Customer Reviews

Bought and Paid For: A Jan Phillips Novel

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1 star:		(3)

 

 

Bought and Paid For by Michael Halfhill is about a boy on the cusp of his eighteenth birthday. Jan Phillips has recently completed high school at Saint Dominic's Academy under the tutelage of Father Sobinski, and his impoverished mother wants him to get a job. Joy Phillips has six mouths to feed and feels it's time her eldest son pulls his own weight. Having been given an ultimatum, Jan goes out in search of work, but comes up empty handed.

Jan first hears about the "Tenderloin District" in Philadelphia from a friend who confides in him that he goes there and makes money by having sex with old men. Having been sheltered by his mother and Father Sobinski his whole life, Jan is repulsed when his friend suggests that with his good looks he could make a fortune.

With his mentor Father Sobinski relocated to Rome, and his mother kicking him out of the nest, Jan sees no alternative than to try to make money the way his friend suggested. Jan sets off in search of work. He leaves his row house in Kensington, and takes the bus to the "Mary-Go-Round" in Center City where sex can be bought.

The extremely wealthy, handsome, and charismatic Tim Morris, notices and takes an interest in the beautiful blond boy, who he dubs Goldilocks. Tim keeps an eye on Jan from his penthouse window, which conveniently overlooks the Tenderloin District. Tim notices that Jan hasn't made any money so decides to meet the boy.

After listening to Jan's story and impressing the poor boy with his wealth, Tim makes him a business proposition. "Your mother needs money and she has you, I have money and I want you. It would be a simple exchange." Should Jan try to convince his mother to sell him, her own son? Jan is not yet aware of his own sexuality, having lived his life in a social-sexual vacuum. "Jan has been taught all his life that...he would be damned for being queer."

Bought and Paid For is multi-dimensional fiction at its best. There is the romantic layer that details the love that develops between Jan, who falls in love with his moody mentor Tim. Jan is a complex character who is not just another pretty boy--he's smart too. As the story unfolds, you learn why Tim behaves the way he does and why he finds love and intimacy so scary.

A truly wonderful character is Mrs. Santos, Tim's trustworthy housekeeper, confidant, and friend. She does more than cook delectable meals and run the household, she has a wisdom that gets Tim though his emotional rough spots. Mrs. Santos becomes a surrogate mother to Jan once he moves in with Tim.

Another layer deals with the espionage aspect of the story as the characters find themselves in sticky and dangerous situations. The reader discovers that Tim is grooming Jan for clandestine international activities of the Mundus Society-but for what purpose? You have to read the book to find out.

Michael Halfhill is a talented storyteller. In Bought and Paid For, using third person narration, Halfhill captures the reader from the minute the first word is read. The intriguing, suspenseful, and sometimes disturbing story of Jan Phillips and Tim Morris goes way beyond an older man falling for a much younger, impressionable boy. Finding out what Tim really wants from Jan is part of what keeps the reader engrossed in the story. The other part is living vicariously through Jan as Tim teaches him about a world he has only read about in books.

Aside from any moral judgments about this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it and was enamored with Jan and Tim. Some may be offended by the age difference and circumstances leading to Tim's capture of Jan's heart, but others might see the relationship as that of two consenting adults who fall in love. Halfhill makes us root for the characters despite what's deemed morally unacceptable. Bought and Paid For has everything from romance, love, sex, religion, politics, prostitution, family, society, and morality issues to international intrigue. I give my highest praise and five stars plus for the first effort by Michael Halfhill. I eagerly await the sequel Scimitar.

Jan Phillips is an 18 year old recent high school grad, who heads to Philadelphia after being thrown out of his small town PA home by his widowed mother, who can't afford to care for him anymore. He heard from other boys that good looking, masculine guys can earn money hustling in the Tenderloin district in the city, which he decides to try, although he is still a virgin and not even sure of his own sexuality.

On his first night hustling, Jan has the good fortune to attract the attention of Tim Morris, who lives in a luxury apartment overlooking the hustling area. He is attracted to Jan more than just sexually, but sees in him the possibility of a protege for his secret work as an attorney and head of the US branch of an international activist cartel. He "grooms" Jan, helping him through an exploration of his sexuality, making him into the perfect boytoy for his needs, but also teaching him manners and about culture, areas in which the small town boy was lacking. With the help of his able assistant/bodyguard, Han, Tim buys a pledge of non-interference from Jan's mother, after which Tim and Jan embark on a dangerous journey to Europe. Over time, the reader sees their relationship develop, from one based on opportunity and desperation, to one of mutual trust, love, and purpose.

Very original, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

I bought this book because many of those who have read it gave it such a good review. I don't know if there is a difference between the digital version to the hardcopy but it was such a disappointment. I think the whole story would have been good if more detail was put into it but how it was written would probably be at a 6 grade reading level. So many misplaced words, as well as spelling mistakes, such as THE was spelled with THEY. Those could have been easily corrected. It was just frustrating. The whole idea about MUNDUS, which Tim is part of, was vague and wasn't very clear. Not a lot of detail was put into it. The idea of a secret society working to better the world could have been a great part of the story, but so little was explained about it or how it truly functions. It just seemed so redundant. One problem comes up and there's an easy solution. Another problem pops up and another easy solution.

