by India Grey, author of Emily and the Notorious Prince (Book 3 of The Balfour Brides continuity, Harlequin Presents, October2010)
When my editor asked if I’d like to be involved in a continuity series involving the lives and loves of the eight daughters of a wealthy and powerful English patriarch, I confess I was a bit of a pushover. I loved the premise. I loved the idea of the heroines. Heck, I really loved the other authors who were on board. And, when I received the booklet of story outlines (or the ‘bible’ as it’s blasphemously but quite appropriately called) I loved the stories.
The only thing I was not so enamored with was the so-called hero of my book. Luis Cordoba, Crown Prince of a small island principality off the coast of Brazil, was described as an ‘incorrigible playboy bachelor’ – so far so sexy – but the outline went on to say that the previous year at the Balfour Charity Ball he had tried to seduce Emily, the youngest Balfour sister, with ‘more haste than charm’ and make her another notch on ‘his considerably-scored regal bedpost.’ Poor Emily, fresh out of the cloistered environment of the London School of Ballet and utterly naïve where the opposite sex is concerned, resisted fiercely, shocked to the core. And as a mother of three girls myself, I was right on her side. First impressions count, and it wasn’t looking good for me and Luis.
So how did he end up stealing the story?
The thing is that everyone loves a bad boy – as long as he doesn’t appear in your own kitchen draped around your daughter – and although I didn’t approve of Luis I have to admit I did find myself feeling pretty attracted to him, against my better judgment. In previous books I’ve tended towards writing heroes who are troubled and tormented, so I found the prospect of writing a man who had no demons to slay or shadows in his past strangely liberating. Luis was a playboy prince, not-so-pure and very-simple, and he didn’t bother to disguise this or apologise for it. Shallow as a puddle, he was all about pleasure and hedonism the word conscience wasn’t in his vocabulary - or so he wanted me to believe as I started to write the book and he wisecracked his way through every scene he was in and refused to say anything remotely serious or revealing.
Which actually began to seem rather significant.
And so I had to ask myself – and him – what it was that he was trying to hide? I knew that his father was in poor health and that his older brother had recently died, plunging him into a position of unwelcome responsibility as the new heir to the throne and providing his conflict. However, his mother wasn’t mentioned in the outline at all, and I kept returning to this gap in his life, wondering what had happened to her and how it might have affected him. And that’s when my disapproving heart began to melt.
I don’t know any royals, and I’m rather sad to admit that my address book is kind of lacking in playboys too, but in the end Luis came to resemble the men I do know in real life more closely than any of my previous heroes. He loves football. He’d rather run a marathon, naked, with a hangover and a rucksack of rocks on his back than talk about (*shudder*) feelings. He kisses women because it means he doesn’t have to make conversation with them. He takes them to bed because when he’s having sex he’s not having to think. To him, shallow is good. Safe. And he behaves like an iredeemable bastard simply because he believes that’s what he is. Beyond redemption.
Luckily for him, Emily Balfour sees it differently. She was the perfect woman for him because she understood the need behind the nonchalance, and the boy behind the man. And she was also happy to stand graciously to one side while he took over her book, without once stamping her foot and saying ‘Wait a minute – It’s my name on the cover!’
By the end of the book I hadn’t just warmed to Luis, I’d come to adore him almost as much as Emily does, and I wonder if you’ve ever completely revised your opinion of someone – and maybe even fallen in love with them? Did that first impression turn out to be wrong, or is it always wise to trust your initial instincts? What do you think?
That’s a brilliant summing up of what makes a great character, India – the nugget of pure hero beneath the veneer. Wow…
Oh, I’d never trust my initial instincts when it comes to the opposite sex – I thought my darling husband was a surly so-and-so when we first met but he’s actually a real sweetie.
I thoroughly enjoyed Emily’s story in the Balfour Brides series. Luis was like a breath of fresh air; a hero who made me roar with laughter and then want to cry when he proposed to Emily by writing in the sand. Brilliant.
Hi Christina – thanks for that! I hope that underneath Luis is a real hero… For a while, when I was writing the book I despaired! (LOVE your new cover for The Italian’s Blushing Gardener, by the way – can’t wait to read it)
Mary, that’s so funny – have you asked him what was going through his head? I bet he was overwhelmed with shyness when confronted with the woman of his dreams! I’m really happy that you enjoyed the book, and that Luis worked for you. Thank you. x
Ooohh I am SO looking forward to diving into this one, it’s been sitting on the top of my TBR pile and I’ve been savouring the moment for far too long. Luis sounds too delicious for words and I’ve no doubt he will live up to expectations!
x Abby
India, I WANT this book! Argh. I don’t have a copy and will have to track one down. This sounds a real treat.
Actually, I find first impressions often end up being pretty sound but I love the idea of finding a completely different hero when you dig beneath the surface. I know your fascination with this pair will shine through in this new book, India. I love the sound of it and I confess I’ve been hanging out to read another of your titles for a while.
aaawww Heroes like Luis can be the hardest to crack he made you and Emily work for it.
