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Night Songs Collection #1

Because the Night

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Sex, Blood, and Rock n' Roll.

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.

This edition is out of print.

Paperback

First published November 5, 2013

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About the author

Kristen Strassel

133 books315 followers
Kristen Strassel is far cooler than she’ll make herself sound in this bio. She enjoys spending time with the voices in her head—nudging the characters toward those bad decisions and a happily ever after. When she’s not writing, she’s often still in the land of make-believe—doing makeup for film and television. And when she’s not doing any of that, she enjoys making her house look like a Pinterest board, watching football, and road trips to the middle of nowhere.

Connect with Kristen!
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5 stars
113 (36%)
4 stars
80 (26%)
3 stars
60 (19%)
2 stars
29 (9%)
1 star
25 (8%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
Profile Image for Julie.
Author 19 books76 followers
September 15, 2013
I was the first person to see this book come to life, but that doesn't make me biased. If I hadn't thought it was a solid idea with legs, I would have told Kristen to move on to some other project.

This book deserves to have been written. It deserves to be a book.

A lover of vampire novels, I always enjoy a new twist on the mythology or the circumstances, and Because The Night gives me that with a band of undead rock stars that rule Vegas in more ways than one. I love Callie, an 18 year old girl who makes 18 year old mistakes. THIS IS CRUCIAL TO ME. She's REAL, makes bad choices, does bad things, while not being bad herself. She's a regular girl, who I love but one that makes choices I hate sometimes. The paranormal world needs this girl. But it isn't Callie that makes me love this book. It's Tristan.

Tristan is a junkie, an egotist,a spoiled brat with something to prove. He's the personification of sex wrapped up in a bad boy vampire body. You want to make him a good boy, but not really. I love his sarcasm, his ability to be good, but his choices to be dirty. He's unique, unapologetic, and a guilty pleasure like none other.

Kristen Strassel gives us a blend of Queen of the Damned and the Motley Crue biography with this novel, and it could not be more satisfying. Pick this up for a book that doesn't pull punches.
Profile Image for Jillian Marques.
4 reviews12 followers
September 24, 2013
Hmmm... Sex, drugs and rock n' roll. Need more? Ok, throw in some vampires. How about some mystery? Murder? Cliffhangers? Lust? Adrenaline? Obsession? Well, there you go. It's all there.

Ever wonder what would happen if vampires were free to roam? So free in fact that they became rock stars in Vegas, groupies and all? I have to say I would never have though to put those three things together (vampires, rock n' roll and Las Vegas) but it gives an interesting and mesmerizing twist to a popular genre.

You feel for the main character as you want her to make the right choices, but at the same time you want her to make the wrong ones just to see what happens. The introduction of 2 love interests complicates matters, not that it wasn't already complicated coming to Vegas for vacation at 18 and not leaving to go home. All I have to say is she gets what she deserves... but will you agree?

I don't want to give anything away, so you'll just have to read it. Ready? Go.
Profile Image for Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~.
Author 20 books565 followers
February 6, 2016
Unsurprisingly, I was sucked in by this book's awesome cover and blurb. And, unsurprisingly, this book did not live up to its potential.

"What's cooler than a rock 'n' roll vampire?"


You would think NOTHING could possibly be cooler than combining rock 'n' roll and vampires. In this case, however, you would be quite wrong.

This book did have promise. But there was no depth to it, no character development. The story moved along quickly and shallowly, and despite some heavy subject matter, it ended up feeling rather juvenile. Many scenes were forced.

This book is supposed to be centered around a vampire music scene, yet the music played was in no way described. Was it goth? Heavy metal? Some weird fusion thing? No idea. The only reaction anyone ever had to it was to be turned on.



Although the vampire love interest came with a particular kind of self-loathing I could actually like, he and all the other vampires ended up being lame, ineffectual whiners who didn't seem to have any reason at all to hate themselves.



The MC, Callie, was no better.

Awesome. I'd had unprotected sex with the world's most irresponsible vampire. Did my stupidity know no bounds?


Apparently not.

