The Alpha Hero and
Consent
“This smashing sequel shows
that respectful communication is downright scorching... This sweet contemporary
will appeal to romance fans who like their heroes powerful and smitten and
their heroines capable and genuine.” — Publishers
Weekly STARRED Review of THE DEEPEST NIGHT
There’s an undeniable appeal to
an alpha male. He’s strong, sexy, driven to succeed, and — at least in romance
— when he sees the woman he wants, he’ll do anything to make her his.
My reading habits were formed in
the eighties, when the romance genre was full of men who wouldn’t take no for
an answer. Maybe that’s why I ended up reading so many science fiction,
fantasy, and espionage books instead of the romances my friends enjoyed. “Your
lips say no, but your body says yes” didn’t sit well with me.
When I found myself writing
romance, I had to think long and hard about my heroes. They needed to be strong
but not overbearing, driven but not pushy. And most of all, they need to accept
that when the heroine says no, she means
it. To most modern readers, anything less is rape.
Fortunately, respect isn’t
weakness, as Ray Powell, hero of THE DEEPEST NIGHT, proves beyond a doubt. From
the first moment he lays eyes on heroine Michelle Cole, he respects her
privacy, her personal space, and her boundaries. He makes his interest in her
crystal clear, even though she has trouble believing a man like him would be
interested in her, but he doesn’t push or try to rush her into accepting him.
Instead, he holds out his hand to her and allows her to decide whether or not to accept. And that’s what’s
important.
The statistics on rape are
terrifying. Most rapes are committed not by a stranger in a dark alley but by
someone the victim knows — a friend, a family member, a partner, even a spouse.
Because of that, I’m careful in
my writing. My characters aren’t perfect, but they’re aware and respectful of
one another. One of my readers once told
me, “I want my favorite characters to be good to themselves and each other.”
Respect for themselves and for each other is a big part of that.
***
The
Deepest Night
By Kara Braden
Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 9781402291883
Mass Market Paperback $7.99/£5.99
Synopsis
“Open your eyes,
Michelle.”
She gasped at the
sight of the infinite night sky stretching all around her, full of more stars
than she’d ever imagined.
He’d thought of
this. For her. It was so perfect, so romantic, it stole her breath. She smiled
and curled her fingers around Ray’s.
When everything you love is on the line…
The Isles of Scilly off the coast of England are remote,
windswept and wild. They’re the perfect place for Ray Powell to recuperate
after the toughest Afghanistan mission the military contractor has ever run.
Except instead of the peace and quiet he so desperately needs, he’s faced with
a beautiful American woman who instantly challenges his iron control.
It’s best to proceed with caution…
Seeking her own safe haven, Michelle Cole is intrigued
and flustered by the intensely compelling and irresistible man.
As their cautious
friendship slowly builds into simmering attraction, their hearts and souls are
about to be broken open...if they’ll allow it.
Author Bio
Kara Braden makes her debut in modern romance with a story
of love in isolation. She believes that engaging, romantic fantasy can be found
everywhere in the world, even in the most unlikely places. With the support of
her wonderful husband, cats, and dogs, she writes from her home office outside
Phoenix, Arizona, where she spends her time hiding from the sunlight and heat.
Buy Links
Social Media Links
Author Website http://karabraden.com/
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/KaraBraden/
Twitter @KaraBraden
Great blog. I think it's very sexy to get consent and I love reading books where the hero makes sure the heroine is 100% on board with the intimacy. Congrats on the release!
ReplyDeleteThank you! "You say no, but you mean yes" is a guaranteed DNF for me.
DeleteHappy Release week Karen! And fabulous post...I couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteCongratulations on the new release. And YES to the need for mutual respect. Much more likely to lead to a believable HEA than arrogance is.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Respect is such a critical foundation for a relationship.
DeleteSounds like we had the same tastes in books...I started with a lot of books in those genres as well! Congrats on the release and kudos for maintaining that essential element of respect!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Just last month, I brought up the Pern books when I was giving a class on Consent & Condoms to a nearby chapter of Romance Writers of America. There were some pretty big consent issues there, too. ("You say no, but your dragon says yes" isn't consent!) But at lesat things are changing!
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