The Alpha Showdown is underway, and already proving to be a good one. There’s stiff competition this year, just look at the bracket!
The vampire Slade is going up against immortal/we don’t know/care what he is Barrons in Round 7 of the Alpha Showdown 2016. It’s destined to be a bloody match.
Who will advance in the Alpha Showdown, though?
We’ve lined up excellent bloggers to fill you in on why each alpha deserves to advance. Read the pitches, and then make the call.
You know him from: Fever series by Karen Marie Moning
First appeared in: Darkfever (VBC Review | Amazon)
Supernatural status: Immortal. Beyond that we don’t know and we don’t really care.
Championed by: Zee at The Saucy Wenches Book Club
Jericho Barrons. He’d laugh one of his very sexy laughs if he ever found out he was being pitted against these “alphas.” Sure, they’re great fighters, immortals who’ve been around for centuries, some longer, some not so long—vampires, werewolves, shifters, demons, charming talkers, talented lovers, and other fierce competitors I’m sure. But the plain, hard truth is, none of them are even in the same league as Barrons.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with loving all of them, as long as you can admit one fact. Absolutely none of them will ever stand a chance against this vital, ferocious, compelling, virile, deadly, almost omniscient creature who you will never be able to fit neatly into a category. His sheer presence on page is enough to wipe every other so-called alpha from your mind.
The others might moonlight as gallant knights in shining arming, especially for the ladies, but Barrons will do no such thing. He will help the most distressed of damsels grow into their own heroes if they so choose. And that is the mark of a true alpha. He can kick ass with one hand tied behind his back, he can kill within seconds, it doesn’t matter how powerful his opponent is, and he can do all this without breaking a sweat. And when every soldier on the battlefield has fallen, Barrons will still be standing. I mean, even death cannot defeat him.
What you end up feeling for Barrons during the course of the series isn’t some light romantic feeling that randomly makes you swoon when he says something pretty. The fact is, he rarely says pretty things, actions speak so much louder than words, one of the most amazing lessons Barrons teaches us. And when he does speak, his words are chock full of meaning.
What you feel for him is a living, breathing, pulsating, writhing thing with a life of it’s own. Almost as real as the beast he turns into. You can tell me you didn’t fall in love with him at first sight, and sure, I’ll believe you, but I won’t believe that you didn’t feel that surge of electricity, that spike of adrenaline, every single time he was on page. And it’s a feeling that never went away, it only got stronger with each book. And that’s the point isn’t it? If you’re totally honest with yourself, you realize that this beautiful, intense, life changing force of nature makes you feel things on levels that you can’t even begin to understand. And the beauty of it is, it’s something you don’t need all the answers to. It’s liberating. It’s unique. Barrons just IS. And you will always hunger for more when it comes to him. There will never be enough.
If you want an alpha to challenge you, invigorate you, dare you, scandalize you, and make every cell in your body feel more alive than it’s ever been, Barrons is the one you’re looking for. If the thought of that scares you… it should. You’ll never be the same once you’ve bumped into Barrons in Dublin. But oh, you’ll be so much more alive.
“He’s disturbing. Carnal. Base. Forbidding. Big and powerful, radiating primal hunger. His eyes are blades, slicing into you: dark, ancient, glittering with predatory intensity. He moves like a beast even in his human skin. A woman takes one look at him, her stomach drops like a stone and she runs like hell.
Which direction she goes in is the defining point: she’ll run away—or toward him—depending on her ability to be honest with herself, her hunger for life and willingness to pay any price at all to feel so damned alive.”
I know which way I’m running. Hard. Without looking back. What about you?
You Know him From: The Protectors series by Teresa Gabelman
First Appeared In: Duncan, but is the protagonist in Slade (VBC Review | Amazon)
Supernatural Status: Vampire
Championed by: Amy from VBC
One of the great things about VBC and the Alpha Showdown is being introduced to new hot alpha males. The guys of The Protectors series by Teresa Gabelman certainly fit that bill, but Dr. Slade Buchanan definitely stands out from the crowd.
