Bombshell

What Doesn't Kill You #9

by Pamela Fagan Hutchins

Temp worker by day, lounge singer by night, single mom Ava is having a hard time breaking up with her long-distance boyfriend and making it without the support of her parents on the island of St. Marcos. Things improve dramatically when she lands a too-good-to-be-true job at a virtual currency exchange, where she meets a seriously sexy man, and goes to work for a boss so incredible he sponsors her on a trip to New York to record a demo. But when Ava stumbles across the raped and murdered body of a young woman, she recognizes her from a shared trauma back in their school days. Ava is devastated and throws herself into avenging the girl's death. From that moment on, it’s one bombshell after another, going off closer and closer to Ava and the people she cares about most.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Suspense

266 pages, ebook

First published July 22, 2017

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...
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Twitter http://twitter.com/PamelotH
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/pamelafaganh...
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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

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

My original Bombshell audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Bombshell is the ninth book in the “What Doesn’t Kill You” romantic mystery series by Pamela Fagan Hutchins and also the first book of three with Ava Butler as the main character. Ava is a single Mum who has returned to the Carribean island of St. Marcos after breaking up with a boy-friend in the States. She is now living with her parents, working a temp job, and singing in bars at night. When she comes across the body of a murdered woman, who she recognizes from her childhood, Ava becomes embroiled in a dangerous mystery.

The premise of this sounded really exciting and I enjoyed the unique Caribbean island setting. The mystery aspects were intriguing and the plot quite complex. My problem was the protagonist. Bombshell is presented from Ava’s first-person point of view. I don’t usually need likable characters to enjoy a story but I found Ava very difficult to warm up to. She came across as extremely self-centered, was using people, and treating everyone rather badly. I know she’s meant to be this sassy, sexy, and outwardly confident woman, but a lot of her behavior rubbed me the wrong way.

I haven’t listened to any of the other books in this series. This worked fine as a standalone, although there were a couple of instances where I thought I would have probably felt more engaged if I had further background information on some of the characters and their history with each other.

This was a fantastic book to devour in audio format. Ava regularly switches from Carribean dialect to American, and the narrator, Chanté McCormick, absolutely killed it with her superb reading. She enhanced the story to no end with her wonderful changes of accents and her wide range of voices. She made a rather average story into an enjoyable listening experience for me.

So while Ava certainly stands out from other heroines in romantic mysteries, which was good, my dislike for her ultimately made it difficult to care about her or become fully invested in the plot. Bombshell is advertised as a romantic mystery, but I wouldn’t really describe anything that happened as particularly romantic.

Overall, this was ok, but I’m not sure I want to spend any more time with Ava. However, I would certainly want to listen to Chanté McCormick again.
There were no issues with the production of the audio.
I gave the narration 5 stars, the story/plot 3 stars.

Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com

[Coco.V]

💝FREE on Amazon today (6/28/2018)!💝

Blurb:
Sassy, sexy new heroine for the What Doesn’t Kill You series, USA Best Book Award-Winner, Cross Genre Fiction.

If you like your mysteries exotic and fast-paced, then Ava’s your girl, and Bombshell’s the novel for you!

Temp worker by day, lounge singer by night, single mom Ava is having a hard time breaking up with her long-distance boyfriend and making it without the support of her parents on the island of St. Marcos. Things improve dramatically when she lands a too-good-to-be-true job at a virtual currency exchange, where she meets a seriously sexy man, and goes to work for a boss so incredible he sponsors her on a trip to New York to record a demo. But when Ava stumbles across the raped and murdered body of a young woman, she recognizes her from a shared trauma back in their school days. Ava is devastated and throws herself into avenging the girl's death. From that moment on, it’s one bombshell after another, going off closer and closer to Ava and the people she cares about most.

[Lynn Poppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bombshell is a fast-paced mystery that I don’t want to spoil for you, but I do want to tell you about it! There are multiple mysteries throughout the novel that converge in some major scenes at the end. These are some of my favorite scenes throughout the book. I really like how Ms. Fagen Hutchins pulled all the plot strings together into one fancy knot. I didn’t see some of the twists coming at all, which always the sign of a great mystery!

Ava, the main sleuth in Bombshell, really owns who she is, and I can completely accept that facet of her personality. When I started reading the novel, I didn’t really care for her. Ava’s actions really grated on my nerves. However by the end, Ava shows real growth. She has spent most of her life fighting against the odds, trying to put some painful experiences behind her. Once she succeeds, I grew to accept her. I especially enjoyed Ava’s attitude towards religion:

“Every religion has its drawbacks, even atrocities for many. That’s why I rotate”

She calls upon various gods from Roman, voodoo, and Catholic pantheon throughout the novel. I find this aspect of Ava’s personality fascinating and humorous. I relished when Ava calls upon Minerva to help her out of a tight spot. We need more female deities in books!

Although realistic, I didn’t really appreciate how the men in her life treated Ava.

“he victimized me and took, took, took, just like all the other bad men in my life, and some of the not-bad-but-less-than-good ones, too”

The actions of the men make any romance in this book negligible to me. Throughout the book, I didn’t know which men Ava should trust, or not trust for that matter. I’m wondering if the other books in the series show more romance, and not just blatant sex?

Bombshell is set on the island of St. Marcos and the dialog between the characters easily switch between island patois and “yank speech”. And honestly, I found this really distracting and difficult to read. I’m one of those people who writes texts messages in full sentences, with proper grammar. The patois took me out of the moment while I as reading.

Overall, I enjoyed Bombshell. It is the ninth book in the series, but stands well enough by itself. The writing and the mysteries piqued my interest enough to check out some of the other novels in the series.

[Sydney Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first impression of this book was pure delight; it was just what the doctor ordered. That impression never left. "Bombshell" starts with a boom and doesn't stop, and in fact made me curious about the books ahead of it. Come to find out, yes, it is book 9 in a series, but the series is divided into manageable units by being about different women that are featured in the books. Also the prior books are on audio, too, so that was a great find.

I'm not sure how much the author rocked the story of the other women, but Ava is a sensation. She's a hot mess, but she's not too terribly self-destructive. She's got a past and yet she has things going for her. In other words, she's very relate-able. The mystery tease and solve is a good one, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the twists and turns in Ava's life as well. Also, the setting, in the Virgin Islands, felt so timely to me with all of the hurricanes. Bombshell is just a fun page turner that is well imagined in a world of its own.

I'm officially a new fan, Pamela Fagan Hutchins. Thank you for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I'll be checking out the Katie series on audio (and am honestly dying to hear Ava's island lingo in that audio, so I hope the Ava Audio is coming soon!). This is just the kind of book I love discovering through Lone Star Blog Tours, without which I never would have found.

PRIOR REVIEW: Soooo much fun!!! Review and give away about this on sydsavvy blog tomorrow (Nov 7). https://www.sydsavvy-blogspot.com

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bombshell came with so many accolades I was surprised that I could not get past the first three chapters. Unlike other readers, I was not 'hooked from the start', I was disenchanted. As my reaction was so different I have spent time thinking about how to address the problem of being so out of step with other reviewers. I think that the book is aimed a particular audience and that is just not me. I did not like the language particularly, the main character was not someone I warmed to and the story seemed (as far as I read) to provide little of interest. To me the lack of subtlety was a major negative, and it was this in particular that discouraged me from trying to read any further.

I think that my response underlines the value of the kindle access to a sample of a book before one purchases. Relying entirely on reviews could result in a huge disappointment. On the other hand, if you depend upon mine, you might be missing something that so many other readers have enjoyed.

This book was just so not for me, although I am loath to decry entirely something that has been deemed so wonderful by so many. I return to my assessment that Bombshell has been written for a particular audience and unfortunately I am not one of their number.

[Ridgely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uttering, "I'm too old for this shit," Ava introduces herself to the reader. In Bombshell, the 9th book in the What Doesn’t Kill You Series by Pamela Fagan Hutchins, Ava catapults the reader through the realities of a single mother living in San Marcos… with her parents. Yet, Ava is anything but typical. A San Marcos native, Ava’s intoxicating personality permeates this unique story of virtual currency and murder. She’s a tough, brash, hardened gal as well as a loving daughter to elder parents.

Ava free lances from ABC Temps in addition to her regular part-time gig as a singer in the local club. Her early morning assignment takes her across the island, a dreadful prospect for any local, but also introduces her to the real world of high stakes of intoxicating amounts of money and power and a back-story of lies, deceit and murder.

