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What Doesn't Kill You #5-7
Emily Box Set
All Three Full Length Heartfelt and Hilarious Novels In This Multiple Award-winning, Best-selling Romantic Mystery Series
3000-reviews and 4.5-star-average on the series (see individual book pages for reviews).
Heaven to Betsy (What Doesn’t Kill You, #5): An Emily Romantic Mystery ~ When a dead body swan-dives from a balcony into the pool at a wedding, gossip comes to a halt about disgraced paralegal and former rodeo queen Emily—whose husband left her for a woman who turns out to be a man. Enter Jack, a secretive attorney and sexy mix of cowboy and Indian. She refuses to work for him, until she learns about the disappearance of the six-year old daughter of his notorious client Sofia. Emily launches a desperate search for her. Bodies pile up in her wake across Texas and New Mexico as the walls around her own secrets begin to crumble.
Earth to Emily (What Doesn’t Kill You, #6): An Emily Romantic Mystery ~ Emily only wants two little things. The first is to adopt Betsy—the girl who has stolen her heart but could be deported to Mexico at any time. The other is a second chance with her boss, Jack, a smolderingly hot and mysterious criminal defense attorney. But before Emily can dare to hope for either (or both), the obstacles between them two runaway teenagers, an aging exotic dancer, and a dead trucker.
Hell to Pay (What Doesn’t Kill You, #7): An Emily Romantic Mystery ~ Emily finally has her life back on track. Then client Phil Escalante’s childhood buddy Dennis drops dead, face first into a penis cake at the adult novelty store. The cops charge Phil with murder right on the heels of his trial for burglarizing the Mighty is His Word church. Emily’s nemesis ADA Melinda Stafford claims a witness overheard Phil fighting with Dennis over a woman. Before he can mount a defense, Phil falls into a diabetic coma. Meanwhile Betsy’s ultra-religious foster parents apply to adopt her, and Jack starts acting weird and evasive. Emily feels like a calf out of a chute, pulled between the ropes of the header and the heeler, as she fights to help Phil without losing Betsy and Jack.
See why Pamela has won contest after contest.
• 2015 WINNER USA Best Book Award, Cross Genre Fiction
• 2014 USA Best Book Award Finalist, Cross Genre Fiction
• 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-finalist, Romance
• 2013 USA Best Book Award Finalist, Publishing
• 2012 Winner of the Houston Writers Guild Ghost Story Contest
• 2012 WINNER USA Best Book Award, Divorce
• 2011 Winner of the Houston Writers Guild Novel Contest, Mainstream
• 2010 Winner of the Writers League of Texas Manuscript Contest, Romance
˃˃˃ Once Upon A Romance calls Hutchins an "up-and-coming powerhouse writer."
If you like Sandra Brown or Janet Evanovich, you will love Pamela Fagan Hutchins. A former attorney and native Texan, Pamela lived in the U.S. Virgin Islands for nearly ten years. She refuses to admit to taking notes for these novels during that time.
˃˃˃ The reviews are in, and they're good. Very, very good.
"A lively romantic mystery that will likely leave readers eagerly awaiting a sequel." Kirkus Reviews
“A riveting drama with plenty of twists and turns for an exciting read, highly recommended.” Small Press Bookwatch
“An exciting tale that combines twisting investigative and legal subplots with a character seeking redemption. An exhilarating mystery with a touch of voodoo.” Midwest Book Review MBR Bookwatch
˃˃˃ Check out the entire What Doesn't Kill You romantic mystery series.
Paperback and audio versions are also available.
Scroll up and grab your copy today.
3000-reviews and 4.5-star-average on the series (see individual book pages for reviews).
Heaven to Betsy (What Doesn’t Kill You, #5): An Emily Romantic Mystery ~ When a dead body swan-dives from a balcony into the pool at a wedding, gossip comes to a halt about disgraced paralegal and former rodeo queen Emily—whose husband left her for a woman who turns out to be a man. Enter Jack, a secretive attorney and sexy mix of cowboy and Indian. She refuses to work for him, until she learns about the disappearance of the six-year old daughter of his notorious client Sofia. Emily launches a desperate search for her. Bodies pile up in her wake across Texas and New Mexico as the walls around her own secrets begin to crumble.
Earth to Emily (What Doesn’t Kill You, #6): An Emily Romantic Mystery ~ Emily only wants two little things. The first is to adopt Betsy—the girl who has stolen her heart but could be deported to Mexico at any time. The other is a second chance with her boss, Jack, a smolderingly hot and mysterious criminal defense attorney. But before Emily can dare to hope for either (or both), the obstacles between them two runaway teenagers, an aging exotic dancer, and a dead trucker.
Hell to Pay (What Doesn’t Kill You, #7): An Emily Romantic Mystery ~ Emily finally has her life back on track. Then client Phil Escalante’s childhood buddy Dennis drops dead, face first into a penis cake at the adult novelty store. The cops charge Phil with murder right on the heels of his trial for burglarizing the Mighty is His Word church. Emily’s nemesis ADA Melinda Stafford claims a witness overheard Phil fighting with Dennis over a woman. Before he can mount a defense, Phil falls into a diabetic coma. Meanwhile Betsy’s ultra-religious foster parents apply to adopt her, and Jack starts acting weird and evasive. Emily feels like a calf out of a chute, pulled between the ropes of the header and the heeler, as she fights to help Phil without losing Betsy and Jack.
See why Pamela has won contest after contest.
• 2015 WINNER USA Best Book Award, Cross Genre Fiction
• 2014 USA Best Book Award Finalist, Cross Genre Fiction
• 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-finalist, Romance
• 2013 USA Best Book Award Finalist, Publishing
• 2012 Winner of the Houston Writers Guild Ghost Story Contest
• 2012 WINNER USA Best Book Award, Divorce
• 2011 Winner of the Houston Writers Guild Novel Contest, Mainstream
• 2010 Winner of the Writers League of Texas Manuscript Contest, Romance
˃˃˃ Once Upon A Romance calls Hutchins an "up-and-coming powerhouse writer."
If you like Sandra Brown or Janet Evanovich, you will love Pamela Fagan Hutchins. A former attorney and native Texan, Pamela lived in the U.S. Virgin Islands for nearly ten years. She refuses to admit to taking notes for these novels during that time.
˃˃˃ The reviews are in, and they're good. Very, very good.
"A lively romantic mystery that will likely leave readers eagerly awaiting a sequel." Kirkus Reviews
“A riveting drama with plenty of twists and turns for an exciting read, highly recommended.” Small Press Bookwatch
“An exciting tale that combines twisting investigative and legal subplots with a character seeking redemption. An exhilarating mystery with a touch of voodoo.” Midwest Book Review MBR Bookwatch
˃˃˃ Check out the entire What Doesn't Kill You romantic mystery series.
Paperback and audio versions are also available.
Scroll up and grab your copy today.
- GenresContemporary
718 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 24, 2016
382 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Fagan Hutchins
99 books877 followersI'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/.
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/.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 16, 2021
The Complete Emily Bernal Trilogy: A Texas-to-New Mexico Mystery Box Set! Oh my! What a ride! Absolutely breathtaking right up to the very last page. Do yourself a favor and binge read each novel in order. Each can be read as stand alone, but better yet, read them together !
Emily! She is one of a kind, brave, daring, smart, and talented. She was a rodeo champion, is an expert marks woman and a snake handler. She falls on unhappy times when she learns her husband is gay and loses their baby. After returning home to her mother’s house she needs a new job as a paralegal. Here she works for Jack Holden who introduces her to defense law and along with it, the defendants. Emily’s desire to adopt a child whom she rescued from trafficking, and murders which are more complicated than a nest of rattlers keep the pages turning. A strong love story connects all the characters.
Hutchins’ characters are strong, well developed and likeable. Her writing is tight and filled with emotion. She connects her characters between books by friendships. It works well. I have read them all. And most of all she writes with a sense of humor.
The Emily Bernal Trilogy is an unforgettable story that you won’t want to put down. The ending is a heart pounding race to the finish. I give it my highest recommendation.
Emily! She is one of a kind, brave, daring, smart, and talented. She was a rodeo champion, is an expert marks woman and a snake handler. She falls on unhappy times when she learns her husband is gay and loses their baby. After returning home to her mother’s house she needs a new job as a paralegal. Here she works for Jack Holden who introduces her to defense law and along with it, the defendants. Emily’s desire to adopt a child whom she rescued from trafficking, and murders which are more complicated than a nest of rattlers keep the pages turning. A strong love story connects all the characters.
Hutchins’ characters are strong, well developed and likeable. Her writing is tight and filled with emotion. She connects her characters between books by friendships. It works well. I have read them all. And most of all she writes with a sense of humor.
The Emily Bernal Trilogy is an unforgettable story that you won’t want to put down. The ending is a heart pounding race to the finish. I give it my highest recommendation.
December 5, 2018
Great Series
I previously read Heaven to Betsy and loved the story. So of-course I got the Emily box set. I had to find out what became of the 6 year old orphan, Betsy. The 3 book series is about a year or so in the life of Emily, her quest to adopt Betsy, her tumultuous love life, and her heroism in tracking down murderers and other evil people. This was a great read. There was a bonus prequel, before all these things happened to Emily. But it was confusing as there were way too many main characters. There are other books in the What Doesn't Kill You series about Emily's friends. As I have not read those other books, I had difficulty following the prequel.
