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Son of Money
Randall Morgan, youngest son of one of Seattle’s wealthiest families, rejected his family’s money to live free of their control and pursue his career as a photographer. To make ends meet, Randall does erotic photography and massage—a secret he keeps from his family so he can remain a part of his young niece’s life. But the price of that relationship is high, and Randall is once more slipping under his family’s thumb.
Noah Carroll is the spokesperson for the Seattle Humane Society, and the city holds a special place in his heart. When fate intervenes during a pet adoption, Noah finds himself face-to-face with his first love—Randall.
While Noah and Randall are not the teenagers they once were, the flame of a first kiss long ago draws them together. Their romance is beginning to grow, but someone is out to destroy Randall and expose all he keeps hidden.
When secrets and rumors thrust Randall into the public eye, his relationship with Noah isn’t the only thing that comes under threat.
Noah Carroll is the spokesperson for the Seattle Humane Society, and the city holds a special place in his heart. When fate intervenes during a pet adoption, Noah finds himself face-to-face with his first love—Randall.
While Noah and Randall are not the teenagers they once were, the flame of a first kiss long ago draws them together. Their romance is beginning to grow, but someone is out to destroy Randall and expose all he keeps hidden.
When secrets and rumors thrust Randall into the public eye, his relationship with Noah isn’t the only thing that comes under threat.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2016
15 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Witt
34 books442 followersBrandon Witt's outlook on life is greatly impacted by his first eighteen years of growing up gay in a small town in the Ozarks, as well as fifteen years as a counselor and special education teacher for students with severe emotional disabilities. Add to that his obsession with corgis and mermaids, then factor in an unhealthy love affair with cheeseburgers, and you realize that with all those issues, he's got plenty to write about....
Visit Brandon's webpage: http://www.brandonwitt.com/
Visit him on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandon.witt...
Enjoy episodes of The Witty Hour: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO5c...
Visit Brandon's webpage: http://www.brandonwitt.com/
Visit him on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandon.witt...
Enjoy episodes of The Witty Hour: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO5c...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
July 29, 2016
This is my first Brandon Witt book and it’s like nothing I expected it to be.
But I loved it nonetheless.
It wasn’t the typical love story. Suffice it to say, the romance is “solved” during the first 40% (or less). No, it’s not that the following 60% is there for nothing, just to reach the length of an average novel.
The reason why is that Noah and Randall knew each other when they were teens. They had their first kiss at 13 and have never forgotten each other ever since.
Randall decides to buy a dog. Not because he longs for some canine company, but to satisfy his niece’s wishes. She’s not allowed to have a dog at home, so Randall decides to make her happy adopting it himself. And so he goes to the animal refuge his mother is holding a benefit for.
And there he meets Noah.
A grown-up Noah.
He comes home with a rather ugly dog called Harper. I fell in love with the dog, too.
I must say Randall sense of humor amused me since the very beginning. He’s a witty man indeed.
So, as I mentioned above, the romance develops very quickly. Insta-love? For some reason, I didn’t really care here. It’s not just the “old” flame of love they experienced in their early youth, but I really could feel their attraction and their chemistry. I could feel them complementing each other and that “destiny” awaiting them.
And I was enchanted with Noah since the very first page he enters the scene.
Noah and Randall don’t waste the time with big misunderstandings or with holding their feelings back just because. They are honest with themselves and with the other one, naked emotions on the surface. There is no sense in hiding when they both know what they are looking for. It was that way the whole while and I really appreciate the author didn’t beat around the bush just for the sake of it.
One thing is true: there are not many sex scenes, or at least, explicit sex scenes. I must say I was a little disappointed with this because there clearly are sparks between them two and I really wanted to see more than a glimpse of this. What a pity. Still, there is no time to get bored so I didn’t miss it too much.
I liked the photographer’s aura in the book. How the sessions are. How casual photos can be exactly what oneself is looking for. How that person feels something in the air and foresees a life-changing moment close to come for his camera to capture. How the following process is displayed in order to emphasize the best aspects of the photo. And Randall himself in that role.
Noah drives his proverbial ark: an animal refuge. It can be kind of forced but I could really picture him taking care of abandoned dogs and finding them a home. I really liked the method to find the perfect match for every person. Or, better said, the perfect match for every dog.
Religion takes an important place here. It’s not that we find bigoted people left and right, but it was what drove Noah and Randall apart when they were teens. Noah’s family is devoted to charity and helps people from socially disavantaged environments, which leads them to travel very far away when their sabbatical year ends. I liked this aspect of the story and how it shapes Noah’s character throughout the years.
So, which is the real “conflict” there? A myriad of things that are indeed the same: crappy people. Randall is a professional photographer but to make ends meet he combines his dream job with massage and erotic photograph sessions. Randall loves sex, so he had no problem in indulging himself if the occasion arises and he was attracted enough to the men who paid for his services. That earns him a “slutty” reputation when one of his clients decides to cause a big scene out of it, just out of spite.
And Randall’s family is not supporting at all. In fact it’s one of those with whom you wish not to find enemies in your life because you already have your family for that. The Morgans are portrayed as a disgustingly rich and powerful family with a few skeletons in the closet. Translation: they were truly fucked up.
The father is a manipulating bastard who manhandles his other son Dustin at his will. The mother was a social climber who is all the time looking down her nose at anyone who doesn’t meet her standards. She doesn’t exactly make an effort to include Dustin’s wife, Kayla, in the family. Kayla is the so-called “trophy wife” but she still struggles with that definition and with giving her daughter Bailey some kind of good example, but can’t avoid Bailey from being expected to behave as an adult in this constrained environment. Her uncle Randall is the only one who lets her be a child.
So when the shit really hits the fan, lots of conflicts appear and Noah and Randall have to find it in themselves to overcome all these obstacles and difficulties in order to build a new life together. I liked seeing how their relationship is put to test and how they manage to solve things and go on with their life. Noah puts lots on faith on them, whereas Randall is a bit more insecure. Despite reading his feelings well, he’s scared of “fucking up what’s meant to me”.
This is my first experience with Brandon Witt and I must say it was a good beginning.
*****
More pics...
*****
***Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.***
But I loved it nonetheless.
It wasn’t the typical love story. Suffice it to say, the romance is “solved” during the first 40% (or less). No, it’s not that the following 60% is there for nothing, just to reach the length of an average novel.
The reason why is that Noah and Randall knew each other when they were teens. They had their first kiss at 13 and have never forgotten each other ever since.
“It’s just that it’s you, you know?” He shrugged, and I thought he was going to look away, but he didn’t. “I’ve always known you were the one. I wasn’t sure if you’d ever come back into my life or not, but that didn’t change anything. And then you did. Out of the blue. With no forcing the situation on either of our parts.”
Randall decides to buy a dog. Not because he longs for some canine company, but to satisfy his niece’s wishes. She’s not allowed to have a dog at home, so Randall decides to make her happy adopting it himself. And so he goes to the animal refuge his mother is holding a benefit for.
And there he meets Noah.
A grown-up Noah.
Was there an application to take him home?
As if.
He comes home with a rather ugly dog called Harper. I fell in love with the dog, too.
I must say Randall sense of humor amused me since the very beginning. He’s a witty man indeed.
Promise me to call him if I had problems? Call Noah Carroll. Yeah. I had no issue with that. Hell, sign me up for ten dogs – that would guarantee a problem and a phone call. “Sure. I promise”.
So, as I mentioned above, the romance develops very quickly. Insta-love? For some reason, I didn’t really care here. It’s not just the “old” flame of love they experienced in their early youth, but I really could feel their attraction and their chemistry. I could feel them complementing each other and that “destiny” awaiting them.
And I was enchanted with Noah since the very first page he enters the scene.
“You ask that after you kiss me.”
“Like I said, it didn’t look like you two were together to me.”
“And if we are?”
He shrugged. “You won’t be anymore.”
Another bark of laughter. “Wow. Not sure if that’s arrogance or supreme confidence.”
“Oh, sorry. I don’t mean it that way.” Noah looked abashed. “So are you? Are you together?”
I shook my head. “No. Definitely not.”
“Good.”
Noah and Randall don’t waste the time with big misunderstandings or with holding their feelings back just because. They are honest with themselves and with the other one, naked emotions on the surface. There is no sense in hiding when they both know what they are looking for. It was that way the whole while and I really appreciate the author didn’t beat around the bush just for the sake of it.
“Sorry, I’ll cut it out. I’m just nervous and really happy. Did I mention nervous?”
“Why are you nervous if you’re so sure about everything?”
“We’re human. We can fuck up what’s meant to be.”
The words made my heart hurt, which seemed ridiculous. “And we’re meant to be?”
He simply nodded. No other assurance or clever quip.
One thing is true: there are not many sex scenes, or at least, explicit sex scenes. I must say I was a little disappointed with this because there clearly are sparks between them two and I really wanted to see more than a glimpse of this. What a pity. Still, there is no time to get bored so I didn’t miss it too much.
I liked the photographer’s aura in the book. How the sessions are. How casual photos can be exactly what oneself is looking for. How that person feels something in the air and foresees a life-changing moment close to come for his camera to capture. How the following process is displayed in order to emphasize the best aspects of the photo. And Randall himself in that role.
Noah drives his proverbial ark: an animal refuge. It can be kind of forced but I could really picture him taking care of abandoned dogs and finding them a home. I really liked the method to find the perfect match for every person. Or, better said, the perfect match for every dog.
Religion takes an important place here. It’s not that we find bigoted people left and right, but it was what drove Noah and Randall apart when they were teens. Noah’s family is devoted to charity and helps people from socially disavantaged environments, which leads them to travel very far away when their sabbatical year ends. I liked this aspect of the story and how it shapes Noah’s character throughout the years.
Noah’s gaze sharpened, seeing me again. “And God took you. I couldn’t have you.”
