Loving Alpha Heroes
I’m really excited to be here chatting with you all today – thanks to Fatin for inviting me! I thought that since I have Mine to Possess releasing in a few days, and it’s a book that features a hot alpha hero, it would be fun to talk about what makes an alpha hero so fascinating.
First, how about a definition – for me, a true alpha hero is protective to the core. He might snap, growl and be otherwise unwelcoming to the heroine, but when push comes to shove, he’ll be there to protect her from harm. These are men with a rock solid core of honor – they might act like Neanderthals on occasion, but they’ll never choose to harm an innocent.
It’s why, I think, we like the bad boy biker hero, or the brooding loner. We know that despite his apparent heartlessness, he not only has a heart in there, it’s a powerful one, one that will cherish any woman lucky enough to see through his hardened exterior.
And is there anything more emotionally wrenching than the moment where the tough, alpha hero opens up and hands the heroine his heart? Here are a couple of my favorite moments where the hero offers the heroine everything he is, body and soul.
You have my heart—don’t break it.
~ Stephanie Laurens (Ask in the comments if you want the title of the book – I don’t want to spoil it for anyone)
I love this declaration because it’s so short and to the point, so alpha, and yet, he’s given the heroine such incredible power over him. Wow, just wow.
“I need you like the desert needs rain.”
~This one’s from one my own books and I really love this entire scene, because this hero is so proud, so contained, but with these words, he tears open his soul and shows the heroine just how vulnerable he is to her.
Do you have favorite moments like these? Want to share? What about alpha heroes in general – what do you love most about these men? Any that you adore more than others?
All comments go into a draw to win a signed copy of a book from my backlist, (not including Mine to Possess). And talking about prizes, I have this competition about hot heroes running on my blog (http://www.nalinisingh.blogspot.com) where you can go into the draw to win a $50 Amazon voucher plus a cute prize pack. It closes end of this week, so enter before it’s too late.
Hey Nalini! I have to say that I absolutely love alpha males. And one of the reasons is because in the real world I take care of quite a few things (job, home, family). I love it when an alpha male sweeps in and takes control of the situation. Then I can let my guard down and be the woman who enjoys her man. One alpha male that I totally adore and re-read the book every year is Connor from Julie Garwood’s The Wedding. Love that guy!
Hi, Nalini! I love reading about alpha males–there’s something very exciting about a take-charge kind of guy 🙂 And then it’s especially moving when that man is willing to make himself vulnerable and admit that his heart belongs to another. I just finished Tawny Weber’s Does She Dare? and when the “I don’t need anyone” hero comes to realize that he loves the heroine and can imagine having a family with her, that’s a lovely moment.
Hi Nalini,
Who doesn’t like alpha-males? I absolutely adore them. Well, I do in books. In reality I wouldn’t want to be married with one.:P
I always love the moment when the hero realizes that he loves the heroine. Oh and also the moment just before he realizes it. 😀
HI NALINI!*waves*
Love your alpha’s, and excited about the MTP release. Vaughn is my favorite of yours.
King Arthur is top alpha in my book. A man with heart,who fights the good fight.
Hugs, Danette
I too love alpha males and I loved your book Slave To Sensation I have just got the next one in the series Visions Of Heat and am really looking forward to reading it I love the way you write alpha males.
Have Fun
Helen
Hi Everyone! 🙂
Buffie – I love Garwood’s alphas, too. They’re just so strong and capable (and ok, the hardheadedness is kinda cute too).
Fedora – yes, that moment of vulnerability can be so powerful – I think especially with proud alphas, it shows how much they’re willing to surrender to their heroine.
Stefanie – are you sure you don’t want a real alpha? *g* Hmm, maybe that’s a good question – do you guys think an alpha hero would make a good husband?
Danette – I like that “A man with heart, who fights the good fight.”
Helen – thank you! I think you’ll like Clay. 🙂
Oooh, I love a good alpha hero! Lisa Kleypas is great at this too. St. Vincent from “Devil in Winter” is so hot. He has that veneer of not giving a darned but then inside he’s so sweet!
Fedora — Wasn’t Does She Dare a great book! I think Tawny did a fabulous job on it, and she was quite creative with certain motorcycle scenes 😉
Brownone — St. Vincent is a fabulous example of an alpha male. I just love that book. I was so happy that Lisa put that hunk of a man with the stuttering gal. Great story!
Indeed, Buffie! That was quite inspired! 😉 Makes me want to find a motorcycle riding guy, just to take a ride 🙂 And definitely, Brownone and Buffie, St. Vincent was quite yummy, and loved him with Evie!
I love alpha male heroes. You do them so well Nalini. Tough but with a tender core for their mates. I especially love Lucas since his was the first book I read and he hooked me to your books. I will always have tender feelings for him no matter how many other alpha males you introduce me to in your books.
Hi Nalini! I love Alpha males, especially how they can be all grumpy and overall a pain in the butt but then once you get to know them, you see that they have a heart of all and are vulnerable, too. Can you tell me the title Stephanie Laurens book, just from that line, it sounds wonderful.
Buffie, I have DOES SHE DARE? on my TBR pile and can’t wait to read it! It sounds very good. 🙂
Anyway, great post!! 😀
I love your books! Can’t wait to read Mine To Possess.
Sounds like a great read like the rest of your books. Alpha men are a bit too macho for my taste in real life but in books, I love ’em 🙂 The one whose most caught my attention is Acheron of the Dark-Hunter series.
I’ve blogged about this at my book review/contest blog – A Book Blogger’s Diary
Hope that’s ok with you. Thanks!
Brownone – aren’t those ones so cute. They’re so tough on the surface but underneath…
Cherie / Estelle – thanks!
aBookworm – Ash is great! I can’t wait for his book.
Title of Stephanie Laurens book for Wendy. 🙂
Spoiler warning if you don’t want to know what book the quote in my post came from.
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“A Secret Love”
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I think the perfect example of an alpha male in fiction is Daemon Sadi from Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels books. His power and actions are all about protection not domination and he’s wonderful. However, I sure as heck wouldn’t want to be married to him myself!
Hi,
I also love alpha-males… but I have to confess *blushing* I have never read one of your books!
I usually like the ones in the older historicals by Laurie McBain and Shirlee Busbee.
I also am a fan of Alpha Males… and loves the ones that were featured in your Silhouette Desires 🙂 Will you be writing more?
I would love to try reading alpha males books. I haven’t read any of them. Mine to Possess sounds great.
Kerry – I love that series! I adore Daemon, but I think Lucivar is my favorite.
Nathalie – lol, you’ll have to try them 😉
Lily – at this stage, I’m not writing any more Desires, but never say never! 🙂
Amelia – give them a go! Alpha males are just yummy to read about!
I haven’t read any of your books yet but I’m looking forward to reading them. Mine To Possess sounds good!
love alpha males ,, o laalala
Greetings! The Alpha Male. This kind of reminds me about the book about why smart women pick the wrong men. Before I was married, a guy had to look rugged ( no baby faces ), be bad in mild ways ( even though I wasn’t ) and be somewhat distant. The only other man I have ever loved other than my husband was these things and more. He ended up breaking my heart ( almost literally )! I, too, like the character of King
Arthur. Please enter me in your drawing. I appreciate it.
Many thanks…..Cindi
I love your books!
I’m looking forward to Mine to Possess.
The Alpha male that will forever be the one I measure against is Roarke from the In Death series of JD Robb. He’s just so what everyone needs (or is it just me?).
Also, along the Julie Garwood alphas is the Buchanan from Ransom. He’s someone that was just so darn cute.
And of course, Vaughn from Visions of Heat; just perfect 🙂
Hi Nalini, I’m so excited about MtP….6 days and counting!
I love guys who are focused, decisive and have a sense of integrity which I think the alpha male embodies. And like everyone’s mentioned there’s nothing better than a strong man who decides to give all of his strength to his woman.
Mariana – I’m in agreement, Roarke’s one of those guys that really speaks to a girl, too bad there’s never enough of him in the books 😦
I also really love Matt Farrell from Judith McNaught’s Paradise and it sounds like Clay might make it to the list as well!