(Speaking of the MC, I just want to quickly mention how inaccurate the cover image is. Callie is half Jamaican and half Irish, with skin the color of "cafe au lait" and curly blond hair. *facepalm*)

I could have liked her as a character if she didn't make the dumbest choices ever and keep lying to herself about everything. She basically did whatever she wanted while trying to convince herself and everyone else she was helping someone.

To make matters worse, the interaction between the women in this book were horrible. While Callie had a couple friends, every other woman in the book saw her as competition and therefore hated her. Bitch, slut, and whore were thrown around in this book like there was no tomorrow. Every woman other than Callie and one main friend was portrayed as desperate and attention-seeking.



There was a cool twist at the end, literally the VERY end, but nothing was wrapped up and the ending was much too abrupt.

"Everyone gets caught up in the romantic side of living forever, but no one thinks about what it really means."


Profile Image for Chynna-Blue Scott.
19 reviews2 followers
September 26, 2013
If you're looking for steam, sex, black glitter and stage lights, Because The Night is right up your alley and then some. The title itself epitomises the book - the characters revolve around the night, and all it entails: from the lust that lives in the shadows of the night, to the pounding beats and resounding guitar riffs that form the rhythm of midnight on the Las Vegas strip.

Callie is innocence dipped in a sexy coating, and when she seeks out Tristan, a friend from the past who's gotten himself in deeper than she could have imagined, Callie finds herself moving in the shadows that live behind the flashing lights. Tristan is tall, dark and dangerously handsome, but Blade is the fallen angel with his blonde hair and edgy disposition. Trapped between what seems like heaven and what looks like hell, Callie finds herself with some difficult choices to make - choices that may mean life or death.
Profile Image for Jonel.
1,717 reviews311 followers
January 11, 2014
What do you get when you take sex, drugs, rock & roll, and Las Vegas and combine it with some smexy as sin Vampires? A tale that will keep you hooked and leave you dying for more (pun intended).

While Strassel’s vampires are definitely recognizable as just that, vampires, they are definitely very unique. I really appreciated the twists that she threw in and how well it was developed throughout the story. Although some of the situations in the novel were far removed from reality Strassel developed them in such a manner that you could easily see the possibilities and how it could easily happen. The love scenes were definitely unique but fit perfectly in the storyline. The story itself never lagged, nor did it jump forwards at any point in time. It was a solidly developed storyline, leading you further into the series that kept me wholly captivated throughout.

Having met the main characters in the prequel to the series it’s very easy to see why they interact with each other the way that they do. The prequel gave a unique inside look at their relationship. That said, you also get to know the characters quite well in this instalment all on its own. I felt for the male lead. You could see how he ended up in the situation he was in. It was also easy to see how the female lead got herself in the predicaments that she caused for herself based on her background. Some of the secondary characters were absolutely brilliant. I loved them. Others were completely aggravating. Strassel definitely created a well-balanced cast with this one. I don’t think that there was a single character that I didn’t have feelings about, one way or the other. Strassel went the extra mile with her characters, showing the differences and similarities between the humans and vampires in the novel.

I am quite impressed with this author at this point. I can’t wait to continue on with the series & would definitely read other works by this author. My final thoughts on this one (and a warning for those who have an issue with this type of thing)? Holy cliffhanger batman!

Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Liz Washer.
1 review5 followers
October 1, 2013
Twihards/50Shaders will probably have difficulty relating to Callie, the heroine of this delightfully addictive vampiric spin on sexdrugs&rocknroll, and that's a very GOOD thing. Callie is young, but not entirely naive, and in addition to carrying a torch from the ultimate summer romance of days gone by, she's also under the influence of a supernatural pull called bloodlust (the worst, most obsessive infatuation ever, a la drug addiction but, you know, with sex). In other words, she's set up to fall, while taking a few people down with her. And thinking of myself at that age and inserting myself into the narrative (ohmy), I realize I'd probably make the exact same mistakes she does, so despite wanting to at times slap the girl silly, I soooo get it. Thank God for a vamp romance protagonist who doesn't make me want to puke or fall asleep or both.

So before you go "ah hell naw, not vampires again," fear not: this is grit, not glitter. You'll love to love - and hate - the characters in equal doses. And you'll (pardon the expression) suck it dry in no time.
Profile Image for Kathryn.
5 reviews
September 17, 2013
Vampires! Vegas! What could go wrong?

