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Izotov Bratva #1
El Sabor de la Oscuridad (La Bratva Izotov nº 1)
"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
587 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2026
About the author
Nicole Fox
202 books5,082 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 299 reviews
March 16, 2026
Part 1/2
2,5 👨🍳🕶️⭐️s
The premise was intriguing but the story was lengthy.
A grumpy hero chef deep in his business life and a sunshine heroine with a backbone going blind in 90 days.
Then things went south and tbh I can’t say that I enjoyed the turn of the events….
Wandering if I will read the next part… 🤔
2,5 👨🍳🕶️⭐️s
The premise was intriguing but the story was lengthy.
A grumpy hero chef deep in his business life and a sunshine heroine with a backbone going blind in 90 days.
Then things went south and tbh I can’t say that I enjoyed the turn of the events….
Wandering if I will read the next part… 🤔
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
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.
February 16, 2026
»Worried about my womanly virtue?«
»Hardly. I'm more worried about a lawsuit when you break his fingers.«
»You think I'd break his fingers?«
»If you don't, I will.«
★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑬𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒂 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
Oh, I adored her! She‘s funny, tough and stands her ground against Bastian. She‘s a well developed and interesting character.
❥ 𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒏 ⋆✮
I liked him. He‘s such a softie but has multiple trauma and a complicated family situation. Bastian is an asshole but deeply cares for Eliana.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
I really enjoyed this book. Surprisingly this was a quick read for me although there are over 500 pages. The writing style is easy to read and I could hold up a fast reading pace. I enjoyed the storyline and the overall plot. The fact that Eliana has a disease and is turning blind gave an interesting thrill to the story (although it‘s tragic of course). This is not the typical mafia romance because Bastian isn‘t in the mafia anymore. But there are light mafia/dark romance elements. I was glued to my kindle all morning because this book caught my interest and I couldn‘t put it down.
Eliana and Bastian have amazing tension and I really liked them together. Their banter is funny and both have their way with words. I liked the fact the author took their time developing both characters and this is exactly what I expect from a book this long. Sometimes the plot dragged on a little bit but overall this book was an entertaining read.
𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Yes.
𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 ׂㅤ𐙚 ࣪ ⭒
plot: 4/5
spice: 1/5
humor: 4/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 4/5
happy end?: cliff hanger
𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 ₊ ⊹
protective and possessive hero, billionaire, enemies to lovers, office romance, ceo, forced proximity, forbidden relationship, disability representation, bucket list, age gap, lite mafia
𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲
ages: Eliana (27) and Bastian (late thirties I think)
cheating: no
sharing: no
kinks: no
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 Taste of the Dark ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 Taste of the Light ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
»Hardly. I'm more worried about a lawsuit when you break his fingers.«
»You think I'd break his fingers?«
»If you don't, I will.«
★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑬𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒂 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
Oh, I adored her! She‘s funny, tough and stands her ground against Bastian. She‘s a well developed and interesting character.
❥ 𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒏 ⋆✮
I liked him. He‘s such a softie but has multiple trauma and a complicated family situation. Bastian is an asshole but deeply cares for Eliana.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
I really enjoyed this book. Surprisingly this was a quick read for me although there are over 500 pages. The writing style is easy to read and I could hold up a fast reading pace. I enjoyed the storyline and the overall plot. The fact that Eliana has a disease and is turning blind gave an interesting thrill to the story (although it‘s tragic of course). This is not the typical mafia romance because Bastian isn‘t in the mafia anymore. But there are light mafia/dark romance elements. I was glued to my kindle all morning because this book caught my interest and I couldn‘t put it down.
Eliana and Bastian have amazing tension and I really liked them together. Their banter is funny and both have their way with words. I liked the fact the author took their time developing both characters and this is exactly what I expect from a book this long. Sometimes the plot dragged on a little bit but overall this book was an entertaining read.
𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Yes.
𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 ׂㅤ𐙚 ࣪ ⭒
plot: 4/5
spice: 1/5
humor: 4/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 4/5
happy end?: cliff hanger
𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 ₊ ⊹
protective and possessive hero, billionaire, enemies to lovers, office romance, ceo, forced proximity, forbidden relationship, disability representation, bucket list, age gap, lite mafia
𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲
ages: Eliana (27) and Bastian (late thirties I think)
cheating: no
sharing: no
kinks: no
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 Taste of the Dark ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 Taste of the Light ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 30, 2026
Oh My Lanta! I don't think I'm going to survive, lol
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: boss, employee
Angst: 😱😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥
This is a bit of a departure from Nicole Fox's typical mafia books, but still had all the things I love about her books: super witty dialogue, a 💩-ton of angst, and fabulously wonderful storytelling. The pacing was a bit slower than usual in the middle, but that ending and predictably harrowing cliffy completely delivered. I can't wait to jump into the next one and read the conclusion.
