Tuesday, April 15, 2025

New Book From Kandi J. Wyatt

 Coming  Soon!  The Next Awesome Book From Author Kandi J. Wyatt


Blurb

If only the voices would shut up! 

Eighteen-year-old Kristjan has grown up under the weight of this clan's expectations. Living in the shadow of his father's mighty leadership, he has spent years trying to measure up to the office he'll one day hold. Everyone says he'll be an excellent chief, but he doesn't see it that way, and then, as if to prove his point, a hunting expedition to the icy wastes of Toppur goes awry, and Kristjan's party returns one member short. 

As if the guilt wasn't enough to grapple with, the community is struggling to locate a fresh vein of ore--the only way to revive the trade they rely on for survival. When his future father-in-law is trapped in a cave-in, a desperate Kristjan sees an opportunity to redeem himself, but the success he'd yearned for does nothing to ease his growing doubts. 

Meanwhile the incessant whispers in his head are growing louder--a repeating chorus of condemnation and inadequacy that echoes, telling him that the people in his life would be better off without him. When his best efforts to redeem himself go awry, devastating the woman he's bound to marry, it seals the conviction--how can his betrothed even look at him after what he's done? And how ca a person dogged by such darkness dream of anything but further failure? Burdened by his shortcomings, Kristjan must confront the void growing in his spirit--or else it might well consume his future. 

This coming of-age fantasy is the first of a duology that follows two different young men and the women who love them, as they try to find their place in the world and discover where their worth lies.

 

Saturday, March 22, 2025

The Natural Soapmaking Book for Beginners - Kelly Cable

 


Genre:  Nonfiction

When my husband first received the book I was excited. Although I have watched videos of soap making, this is what I needed. I am a reader. This starts out with the basics and safety. To me, understanding the basics is important. The added benefit is all the recipes included in the book. This excited me because, when I retire at the end of next school year, this is going to be my main role in my husband's business. I am entering my next phase of life with the confidence I have not had with all the videos I have watched. I have two students at school who have made soap through their Ag class. I will definitely tell them that this is a must have book if they wish to continue on their own making soap in the future.


Friday, March 21, 2025

Ascended by Kandi J. Wyatt

 


Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: I purchased a copy


This final book in this series was the best.  I resisted the urge to skip to the end and then go back and fill in the blanks.  I can think of no better way to end this series. We watch the making of a Dragon King.  The themes of forgiveness, kindness and doing the right thing, was all throughout the entire series. This book made me have sympathy for the main character's wife.  I thought about all of our modern day soldiers away from their families for months and years at a time. With the exception of the magic in this book there were so many parallels between events in the world today and the way things are handled in the book.  The characters are believable and, for the most part, loveable.  I loved meeting the different clans.  The allegory in the book made me anxious to know how  it was going turn out. I can't recommend this series enough.  As one of my students said, "This series ticks all the boxes: dragons, characters you can love and hate, fantasy, and clean romance.  Great ending to a great series.