So, which is the real “conflict” there? A myriad of things that are indeed the same: crappy people. Randall is a professional photographer but to make ends meet he combines his dream job with massage and erotic photograph sessions. Randall loves sex, so he had no problem in indulging himself if the occasion arises and he was attracted enough to the men who paid for his services. That earns him a “slutty” reputation when one of his clients decides to cause a big scene out of it, just out of spite.
And Randall’s family is not supporting at all. In fact it’s one of those with whom you wish not to find enemies in your life because you already have your family for that. The Morgans are portrayed as a disgustingly rich and powerful family with a few skeletons in the closet. Translation: they were truly fucked up.
The father is a manipulating bastard who manhandles his other son Dustin at his will. The mother was a social climber who is all the time looking down her nose at anyone who doesn’t meet her standards. She doesn’t exactly make an effort to include Dustin’s wife, Kayla, in the family. Kayla is the so-called “trophy wife” but she still struggles with that definition and with giving her daughter Bailey some kind of good example, but can’t avoid Bailey from being expected to behave as an adult in this constrained environment. Her uncle Randall is the only one who lets her be a child.
So when the shit really hits the fan, lots of conflicts appear and Noah and Randall have to find it in themselves to overcome all these obstacles and difficulties in order to build a new life together. I liked seeing how their relationship is put to test and how they manage to solve things and go on with their life. Noah puts lots on faith on them, whereas Randall is a bit more insecure. Despite reading his feelings well, he’s scared of “fucking up what’s meant to me”.
This is my first experience with Brandon Witt and I must say it was a good beginning.
*****
More pics...
*****
***Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.***
August 1, 2016
This is not m/m romance. So I'm not sure if it was just tagged incorrectly or what. The first 35% was great. All romance there. Then the remainder of the book was Dynasty with a gay MC. There was no more m/m romance. It was all about the MC and his fucked up family drama. The end. Not for me. I'm surprised I finished it, to be honest.
August 10, 2020
So, this is only my 2nd book by this author. (I suck, I know.) In my defense, though, I was mightily impressed with the first one I read, because it was so awesome, and it made my Best of 2015 list.
Then this came to me via Dreamspinner as an ARC (thank you!!), and I devoured it just the same.
Because, Brandon, man... this was fabulous. Two magnificent MCs, a fantastic romance, holy hot and dirty boysecks, Batman, and a bit of suspense/drama - what's not to love, amirite?
Randall has disinherited himself from his rich and super-controlling family. He's basically the black sheep, works as a photographer and masseur, and some of this clients get extra benefits. While this may sound sleazy at first, I assure you, it's not. Randall doesn't accept payment for sexual favors, and he certainly doesn't give every client those extracurricular activities, but hey, he's single, young, and why the hell not?
He stays in touch with his family mainly because he loves his controlled and emotionally abused sister in law, and his little niece Bailey, whom he adores. He's not rich, but he's happy. Mostly.
It's because of Bailey, sort of, that Randall decides to adopt a dog - if her daddy won't let her have one, Randall can do the next best thing, right?
So Randall is chosen by Harper, who must possibly be the ugliest dog I've ever seen described in the pages of a book. But she loves Randall, and Randall can't help but fall for her.
I pretty much fell for Randall from the start. There was just something about him, how he lived by his convictions, and how lonely he felt sometimes, that drew me in.
And then there was Noah. Holy shitballz, people, Noah was amazing. Direct, communicative, supportive, sweet, kind - and totally in love with Randall. He works at the Humane Society where Randall gets Harper, and then is pulled into the suspense plot by association as the story unfolds.
Speaking of the suspense - dayum, Brandon Witt, you had me clueless until the end as to who was behind it. And then utterly shocked when I found out.
I loved, loved the relationship between Randall and Noah, and the one Randall had with his niece and sister-in-law. And I loved, loved, LOVED that - well, read this for yourself. No spoilers here.
As this is a romance, it will not be a spoiler to let you know that we got our HEA, so there's that. Expected that, didn't you?
The writing - brilliant. I was drawn in from the start, laughing, hoping, fearing, and crying with the characters, fanning myself during the sexy times, and on the edge of my seat while they figured out the whodunit. And the author, while writing super hot sex scenes, does so sparingly, and only to further the plot. None of it is gratuitous, and I for one appreciate that very much. The scenes, while definitely requiring cold showers after, are also rather emotional, which is much more important to me in a romance. I want to see the emotional connection more so than how tab A is inserted into slot B, and I got that here in droves.
Fabulous, just fabulous, and highly recommended.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
Then this came to me via Dreamspinner as an ARC (thank you!!), and I devoured it just the same.
Because, Brandon, man... this was fabulous. Two magnificent MCs, a fantastic romance, holy hot and dirty boysecks, Batman, and a bit of suspense/drama - what's not to love, amirite?
Randall has disinherited himself from his rich and super-controlling family. He's basically the black sheep, works as a photographer and masseur, and some of this clients get extra benefits. While this may sound sleazy at first, I assure you, it's not. Randall doesn't accept payment for sexual favors, and he certainly doesn't give every client those extracurricular activities, but hey, he's single, young, and why the hell not?
He stays in touch with his family mainly because he loves his controlled and emotionally abused sister in law, and his little niece Bailey, whom he adores. He's not rich, but he's happy. Mostly.
It's because of Bailey, sort of, that Randall decides to adopt a dog - if her daddy won't let her have one, Randall can do the next best thing, right?
So Randall is chosen by Harper, who must possibly be the ugliest dog I've ever seen described in the pages of a book. But she loves Randall, and Randall can't help but fall for her.
I pretty much fell for Randall from the start. There was just something about him, how he lived by his convictions, and how lonely he felt sometimes, that drew me in.
And then there was Noah. Holy shitballz, people, Noah was amazing. Direct, communicative, supportive, sweet, kind - and totally in love with Randall. He works at the Humane Society where Randall gets Harper, and then is pulled into the suspense plot by association as the story unfolds.
Speaking of the suspense - dayum, Brandon Witt, you had me clueless until the end as to who was behind it. And then utterly shocked when I found out.
I loved, loved the relationship between Randall and Noah, and the one Randall had with his niece and sister-in-law. And I loved, loved, LOVED that - well, read this for yourself. No spoilers here.
As this is a romance, it will not be a spoiler to let you know that we got our HEA, so there's that. Expected that, didn't you?
The writing - brilliant. I was drawn in from the start, laughing, hoping, fearing, and crying with the characters, fanning myself during the sexy times, and on the edge of my seat while they figured out the whodunit. And the author, while writing super hot sex scenes, does so sparingly, and only to further the plot. None of it is gratuitous, and I for one appreciate that very much. The scenes, while definitely requiring cold showers after, are also rather emotional, which is much more important to me in a romance. I want to see the emotional connection more so than how tab A is inserted into slot B, and I got that here in droves.
Fabulous, just fabulous, and highly recommended.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
July 23, 2016
BR, July 22th with Julie and Momo
*3,5 stars*
Noah
Randall
I'd longed for him all those years. Looked everywhere for him, even though I hadn't realized. In every date. In every hookup. In every hope and dream I had, part of me, at least, was searching for him.
July 10, 2016
I’ve only read one other book by this author, The imperfection of swans, but it was a bit meh for me. I am so glad I tried Son of money.
Randall’s family is pretentious and controlling as all get out. He chose to be cut off from the inheritance to live his life the way he wants –including being a photographer and a masseur. His massage clients tend to leave with a happy ending but Randall tells himself that he is only paid for the massage, not the extras, and he feels good about it. He keeps in touch with his family mainly because of his sister-in-law, who is trapped in a mostly unhappy marriage, and his adorable niece, Bailey. It’s because of Bailey that Randall decides to adopt a dog from the humane society. And that’s where he reconnects with Noah, the childhood crush to end all crushes. And not only is it reciprocated, but Noah pretty much tells Randall that Randall is the one and that they belong together.
KA-CHING!
You want to talk holly hotness? This is Noah: ”Tall, with dark brown hair pulled back into a messy man bun. Heavy brows. Thick, close-cropped beard over an angled jaw.”
Are you drooling yet? I was. Plus, Noah is an absolute sweetheart. He wants to take things slowly. He asks Randall out on a proper date –no funny business at the end of the night. He is considerate, kind, caring, and the list goes on.
And when they decide to be a bit not so proper?
“ He held up three shiny fingers, then lowered his hand. With each of the next three thrusts, he shoved a new finger in beside his cock. And it hurt. And like the slutty bottom boy I was, I begged for another.”
Diiiiiiiiiiiiirty.
And so so so hot. Mind you, the sex scenes are sparse and carefully placed at the right times to advance the plot. This is no sex-fest. But they are just enough to make you feel their connection and believe that the whole “you’re the one” and “we were always meant to be” deal is no bs.
Highlights:
• Harper. Harper is the ugliest dog you could ever picture but also the sweetest and most loving. She became a part of Randall’s life and comforted him when he needed it.
• The who dunnit. Randall’s life was turned upside down. The plot dealt heavily with how destructive the power of social media can be to a person’s reputation and livelihood. A good chunk of the book was all about how Randall, Noah, and their relationship was affected by the drama that would not die down, as well as who was the puppeteer behind everything. It was done really well.
• Noah. Honestly, I don’t know if anyone could ask anything more from a partner. He was unflinchingly loyal to Randall no matter how bad things got in Randall’s life. But he was no doormat. He could withstand almost anything but he did draw the line and showed that even though he thought Randall was the one, he wouldn’t tolerate everything.
I highly recommend this to fans of hurt/comfort who enjoy their romance a bit dreamy but also hot. You won’t be disappointed!
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. See this review on Gay Book Reviews.
Randall’s family is pretentious and controlling as all get out. He chose to be cut off from the inheritance to live his life the way he wants –including being a photographer and a masseur. His massage clients tend to leave with a happy ending but Randall tells himself that he is only paid for the massage, not the extras, and he feels good about it. He keeps in touch with his family mainly because of his sister-in-law, who is trapped in a mostly unhappy marriage, and his adorable niece, Bailey. It’s because of Bailey that Randall decides to adopt a dog from the humane society. And that’s where he reconnects with Noah, the childhood crush to end all crushes. And not only is it reciprocated, but Noah pretty much tells Randall that Randall is the one and that they belong together.
KA-CHING!
You want to talk holly hotness? This is Noah: ”Tall, with dark brown hair pulled back into a messy man bun. Heavy brows. Thick, close-cropped beard over an angled jaw.”
Are you drooling yet? I was. Plus, Noah is an absolute sweetheart. He wants to take things slowly. He asks Randall out on a proper date –no funny business at the end of the night. He is considerate, kind, caring, and the list goes on.
And when they decide to be a bit not so proper?
“ He held up three shiny fingers, then lowered his hand. With each of the next three thrusts, he shoved a new finger in beside his cock. And it hurt. And like the slutty bottom boy I was, I begged for another.”
Diiiiiiiiiiiiirty.
And so so so hot. Mind you, the sex scenes are sparse and carefully placed at the right times to advance the plot. This is no sex-fest. But they are just enough to make you feel their connection and believe that the whole “you’re the one” and “we were always meant to be” deal is no bs.
Highlights:
• Harper. Harper is the ugliest dog you could ever picture but also the sweetest and most loving. She became a part of Randall’s life and comforted him when he needed it.
• The who dunnit. Randall’s life was turned upside down. The plot dealt heavily with how destructive the power of social media can be to a person’s reputation and livelihood. A good chunk of the book was all about how Randall, Noah, and their relationship was affected by the drama that would not die down, as well as who was the puppeteer behind everything. It was done really well.
• Noah. Honestly, I don’t know if anyone could ask anything more from a partner. He was unflinchingly loyal to Randall no matter how bad things got in Randall’s life. But he was no doormat. He could withstand almost anything but he did draw the line and showed that even though he thought Randall was the one, he wouldn’t tolerate everything.
I highly recommend this to fans of hurt/comfort who enjoy their romance a bit dreamy but also hot. You won’t be disappointed!
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. See this review on Gay Book Reviews.
July 11, 2016
Check out my full release day review at Sinfully.
The Morgans are a family in the grand tradition of the Carringtons and Ewings (okay so I’m showing my age with references to over the top 80’s soaps). Rich and powerful and lording over all those around them, especially their own blood, with sticks firmly wedged you know where. Youngest son Randall made it clear years ago that he wants nothing to do with the control that came with their money. Cut out of the family fortune, he forged his own path as a photographer and masseuse, while continuing to acquiesce to some of his family’s wishes (showing up at benefits and participating in family events with all appropriate decorum) in order to remain a part of his beloved niece’s life. His personal and private life bear little resemblance to the formal, stiff, scheming and social climbing lives of his father, mother and brother.
After a rash outburst in an effort to further subvert his family’s control and make his niece happy, Randall finds himself at the local humane society attempting to adopt a dog, when out walks Noah, the man who gave him his first kiss. He last saw Noah when they were 13 and 14 years old, but he has never forgotten their one and only kiss and he has compared every man to him since, even without realizing it. They quickly reconnect and Noah is very forthright with his strong feelings for Randall and the conviction that Randall has always been the one man for him. Their relationship is as intense as it is easy and though Randall fights it more, he is pretty certain about Noah as well. As things have simmered for about 20 years I hesitate to call it insta-love, but things move very fast.
When rumors and allegations appear on a local website, Randall owns up to having sex with some of his massage clients. His father once again demands Randall do what he says to fix things or face the consequences. As the story grows and the allegations become more severe, Randall’s family and professional lives crumble. Noah is a strong steady influence, a lifeline for Randall, but even he may not be enough as Randall starts to withdraw and hide.
Though it sounds heavy, this is the lightest of the Brandon Witt books I’ve read. While things get seriously screwed up, the angst level is low as the relationship flows rather smoothly. It’s the rest of Randall’s life that provides all the drama. Money and power, and love and family are the great motivators battling it out in this story.
As far as the relationship between Randall and Noah, I really did feel they clicked. Yes, everything moved quickly, but I felt the chemistry between them. There were things I would have liked to have had explored more in-depth. Noah’s obviously been through a lot of change in his life and appeared to be a complex character, but we really only got to know him on a surface level. I also wanted to know a bit more about their relationship before their first kiss as teenagers. I wanted to feel the teen angst and know why that first kiss was so life changing. They were obviously both affected the same way, but I didn’t feel it come across. The relationship did work for me because I did feel their connection in the present, and the sex scenes were some of the most descriptive I’ve read from this author so far.
Moving onto the family, while Randall’s father is the biggest beast, the rest of the Morgan family is no picnic either. Sister-in-law Kayla is Randall’s best friend. It took me a while to warm up to her as she initially came off as a money hungry bimbo who can’t keep her mouth shut, but as the story went on and more of her character is revealed, she turned out to be a staunch ally and both smarter and stronger than I expected. There is also Dustin, his brother from another mother, who is following in daddy’s footsteps and spews venom at the rest of the family with seemingly not a second thought. Randall’s mother is just as bad as his father, maybe even worse knowing where she came from. It’s hard to believe he actually is a product of those two heartless people.
While the story has the soap opera family, it doesn’t completely devolve into soap opera hysterics (although there is a good face slap or two) until the Daytime Emmy-worthy last quarter of the book as Randall has a chance to confront the man who started it all and things just snowball from there.
I just adore Brandon Witt’s easy writing style. The scenes where Randall was working his photography shoots, especially one in particular with his niece and the dogs, vividly came to life and played like a film through my mind as I read. Though it had its ups and downs for me, I enjoyed the story. I wanted Noah and Randall to have that HEA and I wanted to know just who was involved and what their end-game was and of course see that those who deserved it got what I was hoping for in the end.
The Morgans are a family in the grand tradition of the Carringtons and Ewings (okay so I’m showing my age with references to over the top 80’s soaps). Rich and powerful and lording over all those around them, especially their own blood, with sticks firmly wedged you know where. Youngest son Randall made it clear years ago that he wants nothing to do with the control that came with their money. Cut out of the family fortune, he forged his own path as a photographer and masseuse, while continuing to acquiesce to some of his family’s wishes (showing up at benefits and participating in family events with all appropriate decorum) in order to remain a part of his beloved niece’s life. His personal and private life bear little resemblance to the formal, stiff, scheming and social climbing lives of his father, mother and brother.
After a rash outburst in an effort to further subvert his family’s control and make his niece happy, Randall finds himself at the local humane society attempting to adopt a dog, when out walks Noah, the man who gave him his first kiss. He last saw Noah when they were 13 and 14 years old, but he has never forgotten their one and only kiss and he has compared every man to him since, even without realizing it. They quickly reconnect and Noah is very forthright with his strong feelings for Randall and the conviction that Randall has always been the one man for him. Their relationship is as intense as it is easy and though Randall fights it more, he is pretty certain about Noah as well. As things have simmered for about 20 years I hesitate to call it insta-love, but things move very fast.
When rumors and allegations appear on a local website, Randall owns up to having sex with some of his massage clients. His father once again demands Randall do what he says to fix things or face the consequences. As the story grows and the allegations become more severe, Randall’s family and professional lives crumble. Noah is a strong steady influence, a lifeline for Randall, but even he may not be enough as Randall starts to withdraw and hide.
Though it sounds heavy, this is the lightest of the Brandon Witt books I’ve read. While things get seriously screwed up, the angst level is low as the relationship flows rather smoothly. It’s the rest of Randall’s life that provides all the drama. Money and power, and love and family are the great motivators battling it out in this story.
As far as the relationship between Randall and Noah, I really did feel they clicked. Yes, everything moved quickly, but I felt the chemistry between them. There were things I would have liked to have had explored more in-depth. Noah’s obviously been through a lot of change in his life and appeared to be a complex character, but we really only got to know him on a surface level. I also wanted to know a bit more about their relationship before their first kiss as teenagers. I wanted to feel the teen angst and know why that first kiss was so life changing. They were obviously both affected the same way, but I didn’t feel it come across. The relationship did work for me because I did feel their connection in the present, and the sex scenes were some of the most descriptive I’ve read from this author so far.
Moving onto the family, while Randall’s father is the biggest beast, the rest of the Morgan family is no picnic either. Sister-in-law Kayla is Randall’s best friend. It took me a while to warm up to her as she initially came off as a money hungry bimbo who can’t keep her mouth shut, but as the story went on and more of her character is revealed, she turned out to be a staunch ally and both smarter and stronger than I expected. There is also Dustin, his brother from another mother, who is following in daddy’s footsteps and spews venom at the rest of the family with seemingly not a second thought. Randall’s mother is just as bad as his father, maybe even worse knowing where she came from. It’s hard to believe he actually is a product of those two heartless people.
While the story has the soap opera family, it doesn’t completely devolve into soap opera hysterics (although there is a good face slap or two) until the Daytime Emmy-worthy last quarter of the book as Randall has a chance to confront the man who started it all and things just snowball from there.
I just adore Brandon Witt’s easy writing style. The scenes where Randall was working his photography shoots, especially one in particular with his niece and the dogs, vividly came to life and played like a film through my mind as I read. Though it had its ups and downs for me, I enjoyed the story. I wanted Noah and Randall to have that HEA and I wanted to know just who was involved and what their end-game was and of course see that those who deserved it got what I was hoping for in the end.
Read
June 28, 2016Just so no one feels the book has been spoiled for them by my review, it's all hidden -
July 24, 2016
This is a new to me author, my first Brandon Witt.
I loved the idea of the story when I read the blurb. You know, good cover, good blurb. Got me captivated.
Here's the thing with this book. It's too long and too many twist and betrayal. I don't want to give you any spoiler but it's too hard not to give a spoiler.
