Download or read book The Perfect Scandal written by Delilah Marvelle and published by HQN Books. This book was released on 2011-03-01 with total page 377 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: If there is anything Tristan Adam Hargrove, fourth Marquis of Moreland, has learned to avoid, it's scandal. For the dark and dashing lord is not only an honorable gentleman who would never seduce a woman for his own gain, he is also the author of How to Avoid a Scandal, the infamous red book that has swept like wildfire through the better part of London society. When a raven-haired beauty arrives as his new neighbor, he knows better than to succumb to the desire he feels. He knows little about her—only that she is high born, a protégé of the Crown and completely unsuitable for the base passions he hides from the world. If only he had never glimpsed the vulnerable beauty one fateful night. If only her lips were not so ravishingly red. If only it were not already too late to save her and himself from the untamed passion he is about to unleash in the name of love.

Download or read book The Perfect Scandal A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller Book Twenty Three written by Blake Pierce and published by Blake Pierce. This book was released on 2022-11-04 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jessie, taken hostage, is in the fight of her life. So used to saving others, she finds the table turned, and at the mercy of her colleagues to find her in time—while at the same time, murders pile up on the outside world, offering her colleagues a grisly trail to her. Is there any chance of escape? “A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.” —Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ THE PERFECT SCANDAL is book #23 in a new psychological suspense series by bestselling author Blake Pierce, which begins with The Perfect Wife, a #1 bestseller (and free download) with over 5,000 five-star ratings and 1,000 five-star reviews. Can Jessie outsmart her keeper before it’s too late? Or will Jessie Hunt become just another cold case? A fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense, the JESSIE HUNT series is a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #24 in the series—THE PERFECT MASK—is now also available. “An edge of your seat thriller in a new series that keeps you turning pages! ...So many twists, turns and red herrings… I can't wait to see what happens next.” —Reader review (Her Last Wish) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Download or read book The Perfect Scandal The Scandal Series Book 3 Mills Boon Historical written by Delilah Marvelle and published by HarperCollins UK. This book was released on 2012-07-01 with total page 239 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: THE MARQUIS’S MYSTERY LADY

Download or read book Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Bundle The Perfect Scandal 23 and The Perfect Mask 24 written by Blake Pierce and published by Blake Pierce. This book was released on 2022-12-28 with total page 631 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A bundle of books #23 (THE PERFECT SCANDAL) and #24 (THE PERFECT MASK) in Blake Pierce’s Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Mystery series! This bundle offers books twenty-three and twenty-four in one convenient file, with over 100,000 words of reading. In THE PERFECT SCANDAL (Book #23), Jessie, taken hostage, is in the fight of her life. So used to saving others, she finds the table turned, and at the mercy of her colleagues to find her in time—while at the same time, murders pile up on the outside world, offering her colleagues a grisly trail to her. Is there any chance of escape? Can Jessie outsmart her keeper before it’s too late? Or will Jessie Hunt become just another cold case? In THE PERFECT MASK (Book #24), when high-society women are found dead in their opulent California homes, Jessie Hunt is summoned to crack the case. With little to connect them—other than hidden scandal—Jessie is at a loss. Why are they being targeted? And who is next? These wealthy wives and moms are unlikely targets, and with no sign of foul play, connecting the dots seems impossible. Yet Jessie digs deep, plumbing this exclusive world for clues, finding out more than she wished she’d ever knew. But every society has a dark side. And Jessie may just be about to step into a killer’s arms. A fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense, the JESSIE HUNT suspense series is a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Books #25 and #26 are also available!

Download or read book The Perfect Scandal written by Kit Garland and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book A Perfect Scandal written by Tina Gabrielle and published by Kensington Publishing Corp.. This book was released on 2010-10-01 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Lady Seeking Scandal Lady Isabel Cameron has little use for marriage and propriety. Her dream is to study art in Paris. But her father has engaged her to a waddling, bankrupt, domineering lord twice her age. When her childhood flame Marcus Hawksley reappears--handsome, single, and socially snubbed--Isabel devises the perfect escape. She will solicit Marcus's assistance to destroy her reputation. A Man With Nothing To Lose Marcus has already felt the wrath of the ton, with his business as a stockbroker deemed unacceptable. But he is no despoiler of innocent ladies--until by chance, Isabel's improper advance leaves her the only witness against a lie that could truly ruin him. Faced with her father's demands for marriage, Isabel and Marcus agree to a wedding of convenience--and six months' tenure living as supposed husband and wife. But as the heat between them grows, what seemed a pretense becomes deliciously real. . . Praise for Lady of Scandal "A tantalizing tale. . .with sizzle and characters that engage readers' emotions." –Romantic Times

