Title: Son Of Money
Series: N/A
Author: Brandon Witt
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (284 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (July 11th 2016)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3.75 Hearts
Blurb: 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.
ISBN: 9781634773126
Product Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/son-of-money-by-brandon-witt-7215-b
Reviewer: Aerin
Review: Randall Morgan, the black sheep of the wealthy Morgan family, gave up on the family fortune in order to be free of their manipulations and expectations and be himself. Randall is a talented photographer who’s supplementing his income by offering relaxation massage that more often than not have happy endings for his clients and for himself. Randall photographs children in fantasy settings, but he also does sexual and pornographic photography, usually joining in the fun half way through. His family managed to get over the fact that Randall chose his own destiny and that he is gay, but they will never accept Randall’s promiscuity. The only thing that keeps Randall in Seattle is the love for his 7 year old niece Bailey, who’s the most important person in his life.
Noah Carroll is the son of missionaries, he’s a former religious man who wanted nothing more than to become a minister and teach people about God. Life in general, and a series of events that rocked Noah’s faith in God, led him to leave his religion behind and become the face of Seattle Humane Society. Noah and Randall have known each other from their teenage years, when they shared a kiss that neither of them will ever forget. Noah has always known Randall is the one, and planned to reconnect with him in the near future. That moment comes sooner than expected when Randall comes to adopt a puppy for his niece Bailey.
Noah is everything Randall has always wanted in a man, and the one person he’s been comparing all others to. Their relationship progresses rather quickly because there is no hesitation or confusion as to where they see themselves in the future. I thought things moved at a pace that was too rapid for me, because it’s been over 20 years since Noah and Randall have seen each other. The children they’ve both been are nothing like the men they’ve become, so I wish there was more flirting, sexual tension, that get-to-know-you beautiful time before any serious relationship; but at the same time I appreciated how sure of himself Noah was and how confident he was in his feelings for Randall.
Randall’s little side business is revealed by a jealous client and Randall is accused of prostitution. His reputation is pretty much destroyed and new claims of inappropriate behavior with the children he photographed are being made by an anonymous source. Randall becomes depressed and insecure, which I understood and sympathized with. However, I loved how solid and supportive Noah was through it all; Noah was by far my favorite character, I adored him! Randall was harder to like, more difficult to connect with, and I think that’s because he lacks the charisma that attracts me to a person. There were plenty of things to like about him, but overall I found him bland and forgettable.
Son of Money is not an angsty book, there’s no relationship drama and most importantly, there are no misunderstandings. When it comes to family however, this was filled with the kind of drama that only rich and entitled people are able to create. So much backstabbing!!! One of the reasons I didn’t love this book as much as the more recent Brandon Witt books are the horrible secondary characters. There were exactly two secondary characters I liked, Randall’s sister in law and best friend Kayla, and Bailey (his niece). That’s it! The rest were a bunch of cold hearted, manipulating, hateful, controlling freaks. Also, there isn’t a lot happening in this book aside from Randall trying to find out who’s trying to destroy his career and reputation. After a while it became a bit boring and I wanted to get to the end of it, while hoping something would happen to engage me and pull me in.
Nice writing like always, but not the best I’ve seen from Brandon.