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Izotov Bratva #1
Taste of the Dark
"Fifty Shades of Grey" meets "The Bear" — From Amazon bestselling author Nicole Fox comes a billionaire office, mafia-lite romance.
I tried to quit.
My boss said no.
When you work for billionaire restaurateur Bastian Hale, every day is an exercise in endurance.
He screams at you in front of half the staff? Endure.
He tears your work to bits and tells you to start again? Endure.
He surprises you shirtless in the office late one night? Endure... then go home and die of embarrassment.
I've endured six years of Bastian Hale.
I can endure anything.
... Until my doctor tells me I'm going blind in ninety days.
Suddenly, enduring isn't the goal anymore.
Living is.
Seeing everything I can before the lights go out forever.
And that means one thing: quitting the job that's consumed my entire adult life.
There's just one problem:
Bastian doesn't accept my resignation.
Instead, he shreds my letter to pieces...
Offers me a million dollars to stay...
And vows to make my last ninety days of sight worth remembering.
The man is arrogant. Brutal. Cold as the walk-in freezer.
But his hands are warm.
And in the dark, he teaches me things my eyes never could.
I wanted one last look at the light.
I got a taste of the dark instead.
TASTE OF THE DARK is Book 1 of Bastian and Eliana’s story. Their romance concludes in Book 2, TASTE OF THE LIGHT.
TROPES:
Billionaire hero
Chef / foodie vibes
Enemies-to-lovers
Boss/employee office romance
Forced proximity
Contract / fake relationship
Forbidden relationship
Morally gray, tattooed, reformed bad boy
Disability (blind heroine)
Bucket list romance
Mafia-lite
I tried to quit.
My boss said no.
When you work for billionaire restaurateur Bastian Hale, every day is an exercise in endurance.
He screams at you in front of half the staff? Endure.
He tears your work to bits and tells you to start again? Endure.
He surprises you shirtless in the office late one night? Endure... then go home and die of embarrassment.
I've endured six years of Bastian Hale.
I can endure anything.
... Until my doctor tells me I'm going blind in ninety days.
Suddenly, enduring isn't the goal anymore.
Living is.
Seeing everything I can before the lights go out forever.
And that means one thing: quitting the job that's consumed my entire adult life.
There's just one problem:
Bastian doesn't accept my resignation.
Instead, he shreds my letter to pieces...
Offers me a million dollars to stay...
And vows to make my last ninety days of sight worth remembering.
The man is arrogant. Brutal. Cold as the walk-in freezer.
But his hands are warm.
And in the dark, he teaches me things my eyes never could.
I wanted one last look at the light.
I got a taste of the dark instead.
TASTE OF THE DARK is Book 1 of Bastian and Eliana’s story. Their romance concludes in Book 2, TASTE OF THE LIGHT.
TROPES:
Billionaire hero
Chef / foodie vibes
Enemies-to-lovers
Boss/employee office romance
Forced proximity
Contract / fake relationship
Forbidden relationship
Morally gray, tattooed, reformed bad boy
Disability (blind heroine)
Bucket list romance
Mafia-lite
559 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2026
1088 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Fox
198 books4,860 followersNicole Fox writes smart, sexy mafia romance novels. She is a crazy cat lady in her late 30s with a coffee addiction, an overactive imagination, and a husband who somehow puts up with her impulsive need to keep buying new plants for their house.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
January 18, 2026
I don’t usually pick up books when I know they end on a cliffhanger and the next one isn’t even out yet. However, this book had me in a chokehold from the very first couple of chapters.
I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever read anything like this before. A Michelin-star chef who owns multiple restaurants with a MAFIA background? Say lesssss. I was immediately sold.
Bastian is a billionaire restaurateur with a complicated past. He blames himself for his younger brother’s accident and for his older brother taking the darker route in life, which he also feels responsible for. He’s an asshole to everyone, so when one of his most important employees his project manager comes to him with her resignation letter, he shreds it to pieces. Why would she stop enduring his shitty personality now, after all these years?
Eliana is going blind after 90 days (I know, WTH!!!!!). She also has one of the roughest pasts. She has a mother who needs to step up instead of lazing around with a new boyfriend daily. So when the doctor gives her the news, she decides she can’t endure her boss’s cruelty anymore and chooses to quit. But Bastian has another plan for her. He wants her to stay until the most important project is finished, which will be after those 90 days. When he finds out why she wants to quit, he offers her one million dollars to stay until the 90 days are over.
So she takes it. And let’s say, while they work through the project’s problems, they get super close. The slow burn was burning, the tension between them was off the charts, and Bastian isn’t as much of an asshole as she thought. He finds her 90 days list and makes it his mission to help her cross everything off it.
But Bastian’s past catches up to him, and his older brother, Aleksei, is there to ruin his life. And I will not sleep peacefully until the second book is out because I NEED to know what happens next.
The writing was incredible. This was my first book by Nicole Fox, and I’m already on my way to adding all of her books to my TBR.
I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever read anything like this before. A Michelin-star chef who owns multiple restaurants with a MAFIA background? Say lesssss. I was immediately sold.
He nods again, just barely. “Fuck it,” he growls. Then he kisses me.
Bastian is a billionaire restaurateur with a complicated past. He blames himself for his younger brother’s accident and for his older brother taking the darker route in life, which he also feels responsible for. He’s an asshole to everyone, so when one of his most important employees his project manager comes to him with her resignation letter, he shreds it to pieces. Why would she stop enduring his shitty personality now, after all these years?
Eliana is going blind after 90 days (I know, WTH!!!!!). She also has one of the roughest pasts. She has a mother who needs to step up instead of lazing around with a new boyfriend daily. So when the doctor gives her the news, she decides she can’t endure her boss’s cruelty anymore and chooses to quit. But Bastian has another plan for her. He wants her to stay until the most important project is finished, which will be after those 90 days. When he finds out why she wants to quit, he offers her one million dollars to stay until the 90 days are over.
“Because in eighty-one days, you won’t be able to see it at all. So if I can give you this now, while you still can, then that’s what I’m going to do.” 😭😭😭
I don’t just want the Bastian who brings me sunrises and classic movies. I want this one, too. The one who looks at me like he wants to devour me whole. The one who’s barely holding himself back.
So she takes it. And let’s say, while they work through the project’s problems, they get super close. The slow burn was burning, the tension between them was off the charts, and Bastian isn’t as much of an asshole as she thought. He finds her 90 days list and makes it his mission to help her cross everything off it.
But Bastian’s past catches up to him, and his older brother, Aleksei, is there to ruin his life. And I will not sleep peacefully until the second book is out because I NEED to know what happens next.
The writing was incredible. This was my first book by Nicole Fox, and I’m already on my way to adding all of her books to my TBR.
January 17, 2026
4✨
2🌶️
Nicole Fox does it again with bringing us a new twist from her mafia-esque books. This time its a little different; its more flavorful, more sizzling and more tastefully dark.
While the stakes are high, it's now centered from a culinary perspective. Bastien and Eliana are, generally, from the same side of a coin but with vastly different outcomes. Bastien, through blood, sweat and more blood has become a muliple Michelin-star restaurant entrepreneur that is looking to bring a new concept to the world:
A tower that houses over 12 different fine-dining restaurants with the best ingredients the world has to offer. It's his joy, his baby, a passion he's willing to do anything to bring to life. While Eliana, on the other hand, is his project manager whose world is becoming dimmer by the hour and just wanting to see the small pleasures in life before she permanently goes blind due to a rare genetic eye condition.
