Happily Ever After Cafe discussion
Heroes And Heroines
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The Alpha then and now...
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Do any prefer the Alpha of yesteryear? Or do you swoon over the Alpha of today? Or perhaps, furturistic (the Alpha that hasn't been written yet lol) Alphas tickle your fancy....
Hmm. I don't like the cruel nature of many of the alphas from the bodice ripper era. I think the alphas in the paranormal romances appeal to me more than the ones being released in the contemporary romances today. I actually prefer the dangerous hero, ala Anne Stuart to the typical alpha hero. They have the ruthless demeanor, bad*ss, could be a very bad man aura, I like in a hero. And I like the possessive, jealous, obsessed heroes a lot. I really don't like the idea that they would be hurtful, mean, physically abusive to a heroine. I can see if they start out as enemies at the beginning of the book and they are fighting/defending themselves from the heroine. But, if he's just cruel and hateful for no reason, that's a turn-off. I do like to see an author push the envelop and do some un-PC stuff, because I think that modern authors are afraid to take chances. That's why my favorite authors are a bit more edgy in romance. It seems like nowadays alpha hero means playboy who has slept around a lot, is oversexed and dynamite in the bedroom, more than anything else. That gets kind of boring to me. I like a hero who can defend himself and take care of the heroine, and who can be ruthless when necessary.This is all just my personal opinion, two cents or less.
I'm a historical reader, not into contemporarys. I do love the warrior knights and those yummy highlanders and like Lady Danielle I do enjoy the possessive, jealous and obessed herores. Not into cruel or hateful but I don't mind if they start off fighting as long as they end up loving lol... I think I like the alphas hero of today better, they can be BA's but they have a good heart. I also love the alphas in the paranormal romances!
This isn't exactly relevant to the question, but I like it when the Alpha is all caveman, beating his chest that he's in charge, etc., only to have the woman not cooperate and the Alpha is then dumbfounded. There's just something really, really funny about that, to me anyway.
She takes the wind out of his sails, huh, Dhestiny? :)
Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "She takes the wind out of his sails, huh, Dhestiny? :)"Yep! It doesn't matter what they're wearing, be it a kilt, a cowboy hat or a soldier's uniform, I can just imagine them standing there with this baffled, stunned look on their faces thinking... What's wrong with her? Why isn't she obeying me?
I love a spunky heroine, one that knows how to take care of herself. She wants the warrior but she does not need him to take care of her and that always piss them off lol....
Yep! I LOVE that!!! In Julie Garwood's highlander novels, the heroines were like that, but they were so funny about it, too.
Me too. She was my very first historical romance read.
I'm older then you lol.... my first was Victoria Holt so it was gothic romance but still historical.
Lady D, I know what u mean about cruel and abusive. I do like many bodice rippers of old but not the ones that feature heroes that are cruel and abusive and demeaning to the heroine. Catherine Coulter has some of those heroes. Anne Stuart's heroes are ones I shouldn't like but I do anyway. And Jule Garwood's heroes are to die for *sigh*.Anyway, I don't mind the ones that start out a little cruel and slightly abusive as long as its not too severe and the hero redeems himself in the story. I don't care for doormat heroines either. The ones who sit there and take it.
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UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish, Naughty Co-Mod
(last edited Oct 07, 2010 11:30AM)
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UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "I'm 50 27, I just started reading later in life. LOL"lol, I started reading back in the early 70s before I was even born :)
Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "lol, I started reading back in the early 70s before I was even born :)"OMG!!! LOL!!!
LOL... that is a neat trick Pamela! I started reading in high school (1964 to 1968) will be 60 in Nov. (sighing) I beat you both! I HATE getting OLD!!
Some things get better with age :)
Pamela, I like a good repentant hero, so I can usually forgive a hero who's been a little cruel to the heroine (within reason--more on the verbal side). I think AS's heroes end up being so appealing b/c she writes them so well.
It is really awful when your kids have themed pep rallies and the theme was a time period you lived in. I had everything my daughter needed for 80's day at school. One of her teachers said she looked amazingly realistic. Well, duh, she had me for her technical consultant!eta....loved that reading before you are born thing - going to adopt that concept - thanks!
yes, it's hard to have started reading romance in 1971 when you are only 30 yrs old now :)My daughter is 10 but hasn't really done any dress up days at school yet. They did a pajama thing once where they all went to school in their pjs. But if they ever do a 60s, 70s or even 80s I'll make a decent consultant.
I'm not really a fan of the old bodice-ripper style of romance, so that also means I'm not a fan of the cruel alphas of yesteryear who usually tended to populate them either. For me it's either betas, gammas (alpha/beta mix) or the more modern alphas who can be tough and sexy while still being vulnerable and in tune with emotions.
Back in the older non-PC bodice rippers, the alpha man was capable of anything. Today most authors seem to tone them down a little to make them more acceptable to today's society. Do you feel this is true? Or do you so disagree with me?