Download or read book The Scandal of a Perfect Kiss written by Merry Farmer and published by . This book was released on 2019-10-29 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: She doesn't have time to fall in love....Lady Henrietta Hopewell, the widowed Marchioness of Tavistock, is one of the most powerful women in London. As the leader of the most prestigious ladies' club in town, The May Flowers, she holds the course of British politics in the palm of her hand, all while raising her beloved son, Ricky, the current Marquess of Tavistock. Offers of marriage fly her way at every turn, but Henrietta's heart belongs to only one man.He doesn't have the heart for romance....After a vicious attack just over a year before, Lord Fergus O'Shea is struggling to become half the man he once was. Confined to a wheelchair, dependent on his friends for a home in London, he can think of only one thing-bringing Lord Charles Denbigh, the man behind his attack, to justice. But even as Fergus closes in on Denbigh, every fiber of his being longs for the one thing he knows he can never have, Henrietta.Henrietta is unwilling to be held at arm's length, though, and sets out to prove to Fergus that he is more than man enough to satisfy her on every level. But when the scandal of their intensifying relationship puts Henrietta in danger of losing her son, she must choose between the two people who share her heart. And when Lord Denbigh turns out to be the wedge keeping Fergus and Henrietta apart, Fergus must summon up the strength he thinks he's lost and overcome his physical disabilities to show Henrietta, Denbigh, and the world that true strength comes from the heart.PLEASE BE ADVISED: Steam level - very spicy!THE MAY FLOWERS series is a continuation of THE SILVER FOXES OF WESTMINSTER series, involving the younger generation. It consists of: A LADY'S FIRST SCANDALIT'S ONLY A SCANDAL IF YOU'RE CAUGHTTHE SCANDAL OF A PERFECT KISSTHE EARL'S SCANDALOUS BARGAINTHE ROAD TO SCANDAL IS PAVED WITH WICKED INTENTIONSWHEN LADY INNOCENCE MET DR. SCANDALOU

Download or read book A Summer Scandal written by Kat French and published by HarperCollins UK. This book was released on 2018-06-28 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ‘Fun and sexy – a perfect beach read’ THE SUN ‘Brimming full of joy and sunshine’ JULES WAKE Summer has never been so scandalous...

