Double Alchemy
Author: Susan Mac Nicol
Series: Double Alchemy #1
Release Date: March 24th 2014
Published by: Boroughs Publishing
Genre: Paranormal, M/M Romance
BLURB
Powerful yet tormented modern warlock Quinn Fairmont must initiate the silver-eyed Cade Mairston into the world of witchfinders, Withinners, and what can happen when two men fall truly, madly, deeply in love.
THE WORLD IN SHADOW
In modern London there lurks a warlock, Quinn Fairmont. Dangerous, powerful, tortured, sharing his body with the soul of an ancient Welsh sorcerer, Quinn is never alone—and never wholly himself. He fights against all those who would exploit his kind. He takes pleasure where he can find it.
In the forest of Hampstead Heath, Quinn’s hometown, Cade Mairston appears to him like a waking dream. Lithe, lean and silver-eyed, he evokes feelings in Quinn unlike any other: lust with true affection, immediate and shocking. Cade is clearly more than he seems. And yet, if a man of the world, Cade is innocent. He knows nothing of warlocks, witchfinders or Withinners. He knows nothing of what he is, what he might be, or what he might feel. For him, the story is just beginning. Magyck, peril and passion await.
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EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT
He swallowed. “It must be fairly interesting work, doing what you do? It almost correlates with what I do, business-wise. My company, QuinnCo, teaches children and adults that cultural and religious differences aren’t the enemy. I’ve seen too many instances of persecution of people for race, colour or beliefs, and it wasn’t the way the world was supposed to be.” Quinn’s face felt stiff as many centuries of memories of Warlock and witch persecution swum hazily through his mind.
He was aware Cade watched him intently, his eyes fixed on Quinn’s mouth. Quinn was finding it very hard not to reach over and take the other man’s lips in a savage kiss despite the serious subject matter being discussed. The Mirrabar blood was definitely not the defence it was cracked up to be.
Cade nodded, his hands wrapped around his wine glass. “I read about you on the internet.” He spoke huskily and flushed a little at the admission. The wine appeared to be making him a little more open and talkative.
Quinn found enough self-control to grin inwardly, flattered Cade had been interested enough to do some research on him.
Cade sipped his wine. “The work you do is very noble. It’s not easy taking someone’s ingrained beliefs and trying to show someone else’s point of view. I imagine it takes a lot of effort and patience.”
Quinn nodded. “It takes time. These children have been indoctrinated in the beliefs their parents hold. You’re right. It’s not easy trying to give them options in what to believe in. If they want to be open minded, not only do they have to face it for themselves, they have to argue it with their parents and family too, and that can be catastrophic sometimes. And then of course there’s always the flip side that we’ll go too far ourselves and try convince them to look at something they really don’t want to consider. It’s a very fine line.”
Cade suddenly stood up, his face pale. “Excuse me a minute. I need to go to the men’s room. Can you point me in the right direction?”
Quinn gestured toward the left. “Behind the bar in that far corner, just at the side of that large palm tree. It’s over there.”
Cade nodded quickly and disappeared. Quinn watched him go and leaned back in his chair. He sighed heavily. He knew he was being a real bastard doing this to him but until they’d gotten over the first hurdle, it would always be like this.
Carra's Review
I love when I come upon a paranormal story with a fresh idea (or at least fresh to me) that opens up new avenues in the genre. Here in Double Alchemy that's exactly what I found with warlocks having Withinners, a new concept that had far-reaching effects on the characters. There's also instant attraction, something I have no issue with in a paranormal setting, and plenty of suspense, intrigue and heat...oh my goodness, the heat...
I'm a sucker for complex characters, and in this story there's quite a few of them. That called for plenty of development and complicated interactions, things that do cause the story to become longer--though for me, I really like getting into the characters and plot like that because I find it to be intriguing. There's more to most of the characters than meets the eye, and discovering what's really going on with everyone makes for an engrossing read.
Know what else does? Continual suspense. Not knowing what was going to happen next, how their enemies would come at them again, who they could trust. And on the "fan yourself" side, the intimate-and sometimes downright erotic and excitingly naughty-scenes between Cade and Quinn. A good deal of their relationship is sexual, but the author does a very good job of balancing the on-page sex with fade to black scenes so it doesn't overwhelm the rest of the story.
And speaking of the author doing a good job...while yes, at times this story may have dragged just a bit with all of the information being imparted, all of that information is actually important and contributes to the depth of the story. It's something to be expected in a book with such complex characters and intricate world building, and the author did quite well in getting everything across while still keeping my rapt attention throughout the book. Actually, I was captivated enough to stay up way too long past my bedtime to finish reading.
Double Alchemy was an exciting 4.5-star read for me, and I do highly recommend it to M/M paranormal romance fans. Be prepared for at least one disturbing scene though--one that will probably upend your opinion of Quinn's Withinner when you read it as it did for me. This story is meant strictly for readers 18+ for adult language and explicit sexual content.
Climax
Author: Susan Mac Nicol
Series: Double Alchemy #2
Release Date: May 22nd 2014
Published by: Boroughs Publishing
Genre: Paranormal, M/M Romance
BLURB
Powerful modern warlock Quinn Fairmont found ecstasy with the silver-eyed and not-quite-human Cade Mairston, but to know true happiness the pair must best both the shadow of a long-ago lover and an ancient enemy who seeks to destroy love, light and all they hold dear.
A BLINDING LIGHT
It begins with a Book of Shadows discovered by a London coven. The grimoire is as dangerous as it is rare, which is why it evokes modern-day warlock Quinn Fairmont’s desire. He collects objects of great power and beauty—like his lover, Cade Mairston.
Against all odds he and Cade found each other, but their perils have just begun. First is the ex-lover who once held Quinn in thrall. And, someone has been killing warlocks. Could it be one of his own kind? There are those too who would challenge Quinn’s power in their quest to overthrow him as Grand Master. Or is the danger something darker, something invoked inadvertently, rising from the shadows, building from the very inside of a man until it brings an end with a quick flash of light? Of the truth, the surface has only been scratched. Now Quinn and Cade must go deeper and find both answers and an end. They must learn what lurks in the hearts of men…and whether it seeks to love or destroy.
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About the Author
Susan Mac Nicol is a self-confessed bookaholic, an avid watcher of videos of sexy pole dancing men, geek, nerd and in love with her Smartphone. This little treasure is called ‘the boyfriend’ by her long-suffering husband, who says if it vibrated, there’d be no need for him. Susan hasn’t had the heart to tell him there’s an app for that…
In an ideal world, Susan Mac Nicol would be Queen of England and banish all the bad people to the Never Never Lands of Wherever -Who Cares. As that’s never going to happen, she contents herself with writing her HEA stories and pretending, that just for a little while, good things happen to good people.
Sue is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America and is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association in the UK. She’s also Editorial Manager at http://www.divinemagazine.biz, an online LGBTQ e-zine, and she’s a Charity Board trustee at http://wwwbeingmecampaign.com in London.
She’s passionate about research for her books and has stayed in a circus, taken lessons from a blind person on how it feels to be non-sighted, and travelled to a lighthouse with maintenance crew to see first-hand what it’s like inside. She’s also writing a screen play with a Hollywood actor named Nicholas Downs, with a view to taking her latest release, Sight Unseen, to the big screen.
All in all, she’s happy with her lot and loves that you love to read her books.
You do, right?
