Thursday, January 31, 2013

Krystal Shannan Features - Valerie Mann - The ABCs of Manly Men


The ABCs of Manly Men (Well, just the A & B)

Krystal asked what kind of man I prefer…the studly Alpha male, or the not-so-studly Beta male.

Well, Krystal, as an erotic romance author, of course the alpha male hero reigns supreme in all of my books. They’re always tall and dark, because I find that look sexy, tend to be on the still-waters-run-deep side, not chatty Cathy, and treat their women like hothouse flowers.

Is this realistic? Not in about 95% of the population, but this is romance fiction. I only write what my characters tell me, and my heroes are so not telling me to write them as lukewarm saps who wear bifocals and need high blood pressure meds. So, I guess you could say I prefer a good, solid, throw-me-over-your-shoulder-and-have-your-way-with-me Alpha Male. In my books.

In real life, I married an alpha. Yikes, and I’m an alpha female. We butt heads on a daily basis, always trying to climb over each other to be boss. It took us a solid twenty+ years of marriage to figure out when it’s cool to be stubborn and when it’s best to back off.  Huh, we’re still figuring it out. But we also have an insane amount of respect and devotion to each other because who else would put up with us…but us? So, I guess you could say I prefer a good, solid throw-me-over-your-shoulder-and-have-your-way-with-me Alpha Male. In real life. Not that I’d ever let him throw me over his shoulder, but I would let him have his way with me.

The beta male. Oh, you poor, misunderstood, ridiculed man! You’re the guy we all loved as tweenagers. Justin Bieber is a beta male (but you can bet he’s an alpha-in-training). When we’re young girls, we want that soft-around-the-edges, boy band guy who’s non-threatening, likes puppies and talks about his mom. Our dads are alphas, we don’t want a guy like our dad at that age! When we get a little older…we trade in the Backstreet Boy and go for hot Biker Boy. We’re too stupid to understand it’s okay to have both.

Here’s the deal—the beta guy is the man inside the alpha. He’s the softer side, the one who really does cry at Nicholas Sparks movies all the while insisting “there’s a lot of dust in the air” that’s making his eyes water. The beta man is the one sleeps on the floor next to the dog who’s not going to make it another night. And a real beta loves his mother and isn’t afraid to show her, or his wife and daughters, that a woman is not only his equal, but elevates her to higher status than his own.

An alpha man who isn’t afraid to be a beta. Having both is the whole, sexy package and I’m lucky enough to have an Alpha/beta for real.

Buy links:

Who agrees to an arranged marriage in the 21st century? Beth Malone can’t believe a date request with the 1Night Stand service morphed into an arranged marriage offer. But after a heartbreaking divorce and no knight in shining armor coming to sweep her off her feet, her desire to find that knight and have a family is looking more like a dream than a reality.
After filling out a 1Night Stand questionnaire worthy of the CIA, Christian Ramos is stunned when Madame Eve offers to arrange more than a date for one night: she suggests a wife! What the hell? After his best friend Jackson Castillo stops laughing, he advises him to consider the offer. Between the fortieth birthday looming on the horizon and his Latino upbringing, Chris is forced to take a hard look at his life. Reality check—time is running out for what he wants—a family and a woman to share his life.
First comes love, then comes marriage isn’t part of their matrimonial situation, but neither Beth nor Christian anticipated the immediate attraction and contentment that comes with saying, “I do.”

Excerpt:
“We need to get this over with.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “Get what over with?” But she knew.
He dropped his hand and gave her a rueful smile. “We’re married. I want to make love to my wife.” He waited for her to respond again and when she didn’t, he added, “Now.”
Beth blinked. Her heart started beating again. She liked a man who knew what he wanted. Especially when he wanted her. Stretching up, she gave him a light kiss. He clasped her waist with both hands and pulled her against him, fusing his mouth to hers, nothing like he had during their wedding. He invaded her, tasting and exploring with his tongue, forcing her to open for him.
She wound her arms around his neck and gave in, letting the invasion happen. Every fear disappeared and the only trembling happening was from desire. Her breasts swelled, aching to be touched. She wanted him. How wonderful he was hers.
Chris eased away but didn’t let go, wearing the same dazed look she must have had after their wedding kiss. He stepped back a few paces, bringing her with him, until he reached the bed.
“Turn around.”
Beth narrowed her eyes but obeyed. The zipper on the back of her dress descended and the silky garment puddled at her feet as he turned her back to face him. His hungry gaze swept over her, and she shivered with anticipation. Leaning in, he kissed the space between her breasts, his face tight with desire. No man had ever looked at her body that way…so appreciative.
Reaching behind her, he unhooked her bra, and tossed it on the floor to join the dress. Her nipples stood at attention, swollen and needy. She shivered again.
He tilted his head back. “Am I going too fast?”
She cupped his face and gave him a hard kiss. “Hurry,” she whispered.


What do you think? 
Leave a comment with what kind of man you prefer. We’ll pick one commenter to receive a copy of one of my books in digital format and an Amazon gift card!


Valerie Mann

Valerie Mann is the superwoman every woman tries to be…mother of five attractive, successful children, vixen in and out of the bedroom, runway model fashionista, extreme gardener, and just recently crashed on bestseller lists as a romance author.

In real life, Valerie is the mother of five lovely, but ordinary children. Sure, she’s a vixen in and out of the bedroom, which explains the herd of kids. The closest she gets to a runway is an airport, and while she thinks gardens of all sorts are wonderful, she figures that hobby can wait until retirement, if her knees last that long. And that crashing you heard was Valerie collapsing on the couch at the end of a very long day. As for romance, she writes and likes to think she can tell an amazing tale of love or two. Her husband of nearly thirty years won’t read her stories because they make him blush but is content in the knowledge he’s the inspiration for every one of them.

Valerie currently works as a managing editor for an electronic publisher and is the co-owner of a company that provides editing services for writers.

Valerie Mann
Author/Editor




8 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for having me! I'm sure we all have our "perfect man" (if there is such a thing), whether he's alpha or beta. I'll be interested to see what others think!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Isn't it wonderful to have both? :) Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I go for tall and dark as well, Val! My husband is reasonably tall, but no longer dark. Poor guy. Just gray. But not Christian Gray. I like the strong, domineering alpha type but yes, he has to have that beta hiding inside him to soften him at the edges. The one thing I really don't like - is the over-muscular, pushy, arrogant and aggressive alpha male. They just intimidate me. I think my husband is closer to alpha than beta but every now and again, I see his soft side. No flowers for me, no jewelry, but if he watches Patch Adams or Seabiscuit or Secretariat - he has been known to shed a tear. Now he's going to kill me for revealing that. Nice knowing you.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It is wonderful to have both. If I wanted pure Alpha, I would have hung out at Gold's Gym until I found my dream man on steroids, LOL

    Barbara, I think the older men get, the more able they are to handle their beta side with ease. Although my husband hates to have me see him cry at movies to this day. But get him around babies and animals of all kinds, and he's a marshmallow :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I loved the excerpt! I'll be sure to add this to my TBR list. :) Also, enjoyed the post. I agree an alpha with beta tendencies is a nice blend. *Le Sigh* Now, where's mine? Ha, great post, Valerie.

    ReplyDelete
  6. First I have to say I love the One Night Stand series and this one sounds different from any that I have read before. Second, nice excerpt - I'd like more please :D. Third, yes Alpha and beta both please! I prefer Alphas who show their more beta side in private while not being too over the top Alpha in public.

    Adding this one to the TBR list!
    bas1chsemail at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great post! You are so right - why settle for one when you can have both wrapped up in the same perfect package :-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love Alpha makes both in my books and in real life. My hubby is an alpha when he needs to be, but he is not a beta either. I think he is in his own category. Lol.
    I have to agree with you, Valerie. When you have 2 alphas, you have to find a happy medium. I have been with mine for 7 years and we still have to figure it out sometimes. My mom always taught me to choose my battles. :)
    I have this one on my TBR.
    Thank you for the giveaway.
    Trb0917 at gmail.com

    ReplyDelete