Blog Tour & Giveaway: Speak No Evil by J.R. Gray

Speak No Evil by J.R. Gray

Publisher: Gray Books
Release Date (Print & Ebook):March 28th
Length (Print & Ebook): 70,000 words
Subgenre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Learn more: https://jrgraybooks.com/speak-no-evil/
Book Buy Links: books2read.com/u/3GaVdQ

Book synopsis:

Weston doesn’t believe in voodoo but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t believe in him. His life and family were steeped in the stuff and it was fine, until voodoo took everything from him, ripped his life from his grasp. And when it swallowed whole the person he loved most he had to escape.

But there were consequences. His voodoo goddess wasn’t going to let go of him so easily, and her revenge was the pinnacle of evil. He could have dealt with something like impotence or boils, but this was purely depraved. She came for him and hit him where it hurts. She might as well have taken his guns.

Weston found himself unable to lie. A hitman who can’t lie. What a joke.

When his handler throws him a bone, a job that requires no interaction only observation, Weston takes it. He should be able to do this in his sleep, but he’s off his game. He gets way too close. Nothing is as it seems, and someone else, maybe someone worse than him, is stalking his mark. But he can’t leave the kid high and dry. Not when Eli is all he can think about.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 stars
🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 3.5

A gripping start…

I enjoyed the thrilling start of this book and the cat and mouse game between Eli and Weston. Weston was a dynamic character and I enjoyed his wit and humor. He was cursed by his now psychotic ex (who seriously needed some karmic leveling!) and now cannot lie. I enjoyed his inability to lie and his brash nature.

Eli was an endearing closeted soul and the chemistry between him and West was hot. I loved the ‘fights’ for power/control. There are elements of toxic masculinity in this that was hard to read and occasionally confronting.

I think it’s just me but, I did feel lost at some points during the story and felt like it when back and forth a bit, or there were moments that were quick to anger and spun off into voodoo and got lost but the overall thrill was still there even though I didn’t ‘feel’ Eli and West worked as a ‘couple’. I wanted more feelings, more explanations and more research into the voodoo elements. It could have been super creepy/scary with the gris-gris bags everywhere!

The book ends on a sort of cliffhanger and I am intrigued as to were it will go next.

Thanks for reading! For great stories, reviews and more please visit https://bookstattoosandtea.wordpress.com 📚

Blog Tour Excerpt:

Eli wobbled but didn’t back off. “You know what I’m talking about.” He stabbed a finger into Weston’s ribs. “I saw the way you stared in there.”

Weston shook his head. The gleam in Eli’s eyes, that slight edge to his voice, made Weston decide to go for broke. Straight military guys seemed to be the most homophobic people he’d met, but Eli seemed to be into this—into him. He would end up getting hit if he was wrong, and his excuse to get close to his mark might blow up in his face, but he couldn’t stop the words that came out of his mouth.

“You liked it.” He had a few inches on him and was thicker all around. He wasn’t worried.

“If I did?” Eli challenged, reaching up and fisting a hand in Weston’s shirt.

“Then I guess you won’t mind this.” Weston grabbed Eli’s neck, using the leverage to press his lips against the mouth that had haunted him for a week and taunted him for the past hour. He fully expected to be shoved into the wall or hit in the face, so he kept his eyes open and his hand near his knife just in case.

Using the grip on Weston’s shirt, Eli did just that, shoving him against the wall. Weston gripped the hilt of his knife, inching it out of its sheath, but Eli leaned further into Weston and parted his lips, giving into the assaulting kiss. He flicked his tongue over Weston’s bottom lip to lure his tongue out to play. Weston’s stomach turned with nervous energy, and he groaned. His cock tightened behind his zipper. Eli tasted better than he looked, cloves with a hint of jet fuel, tinged with bourbon.

He released his hold on the knife and slid his hand around Eli’s waist. Eli kept his grip on his shirt and used his free hand to cup Weston’s face, groaning into his mouth. They stayed locked together in the dim alley, exploring each other.

Weston flushed with heat. Desire flooded through his veins. He let himself forget that Eli was a mark. Kissing Eli was better than any sex he’d ever had. He kept Weston on his toes, nipping and biting ‘til his lips were swollen, only to delve his tongue into Weston’s mouth to twist and battle with his own.

Weston was breathless when they finally broke apart. His lungs were on fire as he tried to breathe normally and regain control of his pounding heart. “Well, that wasn’t what I expected.”

“I think it’s better to keep your type off balance.” Eli grabbed Weston’s hair, bringing their mouths together controlling the speed and direction

Weston’s lips parted, welcoming Eli’s persistent tongue into his mouth again. Eli pulled them apart again but lingered against Weston as his chest heaved. “Nightcap?”

Weston’s heart stopped in his chest, and he swallowed hard. His fingers reached for his holster, needing to feel the metal, but Eli’s body pressed against his made it impossible.

“Lead the way,” Weston said with his cock.

Giveaway: Enter to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card from J.R. Gray! Must be 18 to enter.
Enter here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKU-Fs-Ac1Vdo13_PeT_Dz2SbCS5-Qk6kFP7iPsMLZMNkP0g/viewform

About J.R. Gray: Gray is a cynical Chicago native, who drinks coffee all day, barely sleeps, and is a little too fashion obsessed. He writes realistic and damaged characters because everyone deserves a happily ever after.