Can an alpha hero be too macho?

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

What do you think?

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I'm curious to see what different people think!

[Jill]

Yes and No, depends on my mood, hahahaha.
Actually sometimes, if the character isn't developed properly, then yes it can just come across as jerkiness and bullying. I am trying to think of examples but can't at the moment. Will think on it and come back.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I can see your point about character development, Jill. If the author has a very shallow view of the hero, definitely. If she doesn't take care to show the soft spots and also the flaws of the hero so you can get under his skin. And I agree, it can be mood related.

I have my opinion, but I would love to hear more of others feel.

[Faithmarie]

NOOOOO never ... it is make believe world... never to macho never too moody ... if he has to be moody... never to possessive or jealous ... as long as he doesn't take it out on her... that would be a no no... he has to be protective....

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I can definitely hit my own macho saturation point with a hero very soon, Faithmarie.

[Faithmarie]

LOL I don't think I will ever have enough ... it is my escape mode.... I search to find alpha macho books with HEA all the time... of all kinds
I am just weird I guess...

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Oh no, you're not weird at all. That's why I asked, because I'd like to see what different people think.

Honestly, macho doesn't appeal to me. Macho is sort of an extreme of masculinity to me. It's more of a posturing type thing than a positive presentation of male traits. I think I'm the weird one because macho guys always have rubbed me the wrong way.

Now a tough, sexy, take charge, protective alpha who's confident in his identity and doesn't need to undermine a woman by treating her like she's inferior because she's female, definitely works for me!

[PepperP0t]

i think we all love the paper macho guys and a paper macho guy can never be too anything! He always says the right thing and even his screw-ups make me laff -- but again, that is the paper macho guys

[Faithmarie]

Now a tough, sexy, take charge, protective alpha who's confident in his identity and doesn't need to undermine a woman by treating her like she's inferior because she's female, definitely works for me!
That is perfect... that is what I love...

i think we all love the paper macho guys and a paper macho guy can never be too anything! He always says the right thing and even his screw-ups make me laff -- but again, that is the paper macho guys
Yes!!!!!!

[Kryptonite]

Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "Oh no, you're not weird at all. That's why I asked, because I'd like to see what different people think.

Honestly, macho doesn't appeal to me. Macho is sort of an extreme of masculinity to me. I..."

I agree with you.

[Jenny]

Faithmarie wrote: "Now a tough, sexy, take charge, protective alpha who's confident in his identity and doesn't need to undermine a woman by treating her like she's inferior because she's female, definitely works for..."

I agree with Faithmarie. Give tough sexy and take charge I never get tired of. Ones that think that they know better than anyone else sometime rub me the wrong way. It's all in the development of the character. Some work some are just down right annoying.

Question do you think of Macho and Aphla males as the same or are they different?

I use to think of them as the same but for some reason now I think of Macho as arrogant and unyeilding and Aphla is the strong silent type but will to bend when needed. At least in my opinion.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

That's how I view macho v. alpha, Jenny. I used to think I didn't like alpha guys (in real life) because I associated it with the macho guys that I knew that really got on my nerves. But a true alpha isn't like that. My friend is an alpha, but you wouldn't automatically assume so because he's not the stereotyped alpha we think of.

[romancejunkie31]

"Now a tough, sexy, take charge, protective alpha who's confident in his identity and doesn't need to undermine a woman by treating her like she's inferior because she's female, definitely works for me! "

OMG ! That is totally the definition of what I look for in books!!! You should make a list! I don't really get the difference between the alpha and macho, but though I love my men to be alpha and manly, in a book that doesn't show their soft spots and fails to makes us feel that they act a certain way because they love the girl and not just because they're jerks, then it can rubb me the wrong way. I think is all about a man who's TOUGH and alpha but has a heart that he normally only shows to his woman.

Also, I read before about them being jealous but not taking it on the girl. I agree! And I have to add that I hate it when heroines act idioticly and do it on purpose. I rather have heroes figh for their women and them making it clear they just love our alphas, and not the other guy. Dk if I'm making any sense, but there it is.

Furthermore, I love it when they get territorial, I must admit. The whole "you're mine" (if done right) never gets old. And I could tell you sometimes it can overwhelms me, but it's just about how you connect with the characters. For instance, I loved This Man but I know most people wont.

But see, when treating with BDSM, for me it often doesn't work. Foreplay and a few spanking or dirty talk, GOOD. But being a submissive and having to do anything your dom tells you, and being humilliated... Idk. Taking it that step further, IS most times too much for me.

So I think there's my blurry line.

Though it also has a whole LOT to do with your mood, like Jill said.

[Jane]

For me, The Alpha is completely different as Macho. As an Alpha I see Keeping control, take charge, getting things done and still can go and be loving. In a Macho, I see like that obsessive character that doesn't let the woman do anything. Where she's made to feel like she's doing wrong. And stories like that just make me want to rush through them or stop reading them.

[Nicci ☞ Hell Raisin Sugar ☜]

I'd like to say yes and be all liberated and stuff, but Lynda Chance's alphas (who are uber alpha--like asshole alpha) are second in my mind only to KA's alphas. So--no. I love the alpha male declaration of love--MINE. I love the possessiveness and the jealousy. I even like big, muscle-bound guys.

