Today Lauren Dane is back with us to celebrate yet another release. Chaos Burning, Book 2 in the Bound by Magick series, is available today!
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Alpha Males and the People Who Love Them (and keep them from being jerks) by Lauren Dane
I love to write alpha males. It’s not really a secret to anyone who’s read a few of my books, I know. But to me, an alpha male without a strong female to counter all his pushiness sometimes renders him into the “alphahole” slot. You know, he’s so bossy and controlling that he pushes the heroine around and she ends up a doormat and he’s a jerk.
So to me, it’s absolutely imperative that when I write a character like Simon Leviathian, I have to pair him up with a strong woman to soften his alphahole tendencies and keep him on the right side of the alpha spectrum.
Simon is Lycian. Lycians are from the other side of the Veil where their world is ruled by packs of men who can shift into beasts. Their beasts are giant wolves, sort of like werewolves, only larger. Anyway, Simon is not only Lycian, but he’s a prince in line to rule the pack if his father and two older brothers can’t rule. He spent five hundred years as a warrior at his father’s right hand. He is used to getting his way. Used to people obeying him.
He’s come to this side of the Veil to make his own pack in a sense. He is his own alpha, not beholden to anyone else. Not in anyone’s shadow. He’s built a successful life in Seattle when he meets Lark. He co-owns a club with Dominic Bright called Heart of Darkness. He’s a successful businessman who knows what he wants and makes it happen for himself.
But he’s not expecting Lark and he doesn’t even know at the beginning of the book that she’s what he wants.
Lark is a warrior too. She’s pretty badass as the hunter from a related clan, Gennessee and she’s in Seattle to help militarize their hunters to face the rising threat of the mages we met in Heart of Darkness.
She’s also funky, odd and dances to her own beat. On the surface, she and Simon are opposites. He’s designer suits and aged Scotch and she’s blue hair and thrift store clothes. He enjoys her a great deal. He loves how strong she is. Her sense of humor and definitely her competitive streak.
But when that friends-like develops into a far-more-than-just-friends feeling, he is old enough to know what it means. He accepts it with ease, though Lark isn’t so convinced.
There’s definite push and pull between them. He is a protector. It’s not only his personality, but he’s been bred for it. It’s who he is to the very bone. What they face is dangerous and there are many times when he’s tempted to pick her up and run for the hills with her on his back to save her from what is coming.
But he can’t. Because it’s who she is as well. Lark is a protector, a warrior and her job is to protect her people. He respects that about her more than he wants to protect her.
Not always, of course. He is an alpha male after all. And he does overstep and when he does, she pushes him right back. She does not let him control her or make her choices, though she does understand it’s part of loving a male like Simon and she respects that about him as he respects her.
It’s a delicate balance to keep. He does toss her over his shoulder a few times and she lays down the law about it. That energy between then never goes into a place where his actions are abusive. She’d never tolerate it and I’d never write a hero who wasn’t, well, heroic. Abusers aren’t heroes and neither are alphaholes.
So they have this dance of push and pull but there is always mutual respect. Her of his personality and need to protect those he cares about, and his of the same things about her. They have a rhythm that I loved writing and in the end, he’s a definite alpha male – but never an alphahole.
Lauren Dane
www.laurendane.com
https://twitter.com/#!/laurendane
http://www.facebook.com/LaurenDane
The story goes like this — Seven years ago, Lauren Dane decided to quit her job and stay home with her brand new second child. As a result, she had lots of conversations in a sing-song voice but no real outlet for adult thoughts and words. While on bed-rest with her pregnancy with the tiny monster, Lauren had plenty of down time so her husband brought home a second hand laptop and she decided to “give that writing thing a serious go.”
Lauren had no idea how fabulously wonderful it would feel to actually make a go of her writing and she’s thankful every day people actually want to read what she writes! She’s well aware of her good fortune and loves every moment of it, even when she has to edit and put Barbie’s dresses back on over and over again. She still hasn’t managed to figure out how to shut out the sound of Wizards of Waverly Place so she can write a love scene, though.
Lauren is giving away a copy of Heart of Darkness, the first book in series. For a chance to win, leave a comment telling us how you feel about alpha heroes. Contest ends: 6/9/12 @ 11:59pm. Please note: you must include a valid email address with your comment to be eligible.
The series:
This book is available from Berkley Sensation. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
I’m a big fan of the alphas, though I COMPLETELY agree about the need to tame the inner “alphahole” (great word!).
