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Double Alchemy Kindle Edition

3.9 out of 5 stars 102 ratings

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. More awaits in book two…

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00J7FVYRC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Boroughs Publishing Group
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 23, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 886 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 335 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1941260043
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Double Alchemy
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 out of 5 stars 102 ratings

About the author

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Susan Mac Nicol
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Susan writes steamy, sexy, often dark and occasionally witty contemporary romance books. She’s dabbled in varied genres, both MF and MM, and has written paranormal, urban fantasy and romantic suspense stories.

Whether you’re looking for a heart-pounding romantic suspense or a deeply emotional love story, Susan’s portfolio has something for everyone.

Screenplay Success and Hidden Talents

Susan doesn’t just stop at novels. She’s an award-winning screenplay writer, with several scripts based on her published works. Her screenplay ‘Sight Unseen’ has garnered no less than ten awards, and her TV pilot ‘Reel Life,’ based on her debut novel ‘Cassandra by Starlight,’ was a winner at the Oaxaca Film Fest. Talent and passion together have propelled her into the spotlight of multiple creative fields.

Personal Touch: Fun Facts About Susan

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Susan is a person of diverse interests and experiences. She loves attending live music concerts, especially if her man-crushes Adam Lambert or Sam Smith is performing. Her leisure activities include lazing with a good book, enjoying a fine gin and tonic, and watching reruns of ‘Silent Witness.’

Her colourful past includes being chased by a rhino in Kenya, mistaken for a prostitute in Johannesburg, and being kicked out of a youth club for encouraging free thinking. With such a vibrant background, it’s no wonder her stories are packed with excitement and life.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
102 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's story compelling, with one noting how it flows like a movie. They appreciate the character development, with one particularly praising Quinn and Cade.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

9 customers mention "Story quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers praise the compelling narrative of this book, describing it as a well-realized fantasy world of witchcraft and a love story in true form.

"...This is a Love story in a true form and what these 2+ characters will go through to protect what they are in charge of and what they hold most dear...." Read more

"...'s power of enticing the reader into this world created by words is believable. There was not reservation about accepting the premise,...." Read more

"...With her master storytelling, she takes us into the mystical & magical world of Witches, Warlocks, Withinners & Feys...." Read more

"...The characters develop nicely, and the action is well versed. Some of the dialogue is a bit stilted, but the story compels the reader onward." Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one particularly enjoying Quinn and Cade.

"...A Brilliant Job Susan. This book has 3 Main Characters and 2 of the Characters share the same body. What? you say...." Read more

"Overall, this is a good book. The characters develop nicely, and the action is well versed...." Read more

"...I loved the plot, the attention to detail and the characters. The good on our side characters and the villains because they were so well written...." Read more

