Author's Corner - Kasie West

Welcome to Author's Corner hosted by Bookworm Nation, Katie's Clean Book Collection and KJ's Book Nook! Once a month we will feature either a favorite author or new to us author. We will share the author's bio, one of our favorite books of theirs and a review. Each of us will be featuring a different author each month so there will also be links to each of our posts.

For this month's Author's Corner I am going to choose...

Kasie West

I am the mother of four--three daughters and one son.  We live in Central California where the summers try to kill us with their 115 degree stretches. I graduated from Fresno State University with a BA degree that has nothing to do with writing.  I earned my masters in Junior Mint eating (which is awarded after eating your millionth King Size box....I'm now working on my PhD).  I love sappy alternative rock ballads and reading way past my bedtime.  Check out bio here. 

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I think the first book I read by Kasie was Pivot Point. Which for those who haven't read it (come on, what are you waiting for?) its a fun YA Science Fiction-y romance. It's original, unique and memorable. I am SO glad I discovered Kasie's books, they always a treat to read. I don't read a lot of young adult books anymore, but I still buy Kasie's books on release day and always enjoy them. I look forward to sharing them with my daughter when she is a little older. 

About the Book

Knowing the outcome doesn't always make a choice easier...

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through... and who she can’t live without.

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Which authors do you love? Who are some of your favorites?

Be sure to check out 

KJ's Book Nook

and

Katie's Clean Book Collection

to see their author picks for February!

Swoony Spotlights

Welcome to Swoony Worthy Spotlights, hosted by Bookworm Nation, Katie's Clean Book Collection and KJ's Book Nook! Swoon Worthy Spotlights features 1-3 of our favorite books that we have read during the month. We will share the cover(s), our review(s) and a link to each other's post so you can check out which books we have all chosen!

February was a great month, I was able to read a lot and found a few favorites that I look forward to reading again. I read so many good ones I ended up having a hard time narrowing it down this month.So, to make it a little easier I am sticking to just new releases, full-length novels, and I went with a favorite in Contemporary, Historical and YA. In random order:

The Thirteenth Chance by Amy Matayo

Contemporary Romance

 

This is a super cute opposites attract, fake relationship story. The characters have great chemistry and really bring out the best in each other. Lots of fun.

By Your Side by Kasie West

YA Contemporary Romance

 

This is such a fun young adult novel. I don't read a lot of these anymore, but I can never resist Ms. West's books. This had a super fun story with likable characters and a unique plot. Enjoyable for adults and YAs.

The Rise of Miss Notley by Rachael Anderson

Regency Historical

 

Sigh, I love a good regency romance. This one takes place at a charming country manor, with likable characters and a really fun plot. Great chemistry and a fun step back in time. Great read.

 

 

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And don't for get to check Kathy Jo's post here and Katie's post here!

 

Do you have a blog and want to join us for Swoon Worthy Spotlights? Then grab the picture and post with us! We will be posting on the last day of each month. Make sure you share your link with us so we can check out your favorite authors as well! If you don't have a blog, just leave a comment below. I'd love to hear which books we're your favorite for the month!

 

By Your Side by Kasie West

By Your Side by Kasie West
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So, I don't read a whole lot of Contemporary YA anymore, but there are still a few YA authors that I just love and Kasie West is one of them. I always know I will enjoy her books and eagerly await her newest release. When I read the synopsis for By Your Side I knew I had to read it right away. I was pleasantly surprised with this one, was sucked in early on and stayed up late to find out what would happen next. This is a fun read!

Autumn Collins is an interesting character, she suffers from an anxiety disorder but desperately tries to hide it from her friends. She's a likable character, active in school, comes from a good loving family and was an easy character to root for. Dax Miller is an outcast, keeps to himself and just counting down the days until he's eighteen and free. You can't help but like him and root for him as well. Neither are too happy when they find themselves locked in the city library over a long holiday weekend. I enjoyed seeing their friendship grow and how they bring out the best in each other. I liked that the story was a little deeper than I was expecting and seeing Autumn learn about herself and see her figure things out.

Don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say this was a fun read. I did think the end was wrapped up a little quickly, but was also happy with how things wrapped up. I had a couple unanswered questions (view spoiler)[Like what happens with Dax's mom?? (hide spoiler)], but would totally recommend to anyone who enjoys Contemporary YA romance!

Content: Clean, mild kissing, no language or violence


View all my reviews

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. My choice for this week is:

By Your Side by Kasie West

YA Contemporary Romance

Release Date: January 31, 2017

 

Synopsis: When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her. Only he doesn’t come. No one does. Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

2016 Swoony Award Winners

 

2016 was a busy year for me and I wasn't able to spend as much time on the Swoony Awards as I would have liked, add to that a little behind-the-scenes drama and my heart wasn't quite into the awards this year. I still love the Swoony Awards and I'm deciding whether I will continue doing it for 2017. Anyway, I wanted to give the results for 2016 for all those who have participated and we did get a lot of great books on the list (Click here to view the full 2017 list).

