Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: Elusive Relations
SERIES: Valor and Doyle, Book 2
AUTHOR: Nicky James
NARRATOR: Nick J. Russo
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 11 hours and 37 minutes
RELEASE DATE: September 14, 2022
BLURB:
Life was easier when rival detectives Quaid Valor and Aslan Doyle kept to their own sides of the building. They could forget the one glorious night they’d shared and move on.
But when Aslan is called to a homicide and discovers one of the victims has a personal history with Quaid, he knows a confrontation is inevitable.
When news about the case spreads, Quaid can’t help but get involved. He wants answers; if not for himself, then for the families of the victims.
Joining Aslan and his partner, Quaid uncovers more than he bargained for—too many secrets and lies in a case that is dangerously personal.
Plus, the more time he spends with Aslan, the harder it is for Quaid to ignore his attraction to the playboy detective.
Aslan, who doesn’t believe in repeats, can’t seem to stop flirting with the grumpy MPU detective, and his rules go out the window as they’re drawn deeper into the case.
But what happens when one more night turns to two, and two turns into three?
Does Quaid want to risk his heart again?
Has Aslan developed feelings?
Can they put a stop to their fun and walk away?
Do they want to?
The Valor and Doyle mysteries are a same-couple ongoing series and should be enjoyed in order. The main mystery plot of each book will be resolved within the story, but there are elements that are overarching throughout the series.
REVIEW:
Elusive Relations is the second book in Nicky James’ continuing Valor and Doyle series. You must read these books in order so if you haven’t read Temporary Partner, stop here and go read that first. Elusive Relations is a “sequel” that surpasses the original. It digs deep into Quaid Valor and Aslan Doyle, and James shows off her stellar writing skills as she crafts a plot that wounds Quaid on many levels, provoking unexpected reactions in Aslan and in Quaid himself. It’s riveting, fascinating, and completely unputdownable. There’s emotion, drama, suspense, steam, sexiness, and even affection … and sparks definitely fly.
I admit I may be low-key obsessed with Quaid and Aslan. Something about their relationship is so simultaneously grounded and real, yet also magnetic and mesmerizing. The interplay between them is multi-layered, so their communication is always more than meets the eye. We are pulled into their dynamic, and can’t look away from their relationship as it develops.
In Elusive Relations, we see Quaid and Aslan still feeling each other out – feeling that they are developing feelings and feeling all the reasons why those feelings cannot be brought to fruition. To quote Aslan:
“Once is fun. Twice is a rodeo. Three times is a commitment, and we both know that ain’t happening.”
Don’t be so sure … They may delude themselves into thinking it’s just hooking up, stress release, scratching an itch … but they keep coming back for more because the pull is irresistible. They can’t stay away. They both want that third time, and fourth and fifth … and don’t know what to make of that. It’s unchartered territory, and they want it with the person they least expected to want it with.
Quaid desperately wants the whole package – the family, the home, the kids – so much that he kept going back to his on-again-off-again boyfriend, Jack. When this book opens, Quaid has called it off with Jack, again, but this time he is resolute that he’s not going back. He’s stayed strong for a few months already. But old habits, even bad habits, die hard, and we learn in this book that Jack is a disgustingly bad habit.
But Quaid feels acutely. He has a huge heart that he loses pieces of with every missing person case he doesn’t solve. His self-esteem is chipped away at with every betrayal by Jack. Quaid can’t help but care, and now he’s reeling from Jack’s near-death and grappling with his feelings of obligation for a man who’s done nothing but lie and cheat and use him – a man he hates. Quaid needs closure. In the meantime, Quaid viscerally feels the pull to Aslan, but his trust has been destroyed, and he doesn’t truly believe that Aslan the playboy can possibly want him or the stability and relationship permanence that Quaid does. Is he just stupidly chasing a dream with the wrong guy again? And if so, then what is this shift he feels in their connection that pulls them closer?
Elusive Relations has some immensely impactful, poignant, heartbreaking scenes delivered in such a matter-of-fact fashion that it’s like a hit to the solar plexus. In Temporary Partner, we don’t quite know what to make of Quaid and Aslan, but now we understand them better. Quaid’s life has been full of devastation, and loneliness is his Achilles Heel. Aslan’s life now focuses on recovery from his own past misguided bad behavior and his alcoholism that caused him to do some things he regrets and isn’t quite ready to own up to Quaid about.
The Valor and Doyle series is my first foray into the world of Nicky James, and I am now a devotee. As an audiobook lover, I was eager to hear these stories brought to life. Nick J. Russo narrates this series and returns here with what I am pleased to report is a better performance than in the first book. In my review of the audio for Temporary Partner, I’m critical of Russo’s vocal performance. That’s because what’s best about Russo’s narration is also his greatest weakness. He is always invested, technically accurate, and faithful to the narrative. He’s deliberate and moderated. But this also means that he doesn’t adapt his style to the story. To be fair, I’ve never encountered a Russo audio that’s bad – probably impossible given his talent, skills, and clear dedication to his task. But he has room to grow in his versatility as a performer.
My biggest issue is that Russo’s style doesn’t mesh well with the dynamic, volatile nature of the plot or the characters. Quaid and Aslan have a visceral, charged energy to their interactions that resonates from the pages of the book. Russo needs to make that emotional connection and adjust the timbre, tone, and intonations to capture the tenor of Quaid and Aslan’s dynamic scenes together.
In Temporary Partner, I didn’t feel Russo made that connection, but here, I think he does a much better job. Perhaps it’s because he’s now had more time with Quaid and Aslan to intuit their motivations and reactions. Whatever the reason, Russo is more successful in embracing the nature of their relationship, including the dynamics of their snappy banter and conflicting feelings.
Overall, I highly recommend Elusive Relations. This is a 
book for sure, and although there’s still room for improvement in Russo’s narration, the audiobook still provides an excellent listening experience. Be forewarned, Elusive Relations ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. I’m eagerly awaiting book three, Unstable Connections, in what has quickly become one of my favorite MM series.
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