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Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Can't Wait Wednesday!


Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I am combining CWW with Books From the Backlog hosted by Carole at Carole's Random Life in Books. This will allow me to feature some newly "rediscovered" books, which I plan on reading, alongside a new release.

This week I can't wait for:
Hearts, Heroes, & Heath Hall
Kasie West
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: March 3, 2020
Goodreads
At sixteen, Hadley Moore knows exactly who she is—a swimmer who will earn a scholarship to college. Totally worth all the hard work, even if her aching shoulders don’t agree. So when a guy dressed as Hollywood’s latest action hero, Heath Hall, crashes her swim meet, she isn’t amused. Instead, she’s determined to make sure he doesn’t bother her again. Only she’s not sure exactly who he is.

The swim meet isn’t the first event the imposter has interrupted, but a little digging turns up a surprising number of people who could be Heath Hall, including Hadley's ex-boyfriend and her best friend’s crush. She soon finds herself getting caught up in the mysterious world of the fake Heath Hall.

As Hadley gets closer to uncovering the masked boy’s identity she also discovers some uncomfortable truths about herself—like she might resent the long shadow her late brother has cast over her family, that she isn’t as happy as she pretends to be with her life choices… and that she is falling for the last guy she ever thought she would like.
Why I want to read this book

I think anyone, who had visited before, knows the number one reason why this book was added to my TBR - Kasie West wrote. Her books never fail to make me warm and fuzzy, so as long as this trend continues, I will keep coming back for more. There are also a few other draws for me. This book features an high level athlete. I am forever extolling my love of athletes, because I admire their skill, drive, and ambition. Then there seems to be a bit of fun mystery in the storyline. The idea of someone masquerading as an action hero and causing chaos made me grin, and I can't wait to see how it all plays out.

A Season of Daring Greatly
Ellen Emerson White
Age/Genre: Young Adult,
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date: February 14, 2017
Goodreads
Eighteen-year-old Jill Cafferty just made history. Her high school’s star pitcher, she is now the first woman drafted by a major league baseball team. Only days after her high school graduation, she’ll join the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Class A Short Season team . . . but not everyone is happy to have her there.

On top of the pressure heaped on every pitcher, Jill must deal with defying conventions and living up to impossible expectations, all while living away from home for the first time. She’ll go head-to-head against those who are determined to keep baseball an all-male sport. Despite the reassurance of coaches and managers alike, a few of her teammates are giving her trouble. The media presence following her at each game is inescapable. And to top it all off, Jill is struggling with the responsibilities of being a national hero and a role model for young women everywhere. How can she be a role model when she’s not even sure she made the right choice for herself? Didn’t baseball used to be fun?

This literary and engrossing story of a young woman trying to mark out a place for herself in a male-dominated world will captivate fans of Friday Night Lights, The Art of Fielding, John Corey Whaley, and Laurie Halse Anderson.
Why I want to read this book

This book has been on my radar for quite a while. I kept seeing it on lists featuring YA sports books, and you all know how much I enjoy books like that. This one seems to hold a LOT of promise for me, as it features a young woman breaking sports boundaries. I keep trying to add more and more YA sports books to my read-shelf, and think this one will make a great addition.
What are you waiting on?
Any backlog books you want to read soon? 
Let us know in the comments!

48 comments:

  1. YES TO ANOTHER KASIE WEST BOOK.. even though I've been slacking off on reading her books lately (will definitely change that this year). This came to me out of the blue when I was going through contemporary YA lists in GR last year. I didn't even know yet that time that she was releasing another book because I remember Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss just got released not too long ago and I had Maybe This Time still in my Anticipated Reads for the Second Half of 2019. This book was kinda a surprise.. but I'm eager to read it nonetheless!

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    1. She tweeted at me that the book had a name change - The Moment of Truth. I am up to date with her books. They are my comfort reads. I put her with Sarah Dessen for a book that has some weight, but is overall lighter. Her characters are always charming, her romance sweet, and her family focus great.

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  2. I am always here for Kasie West, too! I think the sports aspect is going to make this one so much fun. I hope that we both love it. :)

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    1. It's a bit of a new thing. I don't think we have had an athletic heroine since On the Fence, maybe?

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  3. I'm hoping to make a dent in my horror backlog but I also need to deal with at least one series each month for shorter ones or every two months for the longer ones. Why does it take so long to read some of these books! I have a ton of big monster non fiction ones I need to deal with!!!

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    1. A series a month - that's a goal. Good luck with that!

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  4. While I didn't completely fall in love with my first two Kasie West books, I'm very willing to try her again, and this upcoming book sounds like it could have some depth.

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    1. Have you tried her older books? I am pretty much a solid fan. Even when the books weren't my most favorite, they did their job of making me happy and leaving me warm and fuzzy

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  5. Isn't it a shame I've never read a Kasie West book?! I've heard such great things about them, but I never think of her when I'm browsing for something new at the library. Oops! Is there a West book you recommend I start with?

