Author India Grey, who recently won the RNA Romance Prize for her Mills & Boon/Harlequin Presents Extra book Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire’s Pleasure has another new book out this month, At the Argentinean Billionaire’s Bidding. It’s part of the Harlequin Presents sports-themed series International Billionaires. India’s here to blog about her sexy Argentinean hero, polo, writing as part of a miniseries and how it all adds up to Presents Perfection…
by India Grey
International Billionaires–two words that are guaranteed to send a shiver of excitement down the spine of any presents writer (and reader, I hope!) When I was approached to write one of the eight books in this series, to say I was thrilled is an understatement. It was the first time I’d been asked to be involved in a series, so not only did it feel like a huge honour, but being given a basic plot outline to work from was a really exciting departure from the way I usually write.
The books are loosely linked by the fact that they all have some kind of connection to the game of rugby union, but the stories and the characters stand alone. I felt that I’d completely lucked out when I discovered that my hero was to be Argentinean, and although he once played international rugby for England the bulk of the book was to take place back in his native Argentina, where he is now a billionaire businessman and owner of a successful polo team.
Those were the basic bones of the story, and my enviable job was to flesh them out. The rugby part was easy, as I grew up in a family who are passionate about the sport and I had been going to Internationals since I was quite small. But while I’d also gone through the inevitable horsey phase when I was growing up, my experience was more based around pony-club gymkhanas than the glitzy world of Cartier polo. Knowing so little about it, left to myself I probably wouldn’t have thought of using in a book. Further research was definitely required…
Oh. My. Word.
The world of high level polo is one of wealth, privilege and unbelievable glamour. In other words, it’s Presents Perfection. But of course, as I looked deeper into it I discovered that that’s not what’s at it’s heart. Scratch the surface and, beneath the champagne and silk and diamonds this game is about as tough and dangerous as a sport can get. It is, essentially, the closest thing we have in the twenty-first century to warriors doing battle on horseback. The players are highly skilled, exceptionally athletic and extraordinarily brave.
And sexy as hell. (check out this YouTube video to see what India means!)
At the Argentinean Billionaire’s Bidding was great fun to write, partly because the hero, Alejandro D’Arienzo had all those qualities, along with a deep-seated pride in his country and his heritage. His background has involved displacement and poverty, and though he’s turned his life around through a combination of hard work, determination and natural talent, his struggle has left its scars, along with a lingering contempt for people who have things handed to them on a silver platter. People like Lady Tamsin Calthorpe, whose commission to redesign the England team rugby strip is a direct result of her being the daughter of the chairman. He wants to expose her–in every possible sense of the word.
Of course, in doing so he discovers things that force him to question all his preconceptions and confront all his prejudices. Alejandro is possibly the toughest hero I’ve written to date, so it was particularly satisfying to make this proud, decisive alpha male whose lightning reactions and total self-assurance have made him an unbeatable adversary in the boardroom and on the sports field, discovering what it feels like to hesitate, to question and to lose. And not just a game, but something much more important…
Argentinean billionaire Alejandro D’Arienzo has fresh prey: heiress Tamsin Calthorpe. He sees her as a ravishing but spoiled beauty who destroyed his past—and he’s ready to settle the score!
What Alejandro doesn’t know is that Tamsin loved him, hiding her naïveté under the guise of willful sophistication. Now a talented designer, she’s working hard to prove herself, despite her pedigree. But her credibility is in the hands of merciless Alejandro, who offers an ultimatum: her name in ruins, or her body in his bed….
All I can say in answer to this post is this: go out and buy the book immediately (it’s amazing and hot beyond belief)! And also this: Jilly Cooper eat your heart out!
x Abby
India, what a great post and wonderful sounding book. I have to go get this one ASAP! I love Argentina as a setting and this sounds like a story I’d really enjoy.
Oh, India. You’ve cut right to the chase with this one. A polo playing Argentinean Billionaire hero who is out to expose the poor heroine? Sounds like a perfect Presents to me. Am envious of you Abby, having already read it. I want to get my hands it it right now!
Am wondering exactly how you managed this research of yours India. Attending polo matches? Hm?
