Guest Post with Gabrielle Bisset and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome to the blog author Gabrielle Bisset. Gabrielle is currently on tour promoting the release of her book Blood Avenged and has stopped by today to chat. Before I give the floor over to Gabrielle, let's get to know her a bit.

Gabrielle Bisset spends her days teaching college students American and European history, but by night she's an erotic romance author. Her first book, Stolen Destiny, was released by Siren Publishing in June 2011, and since then she's released the novellas of The Victorian Erotic Romance Trilogy--Vampire Dreams, Love's Master, and Masquerade--in addition to Destiny Redeemed. In December 2011, she released Blood Avenged, the first book in the Sons of Navarus series about eight vampires who must protect their world against an enemy that travels among their kind. She lives in Pennsylvania with her teenage son and a herd of pets.

Places to find Gabrielle:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

Thanks to Dani for having me here at Ramblings From This Chick on this stop for Blood Avenged's book tour! She's asked me to talk about one of my favorite topics—Alpha males.

Mmmmm....Alpha males, how I love thee. Let me count the ways. In a modern world where males have been buffed, gelled, made politically correct, and had all their edges smoothed away, Alpha males give us a taste of what a man can be if society's restraints are removed. Think of your favorite Alpha. In our world today, would he be considered polite, sweet, and a good catch? Hell, no! That's what's so delicious about the Alpha male. He's everything we're told we shouldn't want but still do.

The Alpha is dangerous. He takes charge, controls the situation, and dominates the scene. He knows what he wants, and he gets it. If ever there was a man who knew how to take care of business, the Alpha is it. This ability to command destiny while handling whatever comes his way is incredibly attractive.

When I began writing Blood Avenged, I knew I wanted my hero, Vasilije, to be Alpha. To be honest, he was such a strong character in my mind that he basically made the choice for me. Vasilije is a powerful vampire male who can have anyone he desires, but it's only when he meets Sasa that he's able to realize his true strength. For some, she may be too submissive, but in her own gentle way, she's the only thing that grounds him. No, she doesn't kick ass and take names, but she quietly forces him to accept that what he's seen as pleasure for centuries was just a way to fill the void in his heart.

For me, the most appealing traits of the Alpha revolve around his ability to control what happens to him. Even when he must react to a situation, he is in control of himself and what must occur. That sense that whatever happens, he can deal with it is something that draws me to the Alpha male over and over. In addition, a strong man is appealing because he can handle an emotionally strong woman. But what's most attractive to me as a reader and author is that the Alpha male is smart. He has to be. He's a natural leader, but what sets him apart from others is that he knows how to use his power. That's real intelligence, and that's incredibly sexy.

If anyone doubts the love of the Alpha in romance, all they have to do is look at the most popular romance novels to see the Alpha rules. The Black Dagger Brotherhood men, the Lords of the Underworld, Christine Feehan's vampire males of the Dark Carpathian world, Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark hunter men...and those are just the well-known ones. All these series are bestsellers because of their heroes. And in the historical romance area, Alphas are almost the rule.

But the Alpha isn't the controlling male that many believe him to be. That idea has become popular because of a few males who have made the romance headlines, but they aren't Alphas. They're just manipulative and insecure males. Those aren't the traits of a real Alpha.

My favorite Alpha is one of Christine Feehan's Carpathian vampires. The hero of Dark Magic, Gregori is everything an Alpha should be and has none of those fake Alpha traits. He's intelligent, protective of his woman, powerful, a gentleman, and above all, he's interested in having an intelligent woman by his side. He is a bit old-fashioned in the beginning of the book, but the heroine, Savannah, is strong enough to help him see that as a modern Alpha male, he'll have to take her wishes into consideration. When he does, he becomes a wonderful character you can't help but love.

So who's your favorite Alpha male? What does he have about him that makes you melt when you read his story?

I am everything you desire. I am vampire.

Powerful and manipulative, Vasilije does as he pleases. A vampire beholden to no one, he takes what he desires, drinking deeply the pleasures this life has to offer.

When one of his own is staked, Vasilije must travel to New Orleans to exact his revenge. There he meets Sasa, a beautiful woman who arouses him like no other has for centuries. Vasilije’s need for vengeance is equaled only by his passion for her, but what he finds in his revenge is just the beginning...

Places to Purcahse:

| Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance | Smashwords | 

Through the tightly packed crowd, he saw the woman next to his target lean over, obscuring his view. He watched as she pressed her body next to the man’s, a not-so-subtle hint to her interest.

The sweet scent remained, and Vasilije closed his eyes to enjoy it, not interested in the woman or her pathetic attempt to seduce his prey away.

He had no idea the vampire waited patiently for his moment. Vasilije liked the idea that ignorance was bliss. For now. In a few short minutes, another bliss would take them both over, and he’d have what he’d eyed for days.

The man made a move toward the door and every cell in Vasilije’s body came alive. Two steps and he was in the thick of the crowd, their bodies pressing up against his as he brushed by them. He weaved through the group like a dark secret whispered from one person to another.

At the exit, he inhaled deeply, his sense of smell filtering out the putrid mixture of exhaust, perfume, and stale alcohol that hovered at the entrance to the street. Only his prey’s scent remained, imprinted on him.

He was nearby.

Closing his eyes, Vasilije let his other senses take over. The sound of the man’s shoes hitting the pavement echoed in his ears. The feel of his prey’s blood pumping through his body throbbed against Vasilije’s cool skin, matching his heartbeat.

So healthy. So alive.

He’d tracked him for days, his desire growing with each passing moment. It had taken little time for him to decide he would make him one of his kind. He stirred something inside that hadn’t been touched for years.

Such a soul would be a perfect addition to his world.

Want to win some goodies from Gabrielle? Check out what's for grabs if you comment.

Up for grabs:

• Signed bookmarks from Blood Avenged and the upcoming books Blood Betrayed and Blood Spirit
• 1 lucky commenter from the ENTIRE tour will win a $10 gift card.

To Enter:

• Leave a comment answering the question:  So who's your favorite Alpha male? What does he have about him that makes you melt when you read his story?
• Please leave your email address along with your comment to be entered. 
• Giveaway ends May 4th.

Good Luck =)