Or should I say WHO can go wrong?

For we all know that in Las Vegas during the festive nightlife, anything can happen. And showing up to a sold out Immortal Dilemma concert is just one of those things! For most girls it is a chance to drool over the insatiable gorgeous boys in the band but for 18-year-old Callie (Calliope) it is to stare at one man. Her friend and love interest she grew up with: Tristan the guitar player in the band.

And the man who seems to be the heart-throb of Immortal Dilemma.

Callie is a woman that I loved and hated throughout the book. Loved her because she was completely real, someone I would expect to make the decisions she made. Callie has this heart of gold who only wants what's best for everyone, even at the expense of her own wants and needs. She's a very loving and forgiving person. A person you want as a friend. And she has real fears and regrets but is not afraid to say what's in her heart. Which brings me to my next point. I hated her because of some those decisions she made. Throughout reading the book I kept screaming at what she was doing because I've been there and tried to fix the bad boy. Probably why I could relate to her.

Through it all, however, the mistakes she made and the choices she stands for our the choices I think we all have made or will make someday.

On the flip side, the bad boy she's trying to fix is Tristan. Let's face it, he was her first crush and when he left, she never got over him. There is real damage inside about his decision. Going to Las Vegas shows what has become of him. What I love about Tristan is that I see a real vampire inside. Unrepentant to almost a fault, narcissistic and even greedy. He pulls no punches and only shows mercy after the deed is done. As a human he was a rich, spoiled, drug junky who wanted more in his life. He has never gotten over Callie because of this sensitivity. Yet he has embraced his wild urges and new vampire life.

And when the two worlds collide, there is no holding back. The streets, and vampiric empire, are never the same.

It only took me three days to read and that was because I had full time work so I could only read it between car rides home. "Between the Night" is well worth the read. It has mythology, intrigue, romance, mystery and even the occasional juicy murder. Trust me, you won't regret picking this book up! Get ready to sink your teeth into the Las Vegas band known as Immortal Dilemma and all that goes with it!
Profile Image for Sarah Michelle.
1 review3 followers
September 19, 2013
I don't normally read romantic books but I thought I'd give this one a try. I'm really glad I did because I really enjoyed it! I can't wait til the next one comes out, I'm dying to know what happens next! Entertaining and sexy.
Profile Image for The Book Trollop.
482 reviews33 followers
November 12, 2013
I was asked to read this book and I agreed because I mean it is about vampires and I have a thing for them...
BUT I am very, very picky about my vampire books because lets face it, nothing and no one can top Twilight for me.
SO I don't want people to try... at ALL!!!
Give me something different, give me original, and for fuck sake DO NOT make them shimmer like glitter!!!

So I was a teensy bit hesitant about reading this.
But I am glad I didn't let my hesitance hinder my curiosity.
I really enjoyed this book.
I almost loved it but there were a few issues that had me holding back.

This book is about a girl named Callie who takes an adventure to Vegas in order to find herself and her best friend from childhood who up and disappeared from her life. Tristan was now in a vampire rock band and starring in his own reality t.v. show.
What Callie thought was all an act (blood, bloodlust, and vampires) may not have been as fake as she once considered.
While searching for Tristan she meets a guy named Blake and some other secondary characters that aid Callie in this unknown parallel that she finds herself in.
While Blake was trying to pull her away from the life she was so curious about, Tristan kept pulling her back and making her want more.

Callie is young and naive throughout this entire book.
Although I love my heroines to be strong, independent, and snarky, Callie was ok. She wasn't my favorite person but I think that has to do with her age and lack of experience in life. I didn't relate to her much and she was always so back and forth it drove me a little crazy. The writing was a little off at some points where I felt it needed to be edited better but that could have been because I was reading an ARC so it might be different with the final version.
And I am an information junkie, I want the back story first and then take me on the journey or weave the back info into the story as it progresses. I don't think I got a good sense of who these characters were because of this.

But what I did LOVE was this book was sooooo DIFFERENT and UNIQUE with the different covens/factions of rock bands and who ruled which, WOMAN vampires being more powerful (because I mean woman are the shit). The whole concept was freaking amazing. The sex was OMG HOT and a little gross but it was so hot that I didn't care.

Tristan was hard to read but once I realized he loved Callie the only way he knew how, I fell in deep like with him. He wasn't all flowers, hearts, and chocolates but he did show his affections in his own ways.

I LOVED Blake and I was so pissed at how Callie treated him. I wanted to bitch slap her back to reality but I also loved Tristan so I was torn just as she was.

This book was left on a cliffy but instead of it being annoying, it was more like a to be continued and leave you salivating for more. I was left wanting more instead of being like meh I can do without this. I want to see where this series is going to go. Especially since Callie finds herself in a little situation that she causes herself.

I give this book a 4/5 and if you love Vampire/paranormal or Hell even a good mystery with different shit thrown at you, then I would pick up this book and read it, live it, enjoy it!
Profile Image for ★★Sara Lizzy★★.
199 reviews69 followers
January 13, 2014
I am not going to go into specifics about the story as I don't want to reveal too much about this book, so I am going to keep this review very short and to the point.

I really wasn't sure about even giving the book 3 stars to be honest. I think, for myself, I was quite generous in that rating.

I really struggled to like the heroine in this book. To me her emotions and affections for the men in the book were all over the place. It was like one minute she really liked one guy and loved him even though she barely met him, then she was attracted and drawn to someone from her past. There was another man thrown into the mix that she didn't necessarily have feelings for, but it's a long complicated story as to why she got involved with him and you will just have to read the book to find out the specifics.

Sometimes it works for a story to have a character drawn to different people, but for me it just didn't work for this story. I had a really hard time connecting to the story in general as well at times.

I don't discourage others from trying this book if it sounds interesting to them. This book didn't really work for me and I won't continue reading other future books in this series, but that doesn't mean that others wouldn't really like this book, so if it sounds like I good book to you from the synopsis, I encourage you to try it for yourself and draw your own conclusions from it.

ARC courtesy of author Kristen Strassel in exchange for an honest review
5 reviews19 followers
November 1, 2013
I absolutely loved Because the Night. A new take on vampires and a twisty-turny mystery brings our heroine Callie to Vegas in search of her wayward friend, Tristan. When he dropped out of her life overnight and instantly skyrocketed to stardom in a strange, dark world of vampire-themed rock groups, she didn't realize the vampire aspect was as real as the fans who worship and defend their favorite bands with a crazed zealotry.

Callie does her best to understand what has happened to Tristan, finding her way through the politics of the different vampire factions who rule their empires through the promotion of the different bands (and even a reality show based on Tristan's band). The more she learns, the more she feels torn about Tristan's life (or afterlife, as it were). There's something even darker than the graphic nightly performances filled with lust and blood going on behind the scenes in the vampire underworld.

Callie's new love interest, Blade, tries to steer her away from the vampire world, but everything else seems to be conspiring to pull her further in.

Okay, Kristen. There better be a sequel soon.
Profile Image for Heather Fleet.
Author 23 books428 followers
March 24, 2014
Jeez, are you really going to leave me with that ending??? Because yeah, I'm a little broken here!! ;)

In all honesty though, I absolutely adored this book. It was gritty, with a flawed heroine who just couldn't help but become torn with what she wanted and needed. I like girls who fumble through life because seriously, they are the most real to me.

I'm glad I read the prequel first, I will say that. It brought a lot of light to the heroine's actions, if say. So yeah, I'd highly recommend doing that before reading this book.

Truthfully, getting over that first can be impossible, especially when you're only 18 and thrown into a world you never believed existed.

Now...I need some answers, and more Blade, although I'm not sure if I'm going to get the parts I liked. I was never a huge Tristan fan, so yeah, of course I pick that under dog hero.

Really, this book was truly an awesome read.
Profile Image for Melissa Petreshock.
Author 4 books66 followers
April 24, 2015
If you're looking for a sweet romance, Because the Night is not singing your song. Kristen pulls off writing an adventure of illicit sex, drugs, rock 'n roll, and vampires in a Vegas setting where the plot is shaken, not stirred, and served with more than a few twists.

Because the Night was a quick read I flew through in a single day. My only complaint: I would have liked a slightly more rounded off ending with a subtle lead-in to the next book. The last scene nearly gave me a freaking coronary!

