Thanks to Kristie I've finally gotten to read Susan Carroll's Midnight Bride, it the last book in the Bride Finder series and has never been released in mm paperback, how strange is that.
It was a good book, but I found myself wanting to see more of the characters from the first 2 books. I probably should have reread them before starting this one, but this one completely stands alone, which is good.
Val (the hero) is a beta hero, nothing wrong with that, but as I read this book my preference for alpha heros solidified. Val comes from a long line of sorcerers all with different types of powers, he is empathic and can heal others by absorbing their pain. When he heals the "villian" he absorbs many of the villian's "evil" tendencies (with the help of a crystal, the explanation of which may become convoluted, so I'm going to leave it at that) and Val becomes much more agressive in nature.
I prefered the agressive Val much more than the passive Val. The passive Val was willing to give up on love because the "Bride Finder" foretells he's destined not to find love. But, he's already found love and is will to walk away--can't stand that. The alpha Val wasn't about to walk away from anything, least of all the love of his life. Besides, someone needed to punch the town drunk in the nose and his brother did need to hear how selfish he was.
Now, I realize some beta heros aren't as passive as Val, and some alphas are more agressive than he becomes, but betas don't need to be door mats. Though in his own way by using his healing powers he does protect the people he loves, he is too much of a martyr--not my thing.
Give me an alpha, warts and all. Agressive, strong and protecting. And, strong enough to stand with a woman who is equally strong, definitely my thing--LOL.
7 comments:
Well, I like confident betas too, but have always disliked Roger.
I like both. But I do agree with you, Tara. Val was a little too Beta to begin with. Honestly, I think I much prefered Lance in his book. Then again, it's been quite some time since I read that series.
I think I prefer it when they walk a fine line between the two. Sort of like my husband. lol. You know, they don't have to run the whole show, but as soon as their "property" is challenged, they do what they have to in order to protect it. Hm. Sounds a bit like a mama bear, actually. I probably need to rethink this whole thing now...
Anne & Amanda--I have to agree, Roger = weeny,
Jenster--I have to agree a hero that can walk the fine line between both alpha and beta is best, but just can't stand the martyr and betas have a tendency to walk the martyr line.
Any hint that a hero is a beta type and I don't buy that book! I stayed away from Mr Impossible cause the word from the message boards was that the hero was a beta eventhough Loretta Chase is an autbuy. I definitely prefer alpha types too with all their 'warts'.
Erika--try Mr. Impossible, Rupert is wonderful and may not be a typical alpha, but walks that fine line like Jenster mentions and rises to the occasion when needed.
It's been a while since I read this one but I remember being quite disappointed in it after reading the first two in the series. I grew quite impatient with Val's 'woe is me' outlook. When he 'turned' I found him lacking the charm that alpha heroes need to balance their 'alphaness' It was Rafe's (I think?)story I found the better of the two, but there wasn't enough of it. I didn't think The Midnight Bride nearly as good as The Bridefinder or The Night Drifter.
And I also find it very odd that it never came out in paperback. I heard that it was going to be release in PB just after The Daark Queen came out, but it wasn't. Something strange there.
I saw Mr. I at a ubs recently and I just couldn't put it in my bag. All the spoilers I read about Mr. I didn't make it apealling to me.
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