Double Alchemy Climax blog tour {Review, Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway} ~ '

Title: Double Alchemy: Climax (Double Alchemy Book #2)
Author: Susan Mac Nicol
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Release Date: 22^nd May, 2014
Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance

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.

Praise for Double Alchemy (Book #1)

“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.” - Maria Recchia

“I stayed up all night reading this story. Susan has a way of writing that is different than anyone else. She's uniquely brilliant at weaving a tale that brings out my emotions. I have laughed in every one of her stories. That's incredible for me. Not just a smile, but a laugh. I love that. This book needs to be read. You won’t be disappointed.” - Author Kindle Alexander

“Susan Mac Nicol has created a complex and fully realized fantasy world…. Quinn is the star of this novel, taking out the bad guy and learning how to trust in Cade’s love enough to share his unsavory past.” Library Journal

“I completely loved this beautifully and highly detailed written Paranormal story! This wasn't a predictable story by any means. How Susan Mac Nicol takes us on a ride through this very creative and engrossing world that you will not forget, anytime soon and will be wanting more and more of it. I am a huge fan of this author and Double Alchemy, doesn't disappoint by any means at all. I highly recommend this hot, steamy, love, paranormal and so beautifully written story!” Paul Berry

“Susan Mac Nicol brings us another sexilicious m/m romance but also takes us into a magyckal world of Warlocks, Withinners, Fae, Witchfinders and Witches… I loved the combination of the magyck and the m/m romance storyline. I am so glad Ms Mac Nicol is not keeping us waiting as the second book in the series will be released 22nd May 2014. I highly recommended this book to read and is an absolute five star rating from me.” Foxylutely Book Reviews

Praise for Susan Mac Nicol

"We have to re-iterate that this Author will always be an automatic one-click for us. Her writing is flawless and her flawed characters are completely lovable. There’s always something quirky and fun in her stories as well as drama, angst and heaps of passion! We can highly recommend!!" - Gitte & Jenny - Totally Booked Blog

"Susan has been hailed as a genius writer of male/male literature. Her Saving Alexander has been nominated for several awards and has been reviewed widely. Congrats on all your success, Susan. You have earned it." - Gay Lit Authors

Purchase links for DOUBLE ALCHEMY (Book #1)

Boroughs Publishing Group | Amazon: US, UK, CA, AU

Purchase links for DOUBLE ALCHEMY: CLIMAX (Book #2)

Boroughs Publishing Group | Amazon | B&N | ARe

Cade Mairston's life has changed dramatically over the past several months. He met the love of his life in Warlcok, Quinn Fairmont. But there is a price to pay for Cade, not only for loving the most powerful Warlock, but for being part Fae as well. People would kill him to get at Quinn, and would end his life becuase of his heritage, which has yet to fully explore or acknowledge. Cade is over the moon when Quinn proposes and the two begin to settle into as normal a life as possible for a Warlock Lord and his finance'. And isn't that generally when the shit hits the fan.

Quinn's jobs as the head Warlock often occupy his thoughts and take time away from Cade. Now he's searching for the Book of Shadows that is currently in the possession of his ex-lover. A nasty bitch of a witch that Quinn has no intention of ever speaking to again. Warlocks are still dying and everytime it drains Quinn, not to mention the ongoing struggle between Quinn and his withiner. Can Quinn and Cade find the book and discover who is killing warlocks before one or both of them fall prey to the evil that seems to not only surround, but consume them?

Okay, I'll start with what I enjoyed about this book. I love the relationship between Quinn and Cade. How they learn more about each other every day, and how to coexist as a couple and move forward together. It's not always easy, but their love makes them stronger and determined to see it through. I also like the relationship between Quinn and his withiner, it's a different and unique relationship, almost like a totem or spirit animal in the from of an ancient warlock that basically possess Quinn.

Sadly, I felt like this story was rushed. It moved fast, but at times it was moving so fast I couldn't keep up and had to retrace some steps. And if this is the last story for Quinn and Cade, the ending was part anticlimatic and part bittersweet for me. So I hope it's not.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and the characters and am satisfied with the paths they are taking, but I wanted a little more cohesion with the flow. If you're a fan of paranormal romance, witches, warlocks and fae... then you'll probably enjoy this story. I give this one 3/5 stars.

Double Alchemy: Climax Excerpt

Quinn’s eyes flashed violently at his uncle. “I am not fucking losing him to the depths of a bloody Hampstead Heath pond.”

He knelt down beside Cade again, closing his eyes as he tried once more to heal, but the wound just kept seeping blood, now at a much slower rate than before. Cade’s face was ash white, his dark hair standing out starkly against the deathly pallor of his face.

Quinn. Your Cade is nearly gone. You have to put him in the water now before it is too late. There is no time for your modern medicine. He will not survive unless you do it now. The Water Sprites will take him and heal him as long as there is still a spark of life left in him.

“I can’t. Don’t ask me to do that. I can’t.” Quinn’s voice was strangled as he struggled to compose himself. His body was cold, his mind sluggish and he had never felt so desperate.

Daniel strode forward and despite his small and wiry frame, he picked Cade up in his arms. He looked at Quinn, his voice resolute. “He’s dying. This may be the only way to save him.”

Quinn growled and reached out with a hand to hold him back. Daniel sidestepped him and looked at him with a resolute expression. “You can hurt me if you want but it won’t help Cade. This is all we have left to try before he dies.”

Quinn’s hand still gripped him tightly and the older man winced.

“If anyone is going to do this, it’s going to be me.” Quinn’s voice cracked and he held out his arms. Wordlessly, Daniel placed Cade in Quinn’s outstretched arms and Quinn pulled his lover closer to his body. He walked down to the water’s edge and waded in as Daniel watched helplessly from the bank, his face stark. Quinn gently laid Cade down in the water. He seemed to float for a while, hair spreading about in the water like black smoke. His face was still, eyes closed as Quinn held tightly onto his cold hand, rubbing his thumb over the engagement ring. Quinn’s vision blurred as tears filled his eyes.

You need to let Cade go. Let him join his kind below the water. Trust me.

Taliesin’s voice was soft, compassionate. Quinn heaved a shuddering sigh as Daniel joined him in the water, laying a comforting arm on his.

“I can’t—” Quinn shook his head in grief, his heart breaking.

His uncle took hold of his shoulders, firmly holding him back. “There’s no other way, son. Let him go.”

Quinn relinquished his grip on Cade’s hand, standing there as he heard a soft splash and saw the water rippling around them. As they watched, two sets of pale hands emerged out of the water, and slowly, lovingly, Cade was dragged gently beneath the dark waters of the pond. Quinn saw the hand with his ring on it slowly disappear under the water. It was the last glimpse he had of the man he loved.

Susan Mac Nicol was born in Leeds, UK, and left for South Africa when she was eight. She returned to the UK thirty years later and now lives in Essex. Her debut novel Cassandra by Starlight, the first in a trilogy, was published last year by Boroughs Publishing Group in the US. Sue’s latest story, Double Alchemy: Climax is her sixth m/m romance.

Sue has written since she was very young, and never thought she would see herself becoming a Romance writer, being a horror/psychological thriller reader all her life. But the Romance genre is now something very close to her heart and she intends continuing the trend.

Sue is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Romantic Novelists Association here in the UK.

Susan Mac Nicol is also author of The Magick of Christmas, Confounding Cupid, Cassandra by Starlight, Together in Starlight, Stripped Bare, Saving Alexander, Worth Keeping, Waiting for Rain and Double Alchemy.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m often asked these questions so I thought I’d answer them now during this tour and perhaps give you a glimpse into my world.

· What have you found to be the best places to promote your work online?

I take part in blog hops with other writers and review sites, I solicit blogs who will show case me and perhaps do an author interview, like this one. I use Facebook a lot and I join in on role play games with the characters from my books which gets readers and reviewers together and engaged in the books. I think probably Facebook has been my biggest out reach for finding and interacting with potential readers. I also review books for big book blog review sites and that helps me get my name out there too.

· Tell us about your writing process.

There really isn't much to tell. I don't plot, I sit, I write and see what spews forth. I have a basic idea of the story but it tells itself. I plan out my two main characters and perhaps one or two more who I know are going to be integral to the plot-normally the villain or a big support character to one of the MC's - but otherwise they appear as I write. They can be very insistent on telling me their story and I go with the flow.

· What online sites/resources do you use when writing?

Oh. *blushes horribly* I'm about to come off sounding like a pervert. I won't go into too much detail but - I'm a straight woman, and I need to know all about sex between two men - how I do this, I'll leave to your imagination. In order to write gay male sex scenes, I have to know what goes where, how it gets there, what do you need to get it there etc...by now everybody is cringing and clenching their backsides. However I will leave you with this one little gem - don't knock it till you try it. Gay man sex is hot. Very hot. I'm also fortunate to have two gay man couples as friends who I can bounce things off and get a realistic view of what actually happens so they are a great resource too.

· Did you go to school for writing or learn along the way?

I learnt along the way. I have a fantastic editing team at both my publishers who guide me in the technical craft of writing. Jill Limber, my Boroughs editor, has been my teacher and my friend. She's amazing.

Any advice for our readers?

I write what I love and what I'm passionate about. Readers I would hope do the same thing. They read what they enjoy and what makes them feel something, whether it makes them happy, sad, angry or heartbroken. I hope this is what I achieve in my writing. And the only way I'll know this is if readers take the time to rate my work on sites like Amazon or Goodreads. Whether it's good or bad or indifferent, it really doesn't matter. Feedback is important. So I'd ask readers to take the trouble to do this for an author.

And of course I truly want to say thank you to anyone who is a fan of my books. Without them I'd be nowhere so I want to tell them all I appreciate the fact they read my stories and may the trend continue upwards!!