Temporary Partner

Valor and Doyle, Book 1

By: Nicky James

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

Can two rivals work together to solve a case?

When an infant is taken from his carriage in broad daylight, missing persons detective Quaid Valor must race against the clock to find the child and bring him safely home to his family. Unfortunately, Quaid’s partner isn’t available, and his team is spread thin. Begrudgingly, Quaid must accept the help from his rival, homicide detective Aslan Doyle, if he wants to get the job done. 

Aslan is Quaid’s opposite in every way. He’s bold, outspoken, arrogant, and the office playboy. And much to Quaid’s chagrin, Aslan seems to have set his sights on Quaid as his next conquest.

Quaid doesn’t have time to deal with Aslan’s flirty behavior when he’s trying to solve a case and juggle his cheating ex’s incessant interruptions. 

It doesn’t matter how attractive Aslan is or the undeniable chemistry they seem to have. Getting involved with Aslan would be a huge mistake. 

But as tension with the case builds, Quaid keeps forgetting he’s supposed to hate this new partner. Maybe Aslan is exactly the kind of distraction he needs. 

Temporarily, at least. 

Right? 

Temporary Partner is the first in the Valor and Doyle Mysteries.

©2022 Nicky James (P)2022 Nicky James

Amazing start to a new series

After reading Department Rivals, I knew I needed to know more about Aslan and Quaid.

Temporary partner was just what I needed.

The chemistry between Aslan and Quaid was off the charts and smoking hot.

I definitely need more of this series!!!!!!!!

The narrator performed an amazing audio delivery and narration.

I Loved It and Can't Wait for Book 2

What a great listen this book was, I loved every minute of it. I enjoyed following the mystery investigation accompanied by learning a little bit about both characters in every chapter. I am a huge fan of character development stories and liked how both Aslan and Quaid get to know each other as well as discover parts of themselves, grow and develop. Aslan and Quaid have some relationship issues they are forced to address and I loved the slow burn that sparked the wheels into motion. Narrator did an amazing job with the story and made this a perfect listening experience. I am super excited for book 2 to be released.

amazing

This is only the 2nd book that I've listen to by this author, but they are fast becoming one of my favorites.
I ended up listening to this whole book in one day. At over 9 hrs long, that shows me how engaging it was.

This is a story that has a few things going on, of course the case these two are working on, but also flashes into the personal lives of the MC's,the atmosphere in which they work and so much more.
I was completely hooked from the start, and super excited to see that it's gonna be a series. I just hope the books come to audio quickly and that the same narrator does them.
Nick J. Russo has always been in my top 5 narrators, this one doesn't disappoint. Fantastic job.

An enjoyable whodunit 😍

Again the Nicky-Nick combo has given me a win.

The book: Quaid and Aslan work in rival departments in the Toronto PD and they are put together on a case.

To say that Quaid doesn't like Aslan is a understatement. He shows it every chance he gets. But he's also attracted to him which, in his opinion, is inconvenient.

Aslan on the other hand is extremely attracted to Quaid and after that kiss they shared, he wants more, Even though they have different needs. Aslan is a playboy who doesn't want commitment while Quaid want a monogamous serious relationship and a family.

That doesn't stop the sparks from flying though and they finally succumb to these sparks, with a NSA hookup.

I loved seeing Aslan the playboy unconsciously start falling for Quaid.
Quaid is a tougher nut to crack, but there were some interest from him as well.

There was a good balance between the romance and the mystery, and I loved that neither overshadowed the other. I loved the procedures described and I loved their banter.
And the steam? yum!

The audiobook: Nick Russo absolutely nailed the voices. I adore his narrations, and this audio is no exception. the emotions, the tones he used: He was prefect for this book.

Niggles:
- Aslan came off as too much of a horndog in the beginning. Thank goodness it petered down.

- Quaid taking his ex back after SO MANY cheating incidents made him come off as a bit spineless . It made me question his judgment and took me a while to warm up to him.

Favorite audio of the year!

Words cannot express the sheer joy I felt while listening to this one! It was such a well crafted story with all of the snark and mystery that I have been craving! Nick Russo makes an amazing team with Nicky James and this was a masterpiece!

A brilliant start to an exciting mystery series!

Is there anything Nicky James can’t write? Every genre she explores yields gold and this new mystery series is proving the point.

