Impatiently Waiting! Steadfast by Claudia Gray

Expected publish date:
March 4, 2014

New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray's dazzling Spellcaster series continues in Steadfast, as Nadia battles the dark forces that were unleashed in her small town. Nadia, Mateo, and Verlaine have saved Captive's Sound from the dark Sorceress Elizabeth...or so they thought. Despite their best efforts, a crack opened and a new, greater evil seeped through. With Mateo as her Steadfast, Nadia's magic is magnified and she is more powerful than ever. But there is still so much she doesn't know about the craft, leaving her open and vulnerable to a darker magic...which has begun to call Nadia's name. Perfect for fans of Claudia Gray's Evernight series as well as the Beautiful Creatures and Secret Circle series, Steadfast is richly woven with New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray's signature dark magic, captivating mystery, and star-crossed romance.


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Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Because the Night Release Day Blast!

The day has come! Today is the release day of Because of the Night by Kristen Strassel! It is the first book in her New Adult series, The Night Songs Collection.

As part of this blast, the author has shared an awesome scene - the original opening - from Tristan's POV, which you can also find on her BLOG along with all sorts of other Because of the Night goodness.

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About the Author

Kristen shares a birthday with Steven Tyler and Diana Ross. She spends each day striving to be half as fabulous as they are. She’s worn many hats, none as flattering as her cowboy hat: banker, retail manager, fledgling web designer, world’s worst cocktail waitress, panty slinger, now makeup artist and author. She loves sunshine, live music, the middle of nowhere, and finding new things to put in her house. Because The Night is the first book from The Night Songs Collection.

Kristen is represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg of Foreword Literary.

☆ How to find Kristen ☆
Blog ★ Twitter ★ Facebook ★ Goodreads
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About the Book

Description: Immortal Dilemma is the hottest band in the Las Vegas vampire rock scene. They draw insatiable fans from around the globe, thanks to a supernatural attraction called Bloodlust. Tristan craved such an opportunity to fill his empty mortal life, and now he has eternity to earn his place along the legends of rock n roll debauchery. Callie always feared that Tristan’s excesses would get him into trouble, but she never thought they’d lead him to immortality. To reconnect with him, she must weave her way through a world not only she had no idea existed, but does not welcome her. Blade turned down a spot in Immortal Dilemma after learning what he must sacrifice for that lifestyle. He finds Callie a refreshing change from the girls in the vampire rock scene. When Callie drags Blade back into the world of Immortal Dilemma, his resistance drives her into the waiting arms of Tristan, who shows her the true meaning of Bloodlust. But the very things that Callie fights so hard to save are the very things that fight to destroy her.

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Tristan Scene

Sweet Oblivion


Tristan, Los Angeles, Two Years Earlier.

All I could see through my haze was blonde hair. I was already well on my way to oblivion that night, but I couldn’t let this one get away.

Who was this chick? She stared me down, but didn’t approach. I didn’t chase women. They chased me. Numb to the burn, I finished my drink in one gulp before I made my move.

“I can make you a star in your own right, Tristan,” she whispered in my ear as she ran her hand lightly down my chest. I shuddered as her cool fingers trailed down to my stomach.

This I had to see. I could wipe my ass with my father’s money. What could she have that I needed? I closed my eyes, moaning as she nibbled at my neck. Whatever she offered, she had my attention. I savored her scent. Sunshine. Familiar.

I had to be tripping. She wasn’t here.

As my lips met hers, I led her to the dingy backstage area, just like I did after every show here. My post show ritual never changed, not even for her. I navigated down the hallway, lit only by blacklight, careful not to bang up against the sticky walls. I eased her down towards the couch, which had seen plenty of action of this kind, and kicked the door closed behind us.

“What’s your name?” Just a formality.

“Talis,” she pulled her cool mouth away from my body long enough to respond. “I’ve been watching you.”

She had made her way down below my stomach, licking and playing with the hair that trailed down below my belt buckle. I arched my back, unable to take much more. Was she trying to make a fool out of me? I had started to undo my pants to free myself, but she slapped my hands away, like I had done something bad. This wasn’t right. I was supposed to be in control. But with her, this was almost a relief.

I’d do whatever she wanted.

Somehow, she had my on my knees, kneeling on the couch cushion. She crawled back up my body, wrapping her arms around my shoulders and placing herself in my lap. Her hair and smile glowed in the darkness, blurry with her face so close to mine. “I’m going to be your whole world.”

“Show me, baby.”

She pushed my shoulders and pinned me down. Now she had my attention. This chick was strong. Maybe it was just the dope messing with me. She leaned over me, her cold eyes demanded an audience.

“This is going to be everything you ever wanted.”

Kissing me again, she worked her way down to my neck. She licked and nipped it, sending a shiver through my body.

I could get used to this.

Slayers 2: Friends and Traitors Blog Tour!

About the Author!

