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A review by alecashlark
Just a Bit Bossy by Alessandra Hazard
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
5.0
So how does a book of only a little over sixty-five thousand words and with so little plot and no solid conflict become a sweet, sexy and savory five-star read? I'll try my best to explain.
Writing:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+ | Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+ | Plot: ⭐⭐⭐ | Final rating: 5 stars!
I believe Alessandra Hazard's writing is evolving, drastically and for the better. I first noticed this in Feral. In the prologue of Prince's Master where Warrehn is carrying Eridan and running through the forest, the paragraphs are long, the sentences winding, and the adjectives and adverbs a dime a dozen. But now, her writing has become much more controlled and precise but without losing the descriptiveness that's necessary for an immersive read, and I really like it.
Nate is such a great POV character. With his actions and behavior in this book, he could easily be a much less likable character, but his honest point of view effectively prevents that. He always acknowledges to himself that he's doing something clingy, slutty, delusional, or idiotic– and he does it anyway. Because of this, I don't find him annoying or disagreeable. Instead I see him as a character who's certain of himself and knows what he wants, and I admire him for it.
With Raffaele, there's just something satisfying when someone with such a strong, unbending personality goes out of character and breaks all their rules. It's fun seeing him crumble under the strength of his feelings for Nate. I love Maya and the dynamics of her relationship with Nate, something I don't see often between male-female siblings.
The romance is exactly what one would expect from Alessandra Hazard. She simply knows how to do it right. She has mastered making straight characters just a bit gay while ensuring that the process is as natural, hot, and romantic as possible.
Now, I'll get to explaining.
Like I said, the book has a flimsy plot. In fact, I believe the only plot-related scene in it is the one in chapter one, and incidentally it's the only one I have issues about. The bet that kicked things off is a little too lame to me. I stopped reading and tried to look at it in different perspectives, but my opinion remained the same. But everything after it is great, so that makes it okay.
A major chunk of the story takes place in the office, and little to nothing happens plot-wise. Raffaele keeps being the devil of a boss that every employee is scared of, and Nate keeps being the insolent new personal assistant to said boss. But the lack of plot doesn't become a problem because it gives way and relinquishes focus to a steamy romance and good character development, the two things I want most from a book.
Again, because of the lack of a strong plot and a solid conflict to stand as the backbone of the story, some or many parts of the book might seem superficial, but only if the reader doesn't look at least a little deeper than what's playing out on the surface.
For instance: The characters might not say how they feel– they might not even be aware of it at the moment –but it's right there, all over their every interaction with each other. If the reader would simply look a little deeper, they'll see it in the characters' boring stares and tentative glances, in the soft touches and hard kisses, in the possessive gestures and reluctant surrenders.
Sorry, I got carried away there. Anyway, if the reader can see what's under the surface, then it isn't shallow anymore, in fact, it's even more meaningful than if they had only said the words.
So that, I believe, is why Just a Bit Bossy, like Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall, is still a great read despite having not really much happening plot-wise and no solid conflict to create an explosive climax. Roman and Luke's cameo is a very welcome bonus because they're my favorite couple in the series.
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Writing:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+ | Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+ | Plot: ⭐⭐⭐ | Final rating: 5 stars!
I believe Alessandra Hazard's writing is evolving, drastically and for the better. I first noticed this in Feral. In the prologue of Prince's Master where Warrehn is carrying Eridan and running through the forest, the paragraphs are long, the sentences winding, and the adjectives and adverbs a dime a dozen. But now, her writing has become much more controlled and precise but without losing the descriptiveness that's necessary for an immersive read, and I really like it.
Nate is such a great POV character. With his actions and behavior in this book, he could easily be a much less likable character, but his honest point of view effectively prevents that. He always acknowledges to himself that he's doing something clingy, slutty, delusional, or idiotic– and he does it anyway. Because of this, I don't find him annoying or disagreeable. Instead I see him as a character who's certain of himself and knows what he wants, and I admire him for it.
With Raffaele, there's just something satisfying when someone with such a strong, unbending personality goes out of character and breaks all their rules. It's fun seeing him crumble under the strength of his feelings for Nate. I love Maya and the dynamics of her relationship with Nate, something I don't see often between male-female siblings.
The romance is exactly what one would expect from Alessandra Hazard. She simply knows how to do it right. She has mastered making straight characters just a bit gay while ensuring that the process is as natural, hot, and romantic as possible.
Now, I'll get to explaining.
Like I said, the book has a flimsy plot. In fact, I believe the only plot-related scene in it is the one in chapter one, and incidentally it's the only one I have issues about. The bet that kicked things off is a little too lame to me. I stopped reading and tried to look at it in different perspectives, but my opinion remained the same. But everything after it is great, so that makes it okay.
A major chunk of the story takes place in the office, and little to nothing happens plot-wise. Raffaele keeps being the devil of a boss that every employee is scared of, and Nate keeps being the insolent new personal assistant to said boss. But the lack of plot doesn't become a problem because it gives way and relinquishes focus to a steamy romance and good character development, the two things I want most from a book.
Again, because of the lack of a strong plot and a solid conflict to stand as the backbone of the story, some or many parts of the book might seem superficial, but only if the reader doesn't look at least a little deeper than what's playing out on the surface.
For instance: The characters might not say how they feel– they might not even be aware of it at the moment –but it's right there, all over their every interaction with each other. If the reader would simply look a little deeper, they'll see it in the characters' boring stares and tentative glances, in the soft touches and hard kisses, in the possessive gestures and reluctant surrenders.
Sorry, I got carried away there. Anyway, if the reader can see what's under the surface, then it isn't shallow anymore, in fact, it's even more meaningful than if they had only said the words.
So that, I believe, is why Just a Bit Bossy, like Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall, is still a great read despite having not really much happening plot-wise and no solid conflict to create an explosive climax. Roman and Luke's cameo is a very welcome bonus because they're my favorite couple in the series.
Follow me: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Wordpress