Thus begins what Hutchins does best: coupling real life situations with her characters’ lives. The reader is absorbed and interested as Ava learns about virtual currency- a concept the reader has heard about — kind of— but is keen on finding out more… thus another hook in the well written fiction by one of today’s most popular romance suspense writers. Ava picks up the nitty gritty of BlockChain- the currency described in Bombshell as she meets the attractive key players of the organization.

Hutchins, in her characteristic rhythmical, innovatory and visionary writing encapsulates the reader as the story plays out in San Marcos- complete with Island dialog- spoken by Ava and other Island residents. I found myself thinking about Ava and her life when I wasn’t reading Bombshell- a true measure of an author’s success of a reader’s connection to a plot line. The characters become real, the story real… readers are living the story in their minds.

Just as with all of Hutchins novels, the plot line is not predictable, redundant or boring. Bombshell poses no problem for first time Hutchins’ readers… other than how fast they can get they can get their hands on the eight additional books in the What Doesn’t Kill You Series.

My final test of a good book? — I CANNOT wait to recommend it to a friend to read. (Are you like that with things you love?)

And, Pamela, I cannot WAIT until for #10 in the series, the second for Ava- Stunner to be released. Thanks for another “out of the park” book.

[Anna Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will love this action-packed adventure with a spirited lead character who will have you rooting for her in no time. Funny, smart, self-deprecating, she's a complicated character with lots going for her but plenty of trouble holding her back. Just when it looks as though Ava's got her mojo working and a chance at getting the singing career she's dreamed of, she comes face-to-face with her past. It's ugly and the way it catches up with her is ugly too. The murder of an old friend is only one of the plot twists that keep this story moving in interesting, suspenseful, and unexpected directions. Will Ava conquer the demons from her past by finding her friend's killer? Will the good things she wants--music, love, family--be hers or will the dangers in her life, past, and present, be her undoing? You'll just have to read this well-told story to find out!

[Uvi Poznansky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava Butler, a single mom and singer, has memories of abuse that haunt her into avenging the death of her childhood friends. She is a spunky character with amazing grit. Bombshell is the name of her explosive debut album. It's the song she was born to sing. “So now everyone here thinks I’m some kind of hotshot. So I sing to them, pounding my chest, channeling my goddess of the morning-after power.” When she finishes her performance, the crowd goes crazy for her, which makes her reflect on the “Bombshell” hysteria: “It feels ironic to me, in light of real bombshells. Coworkers who are killers. Lovers who are FBI agents. The time bomb inside my breast.”

The story is not for the faint of heart. I was riveted by the plot twists, by action sequences in particular scenes, and above all, by the character. She's real. The author, Pamela Fagan Hutchins, created an authentic voice that made me care deeply for Ava. The language of the story is in the present tense, first-person account, which put me in an immediate contact with the Ava, as if she is confiding her most intimate secrets.

Highly recommended. Five stars.

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sassy, Spunky, Strong, Sensual, Steadfast

Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 5 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars

Ava was found to be sassy, spunky, strong, sensual, and stedfast. She was a woman that once on a mission she was like a dog with a tasty bone. I loved her for a few reasons. She took charge of her life. She was a single parent. She did what was needed. I didn't like the lack of backbone when it came to her suppose-to-be-boyfriend.

The intensity of the mystery had you going forward wanting to know more and how and why Ava was so connected. As the pieces unfold you find that you have more to connect with Ava than in the beginning. I have not read or listen to any of the other books of this series, but that may just change. I very much enjoy murder solving with Ava.

Narrator was on point. I found her voice very much matched the Ava that I was picturing in my head. The genre was a match for her voice also. This was a clean, clear, easy to follow along narration.

*****
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Audiobookworm Promotions on behalf of various authors, narrators, and publishers. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

[Linda Ackelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Bombshell we learn more about Ava. Pamela Fagan Hutchins brings the character of Ava to life. Without a doubt Ava is something! She easily slips between the dialect of the island to Yank speech dependent on the situation she is in. After spending years in the States she breaks up with her boyfriend and returns to the island, but secretly she moves home to be with her parents who are getting older., and her dad has Parkinson's. Ava is a single mom of a 1-year-old daughter, Ginger. Currently, she is living at home and her parents help watch Ginger. Ava is anxious about finding a full-time job so she can become more independent and be able to provide for her parents. Ava does find a position with Mahogany Management which seems too good to be true. Is it? This book is full of suspense, mystery, and romance, even a jumbie! Once you open the book, you will find it hard to put down. So settle in for a fantastic read.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't a bad book. It kind of reminded me of the Janet Evanovich replica characters that popped out after those books became so popular. Eva is likable. I did love the setting - San Marcos was a new setting for me and it's very vivid. I enjoyed the character, the story and the humor mixed with mystery and romance. This is what I'd call a beach read because I could read it one afternoon and forget about it by the next day. Nothing against the book or author, it was decent, likable, but didn't really make me scream, Oh I gotta read more from this one. I did think it was neat that I was able to read a book in the middle of a series and not feel like I was out of place or missing information. I wouldn't tell friends to avoid it, but I can't say I'd recommend it either.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bombs Away The Best Yet