Two people who have risen from the gutters and now work in the same building. What can possibly go wrong?
There's so much tension throughout the book, especially the sexual tension between the two, with twists and turns taking us for a wild ride. It was such a nice change from Nicole's usual mafia books (which I adore fyi) that I'm excited to see what happens next, especially with that ending!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
2🌶️
Nicole Fox does it again with bringing us a new twist from her mafia-esque books. This time its a little different; its more flavorful, more sizzling and more tastefully dark.
While the stakes are high, it's now centered from a culinary perspective. Bastien and Eliana are, generally, from the same side of a coin but with vastly different outcomes. Bastien, through blood, sweat and more blood has become a muliple Michelin-star restaurant entrepreneur that is looking to bring a new concept to the world:
A tower that houses over 12 different fine-dining restaurants with the best ingredients the world has to offer. It's his joy, his baby, a passion he's willing to do anything to bring to life. While Eliana, on the other hand, is his project manager whose world is becoming dimmer by the hour and just wanting to see the small pleasures in life before she permanently goes blind due to a rare genetic eye condition.
Two people who have risen from the gutters and now work in the same building. What can possibly go wrong?
There's so much tension throughout the book, especially the sexual tension between the two, with twists and turns taking us for a wild ride. It was such a nice change from Nicole's usual mafia books (which I adore fyi) that I'm excited to see what happens next, especially with that ending!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 17, 2026
Wonderful!! It was a little slow at first, I wanted to abandon it, but at the end, I was like, "What???" I can't wait to see what happens in the second book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 17, 2026
Are they cooking up a storm or is a storm brewing?
Eliana, has a rare genetic eye condition which means she has 90 days before she loses her sight. Her job as a project manager is stressful enough but with an a$$hole boss like she has it’s made worse. Believing she has nothing left to lose, she hands in her resignation, Bastian in turn tears it up. From here we are thrown into their lives, the work, the to and fro of a relationship of sorts but as with all things golden they can turn to dust in a blink of an eye, a flash in a pan 😱
“𝑀𝒶𝓎𝒷𝑒 𝒶 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝓉𝓊𝓃𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝑜𝓀𝒾𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝒶𝓎𝓈, 𝐵𝓊𝒸𝓀𝓁𝑒 𝓊𝓅, 𝒷𝓊𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇𝒸𝓊𝓅, 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈𝑒 𝓉𝑜𝓂𝑜𝓇𝓇𝑜𝓌’𝓈 𝑔𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝓀𝒾𝒸𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒽𝑜𝑜-𝒽𝒶.
This story, flowed through a series of emotions, some tense, some heartfelt, some funny, and just when you thought it was all going swimmingly…it simmers to dread. As with Nicole’s other books they just draw you in and that cliffy 😮
Eliana, has a rare genetic eye condition which means she has 90 days before she loses her sight. Her job as a project manager is stressful enough but with an a$$hole boss like she has it’s made worse. Believing she has nothing left to lose, she hands in her resignation, Bastian in turn tears it up. From here we are thrown into their lives, the work, the to and fro of a relationship of sorts but as with all things golden they can turn to dust in a blink of an eye, a flash in a pan 😱
“𝑀𝒶𝓎𝒷𝑒 𝒶 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝓉𝓊𝓃𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝑜𝓀𝒾𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝒶𝓎𝓈, 𝐵𝓊𝒸𝓀𝓁𝑒 𝓊𝓅, 𝒷𝓊𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇𝒸𝓊𝓅, 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈𝑒 𝓉𝑜𝓂𝑜𝓇𝓇𝑜𝓌’𝓈 𝑔𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝓀𝒾𝒸𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒽𝑜𝑜-𝒽𝒶.
This story, flowed through a series of emotions, some tense, some heartfelt, some funny, and just when you thought it was all going swimmingly…it simmers to dread. As with Nicole’s other books they just draw you in and that cliffy 😮
January 21, 2026
Genuinely I have no idea. Don’t even ask.
January 19, 2026
I. Am. Ruined. Wrecked. Completely and utterly destroyed. And left to wonder what happens next. Aaaaaarrrrgggghhhhhhh!
I know it said book 1 but I didn’t expect the epic cliffhanger level of suck! I need to know what happens next Nicole Fox! I NEED book 2 stat!
If you love dark romance, with alpa hole, morally gray, arrogant but oh so sexy, touch her and die slowly vibes this is your next read!
I LOVE me some Nicole Fox. Omg I love her. This book is book 1 in the Izotov Bratva Series and was amazingly, spectacularly, soul jarringly good. I don’t have words right now. I’m dying. Dead. But need to know where this goes.
Ok enough rambling. Bastion is a hospitality mogul who built his empire and fortune out of spite to the world he was born into. He has fought and clawed his way to the top of his field. He keeps everyone at arms length to protect them and himself. Until one night one of his employees comes stumbling into his office and crashes into him with her eyes closed. Once her hands touch his chest his brain goes into caveman mode level activation.
Eliana just got the worst news of her life. She is losing her eye sight. Slowly over the next three months she will drop into a black hole of nothingness. While she is trying to prepare herself for her fate, her alpha hole of a boss makes her a proposition she can’t walk away from because the money will help her when she can’t depend on her eyes anymore.
Neither of these two know what to do with these emotions they feel and they continue to just give each other small glimpses into their world. Until those worlds collide and everything changes. But Bastains brother comes slinking out of the depths of the Bratva underworld and pull him back in.
This book was so much better than I could have ever imagined and I didn’t want it to end. And now I have to wait for book 2 and I feel like my world has shattered. But in a good way.
This is the dark romance my heart needed. This was raw and vulnerable and so good but also so confusing. I see each of their struggles and want them to comfort each other but the way this book ended I’m not sure a hea is in the cards. One can only hope.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I know it said book 1 but I didn’t expect the epic cliffhanger level of suck! I need to know what happens next Nicole Fox! I NEED book 2 stat!
If you love dark romance, with alpa hole, morally gray, arrogant but oh so sexy, touch her and die slowly vibes this is your next read!
I LOVE me some Nicole Fox. Omg I love her. This book is book 1 in the Izotov Bratva Series and was amazingly, spectacularly, soul jarringly good. I don’t have words right now. I’m dying. Dead. But need to know where this goes.
Ok enough rambling. Bastion is a hospitality mogul who built his empire and fortune out of spite to the world he was born into. He has fought and clawed his way to the top of his field. He keeps everyone at arms length to protect them and himself. Until one night one of his employees comes stumbling into his office and crashes into him with her eyes closed. Once her hands touch his chest his brain goes into caveman mode level activation.
Eliana just got the worst news of her life. She is losing her eye sight. Slowly over the next three months she will drop into a black hole of nothingness. While she is trying to prepare herself for her fate, her alpha hole of a boss makes her a proposition she can’t walk away from because the money will help her when she can’t depend on her eyes anymore.
Neither of these two know what to do with these emotions they feel and they continue to just give each other small glimpses into their world. Until those worlds collide and everything changes. But Bastains brother comes slinking out of the depths of the Bratva underworld and pull him back in.
