Customer Reviews

Breach of Promise

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I loved this book and I think it would be a great movie. The characters are more realistic than many books you read today. The situation that Mark face are like many we face in our lives today. Many of us struggle with loving someone and them not loving us in return. I could actually visualize the characters in this book as a real family that I knew.

Mark was a loving father and husband but his wife did not know if she loved him the same way. She discovered she was pregnant and did not want the baby. Mark was crushed and talks her into carring the baby through. Once Maddie is born, Mark's life was never the same. He was a wonderful father and would go to the ends of the earth for her. The only thing that Mark is not capable of doing is landing a lead role in an acting position as like is wife who becomes a star overnight. She has an affair on him while in Rome with the director and comes back to take Maddie away from Mark. Now Mark faces so many obsitcles in his life that many of us can relate too. His wife files for a divorce and accuses him of being abusive to her and her daughter. Mark is forced into a deep hole in which he seeks God to help him in his darkest hour. It takes Mark several tries before he accepts God's view on things. However he stays strong and fights for his daughter. The book goes on to further explain the everyday life problems that many of us know so well. I'm not going to spoil the ending but it is an awesome book. It is very intertaining and never a dull moment. This book kept me on the edge of my seat as I rooted for Mark to suceed.

Many of us face problems in our lives and we fail to listen or spend any time with God, when God is the only answer to our problems. Allow God to work in your life and watch your life change and the blessing to pour in.

One of the things I like about Bell is his honest approach toward writing. Having been involved in a custody dispute myself in the past, it is easy for me to identify with the main character. Men have a history (sadly) of being biased against when placed on opposing ends of the family courtroom.

Without spoiling the ending; suffice it to say that if you are looking for a warm fuzzy conclusion, you might not find it. Bell is a stickler for reality, and he delivers in this book. Through faith in God and devotion to his child, the main character finds strength that he never knew existed. In the end, the final pages will, if nothing else, give you pause....and a deeper faith!

James Scott Bell's writing gets better with every book of his I read. This one grabbed my heart and wouldn't let go. Maddie was such a strong character--not easy to do with a child. The emotions of the story ran the gamut from laughter to tears and everything in-between. Great characterization, wonderful plot, absolutely perfect ending.

Breach of Promise is one of the best books I've read in a long while. It was a page-turner from the start, a book I couldn't put down, but one I hated to get to the end of. I laughed, I cried, I got right into the protagonist's skin. I really didn't know how it would end right up to the final pages...and I love that! This has been added to my list of favorites. Don't pass this up.

Mark Gillen tumbles from his comfortable world with a beautiful wife and a beloved daughter to a nightmare when his wife leaves him for another man who has power and wealth to take whatever he desires. This is a passion-filled story of love, anger, and hate. The character growth in this novel takes the reader to a new dimension in reality writing with a Christian perspective.

I loved this book for several reasons: The beautiful portrait of a father's love for his daughter, the flawed but lovable character of that father, and the gut wrenching agony of a custody battle and all that goes with it. I laughed, cried, and chewed my fingernails to bits while reading this book. I found it impossbile to put down. Highly recommended!

"Breach of Promise" is the first James Scott Bell book I've read...it won't be the last! Mr. Bell's background makes this excellent story credible, with knowledge and passion. The creation of interesting books and characters--combining suspense within a theme of a strong Christian faith--is a very positive direction, I believe. While, in my opinion, Terri Blackstock remains No. 1 in this special genre, Mr. Bell (who lends a "male view") and others are right on track. I highly recommend his "Breach of Promise." --Ron Howe (aka Toby Martin) Erskine, MN