Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Waking to Black VBT

Blurb:
He shattered my defenses, and I was fragile to begin with…

The first time I saw Adam Black, I was between the arms of a criminal, a gun to my throat and even then, I knew I was staring at the most dangerous man in the room.

Maybe it was his confident, cerulean eyes, or the sex appeal radiating from his pores like heat waves on a scorching day, but by proximity alone he made my vision blur and my heart stammer.

The day I was nearly killed in a bank hold-up, I began to live—because of him.

Now, I’m praying for the first time in years, hoping the scars of my past, the secrets I keep, don’t interfere with my future…



Excerpt:
I close my eyes and bend my knees—or at least I think I am. I’m finding it hard to breathe, and the room is spinning. I must not be moving fast enough because the next thing I know, the man with the big gun grabs me and shoves the cold tip of the barrel against my neck.

This is how it ends? A pang of regret stabs deep within my belly. I wonder who will feed my cat when I’m gone, and the pathetic nature of that last thought is sobering. I haven’t accomplished much in the last twenty-four years. My eyes begin to water, and my vision clouds.

“Hey, take it easy,” a much calmer voice calls out from behind me.

I try to focus on the deep tenor of this stranger, who to my shock is defying a man with a gun, but my senses aren’t cooperating.

Using me as a shield, my captor spins me and I get a blurry first look at my would-be hero. Through pooling tears, I see he’s dressed in an expensive black suit, a crisp white shirt, and a solid black tie. He has hair the color of dark coffee, and because he defies the order to hug the floor, I notice he’s tall. His sapphire eyes lock on mine, urging me to breathe, and for a split-second I forget I’m in the arms of a lunatic because it’s this stranger’s gaze holding me hostage.

Though his hands are in the air, like everyone else’s, he seems to be humoring the robber rather than obeying him out of fear. And while not armed, his calm demeanor is more threatening than the creep jamming a gun against my throat. It’s as if under the façade of composure something dark and dangerous lingers—the insight makes me tremble.




V.H., thanks so much for stopping by. Tell us a little about yourself.
Hello. I’m so excited to be here today. I’m a born and bred Miami girl. I spent a big portion of my childhood hanging out by the beach—I wish I had more time now to really just relax and swim. I love to read, write and paint. Waking to Black (Uninhibited #1), is my debut book and I’m stunned by the warm reception I’ve received so far from readers and bloggers. Publishing a book has been a dream of mine for a while and I’m happy I took the plunge.


How did you get started writing?
Ever since I was a little girl I was scribbling poems. Though it wasn’t until I was fifteen years old that my boyfriend (who is still a friend of mine), introduced me to an online role-playing platform. I had the opportunity to create a character in a fantasy-based setting and after interacting with other players/characters I transitioned into creating my own stories on a forum post. It was wonderful practice. Throughout the years my interests developed and I began to write romance stories for my own pleasure.


What was the inspiration for your book?
Many things honestly. I’ve been inspired by Sylvia Day’s Crossfire Series, and R.K. Lilley’s In-Flight Series. I love the concept of damaged characters finding redemption and peace. I recognize that for so many happily-ever-after isn’t an easy road and I wanted to tell a story from that perspective.

Though if I’m one-hundred percent honest my own relationship with my father oddly enough inspired aspects of Evelyn Snowe, the main character of the Uninhibited Series. Evelyn’s father is in many respects my own—how I’ve always seen him, a great father who always struggled with his place in this world. Writing this book was cathartic.

I think it’s easy to travel down a dangerous road in life and I find it interesting to write about someone at that precipice and to elaborate on how they eventually find peace in who they are and their past.


What’s a genre you haven’t written in yet that you’d like to?
I think because of all the years I spent role-playing on fantasy-based platforms, the idea of writing a fantasy-based novel is appealing. I have a bunch of ideas. Though I don’t think I could write a book that didn’t focus at least partially on romance. I love, falling in love.


Are there any genres you won’t read or write in? Why? 
I read pretty much anything though non-fiction isn’t a favorite of mine. I’m also not a huge fan of horror and don’t feel capable of ever writing something compelling in such a genre. I’ll leave that type of writing to the great, Stephen King.


What are you up to now? Do you have any releases planned, or are you still writing?
I’m working on edits/rewrites of Fading to Black book two of The Uninhibited Trilogy, which is going to be release August 2018. Though the book is written I’m working on finalizing the story—I hate leaving readers hanging and I respect the fact people hate waiting on the completion of a story so I’m making sure it gets released promptly.


Alright, now for some random, fun questions. Favorite color?
I’m Cuban-American and proud of it so I’ll go with a loud color and pick RED!


Favorite movie?
Pretty Woman


Book that inspired you to become an author?
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James and Bared to You by Sylvia Day.


You have one superpower. What is it?
The ability to heal others of sickness. I don’t want to live forever nor do I think doing so would be in the best interest of society in general but I would love to be able to heal people of mental and physical ailments. Too much suffering is going on in this world.


You can have dinner with any 3 people, dead, alive, fictitious, etc. Who are they?
My father and my paternal grandmother because I miss them so much. I mean who doesn’t want another moment with a relative who has passed? And for my totally frivolous answer, Jane Austin. She is the queen of romance. A reiteration of Mr. Darcy can be found in so many of the great book-boyfriends of the past twenty years. I would love to hang out with her and gain insight as to her perspective on life in general.


Last question: Which of your characters are you most like and how/why?
I see aspects of myself in Evelyn Snowe for sure. Since her father and my own are in essence very similar, I understand her feelings in that respect. Though truthfully, I’m a bit more outgoing than Evelyn. 


That’s all from me, thanks for taking the time to stop by!
Thank you so much for having me it’s been so much fun.
XOXO
V.H. Luis



Don’t forget to visit the other stops on the tour.



Author Bio and Links:
V.H. Luis is the author of the Black Series, an erotic romance trilogy that follows the love affair of Evelyn Snowe and Adam Black. Her debut book WAKING to Black, will be released in 2018, and the subsequent sequels FADING to Black, and SURRENDERING to Black, will follow shortly thereafter.

Welcome to my internet haven!
I’m a born and bred Miami Girl—and proud of it! I would wear shorts and flip-flops every day of the week if I could. Growing up in Miami, surrounded by my parent’s heritage has made me proud of my Cuban ancestry. Cafecito and a guava pastry for breakfast? Yes, please! Salsa music while I tidy the house? Of course.

If I’m not busy scribbling notes about the story pounding out of my head, I’m painting, listening to music, or spending time with the love of my life—my son. If I decide to travel, I bring the whole family (in-laws included), or at least I try to, because life is too short not to spend it with family; one of the many lessons my father taught me.

Website     |     Twitter     |     Amazon Buy Link

9 comments:

  1. Thank you for hosting! I'm happy to be here today.

    So I've been asked by a few people lately what my favorite book happens to be, and I can't decide. Do you all have a favorite book? One you always go back to and reread?

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  2. I enjoyed getting to know your book and thanks for the chance to win :)

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  3. Congrats on the tour and I appreciate the book description and the great giveaway as well. Love the tours, I get to find books and share with my sisters and now my twin daughters who all love to read. We have found some amazing books for everyone. So, thank you!

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  4. This looks like a fun read. Thanks for hosting the giveaway. Bernie Wallace BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com

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  5. Great post, I enjoyed learning more about the book :)

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  6. I really like getting to know you through the tour.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Kim! I have enjoyed reading your comments throughout.:)

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