This book was so much better than I could have ever imagined and I didn’t want it to end. And now I have to wait for book 2 and I feel like my world has shattered. But in a good way.
This is the dark romance my heart needed. This was raw and vulnerable and so good but also so confusing. I see each of their struggles and want them to comfort each other but the way this book ended I’m not sure a hea is in the cards. One can only hope.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 18, 2026
You might want to make sure to double check that you are buckled up, dangerous men, alpha’s personified, possessive, oh, gorgeous, brooding all the makings of a story consisting with three D’s (dark, delicious, and dirty) 😊. There will be suspense, betrayal, death, darkness, secrets reveled, violence, hope, forgiveness, and maybe even love along the way. Eliana has worked for a billionaire boss who isn’t the nicest, yells at them, talks down to them, tears all of their work down like it isn’t worth anything but when you need the job you deal with it all, has even tortured her with his naked body but again a billionaire who owns the restaurant acts, treats others like a typical billionaire and you take it for the paycheck until she learns she has a rare genetic eye condition she has 90 days before she loses her eye sight just taking the crap her boss pushes on her is no longer an option so she puts in her resignation. Bastian sexy as all get out owner brother to head of the bratva for Chicago to him people were disposable or he treated them as such but also being nice isn’t really in his DNA, yes he owns a restaurant but he isn’t a man you want on your radar he is dangerous, ruthless on a good day, deadly every day, his place of business well it is that but it also so much more, and when his head kitchen staff provides her resignation he doesn’t accept it in fact he refuses to let her quit despite her reasoning and offers her a million dollars then makes a promise to make sure she see everything before her eye sight leaves and against her better judgement she agrees to allow him to help her. The more time they spend around each other she sees another side to him the magnetic pull between them grows stronger despite them trying to ignore it but where are they headed, will it lead them to happiness considering she is blind?
January 26, 2026
Distracted by discrepancies and inconsistencies
Call me a writing snob but I find myself distracted and irritated when repeatedly brought up info about characters isn’t consistent. And other dumb nuances like a moon just rising when it’s already been stated it’s after 11pm at night. The story itself is fine and I read it all the way through, but I don’t even know how some of the very obvious discrepancies especially in background information and timeline got past publishing. How has she been working for him in his major giant company for six years when later on it’s stated five to six years ago he was scrubbing dishes? Did this specifically repeatedly mentioned freezer event happen when he was 7-8 or twelve because that keeps changing. Is his younger brother 16 or 18 cause I’m not sure anymore. If the accident happened four years ago how has he been bearing the weight of it for eight years?
Also a little relevant research goes a long way towards believability with the premise of the major plot conflicts. Seriously I know better how inspections actually work and are documented just from doing house remodeling. And when something has obviously been vandalized time for police & insurance to step in.
Call me a writing snob but I find myself distracted and irritated when repeatedly brought up info about characters isn’t consistent. And other dumb nuances like a moon just rising when it’s already been stated it’s after 11pm at night. The story itself is fine and I read it all the way through, but I don’t even know how some of the very obvious discrepancies especially in background information and timeline got past publishing. How has she been working for him in his major giant company for six years when later on it’s stated five to six years ago he was scrubbing dishes? Did this specifically repeatedly mentioned freezer event happen when he was 7-8 or twelve because that keeps changing. Is his younger brother 16 or 18 cause I’m not sure anymore. If the accident happened four years ago how has he been bearing the weight of it for eight years?
Also a little relevant research goes a long way towards believability with the premise of the major plot conflicts. Seriously I know better how inspections actually work and are documented just from doing house remodeling. And when something has obviously been vandalized time for police & insurance to step in.
January 18, 2026
This is the first in a new duet, and this is Bastian and Eliana’s story.
Eliana is a project manager, and when she is given a devastating diagnosis, and decides to hand in her resignation, and complete her bucket list. Bastian is a demanding, ruthless, and feared, chef and billionaire CEO, and when Eliana is pushed too far, and she resigns, he tears it up and offers her a solution.
This story ends in a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait to read the conclusion!
This is a well written easy to read, action packed, emotional roller coaster story, with family, friendships, tension, boss / employee, forbidden relationship, challenges, enemies / lovers, morally grey, humour, witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, tragic, haunting, twisted, and unpredictable, addictive page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
Eliana is a project manager, and when she is given a devastating diagnosis, and decides to hand in her resignation, and complete her bucket list. Bastian is a demanding, ruthless, and feared, chef and billionaire CEO, and when Eliana is pushed too far, and she resigns, he tears it up and offers her a solution.
This story ends in a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait to read the conclusion!
This is a well written easy to read, action packed, emotional roller coaster story, with family, friendships, tension, boss / employee, forbidden relationship, challenges, enemies / lovers, morally grey, humour, witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, tragic, haunting, twisted, and unpredictable, addictive page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
January 23, 2026
3.5 stars
Basics
Author: USA, she/her
Genre: contemporary romance
Setting: city
Themes: growth, fear, attraction
Vibes: dramatic, intense
Characters
🍩 Eliana - project manager at Bastian's company who has been told she's going blind in 90 days
🔪 Bastian - owner of restaurant company who comes from a rough past
Pros
+ romance tropes: forced proximity (at work), time-based contract, mafia-adjacent, culinary setting, grumpy x sunshine
+ love to watch a boss that yells get dressed down by his female employee 💅
+ cooking elements were pretty cool
Cons
- some ways they talk make me cringe 😬
- a bit insta-lovey for my taste 🙄
- the cliffhanger ending 🙃
Content Warnings
narcissistic parent, degenerative eye disease, cutting off fingers, violence, murder
Basics
Author: USA, she/her
Genre: contemporary romance
Setting: city
Themes: growth, fear, attraction
Vibes: dramatic, intense
Characters
🍩 Eliana - project manager at Bastian's company who has been told she's going blind in 90 days
🔪 Bastian - owner of restaurant company who comes from a rough past
Pros
+ romance tropes: forced proximity (at work), time-based contract, mafia-adjacent, culinary setting, grumpy x sunshine
+ love to watch a boss that yells get dressed down by his female employee 💅
+ cooking elements were pretty cool
Cons
- some ways they talk make me cringe 😬
- a bit insta-lovey for my taste 🙄
- the cliffhanger ending 🙃
Content Warnings
narcissistic parent, degenerative eye disease, cutting off fingers, violence, murder
January 26, 2026
Hands down my favorite Nicole Fox book!
The humor was top notch and honestly so organic, I snorted multiple times. Starting book two now 😊
The humor was top notch and honestly so organic, I snorted multiple times. Starting book two now 😊
January 19, 2026
Ninety days. It doesn’t sound like a long time, but when every moment counts, it becomes everything. Elicia has ninety days before she loses her sight and instead of waiting around for life to happen to her, she decides to quit and make the most of the time she has left. That is when her infuriating boss presents her with an offer she cannot ignore…finish off a project for him for ninety days and walk away with a million dollars. Life changing money so what starts as a matter of survival and prioritizing quickly turns into something far more complicated when love enters the equation and demands the biggest sacrifice of all.