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    1. She's on my go-to list, but if you don't love fluffy contemporaries as much as me, I can understand having never read her. I know PS I Like You is a fave amongst her readers, but if you want something a bit in the speculative fiction arena, her Pivot Point duology was great too

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  6. At some point I need to read Kasie West. I've been told I'd like her book Pivot Point I think? Great picks!
    Check out my Wednesday Post

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    1. I am shocked you have not read a Kasie West book. I liked the Pivot Point books. She created an interesting world in that one, and I liked the split timeline a lot

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  7. Katie West can always be counted up for sweet romances that tackle an issue without feeling too heavy. I haven’t heard of A Season of Daring Greatly before but it sounds good! That’s an awful lot of pressure to deal with at just 18 years old.

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    1. Her and Dessen have a talent for including issues, but keeping it light. I am all about that. Me and sports books just seem to work. I am excited to give Daring a go

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  8. I feel like it's been a while since I've seen news about a new Kasie West book. I hope they continue to be winners!

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    1. She has been churning out books lately. I think she has been doing 2 a year, which is a lot in YA. Romance, you know, that's a month.

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  9. i love the books from the backlogs. it allows me to find those forgotten books, some of them sitting on my kindle since 2012. lol
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. Between the books I bought and the ones my daughter bought, I have quite a backlog, and I am not even considering the piles of physical books. The backlog meme has been good for me. I am reading at least one backlog book a week.

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  10. I haven't read a Kasie West book in quite a while but this one sounds so good, so I'm gonna have to add it to my wishlist. A Season of Daring Greatly is a new one to me and do like the sounds Jill!

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    1. I had to give Daring a try. It kept popping up on so many lists, and I do well with sports books. I am pretty excited to start it.

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  11. Kasie West's books always automatically get added to my TBR! I think I added this one before I even new anything about it! I hope you get to read both of these books!

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    1. Did you see there was a name change? West tweeted to me. It is now The Moment of Truth. I wonder why she changed that three name thing she was doing for her crossovers

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  12. I love that you're featuring one from the backlist too. Good idea!

    Karen @ For What It's worth

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    1. Carole does the meme on Thursdays, but I thought it fit well here. I like to showcase multiple books together too. People might come for one and end up interested in the other. Can't hurt

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  13. Ooh nice picks! Saw West's book earlier as well! Hope you enjoy that one and your TBR book once you get to read them!

    Here's my WoW

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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    1. I always have a West book on my TBR. If she writes it, I will read it

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  14. I really need to give Kasie West another try. I have only read one of her books and I liked it but didn't love it but everyone seems to love her. A Season of Daring Greatly is completely new to me but I love the sound of it. I am always in for a sports story.

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    1. People seem to love her earlier books more, but I wonder if that's an effect of her readers aging?

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  15. These both sound great. I have to say I'm very intrigued about the masquerading as an action hero thing in the Kasie west one. That just sounds fun!

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    1. That part sounds so fun. I can't wait to see how it plays out

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  16. I need to add Kasie West to the list of authors I need to try in 2020. I've had By Your Side sitting on my Kindle for 2 years and really need to make it a priority. This new one sounds really good too.

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    1. By Your Side was cute. Not my favorite, but I liked it a lot. They all leave me happy. I do think you would enjoy her Pivot Point duology as it leans scifi

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  17. I think I've only read one Kasie West book... she was a cheerleader, I think? I've been meaning to read more. A Season of Daring Greatly is new to me, and I just added it to my TBR. I've been trying to read more sporty romances, since I've been so adverse to them in the past.

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬

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    1. Hmm, no cheerleader is coming to mind. Now I have to figure out which KWest book you're talking about

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  18. I've not heard of either of these and they both sound good:)

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  19. Heath Hall certainly is an intriguing draw! I hope it's a good read!

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    1. I am thinking it will give me exactly what I expect from West

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  20. I can't wait for Kasie West's book! She's one of my favorite YA contemporary writers.

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  21. I swear sam, one of these days i'll read a kasie West!

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  22. I just added Hearts, Heroes, and Heath Hall to my TBR this weekend! I love Kasie West's romances, and this one sounds really good!!! The masquerading as a super hero sounds like it's going to be hilarious!

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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    1. It's apparently now called The Moment of Truth (Kasie West tweeted that tidbit to me), but I have not seen it updated in GR yet. The super hero part grabbed me, and like you, I see the comic possibilities

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  23. Kasie West's book is one my TBR, too. Hope we both enjoy it!

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    1. I am so eager to see what she does with that superhero plot

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  24. Not surprised to see a Kasie West book on your list! And I hope this will also be a good YA sports romance for you :)

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    1. She usually doesn't disappoint, though, I am hoping for actual sports and not just the idea of it

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