The Dreambreakers

Set in present-day London's advertising world, this better-than-average commercial novel, the first by a former Saatchi & Saatchi account executive, offers some details on company mergers, policies and politics as well as realistic characters and occasionally incredible plot twists. Francesca Gaetini is installed as chairman of Samuels after this mega-agency takes over her family firm, Gaetini & Kemp. Her love affair with Matthias, a charismatic ex-rock star, has obscure origins in her past, as do her brother's frequent requests for financial assistance in shady business ventures. Variations on the theme of true love versus sex used for either power or pleasure connect the romances of Francesca, her secretary, several co-workers and business partners from the American agency with which Samuels hopes to develop a global network. Explicit sex scenes seem overdone initially but later are more skillfully incorporated and provide insight into characters. (June)