When we first meet Bastion, he is a full-on jerk. Cold, sharp, and impossible to read but oh man, underneath all of that complexity is a character that completely won me over. He is loving, protective, intelligent, and willing to do whatever it takes for the people he cares about, even if he struggles to show it the right way. Watching those layers peel back was one of the most satisfying parts of this book and I loved this man so much.
“I’m staying right here. With you. I’ll keep you safe. I’ll take care of you.”
Eliana absolutely broke my heart. The realities of her disability were handled with so much care and honesty, there is nothing she can do to stop what is happening to her, she can only adjust and keep going. And she does! Like the queen that she actually is, she is resilient, strong, and endlessly brave. No matter what life throws at her, she picks herself up and adapts, and I admired her so much for that. Her strength never felt performative…it felt real.
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic here was truly the highlight of this book. The way that they were at each other’s throats the entire time, and wow, was it hot! The premise itself felt so different and refreshing compared to the usual billionaire office romances, Nicole really did something different here cause this story went deeper. The emotions hit harder because the stakes were so high, and you could feel the pressure of time ticking away with every chapter. I loved how the pacing flowed, how their connection built naturally, and how solid they became together despite everything working against them.
Honestly, this didn’t feel like it was your typical romance about money or power. It was about choice, sacrifice, and what truly matters when time is not guaranteed. And that ending? Absolutely unhinged, I was sitting there like, what is even happening right now? Completely on edge and immediately desperate to start the next book.
Nicole Fox really delivered something different with this one, and I cannot wait to see where this story goes next.
When we first meet Bastion, he is a full-on jerk. Cold, sharp, and impossible to read but oh man, underneath all of that complexity is a character that completely won me over. He is loving, protective, intelligent, and willing to do whatever it takes for the people he cares about, even if he struggles to show it the right way. Watching those layers peel back was one of the most satisfying parts of this book and I loved this man so much.
“I’m staying right here. With you. I’ll keep you safe. I’ll take care of you.”
Eliana absolutely broke my heart. The realities of her disability were handled with so much care and honesty, there is nothing she can do to stop what is happening to her, she can only adjust and keep going. And she does! Like the queen that she actually is, she is resilient, strong, and endlessly brave. No matter what life throws at her, she picks herself up and adapts, and I admired her so much for that. Her strength never felt performative…it felt real.
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic here was truly the highlight of this book. The way that they were at each other’s throats the entire time, and wow, was it hot! The premise itself felt so different and refreshing compared to the usual billionaire office romances, Nicole really did something different here cause this story went deeper. The emotions hit harder because the stakes were so high, and you could feel the pressure of time ticking away with every chapter. I loved how the pacing flowed, how their connection built naturally, and how solid they became together despite everything working against them.
Honestly, this didn’t feel like it was your typical romance about money or power. It was about choice, sacrifice, and what truly matters when time is not guaranteed. And that ending? Absolutely unhinged, I was sitting there like, what is even happening right now? Completely on edge and immediately desperate to start the next book.
Nicole Fox really delivered something different with this one, and I cannot wait to see where this story goes next.
January 16, 2026
The Bratva side didn't really come into play until the last chapter for the main character, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out in book two.
Eliana just found out she has three months before she goes blind, so she wants to live life to the fullest before she can't see it anymore. Too bad her boss, Bastian, thinks she's indispensable at work and declines accepting her resignation and offers her a million to stay for those ninety days to see the project they're working on through. During this time, Eliana sees a different side of Bastian, and they both start to fall for one another, eventually giving in. But Bastian comes from a darker upbringing than what he lets the public know, and his older brother, the one he doesn't talk about, is the head of the Bratva in Chicago and is making Bastian's life difficult. So when Bastian has to do something to get his restaurant conclomorate back on track for opening, thanks to his Bratva brother's destruction, where will that leave him and Eliana?
This is book one of a duet and leaves off with the couple in shambles and Eliana's best friend in trouble.
This has to be the first book from the author I've read that hasn't centered heavily around the Bratva, and I kind of liked it. Don't get me wrong, I have liked all the books I've read by the author so far, but this was a nice change. I found myself giggling while reading and relating more to Bastian and Eliana in their everyday lives. I do wonder how much Bastian will be forced to tell his younger brother about what he did and how much groveling he will have to do with Eliana to get her to talk with him. It will also be interesting to see how much longer Eliana has with her vision, as we got a glimpse of it going with the time jumps, and she's hit her three months. I do wonder if Bastian's had anyone looking into anything for Eliana to help her or make it so she could still see in the future.
I received an advance review copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Eliana just found out she has three months before she goes blind, so she wants to live life to the fullest before she can't see it anymore. Too bad her boss, Bastian, thinks she's indispensable at work and declines accepting her resignation and offers her a million to stay for those ninety days to see the project they're working on through. During this time, Eliana sees a different side of Bastian, and they both start to fall for one another, eventually giving in. But Bastian comes from a darker upbringing than what he lets the public know, and his older brother, the one he doesn't talk about, is the head of the Bratva in Chicago and is making Bastian's life difficult. So when Bastian has to do something to get his restaurant conclomorate back on track for opening, thanks to his Bratva brother's destruction, where will that leave him and Eliana?
This is book one of a duet and leaves off with the couple in shambles and Eliana's best friend in trouble.
This has to be the first book from the author I've read that hasn't centered heavily around the Bratva, and I kind of liked it. Don't get me wrong, I have liked all the books I've read by the author so far, but this was a nice change. I found myself giggling while reading and relating more to Bastian and Eliana in their everyday lives. I do wonder how much Bastian will be forced to tell his younger brother about what he did and how much groveling he will have to do with Eliana to get her to talk with him. It will also be interesting to see how much longer Eliana has with her vision, as we got a glimpse of it going with the time jumps, and she's hit her three months. I do wonder if Bastian's had anyone looking into anything for Eliana to help her or make it so she could still see in the future.
I received an advance review copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 17, 2026
Barring a few withheld details and that absolutely brutal cliffhanger ending, there isn’t much more to say than what the blurb already reveals. That’s not to say I didn’t thoroughly enjoy the journey—well, mostly. (I’m still side-eyeing that cliffhanger.) Eliana has been taught since childhood to keep her head down and endure, and endure she has. Between her soul-sapping job at Hale Hospitality and an alcoholic mother who drains what little energy she has left, she’s living perpetually on the brink, one shove away from complete collapse. That shove comes in the form of a devastating diagnosis: she’s going blind. Not someday. Not “eventually.” In just ninety days. What would you do if you knew the world was about to go dark? Would you spend those final months trapped behind a desk, even if the payoff was one million dollars? While I understood Eliana’s reasons for saying yes, I couldn’t help feeling she was giving up far too much for a man who treats people as disposable. Bastian is cold, demanding, and thoroughly unpleasant—at least at first. But when he stumbles across Eliana’s bucket list, things begin to shift. Watching Eliana stand up to him was immensely satisfying. There’s nothing like having nothing left to lose to sharpen a person’s courage, though truthfully, Eliana always had a spine of steel. Even more compelling, however, was watching Bastian soften. The arrival of his brother, Aleksei, cracks open glimpses of Bastian’s past and offers the first real hints at why he drives himself and everyone around him so relentlessly. As Eliana struggles with her fading sight, it’s Bastian’s unexpected presence that makes the darkness feel less isolating, less terrifying. And just when their relationship seems poised to deepen, Aleksei turns the story sharply and shockingly darker, delivering a torturous cliffhanger that leaves the reader suspended mid-freefall. All I can say now is I desperately hope part two arrives soon. Because that ending? Unforgivable.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 16, 2026
This addictive billionaire office romance is packed with razor-sharp banter and sizzling tension.
