found a way to work together, even with all of Emily's family problems
and her wanting to find and help an orphaned child. Emily gets her way
with Jack most of the time. But I don't think he ever suspected Emily
to go behind his back and hunt for the child.

A narrow escape on a Quarter Horse, brings Emily and Betsy to some harrowing
minutes as they try to find a way back to the Wrong Turn Ranch and hopefully to safety. Jack saves the night by flying them to safety in his little plane.

But poor Betsy winds up having to go into foster care, because both her
mother and father were murdered.

Betsy's father sent Betsy and her mother to safety (so he thought) and
her real name is Elizabet, but changed to Valentina, trying to keep her
safe. When Emily rescued her, she ask the child her name and the child
said her name was Betsy. But once Emily was able to get a good look at
Betsy and knew she had found Valentina.

Emily wants Betsy for her own, since she just lost her unborn child and may not be able to have another one.

I'm hoping in one of the next two Emily books coming out, Emily will get her wish and have Betsy and Jack for her own.

Heaven to Betsy is the first book I've read by Pamela Hutchins, but I loved it.

Looking forward to the next books in the series.

[Nan Loyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Southern thrills, chills, murder, kidnapping, and Texas women with attitude!

A perfect glimpse into Southern Texas women, their steely backbones and inner strength, facing fluffy little dogs, the legal system, mayhem, kidnapping, illegal immigrants, cross-dressers and cheating husbands, murderous maids, a missing little girl who may or may not exist, good bad guys and bad good guys, attitudinal church women not unlike Sheldon’s mama (Big Bang Theory) but without the Nice, a long-legged good-looking cowboy attorney, and Miss Emily, all wrapped up in a fast-paced story that will keep you reading until you’re finished. The author's character building and world building are excellent. As usual, you want to be friends with some of these people and have them in your life, they are that real.

Trust me, you don’t want to start this book until you have time to read it all the way through. You will not be able to put it down! This is the author’s best book yet!

There is laughter. There are tears. There are thought-provoking, poignant moments. There is grief. There is Southern poofy bleached blonde hair. I just can't believe she went through the entire book and didn't have one character say, "Bless her heart"! Smile!!

[Gay Yellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heaven to Betsy kicks off a new series for Pamela Fagan Hutchins with even more heart and humor than her successful Katie & Annalise trilogy. Fagan has a talent for creating vivid characters that make us want to root for them from the start. Fans will love getting to know this new lineup of personallities, which includes Katie in a cameo role.

Emily is a former Dallas paralegal who finds herself newly separated and living back home with her mother in Amarillo. Forced to take the only viable job offer in town, she begrudgingly works for a cryptically mysterious and maddeningly sexy attorney, Jack Holden. When an open-and-shut murder case morphs into a search for a missing little girl, Emily is driven to find the child, and she risks her job, her health and almost everything else along the way. The settings in and around Amarillo and New Mexico make colorful backdrops for the exciting action as we follow Emily’s no-holds-barred quest. Heaven to Betsy is an entertaining read from start to finish.

[John Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a blend of funny, suspenseful, sad and mysterious, Heavens to Betsy deserves high marks. I read it in two evenings and hated to break away the first night. Emily is a great protagonist, sassy at times, vulnerable at others, with a mother who's easy to dislike until you understand what makes her tick. Jack is equally appealing. The story is very well crafted and the ending was satisfying in terms of not being easy to figure out ahead of time. Part of that was because I was so engrossed in the action, I couldn't stop turning the pages. This reminds me very favorably of Sarah Shankman's mysteries which I enjoy very much. I'm definitely looking forward the the rest of the series.

[Ken Oder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heaven to Betsy is a gripping story with perfect pitch and pace. It has everything – romance, mystery, humor, grief, suspense, and spirituality. It grabs you by the throat from the get-go and takes you on a rollicking ride from Amarillo through the New Mexico desert to its exciting conclusion, all told with Hutchins’ unique writing style that handcuffs you to your reading lamp and keeps you laughing and crying at the same time. I didn’t think she could top Going for Kona, but I was wrong. This one is her best book, and that’s saying a lot.

