Category: iRead Book Tours

June 16, 2025

Beyond the Light of the Willow Tree

In Beyond the Light of the Willow Tree, with each new generation, precious souls are called upon to serve a higher purpose. But each calling is forged in challenge and fear, and every journey hinges upon the choices made.

About Beyond the Light of the Willow Tree

In the deepest dark, there is only light.

With each new generation, precious souls are called upon to serve a higher purpose. But each calling is forged in challenge and fear, and every journey hinges upon the choices made.

In present-day North Carolina, Gabriel is devoted to his wife, Jennifer, and their five rambunctious kids… until the day tragedy strikes the Connor household, setting in motion a chai of events that will transform humanity.

In ancient Rome, young Gabrielus leaves his humble village to become a protector of the emperor. He dreams of bringing glory and wealth to his family and returning a hero to his love, Jennamine. But the path ahead is steeped in grief and vengeance, and Gabrielus will be forced to make a choice that echoes through the ages.

One soul. Infinite journeys. A universe of possibilities.

You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon.

Enter to win a signed copy of this book (US/CAN) here.

About the Author

At the base of a mountain in Connecticut sits a peach orchard in a quiet neighborhood. Here, hawks soar high as coyotes slink among the trees, leaving trails of wisdom and mystery. In the early hours, the veil between worlds is as thin as the morning mist. This is where Daniel E. Chambrello sits and thinks. As the youngest of five, Daniel is a born observer, preferring solitude as he questions everything from consciousness to Catholic doctrine. While journeying and experiencing love, heartbreak, and so much in between, Daniel’s knowing has expanded, and his questions have grown deeper. When a good friend handed him a book by a spiritual teacher, it was a life-defining moment, confirming all Daniel had known as truth and further kindling a story that he’d felt called to write since childhood. In this ethos, Daniel’s first novel sprung forth—a spiritual guidebook weaving together love, adventure, and truths that are best felt rather than described.

Disclosure: This post is part of a spotlight tour, I received no compensation. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 9, 2025

Red Sun Rising

Red Sun Rising is a sweeping epic fantasy series, perfect for fans of political intrigue, morally complex characters, and dynastic power struggles.

About Red Sun Rising

Power is not inherited. It is taken—by blood, by fire, by force.

The Empire is rotting from within. Corruption festers in its courts, rebellions simmer at its borders, and old gods whisper in the shadows. Amid the chaos, one family sees opportunity.

House de Bordeaux has long stood on the fringes of power—noble in name, forgotten in legacy. But when a mysterious death fractures the imperial line, a brutal new game begins. As alliances crumble and enemies multiply, the de Bordeaux heirs must decide what they’re willing to sacrifice in their pursuit of the throne—and what darkness they’ll awaken along the way.

From the first clash of voltedge swords to the final echo of betrayal, Red Sun Rising is a gripping tale of ambition, treachery, and the high cost of empire.

The first installment in a sweeping epic fantasy series, perfect for fans of political intrigue, morally complex characters, and dynastic power struggles.

You can pre-order this book on the website and Amazon.

Enter to win a signed copy (US only) here.

About the Author

Allen Lyle lives in Athens, Georgia, (GO DAWGS!) where he shares his home with his wife, four cats, a sweet pup, and several hundred books. A lifelong devotee of science fiction and fantasy, he fell under their spell at a young age and never looked back. Allen considers himself a lifelong devotee of science fiction and fantasy, He has always been drawn to the intersection of history and the speculative—asking questions like, “What if the Byzantine Empire had rockets?” or “What if Tolkien’s world had pirates?”

An avid gamer, Allen has spent countless hours orchestrating dynastic dramas in Crusader Kings III, an inspiration for his debut novel. His fascination with history extends beyond pixels and pages—he’s an enthusiastic collector of antiques, a lover of travel, and a devoted fan of minor league baseball. When he’s not writing, Allen can be found painting miniatures or reading. His debut novel takes readers thousands of years into a post-apocalyptic future where the kings and queens of Europe—now called Yuropa—rule once more. It’s sure to hit the sweet spot for fantasy, scifi, and history lovers alike…just like Allen.

Connect with Allen on his website and Goodreads.

Disclosure: This is a spotlight tour, I did not receive compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 9, 2025

Pei’s Pineapple Cakes

Pei’s Pineapple Cakes is a charming story of courage, adventure, and the love between grandchildren and grandparents.

About Pei’s Pineapple Cakes

While visiting her grandmother in central Taiwan, Pei finds herself in the middle of a mystery. The pineapple cakes from her grandmother’s bakery have disappeared! Soon Pei is collecting clues as she embarks on a quest to find the missing pineapple cakes.

From traditional Taiwanese artisan craftsmanship to picturesque villages of central Taiwan, Pei discovers the beauty of her grandmother’s hometown. This is a charming story of courage, adventure, and the love between grandchildren and grandparents.

Pei’s Pineapple Cakes is an elaborately illustrated picture book that makes an ideal gift:

-Real locations from central Taiwan make for an inspiring geographical, historical and cultural reading experience
-Storyline sparks dialogue around kindness, empathy, courage, and resilience
-Exquisite illustrations of Taiwanese artisans’ craftsmanship foster appreciation for heritage and traditions
-Bilingual text in English and Mandarin encourages learning in both languages

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, B&N, BAM.