Being a vampire and already having lived for hundreds of years, Slade is pretty much over having to “prove” himself. That doesn’t mean he won’t flex his powers to anyone who would threaten him or those closest to him.
When he’s first introduced in the series, he’s just this domineering presence right from the start. It’s a few pages before we even know his name he’s simply referred to as “the man,” but I was immediately drawn to this mysterious person and wanted to find out what his story is.
Jill tried to push herself up, but her body protested. Suddenly, Jeff was slammed next to her, his face smashed to the ground. He struggled against the large hand holding his face to the concrete…. He was large, larger than any of the other Warriors. ‘I’m going to let you up, badass, so I suggest you calm down.”
As soon as the man lifted his hand, Jeff jumped up to get in his face. ‘You son of a bitc-’ Jeff’s voice squeaked to a stop as soon as he realized he was yelling into the man’s chest. His head tilted up to look the man in the face, his throat working visibly hard to swallow.
Come on, tell me you aren’t intrigued by that little snippet of our first introduction to Slade?
Once we get to his featured book, we see a more intimate side of Slade while he’s in pursuit of Jill. It’s true that Slade will spout no false claims about his “dominance,” but a good alpha will always make sure he gives as good as he receives: “I am demanding, but my main purpose in the end is to make sure you have the pleasure you desire…you will always be taken care of in every way, in and out of that bed.”
Slade is the perfect top-of-the-line alpha because he completely understands the responsibility of life, whether the taking or preserving it. An alpha needs to make those decisions all the time whether they want to or not. Slade is in a position where his healing knowledge even brings other alphas / dominate-types to him for help with what they don’t understand. Oftentimes he balances precariously with the ethics of it all:
“Even though my priority is to save lives, there are some lives not worth saving.”
But typically this only occurs when those he cares about or those weaker than their attacker are threatened. Being relied upon to know the difference and having the power to make that decision, and knowing it’s right, is pretty damn sexy and completely worthy of the 2015 Alpha Showdown champion title.
Who are you putting your money on: Barrons or Slade?
At the request of Alpha Showdown voters, we’re leveraging traditional polls for the voting, but also keeping reading for your chance to win awesome books. Your to-be-read pile could always use more. Trust us. Each poll will be open for 48 hours.
Participating in the Alpha Showdown is all about fun, and free books equal fun, right? We hope you’ll find lots of great new reads during this year’s Alpha Showdown, and to help that along, we’re giving away some stellar reads.
For Round 7, we have a copy of Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost. Pretty much everyone on the VBC staff loves this series. You will, too.
Grrrrrrr
Barron’s all the way!
Barrons!
Barrons!
Barrons!
What Zee said! BTW, I think that’s the most passionate, well-written nomination I’ve read to date. Based on it I think we could just all vote for Barrons and stop the Alpha Showdown 2016 right now. Just kidding!
In addition to what Zee wrote I would add that Barrons offered his body (a very nice body at that) and inexhaustible stamina to slake the non-stop sexual needs forced on Mac when she’s turned “priya” and that’s another reason he’s #1 with me. Plus I’m jealous. Go, Barrons!
agreed! Do we even need a contest? #TeamJZB
Wow, Diana! Thank you!
Completely agree on what you said btw! I should have added that!
Barrons….hands down is the ULTIMATE Alpha !
BARRONS
Love me some Barrons!
How could anyone not choose Jericho!
Definitely Barron!! Thank you for the giveaway!!
Jericho is the ultimate Alpha for me. He’s a man of few words but with just one look Mac knows exactly where she stands whether she likes or not!!! Every woman should have a Barron in her life!!!
JZB
Barrons, Barrons, Barrons!
Barrons! Always and forever, the Alpha to beat to all Alphas!
Barrons all the way!
Barron’s the MAN
Barrons, always.
Go Barrons!
Go team Barrons!!!
Yeah I love Vampire Showdowns…
Barrons!!
Barrons!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slade is the best
Barrons all day and all night!!! #TeamJZB
Barron