THIS LIST IS NO ALPHA-JERKS ALLOWED!! 😂 A few of my fellow readers have a special request, and I’m in!! It’s been asked for a few times in the past, but Ryan’s request a few days ago spurred me into serious action!
Yes, normally I’m more into the alpha-males, but I have fallen head-over-heels with a few of the gentler, patient and unrestrained loving heroes too! So it’s their time to shine, here!!
Ryan asks:
Hey Maryse,
I love your blog and I can’t tell you how many good books and authors i managed to suss out from all your lists. And a few genres that i didn’t know were missing in my life (reverse harem lol) 😉
But how about giving some love to the Beta heroes? The reliable heroes who have endless patience and just quietly sit back and let us find our own way?
Is it just me, because a lot of times, I find myself rooting for the secondary hero in shows and books more. Alphas are nice and all but betas make the best partners if you ask me 😛
But I’m always curious to know from fellow readers; how would they define alphas and betas? What would be the key differences between those and defining traits?
Do you know of any good books featuring great betas?
Stay safe and keep reading!
R
I’m with you, Ryan!
I’ve always squeeeeed over my favorite fictional alpha-males (despite them being outright alpha-jerks too). Those guys are fun and exciting and unpredictable and infuriating, throwing my emotions into a whirlwind. Which makes them fun… to read and experience. In books. Only and always in books. Yep. The kinds of hard core alphas I’ve loved are just waving all sorts of RED FLAGS. Toooooo much heartache potential and chaos for my real life, thank you very much! 😉
So I agree. A loving, patient, kind man is definitely a HUGE MUST in my real life (and lately, in my books, too. It seems I’ve mellowed with age 😉 ). Very soothing to the soul.
In fact, I found this old conversation we had on exactly this subject!!
bev: Hey, Maryse? We were talking about R’s love of a beta hero…..and you should totally put out a call and make a list up. 😉
R. Renee: I’m all over that!! But what exactly is a beta hero? I’m assuming the opposite of an alpha? Boy next door? Who cares, a list for me sounds awesome lol 😀
bev: Uses the heroine’s name? Speaks in full sentences? Wears more than a Henley and jeans…..though that is a good look?
Maryse: HEY bev!!! Whatchu got against Henleys and jeans?
bev: Absolutely nothing. Always makes me think of Tate Jackson.
Jan: Maryse we love our alphas and our special betas too. There’s a lot of love in our hearts to go around 😀
Maryse: Er… beta? What the heck is a beta? *snort* *says the alpha-hero lover that can’t see past her alpha-loving nose*
R. Renee: Good try Maryse!! But I know you love many of the same books I do that don’t have alphas! You must, I get all my recs from you!
I KID!! I KID!!! 😉 I get it now, I truly do.
So this would be a GREAT IDEA for a list! I could have sworn I had one, but I don’t think I do now that I’ve searched. Here’s the closest I’ve found that we’ve made a list for:
- Reader Recommendations for “Shy Guy” Romance Books
- Reader Recommendations – Our Favorite Nerdy Book Characters
- Shy Heroes Category
So let’s start one right now! Any favorites to recommend?
Lulu: During these times I too am appreciating a love story that is less angst, more loveliness. The best romance book I’ve read lately has “all the feels.” It is called Atticus: A Woman’s Journey with the World’s Worst Behaved Dog by Sawyer Bennett. The title makes it sound bonkers, but is so great. I read 2 or 3 books a week and this one is up there for me.
Noelle: This book was sooo good! Bennett is one of my favorite heroes. It’s really hard finding contemporary romance books with virgin heroes so I was so excited when I was reading this.
Maryse: Noelle you are so right. And no matter his “status” he is sexy as heck!!!!!!! The PERFECT book boyfriend. Sexy, sweet, smart and sensuous.
Val: I just finished this. I started when I woke up and didnt stop. Couldn’t stop. So good. I haven’t met a guy I loved this much in a long time. Thanks for the recommendation. I didn’t want it to end. Except for I needed it to so I could resume my duties as mom to my kids. 🙂
Jillian: I have just fallen in love with a new book boyfriend !!! Bennett is perfect ! I thought I’d never find another Holder or Will from Colleen Hoover’s books but now they have strong competition! Your review is exactly what I was thinking and feeling Maryse ! Those kissing scenes …… Wow !
Ryan: How about Easy by Tammara Webber? It gave me so much feels when i first read it.
Maryse: I LOVED THAT ONE!!! Here’s my review.
Missy: I recommend Easy by Tammara Webber and don’t read any spoilers. It really surprised me.
Danielle: Easy by Tammara Webber. Read this last year and still think about this book daily.
Tessa: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher… Harry is, not sure if alpha, but more beta. That hero type. He’s funny, irreverent, smart, both book and street, and kind of broken. It’s not a romance series, it’s total Urban Fantasy, but there is tons to love about the book. There is a “love interest” per se, but the story doesn’t revolve around it at all. However, it’s got wizards, vampires, fae, werewolves… just a whole slew of goodies. Each is more of a mystery, but with paranormal complications. I love the series, though I’m on one I can’t seem to get past.
bev: I’ve read a few Dresden books, I need to pick that series up again. Definitely not an alpha romance type book.
