Who makes your top ten list of Alpha Male Heroes in literature?

[Lisarenee]

Jill Shalvis recently made a list of her top ten alpha male heroes. What are yours?

Here's a link to Jill's choices:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jill-sh...

[Lisarenee]

It may take me a while to compose mine.

[Dawn, Desperately seeking new worlds]

Ok I have a list I will take three from my favorite genres

Classic Literature
Jean Valjean from Victor Hugo's Les Misérables
Edmond Dantes from Alexandre Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo
And of course the best one ever Prince Charming from Cinderella (Grimm Brothers)

Historical Romance
Royce Westmoreland "The Wolf" from A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught
Alec Kincaid from The Bride by Julie Garwood
Simon Basset from The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

Parnormal Romance
Raphael from the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh
Eidolon from Larissa Ione's Pleasure Unbound
Acheron from the Dark Hunters series by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Urban Fantasy
Curran from the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
Trent from the Hallows series by Kim Harrison
Toby, King of Cats from the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire

[Sara]

Warning, possible spoilers ahead...

Top 10 (Urban Fantasy)

1)Adam Hauptman - Mercy Thompson series by Patrica Briggs
2)Curran Lennart - Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
3) Trent Kalamack - Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison
4) Tybalt - October Daye series by Seanan McGuire
5) Jeremy Danvers - Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong
6) Owen Grayson - Gin Blanco series by Jennifer Estep
7) George Dumas - Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter
8) Mircea Basarab - Dorina Basarab series by Karen Chance
9) Terrible - Downside Ghosts by Stacia Kane
10) Vex - Xandra Vardan series by Kate Locke

Why they make the top 10:

1) Competence.

Every one is competent, confident, and experienced in their occupation (pack leader, enforcer, diplomat, artist, businessman, etc.)

2) They take care of their family/people.

All the members of my list have a group they look after whether it be a pack, a race, or just the girls working the street in a bad part of town. Adam, Trent, Jeremy, and Mircea all have children. Owen raised his sister from a young age.

3) Someone in their group has a trait that sets them apart from their society's usual standards. The alpha's response: "Tough, They're mine. Deal with it."

Adam has Mercy, a walker, and Warren, a gay best friend. Curran has Kate, a non-shifter who is the daughter of an almost-god who wants to wipe out shifters. Trent has Rachel who is a demon - a race that is the arch-enemy of the elves. Tybalt has Toby, a changeling who is the daughter of a crazy First Born. Jeremy has Clay, the original wild child, Elena, a female werewolf who he promoted to Alpha, and Jamie, a necromancer who may become insane in the future. Owen loves Gin, a publicly known assassin. George Dumas is in love with Jane Yellowrock, a rogue vamp hunter, - awkward since he's bound to a vamp. Mircea has Radu, a total cloud cuckoolander of a brother, and Dorina, his dhamphir daughter. Terrible has Chess, a drug addict. Vex loves Xandra, a "halfie" and a goblin/vamp combo, he also takes care of the werewolf "halfies".

4) They let the ladies take care of business without trying to "put baby in a corner". They may have a panic attack when the action gets really hot but they let the ladies handle the situations.

Adam has trained all the ladies in his pack, along with his daughter, to handle themselves in combat.

Trent, Vex, Curran, Tybalt, Owen, and George all have faith in their ladies' abilities.

Mircea had Dorina lead the search for Dracula and put her on the smuggling strike force.

Terrible relies on Chess's advice and skills when he encounters ghosts and magic.

Jamie has the least offensive capabilities of any of the significant others but Jeremy stood back and let her lead the investigation in the "human magic" case. He also promoted Elena, a female, to succeed him as Alpha when he retired.

[Darcy]

Sara, great list and even better reasons.

[Sara]

Thanks!

[Dawn, Desperately seeking new worlds]

I too like the reasons!

[Mike]

Here is my guy POV two cents.
1. Harry Dresden from Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
2. Remy Chandler from the Remy books by Tom Sniegoski
3. Atticus O'Sullivan from the Iron Druid by Kevin Hearne
4. Tybalt from October Daye by Seanan McGuire
5. Bran Cornick from Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs
6. Niko from the Cal and Niko books by Rob Thurman
7. Virgil Flowers from the Virgil Flowers books by John Sandford
8. Jon Snow from Song of Ice and Fire by George Martin
9. Eric Northman from Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris
10. Roland Deschain from the Dark Tower by Stephen King.

[Mike]

Dawn wrote: "Ok I have a list I will take three from my favorite genres

Classic Literature
Jean Valjean from Victor Hugo's Les Misérables
Edmond Dantes from Alexandre Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo
And of co..."

I really like your classic picks. I love French lit and those are two of my favorites.

[Darcy]

Mike wrote: "Here is my guy POV two cents.
1. Harry Dresden from Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
2. Remy Chandler from the Remy books by Tom Sniegoski
3. Atticus O'Sullivan from the Iron Druid by Kevin Hearne
4. T..."

I love that you have Virgil on your list. He is not the typical hero in books, but he is one of my favorites.

[Mike]

For that type of book Virgil is the best.

[Stephanie]

in no particular order ~

1. Jean Valjean from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
2. Lucien Argeneau from the Argeneau series by Lynsay Sands
3. Dirk Pitt from Clive Cussler's novels
4. Lestat from the Vampire Chronicle's by Anne Rice
5. Rico from Revenge by Dana Delamar
6. Cole from Branded by Abi Ketner
7. Eric Northman from the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris
8. Vlad from the Night Prince novels by Jeanine Frost
9. Jonas Wyatt from the Breeds novels by Lora Leigh
10. Ewan McCabe from the McCabe Trilogy by Maya Banks



~~ My minimunchkan hit the wrong button sorry..

