Breach of Promise [Paperback]

James Scott Bell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 3, 2004

How far will a father go to get back his only daughter? And how will he survive in a legal system that crushes those who can't afford to fight back? Mark Gillen has the storybook life other men dream of, complete with a beautiful wife and an adoring five-year-old daughter. Then his wife announces she's leaving him. And taking their daughter with her. The other man is a famous film director with unlimited funds and the keys to stardom and wealth for Paula. How can Mark begin to compete? But the most bitter blow comes when he is kept from seeing his daughter because of false charges . . . and a legal system ill-suited for finding the truth. Forged in the darkest valley Mark has ever walked through, his faith in God may ultimately cost him everything in the eyes of the family law system. But it is the one thing that can keep him sane---and give him the strength to fight against all odds for what matters most.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Bell's Breach of Promise contains less action than most of the author's thrillers, but it's edgier, taking on the prejudice against custodial single fathers and the idiocy of the legal system in general. It features Matt Gillen, a sometime actor who thinks he's leading an idyllic life because of his beautiful actress wife, Paula, and his cute daughter, Maddie. Then Paula gets a role in a famous Italian director's new movie. She promptly dumps Matt for the director, who brings his power and money to bear to ensure that Matt's custody fight for Maddie is almost hopeless. Except perhaps for the sweet made-for-TV ending, the story is engaging, shrewd about Hollywood, and contains some brilliant minor characterizations, such as Matt's father, a small-time criminal who thinks he's a flower child. John Mort
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From the Back Cover

How far will a father go to get back his only daughter? And how will he survive in a legal system that crushes those who can't afford to fight back?

Mark Gillen has the storybook life other men dream of, complete with a beautiful wife and an adoring five-year-old daughter.

Then his wife announces she’s leaving him. And taking their daughter with her.

The other man is a famous film director with unlimited funds and the keys to stardom and wealth for Paula. How can Mark begin to compete? But the most bitter blow comes when he is kept from seeing his daughter because of false charges . . . and a legal system ill-suited for finding the truth.

Forged in the darkest valley Mark has ever walked through, his faith in God may ultimately cost him everything in the eyes of the family law system. But it is the one thing that can keep him sane—and give him the strength to fight against all odds for what matters most.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (February 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310243874
• ISBN-13: 978-0310243878
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,251,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

JAMES SCOTT BELL is a bestselling and award winning suspense writer. He was the fiction columnist for Writer's Digest magazine and has written four popular books for the Writers Digest line: Plot & Structure, Revision & Self-Editing, The Art of War for Writers and Conflict & Suspense. Jim taught writing at Pepperdine University and numerous writers conferences in the United States, Canada and London. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver. He lives and writes in L.A. He blogs weekly at Kill Zone -- www.killzoneauthors.blogspot.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Bell's Best, September 17, 2004

By 

C.J. Darlington "Author of Thicker Than Blood... - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breach of Promise (Paperback)

With scenes that move, dialogue that cuts, and nostalgic references to classic movies and actors, expect to be drawn into the world of Mark Gillen from the first sentence. A struggling actor and father, here's a man who doesn't have it all together. He has doubts. He makes mistakes. He's even tempted to hit the bottle. A real-life guy, thrust into the fight of his life.

Having read all of Jim's contemporary novels, I can confidently say that BREACH OF PROMISE features some of his best writing. There's enough action in the nasty custody battle Mark faces to please Jim's legal thriller fans (several of the scene endings simply FORCE you to read on), while the sweet contemporary storyline of Mark's love for his five-year-old daughter will satisfy those who might have only read Jim's tamer Shannon Saga or Trials of Kit Shannon series.

Go ahead. Pick it up. BREACH OF PROMISE will keep you on the edge of your seat, even as it tugs at your heartstrings. It had me in its clutches right up to the touching ending.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Highly Emotional Ride, June 17, 2004

By 

Kendra Parsons (Ijamsville, MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Breach of Promise (Paperback)

In Breach of Promise, Bell succeeded in grabbing my emotions and running the gamut with them. I could only read the story for bite-sized chunks of time: the anger and sadness I felt alongside Mark Gillen were too intense. I found it impossible to separate myself from his situation.

Thanks for giving me a glimpse of what it would feel like to be on the inside of a divorce/custody case. I know I will now be able to better empathize with those who have gone through it themselves.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Breach of Promise" definitely worth reading again, April 7, 2005

By 

A. Bontreger (Indiana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Breach of Promise (Paperback)

I am not a huge fan of contemporary fiction of any kind, but James Scott Bell's book gripped me right from the beginning. I appreciated the realness of the story -- the main character's emotions are just what any other human being could identify with. The writing is fresh and witty. This is definitely a read again book for me.