"...I Loved It, Every Minute Of It. Great Characters, Mystery, But Mostly Susan Once Again Tells A True Love Story. I Highly Recommend This Book!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2014
    This M/M Paranormal Thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning pages. This is Susan’s first Paranormal Thriller book and as we Americans say “She has hit this one out of the Park.” I’m a HUGE fan of this Author and as she releases each of her books I already have the pedestal for her set pretty high. She did not disappoint me again and actually surpassed my expectations. A Brilliant Job Susan.
    This book has 3 Main Characters and 2 of the Characters share the same body. What? you say. Here is the creativity that Susan’s entwines into this story. Quinn Fairmont is a Contemporay Warlock, at a young age the warlock takes a Withinner, in essence this is another sorcerer that will share the body and thoughts of the contemporary warlock. Quinn’s Withinner is Taliesen a very powerful Welsh sorcerer. Quinn and Cade meet up in the forest one day and they both feel a spiritual pull to the other. Cade is a pretty knowing guy, but he has no idea what he is getting himself into with Quinn.
    Susan has a way of building a world with her words that make it so easy to see in my head the scenes and locations that this book takes us. Cade lives on one of those flat houseboats that are popular in the UK and Quinn lives in a mansion. I can picture the boat and feel the water lapping at the hull just the same as I can see the immense surroundings of Quinn’s home, I almost can hear the voices resonate through the halls. Susan does the same thing with her character descriptions, she makes me want to run my hands through the hair on Quinn’s chest and caress the smoothness that is Cade. This is the reason that Susan is one of my favorite Authors, she can take me as the reader and drop me into a story that lets me believe what I am reading.
    This is a Love story in a true form and what these 2+ characters will go through to protect what they are in charge of and what they hold most dear. This comes into play with so many plot twists and adventures. I found myself asking if Quinn and Cade were ever going to catch a break where they can just stay in bed for 24 hours and explore each other, I wanted it so bad for them. The story has Witch hunters that live to destroy the witches and warlocks even in this contemporary setting. There is also an evil force from Quinn’s past that is hellbent on the destruction of Quinn and the containment of Taliesen. Love plays an extremely important role in this book, it is the love between Quinn and Cade that makes the fight in each other stronger. Remember the 3rd character? He plays an important part in this adventure, you hate and love him at the same time. He’s a precocious guy.
    How Susan can come up with all of the different aspects of this story still boggles my mind. For instance Quinn can summon Taliesen and have him appear in today’s time which sends Quinn back to where Taliesen came from. This comes in handy because then Taliesen can teleport them to a different place almost instantly, then when they arrive they switch back to their original times. I think this is brilliant story telling. Can you tell I really liked this book? It feels like I am rambling and that is a good sign, I just want to tell you so much, I just can’t without popping any spoilers. The things that I have just told you happen very early on in the book.
    The only thing that we haven’t really talked is Cade, again not much of a spoiler, he is a Water Sprite. Earlier I told you about a pull, this is like a mating call between Quinn and Cade. Here ‘s the twist the Fae blood that courses through Cade amplifies the passion by multiples. Quinn understands this but Cade does not. Cade certainly does not understand why he is so turned on over someone that he barely spent but a few moments with. This sexual frustration was a bit comical. This book is part 1 in a 2 part series. Although Part 1 doesn’t answer all of the questions that come up, it does leave you with closure for this story.
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2015
    The premise of a double identity as envisioned in this narrative adds depth to the development of the main characters. The author's power of enticing the reader into this world created by words is believable. There was not reservation about accepting the premise,. The exchange of time and locale seems no more incredible than the "beam me up, Scotty!" does for fans of Star Trek.

    If I were the protagonist who fell in love, how would I manage the relationship with my lover who also has this other person available for counsel, help, comfort? It remains a questions through the tale and is one of the qualities that holds the reader's interest. In my opinion. However double helpings are not always manageable!
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2014
    I love Paranormal stories & I'm a huge fan of Susan Mac Nicol's M/M books. In this book, she brings both genres together & gives us this amazing story. With her master storytelling, she takes us into the mystical & magical world of Witches, Warlocks, Withinners & Feys. A world where danger lurks in the shadows.

    The story takes place in modern day London. Quinn is human, but he's also a Warlock. He's very powerful & is the Grand Master or king of the Warlocks. He shares his body & soul with his Withinner, an ancient sorcerer named Taliesin, who is there to guard & protect him, give him advice or help him heal if he's been injured. They can't be in the same place at the same time, but can switch places when Quinn invokes Taliesin with a spell. This comes in handy if Quinn has to do some modern day time travel, if he has to get to one place or another that would otherwise take hours, then by switching places he can get to where he wants to be instantly. They can also communicate with each other through their minds.

    Cade is an anthropologist & professor at the institute where Quinn is a benefactor. One night he's walking home & sees a cloaked figure while he's walking through the forest. Then his vision is blurred & when it clears, he sees a well dressed man in a suit standing in front of him. What he doesn't know at the time is that it was Quinn & Taliesin switching places. They start a conversation & the longer they stay near each other they both realize they have an instant sexual attraction to each other. What Quinn & Cade don't know at the time is that even thought Cade is human, he's also Fey or a Water Sprite. With Quinn being a Warlock, the sexual attraction is amped up because of Cade's scent. Quinn soon figures out with Taliesin's help that Cade is indeed Fey.

    After going their separate ways that night, Quinn arranges for a chance meeting with Cade at a benefit at the Institute where Cade works. He manages to get him into an empty office where they have hot sex & Quinn explains to Cade that he suspects he's Fey & that's why they have such a strong sexual attraction. They start a relationship & fall in love, the strong sexual urges start to fade, but they still have lots of hot sex!

    But there are enemies that want to destroy Quinn & any chances of happiness. Another Warlock seeks revenge on him for something he did, vowing to hurt those closest to Quinn first before he finally kills him. Quinn also has to deal with the leader of the Witchfinders Alliance, a group that wants to rid the world of Witches & Warlocks. He's also been betrayed by his own kind, someone who pretends to help him, but is really working with somebody else. Nothing is as it seems! He has to deal with all of this, while trying to carry on a relationship with Cade & help him find out more about his Fey ancestry.

    This story had me intrigued from the start. I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend it, especially if you have never read any of Susan Mac Nicol's books. You should definitely start with this one! There's going to be a second book & I'm really looking forward to that!!
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2015
    Overall, this is a good book. The characters develop nicely, and the action is well versed. Some of the dialogue is a bit stilted, but the story compels the reader onward.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2014
    I love Susan MacNicol's book they are filled with people that you feel for & want to spend time with. However with this book I just couldn't connect with the characters at all. I couldn't understand why Cade liked Quinn. Lots of hot sex sure but no real emotional attachment. I'll be thinking long and hard about whether or not I'll be picking up the sequel. I do want to see what happens with the story line but the characters left me feeling rather cold.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Tracy Shayler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow....Great Read!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2014
    I know when I start a book written by this author it's going to be really good, I love her m/m reads as much as the m/f ones! With this book I wondered if I would enjoy it as much as it is a paranormal type read.

    This was a book that yet again I could not put down! Susan Mac Nicol, sure has a way of writing that is down to earth yet totally plays with my mind and emotions in a way I find difficult to express.

    These characters grew on me very quickly and although I was reading about warlocks, witches, withinners and fey I totally believed in everyone of them, the character development was superb! I loved the crime/mystery aspect to the story as this author has the ability to allow the story to build until your on the edge of your seat, reading as fast as you can to find out the ending and then feel that sadness that you have finished such a wonderful read!

    I am so happy the next book in this series is being released next month as there is so much I need to know as lots of questions were left unanswered!

    This is certainly another winner I highly recommend!
  • Zoe
    5.0 out of 5 stars it has the lot!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 18, 2014
    This was the first book from this author and since reading I have now read almost all of her others!! I am normally a paranormal fiction person but after reading the exceptional writing style of Susan Mac Nicol I have grown to love all her other books. The paranormal element of this book was unlike I have read before which is great as I love something a bit different.
    A lot of books I read leave me with nagging thoughts of what it could have had in it in terms of description, depth or characterisation but I have always been left extremely happy and content when finishing it.
    There is only one thing I would love to have seen more of in this book and that is the abilities and power of Cade, but as there is soon to be more books to this, I am hoping this will emerge :)
    Now if I am being ultra, ultra critical...and this is probably more to do with my taste...I would love even more action scenes and sizzling passion...but that's just me!
    Ultimately if you want supernatural and romance with a fresh and original slant then don't hesitate to read it!
  • Edga
    2.0 out of 5 stars So much potential for a good story, but much too much sex
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 6, 2016
    Really not my cup of tea. So much potential for a good story, but much too much sex. Couldn't get my head round the constant inner voice thing that was going on, also found the writing a bit clumsy. I really like some stuff by this author, based on which I bought this and the follow-up. I didn't finish this and I won't read the follow-up. Unfortunately a waste of money. If I'd read this as a first book by this author, I wouldn't be reading any others. Very disappointed.
  • Steve R
    2.0 out of 5 stars Can do better
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2015
    A good story, but there's a little too much reliance on the sex. It's almost like a Gay Fifty Shades, or a Gay Body Heat. The author can do better.

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