How does Pamela Fagan Hutchins continue to write such excellent romantic mysteries? I have read each of the books in her series, and honestly, Bombshell might be the best one yet. Bombshell can be read on its own or as the 9th in its series.
I fell in love with Ava and her island family in this book. The grisly murders kept me guessing all night; so I lost sleep and never did figure the real culprit until the very end.
If you enjoy a really good mystery and a nice love story, you will enjoy reading Bombshell. Do yourself a favor and read the entire series, it will surprise and delight you. Highly recommended. By the way, I can hardly wait to find out what happens next.

[Ken Oder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I finish a book in this series, I think, okay, this one is the best and the next one can’t be as good. So here I am in the same place with Bombshell, the ninth in the series. Ava is so much fun to ride along with. Sexpot, single mother, loving daughter, rock star, sleuth, undercover agent, big sister to abused girls, she draws you to the next page just to see what she’ll do. And she does a lot, most of it unexpected and fascinating. A first-class, block-buster, romantic mystery with twists and turns and on-the-edge-of-your-chair excitement, this one lives up to its title and then some.

[Lynn Estep · Rating 1 out of 5]

I guess I can't really enjoy a book unless I have some sort of respect for the character. Unfortunately I found little about Ava to respect. Her attitude towards sex was probably one of the reasons, but not the only one. It was her overall lack of respect for herself. And the fact that everyone around her seemed to buy into it.

I was not a fan of her music, or her 'dumping' her little girl on her mom all the time. I believe that
Ava got off too easily (and no, that wasn't a deliberate play on words!) Life just doesn't really work that way. There has to be a redeeming quality somewhere inside of her - doesn't there?

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5.0

"Bombshell" lives up to its name as Ava finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer and being manipulated by the FBI.

Read full review in the 2018 holiday issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Dana Wood · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t know what to say except I did not like Ava. Everything about her was shallow and self absorbed. She is a horrible daughter and friend, absent mother, sex addict and those are her good traits. Not once did I feel like she was someone that drew people to her like she did. Sex on stick is about the best compliment she can get.

[Kristine Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio book review. WOWSA. Bombshell is the ninth book in the What Doesn’t Kill You series by Pamela Fagan Hutchins (and the fourth for me), and it’s the first of three books in the Ava stories. Now back to the WOWSA. Ava is a fabulous (and fabulously flawed) character and there is a lot of train wrecks going on to keep you engaged. But be warned: there are graphic scenes that have left scars on my face from the heat! Use headphones!

“Repression is my friend. And no, I don’t let anyone blame women for the bad things men do.”

If you like your characters flawed, then Ava is your gal. In Ava’s world, there are a whirlwind of plots and sub-plots and side-stories galore. Based on the other books I have read in this series (all the Emily books), I think the chaos of lives fully lived must be a trademark of Hutchins’s stories. And let’s face it: the chaos of living is very realistic thing. I mean, who do I know (self included) that doesn’t have a million things happening in her life? A million fires to put out? Doesn’t deal with “when it rains it pours” on a regular basis? No one. That’s why even though Ava is about as different from me as can be, she’s still me in a lot of ways. It makes reading Bombshell feel more personal.

Bombshell is categorized as “romantic mystery,” but I don’t think that’s quite right. While the ending of the book hints at a romance to come, the relationships in Bombshell are far from my definition of romantic. They are more about lust than love and pining for someone other than the person you’re getting nasty with doesn’t qualify as romance. As for the mystery label? Maybe. The murderer is obvious early on; however, another story branches off, and it may or may not be related to the murders, so there is some mystery there and plenty of suspense. An interesting addition to the story is a paranormal element: the influence and ghost of Annalise, who returns from the first books in the series.

