Author Nalini Singh was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand and has traveled extensively throughout Asia. She is the author of several Harlequin Desire books as well as the very popular Psy-Changeling Series. As an author she is known for her creative world building and dynamic characters, and readers can’t seem to get enough. Her new release Hostage to Pleasure is out now – and if you haven’t read it yet, check out Kati’s review.
Why We Love Alpha Heroes?
I love reading and writing alpha heroes. Dorian, in HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE, is very definitely alpha.
But why exactly do we love these heroes? Is it their confidence (some might say arrogance), their determination, their strength? I think it’s all that, plus more. Part of the joy of reading a romance with an alpha hero, is seeing that hero fall hook, line and sinker for the heroine.
For me, it’s not about taming the alpha hero. The way I see it, an alpha hero is still as wild, as uncontainable, and as dangerous—he’s simply decided to behave (well, most of the time) for the heroine. Not for any other woman. Only for the one who owns his heart.
And an alpha’s love? It tends to be as wild and as intense as the alpha himself. These men do nothing by halves—and who doesn’t want to be loved so completely? Is it any wonder we fall so hard for them?
So, those are some of the reasons why I think we love alpha heroes. Do you agree? Disagree? Have some reasons of your own to add to the list? Who are your favorite alphas?
Everyone who leaves a comment goes into a draw to win a book from my backlist (not including the newest release). 
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kh
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 1:04 am:
they are strong and not afraid to say what is on their minds. i love both males
Helen
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 7:16 am:
I totally agree with you on why we love an alpha hero I love their strength and honour and I love these books Nalini I have read all of them in the series and am waiting for this one to arrive I think and am hoping it will arive tomorrow so as I have it for the weekend.
Have Fun
Helen
Buffie
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 8:08 am:
Hey Nalini!!! Great to have you with us today. I totally love your books!!!!!!!
I think you have hit the nail on the head. A true alpha male is one who is only tame for his love of lifetime. And the intensity an alpha male brings to a relationship! Also, an alpha male is not likely to showcase his emotions (other than arrogance and anger). Usually he stuffs those emotions way down deep and it takes the love of the right woman to bring those to the surface.
Andrea
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 8:35 am:
Hi, Nalini!! Welcome to RNTV! Congrats on your newest release. I’ve not read you books yet, but have heard nothing but goodness from others ::coughMK&Buffiecough:: LOL
Ah, alpha males. I feel the same as everyone else. I love that they are confident and strong and only ‘behave’ for their true love. *sigh*
MaryKate
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 8:37 am:
SQUEEEEE! It’s Nalini! Welcome back, Nalini!
I’m so glad you’re here today. As you can tell from my review, I adored Hostage to Pleasure and think it’s your most emotional book yet. Ladies, this is *EASILY* my all time favorite paranormal series ever written. Nalini has suffered absolutely no drop off in excellence, from Lucas Hunter in Slave to Sensation to Dorian Christensen in Hostage to Pleasure.
I love the Changeling males the best. They are fiercely protective, but also truly affectionate with their mates. One of my favorite scenes from the series comes in the first book, where Lucas, an alpha and his mate, Sascha, a Psy, are sitting on the couch. As a conversation around them goes on, Sascha starts out sitting on the couch with her feet in Lucas’s lap, and by the end of the scene, he’s slowly maneuvered her onto his lap, and she’s got one hand tucked inside his shirt resting on his heart. It’s just such a sweet and tender scene — and it just epitomizes how these guys are with their women.
Nalini, congratulations on another fantastic installment in the series. I’m beside myself with excitement for Branded by Fire, Mercy’s book. I can tell from the excerpt on your site that it’s gonna be amazing!
Buffie
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 9:24 am:
MK — That is one of my favorite scenes, too!!! There is such a sweetness in the scene. And it shows that Lucas enjoys holding and comforting his mate.
Michelle M Pillow
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 9:44 am:
Alphas are great in books. In RL I think I’d end up hitting the true alpha over the head, lol. I think it’s for the reasons you mentioned–the passion for his heroine, but also the protectiveness of her even if she doesn’t need protecting. And who doesn’t want to be the chick who tames the wild man?
Great topic
Marisa
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 9:59 am:
Michelle – I agree with you, who doesn’t want to be the woman who tames the untameable?