If only the author shortened the story about 100 pages less, and leave to the readers a chance to explore instead of too much telling, I'll probably liked the story. This book is too detail with things that don't need details, too much telling and I got bored easily.
But if you're into this kind of story, this probably 'wow' you.
It was just an okay read for me, put it down a few times, but I finished it. It's a good sign.
ARC was given by Publisher for a fair and unbiased review
I loved the idea of the story when I read the blurb. You know, good cover, good blurb. Got me captivated.
Here's the thing with this book. It's too long and too many twist and betrayal. I don't want to give you any spoiler but it's too hard not to give a spoiler.
If only the author shortened the story about 100 pages less, and leave to the readers a chance to explore instead of too much telling, I'll probably liked the story. This book is too detail with things that don't need details, too much telling and I got bored easily.
But if you're into this kind of story, this probably 'wow' you.
It was just an okay read for me, put it down a few times, but I finished it. It's a good sign.
ARC was given by Publisher for a fair and unbiased review
August 13, 2020
I'm embarrassed to admit that 'Son of Money' is the first book of Brandon Witt's that I have read. I know. I should hang my head in shame. There was something about the description for this novel, however, that pulled at me and insisted I read it. It didn't hurt that it's set in and around Seattle, Washington, where I lived for a number of years, and featured a pug/chihuahua mix named Harper with horrible teeth and a loving heart.
I pretty much fell for Randall immediately. My heart went out to him and the way he was raised by nannies and staff members with little love or affection from his parents. The über-rich of Seattle is what he was born into and it's their way or the highway. He loves his niece, Bailey, who is seven and already being forced to learn the rules of comportment according to her grandparents. In fact if it weren't for Bailey he would have removed himself from the family flytrap long ago. His sister-in-law, Kayla, is his best friend and she's just as miserable fulfilling her role of Barbie for his brother. Randall decides to get a dog to make Bailey happy since she isn't allowed to have one - and who should he meet at the Humane Society but Noah, his first kiss as a teenager, and someone Randall has thought of often, but hasn't seen since he was thirteen. Of course, he does get Harper that day, so it turns out to be the best day ever.
"After four days of Harper invading my space, I couldn’t picture any other way to live..... She was the least feminine girl I’d ever met; she never stopped farting and snorting. And I was completely in love."
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
I pretty much fell for Randall immediately. My heart went out to him and the way he was raised by nannies and staff members with little love or affection from his parents. The über-rich of Seattle is what he was born into and it's their way or the highway. He loves his niece, Bailey, who is seven and already being forced to learn the rules of comportment according to her grandparents. In fact if it weren't for Bailey he would have removed himself from the family flytrap long ago. His sister-in-law, Kayla, is his best friend and she's just as miserable fulfilling her role of Barbie for his brother. Randall decides to get a dog to make Bailey happy since she isn't allowed to have one - and who should he meet at the Humane Society but Noah, his first kiss as a teenager, and someone Randall has thought of often, but hasn't seen since he was thirteen. Of course, he does get Harper that day, so it turns out to be the best day ever.
"After four days of Harper invading my space, I couldn’t picture any other way to live..... She was the least feminine girl I’d ever met; she never stopped farting and snorting. And I was completely in love."
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
September 14, 2017
4 Stars
The insta-love was strong with this in that very young teenage friends are reunited as more with Noah's insistence that they were always meant to be. But, somehow, it worked.
That said, the story was a bit over the top with an almost Dynasty-like antagonists in Randall's father, brother & that one stalky client...plus the heavy dose of Matriarchal Bitchdom from his mother. OMG I wanted to stab them all and light them on fire. Major kudos for having the female best friend FINALLY putting her foot down and declaring no more; I worried for her little girl's future mental stability given what seemed to occur in their household.
I'm not a pet person, but I can definitely see why some people are dog-crazy after the way the pups were portrayed here.
Edited to add: Forgot to mention why it got such a good rating when it didn't seem like much in my review above. Mainly, I love how BW handled that whole "sex on the side" business between Noah & Randall before they became romantically involved. I loved how Noah didn't judge, how even if it were prostitution - with Randall charging for the sex rather than just getting off with clients who then left big tips - then it was still not really any of his business because, hello, consenting adults. LOVE THAT. Also, how BW had Randall not ashamed of his actions in and of themselves (even taking those generous tips from the guys he did bed), and showed him only struggling with how other people might view his behavior. Oh, and struggling with still wanting to - AND CHOOSING NOT - sleep with other people after they started dating. THAT is so realistic and I love it. LOVE IT. People don't stop finding others attractive or wanting to screw other people once they commit; true commitment is CHOOSING not to act on that attraction.
Anywho, yeah. That's mainly what impressed me.
The insta-love was strong with this in that very young teenage friends are reunited as more with Noah's insistence that they were always meant to be. But, somehow, it worked.
That said, the story was a bit over the top with an almost Dynasty-like antagonists in Randall's father, brother & that one stalky client...plus the heavy dose of Matriarchal Bitchdom from his mother. OMG I wanted to stab them all and light them on fire. Major kudos for having the female best friend FINALLY putting her foot down and declaring no more; I worried for her little girl's future mental stability given what seemed to occur in their household.
I'm not a pet person, but I can definitely see why some people are dog-crazy after the way the pups were portrayed here.
Edited to add: Forgot to mention why it got such a good rating when it didn't seem like much in my review above. Mainly, I love how BW handled that whole "sex on the side" business between Noah & Randall before they became romantically involved. I loved how Noah didn't judge, how even if it were prostitution - with Randall charging for the sex rather than just getting off with clients who then left big tips - then it was still not really any of his business because, hello, consenting adults. LOVE THAT. Also, how BW had Randall not ashamed of his actions in and of themselves (even taking those generous tips from the guys he did bed), and showed him only struggling with how other people might view his behavior. Oh, and struggling with still wanting to - AND CHOOSING NOT - sleep with other people after they started dating. THAT is so realistic and I love it. LOVE IT. People don't stop finding others attractive or wanting to screw other people once they commit; true commitment is CHOOSING not to act on that attraction.
Anywho, yeah. That's mainly what impressed me.
July 1, 2023
Cover model’s hot.
Romance is not. Overly
dramatic and dull.
Romance is not. Overly
dramatic and dull.
July 11, 2016
First off, let me say that I adore all of Brandon Witt's books, so I went into this story knowing I would love it, and boy was I right! Some authors just get how to craft a story, and Brandon is one of them!
Randall refused to be controlled by his parents like his brother is so he makes his own money, but how he does it may come back to haunt him. When his beloved niece wants a dog Randall decides that since she can't have one at her house, he will get one at his. This proves to be a fateful decision, because while at the humane society he sees Noah again.
These two have a history and sweet memories between them, but can they work on finding out what they mean to each other when it seems like someone is set on destroying Randall? When Randall uncovers the mystery of who wants him ruined, he may need Noah more than ever!
You will love this book friends, no spoilers from me, but trust me, there is so much more to this story than I can tell you! Grab it up and see! Thanks Brandon, for yet another beyond amazing read!
Randall refused to be controlled by his parents like his brother is so he makes his own money, but how he does it may come back to haunt him. When his beloved niece wants a dog Randall decides that since she can't have one at her house, he will get one at his. This proves to be a fateful decision, because while at the humane society he sees Noah again.
These two have a history and sweet memories between them, but can they work on finding out what they mean to each other when it seems like someone is set on destroying Randall? When Randall uncovers the mystery of who wants him ruined, he may need Noah more than ever!
You will love this book friends, no spoilers from me, but trust me, there is so much more to this story than I can tell you! Grab it up and see! Thanks Brandon, for yet another beyond amazing read!
January 11, 2018
Son of Money
By Brandon Witt
Dreamspinner Press, 2016
Four stars
Set in Seattle, “Son of Money” is a kind of cautionary modern fairy tale that plays the romantic notion of fated love against the less romantic notion of unrelenting family control. Randall Morgan is the son of money in the title. He thinks he’s cast off the spider web of his family’s huge fortune and network of social power. He lives his life the way he chooses, and has made some choices that have allowed him both financial independence and sexual freedom. When he happens on Noah Carroll, a tall bearded man with whom he shared a first kiss at thirteen, his whole world shifts, and he begins to see that his freedom not complete.
I truly enjoyed this book all the way through, and it made me ponder (as it would only for a gay man) broader issues of morality and sexuality that continue to cause heated discussion in the LGBT world today. Witt creates wonderful characters, although I personally found Morgan himself to be something of a jackass, whereas Noah was immediately lovable. I’m wondering if what I disliked about Morgan’s personality isn’t somehow tied to the fact that he’s really pretending to be free of his family when in fact the deeply-rooted sense of privilege and entitlement with which he was raised colors his entire worldview. True, he genuinely loves his sister-in-law Kayla, and his niece Bailey. And surely he has carried a flame for Noah since that first fateful kiss twenty-two years earlier. Both Kayla—a blond Barbie Doll of a woman, who is no less good and gentle for all that—and seven-year-old Bailey are more deeply ensnared in the Morgan family web, and Morgan’s love for them is another trap that limits his real freedom. But, whereas Noah has really suffered and struggled to find his own personal freedom, Morgan just imagines he has.
There’s a lot of wonderful detail, both innocent and sexy, related to Morgan’s career as a photographer. It is the most interesting and most convincingly handled facet of the story. I was less convinced by Morgan’s absurdly autocratic father, who, with Morgan’s trophy-wife mother, seems to support good liberal causes (against all expectation) even as he manipulates every aspect of his family’s life. The archetype of the nasty rich people never quite sits well with me, but I guess I have to give Witt the benefit of the doubt, since the white privilege of my own childhood was far more modest and I have no real point of comparison.
The ultimate morality tale of this book is nicely dramatic and wraps Noah and Morgan’s love in a tumultuous emotional narrative that really pushed all of my buttons. What we do in our lives for the sake of money and comfort is, in the end, up to us. Whether our choices are right or wrong is not so much measured by our happiness, but by the happiness of those we love most.