Author Pamela Fagan Hutchins writes characters and scenes that feel authentic and jump from the page. Her descriptions of the island of St. Marcus, the island life, and the rich cast of characters put readers right in to the setting. Everything in the story is there for a reason, and that’s one thing I have enjoyed in reading Hutchins’s books. Bombshell is no different, but a scene with an intentional political statement felt awkward and unnecessary (though I did enjoy the jab) plus including a specific current event will date the book.

“I spent an idyllic Saturday with my daughter and parents, and that s**t is hard work.”

I don’t love Ava, but Hutchins made me feel invested in Ava. I want Ava to do better and be better; I want her to stop sweeping everything aside to deal with later; I want her to take care of her child and her parents. By the end of Bombshell, there are indications some of what I want for Ava might happen, but there is a lot that is unresolved and even unrealistic. Given this is just the first of the three Ava books (Stunner and Knockout are the others), and despite Bombshell ending with a sorta-feel-good scene, there’s no way there aren’t going to be sparks and tension and messes to come that will likely entice me back to the series. (Just with a good set of headphones and a fan.)

ABOUT THE NARRATION. At first, I was thrown by the narration by Chante McCormick. I had expectations of how Ava would sound (based on her appearance in the Emily audio books), so I had to sync with the new voice. As always, I found the pace too slow and I listened at 1.25x and even 1.5x at times. I really enjoyed McCormick’s smooth transitions into the Caribbean patois of Ava and other characters. There wasn’t a clear pattern for when Ava spoke in island voice – sometimes her internal monologue/narration/dialogue was in plain ol’ American English and other times it was island English – but it was always fun to hear and reinforced the setting. There are a few odd pronunciations, but overall, I’d say McCormick was an excellent choice for narrating a complicated person’s life and stories.

Thank you to Audiobookworm Promotions for allowing me to adopt this book for review in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give.

[Tangled in Text · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original Post on 11/05 with giveaway: www.tangledintext.com/single-post/201...

I do love a strong, independent woman and main character Ava embodies these traits and is someone who makes life work for her. She might have been unlucky in some of her quests, as she wound up on the scene of crimes more often than not, but she handled her situations with strength and passion. 

Bombshell has strong and intriguing plot points. A few seem only slightly introduced and didn't entirely play out, which leaves an opening to go further in depth in the next books in the series, Stunner and Knockout. At times, these new elements are a distraction and I wish there had been more focus on the main mystery of Bombshell. All that time spent on other elements makes it feel like the reveal and finale of Bombshell are squeezed in, rushed, and not as epic as they could have been.

The underlying message of Bombshell pulls at my heartstrings and is my favorite part of this story. There are hints as to brutal events of Ava's childhood which even as an adult, make her feel beaten down and nothing more than a dumb island girl.  Everything she does shows her struggle to prove her worth to herself and the world. One quote at the ending perfectly wraps-up Ava's healing process when a stern, loving woman says, "It's not you fault. What a bad man do not you fault. You hear me?"

Bombshell is the ninth book in the What Doesn't Kill You series, and it's the first I have read and I felt like I was missing out and couldn't get in sync with the speed of this story in relation to the other prior stories. I would not recommend this as a stand alone, but after reading Bombshell, I would be interested in going back and learning more about all these characters.  The book is categorized as R-Rated, and that warning should not be taken lightly. This story contains vulgar, raw, gritty sexual and sexually abusive moments that are not sugarcoated. 

Despite my jumping in so late in the series, Bombshell was on its way to being 4 or maybe even 5 stars. Everything was lining up very well, and it was a page turner, but then it flatlined at the end by leaving too many things unfinished. Some readers do fine with that kind of ending, knowing that there are two more Ava books coming. But for me, it just took the wind out of the sails. 

[Ridgely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uttering, "I'm too old for this,” Ava introduces herself to the reader. In Bombshell, the 9th book in the What Doesn’t Kill You Series by Pamela Fagan Hutchins, Ava catapults the reader through the realities of a single mother living in San Marcos… with her parents. Yet, Ava is anything but typical. A San Marcos native, Ava’s intoxicating personality permeates this unique story of virtual currency and murder. She’s a tough, brash, hardened gal as well as a loving daughter to elder parents.

Ava free lances from ABC Temps in addition to her regular part-time gig as a singer in the local club. Her early morning assignment takes her across the island, a dreadful prospect for any local, but also introduces her to the real world of high stakes of intoxicating amounts of money and power and a back-story of lies, deceit and murder.