[R.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pamela Fagan Hutchins is a master of tension and proves it again in this mystery, but even more she manages to tackle hard personal/social issues in a humanizing way. How can you laugh, cry, gasp, and examine your own beliefs at the same time? By reading Heaven to Betsy. Looking forward to the next one. R.L. Nolen, Author of Deadly Thyme

This novel was given to me for a fair and honest review.

[Book Him Danno · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this book I have to add my name to the author's ever growing list of followers. She writes with a style that is intriguing with just the right amount of subtle humor and down to earth realism. I look forward to reading the next installments in the life of Emily and her desired family.

I have rated this book 4.25 stars.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.

[Trudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first met Emily in Saving Grace (Katie & Annalise). She was the stable half of Katie’s work life. I liked her from the get go and although she was married I secretly wished she would end up with Colin. When he announces he is engaged, in Finding Harmony I knew my hope would never happen. Color me surprised when Heaven to Betsy starts with the dissolution of Emily’s marriage. I was saddened, of course, but looked forward to seeing where Emily would go. Things get crazy fast! We are introduced to a bunch of new characters, including the solitary man Jack. He is quiet, tight lipped and Emily’s new boss. A murder quickly becomes a mystery and a fast paced adventure begins! Once again I was left jumping to the wrong conclusions and being taken on an unexpected journey! I cannot wait to read what will happen in the next book!

[Jann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an entertaining read this was! I got many chuckles from main character Emily's phrasing which reminded me of the speech of some of my Southern friends when I lived in Miami briefly. I could almost hear Emily musing to herself about this, that and the other.

The plot was clever and the action fast-paced. It didn't hurt that Emily had some paranormal guidance either. Those episodes were brief enough that if belief in the paranormal isn't your thing, they can be just explained away as Emily's intuition.

I look forward to reading more in the Emily series to find out how her romance with her boss works out. I see Jack as a Sam Elliott type so I can understand the attraction.

[Karen Forcum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pamela Fagan Hutchins is one of my favorite authors. This book is full of suspense, mystery, and enough comedy to make it fun.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie (Emily’s BFF, former attorney, Hailey & Hart) was calling Emily Bernal (paralegal, Hailey & Hart, Ms. Rodeo Texas, former rodeo queen, PS, Texas Tech) letting her know her husband Nick (PI) & the plane are missing. He was headed to the Dominican Republic.
Collin (Katie’s brother) called Emily to let her know Nick was safe.

Katie & Rich (husband) were getting a divorce. It seems he preferred guys or Stormy (transvestite).
The trouble is he happened to knock Katie up.
Dallas, TX. Emily (PG) was to have a job interview at Williams & Associates law firm (Maxor Building).
R. Jackson “Jack” Holden (Criminal defense attorney, UNM, New Mexico St.) was interviewing her for the position. Hired on the spot, started right away.
The 2 were headed to Potter County Detention Center to meet with Sofia Perez (illegal immigrant client).
She is being charged for the murder of Spike Howard (import business, Roswell, NM.).
CPS is looking for her daughter Valentina Perez (illegal, Elizabet).

Next stop New Mexico to see Paul Johnson (nightclubs, cheap art curator/seller).
Judith (Jack’s secretary) & Snowflake (Jack’s dog) came along also.
Back at work Katie met Clyde Williams (Williams & Associates partner).
Katie was shadowing Wallace Gray (CPS investigator).
Southwest Hospital ER Dr. Marshall told Katie the horrible news, she miscarriage & lost the baby.

What happened to Maria Delgado?

Warning: This book contains extreme violence, graphic adult content or expletive language &/or sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. Wow, a very well written murder mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great human trafficking operation movie, or a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Smashwords; Manybooks; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pamela Fagan Hutchins has a way of making you fall in love with people. All of her characters, protagonists and antagonists, are realistic without ever being boring. The MC (Emily) is wholesome without being stiff or goody two-shoes. After every PFH book I’ve read, I find myself wishing her characters were real people because I want to hang out with them (the good guys, that is). The mystery unfolds rather cleverly. There are plenty of “whoa, I didn’t see that coming” moments that are quite entertaining and certainly keeps the pace moving along, without using any bait & switch techniques. Some of the funniest bits are when PFH pushes her MC to the limit. Emily rides those waves with honesty and humor. It’s a page-turner that will keep a smile on your face. I’m looking forward to the next books in the series.

[Shelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent book. Decent writing. Interesting story. Competent heroine. Adult language rears its head about chapter 8. It had the shock value that was the intent and then a few more scattered through the rest of the book so it just made it an okay read for me. I probably won't read any more of author's stuff even though I had been browsing to see what books were next. I think that is lowball writing - drag me through EIGHT chapters and then drop the F Bomb on me. At least if it's in chapter 1 I can exercise my prudish right to stop reading BEFORE I'm invested in the story! To each his own I guess.

Favorite quote
"You are my mother, and I am your daughter. That's forever." (ch 18 pg 184)

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't read a Pamela Fagan Hutchins book yet... Well, bless your heart! You should start now! Heaven to Betsy is the best yet! I can not wait for book #2 already. Emily is a West Texas girl that has definitely had some drama in her life and comes back to her home town of Amarillo. She is thrust full throttle into a murder mystery and the search for a missing child with a sexy Longmire type attorney. I also Love her new found friend Wallace !! Emily is someone I see myself in and can totally relate to! This is a must read !

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story had me riveted in my seat. I love how in the turmoil of Emily’s life, she threw caution to the wind to help find a little girl. When Emily blurted out the troubles of her life to Collin at WTR in front of Jack, I could picture the look Jack was giving her as he learned from Emily why she was in Amarillo. The vivid descriptions transported me to the places in my hometown of Amarillo and of the desolate places of New Mexico. Well done!! Great read!!!!

[Susan Krich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this Goodreads book.
The interaction at the beginning between Emily and Jack(page 37)was great. From there on I found myself smiling several times as I read their responses to each other.
The story starts out slowly and builds to a crescendo near the end.
While at the end you can imagine several outcomes of your own, there is enough left so that you want a sequel to see if the author imagined the same ending.
Both Romance and Mystery lovers will enjoy this book.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. The author's storytelling prowess was decent and her characters mostly likeable.
I found the way the story was resolved a little bizarre, however- wildly unbelievable. As well as the lead character's full-throttle horse-riding escapes just days after surgery.

READ: If you're keen on some decent quality light reading.

DON'T READ: If you need that light reading to be completely plausible.

[Dina Lafollette gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pamela Fagan Hutchins is a phenomenal writer!!!!! Heaven to Betsy is a mystery that will keep you turning pages to the very end and ready for the next adventure in Emily and Jack's lives. It is full of romance, mystery, personal grief, and laughter, not to mention some good ole southern attitude thrown into the mix.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

received as part of Good Reads First Reads

Emily is a paralegal who has recently split from her husband
As she goes on to spend some time with her mother she meets Little Joe - its funny, witty and romantic all at the same time - and when she the character interacts with her boss there are some hilarious moments

A great lighthearted book

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pamela has hit a grand slam with this book! Emily is my new favorite heroine, and I can't wait to read the rest of this series. I would love to sit down and spend time with this quirky, very real character!

[T Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic story, well written and easy to read, as well as entertaining and with great characters. I love the way a little suspense is woven into the story here and there, and it's got quite a few situations that are very funny, as well.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is another in the sharply written suspense novels of Pamela Fagan Hutchins. She has a sure light touch with her novels and they are all a delight to read.

[Debbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't even finish the first chapter. I want good clean fun.

[Teresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

A crappy harlequin romance type book. 🤮