Temporary Partner brings us into the story of Valor and Doyle’s tempestuous relationship as detectives forced to work together to solve the case of a missing baby. From the beginning we are met with fascinating main characters : Quaid Valor, an uptight, straight arrow, missing persons detective dealing with a persistent cheating ex… and Aslan Doyle, an incessant, arrogant flirt brought in from the homicide department to help when missing persons is short of staff.

The connection between Quaid and Aslan is laced with witty banter and off the charts sexual tension. Though there’s definitely an enemies to lovers tone throughout the book with these two, you can also sense the underlying respect and concern these men feel for each other. That dynamic makes their opposites attract story all the more fun to follow.

But wait, this book also involves a mystery, and that aspect is just as riveting. As usual Nicky James crafted a smart, well thought out tale that has us guessing who could have taken the baby. In Temporary Partner, she gives us a few suspects and ensures that we won’t trust anyone. I love a story that keeps me guessing every step of the way and then pulls out extra surprises. This one truly delivers. I was quickly captivated and loved the pacing. There was never a wasted word or a boring second.

For this audiobook Nick J Russo brings heated emotion to every character. He makes you feel the tension in the room, be it anguish, suspicion, or sexual chemistry. His French accents and well done female voices add a rich layer to his already masterful character differentiation. And finally, his top notch acting make this audio a fabulous listening experience. I loved getting to meet Valor and Doyle with Russo’s help.

While the case of the missing baby gets solved in this story, it is clear that we are only starting the journey with Aslan and Quaid. They have begun what is looking to be an exciting relationship (working and otherwise). I can’t wait to see what happens next with this fun new pair of detectives!!

Suspense with lots of tension

Nicky James writes all over the place, and she is truly good at it. It's definitely not her fault that my mind tends to wander a bit during the suspense plot unrolling throughout the story. But every time Quaid and Aslan are in each others sphere my ears sharpened and I listened carefully, the tension rolling into my ears. I am looking forward to listen to more of this odd pairing and their shenanigans.

Despite being more of a detective novel this first book in the series reveals so much unreleased tension that inevitably has to explode💥

So Good!!

So when I initially read this book, I asked myself “what now?”, because I enjoyed it SO much! So here I am taking it for a spin again in audio, and dare I say it was almost better? Having read it before I picked up on some little pieces and clues I missed along the way. Oh! And the swoony-ness of Aslan and Quaid just popped so much more for me! Nick J Russo did a fantastic job of bringing these two, and their case, to life! Nick did an amazing job portraying their banter, the way the fed off each other, and most of all the amazing UST that built along the way. Their chemistry together was fantastic and I so enjoyed how it played out throughout the story of the missing child. I was so invested in the case as Quaid and Aslan worked through it together. They each brought their own unique twist to the case, and it certainly kept me on my toes! I thought I knew who was involved, but I got twisted around just as quickly! I loved how the case unraveled. I’m super interested in seeing how Quaid and Aslan’s relationship unfolds with this case ending. How will they find their way back to each other? Will Jack rear his ugly head again? Most likely… (insert eyebrow raise here). I’m really looking forward to seeing Quaid grow through the series and find who he is and his own self-worth. I’m also eager to see Aslan work through his feeling for Quaid, and how that plays out. It’s going to be a long couple of months waiting for the next one!

Loved it

I really enjoyed this story. The characters are wonderfully flawed and the mystery took you for a spin as you tried to figure out what was going on. I figured it out before the main reveal, but it was cleverly written so it wasn't that easy, unlike most mystery-type books. Quaid and Aslan are brilliant characters and I can't wait to see what happens when they finally stop fighting what is right in front of them, it's cute how much they protest.
Nick J Russo is a fantastic narrator and really does these two justice.

Is it getting hot in here? or is it Quade?

Their partnership may be temporary, but the time together? Unforgettable.

Nick and Nicky are a fiendish pair. It might be a "Nick" thing, I'm not sure. I keep forgetting all the cast. is ONE DUDE! I enjoy watching Aslan tease, mock, fuck with, heh, poke at. Touch, caress, and sometimes hate Quade. and just hate Quade's Ex- personally. I think Aslan should just punch right in the face but shhhh you didn't hear that from me.

I am very excited to see these two again, More mystery! intrigue drama!!! NECK MASSAGES!!! I can't wait for book two.

Valor & Doyle Exceptional 💚

OH Yes absolutely brilliant listening to Nick J Russo bring Quaid and Aslan to life is truly magnificent the snark, the banter is so much fun the sexual tension between them is so much more on audio you're taken along for an amazing and emotional ride as they work together on a case simply outstanding can't recommend enough can't wait for elusive relations.

Mystery and fun

Somehow the story is more graphic on audio when Nick J. Russo narrates it. His narrations are followed and every time I listen to him it again proves how good his portrayals are. He is able to bring the right voice tone and mannerisms to each character. This is the first book in the series and does end in a sort of a cliffhanger. I’m not one who usually does cliffhangers but this author is on my watch list so I could not resist. I love this story. It has mystery, humor, relationship advice and is more than a little snarky. Having a baby taken from its carriage, at home, under the watchful eye of its mother, sure leads to a great mystery. There are plenty of twists and turns as the story progresses. There is also a lot about Quaid and Aslan being forced to work together. Their total opposite personalities really come out as they try to solve the mystery. Add the issue that Quaid is dealing with a cheating ex and Aslan has no problem voicing his opinions. This author is able to bring out the personalities so that they become real. Even though I don’t do cliffhangers, this author has made me a follower and anxious for the next in this series.

excellent performance

listening to nick j russo bring quaid to life was so beautiful and satisfying I loved it so much

the voices were as perfect as I imagined them to sound like

I was absolutely captivated by the story and the narration

Enemies to lovers

I feel like I'm reading this series all the time, and I love it. I finished this book in ebook, then came the second ebook, and now this audio, so I've been with Aslan&Quaid a lot. And I'm not nad about it hahaha. I love these two, and the narrator did an amazing job with their voice.

It's an interesting and fascinating series, I love the mystery and the romance, it has a really good balance in the storyline. Two likeable characters, great background. Highly recomend.

A cryptic case and two stubborn men

Quaid and Aslan's story was a little lighter on the romance than I expected, but still a captivating, thrilling start to a new series I already love. While it's not essential to read Department Rivals, the free prequel, I found it helpful to better understand the fierce rivalry between departments and particularly pointed animosity between Aslan and Quaid specifically. Some time may have passed since their forced inter-team bonding, but boy did they still have those sparks of irritated attraction. Nicky James writes enemies-to-lovers so well, and with Nick Russo narrating I knew this story was going to be a win. Aslan may have been open to a quick fling, but Quaid was vehemently opposed to even the idea of admitting his chemistry with Aslan, and I was living for every minute of it. The missing persons case the two of them were working on was a satisfyingly complicated puzzle, and though I don't always love drama in my romances, I really enjoyed the twists and turns of this book. More than once I was convinced I'd outsmarted the detectives and solved their case, but I ended up being wildly off base every time. Aslan and Quaid's work never lost its sense of urgency, and I'm really impressed by how thoughtfully planned out the pacing was throughout this audio. Despite how intensely focused the detectives were on solving the case, I learned a surprising amount about their personal lives in the little downtime they had. I'm 100% sold on the idea of their partnership taking a romantic turn, and I can tell both men have some personal demons to vanquish before they'll be able to be truly open and happy together. While the overall romance was left on a steamy but open ended promise, the police case was fully and happily resolved. All that's left is for me to patiently wait and see what new case is going to force these stubbon men back into each other's orbits for another chance at a happily-ever-after.

**I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

Exciting and emotional

Story: Nicky James is a master of thrilling romances with a gripping plot aside from the MCs' relationship and this book is another prime example. Top notch storytelling experience with interesting characters.
Narration: Amazingly flexible voice and great acting skills. Perfect for the story!

A stunning first in a new series by Nicky James

Temporary Partner is the first in Nicky James’s stunning new Valor and Doyle M/M Romantic Mystery series. It features two rival detectives enforced to work together by circumstances beyond their control. Each must put their differences aside and co-operate in a professional manner in the search for a kidnapped five-month-old baby. In such cases, time is of the essence, but working long hours and in such close proximity is not a situation either detective cares for. However, their pooled experience and intelligence is a necessity if they have any hope of finding the missing baby.

Quaid Valor, professional to a fault and known for following the rules to the letter, is often accused of being cold and unsympathetic, when in reality, he is simply focused and driven. In direct contradiction to his staid professional manner, he has a ‘hot-as hell’ persona. Preferring monogamy to one-night-stands, he is almost naive in his search for the perfect guy to settle down with.

Homicide detective Aslan Doyle is Valor’s polar opposite; definitely not a rule follower, he is also a flirty, jack-the-lad and well known in his unit as a player. However, he does have his own set of standards - he doesn’t cheat and he never knowingly hooks up with anyone already in a relationship. Doyle is attracted to Valor and, seeing him as a challenge, he constantly flirts and winds him up.

They had a brief encounter at a team building exercise between their two units a few months previously, which had ended in a hot kiss. Both had been left slightly stunned by the unexpected chemistry between them, but the professional rivalry between their two units meant that nothing was ever likely to come of it… until now. Forced to spend long hours together, we see their ‘relationship’ take tentative steps as the spark between them reignites.

As the story progresses, we see how surprisingly complex these two characters are. Flirty playboy Doyle has far more depth of character than we are initially privy to, and the revelations further down the line as the two men begin to build the foundation of their ‘relationship’ are an eye opener. The driving force behind Valor’s outwardly severe exterior was a shock and a tragedy in itself, and one that I hope the author has these two MC’s solving further down the line. I honestly can’t see her leaving such a loose end for ever, but I’m pretty sure she’ll make us wait.

One of Nicky James’s many strengths is how adept she is at character building her beautiful, flawed men, and she can also always be relied upon to surprise us in any book she writes. Temporary Partner is no exception, and I can say with certainty that readers and/or listeners will fall in love with these two intriguing men before the story ends.

On the whole, Nick J Russo does an excellent job with Nicky James’s large and diverse cast of characters. His name, in collaboration with a favourite author’s, is almost always a one click purchase for me. Generally, he differentiates well between the many character voices he has to juggle with in Temporary Partner and I was particularly impressed with his female characters. His accented ones - both male and female, were also especially good. However, I found it difficult to know when one or other of the two MC’s were talking. Both characters sounded so similar to me that I had to rely on dialogue tags and also had to back track on occasions to get them straight in my head. My enjoyment wasn’t overly spoilt though as Nick Russo is an accomplished performer with a pleasant, melodic voice which is very easy on the ear. I enjoyed his performance but for that one criticism.

Temporary Partner is an absorbing, police procedural, mystery suspense with a delicious slow burn romance, excellent plotting, many false trails and a surprise ending… so nail bitingly clever. I was engrossed from the first page to the last. So, so, well done Nicky James… 5 glittering stars for your clever, engrossing writing. I can hardly wait to see what your clever, analytical brain comes up with next, and especially how your two gorgeous, troubled men move their ‘relationship’ forward.

Amazing performance!

Wow Nick J. Russo did an amazing job narrating this book!!! This audiobook is definitely amazing!!! Temporary Partner is a enemies to lovers, opposites attracted, grumpy/sunshine story! Detective Quaid Valor, he works in the Missing Persons Unit, he is the opposite of Aslan Doyle a Homicide detective. Because of Quaid’s partner isn’t available he get a temporary partner, he isn’t happy but they have to make things work. They need to solve a case, a baby has been missing and they must race against the clock to find him. This two are opposites in every way and because a long standing mutual hate between this two departments and both Quaid and Aslan have a dislike for each other but isn’t just that something happened between them a few months ago. Beside the case Quaid have to to deal with Aslan’s flirting and a cheating ex’s that can’t stop calling him.

I enjoy so much this audiobook, I like how Quaid and Aslan sound, the bantering!!!!!!!! Overall the mystery surrounding the kidnapping, the way they follow the clues, the investigation and the banter between them was addictive,it’s was a massive tangle of lies and drama, this is definitely a must listening!

Absolutely fantastic audiobook.

The Story :

Quaid and Aslan had me riveted from the very start. Quaid is such a standoffish grump and doesn’t care what others think of him whilst Aslan is the complete opposite.

Quaid is a detective in the Missing Persons Unit and Aslan is with the Homicide Unit, two units that pretty much loathe each other. A missing baby has the two detectives working as temporary partners spending many hours together following all the twists and turns the investigation presents. They do get to know each other a bit better but ignore the sizzling chemistry between them for as long as they can. It’s a slow buildup up establishing their undefined relationship with just a few appropriately timed heated moments.

The budding romance is perfectly balanced with a very engaging and intriguing mystery with plenty of side characters as suspects to keep things interesting.

The Narration:

Nicki J Russo has once again delivered a flawless performance and each character was easy to differentiate from the others. He kept the accents, tone and cadence throughout the entire book.