Buffie
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 10:56 am:
Michelle — I’m right there with you — I would probably clock the guy too in real life. That’s probably why my hubby is beta. LOL! He says he likes my spunk . . . most of the time
Stacy ~
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 10:56 am:
I think you said it perfectly. It’s that blend of strength, protectiveness and tenderness that makes them so irresistible. Especially the last part. Do you have a favorite of your alpha men?
katiebabs
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 12:23 pm:
I love alpha heroes who become such puppy dogs when it comes to the woman they find that makes them whole and can keep them in line. My favorite hero of Nalini’s is the first I ever read, Lucas. **cough kalebalsocough*.
And of course JR Ward write some ultra alphas and then there is that sly alpha Irish man Roarke from JD Robb. **DROOL**
PJ
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 12:49 pm:
Welcome Nalini! It’s great to have you with us today. Ahhhh, alpha heroes. I really do love them. I agree with what everyone else has said about them. I’m drawn to their strength and confidence and have been since my teens. I married an alpha and yes, Buffie, there definitely were times when I wanted to clock him. LOL! He was a strong, confident, arrogant jock and retired military man but, just like in the books, for me, the woman he loved he was an absolute marshmallow.
Buffie
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 1:10 pm:
Awww, PJ, you gonna make me cry. And if he loved you like that, then he was perfect!
Stephanie (BKLYN)
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 3:10 pm:
Hi Nalini,
I am so delighted to see you here today. I am an enormous fan of your Psy/Changeling series and its ever expanding universe. Oh alpha heroes — sigh, I adore them and would agree about their strength, aggression, never say die and honorable attitudes. I would also add that I love alpha heroes who are tortured, heroes who are wounded whether in spirit/the heart, through circumstance and misunderstanding, and of course, those who are physically distressed. I think Lucas, Dorian, Judd, Clay, Vaughn, all have their issues to transcend — and with the help and love of a strong woman are forever better than they will ever be alone. Thanks so much for such wonderful books.
Hugs,
Stephanie
Gannon
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 3:13 pm:
Welcome, Nalini! MK and Buffie simply rave about your books. I have Slave to Sensation in my TBR pile–can’t wait to read it!
What’s not to love about an alpha male?! In books, that is. However, my dh can be very alpha at times–must be that military man gene, PJ! Sometimes, I’d like to knock him on the head, but he’s the one for me and vice versa. Like PJ’s hubby, when it comes to me, my dh can be an absolute softie. That’s why I keep him around.
Wendy
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 4:56 pm:
Hi, Nalini!
I love reading about alpha males as well. Although we’d probablhy bump heads in real life ’cause I can be incredibly stubborn, lol. I especially like how they can also be softies too.
Great post!
Wendy
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 4:57 pm:
“Alphas are great in books”
For SOME reason, I read that sentence as “Alphas are great in beds” LOL. Don’t ask..
Ann M.
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 5:35 pm:
I love alpha heroes because they are strong but they also have to be caring.. and some compassion.
Some of my favorites off the top of my head I love Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters. SEALs, FBI agents, Troubleshooters… all alpha type males. Kenny from Out of Control is one of my favorites from the series.
Nalini Singh
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 5:52 pm:
Hi Everyone!!
Kh – that’s so true. An alpha always speaks his mind!
Helen – hope you enjoy HtP
Hey Buffie
I think you’ve put it perfectly – these men only open up to the woman they love. Being that woman feels very special I think.
Andrea – LOL! Hope you get enticed to pick up my books!
MaryKate – thank you! I love writing my changelings, too. They can be a handful, but when they love…makes me wish I had a changeling of my own
Hey Michelle – LOL about hitting them over the head in RL!
Stacy – I don’t think I could choose. Each is alpha in a very different way. I love them all
Katiebabs – Kaleb – you still think he’s a good guy? *grin*
PJ – that’s so sweet about your alpha – see, it does happen in real life
Stephanie – thank you for those lovely words about my books. I agree that each hero and heroine is stronger in a couple (with the right person) than they would be alone. That’s one of the wonderful things about romance.
Gannon – hope you enjoy StS! And your hubby sounds wonderful.
Wendy – LOL!!
Ann – I agree, Suzanne Brockmann writes some very alpha men.