Enter to win a signed copy of Pei’s Pineapple Cakes (US only) here.

About the Author

Crystal Z. Lee is a bilingual writer who divides her time between the U.S. and Asia. Crystal grew up in Taipei and later returned to live there in her adult years. Some of Crystal’s fondest memories in Taiwan include boating at Sun Moon Lake, chasing butterflies in Maolin, making pineapple cakes and eating her way through night markets with her family. Besides children’s books, Crystal’s other published works include poetry and a novel. Her other book about Taiwan is titled Kai the Dancing Butterfly. She is also the author of Mei’s Mermaid Mission, A Unicorn Named Rin, and Love and Other Moods.

You can connect with the author on their website, Instagram and Goodreads.

About the Illustrator

Allie Su grew up in Yunlin county, Taiwan. She often finds her illustration inspiration from the great outdoors. One of her favorite places to hike in Taiwan is Sun-Link-Sea Forest in Nantou. She adores Taiwanese cuisine and night market foods, such as stinky tofu, vegetarian noodles and taro pastries from Taichung. Allie also illustrated Mei’s Mermaid Mission and Kai the Dancing Butterfly.

Disclosure: This is a spotlight tour, I did not receive compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

May 22, 2025

Higher Love

This heart-wrenching family drama delves into the enduring impact of secrets, the power of unconditional love, and the strength found in facing our pasts.

About Higher Love

In 1986 Austin, Texas, sixteen-year-old Stephanie steps into sixty-two-year-old Lauren’s life, her uncanny resemblance cracking open a buried past. Claiming to be the daughter of the child Lauren gave up for adoption forty-five years ago, Stephanie upends Lauren’s life—already complicated by her remarriage to Brett after thirty-three years apart. Stung by her adoptive grandmother’s deception, Stephanie stays, her past of tragedy and self-harm forging a fragile bond with Lauren and Brett. When Stephanie’s trust fund evaporates, crushing her college dreams, Lauren sacrifices all to give her a future—only to face a bittersweet twist that echoes the past and changes everything. This heart-wrenching family drama delves into the enduring impact of secrets, the power of unconditional love, and the strength found in facing our pasts

You can pre-order the book on Amazon.

Enter to win a signed copy (US only) here.

About the Author

Joanne Kukanza Easley, a retired registered nurse who worked in the cold, stark environment of operating rooms and the highly charged setting of psychiatric facilities, now resides in the Texas Hill Country. There, she crafts fiction centered on complex women of the twentieth century. Her debut novel, Sweet Jane, garnered multiple accolades, including the adult fiction prize at the Texas Author Project, and was a finalist for prestigious honors like the Sarton Award and the Eric Hoffer Award, among others. Her second book, Just One Look, was selected as a May 2022 Pulpwood Queen Book Club Pick. Her third novel, I’ll Be Seeing You, revisits characters from Sweet Jane. Her fourth novel, Higher Love, a continuation of her third, is slated for release in Spring 2025. Easley’s award-winning short stories and poetry have been featured in various anthologies.

You can connect with her on her website, X, Facebook, Instagram and Goodreads.

Disclosure: This is a spotlight tour, I did not receive compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

May 20, 2025

The Web of Time Spotlight

In The Web of Time, far beneath the ground, a web quietly spins. The threads are keeping time, marking history. What’s done is done. Until now.

About The Web of Time

Far beneath the ground, a web quietly spins. The threads are keeping time, marking history. What’s done is done. Until now.

Protected by the gods and powering the three Great Portals of Art, Language, and Kindness, The Web of Time rearranges itself as humans change their minds, fall in love, or cause empires to rise and fall. When the Great Portals close from the world, time begins erasing itself, histories start to disappear, Earth falls into chaos, and the gods don’t know how to stop it—until Jack meets Anna.

Anna is a passionate and solitary writer who is protected by her companion, Nafusa of Libya, the cat god. When Jack, a young painter harboring a traumatic past, falls through the Great Portal of Art in Tunis, he stumbles into Anna, and his fate.

Helped and hindered by a rotating cast of deities, the two embark on a journey that connects three ancient cities in different times: Rome, Tunis, and Tripoli. They realize that it is Anna’s gift for healing words and Jack’s natural talent for drawing places as they were that can reinstate the Great Portals and restore the world’s balance, but some of the darker gods who thrive on chaos will stop at nothing to derail their quest. As time tears faster than they can heal it, Anna and Jack must come together in time to save history, and the possibility of a future.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Web of Time, Amazon and B&N.

Enter to win a $25 Ben & Jerry’s Gift Card courtesy of the author of WEB OF TIME (USA only) here (ends June 16).

About the Author

Born just outside of Rome, Flavia grew up bouncing back and forth between Italy and California and has lived between a myriad other countries, so her writing often revolves around place and identity and is usually written on a plane where she inevitably apologizes to the person sitting next to her for bumping their elbow. She is the author of the novel All the Way to Italy. Her second novel, The Web of Time, a YA grounded fantasy adventure set in Rome, Tunis, and Tripoli, will be published by Blue House Literary in May 2025.

Today, Flavia continues learning about the world while working for a humanitarian organization and getting lost in her Eternal City, writing flash fiction and non-fiction stories, and connecting with other readers, writers, and adventurers (also the armchair travel variety).

You can connect with her on her website, Facebook, X, Instagram and Goodreads.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this post, all opinions expressed are my own.