Review: 3 1/2 stars Cringe worthy
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 22, 2013
3.5 starsChloe Adams gave me a free ARC copy of Broken Beauty in exchange for an honest review.  While at a party, where she obtained admission with a fake ID, an under-aged teenage girl from a prominent conservative political family is drugged, raped, beaten, and left unconscious in a park by two well-connected young men.  One being a son of one of her father's wealthiest contributors.  Her father's retinue tells her what to say and not say to the police and the press about the incident, and she is quickly trotted out in front of the press, bruised and limping, to enhance her father's campaign.  She is given a prepared statement - that she doesn't read ahead of time - that has her taking partial blame for the incident, as she was drinking.  Ick!  Her political father does not allow her to have the morning-after pill, as he claims rape victims cannot get pregnant.  She is also told not to name her attacker, as it would cause dear old dad to lose a powerful ally and contributor.  She is a minor, and apparently spineless, and does what she is told.  The story is easy to follow but starts to flounder a bit in the middle when her inner dialog becomes a bit tedious and repetitive, then picks up again with eye-opening twist for her.  I wish someone would shake her for being so vapid. I'd also like for someone to kick her father in an area that would cause great discomfort. It's the kind of story that has stayed with me, I've thought about it for a few days after I finished reading.  I want to know what happens to her and will be watching for the rest of the series.