Inspy Romance

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Alpha or Beta: Who has your heart?

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The Back to School book bash has started! It’s always so much fun, and we love everyone participating. So many great prizes!

Alpha or beta heros? Today’s big question! I’m sure even though we read all kind of stories with all kind of heros, we are usually pulled to the alpha or beta type.

Alpha–A man who takes charge.

Beta–More of a passive type male.

Typically the alpha male have more of a super hero persona, while the beta males have more of an emotional persona. We don’t want to stereotype, but lines are often drawn on our heros. Personally, I’ve always been more of a beta type of hero girl. Most of the books I’ve written have that type of hero.

In my novella, One Summer Sunset, Trey has to entrust the most important person in his life to Evee. Will hearts shatter as lives are changed, or will love prevail over all obstacles?

Trey is a fire fighter–a typically alpha male type job. But Trey is more beta than alpha. While I like beta heros, I like them to have their alpha moments, or scenes. There’s probably some really good psychology that could explain why I’m that way, but we won’t get into that.

Each of us knows what we like.

Not to say I don’t read books with alpha males. I do. They make great heros. The take charge kind of guy. We have in mind rescues, harrowing escapes, leaping from tall buildings. (Okay–sorry, went too far there!) But you get the drift. There’s always something exciting going on with the alpha males. And when alpha heroes have their sweet and tender moments, whoo, we rejoice with them.

Just like when our betas let loose, or have had enough, and that inherent need to protect takes over. We root for them and want them to succeed and celebrate with them.

Well written heros will not be one dimensional and be totally alpha–or totally beta. They are a combination of the best of both worlds, yet one of those worlds will be dominant.

I’d love to hear what your favorite hero is. One commenter will be chosen at random to win an e copy of my novella, One Summer Sunrise.

 

Lindi Peterson (104 Posts)

USA Today featured author Lindi Peterson lives in north Georgia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with her husband and a lively array of cats, dogs and birds. She loves sharing life with her family and friends. Her passion for reading led her to writing, and then God spoke words of love into her heart and changed her life forever.


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Comments

  1. I find the all alpha male, as portrayed in some stories, exhausting.

    It’s the sweet and tender moments with male character who can yield the lead when needed, that has my heart melting, pulling the loveliest awwws from my heart.

    Romance is a journey together, the truly seeing of each other warts and all. Bathed in His love.

    But that’s just me.

  4. wonderful post. i am one of those funny ladies that like both. alpha with a bit of beta and the beta man with a little alpha. i feel that by doing this, the men are more realistic and relatable.

  5. I honestly like them both! However, in real life, I think there are actually more beta’s than alpha’s. I’m drawn in by how they interact with others. I’ve taken an instant dislike to a character in a book before, and others really liked the character.

    • Trudy. Alpha males are interesting. Maybe we don’t run across them as much… or they’re hiding that part and showing their beta side. :)

  9. Interesting. I never really thought about this before but thinking back to some of my favorite books I think I tend to prefer beta type heroes.

    • Jessica, I love thinking about books I’ve read. Sometimes I have to go and read again. :)

  10. I like the mixture of both alpha and beta type heroes. I think both are fun to read as long as they grow and don’t come across as arrogant for the alpha and wimpy for the beta. Its how the characters change and adapt to their life situations that always interests me, whatever type of the hero they are.

  11. If I had been asked this question a few years back, I’d have said hands down Alpha heroes. Yet, I came to appreciate Beta heroes after “meeting” Brandon in A Sudden Spark by Liwen Ho. I mean, maybe I’ve read about them before, but that book made me truly appreciate the finer qualities of that type of hero :) so, while now I don’t have a clear preference, I’m all about characters who portray the best of both worlds ;)

  13. I think I tend to go more for the Beta type hero rather than the Alpha. Even in real life I married a Beta type man :-) Not that my husband wouldn’t be an Alpha if the situation calls for it, but I like the more patient, gentle person over an always “take charge” type.

    Now that’s not to say I haven’t read alpha heroes because I have, it especially works in suspense where the situations call for more of that kind of guy. But I think for me, I like when a man can let a woman be a woman without over-riding her like what an alpha can sometimes naturally do. Sometimes us women do need that extra push though, lol! Like sometimes my husband needs to push me out of my comfort zone for my own good.

    Like you said, I think either type can have a combination of Alpha or Beta and that’s a well-rounded hero to me :-)

    • Trixie, like you said I know I need a push now and then. Rise up, men, when thet occasion arises. That sweet combination of alpha/ beta works.

  16. Here I go, where angels fear to tread. As a man reading CCR, I naturally identify with the hero regardless of his personality. I tend to be more beta than alpha, but alpha when the need arises. Since personality types are an interest of mine, I could go on and on about them to the boredom of all involved. Suffice it to say that it is our wives who nurture strengths from our weaknesses and temper any dominant tendencies to guide them in the right direction. It’s when we listen and respond according to the needs of the moment, whether for strength or sensitivity, that we are the men that God made us to be. Like Rocky said, in the movie, about his love, Adrienne, “I got gaps. She’s got gaps. Together we don’t got gaps.”

    • Awesome, Lincoln. This is great insight. Thank you for sharing from the real point of view!!

  18. I do enjoy reading both. I think if I were to pick a favorite I would pick a Beta. Most of the time men have both in them to balance them out, at least those who are well rounded do. They may just need a good woman to pull it all out in them!
    I believe we all want a man to be protective making a woman feel safe but also want one who can be open and comfortable enough to let their tender side show! Especially in a book I want the man who has it all! lol

    • Hi Deb. Betas are who I relate to first off. But I am a gal who loves to be protected. I love that you pointed that out.

  19. I am more of a Beta type gentleman. I would hope the woman would be able to have a say. In some relationships with alpha gentleman’s they do not take the woman’s thoughts and feelings into account.

  20. I like a beta, with a little alpha mixed in when needed. I’ve read a lot of alpha, too, and as long as they’re not too overpowering, I like them too.

  23. I think I prefer Beta heros are easier to relate to. I like that a beta hero does have some Alpha traits but I find sometimes Alpha personality in women too can be confronting. I like a more thoughtful hero one who listens rather than has to save the day.

      • I think it comes from often women want someone to listen so they can work things out themselves. They don’t always need someone to just fix an issue. I know I often talk to myself in my mind as if I am talking to someone else to help work out a situation and I think many women do the same when talking with a friend or partner etc not to have the answer given to them but to listen so we can come up with the right answer. Sometimes we need some input but not be told what to do.
        I hope this makes sense.

  25. I definitely prefer Beta males. Alpha males usually come across as too macho, prideful and big-mouthed. I like the occasional alpha male if he’s not too stuck on himself, but I definitely prefer betas.

  29. I’m a bit bothered by the two sided options. Personality is so much more than beta and alpha.. and there’s beauty in diversity.

  30. I love them both. But I think for me it will be a bèta with some alfa moments as you mentioned in your post.

  31. I like reading about both, as long as the alpha isn’t too macho and the beta isn’t a doormat. I loved what Lincoln said about being the men God created them to be.

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