A hookup turned lethal. A spurned, angry cowboy. Can rebel Maggie turn the tables before a killer adds her to the list of lost causes?“Hutchins’ Maggie is an irresistible train wreck—you can’t help but turn the page to see what trouble she’ll get herself into next.” Robert Dugoni, #1 Amazon Bestselling Author of My Sister’s GraveWashed-up alt-country-rocker-turned-junker Maggie Killian is pulled … Grave
Washed-up alt-country-rocker-turned-junker Maggie Killian is pulled to Wyoming by an irresistible force . . . former bull rider Hank Sibley, the man who broke her heart fifteen years before. When she unexpectedly meets his Sunday school-teaching-girlfriend at a saloon, Maggie seeks liquor-fueled oblivion between the sheets of a younger man’s bed. But after her beloved vintage truck breaks down and leaves her stranded in the Cowboy State, she learns her hookup died minutes after leaving their rendezvous. Suddenly surrounded by men with questionable motives, Maggie searches for the murderer while fighting the electricity between herself and her old beau and her new penchant for local whiskey.
When the police zero in on Maggie despite a disturbing series of break-ins at her guest cabin, she realizes she’s got no one to rely on but herself. To keep herself happily in bars instead of behind them, she must stop the killer before the cops realize the man she really suspects is a jealous, angry Hank.
Live Wire is the first standalone book in a trilogy featuring sharp-tongued protagonist Maggie Killian from the addictive What Doesn’t Kill You romantic mystery series. If you like nerve-racking suspense, electric characters and relationships, and juicy plot twists, then you’ll love USA Today best seller Pamela Fagan Hutchins’ Silver Falchion award-winning series.
˃˃˃ See why Pamela wins contests and makes best seller lists.
USA Today Best Seller
#1 Amazon Best Seller
Top 50 Amazon Romantic Suspense and Mystery Author
Silver Falchion for Best Adult Mystery
USA Best Book Awards Cross-Genre Fiction
Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, Romance, Quarter-finalist
˃˃˃ 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 splits her time between Nowheresville, Texas and the frozen north of Snowheresville, Wyoming.
˃˃˃ The reviews are in, and they’re good. Very, very good.
“Maggie’s gonna break your heart—one way or another.” — Tara Scheyer, Grammy-nominated musician, Long-Distance Sisters Book Club
“Hutchins nails that Wyoming scenery and captures the atmosphere of the people there.” — Ken Oder, author of The Judas Murders
“You’re guaranteed to love the ride!” — Kay Kendall, Silver Falchion Best Mystery Winner
˃˃˃ Catch more adventures with Maggie and her friends in the What Doesn’t Kill You romantic mystery series.
Scroll up and grab your copy of Live Wire today.
more
A sign of a great first book in a trilogy is when the reader gets to the end and shouts, “You can’t end it like this!” Good thing book two is just around the corner.
It is clear from the very first page that Maggie Killian, a faded music sensation, is broken and insecure yet filled to the brim with more than her fair share of bravado and determination. While Maggie lives in Texas, she spends all her time in this first book in Wyoming, desperately chasing the one man she truly loves, even though she has probably royally ruined her chances (more than once, if we’re being honest) of ever winning him back.
The action in Live Wire goes from zero to sixty in less than a hot minute, so hang on!
As the main character, Maggie is easy to like, even with all her many faults. She certainly does nothing half way, including swearing, drinking, flirting (and oh so much more), and rubbing people the wrong way. But she has redeemable traits, too. Maggie is a mess, but she has a good heart (mostly), and she’s vulnerable, even though she’ll probably call you a liar if you tell that to her face.
Maggie’s magnetism draws both people and animals to her like honey bees, and her off-the-chart charisma is the virtual heartbeat of Live Wire. The characters; plot; and action-packed conflict, including murder and a whole lot of mayhem, all revolve around Maggie Killian and drive the story forward at a supersonic speed.
Pamela Fagan Hutchins is a fantastic storyteller. Her characters jump off the page with an abundance of attitude and personality, and the plot is witty, interesting, and full of both tension and several sweet moments. The overall mystery is intriguing and hard to guess because more than one person has a motive for murder and is sending off guilty vibes. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself charging through Live Wire like a house on fire because it is that engaging and that absorbing.
When you finish Live Wire and want more (and you will want more), check out the other books in the What Doesn’t Kill You series, featuring Maggie Killian and other memorable characters.
How do I love thee, LIVE WIRE? Let me count the ways. Honestly, if I were to list everything that author Pamela Fagan Hutchins nailed in writing this book, I’d run out of virtual ink. The bottom line is that it feels real — the people, the places, the events that take place – all of it is just wacky enough to feel authentic. And I hate, hate that I finished the last page knowing that LIVE WIRE’s cast of characters are out there doing their thing, and I no longer have a spying eye on them. I need the next Maggie book NOW.
