The billionaire’s business arrangement:
Jack Garrett enjoys biddable women — sharing the vineyard he’s inherited with his fiery ex-wife does not appeal. His agenda is clear: visit Brenna, make her a deal… and leave, immediately.
His terms…
But one glimpse of Brenna’s sun-kissed skin has Jack’s rugged body recalling their fevered nights together…
Her fiery surrender!
As their red-hot passion erupts, ten years of ice-cold separation melt away. Now they’re back where it started all those years ago — in bed! Suddenly negotiations are looking much more pleasurable…
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I’ve been thinking a lot about Alpha heroes lately. I’ve been pulled into a couple of discussions online, and I have a writer friend who is trying to “Alpha-up” her hero and asked me for advice. The funny part is that I’m actually *thinking* about Alpha heroes – trying to pin down what makes them desirable and where the uncrossable line really lies. I write Alpha heroes, but I don’t really think about them that much.
Well, I think about them – a lot – but I don’t try to analyze them. Thinking about Alphas is fun; the analyzing isn’t. ~grin~
I think Alphas get a bad rap sometimes. Say “Alpha Hero” and some folks immediately think “arrogant, domineering and mean.” That’s Alpha gone bad. Alpha-ness isn’t a character flaw; it’s an attitude of leading the pack. They’re take-charge men. They fix things. They do what they think is best and right in a situation. So, yes, I can see where that could come across as overbearing and domineering. But a true Alpha hero isn’t doing this because he wants to walk over the heroine or because he thinks she can’t handle it herself. He’s just taking charge of the situation and he’s used to being the one people listen to. He’s not necessarily trying to be domineering, but an independent, modern heroine can be forgiven for seeing it that way.
And that’s where the fun comes in for me. Pit a “take-charge-let-me-handle-this” hero against an “I-can-do-it-myself-just-fine” heroine and sparks will fly.
I had great fun with this very situation in my October book, BOARDROOM RIVALS, BEDROOM FIREWORKS! Jack Garrett’s Alpha tendencies helped break up his marriage with Brenna Walsh years ago, but now they’re sharing an inheritance. He doesn’t want it, and she’s not happy that he has it, but she needs him not to sell his half just yet. In true Alpha style, though, Jack isn’t just going to stand idly by. He tries to take charge and fix this situation in the most expedient way possible. This makes Brenna want to kick him. Repeatedly. In a sensitive area.
Alpha heroes often elicit that kind of response from a strong heroine. Mix that in with some sexual tension and, for Brenna and Jack, unresolved issues from their past, and it’s an explosion waiting for just the right spark to set it off.
Can you tell I had a really good time writing their story? The thing is, it wouldn’t be so much of a powder keg without an Alpha hero. My heroine needs a really strong character to butt heads with, because she’s pretty strong herself and would walk all over a Beta hero.
Linda Howard once asked, “Where’s the challenge in bringing PeeWee Herman to his knees?” I couldn’t agree more. Bringing an Alpha hero to his knees is the ultimate Girl Power moment. After all, once an Alpha is on his knees, one of three things is going to happen… and they’re all good.
So bring on the Alphas. I – I mean my heroines – will bring them to their knees.
Do you love an Alpha? Tell me why or why not, and one commenter will get a book from my backlist.
~Kimberly~
www.BooksByKimberly.com
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A big thank you to Kimberly Lang for joining us today! Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a book from Kimberly’s backlist. Good luck! 😀
Hi, Kimberly! I love “sparks fly” and reunion romances–“BOARDROOM RIVALS, BEDROOM FIREWORKS!” sounds terrific! I love big, gruff, tough men who have even bigger hearts and an inner core of compassion. I also appreciate intelligence and humor, but kindness is the essential quality. Vulnerability is sometimes the key to an alpha male. What he may consider to be his weakness is actually the inner force which makes him an alpha. I love INTENSE. Who would want a Alpha who was not intense? Having said that, it’s so much more attractive for that Alpha to have one soft spot–his love for a very special woman!
Oh, Virginia, that soft spot is what does me in every. single. time. That’s the moment when my heart kind of gets that squishy feeling.
And there’s something just so wonderful about finding that big heart under the tough exterior. And you know the heroine has to be strong and special to be the one to bring it out, which then makes me love the heroine more, too!
Kimberly, great post. I think Virgina said it all. I personally can’t wait to read this one!
Hi Marilyn! Good to see you here!
Hope you enjoy Brenna and Jack’s story!
I do enjoy the Alpha character. I like the take charge kind of guy, I think they would make the heroine feel safe and protected. I like them to be sensitive to the needs of others as well as strong and intellegent.