By Brandon Witt
Dreamspinner Press, 2016
Four stars
Set in Seattle, “Son of Money” is a kind of cautionary modern fairy tale that plays the romantic notion of fated love against the less romantic notion of unrelenting family control. Randall Morgan is the son of money in the title. He thinks he’s cast off the spider web of his family’s huge fortune and network of social power. He lives his life the way he chooses, and has made some choices that have allowed him both financial independence and sexual freedom. When he happens on Noah Carroll, a tall bearded man with whom he shared a first kiss at thirteen, his whole world shifts, and he begins to see that his freedom not complete.
I truly enjoyed this book all the way through, and it made me ponder (as it would only for a gay man) broader issues of morality and sexuality that continue to cause heated discussion in the LGBT world today. Witt creates wonderful characters, although I personally found Morgan himself to be something of a jackass, whereas Noah was immediately lovable. I’m wondering if what I disliked about Morgan’s personality isn’t somehow tied to the fact that he’s really pretending to be free of his family when in fact the deeply-rooted sense of privilege and entitlement with which he was raised colors his entire worldview. True, he genuinely loves his sister-in-law Kayla, and his niece Bailey. And surely he has carried a flame for Noah since that first fateful kiss twenty-two years earlier. Both Kayla—a blond Barbie Doll of a woman, who is no less good and gentle for all that—and seven-year-old Bailey are more deeply ensnared in the Morgan family web, and Morgan’s love for them is another trap that limits his real freedom. But, whereas Noah has really suffered and struggled to find his own personal freedom, Morgan just imagines he has.
There’s a lot of wonderful detail, both innocent and sexy, related to Morgan’s career as a photographer. It is the most interesting and most convincingly handled facet of the story. I was less convinced by Morgan’s absurdly autocratic father, who, with Morgan’s trophy-wife mother, seems to support good liberal causes (against all expectation) even as he manipulates every aspect of his family’s life. The archetype of the nasty rich people never quite sits well with me, but I guess I have to give Witt the benefit of the doubt, since the white privilege of my own childhood was far more modest and I have no real point of comparison.
The ultimate morality tale of this book is nicely dramatic and wraps Noah and Morgan’s love in a tumultuous emotional narrative that really pushed all of my buttons. What we do in our lives for the sake of money and comfort is, in the end, up to us. Whether our choices are right or wrong is not so much measured by our happiness, but by the happiness of those we love most.
July 31, 2017
4.5 stars. I'm binging on Brandon Witt's books, because of his combination of realistic guys, good writing, and a bit of drama which, even in this messed-up-family set-up, doesn't quite descend to melodrama. His stories hit the spot for me. In this book we find Randall, the second son of a very wealthy man, who was disinherited, but not completely disowned, when he decided to go into photography instead of studying business. He has an older half-brother, and their relationship is fraught, because Randall's mother was the home-wrecker who stole away their father.
Randall makes his money with photography, both portraiture of children and erotic photos of men, and with a side business in massage. In the erotic and massage ventures, if a client is up for a little fun, Randall's always ready to enjoy sex as well, although he never charges for it. He never sleeps with a client he doesn't like, and doesn't consider himself to be selling the sex, but isn't hung up on the distinction. He does keep his erotic adventures quiet, though, because as much as he wouldn't mind ditching his cold father, his controlling mother, and that antagonistic half-brother, he also has a sister-in-law he cares about and a small niece he adores.
For Bailey's sake, he's willing to attend family gatherings and abide by the many unwritten rules of his family life. For Bailey's sake, when she's denied a pet, he also takes on a Humane Society dog - and in so doing lets love into his life. Both from Harper, the ugliest dog with the biggest little heart, and from Noah, his teenage first love who turns out to be back and working as the HS spokesperson. For a moment, with work and a dog and a new/old boyfriend, and Bailey's visits, Randall wonders if he can have it all.
But then his erotic adventures are anonymously laid bare in the press, in the worst possible light. He's called a whore, and worse, and his right to even see his niece hangs in the balance. And things are about to get worse. His beloved dog Harper will stick to his side, but how can he ask Noah to weather this storm? Will he even survive the crash of so many dreams in a tawdry mess of accusations he can't find a way to fight, as his businesses take the hit too?
Fortunately, Randall's sister-in-law won't give up on him. In the midst of betrayal, he has good friends, and reasons to hope. The story shows how fast media rumors and unproven stories can damage a life, and how hard it is to rebound. The resolution is sweet, an underlying mystery is no surprise, but resolves in a satisfactory way, and the dogs are adorable. And if it takes a bit of optimism to quite believe how it works out, it's still a very enjoyable story, and will be a comfort reread.
Randall makes his money with photography, both portraiture of children and erotic photos of men, and with a side business in massage. In the erotic and massage ventures, if a client is up for a little fun, Randall's always ready to enjoy sex as well, although he never charges for it. He never sleeps with a client he doesn't like, and doesn't consider himself to be selling the sex, but isn't hung up on the distinction. He does keep his erotic adventures quiet, though, because as much as he wouldn't mind ditching his cold father, his controlling mother, and that antagonistic half-brother, he also has a sister-in-law he cares about and a small niece he adores.
For Bailey's sake, he's willing to attend family gatherings and abide by the many unwritten rules of his family life. For Bailey's sake, when she's denied a pet, he also takes on a Humane Society dog - and in so doing lets love into his life. Both from Harper, the ugliest dog with the biggest little heart, and from Noah, his teenage first love who turns out to be back and working as the HS spokesperson. For a moment, with work and a dog and a new/old boyfriend, and Bailey's visits, Randall wonders if he can have it all.
But then his erotic adventures are anonymously laid bare in the press, in the worst possible light. He's called a whore, and worse, and his right to even see his niece hangs in the balance. And things are about to get worse. His beloved dog Harper will stick to his side, but how can he ask Noah to weather this storm? Will he even survive the crash of so many dreams in a tawdry mess of accusations he can't find a way to fight, as his businesses take the hit too?
Fortunately, Randall's sister-in-law won't give up on him. In the midst of betrayal, he has good friends, and reasons to hope. The story shows how fast media rumors and unproven stories can damage a life, and how hard it is to rebound. The resolution is sweet, an underlying mystery is no surprise, but resolves in a satisfactory way, and the dogs are adorable. And if it takes a bit of optimism to quite believe how it works out, it's still a very enjoyable story, and will be a comfort reread.
July 10, 2016
2.5 stars
This is my exasperated face. I think I'm more upset that I had to give this lower rating to an author I like. Brandon Witt is such a sweet person, and unfortunately it wouldn't be fair to whoever reads the blog for me to lie about my rating. Sure I could give him 5 stars for being an amazing person, but it doesn't negate the fact that I disliked everything but the dogs and Noah in this story.
I don't do well with the rich family and holding people hostage tropes. Meaning, I'm so over the fact that grown adults are under the thumb of their parents for money. This was different, Randall turned his family down, so why didn't he have a back bone? Why is it okay for a 35 yr old to have every aspect of his life controlled? It pissed me off big time, and as soon as I knew that was the way it was going it kinda turned me off from the rest of the story. I mean, he said he turned down the money, but it didn't seem that way. The entire scandal was so OTT. The Steward situation bothered me big time. Randall gave up. I just couldn't wrap my head around it.
UGh!!! I liked Noah big time. He's my kind of guy. What I didn't like was the way they kinda fell into the relationship. I figured you haven't seen him for over 10 years, and people changed. To automatically try to get that kid love back was juvenile in my mind. I would have like to see them work up to a connection with one another. I would liked it to have been super slow, and I would have liked Randall to grow a pair, and stand up for himself.
This just didn't work for me. As much as I love Brandon Witt, I just couldn't connect and deal with it. I am looking forward to more of his work though.
This is my exasperated face. I think I'm more upset that I had to give this lower rating to an author I like. Brandon Witt is such a sweet person, and unfortunately it wouldn't be fair to whoever reads the blog for me to lie about my rating. Sure I could give him 5 stars for being an amazing person, but it doesn't negate the fact that I disliked everything but the dogs and Noah in this story.
I don't do well with the rich family and holding people hostage tropes. Meaning, I'm so over the fact that grown adults are under the thumb of their parents for money. This was different, Randall turned his family down, so why didn't he have a back bone? Why is it okay for a 35 yr old to have every aspect of his life controlled? It pissed me off big time, and as soon as I knew that was the way it was going it kinda turned me off from the rest of the story. I mean, he said he turned down the money, but it didn't seem that way. The entire scandal was so OTT. The Steward situation bothered me big time. Randall gave up. I just couldn't wrap my head around it.
UGh!!! I liked Noah big time. He's my kind of guy. What I didn't like was the way they kinda fell into the relationship. I figured you haven't seen him for over 10 years, and people changed. To automatically try to get that kid love back was juvenile in my mind. I would have like to see them work up to a connection with one another. I would liked it to have been super slow, and I would have liked Randall to grow a pair, and stand up for himself.
This just didn't work for me. As much as I love Brandon Witt, I just couldn't connect and deal with it. I am looking forward to more of his work though.
July 11, 2016
Let me start by saying I love Brandon Witt’s books and his writing style. This book is an aberration from his norm in that there is low angst and no fantasy, but it is pure romantic Brandon Witt anyway. Before reading this book, I read several of his blog posts on it, knowing that this one was a break from the norm for him. I am so glad I did because knowing his state of mind, what he was trying to accomplish with the book, allowed me to look at the novel through his eyes and enjoy it for what it is—a book about a man who comes from incredible wealth, dealing with the control, drama and expectations that kind of wealth comes with (in the author own words, think Falcon Crest or The Young and the Restless).