Thus begins what Hutchins does best: coupling real life situations with her characters’ lives. The reader is absorbed and interested as Ava learns about virtual currency- a concept the reader has heard about — kind of— but is keen on finding out more… thus another hook in the well written fiction by one of today’s most popular romance suspense writers. Ava picks up the nitty gritty of BlockChain- the currency described in Bombshell as she meets the attractive key players of the organization.

Hutchins, in her characteristic rhythmical, innovatory and visionary writing encapsulates the reader as the story plays out in San Marcos- complete with Island dialog- spoken by Ava and other Island residents. I found myself thinking about Ava and her life when I wasn’t reading Bombshell- a true measure of an author’s success of a reader’s connection to a plot line. The characters become real, the story real… readers are living the story in their minds.

Just as with all of Hutchins novels, the plot line is not predictable, redundant or boring. Bombshell poses no problem for first time Hutchins’ readers… other than how fast they can get they can get their hands on the eight additional books in the What Doesn’t Kill You Series.

My final test of a good book? — I CANNOT wait to recommend it to a friend to read. (Are you like that with things you love?)

And, Pamela, I cannot WAIT until for #10 in the series, the second for Ava- Stunner to be released. Thanks for another “out of the park” book.

[Lorilei Gonzales · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a few pages to realize that the typesetter didn’t leave off letters or entire words, but that the dialect was islander – as in Virgin Islands islander. Once I got past that little bump, I immediately fell in with Ava and her crazy life. I’m a little older than her, but I can totally relate to having a small child and working thankless temporary jobs when all you want to do is be a singer.

Kudos to Hutchins for believability and clarity. I could feel the oppressive St. Marcos heat and humidity. I could see how all the colorful characters soaked in the lovely sight of the voluptuous siren Ava. I could smell Ava’s aluminum-free deodorant failing her (been there done that!). And I could feel the repulsion from slimy men’s fingers trying to cop a feel.

I am also impressed with the progression of events and how it all ended. I knew the book is a mystery, but I was so wrapped up in Ava’s present situation that I didn’t even bother to try to figure out who was killing the dancers and why. Hutchins had me fanning myself over sensuous descriptions one moment to clenching my jaw as Ava remembers childhood predators. It was difficult to pry myself away from the present to look that far ahead.

If I actually tried, would I have solved the mystery? Probably not. The baddie(s) were so off my radar because of the circus that Ava has spiraling around her. And I admired her strength and bravery so much throughout the novel.

The only time my admiration faltered was when she actively pursued her music career. Maybe I’m a little jealous of a fictional character? Or maybe I’m annoyed that she finally had a stable job with which to support her child and she was being reckless with it by pursuing a pipe dream. She already didn’t spend much time with her daughter (who might have a slight developmental delay), and a life in the limelight would mean she would spend even less time with her. Sorry, stuffy mom rant ends here.

I really liked the end and encourage you to read the previous books to know even more about Ava and the people in her life. I look forward to reading any other Ava books that come out in the future.

Grab yourself a glass of red and settle in for a loooong night of reading.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Bombshell: Ava’s First” earns 5/5 Caribbean Conundrums…Clever!

Ava Butler, a thirty-something, single mom, is very excited about her new temp assignment with a virtual currency company, but her first day doesn't go smoothly. A run in with a pothole forces her to get a lift to work which leads to a side trip down an alley and the discovery of a dead body. Although a few years apart the murder victim attended the same Catholic school. The memories of her own time there reopens old wounds about her tragic “Me, Too” experiences she believes the dead girl shared. Then more young women are dead, her employer has issues, law enforcement has issues, a possible record deal is dangled, and another tragedy is more a horrific déjà vu memory…this can't be happening!

As an all-time multi-tasked, I greatly enjoy audiobooks, and “listening” to Pamela Fagan Hutchins’s book was the perfect opportunity to go a bit outside my “cozy” comfort zone. With a lot to unpack in Pamela Fagan Hutchins’s story, the plot is engaging addressing contemporary themes, edgy with sexual innuendo and a few adult situations and language to match. It is less mystery in a “cozy” sense and more a suspense thriller expanding into different directions with rich characters including a jumbie spirit? But it all links with more than a few perilous situations and a “Wow!” ending that made me eager to read the rest of Ava’s trilogy.

