(Giveaway has now ended - thanks for visiting)
The Alpha Male Blog Hop & Giveaway!
Hi all,
The alpha male – this term conjures up a mighty, manly man with rippling muscles, a square jawline and piercing blue (or grey or brown-you decide) eyes. He wears faded jeans and workman's boots and his blue flannel shirt is left unbuttoned to the waist. Well, that is when he is wearing a shirt. He sweeps damsels in distress off of their feet and saves them from the evil boyfriend in the suit or the evil employer who harasses her or, basically anyone or anything that is making her life miserable. He is in control, he can do just about anything and he makes love in a sweeping, powerful yet tender, fashion. But let's face it ladies, we all know that this man does not exist.
In reality we want men who are cute (hot would be nice too), dress decent, have a steady job (and hopefully health insurance) and who will let us be in charge most of the time (admit it!). We want him to be generous in bed as well as willing to do the dishes after a long day of work. And although it would be nice for him to save us from distress, it is equally as nice if he changes a diaper and helps put the kids to bed. Even though he keeps his shirt on, he's still manly and he's our alpha male. What do you think makes a man an alpha male?
In my romance novel, MEMORIES, Michael has played the part of alpha male when he fought in the Vietnam War but that isn't the part of him that Dani once fell in love with. It was his tender and loving ways with his daughter, and now granddaughter, which warmed her heart. Michael proves that a true alpha male can have a tender side in this excerpt from MEMORIES:
MEMORIES Excerpt
Michael walked over to the drapes, standing near her again. He pushed aside one heavy drape and the room filled with sunshine. The view of the beach and the ocean beyond was spectacular.
"I tried running away from 'all this'," he told her. "My grandfather started the business when he came over from Portugal and my father continued in his footsteps. I was being groomed to take over when I went out to Berkeley for college. But once I'd escaped to California, and away from the family, I didn't want to come back." He sighed and Dani looked at his profile as his eyes searched the ocean beyond.
"So you left it all behind?"
"For a few years. I married Diane while in college and we had Vanessa right away. Two years into college I was drafted for Vietnam, which really pissed my father off. He wanted to try and get me out of serving, but I insisted on going. When I came back and Diane left me, I still couldn't bear coming back here. So I stayed in California all those years and, well, you know the rest."
But Dani didn't know the rest. She had only been a part of his life for a few months. And although she had thought then that she knew him well, she now realized that she hadn't really known him at all.
"But you are back here now," she told him.
"I had to grow up finally," was all he said. Michael stared at Dani as if memorizing her every feature. "I'm happy you're here," he told her.
The room became too close for Dani and she suddenly walked past him to the door. "I should get back to the party," she said, although she knew it was a feeble excuse. After all, no one was going to miss her.
"Have you met Michelle yet?" Michael asked, not wanting to lose her attention. He seemed to have broken through her icy wall and was enjoying her company.
Dani stopped reluctantly and turned to face him again. "No, she was napping earlier. Vanessa said she'd bring her down later."
"Let's see if she's awake. I love showing her off." Before Dani could say anything, Michael grabbed her hand and led her out the door and across the hall and up the back stairway.
"You really don't have to do this," she protested. But her words fell on deaf ears as he led her from the stairs down the hallway that led to the family wing. Everything here was done in light colors, a complete contrast to the rooms downstairs. The walls were waist-high cream wainscoting and the top half of the walls had cream wallpaper with delicate peach, rose and green flowers. The sculptured carpet was a mixture of cream and tan. At intervals there were small oak tables holding flower vases, figurines or baskets of dried flowers.
Turning a corner, they practically ran into an elderly woman carrying a little girl in her arms. From the red, curly hair and emerald green eyes Dani knew instantly that this was Vanessa's daughter.
"Oh, Mr. DeCara," the older woman said, startled by his sudden appearance. "I was just bringing Michelle down to her mother."
"That's fine, Mrs. Carols. I'll be happy to take her." At that, the woman handed Michelle to Michael and turned back down the hall.
Dani studied the child in Miguel's arms for a moment, warmed by her resemblance to Vanessa. Miguel's eyes beamed with pride.
"Michelle," he said, in mock introduction. "This is Miss Westerly. Miss Westerly, I'd like you to meet my granddaughter, Michelle."
Playing along, Dani reached out her hand to touch Michelle's petite one. "Happy to meet you, Miss Chandler," she said. Michelle only cocked her head and giggled in reply.
"She's beautiful," Dani told Michael, who only nodded his agreement.
"And shy, too, as you can see. She takes after her grandfather," he teased.
Dani rolled her eyes at him and looked once again at the lovely little girl. Seeing Miguel there, holding his granddaughter, the love so obvious in his eyes, reminded her of his warmth with Vanessa and how much that had once touched her heart. It brought back the side of him she had loved so much. The side of him she had forgotten in the years she told herself she hated him.
For a moment, it seemed they were transported back in time. Back to the Miguel and Dani they had once been. By sharing this special moment with him, Dani almost forgot she had ever hated him, or why.
Buy Memories at Amazon on Kindle $2.99 or in Paperback $8.99
TWO GIVEAWAYS TO ENTER!
Giveaways now closed.
Alpha Male Blog Hop Giveaway!
We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times! International readers can sign up too! The Swag Pack, however, can only be won by a U.S. citizen due to shipping costs.
Be sure to leave a comment below to enter!
Now what are those prizes?
1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: The following Swag Pack!
MY GIVEAWAY!
Giveaway now closed
In appreciation of you stopping by, I'm having a giveaway!
If you leave a comment below, I'll put your name in the drawing for a
$10 Amazon Gift Card. Be sure to
put an email address in the comment so I can contact you if you are the winner. The giveaway starts today, Oct. 19
th and ends October 22
nd at midnight. I will notify the winner after noon on Oct. 23
rd.
Be sure to check out the other blogs listed below -
many more giveaways you can sign up for!
Congratulations to Katie Dalton, winner of the $10 Amazon Gift Card
Thanks for stopping by,
Deanna
