Medieval Man vs. Modern Woman
This topic isn’t new, I’ll admit that. It came to mind when I decided to write about my November 9 release from Ellora’s Cave, BRIDGE THROUGH THE MIST. I wondered if the alpha male vs. beta male conversation has been so overdone that women don’t want to talk about it any more. Then I realized that with my novel, I have to talk about it because it’s an intricate part of the story.
When Alenna Carstairs is hurled through time into 1318, Scotland’s medieval world brings her face to face with hot, sexy Tynan of MacBrahin. Infuriated with his barbaric manners, and yet sensing vulnerability within him, she vows to discover the heartbreak that has scarred his soul.
World-weary knight, Tynan of MacBrahin lost two loves to the brutality of other men. He can’t forgive himself for failing to protect the women who depended on him. When Alenna saves his life, her independent spirit stirs desires so strong within him he can’t resist her. A depraved baron soon wants Alenna for his own, and Tynan must find a way to conquer this powerful man to save her. Alenna struggles with soul-staggering desire for Tynan, but most of all, she must convince Tynan his love is not lethal, and she is the one who can bring shine to his armor again.
In my story the hero is definitely alpha, and because I wrote him to be a man of his time, he would have to be alpha in ways that wouldn’t be acceptable in some respects for the modern man in our society. Case in point in this clip from the book where the heroine’s frustration with the medieval world’s restrictions on women boils over:
“Stay by the fire where ‘tis warm,” Tynan said to Alenna as he put on his cloak and headed for the door.
Alenna bristled. This was the last straw. Staying cloistered in this cold tower for another day would give her cabin fever. “I need some fresh air. I can’t stay in here any longer.”
“Ye have been here but two days. Ye’ll stay here because I say ye will.” His brows knitted together. “Dougald and I are goin’ out today. If ye venture out, I wouldnae be here to protect ye.”
“I can take care of myself.”
He walked toward her, a flicker of anger hardening his mouth. She resolved not to move a muscle.
Stopping within a few inches of her, he said, “Ye’ll not go out. I told ye of the dangers.”
She sighed and put her hands on her hips. “What do you expect me to do, stay here the rest of my life?”
“If that’s what it takes to keep ye safe.”
“What about the assembly at the great hall?”
“Nay,” he said, stamping on the idea like he was squishing a bug. “Ye no have the proper clothes for the assembly.”
Damn the man. For an entire day she had endured his coolness. Silent and surly, he made little conversation. Since his heated kisses he’d become cool, distant and difficult.
“That’s lame,” she said.
“Eh?”
Alenna looked down at her shabby garments, then perused his less than dapper outfit. “And I suppose you are properly attired?”
Tynan puffed up to his full height. “I will no be there. I have duties this night ‘twill keep me away.”
He leaned in closer to her, and as the warm musk scent of him tickled her nostrils, she wished he stood on the other side of the room. Every time he came near Alenna, her world spun on its axis.
Anger surged within her. “This is crazy. Other women traipse about this castle without escorts.”
He lifted a finger and shook it in her face. “If ye dare leave this tower without me, I will skin yer taet doup.”
“My what?”
Before she could move a fraction, he swatted her behind.
“Ow! What the hell”
“Yer little arse,” he said, a wide, wicked grin spreading across his face.
Skin her ass.
She had no doubt he could do it, too.
Fuming, she tried to think of a suitable retort, but nothing came to mind. Pent up fury spilled over. “You are such a bastard, you know that?”
His smile widened and he leaned toward her. Her breath caught in her throat, and she leaned back until her rear bumped the table behind her.
“I’ve got ways of punishin’ ye,” he whispered, his voice going soft and husky. “Or have ye forgotten?”
Half afraid she knew exactly what he intended, she said nothing. She shouldn’t trust him…didn’t want to trust him. Yet every time this man came close, inexplicable excitement coursed through her body and electrified her senses. She prickled with a sense of life she’d never experienced before.
“Don’t tempt me, Alenna.”
His deep, liquid voice went straight to her middle and filled her stomach with tendrils of heat. Determined to let him see her strength, she straightened. This movement put her even closer to him. His eyes seemed to darken, as if cloaking secrets he’d kept for centuries.
She sensed he was on the edge of doing something he didn’t want to do, or that he wanted to do more than anything. Part of her longed to discover more of what lay underneath all that simmering heat and unpredictable exterior. She’d never been driven to tease, test, or torment a man until she’d met Tynan—she never would have pushed a man to do something unexpected and dangerous. Exhilaration rushed over her like a strong wind.
“Tempt you to do what?” she asked, breaking the long silence.
In any historical it is easy to forget that a hero of the fourteenth century wouldn’t necessarily react the same to a modern woman as a modern hero would. On the other hand, the last thing I wanted to create was a man readers would hate because he was abusive or a complete jerk. With Tynan he learns what it is to love a modern woman, and his past drives him to be too protective. His father abused his mother, and Tynan lost two other women to the abusive personalities of other men. A woman he loved very much was murdered. Tynan, in fact, will not tolerate a man who harms a woman in any way. The heroine, of course, understands that she is no longer in her world and that many the rules and beliefs she holds from the modern world won’t work in 1318 Scotland. The adventure is not only in discovering their true personalities as they reveal them to each other, but in the mortal dangers that can arise in the unfamiliar medieval time period. He learns from her and he from her, while negotiating around a vicious baron who murders without remorse and wields incredible power.
What do you think of heroes that are from centuries past? If you enjoy historical romances, what is it about the heroes that you find most appealing?
I’ll select one winner from the responses to receive a free download of MALE CALL the first story in my HOT ZONE heroes series at Samhain Publishing www.samhainpublishing.com.
You can see the gorgeous cover for BRIDGE THROUGH THE MIST at my Access Romance pages and read another exciting excerpt! Plus, on November 1 be sure to stop by my website for my November updates and news. Until next time, have a wonderful Halloween. 
Hi Estella! Thanks for commenting on historicals. It is definitely a fine line to walk. 
Hi Jane. You are so right there…and the trick is to make the hero appealing to the modern woman without making him seem totally like a modern male. Of course, there are guys today that would probably fit in the past easily. LOL!
The winner of my download is Jane! Jane, if you can email me at 
Hi Lisa. Well, you will certainly find an Alpha male in many of my books, though I try to temper them with the loving Beta aspects that make him easy to tolerate. 
I’m so sorry guys…I posted a note way back last week one evening that Jane is the winner, but it didn’t show up. I just now realized it. I don’t know what I did…anyhooo, if you’re still there Jane, email me at 