Chanté McCormick is quite the narrator. She went beyond a traditional reading enriching Ava’s first-person narrative with a pleasant natural voice, but it's the fun and very entertaining dialogue for the “Calypso” accent of Ava and the other island residents, southern drawl from Ava’s BFF, and variants in common American that Chanté did well. For female narrators mastering the male voices is quite a challenge, but Chanté did more than a satisfactory job. I found the audiobook very entertaining, and well-worth picking it up.

[Jenn Belden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bombshell by Pamela Fagan Hutchins is a sexy, sassy, complex romantic mystery – and I’m hooked. The story opens with our first introduction to Ava: “I’m getting too old for this shit”. That line sets the tone for this novel because Ava is no-nonsense. In fact, if you like a flawed heroine, this is the girl for you; she is strong, smart, self-aware and is battling some demons from her childhood. She’s a single mom, a lounge singer by night, office worker by day, determined and NOT afraid of her sexuality. She is very real as she faces her insecurities and the prejudices of others. While this is a very plot-driven story, the author has done an amazing job with bringing Ava to life in full Technicolor (and surround sound).

She is a bit larger than life at times, and in others, she is very human – faltering, self-doubting, struggling, and real.
While Ava’s character is intriguing on her own, Bombshell offers a layered storyline with murder, suspense, intrigue, and a few unexpected twists, along with romance (and a few unapologetically sexed-up scenes. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.) This is a fast-paced novel and it sucked me in pretty quickly, and the Caribbean vibe was a nice change of setting.

Ava’s story is actually the ninth entry in Hutchins’ What Doesn’t Kill You series, and you definitely don’t need to have read Katie, Michelle or Emily’s stories before you start off with Ava’s. There’s enough back story provided for context – and just enough to make you curious about their stories. I’ll definitely be heading back for more of the What Doesn’t Kill You mysteries – and awaiting what happens next for Ava.

Bombshell surprised me – it was a really fun ride.

I was provided a copy of the book for review purposes; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Deone Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time listening to an Audiobook and I would say that I found it to be fairly enjoyable. I thought it was entertaining and pretty well written, and her use of different characters made it interesting. The story had a good mixture of humor, drama, and suspense/ mystery.
The author does a great job of transporting us to the fictional island of Marcos . Some sections of the book were very vivid in describing the atmosphere and I truly felt like I was transported and could visualize the scene. I noticed that there wasn’t a lot of character development outside of Ava and maybe we’ll see more in the future books that are part of the trilogy. She also did a good job interweaving different subplots into story.
At times, I had to replay certain sections to fully comprehend what was going on as not to get lost in the development of the mystery. It did take some extra attention, especially in the beginning to figure out the direction of book due to so many characters introduced into the first chapters.
The narrator, Chante McCormick did a wonderful job bringing characters to life. She was able to do the different accents quite well and make the experience more vivid. The book got a special boost from this narration and helped to keep my interest.
The main character Ava wasn’t the most saintly of women and definitely had her shortcomings. I tried not to be too judgmental and thought there are women out there in society that do fit this bill. I looked at her as a colorful character that contributed to storyline. Never a dull moment when she was around.

[MelMon Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. For Ava Butler it seems that there is someone and something out to get her at every turn. She hasn't had a life of luxury and living in the Virgin Island's is not like what you see on television. On thing is certain she is a force filled with passion, leaking sex and trailing along hearts on a string. Her Caribbean upbringing puts her in a position to land a job that may or may not take her places. If they are good or bad is for the reader to find out.

