Book Tour & Giveaway (US/Int): Stripping down Gustaf Ræliksen of The Temperate Warrior

Please help me welcome author Renee Vincent!

I have always been intrigued by the male species.
[heartlist]

• I love the simpleness of their nature and their inherent need to be the best at almost everything.
• I love that they often welcome a challenge and frown upon laziness.
• I love that even though they appear impenetrable with their hard-muscled bodies and intense steely glares, inside is a soft heart as sensitive as their female counterparts.
• I love that they would never admit to having that sensitive side.
• And, I love that they possess this deep-seated, raw need to be ‘with’ a woman.

[/heartlist]
To me, there is nothing sexier than an honorable man contending with his own nagging desires—and failing outright. My hero Gustaf is no different, and today I shall strip him down, revealing the essence of his character and the attraction to which I have for the Alpha Male.

But before I begin, I thought it necessary to give you a blurb about my historical romance, The Temperate Warrior, so you can get an idea of where our hero is in the story and his purpose within the plot.

Gustaf Ræliksen lives by the blade of his sword. After avenging his father’s murder and reuniting with his family, he wants nothing more than to settle down and have sons of his own. Only one woman will do—a fiery redhead he saved from the spoils of war. No longer forced to warm the beds of the men who’ve taken everything from her, Æsa has nothing to offer the noble warrior but her heart. When someone with a deep score to settle seeks revenge upon her, Gustaf’s world is torn asunder. He has but one vow—saving the woman he loves from the ignorant fool who dared to best the temperate warrior.

Well, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s strip down our brawny warrior hero, shall we?

According to Author Mary Buckham, “Alpha Male refers to a type of man who is strong, smart, and a leader. Others respect his decisions, and tend to not challenge him. An Alpha Male moves and stands in ways that show he expects to get what he wants without being questioned or challenged.” With that being said, Gustaf Ræliksen is undoubtedly your classic Alpha Male.

He’s a Viking warrior who’s spent most of his adult life avenging his father’s murder. That alone screams ALPHA. In those days, it was absolutely necessary that a man know the ways of warfare and hand-to-hand combat, lest he lose everything he owns including perhaps his own life. Nothing was sacred or held outside the rules of war. Gustaf battles with this on several occasions and sometimes it’s with those he least expects.

Gustaf is also a natural leader and many rely on him to make sound decisions. He does not hesitate in his actions and stands firm upon his decisions. But remember, Gustaf is still a man. Though he hardly ever allows anything to distract him or cloud his good sense, there’s still a considerable chance that his stable reasoning may falter under the weight of an alluring beautiful woman. (And that is the moment in romance books where we, the female readers, love to put ourselves in the place of the heroine—when the hero, despite his mighty efforts, is inevitably drawn to her. He puts everything else on hold, even the more urgent dilemmas, to seek out the heroine’s love. The consequences of his blatant disregard normally fall somewhere amidst the story’s main conflict.)

But it is with this point that I bring us to another reason for why we love our Alpha Male heroes—reading about how they will contend with conflict and right the wrongs. To our enjoyment, the Alpha Male hero will always go in the honorable direction, though it means the more difficult route. And Gustaf is not a man to take the easy road. It’s all about protecting the woman he loves and saving her from those who threaten to keep them apart, while still upholding his father’s noble name in the process. And given that he is dealing with a cunning and dangerous foe from the heroine’s past, his pursuit is nothing short of arduous.

Now, let’s not forget that the Alpha Male is undeniably charming and irresistible. Gustaf is the kind of man who is bold and adventurous, even in his quest to settle down and marry the woman who’s tamed his wild heart. His sensual words, though rarely spoken, and his determination to provide the heroine with utter happiness, can melt even the coldest of hearts. It is those traits and talents that make Æsa (and readers) hard-put to avoid his advances. I dare anyone to try.  🙂

And that, my dear romance fans, is Gustaf Ræliksen—stripped and laid bare.

The Verdict: If you like a true Alpha Male hero—the in-your-face confident, brazenly courageous male, with a rugged handsomeness to boot—then Gustaf is your man.

Purchase Links: Kindle | Nook | All Romance Ebooks | Smashwords | Turquoise Morning Press | Book Strand

I am an author with a passionate interest in Irish and Norse history. I live in the rolling hills of Kentucky with my husband and two children on a beautiful secluded farm of horses and hay fields. I am a sucker for a good cup of coffee (lots of cream and sugar…and whipped cream if I can get my hands on it), great conversation, and a lilting Irish accent. I love to read and I can’t resist watching great epic historical movies.

From an early age, I’ve always had scenes playing out in my head. Whether it was a story with a moral or a tale with a twist, those ideas have never let me sleep until I wrote them out. And considering I have an eclectic ensemble of stories swarming in my brain at any given time, I write under a couple pen names to accommodate the various genre categories. Renee Vincent (Historical & Contemporary Adult Romance) From the daunting, charismatic Vikings, to the charming, brazen Alpha male heroes of modern day, you’ll be whisked away to a world filled with fast-paced adventure, unforgettable romance, and undying love. Gracie Lee Rose (Lighthearted, Fancy-free Women’s Fiction) For those who love to read fun, wholesome, and endearing romantic stories that your mother, sister, friends, and daughters can enjoy. Visit  Renee online at… Website: http://www.reneevincent.com/ Blog: http://pasttheprint.blogspot.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/reneevincentauthor Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ReneeVincent Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3005290.Renee_Vincent Romance Blog: http://www.deepintheheartromance.com/

Giveaway (US/Int)

Renee is giving away the entire Emerald Isle Trilogy – Ræliksen (book 1), Mac Liam (book 2), and The Fall of Rain (book 3) in ebook format to one lucky winner after the tour is over. To enter to win, leave a comment or question for Renee then fill out the Rafflecopter widget.
Note: If you are viewing this from our main Feed page, click the title of the post, then scroll to the bottom to view the Comments area.  You must leave your comment there, not in the Rafflecopter widget, in order to qualify for the giveaway. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway