Beverley Kendall is best known for her historical romances and her amazing website for romance readers, but she’s branching out and has just released a contemporary new adult novel, When in Paris… This week, she’s giving away THREE digital copies of the book to my blog readers. Woo hoo! (And if you want more than a book, visit her website where she’s giving readers a chance to win an iPad mini!)
Take it away, Bev!
Alpha Male-in-Training?
Zach Pearson is the hero in my first new adult romance, WHEN IN PARIS…. He’s young (18 then 19) and definitely possesses a sense of himself. He’s not conceited but is honest enough to admit that girls (and women) find him attractive. He’s also honest enough to admit that the fact he’s a star athlete and his brother is the star quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys sweetens the pot for girls impressed by those things. But that’s not the kind of girl Zach wants. No Zach wants—has always wanted—the one girl he can’t have. Olivia Montgomery.
That’s my hero in a nutshell. Drool-worthy. Swoon-worthy. When a reviewer described him as an alpha-male-in-training, I had to laugh. I’m not sure I thought of Zach so much as an alpha male. But if an alpha male is confident, then yes, check. If an alpha male doesn’t suffer from false modesty, then yes, check. If an alpha male wants something in his mate that goes beyond the superficial, then yes, check. If an alpha male knows how to turn a girl’s knees to rubber, kisses like an angel and the devil, and makes loves like the best erotic dream ever, then Zach is not an alpha-male-in-training. Don’t let his youth fool you, there’s no training involved. He’s a certified alpha male. 😉
Here’s a little excerpt of Zach being…well Zach.
After a moment of silence, Olivia jumps to her feet, pushes her tray to the other side of the table and takes the seat April just vacated.
“It would look ridiculous for us to be sitting on the same side,” she explains.
“Right. Ridiculous.”
I dig into my breakfast and it takes about twenty seconds for me to notice she’s just staring at the strawberry yogurt, banana and orange juice on her tray.
I swallow. “Look, if eating with me alone makes you uncomfortable, I’ll leave.”
Okay, it’s obvious she regrets what happened last night. But the crazy, hair-raising attraction between us is real. And maybe she doesn’t want to explore it but I haven’t been able to think about anything else since last night.
The sunlight catches strands of her blonde hair when she raises her head and looks at me. “Don’t be silly. I’m not uncomfortable with you.” And as if to prove it to me—and herself—she tears the foil lid off the yogurt carton, picks up the plastic spoon on her tray and begins to eat. But her attention is too focused on eating and her slender fingers look like they’re gripping the white plastic spoon hard enough to snap it. She’s aware of me.
I compress my lips to keep from smiling. Okay, so we’re not going to talk about what happened. But not talking about it isn’t going to make it go away. Not by a long shot.
A beat of silence elapses before she says, “About last night…”
I think I’ve heard too many bad connotations when it comes to the term alpha male, I feel the need to clarify what it is. That alpha males, in my definition, are not asshats. They are assertive, confident, not pretentious. But they are loyal, kind and loving. And when they fall, they fall hard.
What about you? How do you define an alpha man? I’m giving away 3 digital copies of WHEN IN PARIS…. Comment to enter to win.
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Giveaway!
I’ll randomly choose the three winners on Tuesday January 22nd. Leave a comment below to enter. Good luck!
Zach’s good looks may have always gotten him his pick of girls, but it’s the star quarterback’s skill on the football field that gives him his pick of the Big Ten colleges. To escape the crushing demands of his win-at-all-costs father, Zach opts for a private university in upstate New York where…his present and past collide. And the one girl he’s always wanted but can’t have—and a class trip to Paris—turn out to be the ultimate game changer that has him breaking every one of his rules.
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Sounds like a good read. I love contemps as you know
This will be my first contest entering to win an ebook – scary thing. LOL..
Oh my! That looks like a definite read for me! Love the cover too!
Hi, it was a great post. The book sound interesting, looking forward to read it.
I define an alpha man with strong personality, little bit arrogant, unquestionable honor, protective and possessive with person he loves, most definitely loyal and faithful.
Thx for the giveaway.
I’ve already placed this on my TBR list and I’m very excited to read it. So if I don’t win a copy, I’ll be buying a copy of my own… LOL
Alpha males.. I define them as someone who is possessive, arrogant, used to getting their way, confident, a little bit of an ass (because they are used to getting their way, getting anyone the want) and yet they are the most sensitive males, worthy of a strong female. They would do anything for the ones they love and fight for the ones they love
Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
Looking forward to a new read. Alpha males make romance exciting and fun to read.
To me, an alpha male is someone who takes charge, goes for what he wants, dominates, but not to the extent of being cruel. There is always good for the basis of his “dominating” – he is protecting the one or ones he loves. He is big & strong. BTW thanks for the review & excerpt! Sounds like a great book!
Love the cover of your book Bev! I can’t wait to read it. Not sure I know how to define and alpha male because they are so many whys to define them because they are all a little different.
I love the cover to this book and the sneak peak, it was already on my TBR so I hope that I win! Thank you for giving us the chance to win 🙂
An alpha male should be protective. He should be intelligent. He should be big and bad and a snuggle bunny behind closed doors.
I think the definition for alpha males has changed with the times. I can recall most of my first romances having alpha males who could be described as little better than rapists who knew what they wanted and pretty much took it. There are some “alphas” who still have those traits, but they’re few and far in between.
I prefer my alphas to be men who can take charge if the situation demands it, but yet still be capable of showing and sharing emotions. Zach is an alpha hero, no training needed!
The only time I have a problem with an alpha male is when he doesn’t respect his partner’s opinion. I hate the “I know best because I’m bigger and stronger than you” attitude. Respect is the most important component of a relationship in my opinion.
I agree with JenM. I dislike the overbearing alpha male- it just seems so paternalistic. A good alpha is confident and strong (not necessarily physically) with a sense of humor. I love an alpha who knows what he wants and can express it.
Nice excerpt.
As another person stated, the alpha male in romance books has slowly evolved. Today’s alpha male is take-charge and confident, without being abusive..