Margay
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 6:13 pm:
I think it’s because, deep down, we know that alpha males are the ultimate protectors and even though we want to be independent, we want to know that, when it counts, he will be there to take care of us.
orannia
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 6:14 pm:
HI Nalini and everyone *waves*
I think the following line summed it up beautifully:
Because an alpha hero can’t be tamed…and that’s part of the fascination. He behaves with the love of his life because hurting her would hurt him…
MK – I love that scene too…it’s the tenderness and love in the touch *SIGH*
And as for Kaleb….I think right until the very end we’ll believe he is a good guy/capable of redemption
Because I don’t think he is all squeaky clean 
Apologies to those of you who are now picturing Kaleb covered in mud (and not much else 
Or maybe that’s just me 
orannia
Fedora
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 6:18 pm:
Hi, Nalini! I do agree with what you’ve said about alphas and their appeal–I do think that part of the fun in reading a romance is seeing the kind of woman who ends up winning one’s heart. Sometimes it’s a woman who contrasts with him (softer where he’s not, more willing to compromise…) and sometimes it’s a woman who goes toe-to-toe with him, but it seems to be always one who can hold her own when it counts. I’ve enjoyed the alphas you’ve written for the Desire line, and the one story I’ve read from your Psy/Changelings. The military, firefighters, police officers, and the like seem to lend themselves nicely to alphas.
Nalini Singh
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 6:44 pm:
Margay – yes!
Hey Orannia – waving back
Fedora – that’s part of what I like about the breadth of romances, too. Sometimes the heroine is kickass, other times she’s gentle, but with a great romance, she’s always right for the alpha hero.
Kerry
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 7:03 pm:
I think writers walk a very fine line when writing alpha males. When done right – and Nalini you do it absolutely right – they are wonderful to read. But done wrong they drive me totally crazy. Another author I think does it absolutely right is Anne Bishop. I’d like to hear what authors other people think get the alpha balance just right.
Nalini Singh
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 7:16 pm:
I’m a mad fangirl of Anne Bishop – her Black Jewels trilogy is one of my all time faves. I also love how Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle does her alphas.
MaryKate
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 7:28 pm:
I just read the Black Jewel trilogy this summer. Magnificent! The characterization was amazing!
Nalini Singh
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 7:28 pm:
Have you read The Invisible Ring & Tangled Webs? They’re both set in the same world. And she’s writing more
azteclady
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 7:43 pm:
*waving* Hi, Nalini!
Alpha men are protective and dependable and take charge… what’s not to love?
MaryKate
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 7:58 pm:
I’ve heard that. I dunno, the ending of the last of the trilogy was SO perfect. I’m hesitant to read more.
Does that sound perverse??
Avi J
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 8:23 pm:
I agree Nalini, Alpha males really make the story worth reading. Reading some Historical Novels with a “Rake” in it is the perfect example of a alpha male.
LJ
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 8:27 pm:
Seeing alpha males fall for the heroine in a story is the best part for me.
Dina
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 8:31 pm:
I love reading Royal Romances, with Princes, Sheikhs, and Dukes they are my perfect alpha male.
Lisa lee
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 8:37 pm:
I agree with what was said before, the way a alpha male is tender, and caring about the heroine in a story really makes it enjoyable. Nalini you and Susan Mallery are mt favourite authors when it come to the perfect alpha hero.
Mia
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 9:12 pm:
Hey most of you all took my answers
Well for me when a Alpha male is all protective and caring in a story that makes it the perfect read.
Gina
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 9:16 pm:
I agree with you Nalini, seeing the heroine capture a so called lone wolf, alpha male heart is really the crowning jewel in a story.
Nalini Singh
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 10:17 pm:
Hi Azteclady *waving back*
MK – I understand perfectly.
Avi – I love me some of those historical men! Yummy.
LJ / Gina – especially when they fall HARD!
Dina – some of them are definitely delicious
Lisa Lee – thank you!
Mia / Lisa – I think tenderness and protectiveness toward the heroine is really important in an alpha hero.
Aymless
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 10:36 pm:
Hi Nalini (((HUGS))) and *waves to everyone*
Love Nalini’s Alpha MALES. They are protective but so cuddly too and not overly bossy or over-bearing (except to sisters…*g*). I also love the Black Jewel Males too and just dying for Shadow Queen. As for others, Warlord’s Keir of the Cat is up there and so is my favorite magical flying cat, Rain Tarien Soul!
Nalini Singh
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 10:49 pm:
I loved Keir!!