 

 

Best Novel of the Year

& Best Regency

The Painters Daughter by Julie Klassen

 

 

Best Contemporary Romance

Her One and Only by Becky Wade

 

Best YA Contemporary Romance

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

 

Best Novella

One Enchanted Christmas by Melissa Tagg

 

Best New Adult Contemporary

Double Play by Ranee S Clark

 

Best Western Historical

The Sheriffs of Savage Wells by Sarah M Eden

 

Best Medieval Romance

Baron of Emberly by Tamara Leigh

 

 

Best High Fantasy

Painting Rain by Annette K Larsen

 

Best Dystopian

Escape to Eden by Rachel McClellan

 

Best Mystery

Always Watching by Lynette Eason

 

Kathy's Choice

The Fall of Lord Drayson by Rachael Anderson

 

Kathy Jo's Choice

A Season to Love by Nicole Deese

 

Katie's Choice

Just a Kiss in the Moonlight by Cindy Roland Anderson

 

Heidi's Choice

My Fair Gentleman by Nancy Campbell Allen

 

 

 

 

 The 2017 Swoony Award list is up and you can start adding books (books published December 1 2016 - November 30 2017) Pease feel free to join our groups (Goodreads and Facebook) and follow us on Twitter (@swoonyawards)! Help us spread the word about good, clean, swoony romance books!

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

On the Fence by Kasie West

She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door… Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. As she grows to depend on their nightly Fence Chats, she realizes she's got a bigger problem than speeding tickets-she's falling for Braden. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

I really enjoyed this one. Like all of Ms. West’s books, I had a hard time putting it down. Charlie was easy to like and you couldn’t help rooting for her. Having three older brothers myself, I found it easy to relate to her, except I am not athletic. At all. Charlie is a tom boy, she loves watching and playing sports and spends all her time with her brothers. I actually enjoyed the parts where she was experiencing more “girly” stuff. I actually kind of felt bad that she felt like she couldn’t wear make-up or dress cute in fear of her brothers and Braden making fun of her. I kind of wish we could have seen her incorporate more of her girly side. I guess at the end she does, but I guess the girl in me wanted a little more.

The book was a little deeper than I was expecting. While there are some really sweet moments and some funny ones, it was a little more serious than I thought it would be. Charlie lost her mom at a young age and also suffers from nightmares. She has just recently turned sixteen and is wondering more about girly things and is realizing she has feelings for her next door neighbor Braden. I loved Braden, he was great. I wish we could have gotten his POV at times. I love how their relationship evolves and thought they were great together. Both as friends and as something more. I loved their fence chats.

Overall, this is a charming story and one that I could easily recommend. I loved the characters, Charlie’s brothers were great (they should each get their own book!), and it was clean! Go grab a copy today!

Romance: Clean, mild kissing

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

I have been looking forward to reading this since I finished the authors first novel, Pivot Point. While Pivot Point had more of a fantasy feel to it, The Distance Between Us was a contemporary YA story. The characters are seventeen and still in high school. I actually thought they were a little older, and since there is no time spent with them at school it felt more like a New Adult book to me.

I enjoyed the story and had a hard time putting it down. I liked out main characters Caymen and Xander. I like that things started out slow where they built more of a friendship before things progressed to anything else. I don’t really buy into the insta-love stories so I thought this was a refreshing change. There is even a bit of a love-triangle, which was handled really well and was believable.

I admit I was expecting something lighthearted, maybe along the lines of Janette Rallison (not sure why), but the book is a little more series than that. It has its funny moments, but there are also other issues going on that I didn’t see coming. When you start to realize Caymen’s mom has been keeping something secret I got a little nervous.  I don’t really like reading too much drama and after reading Glimmer of Hope by Sarah Eden I was nervous what her mom’s secret was going to be. I guess I was expecting the worst and it did keep me from really enjoying the story. I think know that I know what the secret is I would enjoy the book a little more. (hide spoiler)] It’s not until the end that we find out what is going on. When I got to the 90% mark I started to wonder how things were going to wrap up. I’m assuming this is a standalone and if that’s the case I kind of wish the last 10% of the book or so would have happened earlier in the story. There are just so many questions I have and would have liked to see play out earlier in the book. Like, Caymen finding out her mom’s secret about her parents. Having Caymen get to know her grandparents and how their lifestyle would affect her. Does Caymen ever find her dad and what was the story that made him leave. What happens with Xander and Caymen? Where do they end up going to school, do they go to the same school? I want to know that now that they are finally a couple if they will stay together and get their happily ever after. (hide spoiler)] I did enjoy the story though and it was fun to see their relationship unfold. I did want Caymen to question him about things a little more. Maybe it’s just me, but she keeps quite a lot where if I were in the same situation he would be peppered with questions until my very curious mind was at ease.

Overall, I enjoyed it and have added Kasie West to my auto-buy author list. I know I will love whatever she writes. If you enjoy the contemporary YA genre you have to check this one out.

Pivot Point by Kasie West

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

Review:

I was really impressed with this one! I thought the plot was pretty original and the writing was really well done. Our lead Addie was likable and easy to relate to. I liked her sarcastic personality. She has the ability when presented with a choice to see how things will play out depending on which decision she makes. The story alternates between two possible futures and at the end she has to decide which path to take. What an interesting superpower! Addie doesn’t abuse her power and up until now has only used it for short time frames. We also have a couple love interests, Duke and Trevor. It’s not your typical love-triangle though and I really liked how it was handled. It was fun to see how these two different relationships play out. I started out on one team and ended up on another. I ended up loving the relationship between Trevor and Addie. Trevor was great, I especially liked when he finally made his interest know. I liked that they had a friendship first and it grows to more. I did like Duke though, and even despite everything, I still like him. I also liked how the stories kind of overlap, things that would happen in one “reality” would happen in the other. As the story progresses a couple mysteries are presented as well, I thought that added some fun suspense to the story. Especially the end, there are a few surprises thrown in that added a lot. I was glad there was an epilogue, it wrapped things up nicely. I’m excited to read the next book!

Content: Clean. Mild violence.