Otherwise, I recommend it as a fun read, nothing overtly explicit despite the subject matter, and would be fine for 16+ wanting something DIFFERENT in the vampire romance genre.

But don't expect sappy sugar-coated fangless vampires... just a warning.
Profile Image for Author & Reader Con ..
5 reviews58 followers
November 17, 2013
This story is sometimes sweet, many times raw, with drugs, sex and rock and roll all in one.

Callie is a green wet behind the ears daughter of hippies, Tristan is a very rough around the edges Vegas vampire rock super star. So how the heck do these two come together you ask? They know each other from 4 years ago which seems and feels like another time and another place with 2 completely different people. They were both young and innocent (although Tristan was starting to get into drugs then). Callie was the only person who ever “got” Tristan. He was comfortable with her, a feeling of acceptance and understanding that he has never gotten from anyone else. They had a teen age romance and then he suddenly is living in Vegas and not returning her calls.

My favorite lines are:

“Why did you invite me here, Tristan?”

“I want to feel real,” he whispered, still not sounding like my Tristan. Unable to hold his eyes open, he swayed under my touch. “You make me feel real.”

Sums it up so well.

Callie and her cousin plan a weeklong vacation to Las Vegas so that Callie can try to talk to Tristan and try to get some closure. The plan sure was not to stay in Vegas and never go home, but that is what Callie does. She wants to explore her new romance with Blade and save Tristan at the same time. Yep, you can see how well that is going to fly.

You will meet Blade, a super nice guy who falls hard for Callie and her for him. You will also meet a variety of vampires, some decent and some pure evil.

There are plots hatching all over the place in the vampire world and Callie is in the thick of one. A few times I looked at my kindle and said “damn girl, what were you thinking”, I cheered, I got angry, all hallmarks of a well written book. When a book can pull me in like that it is a winner.

There is a great cliff hanger/shocker at the end and I loved it! Normally I hate a cliff hanger but this one is great! I actually read it and said “SNAP!” out loud.

Profile Image for Tammy Farrell.
Author 12 books37 followers
October 15, 2013
Wow! Sex, Blood & Rock N' Roll! I loved it!

Queen of the Damned, meets True Blood, meets The Real World

Because the Night is set in the dark underworld of Las Vegas, where vampires play in rock bands, star in reality shows, and attract groupies crazier than Beliebers. But when Callie arrives to save her ex, Tristan, from himself, she becomes immersed in his world. And things become even more complicated when her new love interest, Blade, steals her heart. Callie quickly learns it’s not easy juggling two men, especially when one of them is dead. But these aren’t mere games of the heart. In Las Vegas, it’s dangerous to love someone when your soul belongs to another.

Because the Night is fast paced and full of surprises. Kristen leaves the reader no time to dwell on the last bombshell before another one hits, which makes this book virtually impossible to put down. And I promise, the ending is guaranteed to leave you speechless!
Profile Image for J.Elizabeth Hill.
Author 7 books56 followers
October 16, 2013
Callie's pretty torn between her two men. Blade's solid and dependable. She always knows where she stands with him. Yet she can't resist Tristan, who she went to Vegas to see and help. Tristan is wild and unpredictable and exerts a gravitational pull on Callie she's unable to escape. She cares for both men, even when she knows she shouldn't. I don't want to give any spoilers as to what happens, but she's quickly pulled in over her head with all the vampire politics going on in the city.

Definitely looking forward to the sequel.
Profile Image for Kristen Jett.
Author 1 book51 followers
November 12, 2013
I need to compose my thoughts. Equals I'll be back to this when I shake my bloodlust.
BUT, OH MY FREAKING CHEESECAKE.

***
What happens when you visit an old flame to help him fix his life only to discover he's dead? Or...undead.
What happens when that flame's still flickering after all this time?
Despite your desire - and feelings- for a normal life, normal life?
Anything's possible when you visit Vegas for a weekend...and never leave.


I've gathered my thoughts and returned. It's been a really long time since a book has affected me quite as much as this one - proved by my comments while reading. I gasped, swooned, screamed (in my head), and cried (with tears) over this book. We're marking this as a 4.5.

