Department Rivals

Valor and Doyle Mysteries #0.5

by Nicky James

The hostility between homicide and missing persons division is high. Something has to give. When forced to participate in the department's first annual team-building day, rival detectives, Quaid Valor and Aslan Doyle, need to learn to work together to win the prize. Can they put their animosity aside? Will their mutual attraction to each other get in the way?

A short introduction to the Valor and Doyle Mysteries

Genres: M M Romance, Mystery, Romance, Contemporary, Enemies To Lovers, LGBT, Novella

60 pages, ebook

First published July 14, 2022

About the author

I live in the small town of Petrolia, Ontario, Canada and I am a mother to a wonderful teenage boy (didn't think those words could be typed together...surprise) and wife to a truly supportive and understanding husband, who thankfully doesn't think I'm crazy.

I have always had two profound dreams in life. To fall back hundreds of years in time and live in a simpler world, not bogged down by technology and to write novels. Since only one of these was a possibility I decided to make the other come alive on paper.
I write mm romance novels that take place in fantastical medieval type settings and love to use the challenges of the times to give my stories and characters life.

Reviews

[Snjez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great introduction to the series and the characters. Loved the dynamics between Quaid and Aslan and the team-building activities were fun.

I would strongly recommend reading the prequel before starting book 1 in the series.
It's available on Profilic Works, through the author's newsletter or the link inside the first book.

******
Re-read 5/2022
Re-read 1/2023
Re-read 10/2023 via audio
Re-read 7/2026 via audio

[Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ughh!!! GAAAHH!!! I am going to have another couple and series to obsess over... 😭😭🤣🤣 60 pages and I already have a book boyfriend.🙈🙈🤣 I am a sucker for these kind of book guys.



Bad Shile!! Bad!!



Anyhoo.. I am excited to dive into this series. 5++++ stars just because..... and Matthew McConaughey smoking on True Detective is hot.

[Drusilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

So yes, I think I understand why the series is so beloved, even though at first I felt sheer aversion to both characters.
I'll have to think about whether I can cope with so much "stupidity" (I don't have the right word to describe the way Valor and Doyle compete without focusing on the essentials).
Well, the kiss though ... very convincing.

When a guy tangles his tongue with yours, you give back first and ask questions later. My blood surged through my system, making me dizzy and lighting me on fire. The kiss was heady and intoxicating.
Invasive.
Commanding.
Aslan pressed me against the car and devoured me, nipping my lips and sucking my tongue… And I let him. 🔥💞🔥

[Lau ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

They were never meant to be: Aslan Doyle works in homicide, Quaid Valor in missing persons. Doyle has a playboy reputation, Valor dreams about marriage and 2.5 kids.

When their bosses create a new bonding activity to decrease the hostility between departments, Doyle can’t believe his new partner is the rule-lover boy with the constant sneer. Neither can Valor understand what he has done to be stuck with the irresponsible child.

They hate each other in principle. If only the chemistry between them were so easily extinguish…


This novella was such a delightful glimpse of what’s yet to come. I loved how opposite they are, Valor with his cold attitude to hide a vulnerable heart and Doyle’s incapacity to stop teasing him because he’s Doyle’s dream boy-at least when he keeps his mouth shut. But the more they talk, the more they realize they could be friends if they weren’t from rival departments. Maybe even more than that…


I’ve only read one book by this author, Love Me Whole, which I loved but also destroyed me a bit. This one was definitely more down my alley: fun, light, with the banter of an enemies to lovers. I just hope Valor breaks up with his cheating boyfriend for good, it’s breaking my heart seeing him in the way to forgive him again, just because he doesn’t want to be alone and thinks that, at thirty-five, he’s running out of time to create the life he’s always wanted. I’m trusting Doyle to show him there are better men out there to live happily ever after, because that piece of work doesn’t deserve my baby.


It was stupid, but I couldn’t help thinking I deserved all the crap Jack dished out. How many times had I worked late or not been available? How many times had I canceled plans or forgotten about them? Sure, Jack knew the deal when we’d started dating, but his accusatory words still lingered in the back of my mind. You’re always working. It never would have happened if you’d been more available. 🙂🔪


↬ Valor and Doyle Mysteries:

0.5. Department Rivals: 3 stars
1. Temporary Partner: 4 stars
2. Elusive Relationships: 4 stars
3. Unstable Connections: rtc

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a fun introduction to the series and mcs, as well as giving a sneak peek on how their dynamic/banters will be! although i'm not completely sold yet (and by that, i just mean neither of the mcs stood out to me so far), i'm curious enough to wanna check out the first book at least. 👀

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I. AM. BEYOND. SAT.

This was so much fun. Loved the mock case, and I’m so ready to fall in love with Quaid and Aslan, I’m vibing so hard with them already.

LET’S GO!

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

re-read on audio September 2023

awww, I knew I would enjoy Az's and Quaid's very beginning just like the first time. 🥰


4.5***** stars


PREQUEL TO Temporary Partner

"…Keep your head down, your mouth shut, and pray it ends without bloodshed.”

Units homicide and missing person have a little (or more than just a little) hostility going on against each other, so their superiors decide it’s time for a little team-building activity.

That’s when Aslan & Quaid get paired up together to solve a fictional case. Haha and even just fake I was pretty excited as I followed them through their investigation.

Although this was only a 60-page prequel, we actually learn quite a lot about these two detectives and get a first good look into their heads and personalities

We learn that Aslan is the department’s playboy who likes to chase ass no matter it’s a man’s or a woman’s and he obv needs to attend AA meetings regularly to stay away - but not many seem to know that.

While Quaid likes to play by the rule book. He also has a lying, cheating ex-boyfriend on his heels and seems generally not overly fond of playboys.

"How’d you find out?”
“I’m a detective.”
“Walked in on him, huh?”
“Yes.”

Even if short, this was a lot of fun and a great introduction to the series. And maybe we even get a little treat at the end ;) What we saw already makes for a pretty good dynamic between the two imo. I am hooked and can’t wait for their story to begin.





**************
Valor and Doyle Mysteries

Prequel - Department Rivals - 4.5 stars
Book 1 - Temporary Partner - 4.25 stars
Book 2 - Elusive Relations - 4.75 stars ♡
Book 3 - Unstable Connections - 5 stars
Xmas-Novella - Relative Commotions 5 stars
Book 4 - Inevitable Disclosure - 4.25 stars
Book 5 - Defying Logic - 4.25 stars
Book 6 - Disrupted Engagement - 4.5 stars
Book 7 - Matrimonial Merriment - 5.0 stars

[nark · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty good! will try the full length book now🤞

[Drache.... (Angelika) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars.
I did it and finally started this series that is beloved by everybody it seems (and I'm the last one to read it, right?).

Rounding down because adults not behaving like adults, entire departments not speaking to each other in a professional setting, Aslan answering Quaid's phone without any sense of personal boundaries.. not a fan.

But I'm curious for what's to come, because of so many glowing reviews of my friends.
Hopefully this won't be a similar case to the Big Bad Wolf series that I couldn't connect with as well as all of you, though.

[Meags · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Usually, I can take or leave series prequels, many of which don’t lend much to the larger storytelling, at least in my experience. But this wasn’t a bad intro story at all, setting the scene nicely and laying the groundwork for these obviously layered characters and their intriguing dynamic.

I liked the premise of this short, following two antagonistic police units as they are forced together into a day of investigative team-building fun.

Rule follower, Quaid Valor, is part of the missing persons unit, while cocky Aslan Doyle is a member of the homicide division. What they know of one another they greatly dislike, but when they are paired together to solve a fake-crime for their team building exercise, the act of being forced to work together sheds some light on individual drive and motivations for both seasoned detectives, perhaps even building a bit of unexpected respect between the two… and definitely brewing some unexpected attraction.

This short was enough to make me want to read the larger series, but I definitely balked at Quaid’s pushover behaviour where his cheating, manipulative ex was concerned. That could definitely be a problem for me going forward… but I’m hoping it’s a one-time issue here. I guess only time will tell.

[Elisa Glendenning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite getting distracted every time MC Aslan graced the pages (I just couldn’t stop picturing a giant lion’s head 😹), I really liked it. A great start to the series!!!

[Leslie]

I’m going to go sit in the corner of shame because this wasn’t for me. I did actually try the full length one after but DNF it. While I did find the plot fairly interesting, I didn’t connect with the writing style. This was the first I’ve read by this author. I would be open to giving another one a try in the future.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

good start

I’m going to pick up the next in the series now. Btw Asian means lion in Turkish, that was the random fact moment. Also I needed 9 more words to submit my review.

[Simone - on indefinite hiatus - · Rating 5 out of 5]

***4.5 ❤️***

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sold

Thank you so much Elisa for recommending I start with this one before I get deeper into their story, I’m sold and super excited to see what the boys have in store 😀

[Vanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Intrigued stars!! 😉💕 Too short to be anything but a prequel to something BIG.. but color me pleasantly surprised. 🤩 Read my first book by this author only a few weeks ago, but I like her writing so will at least give the first book in the series a try.. 👍

[Ken W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun short prequel! We got to see Valor and Doyle’s first time working together, but it was a training exercise and not a real case. I loved their interactions and can’t wait to dig into the first full length novel in their series! 4.25 stars for this short story but it’s looking like the series may be 5 stars! 🤞😁🤞

[Teal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unreadably bad. YMMV.

[Iz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

This series has been on my radar for absolute ages, and I figured it was time to start it: even though this novella is just a quick prequel to set the tone of the series, I absolutely adored it.

I'm so excited to read the first book and finally get to know Valor and Doyle better: the glimpses we get here were fantastic, their banter is already priceless, and Quaid already owns my heart.

[Ariana (mostly offline) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 stars

Reread January 2023
Love this introduction to Quaid and Aslan. So many vibes!

Original review

Fabulous start to this new series!
Loved the enemies vibes and the massive sparks between Quaid and Aslan (and omg that name!😁) And even more that they try so hard playing down their attraction to each other.
Looks like really complex characters, too!

Looking forward to book 1!

[Ben Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've seen nothing but good things about the Valor and Doyle Mysteries series, and this short prequel has got me even more excited to start the series proper!

Department Rivals was a great intro to our characters and tone of their relationship (at least I think, having not read the series yet).

The premise of this short is a team-building exercise to attempt to quell tensions between homicide and missing persons. A member of each team is partnered and tasked to solve a mock case. Quaid Valor from MPU and Aslan Doyle from homicide are one of the chosen pairs.

I loved Valor's and Doyle's bickering and when they finally started working together properly. Anytime they were arguing, I was like just kiss already 😂

It's weird that we get their first kiss in a prequel (it was a banger of a first kiss btw), that was published a few months after book 1. I'm curious to see how it's addressed in the first book.

[Papie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun introduction to this series! Can’t wait to read more about these guys!

[Moon ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to love this. I just know it.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure I buy this level of animosity between two departments of the same police force, but for all I know it could be completely realistic, and the team building exercise the two sergeants came up with was fun to read about. What I loved the most was how clearly flawed the two MCs are and I was very surprised to enjoy this prequel so much because, on paper, these two seem the perfect characters that would drive me up the wall, with Aslan almost pushing too much when it came to Quaid’s personal business and Quaid’s inability to put his foot down with his cheating on-and-off boyfriend.
I would’ve given them and the series a chance anyway, but I have to admit the turning point that made me jump on the first book without waiting for the second one to be out—or even for the few minutes that would take me to rate and review this—was the kiss at the end. It might have seemed forced, there only because some sort of sexual exchange is supposed to be included in anything resembling a romance, even if it’s just a short prequel, instead it managed to be both surprising and perfectly in character and in line with all that came earlier. I could feel the chemistry between the characters in a tangible way and that’s a rare enough thing these days that my brain sat up and took notice.

[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

En esta pequeña historia, vemos como fue la "reunión" interdepartamental que los junto para investigar la primera vez.
La trama es divertida, entretenida y nos muestra las personalidades de nuestros protas justo antes de conocerse y nos permite entender el porque de sus inseguridades y miedos.
El asunto es que debes leer esta historia después del primer libro, para poder entender realmente a los personajes y el porque de sus reacciones.
La serie ha resultado mucho mas entretenida de lo que esperaba, así que voy a continuar con ella.

[~ Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ & semicolons ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've spent two years hating on Valor and Doyle because this series was keeping Nicky James from writing something - anything - else. I'm not that into mysteries and, with rare exceptions, I don't read series with the same MCs.

But I'm not all that excited about my TBR list at the moment and decided to give this prequel a go.

The verdict?

It was okay. Not great, not terrible; just okay.

I didn't immediately fall head over heels in love with either detective. Indeed, they both bugged me - Valor because he wouldn't stop obsessing over his cheating ex and Doyle because he's a smirking bad boy.

I didn't for a second believe that those in charge of missing persons and homicidal units would go to so much trouble to create a team-building exercise.

Doyle kissing Valor also felt random and inappropriate.

However, I'm a fan of Nicky's writing style, so I'll give book 1 a go.

[Megan [Jaded AF] · Rating 3 out of 5]

MM Romance
Prequel
3 Stars ⭐️

I liked this but I’m not completely sold on it and I’m not sure why. I keep seeing these mm crime romances and I feel like they are something I’d enjoy. Maybe. It would come down to what the case was about and I’m assuming they’d read like a tv show with the UST and all that. Who knows but I found this confusing at times because both their first names and last names are unique and sometimes they’d use each other’s last names but not always and I kept wishing the chapter would have first and last so I could keep track. That’s definitely a me problem 😂 In fact I can’t tell you which one is which, which is ridiculous 😂😂 But I’ll probably give this series a whirl at some point.

[Preeti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting novella and does its job of intriguing me about the MCs. I think now I am invested enough to read at least 2 books of the series. 😊😊Though I have always wanted to read anything written by Nicky James more since she started writing Romantic mysteries.

[the kevin (vaguely alive) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun start to the series! I know it says it's an optional prequel, but I think it sets the stage for the characters and their dynamics so well that it's best to read it first. It's also just a lot of fun to read! I enjoyed the combativeness and rivalry between the two, and the spark of chemistry at the end. Definitely recommend reading this one!



Read more reviews on my blog: 
https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/

[juli✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i've read and loved the second and third book in the series and yet i somehow skipped over department rivals completely… make that make sense.

well, stupid me cause this novella was a whole lot of fun! i like the way dr sets up the future dynamic between aslan and quaid. moreover, i thought the whole idea of a team building exercise, cops edition, was a lot of fun.

all in all, department rivals delivered on its main task, get me excited for the full-length series. nevermind that i'm already in love with aslan and quaid … it's irrelevant, obviously 🤪