Download or read book The Perfect Expression A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller Book Thirty One written by Blake Pierce and published by Blake Pierce. This book was released on 2024-02-03 with total page 295 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In an exclusive, wealthy neighborhood, women are turning up dead, a killer amongst them in plain sight. Jessie must immerse herself in the world of the wealthy, and look behind their delicate façade to uncover the secrets and lies, and to find the truth before it’s too late…. “A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.” —Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ THE PERFECT EXPRESSION is book #31 in a new psychological suspense series by bestselling author Blake Pierce, which begins with The Perfect Wife, a #1 bestseller (and free download) with over 5,000 five-star ratings and 1,000 five-star reviews. A fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense, the JESSIE HUNT series is a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Future books in the series will soon be available. “An edge of your seat thriller in a new series that keeps you turning pages! ...So many twists, turns and red herrings… I can't wait to see what happens next.” —Reader review (Her Last Wish) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A strong, complex story about two FBI agents trying to stop a serial killer. If you want an author to capture your attention and have you guessing, yet trying to put the pieces together, Pierce is your author!” —Reader review (Her Last Wish) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A typical Blake Pierce twisting, turning, roller coaster ride suspense thriller. Will have you turning the pages to the last sentence of the last chapter!!!” —Reader review (City of Prey) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Right from the start we have an unusual protagonist that I haven't seen done in this genre before. The action is nonstop… A very atmospheric novel that will keep you turning pages well into the wee hours.” —Reader review (City of Prey) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Everything that I look for in a book… a great plot, interesting characters, and grabs your interest right away. The book moves along at a breakneck pace and stays that way until the end. Now on go I to book two!” —Reader review (Girl, Alone) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Exciting, heart pounding, edge of your seat book… a must read for mystery and suspense readers!” —Reader review (Girl, Alone) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Download or read book The Perfect Ruse A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller Book Twenty Five written by Blake Pierce and published by Blake Pierce. This book was released on 2023-02-21 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When wealthy housewives are found dead in their own backyards, victims of a serial killer dubbed the “backyard killer,” Jessie must solve the case in the face of tremendous media pressure and a ticking clock. What secrets lie behind these hedges? And what do these victims have in common? “A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.” —Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ THE PERFECT RUSE is book #25 in a new psychological suspense series by bestselling author Blake Pierce, which begins with The Perfect Wife, a #1 bestseller (and free download) with over 5,000 five-star ratings and 1,000 five-star reviews. Jessie is baffled at these crime scenes, so isolated, with seemingly no way the killer could have known these women were there. Yet something, she knows, must be connecting them. Behind their troubled marriages and phony friendships, a killer is lurking. But can Jessie uncover him before the next victim dies? A fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense, the JESSIE HUNT series is a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #26 in the series—THE PERFECT VENEER—is now also available. “An edge of your seat thriller in a new series that keeps you turning pages! ...So many twists, turns and red herrings… I can't wait to see what happens next.” —Reader review (Her Last Wish) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A strong, complex story about two FBI agents trying to stop a serial killer. If you want an author to capture your attention and have you guessing, yet trying to put the pieces together, Pierce is your author!” —Reader review (Her Last Wish) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A typical Blake Pierce twisting, turning, roller coaster ride suspense thriller. Will have you turning the pages to the last sentence of the last chapter!!!” —Reader review (City of Prey) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Right from the start we have an unusual protagonist that I haven't seen done in this genre before. The action is nonstop… A very atmospheric novel that will keep you turning pages well into the wee hours.” —Reader review (City of Prey) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Everything that I look for in a book… a great plot, interesting characters, and grabs your interest right away. The book moves along at a breakneck pace and stays that way until the end. Now on go I to book two!” —Reader review (Girl, Alone) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Exciting, heart pounding, edge of your seat book… a must read for mystery and suspense readers!” —Reader review (Girl, Alone) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Download or read book Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Bundle The Perfect Veneer 26 and The Perfect People 27 written by Blake Pierce and published by Blake Pierce. This book was released on 2023-09-18 with total page 608 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A bundle of books #26 (THE PERFECT VENEER) and #27 (THE PERFECT PEOPLE) in Blake Pierce’s Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Mystery series! This bundle offers books twenty-six and twenty-seven in one convenient file, with over 100,000 words of reading. In THE PERFECT VENEER (Book #26), when a wealthy couple is found dead in their home’s high-tech panic room, Jessie Hunt is summoned to the crime scene. In this room designed to be safe from all harm, how has the killer managed to kill these people? Why? And which opulent home will he strike next? Jessie must enter the killer’s mind, his traumatic past, to decode the clues at the crime scene. Can she stop him before he strikes again? In THE PERFECT PEOPLE (Book #27), when the hostess of a decadent Malibu beach party is found dead in her home, it seems clear that a killer is stalking these parties and looking for his next victim. But as Jessie digs deeper and enters this killer’s mind, she realizes there is more than meets the eye: these murders are personal. And if she doesn’t stop him soon, another woman will be dead. A fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense, the JESSIE HUNT suspense series is a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Future books in the series are also available!

Download or read book Scandal Never Sleeps written by Shayla Black and published by National Geographic Books. This book was released on 2015-08-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the New York Times bestselling authors of the Masters of Ménage series.... They are the Perfect Gentlemen of Creighton Academy: privileged, wealthy, powerful friends with a wild side. But a deadly scandal is about to tear down their seemingly ideal lives. Maddox Crawford’s sudden death sends Gabriel Bond reeling. Not only is he burying his best friend, he’s cleaning up Mad’s messes, including his troubled company. Grieving and restless, Gabe escapes his worries in the arms of a beautiful stranger. But his mind-blowing one-night stand is about to come back to haunt him.... Mad groomed Everly Parker to be a rising star in the executive world. Now that he’s gone, she’s sure her job will be the next thing she mourns, especially after she ends up accidentally sleeping with her new boss. If only their night together hadn’t been so incendiary—or Gabe like a fantasy come true.... As Gabe and Everly struggle to control the heated tension between them, they discover evidence that Mad’s death was no accident. Now they must bank their smoldering passions to hunt down a murderer—because Mad had secrets that someone was willing to kill for, and Gabe or Everly could be the next target....

