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On the Traditional Alpha Male Hero
I love romance novels, but I also occasionally have problems with them, generally in regards to the relationship between the hero and heroine. Two romances I read recently, one I hated and one I loved, got me thinking about why some alpha heroes work for me and some don't. (The books in question are Queen of Dragons by Shana Abé and Ransom by Julie Garwood respectively. I could think of lots more example books if I tried; these two just happen to be fresh in my memory.)
I think, for me, it ultimately comes down to the heroine's decisions.
So, okay, for example. Both books have the hero deciding to marry the heroine despite the heroine's wishes to the contrary. Ransom even has the hero tricking the heroine into participating in the ceremony! But the heroines has vastly different reasons for why they don't want to get married. Mari, in Queen of Dragons, is determined that she'll never be forced to obey someone else after the death of her abusive first husband. And then Kimber ignores Mari's very real concers about marriage without ever offering the assurance -- in either work or deed -- that kings will be different with him. (His whole attitude leaves a skeevy taste in my mouth.) Gillian, on the other hand, is trying to protect herself and Brodick from the villain of the book and the fallout if the final confrontation goes badly.
Which makes all the difference in the world. Mari's reasons are because of legitimate problems that women face, so Kimber ignoring them is callous at best. By the time Brodick's serious about marriage, they both care too much for not being married to make a difference in how devastated they are when something happens to the other.
Each couple's interactions play out along similar lines for the rest of their books too. Brodick says Gillian can or can't do something, and Gillian goes and does what she thinks she should do. Kimber says Mari can or can't do something, and Mari does her own thing for a while until Kimber and everyone wear her down so much that she gives in. She'll give in her own way and lead everyone on a merry chase before she does, but she ultimately still ends up doing what he thinks is best.
And I really do think that's the difference between Kimber and Brodick. Kimber ends up domineering over Mari to the point where she has almost no active role in the decision-making. Brodick may command Gillian, but Gillian gives back just as good, does what she thinks is the right thing, and even sometimes gets Brodick to do what she thinks he should. It's pretty easy for me to decide who I'd like to read about when it's put like that.
I think, for me, it ultimately comes down to the heroine's decisions.
So, okay, for example. Both books have the hero deciding to marry the heroine despite the heroine's wishes to the contrary. Ransom even has the hero tricking the heroine into participating in the ceremony! But the heroines has vastly different reasons for why they don't want to get married. Mari, in Queen of Dragons, is determined that she'll never be forced to obey someone else after the death of her abusive first husband. And then Kimber ignores Mari's very real concers about marriage without ever offering the assurance -- in either work or deed -- that kings will be different with him. (His whole attitude leaves a skeevy taste in my mouth.) Gillian, on the other hand, is trying to protect herself and Brodick from the villain of the book and the fallout if the final confrontation goes badly.
Which makes all the difference in the world. Mari's reasons are because of legitimate problems that women face, so Kimber ignoring them is callous at best. By the time Brodick's serious about marriage, they both care too much for not being married to make a difference in how devastated they are when something happens to the other.
Each couple's interactions play out along similar lines for the rest of their books too. Brodick says Gillian can or can't do something, and Gillian goes and does what she thinks she should do. Kimber says Mari can or can't do something, and Mari does her own thing for a while until Kimber and everyone wear her down so much that she gives in. She'll give in her own way and lead everyone on a merry chase before she does, but she ultimately still ends up doing what he thinks is best.
And I really do think that's the difference between Kimber and Brodick. Kimber ends up domineering over Mari to the point where she has almost no active role in the decision-making. Brodick may command Gillian, but Gillian gives back just as good, does what she thinks is the right thing, and even sometimes gets Brodick to do what she thinks he should. It's pretty easy for me to decide who I'd like to read about when it's put like that.