See, I find intelligence sexy, too. The great shoulders are nice — I’m such a sucker for great shoulders — but there needs to be a good head on those shoulders, too.
I think that’s why I had such a crush on Indiana Jones — all those smarts made his brain sexy too!
My Darling Geek is pretty damn cute, but I like his intelligence too. (and being a Geek, he’s pretty handy with my computer issues…)
Alphas are great… I enjoy when these tough guys fall in love… how macho and protective they are… 😀
Finding the heart of a macho tough guy and bringing it to the surface… sigh. Oh, that’s the moment I live for! And I love the heroine that can do it!
And I don’t mind saying that I love protective heroes. Yes, I know I *can* take care of myself, but that doesn’t mean I want to all the time. Even the strongest person wants to be looked after occasionally…
I love a Alpha hero. I consider myself a take-charge woman, but who wants to be in charge all of the time. Bring on the Alphas!
Like I said above to Colleen’s comment, just because I *can* that doesn’t mean that I *have* to or that I always *want* to. And I think it’s also an important realization for the heroine when she figures out she can be strong and still love the Alpha hero!
Hi, Kimberly 🙂
I just purchased this book for my kindle… looking forward to reading your alpha hero’s story *bg*
I absolutely love alpha heroes… because even when they’re doing the wrong thing, it’s usually for the right reasons. They’re so protective, too *sigh*
Ali! Loved meeting you at RAW! Hope you enjoy the book.
I’ll join you in that sigh, because I think that’s what lets the Alpha get away with so much. They mean well (bless their hearts), but don’t necessarily know how to do things without being heavy-handed and Alpha about it!
I like alphas as long as they’re not controlling.
Yes, there is that line between “taking charge” and “controlling.” Maybe “taking charge” is a desire to help and “controlling” is really believing the heroine isn’t capable of tying her own shoes?
Hi! I think of Alpha heroes as Big Brother types (not in the Orwellian way). He’s going to take charge because he wants what’s best for those he cares about. Unfortunately, if the heroine is a Big Sister type, there will be tension and sparks. It’ll take a some time for Big Brother and Big Sister types to relax and let someone else take charge for a while. That is what’s so fun about these characters.
Totally agree with you. Where’s the fun if the hero tries to run the show and the heroine just lets him? No sparks! (and we kinda veer towards that less-fun *controlling* vibe!)
Handsome, strong, intelligent, sense of humor, protective!
Ditto, ditto, ditto!!!!!!!
Congrats on the new release, Kimberly. I do love alpha heroes. I like that they’re strong and know what they want and won’t settle for less.
Thanks!
And I’m of the belief no one should settle for less, so maybe Alphas can teach us all something!!
Kimberly, I have to say that I love them when I read them. And I think they’re also present in every bad boy–a frustrated alpha male waiting to take charge in a world that hasn’t allowed him to be CEO.
Hmmm, now there’s an interesting thought….
I love a bad boy, too. I must ponder this more…
I love an alpha!!
Yes, I love an Alpha. There is definately something about a take charge, not willing to sit around and wait for someone else to do it kind of man. Thanks for the intro to the book, I look forward to reading it!
I hope you enjoy it!
There is nothing so sexy as an alpha male, as long as its not total domination. They have the sex appeal down pat, but if they have a sexy brain in combination with the shoulders and eyes, not to mention the hands, well there is nothing as exciting as that. I will look forward to reading it.
Shoulders, eyes and hands… a girl after my own heart!
I like alpha males, especially if they have a wicked sense of humor!
Oh, the wickeder the better! I love snappy dialog, and that sense of humor makes it snap.
Love alphas, because when they fall in love, the fall harder than any other type! Book sounds wonderful, all the best for your release!
Oh, yeah… all that brooding and intensity refocused on the heroine now that he’s in love. Completely sigh-worthy…
Alphas so in control at all times!
I love it when a lady upsets their world!!
johnslake at usa dot com
I think what stands out best in Alpha heroes is that the tough exterior hides endearing senstivity esp. if they’re little incompetent in a certain thing it stands out endearingly because its tough for a he-man type to admit to any kind of weakness
Hi Kimberly!
Of course I love an Alpha! I absolutely love that whole, “take-charge-let-me-handle-this” possessive hero that they are. Of course there is also a certain turn off trait about them when they take things way too far in the possessiveness arena. There just has to be a balance between that and sensitivity.
yadkny@hotmail.com
I like alpha males in my books. In real life, I make decisions and do things myself quite a bit. In my books, though, I imagine myself as the heroine, so it’s nice to not have to make those decisions but still feel pampered and cherished (at least by the end of the storyline, LOL)!