Paternal Instincts

Valor and Doyle, Book 8

De: Nicky James

Narrado por: Nick J. Russo

At the heart of a missing child case, Quaid and Aslan learn the true nature of fatherhood. With their baby due any day, Quaid ends up tangled in a case on the last day of work before his parental leave begins. Between eerie ransom notes and family secrets, unanswered questions pile up, twisting the case into something Quaid has never seen. Someone is lying. Someone knows more than they’re saying.

With the help of supportive friends and colleagues, Quaid and Aslan are determined to solve the case before it’s too late. When their surrogate goes into labor, Quaid struggles to let go and walk away. A boy has vanished. A life is in danger.

©2025 Nicky James (P)2025 Nicky James

I Loved it

I loved this series and the final book was a perfect conclusion to an amazing love story. I am not a huge fan of series that follows the same couple in every book, but Valor and Doyle is an exception because of such delicious character and relationship development as well as some great mysteries in every book. This final book in the series has sit on the edge of my seat mystery that also somehow wraps up all the mysteries in early books connecting with my favorite character's stories and culminating moments in the last chapters. Narrator did a great job telling this beautiful story and giving voices to all the characters. Overall this was an amazing listening experience from the first book to the last. Loved It and highly recommend it.

🎧⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🎧

This whole book is a bonus. I loved every single thing about it. I am a huge fan of Quaid and Aslan, and I really didn’t think we would get another book by them, so when this book was teased, I was here for it.

If you are a fan of this series, you will not be disappointed in this book. We get a mixture of all our favourite characters and a case that needs solving. Man, oh man, was I mad with the mother and father of the missing child in this book. I kept yelling out, “Speak up, they can’t help you find him if you're keeping secrets!” I was getting so mad.

Nick J. Russo is Quaid and Aslan to me, and I honestly couldn’t imagine another narrator giving them their voices.

Oh, the tears I cried at the end. I swear Nicky brings out so many emotions, and then the author's note at the end. The way I want to hug her for giving us this, and what it must have taken for her to write it. All my love to you, Nicky.

⭐️⭐️ 10 STARS ⭐️⭐️

This final book in the Valor & Doyle series is everything I hoped for and more! I’m heartbroken it’s over, but Nicky James delivered the most perfect ending to an unforgettable series. I already know I’ll be re-listening to it again and again.

The birth of Aslan and Quaid’s baby was so emotional and beautiful, I was in tears! I love how these two, quirks and all, balance each other in the most heartfelt way. And even with everything going on in their lives, they still couldn’t let the case go because that’s exactly who they are. The mystery in this book was equal parts gripping and frustrating (in the best way). I didn’t figure it out until almost the end, and I loved that!

Truly, I have nothing negative to say—it was PERFECT.

The narration? Also perfect. Nick J. Russo is Valor & Doyle for me, and I’m so grateful the entire series was done with him. It wouldn’t have felt right with anyone else.

Author’s Note:
Nicky, your note at the end felt like a heartfelt conversation with a dear friend. Thank you for sharing something that was clearly so personal and emotional. I hope writing it brought you a bit of healing and that the joy you’ve given us through this book gives some back to you.

PERFECTION!

Paternal Instincts is book #8 in the Valor and Doyle Mysteries series by Nicky James. Nick J. Russo does an amazing job of bringing this story to life. This story closes the series and what a way to go out! While I am sad to see this series end I couldn't be happier with the send off that they have been given.
The growth these two men have gone through is amazing. The reward being such a loving relationship that is beyond what either could have ever imagined. Their lives are also enriched with the love and support of an outstanding group of family and friends.
As they await the birth of their first child Quaid is pulled into a case that seriously gives him flashbacks to his own childhood experiences. As always Alsan is there to hold Quaid in the present and offer his love and support in any way that he can.
Their journey has not been easy but oh so worth it as they finally reach the dream of fatherhood together. I know I will be revisiting this series and these men many times!

Great listen

I’m sad to reach the end of this series but it was amazing! This last installment was perfect! The narration was spot on!

Will they finally make it to the delivery room?

I have followed Quaid Valor and Aslan Doyle from the moment they were first assigned a missing child case together. The ‘before’ which is in a prequel that is only available through the author’s website, shows the entire ‘meet cute’ that leads to the ‘I hate you’. So they began book one at odds with each other.

