Breath of Scandal

One spring night in the small town of Palmetto, South Carolina, a young girl's dream would be shattered forever. Raped and beaten by the three town hell-raisers, Jade Sperry's life would be irrevocably changed. Had she been weak, she would have stayed in the mud that her attacker left her at. But more compelling than her will to survive was the need to see her attackers punished for their crimes. But when her plea for justice was ignored, Jade vowed to one day return to the town that betrayed her, and find the peace she will never again know until her attackers suffered as much as she did that night. Fourteen years on and Jade is a very successful woman. Knowing that the only way to hit back at the Patchetts - the powerful family who made everyone turn a blind eye against her attack - is by crippling their business, she builds a construction project in Palmetto. And as she comes close to the justice that was denied her once, it seems that fate is not only granting her that one wish, but also giving her another chance at love in the form of Dillon Burke, the man she hired to complete the project. BREATH OF SCANDAL is an intriguing and heartwrenching tale about a young girl's shattered dreams and her fight for survival. The author has carefully spun a tale that is guaranteed to hook you from the start. The story flows well and I felt all sorts of emotions - anguish, disbelief, sadness and pride. Yes, pride for Jade and for how she picked herself up after what she went through. And I was so glad for her to meet someone like Dillon, a man who also suffered the cruelty of fate, a man seeking for a new start. I loved how he patiently helped Jade overcome her fear of men and intimacy and help her rediscover love. With its strong characters and compelling plot, BREATH OF SCANDAL is a tear-jerking novel that you won't be able to put down.

Sandra Brown touches the heart in almost every way with this book. I can honestly say that I felt true pain for a fictional character. Very rarely does that happen, but I feel that Ms. Brown really exceeded even her own triumphs of previous books with Breath of Scandal. It is as if you are right there with the characters.There is one part of the book that I found terribly hard to read, but not due to bad writing. In fact, it is just the opposite. I found it difficult because it was so well written and very realistic. You feel like you have experienced Jade's tragedy yourself and therefore you heart aches. Just be prepared to grab for the tissues. But once you get through it be ready to cheer triumphantly for Jade. She is prepared and determined to fight her own battle and I feel that she did a great job in doing that.This is definately not the type of book that tries to personify the woman of tragedy as being needy, clingy, or desperate for the knight in shinning armor to come riding up to save her. Instead, Ms. Brown omits all the typical stereotype characteristics and instead makes Jade into the self-efficient strong-willed woman that is, to me, the true realism of today's women. Oh she gets her knight all right, but she relies on no one but herself to save her.If you haven't read this I encourage you to do so. There is romance and tragedy. But there is so much more. Ms. Brown teaches that you can in fact fight your own battles, overcome tragedy, and in time find the happily ever after that you never expected.This is by far her best book!

A very serious and scary look into Smalltown, America in the late 70's and 80's where one family can make or break anyone, including the law. Where the rules are ignored and ignorance reigns.This was a serious yet uplifting story about a young woman who was brought down by this family and faced a woman's most horrifying nightmare and lived to tell about it. Her struggle through years of nightmares and torment and no justice. A place where no one can help her...everyone suspects the worst yet turns a blind eye. This is the story of Jade Sperry, a 18 year old girl in a tiny town in South Carolina who has big dreams of going to college and becoming someone when a horrible twist of fate throws her into a pit of regret and fear. She can't talk to anyone, no one believes her. No one WANTS to help her. Practically run off, Jade makes a life for herself and becomes a stronger woman in spite of her past. Years later, with vengeance on her mind and revenge burning in her gut, she returns to South Carolina where everyone remembers a 18 year old woman who left in scandal. This time she proves she is no niave girl with stars in her eyes, she proves a worthy enemy to the powerful family who ruined her life.Jade will not give up until her past is avenged...even if it means risking a new love blossoming for her.A powerful tale about greed, violence and true love. I was awed by it and recommend this story to anyone who wants to read about someone being thrown down and then picking themselves back up and moving forward, even though the odds are against them. Very inspiring Ms. Brown, I loved it. Strong characters and strong plot make a winner here...Tracy Talley~@

This was, without a doubt, the best romance novel I've ever read! I finished this novel in one night. It had so much more depth than the usual romance novel. It didn't condescend to readers by trying to convince us that two people can fall in love within a day (as many in this genre do); you can actually feel the two main characters falling for each other as they break down the barriers of hurt that have been forged by their experiences throughout the years. You'll laugh, cry, fan yourself (when the hero & heroine finally do have sex, it's one of the sexiest, sweetest scenes I've ever read), and root for Jade to exact her revenge on those who brutalized her. I wanted to reread this book as soon as I put it down. Sandra Brown has truly outdone herself with this one.

An absolute must read for any Sandra Brown fan. A young woman wronged by a small town "good old boys" system grows up to become a woman of strength. A woman who returns with vengence on her mind and a determination to right the wrongs her own way. I have read almost all of Brown's work and Breath of A Scandal and The Witness capture the top two spots!