Ann N
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 11:05 pm:
I really enjoy reading the Psy/changeling books. I find that the characters are rich and alive. I even like the bad guys. LOL
I can’t wait to read about Mercy and Riley. The excerpt on your site was amazing….
Ann N.
(who couldn’t connect yesterday) :OP
Lizzy
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 11:15 pm:
Alpha heroes are such fun characters to read how hard they fight to fall in love but the heroine always brings them to their knees. Nalini I have my copy of HTP, I just have to find time to read it. I love your books
Nalini Singh
on Sep 4th, 2008
@ 1:36 am:
Ann – Mercy and Riley were so much fun to write *grin*
Lizzy – thanks! Hope you enjoy HtP.
Kaitlin
on Sep 4th, 2008
@ 2:34 am:
Why we love Alphas…good question.
I love Alphas who are dominant men, but who are willing to show their softer side when it comes to their women. I hate Alphas who are totally Alpha throughout their story until they meet their heroine and become completely & totally immasculated. It completely ruins their credibility…to me anyway.
I think that’s why I love your heroes so much. They’re tough, mega-Alphas, but they are not domineering, in the sense that they’re not trying to overthrow their women. The heroines of your stories are tough, Alpha females on their own. I think they compliment each other.
That’s what it is. The hero & heroine should compliment each other. There shouldn’t be one who is stronger, prettier, whatever than the other. There should be an equality there.
Having said that, probably one of my all-time favorite heroes (hands down) has to be Simon Hunt from Lisa Kleypas’s Secrets of a Summer’s Night. A true Alpha-type, he’s worked hard all his life, yet when he meets Annabelle, his world is rocked from its base. Gotta love that.
Also Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. Any of your Alphas. Cadeon Wode from Kresley Cole’s Dark Desires After Dusk (yum).
I’m big on hot, hunky Alphas. Suzanne Brockmann writes some of the best hard-core Alphas out there. Whee!
Willa
on Sep 4th, 2008
@ 4:30 am:
Ah, Alpha males – gotta love them! As said by commenters before, I love the Alpha’s that are strong enough to match their heroines, regarding them as equal partners – not almost crushing their spirits.
Fave Alpha’s would be Linda Howard’s Kell Sabin *swoon* & Marc Chastain and I love JAK’s hero’s, particulary Elias from Deep Waters – he was definately different!
Congratulations on your latest release Nalini – have HTP in my hot little paws for reading/gulping down this weekend!
Nalini Singh
on Sep 4th, 2008
@ 6:42 am:
That’s what it is. The hero & heroine should compliment each other. There shouldn’t be one who is stronger, prettier, whatever than the other. There should be an equality there.
I agree so much with that, Kaitlin – and Willa, with what you said. It should be a partnership.
Thanks so much for the great discussion everyone – and for the congrats on the release of HtP! I hope you all enjoy my alpha hero
And another great big thanks for RNTV for inviting me here!
azteclady
on Sep 4th, 2008
@ 12:51 pm:
But but… if the hero and heroine complement each other, doesn’t that mean that one’s strengths cover for the other’s weakenesses and vice versa? It’s a parnership, indeed, but each individual contributes his/her own personality traits to it.
IMHO, of course
Nalini Singh
on Sep 4th, 2008
@ 5:52 pm:
Good point, Azteclady. I think what we mean is that one shouldn’t overwhelm the other, even if their strengths are different and complimentary. Does that make sense?
I’m about to pick the random winner of the giveaway – it’ll be announced on the home page later on
azteclady
on Sep 4th, 2008
@ 7:33 pm:
Oh I think I get it now–they are different (complementary) but neither is inferior to the other.
Thanks, Nalini!
Pam
on Sep 5th, 2008
@ 1:07 am:
Late getting over here, chiming in with MK, my favorite paranormal series – besides the wonderful character relationships, the developing plot is so intriguing, both well done in each book and keeping our interest. Hoping my copy of Hostage is in the mailbox tomorrow, I really can’t wait to read it.
Silvia
on Dec 11th, 2008
@ 6:47 am:
Hey erveryone,
I just have finish the PSY-CHANGELING SERIES, and OMG it’s just amanzing. I’m in love with all the personnage. The Man are just so…
I have no word. I really love everthing. I can not wait to reag Mercy story. A cat and a Wolf that’s going to be…a very very interssing story.
Tanks for this wonderful serie