Noelle: The Edge of Darkness by Melissa Andrea. 🙂 Sweet hero and strong heroine.
He’s good-looking but not super tall and not all OTT muscled and alpha – not much taller than Anna, the h. And in a moving moment of deep emotion and grief in the book, he cries alone at his brother’s grave. But he’s all man underneath everything. OMG even though I usually prefer the bossy alphas, I’m in love with Luke in this book.
bev: Lol, it’s a trip the Georgian dress for men. I remember reading about Avon and his clothes and shoes. But nothing beta about Avon. Gah, I love him, lol
Jan: bev, Avon from These Old Shades. Yeah, no. He’s never a beta is he? He loves his gorgeous clothes too, but he’s a magnificent alpha all the way. Another beloved book boyfriend of mine….. sigh………
R. Renee: Thanks Jan! I’m looking into Heartless. It’s $$$ and HR and I don’t know if I’ve ever read a true HR before!
Jan: R. I hope you read and love Heartless. *jumps up and down in excitement* Some of the beautiful moments in that book will always have a special place in my heart. The way Luke and Anna’s love grows and develops is so beautifully done……
R. Renee: Downloaded a sample of Grace Grows. Found a paperback for under $5 new!
Jan: Grace Grows is a nice little read, too. …Yes it is different. Very sweet, I thought. And I liked that the H wasn’t mr. perfect, but still such a great guy. I think it’s the only book she’s written 🙁 I’d like to read more.
Tessa: OMG, I can’t believe I didn’t remember this. Georgina Kinkade series by Richelle Mead has such a sweet beta hero. R, I found a PNR book you might like!
R. Renee: Tessa curious about Richelle Mead. Checking that one out! Thanks!
Nay: count me in as another recommendation. I LOVED that series!!
bev:
- Carter from Nora Roberts Vision in White.
- Coen from Maybe Maby by Willow Aster.
- Levi from Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl.
R. Renee: One clicked Tessa! Thanks! Fangirl is intriguing… Thanks guys! 😀
It’s a nice change to read a book where the male lead is the one who is insecure and vulnerable. I spent most of the book just wanting to reach out and hug him lol. I honestly just fell so in love with him and know you all will too.
Maryse: Oh YAY DANIELLE!!!! I’m so in the mood for sweet heroes right now. And I LOVE how funny this author is.
Tessa: Danielle, wasn’t he the sweetest? I just wanted to hug him throughout the book. He was probably the sweetest hero I’ve ever read. 🙂
Leslie M: Hmmmm….you guys are tempting me with the new How to Date a Douchebag book. But I didnt love the first one…..maybe I need to give series a second chance??
Tessa: I think you’ll like this one far more, Leslie. The first one, he is a jerk. However, in this one, he’s sooooo sweet. Like, huge teddy bear sweet. *grins*
Angie H: Liz Crowe’s “Realty” SERIES…dang tiny phone keyboard Ground Floor is the first one and I liked the heroine as much or more than Sylvia Day’s Eva Tramell! Sexy, sexy Alpha and Beta guys galore 😉 Definitely kept me up for hours.
Ezinwanyi: Losing Hope. Not only is it my favorite cover, but Holden was such a sweet Hero and he made that book even better than book 1.
- Smooth Talking Stranger (The Travis Family #3) by Lisa Kleypas
- Before Jamaica Lane (On Dublin Street #3) by Samantha Young
- Jock Rule (Jock Hard #2) by Sara Ney
- The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient #1) by Helen Hoang
- Somebody to Love (Gideon’s Cove #3) by Kristan Higgins
Wilder (The Wild Ones #3) by C.M. Owens
- Too Good to Be True by Kristan Higgins
- Beauty and the Mustache (Knitting in the City #4) by Penny Reid
Maryse: OH YES!!! So many here have recommended Smooth Talking Stranger (and also Wilder) SO often for various must-read reasons. YAY!!! Thank you Mony! 😀
During these times I too am appreciating a love story that is less angst, more loveliness. The best romance book I’ve read lately has “all the feels.” It is called Atticus: A Woman’s Journey with the World’s Worst Behaved Dog by Sawyer Bennett. The title makes it sound bonkers, but is so great. I read 2 or 3 books a week and this one is up there for me.
Thank you Lulu!! I’ll add it in. 😀
Oh yes, reading about a beta hero is wonderful…caring, hot, patient, hot, has your back, hot.
I was asked fo choose my favourite book hero and funny enough it was a beta guy. (Jack Travis in first book on list)
It’s not to say that they don’t have some alpha going…otherwise they’d be wimps. 🙂
Smooth Talking Stranger (The Travis Family #3) by Lisa Kleypas
Before Jamaica Lane (On Dublin Street #3) by Samantha Young
Jock Rule (Jock Hard #2) by Sara Ney
The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient #1) by Helen Hoang
Somebody to Love (Gideon’s Cove #3) by Kristan Higgins
Wilder (The Wild Ones #3) by C.M. Owens
Too Good to Be True by Kristan Higgins
Beauty and the Mustache (Knitting in the City #4) by Penny Reid
OH YES!!! So many here have recommended Smooth Talking Stranger (and also Wilder) SO often for various must-read reasons. YAY!!! Thank you Mony! 😀