I think what I loved most about BECAUSE THE NIGHT was how real everything felt to me. Each and every time Callie did something that I didn't want her to do, I still knew why she did it. I could still relate to her and her actions even when I'm all "Girl, you should not be doing this. You need to get your butt out of there." Would eighteen year old Kristen have done things any differently? Probably not. Would current age Kristen have done things any differently than Callie did? Good freaking question. One that I pondered while reading this.

Callie? Love her. I can pretty much over-relate to her and her actions, which is a good thing. She's real. She does real things. She makes real mistakes. Callie is the good girl. The one that's always practical, always does the right thing, and probably cares too much about people. She comes to Vegas hoping she could check into Tristan's life, see if he's okay, help him if needed - and with little to no consideration about the fact that she's head over heels for the boy still. That kind of sweetness - rare to see in a character.

I fell in love with Tristan pretty early in. I mean...vampire rockstar. What isn't there to love? But behind the smeared eyeliner and the leather pants, there's some real substance. A hint of the boy she knew those summers ago. A magnetic gravity pulling her in after all these years. Can she save him without losing herself?

Blade? The mysterious fallen angel. He's safer than Tristan, but should you fall for him? He's more tangible, more real...but there's a reason why people live in Vegas after all. What's his? This hunk is a little mysterious, and I'd like to know more about him, and his thoughts.

Much like Callie is, the readers are drawn to Tristan and Blade like gravity. To each and every layer pulled back revealing more about the men. You're sucked in to each new adventure that Callie is thrust into unexpectedly on her quest to find love, save Tristan, and discover independent happiness. Is Callie too pure for this fast moving world of lights, threats, and change? This world of sex, blood, and rock n' roll?

This is a book which would have me begging for a copy of the sequel. Begging with no shame. Because I need more. Need. My bloodlust hasn't been fulfilled.
Profile Image for Thedarkerhalf.
69 reviews3 followers
November 7, 2013
I can’t properly form the words I need right now. That is what a great book Because the Night was. I have read a lot of sci-fi and paranormal romance and I couldn’t tell you exactly how Kristen surprised me but she did! I read the book over the course of 36 hours because it grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go! If you are a fan of paranormal romance this is a must read.

One of the greatest things about this book is the fact that I kind of hated Tristan and then BAM I love him. I just felt for these guys. I’ve been in Callie’s position of having to watch someone struggle and not be able to help because that person doesn’t want it. I think everyone has been close to a situation like this so we can all relate to Callie and Tristan in some way. Blade even tugs on your heart strings even while you are cheering for Tristan.

We dive right into the story without a ton of back story but that’s not a bad thing. Kristen avoids the “info dump” and brings you the back story as you need it. From the beginning I wasn’t really sure how I felt about everyone but I quickly figured out that as bad as Tristan is for Callie that’s who I was rooting for. One super refreshing thing was the tertiary characters, Kristen uses them but we don’t have to be bothered with fluff that doesn’t add to the story just for the sake of taking up page space.

Because this is an honest review I do have to point out two things that pulled me away from the story. No family member or friend of mine would have left me in Las Vegas. My butt would have been dragged on to that plane by my hair if need be. Or, we would have been looking for a place to sleep and a place to work together. The other thing that was just too much for me was hanging out with Blade so much, all alone, right after they met. Where I come from that is asking for trouble. “Sure I’ll get in your car, alone, guy I met 20 minutes ago at a strange party.” Not in my world, that being said those were the only two things I found most outlandish.

This story is incredibly fast paced and wonderfully written. I did need a second to get up to speed on the way Kristen writes since I have never read her before but one I did I strapped in for an amazing ride. We are given great characters and a really exciting twist on vampires needing blood. I did find one character I absolutely hated but considering its Noah I'm pretty sure I was supposed to hate her. If you are looking for something in the vampire genre that is new and exciting you have to put this on your must read list. There is a bit of a cliffhanger but the free standing story is pretty much wrapped up. I for one can’t wait for the next book.
~Notte
Profile Image for Dana ~ The Dirty Smut'atter.
876 reviews154 followers
September 5, 2014
I was given an ARC in return for an honest review.