Download or read book Ten Kisses to Scandal written by Vivienne Lorret and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2018-12-24 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Bourne Matrimonial Agency has one rule: Never fall in love with the client. However, they never said anything about kissing a rake… Briar Bourne’s matchmaking career could be summed up in two words—comic disaster. Unless she can learn about the irresistible forces that draw men and women together, her professional future looks rather bleak. But Briar has an intriguing plan—enlisting London’s most irredeemable rake to teach her everything he knows about attraction. Given his notorious reputation, it’s no surprise that Nicholas Blacklowe, the Earl of Edgemont, requests one thing in exchange for his tutelage. For every lesson, he wants a kiss in return. And what harm could there be in a simple kiss? After all, Briar would never fall for a scoundrel… Nicholas has no romantic notions about love, and no intention of changing his ways. He’s only helping Briar so that she can find the perfect bride for his jilted cousin. Yet Briar is so clever, so curious, so candid—so blasted tempting—that soon, Nicholas can’t stop wondering what it might be like if he was irresistible to her. Ten lessons. Ten kisses. And a million ways to fall hopelessly, scandalously in love.

Download or read book When You re Safe A Finn Wright FBI Mystery Book Two written by Blake Pierce and published by Blake Pierce. This book was released on 2023-09-19 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: FBI Special Agent Finn Wright, put on leave after bending the rules, decides to stay in England and help his detective friend with a new case: a noble has been found murdered in a spectacular historic mansion in the center of London, and with the media all over it, the clock is ticking before this killer strikes again. Was it random? Or is there a killer lurking in this world or privilege? “A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.” —Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ WHEN YOU’RE SAFE is book #2 in a long-anticipated new series by #1 bestseller and USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose bestseller Once Gone (a free download) has received over 7,000 five star ratings and reviews. Recently put on leave and divorced after he caught his wife cheating on him, Finn needs a fresh start in life. He thought a visit to an old friend in a tranquil small town in England would be a good step—until his friend needs his expertise with a series of murders in spectacular estates. With the local police chief impressed, Finn is asked to stay on, as they need his help. As Finn’s eyes are opened to a world of storied wealth, history and privacy, he realizes that he has much to learn—but that killers are universal…. A page-turning crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured FBI agent, the Finn Wright series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Fans of Rachel Caine, Teresa Driscoll and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love. Future books in the series are also available! “An edge of your seat thriller in a new series that keeps you turning pages! ...So many twists, turns and red herrings… I can't wait to see what happens next.” —Reader review (Her Last Wish) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A strong, complex story about two FBI agents trying to stop a serial killer. If you want an author to capture your attention and have you guessing, yet trying to put the pieces together, Pierce is your author!” —Reader review (Her Last Wish) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A typical Blake Pierce twisting, turning, roller coaster ride suspense thriller. Will have you turning the pages to the last sentence of the last chapter!!!” —Reader review (City of Prey) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Right from the start we have an unusual protagonist that I haven't seen done in this genre before. The action is nonstop… A very atmospheric novel that will keep you turning pages well into the wee hours.” —Reader review (City of Prey) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Everything that I look for in a book… a great plot, interesting characters, and grabs your interest right away. The book moves along at a breakneck pace and stays that way until the end. Now on go I to book two!” —Reader review (Girl, Alone) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Exciting, heart pounding, edge of your seat book… a must read for mystery and suspense readers!” —Reader review (Girl, Alone) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Download or read book Her Last Regret A Rachel Gift FBI Suspense Thriller Book 9 written by Blake Pierce and published by Blake Pierce. This book was released on 2023-05-25 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Medical staff are turning up murdered, the victim of a serial killer, and FBI Special Agent Rachel Gift must race against time to save those who are trying to save others. Yet this twisted killer is too smart, and always seems to be one step ahead. “A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.” —Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone) HER LAST REGRET (A Rachel Gift FBI Suspense Thriller) is book #9 in a long-anticipated new series by #1 bestseller and USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose bestseller Once Gone (a free download) has received over 7,000 five star ratings and reviews. FBI Agent Rachel Gift, 33, unparalleled for her ability to enter the minds of serial killers, is a rising star in the Behavioral Crimes Unit—until a routine doctor visit reveals she has but a few months left to live. Not wishing to burden others with her pain, Rachel decides, agonizing as it is, not to tell anyone—not even her boss, her partner, her husband, or her seven-year-old daughter. She wants to go down fighting, and to take as many serial killers with her as she can, but she can feel herself slipping. She has taken a turn for the worse, and won’t be able to hide much longer. Will Rachel be able to stop one last killer? A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured FBI agent, the RACHEL GIFT series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Fans of Rachel Caine, Teresa Driscoll and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love. Book #10 (HER LAST HOUR) is now also available! “An edge of your seat thriller in a new series that keeps you turning pages! ...So many twists, turns and red herrings… I can't wait to see what happens next.” —Reader review (Her Last Wish) “A strong, complex story about two FBI agents trying to stop a serial killer. If you want an author to capture your attention and have you guessing, yet trying to put the pieces together, Pierce is your author!” —Reader review (Her Last Wish) “A typical Blake Pierce twisting, turning, roller coaster ride suspense thriller. Will have you turning the pages to the last sentence of the last chapter!!!” —Reader review (City of Prey) “Right from the start we have an unusual protagonist that I haven't seen done in this genre before. The action is nonstop… A very atmospheric novel that will keep you turning pages well into the wee hours.” —Reader review (City of Prey) “Everything that I look for in a book… a great plot, interesting characters, and grabs your interest right away. The book moves along at a breakneck pace and stays that way until the end. Now on go I to book two!” —Reader review (Girl, Alone) “Exciting, heart pounding, edge of your seat book… a must read for mystery and suspense readers!” —Reader review (Girl, Alone)