Drama, so much drama. Oh heavens, let me say it again: the drama and the secrets! This is a really great novel. Is it my favorite by Brandon Witt? No, but I appreciate that sometimes authors need to stretch their wings and try something new, and I applaud him for doing so. I have to say, what I didn’t like about the book had more to do with my own prejudices and preconceived notions on how people need to act than with the storyline or style of writing. I think I may not be as forgiving as the author since I would not have accepted some of the behaviors that the characters portray, or the machinations they ultimately get away with, but hey, this is a soap opera world, so of course people get away with outlandish behavior! About the only soap opera type behavior that didn’t happen was that no one was raised from the dead. Haha!
Randall Morgan is the youngest son of an incredibly powerful family. He has always been taught the Morgan name is to be upheld at all cost. That cost has often been his soul. Cutting himself off from his family’s money is just the tip of the iceberg for Randall, as the emotional hold they have on him keeps him in bondage to their whims as surely as the money ever did. That emotional hold comes in the form of his niece, who Randall holds onto as the only source of sunlight in his sometimes (often) dark world. Randall has always dreamed of being a photographer but dreams don’t pay bills when you are on your own, so he starts an erotic massage business on the side. If he enjoys sex with his clients, who’s to get hurt? They are all consenting adults, after all. And his clients only pay for the massages or the pictures; the sex is something that Randall does for free. No harm, no foul… right?
Noah Carroll works for the Seattle Humane Society. When Randall comes in to adopt a dog after he promises his niece he will, Noah comes face to face with his first love, Randall Morgan. Randall and Noah had their first kiss at thirteen years old, and that was it for both of them, a standard they have judged each successive relationship against. Noah’s parents were missionaries to Haiti, so the boys lost touch when Noah’s family moved back overseas.
“A small gasp escaped me as he slipped his tongue inside my mouth. Not forcibly, just a tentative test, the only aspect of the kiss that sought permission.”
“I opened my eyes. Just for a moment. Just to make sure it was real. That he was real after all these years. That it wasn’t simply the magic of the lake.”
“Though I’d held all the other sexual experiences and men up to the standard of that kiss at the beginning of my teenage years, Noah’s kiss was not the same as the one from that long-ago night. This was the kiss of a man. A man who knew what he wanted. Who had no fear of repercussions. The kiss of a man who held nothing back in an effort to protect himself, while stripping away every one of my defenses. This was a kiss that told me I’d never been kissed before. I sank into it, joining with him as surely as if he moved inside me.”
Noah is now a self-made man. He has fought his demons and won, and his confidence is as sexy as his body is. In Noah’s opinion, he has waited his entire life for Randall to come back into his life, and he is not about to give him up now, not for anything. His unwavering love and compassion for all that Randall has to go through is amazing and makes you love his character even more. Noah becomes a source of strength for Randall when Randall’s life falls apart, thanks to his family’s actions and interference. Because yeah, Randall’s life heads downhill in a big way and just when you think he has hit bottom, nope he’s got a little farther to go.
This is where I am not as forgiving as the author obviously is, because frankly will all the blackmail, slander, culpability and downright ugliness of the Morgan family, I don’t think anyone really pays for what they do to Randall. Hey, I didn’t realize myself I was so bloodthirsty, but it says something about the characters the author creates that I would want to reach inside the novel and avenge the main character… Needless to say Randall and Noah reach their HEA, and the ultimate moral of the story is that you can break free of the ties that bind you to the family you are born with, if those ties are toxic to you, and embrace a family of your own making—one of goodness affirmation and love.
This book is full of romance, secrets, sex, humor, love, soap opera level drama, a cute little girl who loves playing a fairy princess, and a really ugly/adorable dog! I absolutely recommend it.
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach Reviews
Drama, so much drama. Oh heavens, let me say it again: the drama and the secrets! This is a really great novel. Is it my favorite by Brandon Witt? No, but I appreciate that sometimes authors need to stretch their wings and try something new, and I applaud him for doing so. I have to say, what I didn’t like about the book had more to do with my own prejudices and preconceived notions on how people need to act than with the storyline or style of writing. I think I may not be as forgiving as the author since I would not have accepted some of the behaviors that the characters portray, or the machinations they ultimately get away with, but hey, this is a soap opera world, so of course people get away with outlandish behavior! About the only soap opera type behavior that didn’t happen was that no one was raised from the dead. Haha!
Randall Morgan is the youngest son of an incredibly powerful family. He has always been taught the Morgan name is to be upheld at all cost. That cost has often been his soul. Cutting himself off from his family’s money is just the tip of the iceberg for Randall, as the emotional hold they have on him keeps him in bondage to their whims as surely as the money ever did. That emotional hold comes in the form of his niece, who Randall holds onto as the only source of sunlight in his sometimes (often) dark world. Randall has always dreamed of being a photographer but dreams don’t pay bills when you are on your own, so he starts an erotic massage business on the side. If he enjoys sex with his clients, who’s to get hurt? They are all consenting adults, after all. And his clients only pay for the massages or the pictures; the sex is something that Randall does for free. No harm, no foul… right?
Noah Carroll works for the Seattle Humane Society. When Randall comes in to adopt a dog after he promises his niece he will, Noah comes face to face with his first love, Randall Morgan. Randall and Noah had their first kiss at thirteen years old, and that was it for both of them, a standard they have judged each successive relationship against. Noah’s parents were missionaries to Haiti, so the boys lost touch when Noah’s family moved back overseas.
“A small gasp escaped me as he slipped his tongue inside my mouth. Not forcibly, just a tentative test, the only aspect of the kiss that sought permission.”
“I opened my eyes. Just for a moment. Just to make sure it was real. That he was real after all these years. That it wasn’t simply the magic of the lake.”
“Though I’d held all the other sexual experiences and men up to the standard of that kiss at the beginning of my teenage years, Noah’s kiss was not the same as the one from that long-ago night. This was the kiss of a man. A man who knew what he wanted. Who had no fear of repercussions. The kiss of a man who held nothing back in an effort to protect himself, while stripping away every one of my defenses. This was a kiss that told me I’d never been kissed before. I sank into it, joining with him as surely as if he moved inside me.”
Noah is now a self-made man. He has fought his demons and won, and his confidence is as sexy as his body is. In Noah’s opinion, he has waited his entire life for Randall to come back into his life, and he is not about to give him up now, not for anything. His unwavering love and compassion for all that Randall has to go through is amazing and makes you love his character even more. Noah becomes a source of strength for Randall when Randall’s life falls apart, thanks to his family’s actions and interference. Because yeah, Randall’s life heads downhill in a big way and just when you think he has hit bottom, nope he’s got a little farther to go.
This is where I am not as forgiving as the author obviously is, because frankly will all the blackmail, slander, culpability and downright ugliness of the Morgan family, I don’t think anyone really pays for what they do to Randall. Hey, I didn’t realize myself I was so bloodthirsty, but it says something about the characters the author creates that I would want to reach inside the novel and avenge the main character… Needless to say Randall and Noah reach their HEA, and the ultimate moral of the story is that you can break free of the ties that bind you to the family you are born with, if those ties are toxic to you, and embrace a family of your own making—one of goodness affirmation and love.
This book is full of romance, secrets, sex, humor, love, soap opera level drama, a cute little girl who loves playing a fairy princess, and a really ugly/adorable dog! I absolutely recommend it.
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach Reviews
September 25, 2017
I wanted to like this story but it just fell flat. Randall's family was just plain evil.
July 11, 2016
Brandon is quickly becoming my favorite author of 2016. This is my third book this year and like the other two, it did not disappoint. There’s nothing boiler-plate about Brandon’s writing, no formula, and he’s willing to take risks. In Son of Money, he took several big ones with an interesting and unlikely cast of characters.
You have Randall, the photographer/massage therapist/lover of sex, who disavowed his family’s money in an effort to be free of their controlling ways. He thinks he’s living his life on his terms and claims he’s perfectly okay with who he’s become, but he often refers to himself in derogatory terms that become teeth clenching after a while. When his secrets are revealed in a public way and his life begins to fall apart, Randall crumbles. You'll waffle between feeling his pain and wanting to shake him until he fights.
Then you have Noah Carroll, the one-time missionary’s son turned animal activist and Randall’s first kiss. Noah hits the page pretty hard with a confident “you were always the one” that had Randall and me taking a step back. Luckily for both of us, Noah realizes his faux pas and tries to reel himself in. He becomes Randall’s rock without totally compromising himself and that elevated him above all the other characters in the book.
Finally, there's Harper. There is nothing at all like a dog's love. Even, or maybe especially, an ugly dog and Harper as written as the ugliest dog in the world and sweetest, most loving companion a man could ask for. I loved the adoption scene and I loved that Harper picked Randall.
The supporting cast worth mentioning includes Dustin, Randall’s half-brother who hates him, and Kayla, Dustin’s long-suffering wife who doubles as Randall’s best friend, and their adorable daughter, Bailey, the only truly lovable human character in the book. She's the only reason Randall is still part of the Morgan clan to begin with and his willingness to put up with a situation he hated just so he could be part of his niece's life was what kept me cheering for him even when I wanted to shake him. I waffled on the Dustin resolution, but overall I was happy with how this whole dynamic turned out.
Nearly everyone else in the book was shit with only a couple of exceptions. Some started out as shit and stayed that way. Some started out deceptively nice and flipped on a dime. Some were as decent as they appeared, only you don't really know who to trust until you're sure you can't. All of them contributed to the whodunit aspect of the book that kept me riveted until the big reveal. Which one had it out for Randall the most? The answer was a huge twist , but not really a shock.
For every single reason above, I loved this story. All the characters were different, layered, imperfect, at times unlikable, and made more mistakes than not. Even the characters I hated throughout served a necessary purpose and the book wouldn’t have been better without them.
Our MC’s couldn’t have picked a worse time dive into the relationship. With Randall coming from a place of memory-lust and Noah positive it’s fated-love, there’s a lot of work to be done to get these two on the same page. That isn’t made easy with the family drama and scandal hanging over their heads, but Brandon brings it all home with a twist that will make you wonder why you didn’t see it all along.
If you’re looking for something outside the box, Son of Money is it.
