Michelle Lauren

UNTAMED (Crystal Jordan) GIVEAWAY!

Nov 2nd, 2009 by Michelle Lauren

I’m thrilled to have with me today Crystal Jordan , the bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal and futuristic romances such as On the Prowl, Sexy Beast V and Carnal Desires.

Today, Crystal discusses one of my favorite subjects: Alpha Heroes. But that’s not all! She’s also giving away a really great prize. Drum roll please…

TODAY’S BOOK GIVEAWAY:

One Copy of her new shape shifter romance from Kensington Aphrodisia, UNTAMED!

So get those comments and questions ready readers!
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Congratulations to… Suzanne R!

Suzanne, I’ve emailed you privately, so Crystal will contact you soon to claim your prize.
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Crystal, you have the floor.

The Care and Feeding of Alpha Heroes

In the last few weeks, I’ve had people mention my alpha male heroes to me. The thing is, for the most part, I don’t think of my heroes as alpha. I mean, yes, they are, but they don’t epitomize the alpha male like some other authors do—Linda Howard, Anne Stuart, and my friend Loribelle Hunt, all come to mind when I think of the alpha’s alpha male.

My guys are alpha, but I don’t think any of them go over-the-top. And don’t get me wrong, I do love to read over-the-top alphas. If it’s done right? Yum. Just yum. I’m not sure if I just don’t think I could pull off over-the-top alpha males or if the heroes that come to me just aren’t that out there, but I think there are varying levels of the alpha. So, let’s have a basic check list of alpha hero-ness: Protective? Check. Possessive? Check. Loyal? Check. Aggressive and pushy? Check check. A born leader? Check. Stubborn as all get out? Check.

Now, my cure for the alpha male is a female who will kick his stubborn backside…or just get her kicks from twisting him into bitty knots. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with making a strong man suffer. He can take it! But the point is to have a heroine who matches the hero. If one of my alpha males got saddled with a doormat woman, he’d be bored to tears in under a week. I don’t care how much chemistry they have together, there’s got to be something more. A challenge he can’t resist, a cause he can’t ignore.

So, I guess to my mind, because I don’t write over-the-top alpha males, they don’t fit my personal definition of alpha, even if they qualify under every other person’s definition. Hey, I’m a writer and that means I’m weird. ‘Nuff said. For me, it’s about a man who has the kind of integrity, dedication, strength of character, and sense of purpose I think every woman deserves in the guy she decides to keep around for the rest of her life. If that spells alpha to you, then yeah, that’s what I write. I figure as long as my heroes and heroines keep getting their happily-ever-afters together, then the labels really don’t matter.

I just love when good things happen to good people, even if I do have to make them suffer a little before The End.

CRYSTAL’S GIVEAWAY

For anyone who comments, I’m giving you a chance to win a free copy of my new book UNTAMED. Michelle will pick a random winner from the commenters and voila! Free stuff.

Michelle Lauren: Crystal, thanks so much for being with us today. Readers, don’t forget to tune back in this Thursday for another giveaway. And if you haven’t checked out my month-long Virtual Release Party for TEMPTATION EVE, take a moment to visit. There are prizes!

Love

Posted in Contests, Giveaways, Guest Blog | 31 Comments

31 Comments to “UNTAMED (Crystal Jordan) GIVEAWAY!”

on 03 Nov 2009 at 3:02 am#1annalisa

I like your description of what your Alpha heroes are and that it’s important to have your heroines match the heroes. Your books all look interesting, and I love the cover for Untamed. Yum!
on 03 Nov 2009 at 9:23 am#2Amy S.

Great post! That’s how I like my alpha heroes. I also like reading about strong heroines. Untamed sounds great!
on 03 Nov 2009 at 9:24 am#3Crystal Jordan :: Blog » Blog Archive » Giving it Away at Michelle Lauren’s

[...] talking about writing Alpha Males as well as giving away a free copy of UNTAMED over on Michelle Lauren’s blog [...]
on 03 Nov 2009 at 9:32 am#4anna howell

wow love the alpha male but i agree female must match. Love shifter stories.
on 03 Nov 2009 at 9:59 am#5Fedora

LOL! Crystal, that is SO true–I love an ALPHA alpha when he’s paired with a woman who knows how to push his buttons! Otherwise it’s just not as fun! Congrats on Untamed–sounds like Avery and Nolan have met their matches! ;)
on 03 Nov 2009 at 10:03 am#6CrystalGB

Great post. I love alpha males and strong heroines. Your book sounds good. Love shifters.
on 03 Nov 2009 at 10:15 am#7Yvette Davis

Yeah! I would love to read the new book Crystal, glad you are doing this.
So what kind of kick arse females do you pit against these tough guys hmmm? Bossy? Smart mouthed? Independent? What else?

I personally don’t favor chicks with guns, but that’s just me. I do shoot ‘em myself though!
on 03 Nov 2009 at 10:20 am#8april strength

everyday life needs more alpha males thanks for a great contest.
on 03 Nov 2009 at 10:46 am#9Diana Owen-Emerson

Like you I love Alpha Males, but they must be paired with an equally strong heroine (at least in personality). My favorite paranormal characters are shape-shifters…very much looking forward to Untamed!!

– Diana
on 03 Nov 2009 at 11:01 am#10Judy Cox

Enjoyed your post. I love alpha males also!! I also like strong women who can stand up for themselves. This is a great looking book. I love shape shifter paranormals!!!
on 03 Nov 2009 at 11:07 am#11uberVU - social comments

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by crystaljordan: Guest blogging on Alpha Males and giving away a copy of UNTAMED: http://michellelaurenbooks.com/blog/archives/2576...
on 03 Nov 2009 at 12:33 pm#12Maggie J

Congrats on Untamed
I love paranormal and if it about shapeshifters all the mor better!!!I love alpha men and I think its all the more fun to read when they are paired with a woman the gives them heck every once in awhile.
on 03 Nov 2009 at 2:01 pm#13Raine Delight

Hi Crystal and Michelle,

Great post. I love strong characters and if there is a herione who doesn’t pull the “Woe is me, come save me” act, I am absolutly THRILLED! lol

Crystal: Is there a shifter you haven’t written about yet but want to in the future?

Thanks.
Raine D.
on 03 Nov 2009 at 2:11 pm#14Eva S

Great post, I love shifters! And alpha males, your books sounds like my kind of reads!
on 03 Nov 2009 at 3:31 pm#15Crystal Jordan

Thanks for having me, Michelle! And thanks for all the comments, ladies!

To answer some of the questions I saw:

Yvette: How about all of the above?

Raine: I’ve been pretty lucky in that I’ve been allowed a free hand in the shifters that my editors have let me write. The problem now is finding a sexy animal I haven’t used before (too many times, anyway)!
on 03 Nov 2009 at 3:42 pm#16Tracey D

That was a great post; I enjoyed reading it.

Thanks for stopping by today.
Tracey D
on 03 Nov 2009 at 4:42 pm#17Suzanne R

I WANT ONE! PRETTY PLEASE, CAN I HAVE ONE OF THOSE ALPHA MALES JUST AS YOU DESCRIBED! YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE TO GIFT-WRAP HIM, JUST HOG-TIE HIM, PUT A BOW AROUND HIM (I LEAVE THE CHOICE OF WHICH PART OF HIM TO TIE THE BOW ONTO TO YOU), AND JUST LEAVE HIM BY MY BACK DOOR!
on 03 Nov 2009 at 5:39 pm#18Anna Shah Hoque

Hey Crystal,
Loved your post…I adore Alpha heroes as well…I frankly wouldn’t want to read a book with a wimpy Alpha…I need him to be strong, possessive, protective, loyal, sexy, determined, funny…all the things that make the perfect hero. I do agree that if there isn’t sufficient friction between the characters, the heat totally fizzles off. You do need the opposite character to offer resistance and headstrong attributes in order to keep the continuity of the story as thrilling in the end as it is in the beginning.

Looking forward to reading your latest. Congratulations on its release!

Happy Reading!!!
Anna Shah Hoque
s7anna@yahoo.ca
on 03 Nov 2009 at 5:41 pm#19Anna Shah Hoque

Hey Michelle,
I can’t see my last post as yet…don’t know if you moderate comments or not…ah well…
on 03 Nov 2009 at 5:43 pm#20Cathy M

I love the fireworks of strong characters, so darn entertaining, especially with all the characteristics that you consider alpha, Crystal. Plus shifter stories just go hand in hand with strengh, loyalty, possessiveness and off the charts sex appeal. No over the top for me either, they are just exhausting to read about, with no softer edges to tempt a willing woman. I love characters that make a good team both in and out of bed, plus give me some humor to chuckle about, and I am hooked.
on 03 Nov 2009 at 5:54 pm#21Cathy M

I love the fireworks between strong and sexy characters, they are just so darn entertaining. The alpha characteristics you enjoy writing about just go so perfectly in a shifter storyline. Their possessiveness, loyalty, and off the charts sexiness needs to be balanced with a softer side, or women would just be kicking them to the curb, way too exhausting.

Shifter stories are my favorite, and I have come to expect that the strength in a character as either an alpha or a beta personality to totally captivate me, just add a big of humor and some smokin sex scenes and I am hooked.
on 03 Nov 2009 at 6:06 pm#22Michelle Lauren

@ Anna: Yes, I moderate. Don’t worry — I just approved both of your comments. I’ve been at work and am just stopping in before running out again.

It looks like we have a great crowd today — lots of readers who LOVE shape shifters and alpha men as much as me.
on 03 Nov 2009 at 6:06 pm#23Michelle Lauren

@ Suzanne R: I just have to say that your comment was hilarious. It made me smile, especially the bit about the bow placement…
on 03 Nov 2009 at 6:08 pm#24Michelle Lauren

@ Raine D. : Thanks for stopping in. I need to ask you something, so please don’t be alarmed when I email you, seemingly out of the blue. It’s nothing bad – promise.
on 03 Nov 2009 at 6:13 pm#25Cathy M

Okay, so sorry for the dup entry, I am feeling technically challenged today. Feel free to delete the second one, sheesh.
on 03 Nov 2009 at 7:33 pm#26Pamk

congrats on untamed. It sounds great. I like the way you described your heroines. I agree that a strong man can take. I hate to have one that I could wrap around my finger. But by the same token I want a man that can give on the the things that are important to me. Please enter me in this contest.
on 03 Nov 2009 at 10:57 pm#27Lindsey Ekland

Interesting thoughts on how you view your heros. I always like learning how an author envisions their creations. Looking forward to this book.
on 03 Nov 2009 at 11:03 pm#28Sue A.

I love alpha males and I like that you don’t do them over the top, because I can’t stand an alpha that is arrogant or pushy. An alpha need to be challenged by his heroine, I agree! Great post!
on 04 Nov 2009 at 12:13 am#29Bella

Thanks Crystal and Michelle, I really enjoyed the chat about well, just who is alpha man? Good question! I think it’s probably different for everyone. And what we love to read may not be who we want to love. So I like your take, Crystal. Strong guy, strong gal, overcome some challenges, end up trying to make it work. <3

Congrats on your release and thanks for the giveaway!
on 04 Nov 2009 at 1:24 am#30Jeanette Juan

The book sounds fabulous and I’m always a sucker for paranormal books about shifters!
on 04 Nov 2009 at 10:55 am#31Tweets that mention Michelle Lauren » Blog Archive » UNTAMED (Crystal Jordan) GIVEAWAY! -- Topsy.com

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by crystaljordan and Angeleque Ford, Di Pharaoh Francis. Di Pharaoh Francis said: RT @crystaljordan: Guest blogging on Alpha Males and giving away a copy of UNTAMED: http://michellelaurenbooks.com/blog/archives/2576 [...]