Hey Abby – I really hope you like him. I currently have In Christofides’ Keeping on my TBR and am eagerly anticipating it too (if only there were more hours in the day, or more days til my deadline. Does’t writing really get in the way of your reading time?!)
Annie, thank you – that’s so kind of you! I’m with you on the first impressions thing and generally find that instinct is pretty accurate. In real life that is – in romance instinct generally has a much lower reliability-rate, but of course that’s where the story lies!
Joanna, ain’t that the truth! Thankfully, because the book was part of a series I did have the other authors to brainstorm with, so it was good fun. (But if Luis had been a little easier to get to know that would also have been quite nice…*fixed smile*)
Oh…*sniff* the sand…I cried buckets. Brilliant book India, I absolutely loved it. Luis was such a wonderful hero and Emily was such a charming heroine. I absolutely loved the moment when she came from Luis’s hotel and back to her apartment, I thought it was such a real portrayal of someone who had come from so much and become so impoverished. Really well done.
Can’t wait for your next!
Dear India,
I must stop stroking the gorgeous new cover of this book and actually get stuck in!
Suspect I’m going to like this Luis bloke. But then how could I not fall for one of your delicious heros,eh?
Lots of love,
Rach.
XX
Aw thanks Maisey – coming from the creator of Marco De Luca (or Marco De Licious as I fondly think of him) that’s wonderful to hear. I have to confess the bit in Emily’s grotty bedsit when she notices the grime around the lightswitch was inspired by a rant I directed at my children during the writing of that scene, after noticing the state of the walls in our utility room. It’s rare in Presents that you get to ‘write what you know’…
Rach, you’re so kind! (Cash, cheque or chocolate?)
Some of that jam would do nicely!
Rach.
XX
India, I know that grim too!! *looks at kids*
And LOL! Marco likes his new nickname, but only you can call him that.
Oh, this sounds so good! I can’t wait to read it!
Like Maisey, I cried buckets as well. What a great love story India!
Oops, sorry Rachel (licks lips guiltily) am fresh out of jam. Am v tempted to go and pick some more damson to keep jam supplies going, but there’s the small matter of the current book. Have reached the stage where even jam won’t lure me away!
Maisey – you mean I have my own special, private name for Marco?! That’s a VERY exciting thought for a Thursday afternoon!
Caitlin, thank you! I’m v excited about your prince too. Tormented Tariq sounds like my kind of man…
Marilyn – I missed you there! Thanks, as always, for your positivity. (Though am sorry about the tears. Always feel a bit bad putting people’s mascara in jeopardy!)
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India – I often find that the people I like most of all are the people who initially made me feel wary….
This man sounds delicious.
Bad boys rule!
India, this book is brilliant – I particularly loved the focus on bad Luis, who turned out to be not so bad after all and an utterly gorgeous hero. I agree with Mary about the laughter and tears…sniff……sob….write more books India x
Sharon, that’s interesting and actually I think you’re right. Strong personalities can initially make you draw back a little, and Presents heroes are always strong personalities!
Oooh Sarah – thank you. It’s so lovely to see my Balfour sisters here!Poor Oscar with his posse of bad boy sons in law though. As if having eight daughters wasn’t enough to turn his hair prematurely white (three is quite enough for my husband) I hope they don’t all come home for Christmas very often. Can you imagine Carlos and Luis and Zafiq all under one roof?
*imagines it*
Hmmm….
*likes*.
I’ve already told you how much I enjoyed your notorious prince, India. A perfect example of what I’m always saying that it’s the ‘why’ things happen, why characters behave as they do that really matters in a story.
I will always remember being abloe to share in your joy at having your very first book in your hands – being grabbed in the street and huggged can have that effect! – and like everyone else I’m looking forward to reading more novels by you.
I can’t wait to read this book India, your hero sounds delicious.
Keep going with current wip, can’t wait to hear about that too!
Oh blimey Kate, I remember that too! I don’t think that I’ve ever been so nervous/excited to meet anyone before (though I guess if I spotted Matthew MacFadyen striding moodily towards me in the street this afternoon that might rival it) so you have to excuse the fangirl assault. You were so gorgeous about it all (and I wonder if MM would live up to expectations like you did?!)
Rachael – thanks for the encouragement. And I can’t wait to hear all about your current wip in November!
India, I love the idea of all the Balfour husbands coming home for Christmas. All that alpha male testosterone gathered into one, not nearly large enough, stately home – there are going to be some serious sparks and I’d love to be a fly on that wall.
Me too, Ros. Or a fairy on top of the Christmas tree. Wouldn’t you just LOVE to see the gorgeous stuff emerging from the wrapping paper? And they’d all be grabbing champagne bottles and sloping off for a bit of afternoon delight during the Queen’s speech…