The 13th Floor Series - The Alpha: Blog Tour Geek and Alpha Chat

 Today I'm here for my stop on the blog tour for the second book in Christine Rains' The 13th Floor Series – The Alpha. 

Christine was kind enough to let me beta The Alpha, and I very much enjoyed it. It’s a very different flavour from The Maquis, but still sweet, sexy and action packed.
After reading, Christine and I got together to discuss geeks and alphas in fiction.

1) Who's your favorite fictional Alpha male?

Clare: Oh, this is a great question. There’s so many fantastic fictional alpha males. Sometimes the best ones are the ones you slightly love to hate, like Kyra Lennon’s Radleigh McCoy from her Game On series. My absolute favorite is the alpha who is tamed by his love. A Song of Ice and Fire’s Khal Drogo is a great example of this – he goes from feared warlord to protective husband and father-to-be in the span of Game of Thrones, while still remaining a complete badass. It helps that he’s played by Jason Momoa in the TV series.

Christine: Mmm, Khal Drogo is an excellent choice. My favorite is Jericho Barrons from Karen Marie Moning's Fever series. Mysterious and powerful, and he owns a book store. I also like the romance is a slow one through five books.

2) Who's your favorite fictional geek?

Clare: Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series! I think she really made an excellent role model for young (and old) readers, showing you can be studious and a little geeky, and still be awesome and kickass. I’m quite sure Harry wouldn’t have defeated Voldemort without Hermione by his side.

Christine: Hermione would be my choice too! And you're right. Harry would be dead if it wasn't for Hermione. I also like Willow and Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Giles wins the prize for sexiest male librarian!

Clare: Oh man! I can't believe I forgot Willow and Giles! I especially love Willow, she was defiantly a sexy geek! :D

3) Can geeks really be sexy? Or does when a geek hit the sexy point, does he become an Alpha male?

Clare: Hum … this is an interesting question. I think that yes, geeks can be sexy. Older Hermione would be an example of this. And I’m currently reading Nora Roberts’ Heaven and Earth. The male lead in that, MacAllister Booke, is a certified geek but still as sexy as sin, but without crossing over into alpha territory, I think. Likewise, your own James is a sexy geek, but I don’t think he has it in him to be an alpha.

Christine: Thank you. I also don't think Stefanie would ever give up her dominant position! Hehehe! I agree that geeks can be sexy and it doesn't automatically make them an Alpha. I'm going to use the Doctor as an example here. Bowtie, Tardis, and all, he's sexy!

Clare: Another one I've forgotten - I'm ashamed I overlooked the Doctor, another sexy geek. Great choice!

4) Which do you prefer: brains or brawn?

Clare: Will I sound shallow if I say brawn? *laughs * I LOVE discussing writing, TV shows, movies and the like with my Hubby, but when it comes to guys on TV/ in movies/ books, I always go for the brawn. I guess because I’m a wrestling fan, so I watch a lot of beefcakes, but there’s something very sexy to me about a tough guy with muscles, who can defend his woman!

Christine: It's brains for me. Muscles just aren't enough to get me going. I tend to go for geek boys with nerdy t-shirts and comic book collections. I feel like Stefanie a lot in this! *LOL*

5) Studies show that though women may be attracted to Alpha males, they don't want them for a long-term relationship. The great majority want a geek for a mate. Do you think we'll start seeing more geeks as heroes in TV, movies, and books?

Christine: I'd love to see more geeks as heroes. I do hope the trend goes in that direction, but a lot of people have fantasies about claiming or being claimed by an Alpha male. Those will still sell.

Clare: I agree, more geek heroes would be great. I have to agree though, I do like the fantasy of being claimed, or claiming an Alpha male. But some variety, so there's something for everyone would be nice. :D

 Title: 1302 – The Alpha

Author: Christine Rains

Genre: paranormal romance

Release date: January 13th, 2013

Buy The Alpha: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Smashwords | Kobo | Barnes and Noble

Blurb: One run in the woods wouldn't matter, or so thinks werewolf Stefanie Porter. Being cooped up in her apartment for months must have messed up her instincts, because her former pack almost catches her until a mysterious lone wolf jumps in to help Stefanie escape.

The cruel Alpha Wyatt not only stole her pack but refuses to give Stefanie her freedom. She can't hide in her apartment any longer or it will drive her crazy. She puts her trust in the lone wolf who can teach her some of his unusual urban survival tricks. James Roberts might be a bit geeky, but he's smart and looks hot when the argyle sweater comes off. His ridiculous ambition to become a superhero might be admirable if Wyatt couldn't rip him limb from limb.

With the pack scouring the city for her, Stefanie must convince James to teach her and control her own Alpha nature, or fight not only for her life, but his as well.

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Author Bio:Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood, but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not writing or reading, she having adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of S.C.I.F.I. The 13th Floor series is her first self-published series. She also has two novellas and sixteen short stories published.

Find Christine in the following places:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads