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 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.
EXCERPT
(Slightly NSFW)
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.
4.5 Stars!
Speak No Evil was unexpected and fun and just what I needed to read atm.
The story was told from Weston's POV, with a few chapters from Eli's perspective. Weston was definitely my favorite, he was a handsome giant hitman who, after being cursed by his ex-wife, can't lie. I can't say he's a good man, but he's really good at what he does and man, if he doesn't love his guns, LOL! There's a scene where he's high on pain killers that had me in stitches. Hahahaha. Anyway, he was charismatic and self-deprecating and I loved seeing him in action. The one thing I didn't like about him was his ex, Ava, or the hold she still has on him.
It took me longer to warm up to Eli. He confused me at first and I wasn't sure what to make of him. He grew on me, though, when he was so ready to help Weston, no questions asked. Of course, the out-of-this-world chemistry between him and Weston and their banter didn't hurt.
Speak No Evil was a fun, witty, steamy, very entertaining read, very action-packed and fast-paced with several characters that I wouldn't mind getting to know better like Brit and Bones and maybe even Rick, Eli's roommate and while I'm not fond of loose ends, the book ended in a good place, with a satisfying HFN, although it's obvious Ava will keep giving Weston and Eli trouble in the future. Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
4 Stars!
Weston had a pretty good life. He was lucky enough to marry Ava, the woman of his dreams. He had a great career, as a contract killer, money and family. But when Ava’s obsession to have a baby and her disturbing devotion to voodoo begins to overtake their lives, the physical and mental repercussions consume the once beautiful and loving Ava leaving only a repulsive shell. Weston has no choice other than to walk away. But Ava isn’t ready to let him go. Whether Weston believes in Voodoo or not he realizes that Ava has begun her plot against him with a curse. He is now unable to tell a lie, something a man in his business needs in order to survive.
Now Weston has no one, his family and friends have turned their backs on him afraid of Ava who is obviously more powerful than he’d originally thought. Torn between feeling disloyal to Ava and Vowing not to fall for a woman again, he lies to himself that only hooking up with men for quickies will save him the heartache of falling in love again.
When Smith, his handler, assigns him what should be an easy money recon case, he snatches it up. From the beginning, he knows something is off and to add insult to injury he finds himself completely drawn to his target.
While getting close to Eli, Weston searches for why he has become a mark in the first place. The more he tries to find out the closer they get and soon it all becomes a lot more personal than Wes imagined.
So, I loved how unique Speak No Evil is. I was pretty much hooked at the beginning and quickly found myself liking Weston.
Speak No Evil is full of action, suspense and intrigue. It’s funny and sometimes had me a bit sad. It’s fun, crazy and has plenty of steamy sexiness to it as well. I will admit I was much more invested in the first half of the story than the second half which was somewhat convoluted. However, I was still very much entertained. The ending was left open and without knowing if more books are to come I felt frustrated it didn’t get wrapped up with a HEA. Thankfully we got a HFN but I definitely have unanswered questions.
**Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.***
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