Annie
Abby, the cheque’s in the post and I’m hereby officially giving you the job as my publicist! Actually, I remember reading the Jilly Cooper book all those years ago and loving it. Must get my hands on it again for a re-read.
Jane, thanks so much. Argentina was just gorgeous to research and fabulous to write about. I’d dearly love to go there, which would no doubt lead to more books with hot Argentine heroes!
Sadly I didn’t make it to any polo matches Annie (There wasn’t time, what with all that gazing at youtube for hours on end…) We do actually have a polo club quite near to where I live, but somehow I feel that a grey afternoon standing in a chilly field in Cheshire wouldn’t quite be the same as watching the sport in the glorious Argentine sunshine!
Dear India,
I finished reading your Argentinian yesterday and as far as I’m concerned Alejandro is utterly gorgeous, Presents perfection (even with the tattoo)!
The RBS 6 Nations fixture list in the back will also give me essential forewarning of Anxious Male Syndrome.
It’s a fabulous series–I guess I’d better order Ms Green’s French Tycoon right away hadn’t I?
Lots of love,
Rach (UK)
p.s Your tribute on the inside cover moved me very much.
xxxxx
India I loved reading your post and now I’m champing at the bit (to use a nice polo image) to read it. I went out and bought it at the beginning of the week and now it’s sitting on my TBR pile beckoning seductively to me. (OK – maybe not – can you tell I just got to one of ‘those’ scenes in my own book – but can a book beckon??)
I just wish I was a little closer to writing the end of this story so I could get to it faster – I can’t wait. And having seen your hero inspiration on your blog I know I’m going to love Alejandro – but then you had me at Argentinean + polo player + Presents
Kate
Oh yes Rach, I’d forgotten that you weren’t keen on the tattoo idea! Hope it didn’t put you off poor Alejandro too much.
And yes, you absolutely must buy Ms Green’s French Tycoon’s Pregnant Mistress! The hero in that one is a sponsor not a player, and he’s utterly scrumptious. Honestly, he’ll have you, completely. I always think that it’s a slightly double edged sword writing a hero that readers are going to genuinely fall for, because you really do have to make the heroine very, very likable and deserving of him, but she manages to do that brilliantly too. Honestly, no wonder it’s a Romantic Times Top Pick…
Oooh Kate– one of those scenes! Hurry up and write it (and get to the end of the story…) because no-one writes ‘those’ scenes like Kate Walker!! I’m so glad you enjoyed the hero inspiration. Have you checked out the youtube link Amy very kindly put in? Definitely something to enjoy over your cup of tea this afternoon!
Oh, India, this sounds FABULOUS! Loved the post, and now must rush out and get my very own copy. I love Argentine heroes too. Don’t know the first thing about polo, and rugby is about as foreign to me as taking a vacation on the moon.
But that’s what is so great about Presents!! The stories take you to all these fabulous places and make you feel like you DO understand polo and rugby and Argentine billionaires.
(Am partial to the name Alejandro, too. My first Presents has a hero named Alejandro.)
Okay, now here’s hoping I don’t end up in comment moderation!
LOL, you seem to be safe this time Lynn! There has been hardly any comments stuck in mod for a while now — perhaps the blog is finally behaving itself! **pokes blog**
I recently gave a copy of India’s book to a friend of mine who’s from Argentina. I don’t think she quite believed there were romances with characters from her home country!
~Amy
Can’t wait to read this India, it sounds fab-u-lous, and the vid has just made my day!
I hadn’t realised that you’d been given the bones of the book to work with – what an exciting challenge.
Sabrina xx
It’s an incredible book and I think the series is going to be a “huge” success. India’s contribution is wonderful, I promise. You can see a review on The Pink Heart Society.
I now have Abby’s on my tbr pile and can’t wait to read it as well.
xxoo
India, I’ve never watched rugby before but you sure make the players sound appealing. Can’t wait to read your book!
*hugs*
Jennie
India, there was I hoping I might be able to visit and be chauffered to a polo match. Sigh. I suppose that YouTube might have been a bit comfier for the necessary research.
Rach, DO get hold of Abby’s book. It’s the first of the rugby books I’ve read and it was fantastic. Now I just have to read all the rest. Can’t wait.