What happens when what you always wanted isn’t even close to what you had pictured?

We met Callie well she is vacationing in Las Vegas and her intentions are to get as close as possible to Tristan. The history behind these two is a bit foggy, but we come to find out that the formed a friendship that impacted them both as the years went by. Callie wants to find out why Tristan walked out of her life to resurface years later as the biggest rockers in Sin City. The truth is slowly exposed and it becomes clear that Tristan isn’t the human male that she knew and the vampire that is left is only a shelf of his former self. Along the way Callie crosses paths with Bradley [aka. Blade] and he is everything that Tristan isn’t and sparks fly. Callie starts to question everything that brought here to Vegas and then what made her stay. The pull towards Tristan and the connection she develops with Blade are so back and forth. I have to say I really wanted to slap some sense into both of these male characters, as I felt like if they spoke the truth it would have made things so much smoother. Tristan finally steps up to the plate and beings to show Callie what she always felt he hid from the rest of the world. The problem is that his world is so different now and he is just a puppet in a bigger game. Callie begins to realize what she has to give up for him, but at that point she is into deep and the walls are crashing around her. The puppet master in Tristan’s world has put the whole thing into motion. We really just touch the tip of the ice in this installment, but we are left with quite a shocker at the end.

I found the writing a little slow in the very beginning, but it was the intro to the series and we had to get introduced to the characters and the ins|outs of the vampire clans. I expect good things from the series and I can’t wait to see how Callie rises to the role of a female in the clan. What role will Tristan and Blade have in her assent to the top?

Favorite Quotes:

“I want everything all at once. But from you? I want something more.”

“Well if your car is broken, why don’t you just ask your boyfriend to buy you a new one?” “Maybe I’d rather have a boyfriend who can fix my car instead.”

“The dragonfly is a spirit that’s always with you…………………..It signifies an unbreakable bond between two people.”



“He’s got LSD.” “What’s that?” “Lead Singer Disease.”
Profile Image for Toni.
Author 4 books95 followers
December 5, 2013
Vacation in Vegas with your cousin? Why yes, of course.. especially when “the man that got away” lives there, and is in a band performing on a new vampire reality show. Vampire reality show? That’s ridiculous, no? For someone that believes vampires aren’t real, maybe. For Tristan it’s a new way of life.. or death. Can Callie convince Tristan that he needs her just as much as she needs him? Her mission veers off the beaten path. During the first days of their vacation Callie meets Blade at a party. He is such a nice guy; sweet, attentive and smokin’ hot. Callie falls for Blade, even though she definitely hadn’t intended to do anything except save Tristan from himself, but is he enough to take her mind off Tristan? Well, he’s enough of a man to keep Callie in Vegas long after her vacation ends.

I’ll admit, I’ve grown tired of vampire stories lately, but I really enjoyed Because the Night! Certain parts of the book reminded me a little of Queen of the Damned, and I was OK with that because it’s a story I’ve always loved. This vampire tale obviously heads in it’s own direction, though, and I wasn’t disappointed at all. There’s a lot of intensity to the scenes with Tristan which is a nice contrast to the more peaceful parts of the story that involved Blade. Callie has some serious decisions to make throughout this story and I love that she doesn’t always make the right ones. I found Callie to be a great character with a very realistic disposition. Tristan. Oh, Tristan. I wanted to shove a stake through his heart several times, but hey… there has to be a bad boy in the equation, right? I can’t tell you how many times I yelled at Callie for… Gah! I can’t tell you. I think I’ll stop while I’m ahead.

Sexy, dangerous and intense… Because the Night is a great story that fans of paranormal romance should jump on as soon as possible!
Profile Image for Wild Wordy.
91 reviews3 followers
August 9, 2016
Review by Suzie

Vampires rocking!!