That being said, you beating the hell outta me does not make you alpha. You stalking my ass does not make you alpha. Forcing your affections (for lack of a nicer word) on me does not make you alpha. There's a fine line.

[Jane]

Niccohl wrote: "I'd like to say yes and be all liberated and stuff, but Lynda Chance's alphas (who are uber alpha--like asshole alpha) are second in my mind only to KA's alphas. So--no. I love the alpha male dec..."

Exactly... it makes me think of FSOG and Crossfire series... i'd be like uuuummm BACK OFF! That was all stalker type...

[Nicci ☞ Hell Raisin Sugar ☜]

Jane wrote: "Niccohl wrote: "I'd like to say yes and be all liberated and stuff, but Lynda Chance's alphas (who are uber alpha--like asshole alpha) are second in my mind only to KA's alphas. So--no. I love th..."

Gideon Cross can stalk me, tie me up and beat me. I'd be ok with that.

[Jane]

Niccohl wrote: "Jane wrote: "Niccohl wrote: "I'd like to say yes and be all liberated and stuff, but Lynda Chance's alphas (who are uber alpha--like asshole alpha) are second in my mind only to KA's alphas. So--n..."

Don't get me wrong, aside from the stalker tendencies, the rest seemed heavenly XD

[Alisa]

Yes sometimes. I know I'll get a lot of boos for this but out of the few Kristin Ashley's books I've read I find her males are a bit too much for me. Sneaking in someone's room at night to have sex w/them but not actually knowing them or talking to them? Ick. Locking them up in rooms? Ick. I tried....I really did but.....ick.

[romancejunkie31]

Jajajaja. I don't know about the beating, but I dont give a d about the stalking as long as it's him.

[romancejunkie31]

SEE! Idk about you guys but I see the huge difference between Gideon and Christian, and it has more to do with the writing than anything else. There's where most of the loveableness of an alpha's lays.

[Jane]

Elianne wrote: "SEE! Idk about you guys but I see the huge difference between Gideon and Christian, and it has more to do with the writing than anything else. There's where most of the loveableness of an alpha's l..."

Agree... With me, Christian's personality just really got on my nerves... I think maybe he was written to appear very needy and possessive...which I guess had to do with the whole dominating thing...

[Jennifer]

Yes, I think an alpha hero can be too macho, aka a$$hole. lol. I like my alphas to be dominating and aggressive in the bedroom, but not necessarily in all aspects, i.e. having to control the heroine's life. There's a fine line, I guess.

I agree that a book with dual POV definitely helps, as you can see that although a hero's actions may say one thing, what's going on inside of him may say quite another, and redeem him.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Yeah, I don't like when the hero is controlling. That rubs me the wrong way, and I have very little tolerance for that. I do love a possessive, jealous, obsessive hero, so long as he doesn't demean the heroine or treat her like she has two brain cells. I love the 'you're mine' heroes! I don't mine if he's a little bit stalkerish (depending on the execution). I think it goes down to how the writer portrays the character for me. I think the hero has to view the heroine as a unique, important person and not just an object. That's a turnoff when he views her as an inanimate object without a brain or her own wants or needs.

I don't like that whole, "I'm a man, so I automatically know better than you 100% of the time" vibe.

Alisa, I'd have a problem with Mystery Man for the same reasons.

[Ashley]

Never! :)

[Gwen]

Niccohl wrote: "Jane wrote: "Niccohl wrote: "I'd like to say yes and be all liberated and stuff, but Lynda Chance's alphas (who are uber alpha--like asshole alpha) are second in my mind only to KA's alphas. So--n..."

What books are Gideon Cross and Christian from? Also, I've never read any books by Lynda Chance. Can you suggest some? I love alphas! :)

[Nicci ☞ Hell Raisin Sugar ☜]

Gwen wrote: "Niccohl wrote: "Jane wrote: "Niccohl wrote: "I'd like to say yes and be all liberated and stuff, but Lynda Chance's alphas (who are uber alpha--like asshole alpha) are second in my mind only to KA'..."

Gideon is from Sylvia Day's Crossfire series (my favorite) and Christian is from FSOG. Lynda Chance writes über alphas--they can be jerks of the highest order. My favorites are Marco's Redemption and Thrill of the Chase.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I downloaded Marco's Redemption. It sounds good. I'll see if I want to get out my shovel that I reserve for jerky heroes.

[Nicci ☞ Hell Raisin Sugar ☜]

Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "I downloaded Marco's Redemption. It sounds good. I'll see if I want to get out my shovel that I reserve for jerky heroes."

He might need more than a shovel.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Thanks for the warning!

[Jennifer]

There is a fine line between macho and arrogant. I think I good writer can distinguish the difference. I've read books where they where trying to convey macho hunk but it turned into macho jerk.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Me too, Jennifer!

[Alisa]

I think the difference w/Christian from FSOG was that his neediness, dominating stuff was supposed to stem from child abuse. I think that's a whole different thing than some of the alpha males who represented in the books who are just supposed to be dominate based on their jobs & love of the heroine.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I haven't read FSoG yet, but I can understand a hero with some emotional issues that lead to overcompensation, more than just a guy who feels entitled to treat women like they are inferior to him.