Download or read book A Cora Shields FBI Suspense Thriller Bundle Undone 1 Unwanted 2 and Unhinged 3 written by Blake Pierce and published by Blake Pierce. This book was released on 2023-02-24 with total page 670 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A bundle of books #1 (UNDONE), #2 (UNWANTED), and #3 (UNHINGED) in Blake Pierce’s Cora Shields mystery series! This bundle offers books one, two, and three in one convenient file, with over 100,000 words of reading. In UNDONE (Book #1), when Cora is fired, she is at loose ends—until she learns that an old friend’s daughter has disappeared. Hesitant at first, Cora decides to take the case on as a vigilante—and her world soon explodes into action. The conspiracy she uncovers goes deeper than anyone could have imagined, leading her on a wild cross-state chase to save the missing girl before time runs out. Can Cora handle all this alone, all while keeping her own demons at bay? Can she catch a killer, and save the girl before it’s too late? In UNWANTED (Book #2), when women working for a powerful politician disappear under mysterious circumstances, the cops are too afraid to touch the case, and it’s up to vigilante ex-agent Cora Shields to put the pieces together—if she can survive the forces closing in on her. Cora’s new case is not what it initially seems, and Cora must enter the dark underworld of crime bosses, gangs, and dirty politicians to uncover the truth at the bottom of it all. But her enemies are watching her closely, and the clock is ticking before another victim is claimed. Can Cora use her skills to crack the case in time? Or will she be the next woman to disappear? In UNHINGED (Book #3), at the pleading of a military friend, Cora scrutinizes a case long closed by local cops—and realizes that this case is far wider-reaching, and more dangerous, than she ever expected. Cora, working as a vigilante, is the only one who would dare take on this case. She knows that if she succeeds, she can save a woman’s life in time. And if she fails, she may just find herself behind bars for good. A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured vigilante, the CORA SHIELDS series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Future books in the series are also available.

Download or read book No Stranger to Scandal written by Rachel Bailey and published by Harlequin. This book was released on 2013-04-01 with total page 191 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Decorum Vs. Destiny She might be the stepdaughter of one of the most powerful media moguls in Washington, but Lucy Royall is no pampered princess—she's making her own way as a junior reporter. But when congressional investigator Hayden Black accuses her stepfather of criminal wrongdoing, she shows her family loyalty and takes Hayden on. Then, as things heat up, the sexy single dad takes her to bed! Talk about a conflict of interest. Will their illicit passion turn into something more lasting, even in the face of controversy so huge it rocks a nation?