It's not that I was expecting a lot but my god, this was just horribly written. It's sad that it could have turned into something great if only more detail was put into it.

For those looking for an easy read that is not so complicated. Then this is for you. But if you're looking for something more complex then I wouldn't recommend it. I don't recommend this to anyone at all.

I read Tygrestick's review and I'd have to say I disagree with the comment regarding the character development in this book. The action in this book takes place over a relatively long period of time so rather than develop his characters through explanations of their every thought and move on every page, this author chooses to develop his characters through their actions/reactions AND thoughts over the course of the entire book (i.e. over the course of time): very much of a "show" not "tell" approach. Isn't it events and actions over the course of life that shape character anyway? Is every action a thought out process that merits pages of description? Perhaps this is a subtler means for the reader to understand and relate to the characters rather than a direct psychological or emotional approach to character development.
I was surprised when my positions on the characters that I liked/disliked initially were completely reversed by the story's end. The subplot (which in and of itself was totally surprising: international intrigue!) moves along at a brisk pace but then stops to refocus on the characters; in doing so, the action becomes secondary to the characters (which seems to be the point) and the characters unfold to expose their complexity and depth which to me, made them seem more and more real: as you get to know people, you see those hidden parts -sometimes you like them and sometimes you don't.

In addition, just out of curiosity I got out my copy and reread it, looking for the grammatical errors Tigrestick mentioned (which I didn't notice the first time I read the book) and wasn't able to find any. Maybe it's just me, I found myself caught up in this story and maybe didn't notice any technical errors because the story was interesting and unpredictable.
Yes, technical errors are distracting but honestly if the story's interesting and you understand what's being said what does it matter? I can't remember a single book I've read where there wasn't at least one typo -if it was that annoying I'd stop reading and watch television instead.

This is a very interesting book; unlike anything I've read in gay fiction. I picked it up at the very least expecting a coming of age or coming out story (of which I've read too many) with the usual assortment of sad, sour and sympathetic characters but to my surprise, found something quite unexpected and refreshing.
Overall, though shorter than most books I read I found it fulfilling, enjoyable and recommendable.

In the afternoon that it takes to read this book, you will experience jet lag, and time zone changes, be inundated with symbolism, beautifully depicted scenery, and an unexpected love story between a full grown adult male, and the young man he discovers. History, architecture, Catholicism, Under World Orders, and Male Prostitution keeps the reader rivited by this well written work of fine art that deserves high praise for its information as well as its entertainment. This author can be compared to someone from another place and time as he is poetic,eclectic and articulate. Rythmic, well chosen and timed words never miss a beat. Full of passion, pain, and heart, we hope to read more about the life of Jan Phillips in the future. Take us on a tour again, Mr. Halfhill with Jan as our host.

BOUGHT AND PAID FOR by Michael Halfhill
Reviewed by Ruth Sims (The Phoenix)

This is a fascinating book, to say the least. From the striking cover, which depicts a disturbingly young and vulnerable-looking boy, to the last word on the last page, the reader is hooked. And disturbed.

Why disturbed? Because three basic situations are initially off-putting: a mother throws her teenage son away; the teenage son is forced by circumstance to attempt hustling; a powerful older man isolates the young protagonist and forces sex on him. And yet, the way these situations are presented and their final outcomes, leaves the startled reader sympathetic, if not exactly empathetic, to the mother and the man. As for the boy, the reader is rooting for him from the beginning. Choices are made by them all, with sometimes tragic consequences.

On page one, the reader is privy to a conversation between teenage buddies Jan Phillips and Bobby O'Farrell who, despite Jan's underage appearance, are eighteen. This matters because Bobby is trying to convince Jan he can make easy money servicing chicken hawks in the tenderloin district of Philadelphia. Jan is outraged. He may be a poor kid from a large, impoverished Catholic family, but he intends to make something of himself and being a hustler is not part of that plan. Doggedly he starts looking for work, but jobs are scarce.

Shortly afterward, Jan's widowed mother stuns him with a harsh order to leave home; she can't afford to keep him anymore and he's got to sink or swim on his own. With no money, no job, no one to turn to Jan finds himself considering the unthinkable. Though the idea nauseates him, in desperation he tries to sell himself. And fails miserably.

Enter Tim Morris, a thirty-something lawyer with "a weakness for young guys." His luxury apartment overlooks the tenderloin ("Mary-Go-Round", as he thinks of it) and he takes to watching a pretty young boy (Jan) who is obviously hustling and just as obviously not very good at it. It's as if his heart just isn't in his inept efforts to get picked up. One day both Jan and Tim are caught in a fortuitous thunderstorm, which gives Tim chance to get acquainted with the boy ... and Tim has more on his mind than just getting acquainted.

I won't detail any more of the story because I don't want to spoil it for people who haven't read it. But suffice it to say Tim is much, much more than a rich lawyer, and his reason for taking Jan in is far more complex than just sex, though there is plenty of that.

BOUGHT AND PAID FOR is a short book at 168 pages, but it is dense with explosive (literally!) action, evil plots, dead bodies and gore. And though it's a stand-alone book, it segues nicely into the second book of the series, "Scimitar," which is now available. And hopefully there will be even more adventures of Jan Phillips to come from author Halfhill.

I bought this book a few days ago and was intrigued to read it. My initial feeling was shock, that the premise as presented could occur. I quickly became involved in Jan's life but was astonished at the numerous typos and bad grammatical errors throughout the book. A woman's corpse in a pivotal scene is spelled "corps" - thoroughly removing the reader from an intense and shocking moment.
Missing quotation marks, poor spelling, missing full stops, missing question marks and distracting head-hopping from one character's POV to another in the same sentence abound.
A good editor would have seen all these things and corrected them.
I was also stunned and felt like I'd missed several chapters when the author, after carefully detailing the conflicted relationship between Tim and Jan suddenly romped through the entire ending, telling us about a new relationship in Jan's life that surely deserved similar detail. This felt rushed, very false and very unfair.
Having heard about the journals written by previous occupants of the apartment, I was hoping we'd get to hear their tales - another instance of the author telling but not showing, by having Jan reading one of them but not sharing his experience.
At heart, there is a moving love story here and despite the author's sometimes brutal portrait of his characters, I cared. I hope he takes a little more time with Jan's development in the sequel, Scimitar. I look forward to reading it.

Jan Phillips is from a poor and run down district of Philadelphia. As he reaches the age of eighteen and having failed to find work despite having done very well at school, his desperate widowed mother tells him she can no longer support him. He was shocked when his best friend told him about earning easy money selling himself on the street in the city's "Tenderloin District", after all he is not gay, is he? But in desperation Jan gives it a try. He is observed while plying his trade by the wealthy and influential but lonely Tim Morris. Attracted to his beauty and androgynous innocence he plucks him off the street before he makes a single encounter. Tim strikes a bargain with Jan, to buy him for his own purposes. The deal having been done and Jan's mother suitably reimbursed, Tim sets about training Jan. Gradually Jan learns what he has let himself in for, which in addition to sharing his handsome benefactor's bed and his luxurious apartment, involves preparing him for a role not just in Tim's highly successful Law firm but as Tim's eventual replacement in a secret and influential international organisation of which Tim is the American branch head.
The story reveals how the relationship between Jan and Tim develops from doubt and uncertainty to one of love and devotion. Despite the problems that follow, which include Jan's disastrous attempt at denying his apparently adopted sexuality, it is their love that endures. This is a very heart warming tale, at times moving, at times suspenseful, that moves from Jan's education to underground involvement with international politics as their relationship ever strengthens.

This coming of age novel appears to be the first of a series, starring the young hero Jan Philips, and documents his inheritance of a position of power and privilege.

In "Bought and Paid For" we see Jan on the street trying (somewhat unsuccessfully) to work as a hustler, when he is swept off his feet by the dashing and worldly Tim Morris. After Tim's abrupt dismissal of Jan's belatedly concerned mother, Jan is quickly thrust into a world of International travel and danger.

Money, and its affect on a young gay man, is a key theme in this novel. I felt somewhat nostalgic at times on reading this novel, thinking back to my own experiences at 18 and how wide-eyed and easily impressed I was by shows of opulence.

A surprising twist in the second half of the novel leads to a bittersweet ending for Jan, that hints at further adventures to come.

"Bought and Paid For" is a quick read, written in a light style that whisks the reader through whole cities, countries and changes of life at a breakneck speed. It should appeal to readers who are looking for a coming out tale peppered with a bit of adventure.

Fueled solely by my devotion to, and love for, the written word, I really couldn't help but write a review of this book. 'Cause, my god!, what a dumb book! *flails* I was a bit wary of it, once I saw its cover (and you really /can/ judge a book by its cover. the odds of a book with a cover that, like this one, looks as if it were designed by an individual caught up in the Wonders Of Photoshop Filters, being anything but mediocre are very low). But I wanted to give it a chance, since my Book Cover Theory very well may prove itself wrong, one of these days. It never struck me as anything special, but every so often there'd be a nugget of gold -- a phrase that bloomed, a scene that evoked. Never mind that the characters are 2 dimensional and that...well... Jan was supposedly this suave and charming young man, and maybe 'off-screen' he was. He was portrayed, however, as a whiny brat with little more going for him than his good looks and a penchant for Latin. And Tim... How does one gain such power and respect being so emotional and volatile? And the ending... *rolls eyes* The dumb-ness was positively overwhelming. It broke against me -- it was inescapable. This book is a journey -- a journey through a countryside that, every now and then, sparkles, but at the last ends in some hick town where nothing green grows. Ugh! *shudders*