Oh my God, how far they’ve come.

But for now… Quaid and Aslan’s surrogate is within days of giving birth (and a nod to Nicky’s Trials of Fear series – I was thrilled to see Iggy and Arden again – especially Arden doing so well). Quaid is on the way out the door at the precinct after his last day of work before paternity leave when his partner lands a case. Jordan’s good – but she also knows she’s in over her head. Quaid’s going to help. Of course he is. He doesn’t know how not to.

And since Aslan is also now on paternity leave as well, he gets dragged in. And, for fun, let’s get Costa in there as well. Bromance all the way.

There’s a missing child. There’s a note. There are almost a dozen friends and family members who are hiding something. Sparrow is possibly the only one who tells the truth – and she’s six. Quaid is aware that bringing home her eight-year-old brother is the only resolution to this cluster. But to do it, he needs to win the race against time.

Aslan is torn – he wants to find the missing child. He also wants Quaid in good shape when their own child arrives. He remembers what his sister Amelia went through when she birthed his niece and nephew. Now a generous woman is going to do that for them – and Quaid needs to focus.

The entire book just races. All the lies. All the half-truths. All the desperation of the missing child. Then the person who is attacked.

It’s pure chaos.

As always, the perpetrator was clear and yet I didn’t see them coming. These mysteries are well-crafted and suspenseful.

And there’s now a baby.

I’m tearing up as I remember the final name. The perfect name. The perfect baby. To go with that, though, was the ongoing discussion about a name. Aslan’s suggestions truly were fantastic and I laughed out loud several times during the story, despite the tension and stress in the book.

The perfect ending to this amazing series. I was devastated to say goodbye to these two – and the ragtag collection of family and friends they’ve brought along with them.

I love Nicky James books. I’ve reviewed just about every audiobook she’s ever released. This is the eighth Valor and Doyle book I’ve listened to, and I can say Nick J. Russo is the perfect narrator for this series. He dives in and delivers amazing performances with each novel in the series and this book was no exception. I adore Nick and love that he’s doing the Shadowy Solutions series as well – so there will be more books and, undoubtedly, more glimpses into Quaid and Aslan’s crazy life.

The final note is about the author’s note at the end. I think it broke me even more than when Aslan and Quaid named their baby. Nicky sharing her pain was poignant and tears were shed. Her bravery… Yeah. That. And more.

the finale we have been waiting for.

This is a Great send off to these two boys. the final case as they race the clock until there baby is born is very close to home for someone and pulls at heavy heart string.

ther are more of our favorite IT Guy. more laughs. more boy space friend with Costa and quade. family has never been more important and this one is just chefs kiss. a great finale. and a cute baby!!!

All the feels

Thank you, Nicky and Nick, for bringing this final chapter in Aslan and Quaid’s love story to such a beautiful and satisfying end. Although I had some quibbles with the mystery here — Crow’s kidnapper was so obvious! — that takes nothing away from the joy I felt while listening to this heartwarming, immensely rewarding book. Happy life, A and Q! It’s been a pleasure taking this journey with you. 💕

I miss them already!

This final installment of Valor & Doyle was everything I needed it to be. I laughed, I cried, I wished there was more... but honestly, I'll never be over these two. I'm so happy for them and their journey, and I'll be rereading these books every year. At least.

Absolutely Perfect!

I adored this book when I read it and Nick J. Russo just slays the narration--Absolutely perfect! While I'm devastated this is the last book for our beloved Aslan and Quaid, what a way to go out. As Aslan and Quaid are preparing for the birth of their first child, they catch a last minute child abduction case. What follows is a roller coaster of a case that had me guessing at every turn, with small moments of them getting ready to be father's just expertly woven throughout. It all culminated in a whopper of a conclusion for the case, and the emotional and wonderful birth of their first child together. It was everything I hoped for them and more. I was completely choked up and crying tears of joy for them. Everyone we have grown to love throughout the series is back and was simply amazing support for Aslan and Quaid. While I am just bereft that it is over I could not have asked for a better ending for our beloved detectives. They will forever hold a special place in my heart. From that first angry kiss outside the precinct to their first date, to their wedding, and now their firstborn. We've been on an incredible journey with these two that I am so sad to see end but know they will absolutely live happily ever after!