Annie
You’re absolutely right Lynn. The books give you an insight into such a variety of different settings. I keep meaning to start writing down all the little snippets of information I pick up from Presents books (but of course I’m always so keen to read on that I don’t get round to it.) Can’t wait to discover your Alejandro!
Amy, it’s not just the blog that’s behaving itself, it’s that you’re doing a fantastic job. Well done and thanks!
Glad you enjoyed the clip Sabrina! Yes, working to an outline of basic plot and character was really interesting, but of course the editors in Richmond are (as you know) brilliant at discussing anything and everything, so there was a fair bit of emailing back and forth as we thrashed it all out at the beginning. It’s such a different way to work, but very exciting when the ideas start really flowing!
Marilyn, thanks so much for that. And you’re going to LOVE the French Tycoon!
Hugs back Jennie. You do know I’m going to have to look out a suitably inspiring rugby clip and send it to you now, don’t you? Just you wait until I’m out of my current deadline crisis, and you’ll soon know more about rugby than is strictly healthy, my girl!!
Ah well, Annie– now, if you’re coming to visit I reckon any champagne and glamour opportunity is to be siezed with both hands, don’t you?! But in the meantime (and just incase our local players aren’t quite so hot) youtube is a good fall-back research tool. Yum.
I have just sent the *Eye Candy* polo link to my daughter- who, yes, rides cross country as well as skis like a maniac- to cheer her up while she lolls around recovering from keyhole surgery on her knee after her ski accident- Only wish I could send her the book too- but I’m ordering it to arrive for her return home from Austria as I KNOW it’s definitely going to be FABULOUS!
Wonderfully tasty tempting tantalising titbit- and the article is fantastic too, I
Suexx
Hi Everyone
If you haven’t read India’s book yet, its absolutely fabulous. It was so atmospheric, I swore I could actually smell the mud off the players togs, as they came off the field.
What can I say about Alejandro? He is to die for, delicious!
I have also been lucky enough to read Abby Green’s ‘French Tycoon’ in the series, fantastic as well, you won’t be disappointed.
I have my own Alejandro cellotaped to my monitor here in work. 2 fabulous pics of my very own home-grown Presents’ hero, Jamie Roberts, aka number 12 for the Wales rugby team. The girls here in the office, are getting quite concerned that I’m becoming obsessive! But as I have told them all, it is pure research into the perfect athletic rugby body. What’s wrong with that I say? Oh, and I’ve found out this week, he’s available for ‘corporate hire’. I did ask my MD if it could be arranged, but he said no. Can you believe that?
Hugs to everyone.
xx Karen
Gorgeous Argentinean Polo Players! Delicious French Tycoons!
How the heck am I supposed to get my own book written at this rate. Stop tempting me darn it!!!
Can’t wait to read it, India. Alejandro sounds a real Alpha. For anyone interested in polo action, Cirencester Park used to be THE place to go a few years ago – don’t know if that’s still the case, though!
Oh yes, Susan, your beautiful, blonde, action-girl daughter should DEFINITELY take to hanging around the polo field rather than those nasty, slippery mountains. Next stop Argentina. (And she could so take on any polo-playing rugby god…!)
Karen, I was thinking of you when I watched the Wales match the other day, and there was a special pre-match feature on lovely Jamie, in his other guise as a doctor. Let’s just say I can completely understand your interest in ‘research’! My favourite on the Welsh team still has to be gorgeous number 9, Mike Phillips. He was injured at the end of last year, but I was a very happy girl when I found out he was fit enough to play in the 6 Nations. Again, research, obviously. (Thanks for the info about Jamie Roberts and corporate hire… Hello Richmond– are you reading this?!)
Heidi, isn’t that the killer? I hate it when the writing cuts into my reading time. Haven’t worked out quite how to work that yet, as my current deadline nightmare clearly demonstrates.
Oooh, thanks for that Christina! Do you hear that, Annie? Book your flight. (And can we ask, Ms Hollis, how you know this? Spill all….)
India, I have your book in my TBR. Unfortunately, my TBR pile keeps growing and my reading time keeps decreasing.
I can’t wait to read it!