Rating: 3đ
I have been invested in Nicki Jamesâ characters and their evolving relationship since I read Temporary Partner, the first book in the series. That was our introduction to the highly complicated men , their emotional histories, and the meeting that launched their relationship.
Each novel has charted the tumultuous path theyâve had to navigate in order to move forward in their relationship. In each new book, through various issues and stages of in their lives, whether itâs Aslanâs alcoholism and family issues, Quaidâs perilously fragile ego with regard to men and his poor history of relationships, his recurring insecurities, and Quaidâs struggles to connect with others. With all of this folded in, their own relationship has been realistically defined but also made them relatable.
As they worked together to solve the different cases that came up, some horrific and beyond disturbing, thereâs been some real growth demonstrated in their personal lives and relationships, at home and at the workplace.
If you sense a âbutâ coming, youâre correct.
After the devastating events of the last book, I was wondering what the author had in store for the couple next.
It wasnât an agonizing half of a book that felt like both men had reversed any growth in communication and maturity in their lives and were back to their own respective ways. Aslan saying he âknewâ his lover/partner and then proceeding to prove to everyone he didnât, putting Quaid and himself, but mostly Quaid through immense emotional distress. Unnecessary, intentional, and preventable pain and suffering. For 56 percent of this book.
Over a proposal. Thatâs actually causes a breakdown.
Disrupted Engagement (Valor and Doyle Mysteries, #6) by Nicki James is a novel that I put down multiple times as a DNF because of the dysfunctional nature of the relationship between Aslan and Quaid in the first half of the story. The murder mystery, which is fascinating, isnât fully complex enough, nor is the authorâs âhappy â resolution for the couple a satisfying explanation for the narrative mess made of the dynamic between Aslan and Quaid throughout the storyline, primarily the first half.
This is the penultimate story, I believe. Matrimonial Merriment is listed as the next and last. Itâs definitely mine as it feels like the series has run its course or lost its charm. At least for me.
Read it for the series, if youâre a fan of the author , and love this couple.
Valor and Doyle:
â Temporary Partner #1
â Elusive Relations #2
â Unstable Connections #3
â Inevitable Disclosure #4
â Defying Logic #5
â Disrupted Engagement
⌠Matrimonial Merriment #7
Buy Link:
Disrupted Engagement (Valor and Doyle Book 6)
Blurb:
The ring has been bought, and all Aslan has to do is create the perfect setup for a proposal. No problem. Nothing to it. Quaid deserves the best, and he plans to deliver.
After choreographing a romantic evening to officially pop the question, Aslan is ready.
But things donât go as planned, and the evening is ruined. Quaidâs insecurities rear their ugly head, making him suspicious. He knows Aslan is hiding something, but pessimism insists it isnât a good thing.
When Aslan gets called out of town to hunt down a long-acting serial killer, there is no time to soothe his overanxious boyfriendâs worries or make a new attempt to propose.
Torn between a complicated case and figuring out the perfect way to ask Quaid to marry him, Aslan is left scrambling. Every idea falls flat. Every attempt fails. The more pressure he puts on himself, the more unsuccessful his efforts, and Quaidâs fears grow.
Aslan needs to solve this serial killer case and get home to straighten the mess heâs made.
**Disrupted Engagement is the sixth book in the Valor and Doyle mystery series. It is a same-couple series and should be read in order. Although each book has a self-contained mystery with no cliff-hangers, the romance is overarching.
⢠Publisher: (September 7, 2023)
⢠Publication date: September 7, 2023
⢠Print length: 372 pages
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 