Eliana is all sass and backbone, constantly challenging Bastian’s arrogance—and their verbal sparring crackles with enemies-to-lovers chemistry.
The moment she unexpectedly presses her hand to his bare chest ( that scene is so good 👀😂)in his office, something snaps and from then on every clash is loaded.
When Eliana tries to resign, Bastian refuses, and their negotiation over the “deal” that keeps her by his side is so amusing—full of sharp wit, power plays and undeniable chemistry. What starts as business quickly turns personal as she agrees to help him complete a passion project he can’t achieve without her.
As mafia-lite danger from his past closes in, his need to protect her becomes absolute.
And when he finally says “Mine,” everything changes—the payoff is absolutely delicious.
Let’s face it, Bastian is the kind of book boyfriend we crave🔥
Dominant , controlling and dangerously indulgent. He simmers instead of rushing, knows exactly when to apply heat and delivers his desire like a perfectly plated dish—slow, decadent and utterly ruinous with that pinch of danger!!
What truly steals your heart is how Bastian helps Eliana complete her sight bucket list—every moment tender, intentional and breathtakingly romantic. With family guilt and pressures , high stakes and a ride-or-die best friend adding depth, this story perfectly balances spice, heart and emotion.
Just when you think you know where this story is headed, an unexpected jaw-dropping cliffhanger left me stunned and desperate for the next book.
Bold, banter-filled and remarkable —this is why Taste of the Dark is an impressive must read!
Eliana is all sass and backbone, constantly challenging Bastian’s arrogance—and their verbal sparring crackles with enemies-to-lovers chemistry.
The moment she unexpectedly presses her hand to his bare chest ( that scene is so good 👀😂)in his office, something snaps and from then on every clash is loaded.
When Eliana tries to resign, Bastian refuses, and their negotiation over the “deal” that keeps her by his side is so amusing—full of sharp wit, power plays and undeniable chemistry. What starts as business quickly turns personal as she agrees to help him complete a passion project he can’t achieve without her.
As mafia-lite danger from his past closes in, his need to protect her becomes absolute.
And when he finally says “Mine,” everything changes—the payoff is absolutely delicious.
Let’s face it, Bastian is the kind of book boyfriend we crave🔥
Dominant , controlling and dangerously indulgent. He simmers instead of rushing, knows exactly when to apply heat and delivers his desire like a perfectly plated dish—slow, decadent and utterly ruinous with that pinch of danger!!
What truly steals your heart is how Bastian helps Eliana complete her sight bucket list—every moment tender, intentional and breathtakingly romantic. With family guilt and pressures , high stakes and a ride-or-die best friend adding depth, this story perfectly balances spice, heart and emotion.
Just when you think you know where this story is headed, an unexpected jaw-dropping cliffhanger left me stunned and desperate for the next book.
Bold, banter-filled and remarkable —this is why Taste of the Dark is an impressive must read!
January 18, 2026
Our story opens where Eliana has just received some devastating news in which due a genetic disease her eyesight will start to poorly diminish and she will slowly become blind. Eliana also received a timeline in which this could occur and she should expect it to happen over the course of the next 90 days.
I mean what would you do if you were told this? Well I would drop everything and spend my last 90 days with my sight to explore what the world has got to offer. That same day Eliana was humiliated by her boss now with this news she thought - why stay working where she wasn’t valued, so she decided PERSONALLY, emphasis on the personally there, to hand in her notice to her boss Bastian.
Now Bastian was shocked so to speak at this- and while he may not have shown it he valued Eliana a lot. After a bit of prodding to understand why she took this decision he finds out about her losing her sight and he makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Eliana will need insurance and equipment to cover what she will need to adapt and that is costly- so Bastians off is that she stays for 90 days and he will give her 1 million.
Over the course of these 90 days our couples walls definitely start to come down a lot and Bastian actually learns of Eliana’s list of things she wants to see before she loses her sight and he is ever so determined that she will get to see that.
Of course this is a duet so there is a cliffhanger and I am so desperate to know what has happened next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I mean what would you do if you were told this? Well I would drop everything and spend my last 90 days with my sight to explore what the world has got to offer. That same day Eliana was humiliated by her boss now with this news she thought - why stay working where she wasn’t valued, so she decided PERSONALLY, emphasis on the personally there, to hand in her notice to her boss Bastian.
Now Bastian was shocked so to speak at this- and while he may not have shown it he valued Eliana a lot. After a bit of prodding to understand why she took this decision he finds out about her losing her sight and he makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Eliana will need insurance and equipment to cover what she will need to adapt and that is costly- so Bastians off is that she stays for 90 days and he will give her 1 million.
Over the course of these 90 days our couples walls definitely start to come down a lot and Bastian actually learns of Eliana’s list of things she wants to see before she loses her sight and he is ever so determined that she will get to see that.
Of course this is a duet so there is a cliffhanger and I am so desperate to know what has happened next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 16, 2026
‼️ WARNING ‼️
Once you pick up this book, the rest of your world will fade away until the very last page is turned.
When I opened my email and saw that I had received an ARC from Nicole Fox, my heart literally skipped a beat. I dropped everything because there was no way I was waiting even a second longer to start it.
I became a Nicole Fox fan instantly years ago after reading my very first book of hers. She has always been the undisputed queen of mafia romance, so going into this story I was intrigued from the start when I realized this was a very different direction for her. And let me tell you, it worked beautifully.
While this book may not lean heavily into mafia romance, it delivers something even more powerful. The emotions. The intensity. The raw feelings that wrapped around me and refused to let go. Every single line pulled me in deeper and I loved every moment of it.
And of course, in true Nicole Fox fashion, she leaves us hanging in a cliffhanger that hurts in the best possible way. I already need book two in my hands.
Bastian and Eliana’s story is everything I crave. Enemies to lovers. Boss and employee. Billionaire tension that crackles on the page. Their connection is magnetic and impossible to ignore.
Eliana’s personal journey is heartbreaking, heavy, and deeply emotional. I felt every struggle alongside her, and I am desperate to see how her story unfolds and where it ultimately leads.
Once you pick up this book, the rest of your world will fade away until the very last page is turned.
When I opened my email and saw that I had received an ARC from Nicole Fox, my heart literally skipped a beat. I dropped everything because there was no way I was waiting even a second longer to start it.
I became a Nicole Fox fan instantly years ago after reading my very first book of hers. She has always been the undisputed queen of mafia romance, so going into this story I was intrigued from the start when I realized this was a very different direction for her. And let me tell you, it worked beautifully.
While this book may not lean heavily into mafia romance, it delivers something even more powerful. The emotions. The intensity. The raw feelings that wrapped around me and refused to let go. Every single line pulled me in deeper and I loved every moment of it.
And of course, in true Nicole Fox fashion, she leaves us hanging in a cliffhanger that hurts in the best possible way. I already need book two in my hands.