Carol & Marie – hope you enjoy it!
Tasha – aren’t they just yummy 🙂
Cindi – entered!
Mariana – I’m a huge Roarke fan – the way he takes care of Eve while letting her be who she needs to be…sigh. And I adore Vaughn of course!
Hi, Nalini!!
I’ve been reading and hearing AWESOME things about Mine To Possess…I can’t wait to read it!!
And OMG, I love and lust after the Alpha hero. I practically swoon when I read those awesome passages…saw your contest and have been going over in my head some of the most awesome alph heros. And keep coming back to a favorite scene of mine from Dara Joy’s Mine To Take…when Janise and Gian Ren are traveling through the creeper vines, and he carries her on his back for the whole day…swoon. He’s just so alpha and so gone over her…I’ve got SO many fav’s though, it’s hard to pick just one!!
Great idea!!
Thanks for visiting!!
I like Rourke, Acheron, Vishous, Daemon and Valerius. Acheron, Vishous and Daemon all seem kinda hurt in some what that just makes me want to fix them. 🙂 Valerius has a great sense of humor and Rourke….mmm Rourke. Who wouldn’t love a man that looks and sounds like him; and who knows what you need better than you do.
That SL title is one of my favourites. Another favourite is SEP’s Kiss An Angel, with the scene where the hero is on his knees on behalf of the heroine. As for an alpha in my real life…. Hmm…. but they sure are nice to read about! Looking forward to Clay and Talin’s story Nalini.
Hi Nalini, you know how I swoon for your alpha males. Speaking of deserts 😀 Tariq from Desert Warrior is still one of my all-time faves. I love that he had made himself vulnerable to the heroine once, and it had turned out to be a terrible mistake, so he was never going to do that again! (at least not until the end of the book).
I can’t wait to read Mine to Possess.
Jen
Another favourite is SEP’s Kiss An Angel, with the scene where the hero is on his knees on behalf of the heroine. ~~~
Allison~~I forgot about that one!! I DO love SEP’s heros…she has that special way of making them Alpha with a that vulnerable twist only the heroine can get to….hmmm…may have to do some SEP rereads…
Thanks ladies, for reminding me of SEP; love her heroes.
And I don’t how I could forget Jacquelyn Frank’s alphas: Jacob and Gideon; so very nice.
Melissa – hope you enjoy MtP! And Dara Joy’s Mine to Take is fabulous! It’s on my keeper shelf 🙂
Nicole – wounded alphas (especially when they won’t admit it) are so fascinating to read about. I think it’s that combination of vulnerability and strength.
Allison – Ooooh, will have to look up that SEP book. Hope you fall madly in love with Clay 🙂
Jennifer – thanks! I have to admit, I love Tariq 🙂 I think it’s because he is so strong and so hurt, and yet, when it matters, he rips open his heart for Jasmine.
Mariana – I’ve heard so much about Jacob & Gideon – they’re on my (towering) tbr pile!
loved loved Lucas comment in your xmas novella that You made Tammy cry and that wasn’t right. That is paraphrased. I just love that cause he was already showing signs of being the man he became. He is one of all time favorite heros.
I also enjoy the alpha males, and I’m looking forward to your newest release!
Nalini – Jacob, Gideon and Elijah are scrumptious. Those books are great!!!! You should definitely read.
And thanks for turning me on to Meljean Brooks. I’m really enjoying her books 🙂
I noticed no one else said Marjorie M. Liu’s Artur (Shadow Touch). He was so great and then when he made an appearance on Eye of Heaven, that he would do anything to save her, that sealed the deal for me.
Pam – thank you. I really love Lucas and even young, he had the hallmarks of a true alpha 🙂
Teresa – hope you enjoy it!
Mariana – you’ll love Demon Night. Ethan is HAWT!
My favorite topic!
I’m a huge romance reader and always on the lookout for good recommendations.
Shirley Busbee — there’s a name I haven’t seen in ages!! (mental note to catch up on her backlist)
Even if you never thought you could possibly read a vampire romance, if you love alpha heroes, you MUST read JR Ward. They are marvelous.