As a reader I urge to to take the time to delve into Ava Butler's life. At first glance I was worried thus wouldn't be my type of read. The Carribean Lingo was a but hard for me to catch at first, I thought I was catching editimg mistakes, and then it became more clear. The electricity in Ava's sexual activity is titillating and really catches fire. I found myself drawn in and I wanted to read every detail of who she was and what made her, her. Having a child and doing what she needs to do while taking care of her mom and dad makes her more real. Not color coating what she went through in childhood and not being ashamed of herself makes her more real. I hope to read the next books to see where life takes her and see her become the Bombshell that she is. Ava is fierce.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it did slow down a bit on the middle but by the end it exploded with a bang. Ava is a different character for this series and I did find her annoying to start with, the way she jumped from man to man- she sounded like the girl every man is in love with and every woman hates but as the story went on and you learnt more about her story she grows on you and you see a more likeable side to her.
Ava a single mum starts a new job as a temp but on the way to the interview she stumbles over a body. It is not long before she realises that the murdered girl was one of the three girls she use to babysit for as a teenager and the other two girls are missing. With the police slow to start investigating a strippers murder Ava vowels to do right by the girls and keep pestering the police to find the killer. Being the bombshell Ava is it is not long before she gets noticed at work and her boss on hearing her sign sends her to New York to sign a demo cd. When she comes back to the island she falls fowl of the police and has to make a deal with them that have far reaching consequences.
The island twang this narrator uses for the characters is excellent and makes the book fun to listen to.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bombshell fits this book perfectly! Not only the title of debut album of aspiring songstress, Ava but she is beautiful, smart and full of spunk! Ava is a single mom, taking care of her aging parents and finds herself in the midst of several mysteries. Trouble seems to follow her, and quirky characters too! This fast paced novel has twists and turns you will not see coming. Ava proves to be quite the woman, from caring daughter, loving mother to stage singer we get to travel her path of life. She runs into some tough situations but never stops to find the answers. I love her spunk and drive. Pamela Fagen Hutchins weaves a web of deceit and murder, includes romance and humor for a fun, excellent whodunnit!

Narrated by Chanté McCormick, we are treated to a Caribbean accent beyond compare. I loved when she would slip into the island mode and give us that sound. She also can belt out a song beautifully while in the next breath give Ava the view of a murder with fear and sadness. She brings Ava to life, along with the array of supporting characters like Colin and Samuel. A great performance for an entertaining book!

[Trudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved the character that is Ava! She has always been sassy, sexy and naughty but there has also always been something about her, something deeper. I finally got the chance to discover all that is the bombshell Ava and she did not disappoint! When she goes to interview for her latest temp job she doesn’t anticipate finding a dead girl, a girl she once knew and now she feels committed to bringing her justice. All she has to do is deal with dumping her on again off again fling, keeping the new job she loves, mother her daughter, care for her ailing Mom & Dad and oh yeah, try to break out as the next big singer! Nothing an island girl can’t handle, right?! Wrong! One more girl is dead, another is missing and Ava seems to be at the center of it all and she has no one she can turn to! Bring on the action and cross your fingers that she survives!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think I would enjoy this book, as Ava is not someone I can admire or relate to, but it was quite good.

Ava lands a dream job as island liaison for a company that deals with a cyber currency called Sea Coins. Her new boss discovers that she can sing, so sets her up to record with a company in New York.

Ava is attracted to a handsome black guy, but suspects he may be dirty. After Samuel is killed,
a slimy FBI agent informs her that he was FBI and asks her to take over and record all her conversations with company personnel. She hopes that her sweet boss, Harry, is not involved in anything dirty.

After people keep commenting on the lump on her breast, Ava finally sees her doctor and is told the lump is malignant. In spite of the fact that she has dumped him, Collin shows up and says he will be at her side through this.

[Tara Scheyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the character of Ava from her first words:
“Unless you got some dread disease, you can give that thing to me,” she said. Kyan give dat ting.

And then,

"I Ava"
I took her hand and shook. “Katie.”
“My people dem just up and leave before we through our last set. Trouble.”

As much as I loved Katie and wanted to hear her story, I also looked so forward to hearing Ava's voice in my head every time she'd enter a scene.

To finally get a whole book of that beautiful voice and attitude was so much fun. And then to see that her outer armor was mixed with the very real insecurities and struggles that we can all relate to was magical.

I love her relationship with her parents, Ginger and Nana. I love her internal struggle of deciding if she deserves the good things that come her way, and her heartbreak when she thinks she has to push them away. I mostly admire her strength- not just dealing with her tons of admirers or defending her sexuality or trying to follow her rockstar dreams, but also with just trying so hard to be a good person. Every single day.

She personifies bombshell in every sense of word and I LOVE having voice in my head!

[Kelly Billish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous Read!!! I couldn't put it down. Ava finds herself fighting demons from the past and present. She tries to play the part to keep her on good terms at home, work and her music career. She works hard to keep the guilt at bay that she feels when she is away from her daughter, not able to help her aging parents and be the guardian angel she said she would always be. Her adventures take her from her home in St Marcos to NYC and back again, where she finds that she is indeed a BOMBSHELL! Full of mystery, skeletons, small islands, big cities and plenty of sex appeal. Fantastic summer read!