A well written alpha is swoon worthy! I love strong males who are afraid to take charge but I also love the strong females who can hold their own.
I loved the first book and this one sounds just as good.
marmitage@coeur.com
Oops I ment to say aren’t afraid to take charge darn smart phone.
I love alpha heroes,as long as they aren’t ‘alphaholes’.
Alpha men are my FAVORITE. I love a strong, dominant, take charge man.
jlhmass@yahoo.com
For me, I love it! I don’t know if it’s because it’s the complete opposite of how I feel about it in my real life or if the author truly just makes them appear irresistible in my mind’s eye. Still not sure.
Alpha males are the best, there fierce, stubborn, sexy as hell however what makes they great is the female who won’t put up with all crap they come with and who tell it like it is. Elizabeth Dougan. emdougan@hotmail.com
I love the alpha male strong stubborn authoritative and dead sexy
and bossy because bossy is awesomely sexy
mortalsinn(AT)yahoo(dot)com
Love alpha males. That’s probably why I married one, even if he can get annoying.
The reason I love alpha males is because of their confidence. There something about a guy who can be arrogant without being cocky and annoying.
As long as they’re not tooooo controlling, I can handle alpha males.
smartb56 at gmail dot com
I love alpha heroes, especially when they’re attracted to strong heroines. Nothing is sexier than a strong man who wants a strong woman!
rwschwarz11ATgmailDOTcom
I’m a big fan of the alpha hero. They are strong, take charge, stubborn, loving, protective, possessive, arrogant, sexy men. What’s not to like.
I love to read alpha males,when they are strong, confident, protective and sexy and not a “alphahole”, love that term! I also love the strong women who make them toe the line!
lfacchini(at)tampabay.rr.com
Alpha heroes allow modern women to access their, please excuse the term, “softer side(s).”
I love to read about alpha males and strong females! Alphaholes? That’s a good one!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Kanya 😉
I love alpha males. I love when a strong, self sufficient, smart woman attracts an alpha male who just wants to make her the center of his universe. jepebATverizonDOTnet
I am a huge fan of alpha heroes!! Especially those who want a woman to cherish and protect, makes me melty every time 🙂
Do not enter me, I have HoD and LOVEd it!!!
I love alpha heros because they are so secure in themselves to love a strong woman and let her be strong!
suz2(at)cox(dot)net
I love alphas as long as they are willing to show their partner their feelings.
Jen(at)delux(dot) com
An alpha hero makes you feel safe, wanted, loved and never taken for granted!!!
dsadler53@yahoo.ca
I like reading about alpha heroes.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
i have no negative feeling towards alpha heroes, as long as they don’t act like an ass and inconsiderate.
smile_1773@yahoo.com
If I am ever in need I hope an Alpha hero crosses my path. They make for exciting reading.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I love alpha heroes as long as they respect women.
acm05atjuno.com
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And the TBR keeps growing. I’ve been reading Lauren Dane’s books since her first erotic romances were published over 6 years ago. She just keeps getting better and better. As to alpha males, I do have to admit that I am partial to them. I can tolerate alphaholes if the author does a good job of “redeeming” him. Some authors are really good at doing that.
M.
I love all the things that make an alpha an alpha. And I agree that “he” needs a strong woman to keep up with him. No wimps for me. Makes a boring story. LOL.
I love alpha males. They are loyal and virile and deep down, pussycats! LOL
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
Well, I like everything in an alpha. They are very strong characters who the heroines can trust. But I can’t stand an “alphahole” (I love the word, Lauren!). And the heroine has to be strong as well. Lark and Simon seem perfect in that way!
Alpha heroes are my favorite kind of heroes. They tend to be strong physically and mentally so it’s a great contrast when they do have vulnerabilities. I like when they have both these qualities.
Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love how you write Alpha heroes. 🙂
elliewrites2 (at) gmail (dot) com
I’m not a natural born leader, so I really need an alpha male… 😉
But for me it’s not a must to get an alpha male, sometimes I attracted to a beta male too.
lady_milano3 at yahoo dot com
While I wouldn’t necesarilly want to live with an alpha hero, I adore reading about them.
Love their mental and physical strength, protectiveness, and take charge attitude. I especially love alpha males with a great sense of humor who think the sun rises and sets on the heroine’s shoulders.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
I like alpha heroes although you need a strong heroine who won’t take any crap. Otherwise he will run over her.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com