CJ Hill is a pen name for a YA author who is best known for writing romantic comedies. (Slayers will be her 18th published book.) Her writing has shifted away from the romantic comedy genre, so her editor thought a pen name would be a good idea. (New books will include: dangerous dragons, time travel to dystopian worlds, and flesh-eating beetles.) Since the publisher refused to let her have the pseudonym : The Artist Formerly Referred to as Princess, she chose a name to honor her mother. CJ Hill was her mother's pen name, or at least it would have been if her mother had published. Her mother wrote a few children's books and a middle grade novel but was taken by cancer before she had fully learned the craft.

(Most writers' first novels aren't publishable. CJ Junior's first novel wasn't, but somehow was published anyway. Now, even though it is out of print, it remains forever available on Amazon, where it taunts her with its badness. This was another good reason to use a pen name.) CJ Hill has five children, three of whom like her on any given day depending on who is in trouble. She has lived in Arizona for the last half of her life, but is still in desert denial and hopes that one day her garden will grow silver bells and cockle shells or maybe just tomatoes.

☆ How to find CJ ☆
Blog ☆ Twitter ☆ Facebook ☆ Tumblr ☆ Etsy ☆ Website ☆ Google+
Pinterest ☆ Instagram
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About the Book! Slayers #2

In C.J. Hill's action-packed sequel to Slayers, the group of teens known as Slayers have been betrayed—but they won’t give up without a fight.

Tori’s got a problem. She thought she’d have one more summer to train as a dragon Slayer, but time has run out. When Tori hears the horrifying sound of dragon eggs hatching, she knows the Slayers are in trouble. In less than a year, the dragons will be fully grown and completely lethal. The Slayers are well-prepared, but their group is still not complete, and Tori is determined to track down Ryker—the mysterious missing Slayer.

What Tori doesn’t bargain for, however, is the surprising truth about her powers. She isn’t just a Slayer, she’s part Dragon Lord, too. How can Tori fight to save her friends when half of her is programmed to protect dragons? And with a possible traitor in their midst, the Slayers will be divided in more ways than they ever imagined.
☆ Where to Buy ☆
Amazon ☆ Barnes & Noble ☆ Book Depository
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Shang: Mindy at Magical Urban Fantasy Reads suggested a blog post where a minor character interviews one of the main characters, so I’m here interviewing Tori Hampton. (Shuffles his papers filled with questions with irritation) Although, I should say, I hadn’t realized I was a minor character until Slayers: Friends and Traitors was written and I barely showed up in the book.

Tori: Don’t stress, Shang. We’re all important when it comes to fighting dragons. It takes teamwork.

Shang: That’s right. It definitely takes teamwork to take down a dragon. I especially know this since I’m the one character in Slayers who can actually claim that he killed a dragon.

Tori: You’re an awesome fighter.

Shang: Yeah, let’s do the interview. (gestures to Tori) You’re awfully busy in Slayers: Friends and Traitors. You fly around DC, discover a traitor, talk to the president, fight a dragon, and have a romance or two.

Tori: (laughing) You make it sound more glamorous than it really is. A lot of embarrassing moments happen during those times. For example, I was wearing a Supergirl costume when I flew around DC. There’s just no good way to explain that to people on the ground.

Shang: You still haven’t killed a dragon, though.

Tori: What?

Shang: I’m just saying that some of us have actually killed a dragon. And we were hardly mentioned in Slayers: Friends and Traitors.

Tori: Um . . .

Shang: This is what I get for being a nice guy. The prima donnas—they all got big parts in Slayers: Friends and Traitors.

Tori: That’s not true. A lot of characters were left out of the second book.

Shang: Such as?

Tori: The horses . . . and Bess’s mom . . . Is Theo in Slayers: Friends and Traitors? I don’t really remember seeing him . . .

Shang: Great. Now I have the same billing as the computer geek, comedy-relief guy. Am I even going to be in book three?

Tori: (leaning toward Shang conspiratorially) Look I spent a lot of time with the author while she was writing Slayers: Friends and Traitors—and trust me, you should be glad you missed the late nighters where she rewrote our fight scenes, like, six times. She did a lot of moaning and eating chocolate while we all stood around twirling our weapons waiting for her to decide how many bad guys should attack Ryker’s house.

Anyway, a few of us mentioned your absence to her. She said she left you in New York to add suspense to the storyline. This way no one is sure whether the dragon lord got you or not. We have to wait until book three to find out.

Shang: So I might be a vital plot element—or on the other hand, I might be dead.

Tori: Either way, you’re important. I mean, readers always cry when one of the good guys gets knocked off.

Shang: (straightening) That might be okay then.

Tori: (smiles with relief) It’s all about teamwork

Shang: So who exactly mentioned my absence to the author?

Tori: Oh, um, Lily of course. She went on and on about you. Jesse wanted you around because Team Magnus needs your help. And Rosa—you know her, she worries about everyone.

Shang: You didn’t mention me, though?

Tori: (putting her hand to her chest) I would have, but as you said, I was really busy during the book. I was jumping out of planes and saving lives and everything.

Shang: (puts down his interview questions with a sigh) All right. That concludes my interview. I’ll see you in book three. Maybe. If I’m still alive.