*Arc provided by publisher for an honest review*
You have Randall, the photographer/massage therapist/lover of sex, who disavowed his family’s money in an effort to be free of their controlling ways. He thinks he’s living his life on his terms and claims he’s perfectly okay with who he’s become, but he often refers to himself in derogatory terms that become teeth clenching after a while. When his secrets are revealed in a public way and his life begins to fall apart, Randall crumbles. You'll waffle between feeling his pain and wanting to shake him until he fights.
Then you have Noah Carroll, the one-time missionary’s son turned animal activist and Randall’s first kiss. Noah hits the page pretty hard with a confident “you were always the one” that had Randall and me taking a step back. Luckily for both of us, Noah realizes his faux pas and tries to reel himself in. He becomes Randall’s rock without totally compromising himself and that elevated him above all the other characters in the book.
Finally, there's Harper. There is nothing at all like a dog's love. Even, or maybe especially, an ugly dog and Harper as written as the ugliest dog in the world and sweetest, most loving companion a man could ask for. I loved the adoption scene and I loved that Harper picked Randall.
The supporting cast worth mentioning includes Dustin, Randall’s half-brother who hates him, and Kayla, Dustin’s long-suffering wife who doubles as Randall’s best friend, and their adorable daughter, Bailey, the only truly lovable human character in the book. She's the only reason Randall is still part of the Morgan clan to begin with and his willingness to put up with a situation he hated just so he could be part of his niece's life was what kept me cheering for him even when I wanted to shake him. I waffled on the Dustin resolution, but overall I was happy with how this whole dynamic turned out.
Nearly everyone else in the book was shit with only a couple of exceptions. Some started out as shit and stayed that way. Some started out deceptively nice and flipped on a dime. Some were as decent as they appeared, only you don't really know who to trust until you're sure you can't. All of them contributed to the whodunit aspect of the book that kept me riveted until the big reveal. Which one had it out for Randall the most? The answer was a huge twist , but not really a shock.
For every single reason above, I loved this story. All the characters were different, layered, imperfect, at times unlikable, and made more mistakes than not. Even the characters I hated throughout served a necessary purpose and the book wouldn’t have been better without them.
Our MC’s couldn’t have picked a worse time dive into the relationship. With Randall coming from a place of memory-lust and Noah positive it’s fated-love, there’s a lot of work to be done to get these two on the same page. That isn’t made easy with the family drama and scandal hanging over their heads, but Brandon brings it all home with a twist that will make you wonder why you didn’t see it all along.
If you’re looking for something outside the box, Son of Money is it.
*Arc provided by publisher for an honest review*
July 25, 2016
3.5 Stars
Hmmmm...I hate to say this but unfortunately this one really didn't do it for me as well as others have from this amazing author. I am used to that emotional gut wrencher of a book...a dive into some serious personal issues with Witt...and while this one was good, I missed that feeling here. This was sweet though and the couple, who no doubt was destined for each other, was relatively angst free.
Now this is not to say there is some family angst going on...because look out...this family is...
Money will certainly do that to you. WOW!
Now aside from the family drama, there is also a social media aspect to this book that left me so uncomfortable. The internet has taken the rumor mill to a whole new level making you wish you were not on it at all. How things can be perceived, shared and can essentially explode on line in minutes is quite a scary thing.
The photography storyline and the photographs described in this book make me yearn for the coffee table book discussed within this story. I fell in love with this aspect of the book.
For me, Seattle's Pike Place Market is really a central character here...and along with some sweet dogs, is one I loved...
...and even though I have visited this location a few times, Brandon depicted the area perfectly. Leaving me wanting a grilled cheese from Beecher's...
or a pastry from Le Panier...
Or even a coffee from the original Starbucks...
What can I say?? I am a foodie and so the food aspect of Witt's book, as always, spoke to me.
Again, this is a sweet book and I would recommend it as one to read on your journey through this very talented authors works, however it lands below others like Under a Sky of Ash, Then the Stars Fall and one of my favorite books from 2016...Imperfection of Swans. WOW.
October 6, 2016
*3.5 stars rounded up*
Second chance love stories are among my favorite types. I like that the MC’s already have a history to build on, I enjoy seeing them work out the people they were versus the people they are now and how those two things might sometimes not be what they seem, and I love seeing each character rediscover those things that made them special and connected in the first place. All of these reasons are why I was so excited to read Brandon Witt’s newest novel, Son of Money.
In typical Brandon Witt style, the story of Randall Morgan and Noah Carroll is one full of drama, passion, and love. I have to admit that it took me a bit before I really liked either of these men. They meet again twenty years after a passionate kiss and while I kind of swoon at the sentiment of that, the fact that each man carries the impact of one kiss two decades old is a tad far-fetched for me. Sure I know there are moments in everyone’s life that can change their course but in the case of Randall and Noah, it didn’t really work for me. What did work though, is once these two find one another again, their romance takes off. There is a lot of push and pull and a heck of a lot of chemistry, too.
I did find that the drama, the over the top drama at that, of Randall’s family got rather tedious. I appreciated Randall’s absolute devotion to his niece, Bailey, and the moments between the two were sweet and charming. When Noah became added to the mix, it was even lovelier. I know I was supposed to like Kayla, but I really didn’t. I found her much too like a caricature than a real person, and the same can be said for the rest of Randall’s family. Yeah, they are truly awful people, but there’s a way to show that without it being so blatant and in your face.
As always, Brandon’s writing is so well done, though there are a few places where there was too much telling and not enough showing. I think this kept me from truly connecting with Randall and Noah as much as I would have liked. And the slut-shaming, so not a fan of that. That however, is just my opinion. All in all though, this was a solid book. Crisp writing, a roller coaster of emotions, and lots of cute moments with a kid and dogs … a great combination if I ever saw one! Be sure to check this one out people!
*This review will also be posted on www.diversereader.blogspot.com*
Second chance love stories are among my favorite types. I like that the MC’s already have a history to build on, I enjoy seeing them work out the people they were versus the people they are now and how those two things might sometimes not be what they seem, and I love seeing each character rediscover those things that made them special and connected in the first place. All of these reasons are why I was so excited to read Brandon Witt’s newest novel, Son of Money.
In typical Brandon Witt style, the story of Randall Morgan and Noah Carroll is one full of drama, passion, and love. I have to admit that it took me a bit before I really liked either of these men. They meet again twenty years after a passionate kiss and while I kind of swoon at the sentiment of that, the fact that each man carries the impact of one kiss two decades old is a tad far-fetched for me. Sure I know there are moments in everyone’s life that can change their course but in the case of Randall and Noah, it didn’t really work for me. What did work though, is once these two find one another again, their romance takes off. There is a lot of push and pull and a heck of a lot of chemistry, too.
I did find that the drama, the over the top drama at that, of Randall’s family got rather tedious. I appreciated Randall’s absolute devotion to his niece, Bailey, and the moments between the two were sweet and charming. When Noah became added to the mix, it was even lovelier. I know I was supposed to like Kayla, but I really didn’t. I found her much too like a caricature than a real person, and the same can be said for the rest of Randall’s family. Yeah, they are truly awful people, but there’s a way to show that without it being so blatant and in your face.
As always, Brandon’s writing is so well done, though there are a few places where there was too much telling and not enough showing. I think this kept me from truly connecting with Randall and Noah as much as I would have liked. And the slut-shaming, so not a fan of that. That however, is just my opinion. All in all though, this was a solid book. Crisp writing, a roller coaster of emotions, and lots of cute moments with a kid and dogs … a great combination if I ever saw one! Be sure to check this one out people!
*This review will also be posted on www.diversereader.blogspot.com*
July 11, 2016
Brandon Witt writes complicated romance novels, as anyone who has read one knows. They are not quick reads but they are so engrossing that you really can’t put one down once you start it. The writing and turn of phrase are so…well, just perfect in the context of the story.
The main characters, Randall and Noah, are exquisitely drawn, with enough backstory to bring them to full life for the reader and also sufficient personality complications to make the story interesting.
Randall is a scion of a fabulously wealthy family, but Randall himself does not have the advantages you might expect because he also has principals and morals that cause him to abandon the privilege that comes with that level of wealth. Along with the money comes controls that Randall does not accept, wanting instead to clear his own path in life. He makes his own living as a photographer and masseur but finds it necessary to keep that a secret, including his extracurricular activities, in order to remain in contact with his niece Bailey, whom he adores.
His love of Bailey leads him to adopting an almost unadoptable dog, Harper. This is the character of Randall – good, kind, loving of children and dogs, and determined to be his own man.
It is through adopting Harper that Randall meets Noah, who is exactly the kind of person Randall deserves. The two men get swept up in a scary situation that rolls on faster than you can imagine and takes the reader on a ride of epic proportions. There were twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, exactly the kind of angsty book I love.
I can’t recommend this book, and all of Brandon Witt’s books, highly enough. A wonderful story that everyone deserves to have on their ereader or bookself.
The main characters, Randall and Noah, are exquisitely drawn, with enough backstory to bring them to full life for the reader and also sufficient personality complications to make the story interesting.
Randall is a scion of a fabulously wealthy family, but Randall himself does not have the advantages you might expect because he also has principals and morals that cause him to abandon the privilege that comes with that level of wealth. Along with the money comes controls that Randall does not accept, wanting instead to clear his own path in life. He makes his own living as a photographer and masseur but finds it necessary to keep that a secret, including his extracurricular activities, in order to remain in contact with his niece Bailey, whom he adores.
His love of Bailey leads him to adopting an almost unadoptable dog, Harper. This is the character of Randall – good, kind, loving of children and dogs, and determined to be his own man.
It is through adopting Harper that Randall meets Noah, who is exactly the kind of person Randall deserves. The two men get swept up in a scary situation that rolls on faster than you can imagine and takes the reader on a ride of epic proportions. There were twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, exactly the kind of angsty book I love.
I can’t recommend this book, and all of Brandon Witt’s books, highly enough. A wonderful story that everyone deserves to have on their ereader or bookself.
July 11, 2016
I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
4 Stars.
Brandon Witt is a new-to-me author, and I found the writing style to be fluid, the characters engaging and realistic, and the pacing to be steady for the most part.
Son of Money's title is literal. Randall is from an affluent family, where they are all underneath the father's thumb, with his mother passing the 'joy' along to her step-daughter-in-law and step-granddaughter, both of whom are Randall's favorite people. His brother from another mother is destined to inherit all the money, properties, and legacy, but with that is a lack of freedom.
Randall let it all go, wanting independence instead of his life being orchestrated by his father. As a masseuse and professional photographer, Randall has too many skeletons in his closet.
Adopting a dog to spite his family, Randall wants to give his niece the pleasure of a pet, where Noah comes back into his life. A boyhood crush from age 13 finally reappearing as if it's kismet. While this was truly insta-love/lust, the romance was a focus, but there was a frustrating mystery that took center stage.
I admired Randall's courage, his independent streak, and his fortune of having Noah as a partner. I appreciated how Kayla and her daughter were written true-to-life, and not in a villainess sort of way that many novels seems to adopt as of late, as if all females are inherently annoying.
Any book featuring a pet is a good book in my estimation. I'm a sucker, and this book had 3 taking center stage.
Recommended to MM romance fans, but keep in mind, while this is a sexy read, the between-the-sheets actions is more fade-to-black than explicit. I'll definitely be reading more by this author.
4 Stars.
Brandon Witt is a new-to-me author, and I found the writing style to be fluid, the characters engaging and realistic, and the pacing to be steady for the most part.
Son of Money's title is literal. Randall is from an affluent family, where they are all underneath the father's thumb, with his mother passing the 'joy' along to her step-daughter-in-law and step-granddaughter, both of whom are Randall's favorite people. His brother from another mother is destined to inherit all the money, properties, and legacy, but with that is a lack of freedom.
Randall let it all go, wanting independence instead of his life being orchestrated by his father. As a masseuse and professional photographer, Randall has too many skeletons in his closet.
Adopting a dog to spite his family, Randall wants to give his niece the pleasure of a pet, where Noah comes back into his life. A boyhood crush from age 13 finally reappearing as if it's kismet. While this was truly insta-love/lust, the romance was a focus, but there was a frustrating mystery that took center stage.
I admired Randall's courage, his independent streak, and his fortune of having Noah as a partner. I appreciated how Kayla and her daughter were written true-to-life, and not in a villainess sort of way that many novels seems to adopt as of late, as if all females are inherently annoying.
Any book featuring a pet is a good book in my estimation. I'm a sucker, and this book had 3 taking center stage.
Recommended to MM romance fans, but keep in mind, while this is a sexy read, the between-the-sheets actions is more fade-to-black than explicit. I'll definitely be reading more by this author.
June 28, 2016
As I am starting to write this review, my thoughts are all over the place. I didn't really like Randall in the beginning. He was a total tramp as far as I was concerned. He did redeem himself when I saw how much he loved his best friend and his niece. It also helped when it was explained why he did what he did. Randall did massages and photography to help pay the bills since he rejected his families control. The title is perfect for this story because he was the son of money but didn't have any himself. He choose his own path without his families influence. We meet Noah when Randall goes to the local shelter to pick a dog for his niece. This was one of my favorite scenes in this story. Randall winds up with the ugliest dog but falls in love. Noah and Randall had their first kiss together when they were young. They lost touch and when they see each other again, I felt Noah wanted to go too fast to love. The angst comes when some very negative publicity is sent in Randall direction and he falls apart. He just hides from everything and I just wanted him to fight back. Noah is by his side the whole time. It does get worked out and he gets his HEA but I really enjoyed Brandon's writing style. His scenes are so vivid I find myself picturing them and could see them clearly while reading. This was a good story and cant wait for what's next. Received an ARC from publisher for a review. Reviewed by Jodi for Alpha Book Club.
July 19, 2016
~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads Review Team~
This book seemed way longer than 284 pages, I felt like I was reading it for days, which at times was good and at other times, not so much. I love how Randall and Noah were friends when they were younger who had crushes on each other and meet again later in life and still have feelings for each other. They both changed a lot since they first knew each other but that was ok, it seemed they turned out more for each other than they realized. The drama in this book just wouldn’t stop, it wasn’t even between Noah and Randall but it was nonstop, sometimes to the point of being too much. I did love the puppies in the story that did make me smile, dogs are just wonderful. How the reader didn’t know who was behind all the drama was beyond me. It was a good book with two characters that were made for each other that could handle anything thrown at them which is always good to read about.
Characters: well written
Sex: yes
Religious: it was mentioned often
Would I recommend to others: yes
More than one book in the series: no
Genre: M/M
Would I read more by this author: yes
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
This book seemed way longer than 284 pages, I felt like I was reading it for days, which at times was good and at other times, not so much. I love how Randall and Noah were friends when they were younger who had crushes on each other and meet again later in life and still have feelings for each other. They both changed a lot since they first knew each other but that was ok, it seemed they turned out more for each other than they realized. The drama in this book just wouldn’t stop, it wasn’t even between Noah and Randall but it was nonstop, sometimes to the point of being too much. I did love the puppies in the story that did make me smile, dogs are just wonderful. How the reader didn’t know who was behind all the drama was beyond me. It was a good book with two characters that were made for each other that could handle anything thrown at them which is always good to read about.
Characters: well written
Sex: yes
Religious: it was mentioned often
Would I recommend to others: yes
More than one book in the series: no
Genre: M/M
Would I read more by this author: yes
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
July 9, 2016
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
This was my first book by Brandon Witt, and it was a really enjoyable read. I adored Noah and Randall. They had a great chemistry and fit together so well. Although the story is sort of instalove, because they knew one another as teens, it works. Randall and Noah were such likable characters, as were their four legged friends. I wanted to cuddle Harper, Andy and Ron they were just so cute!!
The story is well written and has a great premise. It mostly flows well, but I think it could have been tightened up a bit. This was an emotionally draining book to read at times. I actually had to set it down and walk away for a while, because my stomach was in such knots. I just didn't know how much more Randall could take. I also wasn't sure how much more I could take! The mystery portion of the story is well written and kept me guessing as to who the anonymous blogger was, until the big reveal.
This was a great book loaded with angst, romance, sexiness, friendship, love and of course those cute puppies!! Highly recommended!
This was my first book by Brandon Witt, and it was a really enjoyable read. I adored Noah and Randall. They had a great chemistry and fit together so well. Although the story is sort of instalove, because they knew one another as teens, it works. Randall and Noah were such likable characters, as were their four legged friends. I wanted to cuddle Harper, Andy and Ron they were just so cute!!
The story is well written and has a great premise. It mostly flows well, but I think it could have been tightened up a bit. This was an emotionally draining book to read at times. I actually had to set it down and walk away for a while, because my stomach was in such knots. I just didn't know how much more Randall could take. I also wasn't sure how much more I could take! The mystery portion of the story is well written and kept me guessing as to who the anonymous blogger was, until the big reveal.
This was a great book loaded with angst, romance, sexiness, friendship, love and of course those cute puppies!! Highly recommended!
July 26, 2016
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This is a really lovely book, with at its heart true love and romance. It is cleverly packaged around a story of Randall, a man borne of horrible couple more intent on protecting their name and money than valuing their family. As the extent of their behaviour is revealed, even the most hard-hearted would be shocked - and the average romance reader will be most saddened.
Mixing up cute doggie elements with ethereal photoshoots, a masseur with an interesting way of accepting a tip, and a lot of dastardly deeds, sets up this plot really well. The cast of characters are just this side of being OTT, and all leave a lasting impression - not always a good one!
Noah however is determined to save his man, sometimes even from himself. And the chemistry between them, which started 20 years ago ... well let's say it is potent.
Get a copy, you will not be disappointed!
This is a really lovely book, with at its heart true love and romance. It is cleverly packaged around a story of Randall, a man borne of horrible couple more intent on protecting their name and money than valuing their family. As the extent of their behaviour is revealed, even the most hard-hearted would be shocked - and the average romance reader will be most saddened.
Mixing up cute doggie elements with ethereal photoshoots, a masseur with an interesting way of accepting a tip, and a lot of dastardly deeds, sets up this plot really well. The cast of characters are just this side of being OTT, and all leave a lasting impression - not always a good one!
Noah however is determined to save his man, sometimes even from himself. And the chemistry between them, which started 20 years ago ... well let's say it is potent.
Get a copy, you will not be disappointed!
August 30, 2016
It took me a while to get through this, but not because it was bad. It was actually fantastic. I have been doing more audiobooks with some current changes in my life, but ALWAYS read Brandon's books. I finally got a chance to sit down with this one on a getaway trip and it was just as great as his books usually are. My perfect travel companion.
Randall's story is realistic, beautiful, heart breaking, and uplifting. I loved it. This is one that would be good with a sequel in my opinion, and I cannot wait to see what comes next from Mr. Witt.
Randall's story is realistic, beautiful, heart breaking, and uplifting. I loved it. This is one that would be good with a sequel in my opinion, and I cannot wait to see what comes next from Mr. Witt.
July 25, 2016
4.5 stars
This book was more than I thought it'd be. Yes the blurb was good but it didn't show you how much depth the characters had or tell the little twists and turns the author was going to take. It was a wonderful read and I hope to read more books from this author.
This book was more than I thought it'd be. Yes the blurb was good but it didn't show you how much depth the characters had or tell the little twists and turns the author was going to take. It was a wonderful read and I hope to read more books from this author.
July 12, 2016
noah is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to passive for my liking and he took the situation so easy it seemed a little boring....
October 26, 2016
Only one thing I'm going to say here...Read.This.Book. You won't be sorry you did. It is well written and quite entertaining. And besides, It's a Witt story!
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