[Amy]

My top picks, in no particular order...most of which have been mentioned already... are:
- Adam from Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs
- Ethan from Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neill
- Vlad from Night Prince by Jeaniene Frost
- Any of the Argeneau men from Lynsay Sands
- Daemon from the Lux Series by Jennifer Armentrout

[~Leslie~]

Wow, what a thing to think about.

Not necessarily in order and I could probably think of another 10 given more time.

1. Roarke - In Death series
2. Ian Mackenzie - Highland Pleasures series
3. Rule Tanner - World of the Lupi series
4.Giovanni Vechio - Elemental Mysteries series
5.Robin Hood - when he looks like Russell Crowe
6. Mr. Darcy - from Pride and Prejudice
7. Hawke - Psy changeling series
8. Curran - Kate Daniels series
9.Devil Cynster - Cynster series
10. Bones - Night Huntress series

[Shannon]

Mine, in no particular order as they are all sooo alpha and smoking hot I can't decide who is more alpha than any other:

*Jericho Barrons from the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning
Why? He's smart, sexy, ruthless, unapologetic, goes after what he wants when he wants it and takes no prisoners(or only the willing prisoners, that is) Total Alpha!

*Jamie Fraser from the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
Why? He has a Scottish accent and he's sensitive, brave, funny, cares about others, nurturing, strong, and utterly masculine. Definitely an alpha male in my book.

*Master Z from the Masters of the Shadowlands series by Cherise Sinclair
Why? He commanding, sexy, strong, caring, and he is a total dominant in the bedroom. Enough said as far has "sir" being alpha!

*Hawke from the Psy/Changeling series by Nalini Singh
Why? He is sexy as all get out, strong, emotionally scarred, a shape-shifter wolf, funny, and just wonderful. Plus, he is the alpha of his territory!

*Curran Lennart from the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
Why? He is domineering, caring, sexy, funny, exciting, large, and alpha of the whole North American territory. He is also so sweet and caring to Kate that it breaks my heart yet his nurturing and always trying to give her the lead so she doesn't lose her independence. *sigh*

*Magnus from the Shadowdwellers series by Jacquelyn Frank
Why? He is intelligent, sexy, a warrior, a protector and priest to his people, domineering, and a stickler for order and law, but his fierce protectiveness and sharp wit rivals him above his people in the power department. Bonus: he is an instructor in the art of sex.

*Raphael from the Guild Hunters series by Nalini Singh
Why? He is scary sexy, ruthless, an archangel with unrivaled power, and almost eternal. All this is alpha to the max, but he steals my heart and breath away with his caring and thoughtfulness toward Elena, and I love the human side that has become truly prevalent since Angels' Blood.

*Revhenge from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward
Why? He is fast dealing, opportunistic, crude, and has many secrets, but he takes care of his people and he is passionate and kind to those he cares for. Ehlena is one lucky lady!

*Zorus from Cyborg Seduction series by Laurann Dohner
Why? He is a Cyborg that is political, ruthless, cruel, and is resentful of the human race, yet he wants to better his people and keep them safe from harm and destruction and he has redeeming qualities that come to life when love finally steals into his world. He faces the tragedies as well as the triumphs and keeps himself and everyone around him strong. Alpha all the way!

*Jonas Wyatt from the Breeds series by Lora Leigh
Why? He has some seemingly selfish traits, questionable actions, and ruthless behaviors, yet he cares about his people with a ferocity as to make him unmistakably Alpha and unbelievably tender and emotional. The sexiness and rawness he exudes just adds to his appeal.

[Stephanie]

Shannon, I have a HUGE crush on Master Z & Jonas!! Nice to see another fan of both those alpha males.... Yummy!!!

[Shannon]

LOL Stephanie, I'm glad someone else agrees with me!

[~Leslie~]

I'm adding books to read just based on the lists I'm seeing here!! And I could definitely add another 10 to my list!

[Missyb]

Raphael - Vampires in America (Reynolds)
Jean Claude - Anita Blake (Hamilton)
Bones - Night Huntress (Frost)
Vlad - Night Prince (Frost)
Lucian - Argeneau (Sands)
E - Demonica/ LOD (Ione)
The four Horsemen - LOD (Ione)
Gregori - Carpathian (Feehan)
DeLaCruz brothers - Carpathian
Edward - Anita Blake

[Sara]

I'm reading new series and discovering more alphas I love. Number 11 would have to be Charlie Aleph from the Bloodhound Files by DD Barant. He possesses my four defining traits of an alpha: competence, protectiveness without restricting a person's capability, loyalty, and fierceness. Read Killing Rocks to see why you don't mess with a man powered by the spirit of a t-rex. Charlie also has a snarky deadpan sense of humor, an impeccable fashion sense, and is a highly skilled dancer.

[Darcy]

Sara wrote: "I'm reading new series and discovering more alphas I love. Number 11 would have to be Charlie Aleph from the Bloodhound Files by DD Barant. He possesses my four defining traits of an alpha: compe..."

He was the big reason I kept reading that series.

[Sara]

Charlie's the main highlight of the series for me.

[Mike]

I can't get I to that series. I have tried multiple times and there is even the comic book aspect of the series and I still can't do it.