Vampires, Rock N Roll, sex, drugs, you name it they do it. Kristen Strassel takes you inside a world that I haven’t been in before. This is not your typical vampire novel, she brings in new aspects with the rock n roll music scene. You start off meeting Callie an almost 18 year old making her way through life. She is a regular girl that doesn’t always make the right choices, in fact you sometimes just shake your head at the things she chooses because you know it’s going to backfire for her. She is still carrying a flame for a former friend/more than friend Tristan. He’s always had issues with drugs, but they always got each other in a way no one else did. She lost touch with him when he left town, but has always wanted to know what’s happened to him. Tristan is a hard rocking druggy, he’s hot and sexy and he knows it. But he’s got some real big issues going on #1, he’s a vampire, say what? She goes on a mission to help him and finds herself in some interesting situations along the way, which brings her face to face with Blade the complete opposite of what Tristian has become. Blade is kind, sexy, human lol and she falls for him fast . She gets caught in the middle of a love triangle between the two hunks. As she is trying to figure things out some major events happen for her bringing you to the cliffhanger ending that makes you want more. Pick this book up for some good reading. I know I’m looking forward to the 2nd book!

See our complete post here http://wildwordywomen.com/2014/01/22/...
Profile Image for Desirae (Dee).
1,074 reviews59 followers
April 1, 2014
Because I'm the worst blogger ever, kidding, it took me way longer to read this than expected. Because life got in the way or blog tours. Finally I'm reading it. Totally not expecting to sit up all night reading this with an ending that leaves me saying HOLY SHIT. I did NOT see that one coming. None of it really. I have been totally thrown a curve ball here and just can not believe it. I mean I expected to like it, but I freaking loved this story. My heart breaks for Lennon. My brain tore in two trying to pick Tristan or Blake. Back and forth back and forth. And when I thought he just left her at the show, I'm like okay homeboy pulled a fast one and had me fooled, totes thought he was a good guy. Surprise! Gah! There was so much going on in this book. Love stories, turf wars, vampire politics, finding freedom, finding yourself, pain and suffering, heartbreak. Ok you get it. Kristen does an amazing amazing job of pulling it together!

I struggled a little getting Into this book. For some reason I kept getting irritated with Callie I don't know why. If it was just Callie and Tristan I was irritated or put off. But when Kristen adds the drama... It's perfect. I couldn't walk away or put it down!
Profile Image for Claire Taylor.
417 reviews13 followers
December 21, 2013
All I can say is wow, I’m not sure any words could do this book justice. Yes, there’s a vampire love story, but throw in the sex, blood & rock n’ roll and it transforms it into darker, gripping read.

By the end of the book I loved all the main characters, though Tristen did take a little longer to warm up to. Callie has no idea what she is truly getting herself into during her vacation, but one thing leads to another and she finds herself in love with one guy but drawn to another. Naïve and blinded by bloodlust, her world spirals out of control and becomes something completely different.

Literally, from start to finish, I couldn’t stop turning the pages and was up late into the night just to read a few more chapters. Nothing was predictable, and the very last few sentences couldn’t have been more shocking – now I’m desperate for the next book in the series.

I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Candice Montgomery.
Author 6 books171 followers
January 10, 2014
Yikes, that ENDING!

I think anytime a book can make me feel one way or another about ANY of its characters, I'm probably reading a good one. Can I just say I have A LOT of feelings about Callie? I kind of wanted to take her aside, make her some tea and have a heart-to-heart girltalk with her. Like you would with a friend, I would've had a lot to say to her about it ALL. A sort of "GIRRRL, listen…" type thing.

Usually I'm a little torn about endings like this one but I'm so down for Blade that all I've got left to say is MOAR PLEASE!

BECAUSE THE NIGHT is a fabulous read. I'll definitely be back for more.
Profile Image for Lacie (Darkangel78).
59 reviews
February 13, 2015
I'am not a fan of Callie. She pretty much ruined this book for me. She's a very selfish and annoying person. Just about every horrible thing she does gets blamed on bloodlust, I'm sorry but that excuse just doesn't work for me.

Blade is a bit dull and boring but judging by the ending that just might change. Tristan is the most interesting character in the book but even with him and the cliffhanger it's not enough to make me read the next book. I just don't think I could take anymore of Callie.
Profile Image for Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read.
3,441 reviews113 followers
May 12, 2017
Great vampire tale. The world building is good and the story and characters drew me in. The end of this one didn't at all go where I thought it was going to from early in the book. That's not a bad thing, but it should be noted that it does end in a cliffhanger. Overall, it's a good story and I would recommend it.
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