Bastian and Eliana’s story is everything I crave. Enemies to lovers. Boss and employee. Billionaire tension that crackles on the page. Their connection is magnetic and impossible to ignore.
Eliana’s personal journey is heartbreaking, heavy, and deeply emotional. I felt every struggle alongside her, and I am desperate to see how her story unfolds and where it ultimately leads.
January 16, 2026
This was a striking story about resilience and dealing with a devastating diagnosis. This book really made me think about what I would do if I was in Eliana's shoes and facing the loss of my sight. I loved the moments when she pondered the future and how she would face all the new challenges in her life. It was surprisingly deeply emotional. I liked that this story was a little different than the usual Nicole Fox dark bratva romance. It was lighter and more bratva adjacent. It still had incredible writing and a superb story line you would expect from a Nicole Fox book but had the added benefit of also being charming and refreshing. I really enjoyed it.
I really liked Eliana. I thought she was relatable and down to earth. I felt bad that life seemed to like to kick her when she was down but I admired her resiliency. She was courageous considering what she had to put up with. I really enjoyed her inner dialogs and how she would poke fun at herself.
I liked Bastian but there were times he frustrated me. I liked that was softer with her and how he stepped up for Eliana. He was still ruthless but you could tell he had a weakness for Eliana.
I devoured this story and now I'm anxiously waiting for the next book! I need to know!! I really liked how this story played out and how fun all the characters were. I was drawn in right away with the witty banter and funny innuendos. It was captivating and entertaining. I would definitely recommend it!!
I really liked Eliana. I thought she was relatable and down to earth. I felt bad that life seemed to like to kick her when she was down but I admired her resiliency. She was courageous considering what she had to put up with. I really enjoyed her inner dialogs and how she would poke fun at herself.
I liked Bastian but there were times he frustrated me. I liked that was softer with her and how he stepped up for Eliana. He was still ruthless but you could tell he had a weakness for Eliana.
I devoured this story and now I'm anxiously waiting for the next book! I need to know!! I really liked how this story played out and how fun all the characters were. I was drawn in right away with the witty banter and funny innuendos. It was captivating and entertaining. I would definitely recommend it!!
January 18, 2026
4⭐
1🌶️
Nicole strikes again with one of her deliciously tempting stories that hooks you in from the very first page and doesn't let you go!
Eliana's eyes are failing her. When her doctor gives her the devastating diagnosis that she has 90 days before the lights turn off forever leaving her blind, she attempts to quit her job at Hale Hospitality and use the remaining days to tick off her bucket list.
Her boss - Bastian Hale is a cold, egotiscial man, who wouldn't think twice about firing someone. When Eliana hands in her resignation, he refuses her request and instead counter offers her with a deal she must be insane not to take up... Even if it feels as though she's just sold her soul to the devil 😈
Seriously, nothing gets me more than a closed off MMC who falls to his knees for the FMC. This is precisely what Bastian tried to do - keep Eliana at arms length, thinking that by doing that he could protect her. Of course, the threat of his brothers appearance escalates his need to make her his. The slow burn was slow but when they did get together.. oh wow! 😍💗 Bastian sure knows how to crank up the heat... And when that f-*k it moment hits... 🤌🏻 You ain't ready yet!
As always, Nicole has left the book on a cliffy and I seriously cannot wait for book 2 to see how the story of Eliana and Bastian concludes!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1🌶️
Nicole strikes again with one of her deliciously tempting stories that hooks you in from the very first page and doesn't let you go!
Eliana's eyes are failing her. When her doctor gives her the devastating diagnosis that she has 90 days before the lights turn off forever leaving her blind, she attempts to quit her job at Hale Hospitality and use the remaining days to tick off her bucket list.
Her boss - Bastian Hale is a cold, egotiscial man, who wouldn't think twice about firing someone. When Eliana hands in her resignation, he refuses her request and instead counter offers her with a deal she must be insane not to take up... Even if it feels as though she's just sold her soul to the devil 😈
Seriously, nothing gets me more than a closed off MMC who falls to his knees for the FMC. This is precisely what Bastian tried to do - keep Eliana at arms length, thinking that by doing that he could protect her. Of course, the threat of his brothers appearance escalates his need to make her his. The slow burn was slow but when they did get together.. oh wow! 😍💗 Bastian sure knows how to crank up the heat... And when that f-*k it moment hits... 🤌🏻 You ain't ready yet!
As always, Nicole has left the book on a cliffy and I seriously cannot wait for book 2 to see how the story of Eliana and Bastian concludes!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 17, 2026
Nicole continues her reign as queen of dark romance with another gripping, dark & emotional book.
This one is about Eliyana. Her father left while her mum was pregnant, she grew up with a mum who had alcohol issues and a constant stream of bad boyfriends but eliyana managed to get her college degree she possesses so much hope and faith in goodness but what happens when she gets told she has 3 month until she's blind? She tries to quit her job because her boss is the definition of bosshole! But he's not having it he weaponises her health insurance offers a million pounds to continue her work for 90 days. She agrees but what she doesn't expect is for her and bastion to connect of for him to find her "last things I see" bucket list and fulfill them all for her. Not does she expect to fall in love with him.
But bastion has his own issues he blames himself for his baby brothers accident that left him in a wheel chair, he has another brother who's pakhan of the bratva that's trying to screw him over and a unhealthy habit of pushing people away. Only his best friend Zeke and now Ely have broke his barrier.
So when his pakhan brother demands he do something bad, t
Will he do it knowing everything he could lose.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This one is about Eliyana. Her father left while her mum was pregnant, she grew up with a mum who had alcohol issues and a constant stream of bad boyfriends but eliyana managed to get her college degree she possesses so much hope and faith in goodness but what happens when she gets told she has 3 month until she's blind? She tries to quit her job because her boss is the definition of bosshole! But he's not having it he weaponises her health insurance offers a million pounds to continue her work for 90 days. She agrees but what she doesn't expect is for her and bastion to connect of for him to find her "last things I see" bucket list and fulfill them all for her. Not does she expect to fall in love with him.
But bastion has his own issues he blames himself for his baby brothers accident that left him in a wheel chair, he has another brother who's pakhan of the bratva that's trying to screw him over and a unhealthy habit of pushing people away. Only his best friend Zeke and now Ely have broke his barrier.
So when his pakhan brother demands he do something bad, t
Will he do it knowing everything he could lose.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
January 18, 2026My new favorite Nicole Fox duo. No one is pregnant yet. No one has been kidnapped, yet. Lots of interaction between the two main characters and so much steam, oh my! The story of Bastian Hale restaurateur and Eliana Hunter, Eliana is Bastian’s employee. An employee who is losing her vision. She has ninety days before she’s completely blind, she wants to spend that time wisely, work through her bucket list of things she wants to see and do while she can. Bastian is at times unkind to say the least and when his harsh words fall on Eliana in front of other employees she’s had enough. She doesn’t have time to waste on his tempers, so she quits. But Bastian won’t allow her to quit, he gives her a new contract with the money and security she’ll need to survive once her eyesight is gone so now, they’re working together to get his new enterprise going. Are there complications? You can be assured there are; both business and emotional. Eliana has her impending blindness to deal with as well as her feelings for Bastian. Bastian has his business complications to deal with and his mafia involved older brother who reappears in his life wanting him to join in the family business and bring their younger brother Sage along. Can the couple overcome all the obstacles in their lives that will be determined in book two which I can’t wait to devour and see where this story takes them.
January 19, 2026
This book pulls at your heartstrings!
I feel for Eliana facing a future without sight and seizes the moment at work late to see how she manages without her sight to get around. All is good until her hands land on her boss’ bare chest that sets the stage for the rest of the story!
Bastian is a hard taskmaster but offers Eliana a handsome sum to finish working on his crowning career Project Olympus. When Bas discovers Eliana’s bucket list of things to do, he starts crossing things off her list for her. Bas’s Jekyll and Hyde personality confuses Eliana, but she sees more than most and hopes for more. With Project Olympus in disarray, Bas learns his long forgotten brother needs a favor to restore the restaurants, so that he has to choose family over his career. Sasha, Bas’ brother, calls Eliana to find Bas as he was acting weird. Eliana finds him and sees enough to know she has to flee despite her vision getting worse. Discovering she is near her best friend Yasmin's place, she heads there. When the door opens, she sees her current boyfriend, Zeke unconscious on the floor but rushes past him to help her best friend, Yas. While Bastian realizes his dream restaurant may not be what he really needed all along after seeing Eliana leaving him, but he keeps following his brother’s orders. I can’t wait for “Taste of the Light” to come out to see how it will all end!
I feel for Eliana facing a future without sight and seizes the moment at work late to see how she manages without her sight to get around. All is good until her hands land on her boss’ bare chest that sets the stage for the rest of the story!
Bastian is a hard taskmaster but offers Eliana a handsome sum to finish working on his crowning career Project Olympus. When Bas discovers Eliana’s bucket list of things to do, he starts crossing things off her list for her. Bas’s Jekyll and Hyde personality confuses Eliana, but she sees more than most and hopes for more. With Project Olympus in disarray, Bas learns his long forgotten brother needs a favor to restore the restaurants, so that he has to choose family over his career. Sasha, Bas’ brother, calls Eliana to find Bas as he was acting weird. Eliana finds him and sees enough to know she has to flee despite her vision getting worse. Discovering she is near her best friend Yasmin's place, she heads there. When the door opens, she sees her current boyfriend, Zeke unconscious on the floor but rushes past him to help her best friend, Yas. While Bastian realizes his dream restaurant may not be what he really needed all along after seeing Eliana leaving him, but he keeps following his brother’s orders. I can’t wait for “Taste of the Light” to come out to see how it will all end!
January 20, 2026
Once again Nicole Fox reels you in from the beginning!! Eli and Bastian are perfect imperfect couple! They both grew up with a dark past…although one is much darker than the other….and they both want to be better. Eli finds out she is going blind and wants to make the most of her last days of vision….when she tries to quit her job with her overbearing boss …he says no and promises to make her last days of vision worth sticking around for. What starts out as contractual turns into so much more as they find mutual connection through their rough childhoods. While Eliana’s mom starts to turn her life around however and wants to be there more for her …Bastions older brother, who is now Pakhan of the Izotov bratva wants Bastion to come back to his rotten roots and serve the bratva. When Bastion refuses his brother ruins his life’s work and refuses to fix it unless he joins him as an enforcer for the bratva. Bastion hastily takes his brother’s deal and is caught with blood on his hands by Eli when she comes looking for him after getting a call from his younger brother who he left locked in his penthouse worried that his older brother is falling into the dark patterns that they tried to escape. The question now is can he redeem himself to Eli and his brother and be the family they need? Or will he remain in the dark and leave them behind? I can’t wait to see what happens next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2026
The way Taste Of The Dark was written is a breath of fresh air. I’ve never seen a writing style like this in a dark romance book. It offers the reader different vibes as the story progresses.
This dark romance started out light, funny and witty. No trace of darkness at all. I even asked myself, “the author thinks this is dark?” Then the story turned deep, off white and sexy. It progresses to dark gray, heavy and sensual. By the end of the book, the tale has completely gone dark, ravenous and gut wrenching! It’s like watching the beginning of a storm. First, the sun is shining oh-so-bright. Then the clouds starts to cover the entire blue sky. Then it gets dark and gloomy. Then heavy, tumultuous rain starts to fall! Coincidentally, the story progress as the FMC’s vision dwindles. As her world darkens due to a failing eyesight, so does the story! That’s what impressed me the most with the author’s writings in this book!
Taste Of The Dark earns a five star rating for me as it offers a unique level of emotional experience to the reader. Join Eliana Hunter as she enjoys everything big and small with a 90 day deadline. Get to know the sexy culinary mogul Bastian Hale and discover his dark past and secrets! I can’t wait to see the conclusion of this tale in book 2 Taste Of The Light.
This dark romance started out light, funny and witty. No trace of darkness at all. I even asked myself, “the author thinks this is dark?” Then the story turned deep, off white and sexy. It progresses to dark gray, heavy and sensual. By the end of the book, the tale has completely gone dark, ravenous and gut wrenching! It’s like watching the beginning of a storm. First, the sun is shining oh-so-bright. Then the clouds starts to cover the entire blue sky. Then it gets dark and gloomy. Then heavy, tumultuous rain starts to fall! Coincidentally, the story progress as the FMC’s vision dwindles. As her world darkens due to a failing eyesight, so does the story! That’s what impressed me the most with the author’s writings in this book!
Taste Of The Dark earns a five star rating for me as it offers a unique level of emotional experience to the reader. Join Eliana Hunter as she enjoys everything big and small with a 90 day deadline. Get to know the sexy culinary mogul Bastian Hale and discover his dark past and secrets! I can’t wait to see the conclusion of this tale in book 2 Taste Of The Light.
January 17, 2026
Eliana has worked for Hale Hospitality for six years. Bastian Hale is the CEO of Hale Hospitality. They have both had bad childhoods. One day Eliana went to the eye doctor and found she has ninety days before her sight is gone. She was working late and she decided to close her eyes and pretend that she was blind as she was feeling her way passed Bastian’s office her hands landed on his bare chest. That moment seemed to change everything between them. Eliana decided she wanted to quit and enjoy the rest of her ninety days but Bastian tore up her resignation letter. When Bastian found Eliana’s bucket list he took it and decided to make her list come true. Bastian changed his name from Semyon Izotov to Bastian Hale when he wanted a new start. Aleksei is Bastian’s brother and he is the head of the Izotov family. He wants to run his dirty money through Bastian’s legitimate business. Bastian refuses. Bastian also has a little brother Sage who is wheelchair bound and Bastian carries a lot of guilt for the accident that put Sage in the wheelchair.
Will Bastian and Eliana be able to get her bucket list fulfilled? Will Aleksei cause problems? What will happen in book two?
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book via Booksprout.
Superb Billionaire Office Romance!
Will Bastian and Eliana be able to get her bucket list fulfilled? Will Aleksei cause problems? What will happen in book two?
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book via Booksprout.
Superb Billionaire Office Romance!
January 18, 2026
Taste of the Dark is the first story in the Izotov Bratva. is a very emotional and suspenseful story. It is different than this author's previous stories and I absolutely loved it.
Eliana works for Bastian. He is a very arrogant person that nobody likes. He runs his company and doesn't interact well with his employees. Eliana has just found out that she is slowly going blind due to a disorder. She has three months before she loses all her sight. She has made up her mind that she wants to live life to the fullest and not be miserable at her job. She goes to Bastian to resign but he refuses to let her go. He offers her a million dollars to stay and complete the work on the project they are working on. She decides to take him up on the offer. He is arrogant but she refuses to back down to him. As they work closely together on the project, Eliana begins to see Bastian in a different light. He finds her bucket list and decides to help her fulfill what she wants to do while she can still enjoy it.
I loved the chemistry between Bastian and Eliana. I loved how she was not afraid to stand up to him. She was a strong person. The cliffhanger at the end made me wanting more. I look forward to the next story.
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy for an honest review.
Eliana works for Bastian. He is a very arrogant person that nobody likes. He runs his company and doesn't interact well with his employees. Eliana has just found out that she is slowly going blind due to a disorder. She has three months before she loses all her sight. She has made up her mind that she wants to live life to the fullest and not be miserable at her job. She goes to Bastian to resign but he refuses to let her go. He offers her a million dollars to stay and complete the work on the project they are working on. She decides to take him up on the offer. He is arrogant but she refuses to back down to him. As they work closely together on the project, Eliana begins to see Bastian in a different light. He finds her bucket list and decides to help her fulfill what she wants to do while she can still enjoy it.
I loved the chemistry between Bastian and Eliana. I loved how she was not afraid to stand up to him. She was a strong person. The cliffhanger at the end made me wanting more. I look forward to the next story.
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy for an honest review.
January 18, 2026
Eliana works for Bastian, who is her boss at Hale Hospitality. Bastian owns multi-Michelin-star restaurants. Eliana is the project manager for his Odyssy project, and when things go wrong, everything is her fault. One day, when she does a nice thing for the other staff, it backfires on her, and Bastian belittles her in front of the staff. This is the final straw for her, and Aliana decides to tender her resignation. What does she have to lose after her recent diagnosis of becoming totally blind in 90 days? Bastian refuses her resignation and makes her an offer she cant refuse. Bastian, despite his rough exterior and an a**hole boss to his staff, has a soft side for his brother Sage, whom he looks after. Nicole takes you through the range of emotions with this story, the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of everything. Thank goodness Eliana has her best friend, Yasmin to help her and look out for her.
I recieved an arc from Booksprout for my voluntary honest review for NN Book Blog. If you love a read where the boss can be a proper a**hole to his staff and with a mafia undertone, then you will love this one. Be warned, this book does end on a big cliffhanger, thank goodness, not too long for the next book in the series.
I recieved an arc from Booksprout for my voluntary honest review for NN Book Blog. If you love a read where the boss can be a proper a**hole to his staff and with a mafia undertone, then you will love this one. Be warned, this book does end on a big cliffhanger, thank goodness, not too long for the next book in the series.
January 18, 2026
I feel at a loss for words.
I am stunned, down for the count and overwhelmed but such a multitude of emotions after reading this book that I’m struggling to put my feelings into words.
This story is literary genius!
You get every single target hit that you could ever imagine in a romance but more than that you get to feel every possible emotion.
Bastian and Eliana’s development is chefs kiss. It’s too big and too important to boil down in simple tropes and yet so simple it’s burns your heart.
Their challenges are as mountainous as their love is like the bottomless sea. Their story touches you so deeply you feel fundamentally changed by it.
The background stories are brutal and inhumane but they serve to highlight the love story with perfection.
The book is extremely well written. The eloquent writing draws you in from page one and defies any try to break away. The pace is fast and never lets up, but at the same time superbly timed, so you get to take a breath just before you run out of air.
I’m on pins and needles waiting for book two but I already know it will consume me.
Highly recommend this masterpiece!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am stunned, down for the count and overwhelmed but such a multitude of emotions after reading this book that I’m struggling to put my feelings into words.
This story is literary genius!
You get every single target hit that you could ever imagine in a romance but more than that you get to feel every possible emotion.
Bastian and Eliana’s development is chefs kiss. It’s too big and too important to boil down in simple tropes and yet so simple it’s burns your heart.
Their challenges are as mountainous as their love is like the bottomless sea. Their story touches you so deeply you feel fundamentally changed by it.
The background stories are brutal and inhumane but they serve to highlight the love story with perfection.
The book is extremely well written. The eloquent writing draws you in from page one and defies any try to break away. The pace is fast and never lets up, but at the same time superbly timed, so you get to take a breath just before you run out of air.
I’m on pins and needles waiting for book two but I already know it will consume me.
Highly recommend this masterpiece!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 16, 2026
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review.
This is the story of Bastian and Eliana. These two work together, with him being her boss. However, she gets some devastating news from her Dr. She has ninety days to get herself settled into her new reality and her life totally changes. These two are also broken people. Everyone she has ever loved has left her and that is a fear that she carries around daily. He has defeated his past and should be living his best life. However, he is drowning in guilt. Now Eliana has decided she needs a bucket list and after literally running into him while he is shirtless these two feel a spark. But she can't let herself get distracted with him and he can't let anyone in. But he is going to help her with her bucket list. However, danger is right around the corner and if I tell you how this part happens I will be spoiling something. However, I was on the edge of my seat and need the second book like yesterday. I loved these characters. They are flawed and not perfect but they are very real people dealing with very real heavy things. This is a book you are going to love.
This is the story of Bastian and Eliana. These two work together, with him being her boss. However, she gets some devastating news from her Dr. She has ninety days to get herself settled into her new reality and her life totally changes. These two are also broken people. Everyone she has ever loved has left her and that is a fear that she carries around daily. He has defeated his past and should be living his best life. However, he is drowning in guilt. Now Eliana has decided she needs a bucket list and after literally running into him while he is shirtless these two feel a spark. But she can't let herself get distracted with him and he can't let anyone in. But he is going to help her with her bucket list. However, danger is right around the corner and if I tell you how this part happens I will be spoiling something. However, I was on the edge of my seat and need the second book like yesterday. I loved these characters. They are flawed and not perfect but they are very real people dealing with very real heavy things. This is a book you are going to love.
January 16, 2026
Once again I ran straight to the ‘Claim Your Copy’ button on BookSprout the second I got word that Nicole Fox had a new ARC. As always, Nicole hit it out of the park; I don’t know how she does it every time. I actually really enjoyed this Taste of the Dark, even though it was a little different from how Nicole books normally go. The book reads as your standard grumpy billionaire book, and the mafia part of the storyline didn’t really come in until the last couple of chapters. I almost felt like I was reading something else at times, but when that mafia plot point came up, I knew I was reading one of her amazing books. Taste of the dark just drags you straight in and just doesn’t let you go. The back-and-forth banter between Bastian and Eliana is utterly phenomenal, and the spice really hits the spot. Of course, in true Nicole Fox fashion, the book ended on a dark cliffhanger that leaves you begging for the next book. I can’t wait to get stuck into book 2, Taste of the Light.
“I know we signed a deal and that I’ve paid you a lot of money to stick around, but I’m asking you to stay past that. I want the real thing with you. Not ninety days of it. I want all of it.”
“I know we signed a deal and that I’ve paid you a lot of money to stick around, but I’m asking you to stay past that. I want the real thing with you. Not ninety days of it. I want all of it.”
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