Breath of scandal

Jade Sperry's entire professonal life is dedicated to one purpose: revenge. As a pretty and intelligent high school senior she is raped by three classmates, an attack instigated by Neal Patchett, the son of the most powerful man in Palmetto, S.C. No one, not even her own mother, believes Jade's tale, and her boyfriend, led to think she cheated on him, commits suicide. Jade vows to destroy all three boys, especially Neal. She has become pregnant from the attack, but she wins a full scholarship to college and takes her baby son with her. Even after she achieves professional success, her violent past will not allow her to enjoy healthy relationships with men--until she meets Dillon Burke, whom she hires to build the construction project in Palmetto that will spell financial ruin to Neal Patchett and his father. A heroine with a one-track mind can be tedious, but Brown's ( Mirror Image ) portrayal of Dillon as a well-rounded character in his own right adds depth to a fast-paced drama. Doubleday Book Club selection. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Breath of Scandal is not an easy book to listen to, as it deals graphically with the gang-rape of a teenager and the lasting effects it has on her life. Jade Sperry grew up in Palmetto, SC, a "company" town, where everything is owned by the Patchetts. The locals are afraid of them because they control everyone's financial health. Jade, a senior in high school, is dating Gary Parker. They are both determined to go to college on scholarships and better themselves, but this dream is shattered the night Jade is raped by Neal Patchett and two of his cronies. Left injured out in the country, she makes her way back to town for help. Believing Jade has betrayed him, Gary commits suicide, and Jade's mother blames her for the attack. Ultimately, Jade leaves Palmetto. She is a strong, determined young woman, who, though now pregnant, pursues her college plans with one goal in mind: to make something of herself and someday return home in order to destroy the Patchetts and free the town from their domination. Dick Hill contributes a great deal to the effectiveness of this story; his narration is crisp, with characters who come alive to the listener. He reads the details of the rape so vividly that they are painful to endure. Essential for all public libraries with an active Brown fan base.-Nancy Reed, Immanuel Baptist Church Lib., Paducah, KY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.