Paternal Instincts

Valor and Doyle, Book 8

By: Nicky James

Narrated by: 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

Happy endings all around

I loved this series and I am happy with the conclusion! Great characters and good mysteries

⭐️⭐️ 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!

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.