I previously read Heaven to Betsy and loved the story. So of-course I got the Emily box set. I had to find out what became of the 6 year old orphan, Betsy. The 3 book series is about a year or so in the life of Emily, her quest to adopt Betsy, her tumultuous love life, and her heroism in tracking down murderers and other evil people. This was a great read. There was a bonus prequel, before all these things happened to Emily. But it was confusing as there were way too many main characters. There are other books in the What Doesn't Kill You series about Emily's friends. As I have not read those other books, I had difficulty following the prequel.
June 27, 2020
Excellent
Another great trilogy involving interesting characters. Emily is a character from preceding trilogy and these books are her life and adventures. Setting is Texas and New Mexico and is basically romantic suspense with our heroine doing some very ridiculous things in her attempt to start a new life. Ava , from previous series, should have stayed in Virgin Islands--- she is just annoying!
Another great trilogy involving interesting characters. Emily is a character from preceding trilogy and these books are her life and adventures. Setting is Texas and New Mexico and is basically romantic suspense with our heroine doing some very ridiculous things in her attempt to start a new life. Ava , from previous series, should have stayed in Virgin Islands--- she is just annoying!
January 31, 2019
Outstanding Good Books
Amazing characters and animals, immersed in several intriguing scenarios and serial plot twists, lead to a surprising conclusion. Excellent writing in these three stories provide nonstop entertainment. Highly recommended.
Amazing characters and animals, immersed in several intriguing scenarios and serial plot twists, lead to a surprising conclusion. Excellent writing in these three stories provide nonstop entertainment. Highly recommended.
January 14, 2018
Entertaining series, but the last book has some serious problems.
To enjoy reading, you will have to suspend anything you know about orphaned juveniles, guardians and conservators.
Children with funds do require both guardians and conservators, and while in some states that can be one person, most require strict reporting and separation of finances for the juvenile and the conservator to prove the child's money is not used for any purpose other than the child. And, any financial service handling that money will be watching out carefully for any appearance of inpropriety.
That apparently isn't the case in Texas -at least as you read this book.
To enjoy reading, you will have to suspend anything you know about orphaned juveniles, guardians and conservators.
Children with funds do require both guardians and conservators, and while in some states that can be one person, most require strict reporting and separation of finances for the juvenile and the conservator to prove the child's money is not used for any purpose other than the child. And, any financial service handling that money will be watching out carefully for any appearance of inpropriety.
That apparently isn't the case in Texas -at least as you read this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2017
Enjoyable boxed set
I enjoyed reading these mysteries; they are rich with complex plots, and a variety of suspects, well developed characters, and just the right touch of romance. Hard to put down and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.
I enjoyed reading these mysteries; they are rich with complex plots, and a variety of suspects, well developed characters, and just the right touch of romance. Hard to put down and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.
May 3, 2020
Great read
I love a trilogy an nd stumbled upon this one in a Facebook post. Nothing like being quarantined and finding a fun new author.
Great characters, awesome plots and a real page turner.
I love a trilogy an nd stumbled upon this one in a Facebook post. Nothing like being quarantined and finding a fun new author.
Great characters, awesome plots and a real page turner.
August 14, 2025
A great little series.
Love me some Emily. What a great trilogy to learn more about her life after Katie moved away.
Emily faces several emotional challenges, while running head long into trouble as well.
I was very pleased with the ending.
Love me some Emily. What a great trilogy to learn more about her life after Katie moved away.
Emily faces several emotional challenges, while running head long into trouble as well.
I was very pleased with the ending.
February 27, 2018
3 set audio book review. Story - 5 Stars; Narration -- 4 stars. Review coming soon to Hall Ways Blog
March 8, 2020
Another great read from a great author
March 20, 2020
Please see individual stories for review.
March 24, 2020
Funny, good personality, giving us a good mystery as she investigate and the trouble she seems to attract. Good narration added to this. Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
January 24, 2021
Outstanding
If you like books with really great characters, suspenseful and romantic storylines then you will love reading this trilogy. Highly recommend.
If you like books with really great characters, suspenseful and romantic storylines then you will love reading this trilogy. Highly recommend.
November 20, 2020
This author has a gift of drawing you into the story and carrying you through to the end like a freight train out of control. This is my second read of her series having begun with the Patrick Flint series which brought back memories of my 7 years living in Wyoming. Her stories are lively and riveting, the characters real and captivating. I would read to the end of one and keep going right into the next book!!! Have the next series on deck but needed a break to slow down and read other books I have waiting in the wings. I'll be back in a week or two and ordering the next series. Love it!!
July 28, 2016
Great series
This is a new author to me, so I read number 5 first. (Yes, I know that doesn't make sense, but the Emily series seemed really interesting.) After that, I knew I had to buy the box set (5,6, and 7). It was well worth the money. Now I'm ready to go back and read the other ones.
This is a new author to me, so I read number 5 first. (Yes, I know that doesn't make sense, but the Emily series seemed really interesting.) After that, I knew I had to buy the box set (5,6, and 7). It was well worth the money. Now I'm ready to go back and read the other ones.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews