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Enchanters #1
Touch of Night
The Seymour family is one of the oldest and most respected families in England. However, what no one knows is that this family is also magically inclined and it's a secret they intend to keep. Niclas Seymour can sense the thoughts and emotions of others. It was only years ago that he became indirectly responsible for his best friend's death when he told him that his wife was cheating on him and he killed himself. And the law of the magical families is that if blood is shed by magic done then the offender is placed under a blood curse. Niclas has not known true sleep in three years and it is slowly driving him mad. He will do anything to lift the curse and finally be free of it. The only way that can happen is if he does a great deed for a member of his best friend's family. Such an opportunity has eluded him thus far. Then a Miss Julia Linley, also from one of the most respected families--and a distant relative of his friend---needs aide in rescuing her aunt from Niclas' uncle. It seems the man is set on marrying her aunt against her wishes. Not a great deed, but Niclas will take up this challenge on her behalf. What he does not expect when he meets Julia is that just her touch alone has the ability to drown out the voices. He craves her soothing touch, not only for the relief it brings, but for the passion she arouses in him. However, as they travel, an old nemesis appears threatening to expose Niclas and the whole magical society throughout England. And if Julia discovers his dark secrets will he lose her forever?
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
5 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Susan Spencer Paul
36 books27 followersThis author also writes under the name Mary Spencer
When I was a senior in high school, everyone in my graduating class was asked to fill out a questionnaire supposing where we'd be in ten years' time, what we'd be doing and what our accomplishments would be. I put down that I would be a published author and have written the Great American Novel. I was joking, of course, but I really did want to be a writer. Unfortunately, it was ten years before I actually got the opportunity to put pen to paper, after the birth of my first daughter. I had given up my job as a secretary to be a stay-at-home-mom, and found the long hours of baby sleep time to be a big change from my former busy days. To pass the time and break my increasing addiction to the Home Shopping Network, I at last sat down and took a stab at pursuing that old high school dream. Sixteen years have passed since then and I've had the great joy of writing several romances and seeing them published. I may never get around to writing the Great American Novel, but it doesn't really matter. I'm writing books that I love and having the time of my life doing it, and that's an accomplishment that this former high school senior is perfectly content with.
As for the more specific information, I live in a great small town in the Los Angeles suburbs, am married to a wonderful guy, Paul, and have three gorgeous, brilliant (can you tell I'm just a tad bit biased?), fabulous daughters, two terribly spoiled (by me) dogs, and a pampered, long-suffering cat.
When I was a senior in high school, everyone in my graduating class was asked to fill out a questionnaire supposing where we'd be in ten years' time, what we'd be doing and what our accomplishments would be. I put down that I would be a published author and have written the Great American Novel. I was joking, of course, but I really did want to be a writer. Unfortunately, it was ten years before I actually got the opportunity to put pen to paper, after the birth of my first daughter. I had given up my job as a secretary to be a stay-at-home-mom, and found the long hours of baby sleep time to be a big change from my former busy days. To pass the time and break my increasing addiction to the Home Shopping Network, I at last sat down and took a stab at pursuing that old high school dream. Sixteen years have passed since then and I've had the great joy of writing several romances and seeing them published. I may never get around to writing the Great American Novel, but it doesn't really matter. I'm writing books that I love and having the time of my life doing it, and that's an accomplishment that this former high school senior is perfectly content with.
As for the more specific information, I live in a great small town in the Los Angeles suburbs, am married to a wonderful guy, Paul, and have three gorgeous, brilliant (can you tell I'm just a tad bit biased?), fabulous daughters, two terribly spoiled (by me) dogs, and a pampered, long-suffering cat.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 30, 2018
Amazing story,the beginning was a little dull but the part towards the climax was soothing.Its my story....
August 5, 2025
Julia is a spinster at the age of 25, firmly on the shelf after she failed to accept one of the 3 marriage proposals. At her age, the prospect of a husband is decidedly behind her and she knows her life will now consist of waiting on her family hand and foot for any some tasks they require of her. However, it’s one of those tasks that brings Julia into the path of a man whole has unwittingly held her heart for years.
Niclas is a cursed man and it’s rapidly drawing him deep into insanity. He made a mistake years ago, that served to leave him with the punishment of never being able to sleep. No matter how tired, how desperate he gets for rest, he’s cursed to wonder the streets at night. Once he was a much sought-after bachelor who enchanted women and men equally with his charm and quick wit. Now, he’s a shell of that man and he knows that if he doesn’t find a way to end the curse soon, he will truly go mad.
A chance, however small, makes an appearance. For Niclas to help the family of the man whom died because of his actions. He must accompany the young heroine to Wales to prevent a most scandalous marriage between her aunt and Niclas’s uncle. On the way, Niclas becomes extremely close and protective of the strong but so sweet woman whom society has so wrongfully shuttered away too young. If not for the curse, he would be happy to have her for his bride.
But their journey is wrought with dangers and suddenly Julia is thrust into the world of magic with only Niclas to guide her way but he fears he doesn’t have strength enough to protect her from the enemy they face.
I enjoyed the start of this book immensely. I have a soft spot for historical romances and all the manners and social queues that come along with it. The book did unfortunately change into a bit of a chaotic mess during the half way point which sees the enemy make his appearance and suddenly the hero and heroine must throw all propriety out the window. It turned into a man seeking redemption, to a battle against wizards/ Faerie and other supernatural beings. All the while, Julia didn’t really seem all the shocked which was confusing to me. The curse of the hero also went to the sidelines, along with the plan to stop a marriage, all in favor of them battling this evil wizard who wants to use Julia as a hostage for him to get his own bride. I didn’t mind this book but I would have preferred it be more focused on Nichlas’s torment and Julia’s healing nature. Unfortunately, a lot of the attention was diverted into a somewhat romantic fantasy.
Niclas is a cursed man and it’s rapidly drawing him deep into insanity. He made a mistake years ago, that served to leave him with the punishment of never being able to sleep. No matter how tired, how desperate he gets for rest, he’s cursed to wonder the streets at night. Once he was a much sought-after bachelor who enchanted women and men equally with his charm and quick wit. Now, he’s a shell of that man and he knows that if he doesn’t find a way to end the curse soon, he will truly go mad.
A chance, however small, makes an appearance. For Niclas to help the family of the man whom died because of his actions. He must accompany the young heroine to Wales to prevent a most scandalous marriage between her aunt and Niclas’s uncle. On the way, Niclas becomes extremely close and protective of the strong but so sweet woman whom society has so wrongfully shuttered away too young. If not for the curse, he would be happy to have her for his bride.
But their journey is wrought with dangers and suddenly Julia is thrust into the world of magic with only Niclas to guide her way but he fears he doesn’t have strength enough to protect her from the enemy they face.
I enjoyed the start of this book immensely. I have a soft spot for historical romances and all the manners and social queues that come along with it. The book did unfortunately change into a bit of a chaotic mess during the half way point which sees the enemy make his appearance and suddenly the hero and heroine must throw all propriety out the window. It turned into a man seeking redemption, to a battle against wizards/ Faerie and other supernatural beings. All the while, Julia didn’t really seem all the shocked which was confusing to me. The curse of the hero also went to the sidelines, along with the plan to stop a marriage, all in favor of them battling this evil wizard who wants to use Julia as a hostage for him to get his own bride. I didn’t mind this book but I would have preferred it be more focused on Nichlas’s torment and Julia’s healing nature. Unfortunately, a lot of the attention was diverted into a somewhat romantic fantasy.
February 19, 2020
I am so glad the enthralling saga about the Magical Seymour clan is continuing. This is Niclas' story. He is a black~haired Seymour... meaning his gift of reading thoughts makes him a minor wizard as all black~haired Seymours are. When he told his mortal friend Drew about Drew's beloved wife's infidelities, Drew killed himself... and with the spilling of blood, the Guardians punished Niclas with a blood curse that condemned him to the absence of rest and sleep and took away his shields so that he could hear every thought in a crowd which meant he had to avoid going out into town and attending ton parties... for he would be in maddening torment. So Malachi (the head of the clan and Europe's foremost wizard), asked Niclas to take his place in escorting the spinster Julia Linley, a distant relative of Drew's, on her journey to Wales. Hoping to lift the curse, Niclas agreed though Malachi had another reason for asking him to do the task, specially when Niclas told him that he could not hear Julia's thoughts.
P.S. ~ I am not comfortable with the word "crush" in Chapter 2 referring to Julia's infantile infatuation with Niclas when she was 17. I think this word is too 20th century... etymology maybe 1913?... as opposed to the given Timeline of 1817 or even as early as 7 years ago when Julia laid eyes on our hero at a ton party when she was an awkward duckling relegated into the background as a member of the pathetic wallflowers decorating every ballroom of every Season...? But then I could also be wrong...
P.S. ~ I am not comfortable with the word "crush" in Chapter 2 referring to Julia's infantile infatuation with Niclas when she was 17. I think this word is too 20th century... etymology maybe 1913?... as opposed to the given Timeline of 1817 or even as early as 7 years ago when Julia laid eyes on our hero at a ton party when she was an awkward duckling relegated into the background as a member of the pathetic wallflowers decorating every ballroom of every Season...? But then I could also be wrong...
March 7, 2010
I had a hard time staying with this story in the beginning, but after the wild ride of a read it was, looking back, I am not sure why. So, maybe my mood when beginning. I loved the idea of the blood curse, and the world of rules the wizards lived under in the book. I am delighted to find though there is another book that is about other characters in this one. I didn't realize it was some sort of series. Great writing, great characters, etc...
January 18, 2011
This actually part of a series and I had no idea. Well about this book...I found it an interesting read. Not my uasual cup of tea but it was still well written, the plot was good, the leads were good, and it didn't bore me to tears.
Ancient families that have magic to some degree and how they live in historcial london. You add adventure and romance with a dash of danger and you have a wining mix in this book.
It was still a great read the second time around.
Ancient families that have magic to some degree and how they live in historcial london. You add adventure and romance with a dash of danger and you have a wining mix in this book.
It was still a great read the second time around.
March 31, 2020
Bought this book once i was halfway through reading it...i love it! Niclas is adorable, Julia is likeable and not simpering or irrtating and i love the whole world of magical Families in Regency England:) Great!
December 11, 2012
Unexpected. I loved the fact that the hero was not the biggest, baddest guy on the block. So many are these days.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews