Broken Beauty by Chloe Adams

**Contains graphic content involving the sensitive topic of rape and its aftermath. Not intended for teens under 18.**

Sometimes bad things happen to beautiful people.

When socialite party girl Mia Abbott-Renou wakes up in a garden she has little recall of the previous night -- except that she is naked ... hurt ... terrified. Not only has she been raped, but she knows one of her assailants: the son of a wealthy politician who happens to be her own father’s political ally.

Mia wants and needs justice. Except this privileged boy has an alibi and her father forbids her from going to the police. It’s a critical election year, one that his party might lose if his image as a doting father is soured due to Mia being labeled a lush or worse, promiscuous.

Devastated at not having the support of her family, Mia finds herself in a tug-of-war with her conscience over what to do, especially since she can’t remember exactly what happened that night. Worse, the men who attacked her have hurt several other girls, and Mia may be the key to stopping them.

Mia tries to forget, until the unthinkable happens, and she’s left reeling once again until she realizes that her strength will bring healing and unlocking her memories will bring justice.

Broken Beauty has made me reconsider my theory that a short novella could ever capture my attention and leave me so invested I am begging for more.  With only 85 pages the author created a story that not only touched my heart, it left me running to the computer to see if the next book was already out. 

Mia Abbott-Renou is the daughter to a powerful politician and a French actress, yet she is raised by her father’s staff.  Never feeling she was a wanted part of this family she found ways to escape the demanding engagements and functions to go off with her best friend and be a teenager.  One night when she found herself going to a party alone, her world came crashing down around her.  Left in a garden bloody and raped, she begins the journey of recovery and discovers not everything about her family and father is how she expected it to be. 

With the only support coming from the two officers that rescued her that night, she is left in the hospital scared and alone.  When the family staff showed up finally, she realized they were only there to keep this quiet and not let the fact she brought this rape on herself leak to the press.  Her father’s reputation was at stake.  What’s worse than that?  Try knowing who raped you but not being able to tell the police because the rapist family is connected in a powerful relationship with your father, or the fact you are denied the morning after pill because your father has went against the idea that the pill is anything other than abortion and could ruin his career.  His belief is you can’t get pregnant from being raped. 

We watch as Mia struggles to get out of her closet which is the only place she feels safe sleeping in, struggles to overcome the memories of that night, not to mention having to give a speech the day after because photos of her were leaked to the press and damage control had to be done for her father’s reputation.  Just when it all seemed too much to live with, she finds out she is now in trouble with the law and the man who raped her is getting positive exposure for a football career.

I loved this book, so much is packed in these 85 pages.  I HAVE to read this whole series.  The author creates a story that isn’t uncommon for women in this society.  There is no need for extra nonsense drama because the reality of the situation alone left me shaking my head and feeling so angry for Mia.  I am addicted to this author and this series and I must now go find the next book so I can watch Mia survive this situation.  Lizzy Ford, you have become one of my favorite authors ever, thank you for such an awesome series.