“Maggie is about as useful as teats on a boar hog.”
Main character Maggie Killian is flawed and fabulous. To be perfectly accurate in my description, I should add another f-word in front of those adjectives, and then you have a better picture of her. Maggie is rough around the edges, but she owns it and accepts herself as she is, even if she doesn’t necessarily forgive herself for it. She’s driven and industrious, but no matter how she tries to make her life less complicated, it seems each decision ends up creating kinks – and chinks in her armor. Can you say complex character? (Side note: Maggie likes to use the f-bombs and some pretty creative derivatives, and it works. But if you’re sensitive about that, be warned.)
“Where I come from, ma’am is respectful.”
“Where I come from, it means you’re old.”
While Maggie and her quips and actions maketh LIVE WIRE, the supporting cast woven into the intricate plot are what keep readers glued to the story. Murder, juicy gossip, drama, and holy cow, food. Readers should be sure to have a snack handy because the descriptions of the mouth-watering meals will have stomachs grumbling. And a good meal isn’t the only thing readers will crave as they wrap-up the book: they’ll be craving more Maggie.
Hutchins leads readers blindly along, and the last quarter of the story keeps ratcheting-up in intensity. LIVE WIRE is truly electric! But don’t get comfortable when it seems resolution is within reach – it isn’t. Remember, Maggie and her life are complicated, and the twists and turns and gut-punches in LIVE WIRE will leave you howling “Nooooooooooo!” as the book ends.
Happily, the next installment of the Maggie series, SICK PUPPY, comes out in a month or so, but while you’re waiting, I recommend jumping in pretty much anywhere in the What Doesn’t Kill You series. The other sets of books center around Katie & Annalise, Michele, Emily, and Ava, and each set stands alone though the characters pop-up in the other books. (You’ll find Michele in LIVE WIRE.)
I would be remiss if I didn’t note the excellent editing and proofreading job that allowed me to focus on the story and not the syntax. Thank you. And thank you to the author and Lone Star Literary Life for providing me a free eBook in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give.
Each time this gal creates a new character I think, now THIS one is my favorite! Once again, she has upped the ante and Maggie is my new FAVORITE. She has been described as an “irresistible train wreck” and I couldn’t agree more. Get cozy when you start this book, because you will NOT be able to put it down.
PFH has created a lot of cool characters before but Maggie really hits you in the feels! Have you ever wanted to crawl up inside your book and just shake people who are messing with your character? That’s THIS book. You won’t be disappointed!!
Maggie was not a character I was prepared to like. She is brash and bound to cause trouble for herself and others. You can see her mistakes coming a mile away. But she won me over. I found myself rooting for Maggie. I turned the pages eagerly to see if she and Hank could overcome the past and to get to the bottom of the murder mystery. Hutchins has a deft hand in quickly and solidly developing characters. The plot is clever and unpredictable, making “Live Wire” hard to set down. Artful and entertaining, “Live Wire” is a must if you enjoy mystery romance novels.
Out. Of. The. Park! PFH has outdone herself with Live Wire. The characters are so real, you expect to see them driving up the driveway any minute.
From Saving Grace to Live Wire, I’ve read them all (and you should too), and it has been fun to watch the development of this author. With Live Wire, she has reached a whole ‘nother level!
I thought I had it all figured out a time or two, but she kept me wondering right to the end. I had a hard time putting it down, and now I can’t wait to read the next in the series. All I can say is “Hurry, please.”
Maggie is a fun, fly by the seat of her pants, loveable character you just can’t wait to see what happens next. Excitement at every turn and leaves you guessing who has it out for this fun loving women. Hank is hot, hard working cowboy that loves deeply and is loyal and takes care of his family and those he considers family. I cant wait for the next Maggie and Hank book!
Maggie is such a beautiful broken character, and I felt like I knew her. From the danger she encounters, to the heat she feels for her long lost love, Live Wire is an immediate hit!
An Intoxicating Read: Grab Your Copy & Dive In!
The story opens with Maggie lambasting her decision to go with a low-budget cell phone service, T Mobile. Maggie, the main character, mesmerizes readers with her guts, grit and spunk in Live Wire by Pamela Fagan Hutchins.
Waiting for the slow as molasses cell phone screen to refresh, Maggie props up her phone up between her stomach and steering wheel.
She steals a glance at the screen when she can. Readers flash to their last in-transit cell phone reading indiscretion. They can so relate to this scene! Maggie suddenly jumps as driver in the the car behind her lays on his horn. Her response… a finger in the air…the readers smile in agreement!
All’s calm until a truck skirts in front of her. Maggie stomps on the brake sending her cell phone through the air and on the passenger floorboard. The reader exhales when Maggie eases Bess off the road… to safely retrieve the phone.
Maggie’s mission is to casually bump into long-ago cowboy boyfriend, Hank Sibley, who attempted to rekindle their relationship six months ago. Maggie played hard to get and now she wants a “do-over.”
Facebook stalking Hank for the last week to pinpoint his location, her plan is to casually bump into him… forget that he lives in Wyoming and she lives 1400 miles away in Texas. Maggie is now standing by on the side of the road in Sheridan, Wyoming… waiting on her cell phone screen to refresh.
Things go down hill from the floorboard. Hank posts his evening plans to hit the bar. She gussies up – casually runs into him at the local honky tonk. WITH his teeny bopper school teacher girlfriend. Maggie back slides with a local cowboy in the club who then ends up dead! Bess breaks down leaving her stranded at Hank’s ranch!
And there you have it-all the makings for a grand slam by romantic suspense writer Pamela Fagan Hutchins in the eleventh (11th) book in her
What Doesn’t Kill You Series.
Hutchins writing style encapsulates all that is right with a “good book.” A book readers can’t wait to tell their best friend to read. A book readers think about when they’re not reading it … and long after readers finish reading.
Hutchins character development is exceptional. A reader doesn’t read about the characters- a reader knows the characters. Readers meet the characters, -just as they would in day-to-day life.
Maggie is real. Readers see the big Texas belt buckle she snitched from Hank 20 years ago after their first hook up. They feel the tug on her heart when someone lifts the buckle from Maggie’s home.
Hutchins’ backstory is credible and accurate. She researches the book’s arena. The story plays out as if it in reality it occurred in Sheridan, Wyoming.
Her writing style is infectious. Readers are torn. They want to know what happens between Hank and Maggie… and yes, who killed Chet, the cowboy Maggie picked up. This is the anguish of reading a good book-anticipation of what the next page will bring against the reality the next page brings the end of the story closer.
Good News for the Reader with this good book- Maggie #2, and Maggie #3 will be coming out in March 2019 and April 2019.
Looks like Pamela Fagan Hutchins is the Spring Break Star of 2019!
Having read all the books in the “What Doesn’t Kill You” series by the same author, I was looking forward to reading this latest instalment. I was not disappointed!
Well flowing, great characters and interesting plot twists made for very entertaining reading. The descriptions of the Wyoming countryside were vivid and beautifully written, as were the descriptions of the inner workings of a cattle ranch and the history of the surrounding area which I found fascinating.
Maggie is flawed, but real and easy to identify with, and for me, my most favourite character in the series. The only (slight) negative was that I figured out pretty early on who the protagonist is most likely to be, so the climax was, well, a bit anti-climactic. It didn’t deter me from wanting to finish the book, which finished on such a cliff-hanger that I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
I recommend clearing the diary when you start this one, because I read the whole book in one sitting, I just couldn’t put it down!
Highly recommended.
After reading the Maggie novella, Buckle Bunny (part of Love Under Fire set), I was hooked on Maggie! I’ve been a fan of PFH ever since I read Saving Grace, and I’ll admit that I don’t like all of her female leads – but I loved reading about Maggie. I wanted to learn what happened after Buckle Bunny, and while I didn’t like the big time gap between stories (there’s a lot more that I want to know), I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I laughed, I cried, I rooted for some characters, and disliked others. Maggie is flawed, but oh-so-very human. Can’t wait to see where her story goes!
I was crazy about all the previous books in the What Doesn’t Kill You series, but Live Wire registers off the charts. The new protagonist, Maggie, and the new location, Wyoming, are a mesmerizing combination. Maggie has been through a lot. She’s come to a point in her life where she knows what she wants. She goes to Wyoming to get it, but her past, a murdered one-night-stand, and a rival stand in her way. A riveting murder mystery entwined with romance and the pursuit of redemption, Live Wire more than lives up to its name.
Live Wire
by Pamela Fagan Hutchins (Goodreads Author)
3457887
Linda Ackelson’s review Feb 07, 2019
After reading the novella Buckle Bunny (Maggie prequel) where Maggie meets the handsome bull rider, Hank. Of course, after reading this novella I was anxious to read Live Wire (Maggie 1 of the What Doesn’t Kill you series) and see what takes place with Maggie and Hank.
Of all the characters in this series I like Maggie the best. She is damaged, vulnerable, passionate and determined.
It’s been 15 years since she saw Hank. She decides to head from Texas to Wyoming where she hopes to find Hank and rekindle their romance. Using her business, Flown the Coop, an antique establishment as the reason she’s in Wyoming. She begins her search for antiques and the handsome cowboy she wants.
Then the adventure begins. Dead bodies. Who is responsible? Items begin missing from her cabin. Who is taking them?
Live Wire is full of mystery, romance and the hope of regaining Hank’s love.
This is the first in the trilogy of Maggie books. If you haven’t read Pamela Fagan Hutchins’ other books in the What Doesn’t Kill You series you are missing out!
Time to start reading! Fantastic book!