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: boss, employee
Angst: 😱😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥
This is a bit of a departure from Nicole Fox's typical mafia books, but still had all the things I love about her books: super witty dialogue, a 💩-ton of angst, and fabulously wonderful storytelling. The pacing was a bit slower than usual in the middle, but that ending and predictably harrowing cliffy completely delivered. I can't wait to jump into the next one and read the conclusion.
January 21, 2026
Genuinely I have no idea. Don’t even ask.
February 15, 2026
My Review:
Taste of the Dark is the first book in one of the most recent releases by Nicole Fox. I truly had a blast with this, in fact so much, I didn't want to put this down despite feeling some eye strain, I just had to find out what was happening with these two. This starts off as a angsty office romance with a boss and employee. The heroine, has learned she is slowly going blind. And through a course of events she stays to work for her arrogant boss who likes to be in control of everything. But there is a reason he has to be in such control and the more they open to each other, the more she realizes that there is so much more to him than he lets himself realize. But he has a past, a connection to the mob that could end up destroying them both. I really found the aspects of his past to be the most heart wrenching to read. Especially with his older brother who obviously becomes corrupted by the life in the crime world. We see how he protects his brother and forces him to live a better life. But then practically blackmails him and forces him to become something he originally refused to let him become. It shows the dangers of power that can change you. I the found the third act to be so thrilling and angsty and wow so differen't from what I honestly expected. Even though I loved this book I have my doubts about the heroine especially in how she treats the hero at the end there, hopefully she becomes redeemed in the 2nd book.
This book does end on a cliffhanger. I really loved the first book here. Their chemistry and yearning and how they slowly emotionally reveal themselves to each other was simply beautiful. They just had such a sweet strong bond that you just felt so captured in the moment with them. We have other characters we hope to see happy endings for as well but very eager to see how it resolves in the sequel.
Taste of the Dark is the first book in one of the most recent releases by Nicole Fox. I truly had a blast with this, in fact so much, I didn't want to put this down despite feeling some eye strain, I just had to find out what was happening with these two. This starts off as a angsty office romance with a boss and employee. The heroine, has learned she is slowly going blind. And through a course of events she stays to work for her arrogant boss who likes to be in control of everything. But there is a reason he has to be in such control and the more they open to each other, the more she realizes that there is so much more to him than he lets himself realize. But he has a past, a connection to the mob that could end up destroying them both. I really found the aspects of his past to be the most heart wrenching to read. Especially with his older brother who obviously becomes corrupted by the life in the crime world. We see how he protects his brother and forces him to live a better life. But then practically blackmails him and forces him to become something he originally refused to let him become. It shows the dangers of power that can change you. I the found the third act to be so thrilling and angsty and wow so differen't from what I honestly expected. Even though I loved this book I have my doubts about the heroine especially in how she treats the hero at the end there, hopefully she becomes redeemed in the 2nd book.
This book does end on a cliffhanger. I really loved the first book here. Their chemistry and yearning and how they slowly emotionally reveal themselves to each other was simply beautiful. They just had such a sweet strong bond that you just felt so captured in the moment with them. We have other characters we hope to see happy endings for as well but very eager to see how it resolves in the sequel.
February 24, 2026
This is one of the most mind blowing books I've read in a while Eliana is incredible, what she goes through in this book, she is strong , brave, fierce.
Bastion is her boss, the kind of boss who is grumpy, wants every thing to be Perfect Takes Eliana for granted until that moment where she stands up to him, this book is a slow burn however it doesn't feel like it all the funny, shocking and 🥵🥵🥵 moments made it feel like there was no slow burn to it the things you find out about the characters in this book is mind blowing, I loved every moment and I couldn't put it down, I cant wait to read the next book!
Bastion is her boss, the kind of boss who is grumpy, wants every thing to be Perfect Takes Eliana for granted until that moment where she stands up to him, this book is a slow burn however it doesn't feel like it all the funny, shocking and 🥵🥵🥵 moments made it feel like there was no slow burn to it the things you find out about the characters in this book is mind blowing, I loved every moment and I couldn't put it down, I cant wait to read the next book!
February 4, 2026
i still don’t believe that the main guy is a chef
February 10, 2026
I'm sorry but this was not sold to me as a book with a random, out of nowhere murder at the end??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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.
March 10, 2026
The plot of this was becoming absurd. Such a promising plot to begin with! I mean, she basically wasted her last 90 days with vision on stupid shizzz. Bastian ran hot and cold. The plot got all convoluted and unrealistic. I read spoilers for the 2nd book and I can tell it will annoy me.
January 25, 2026
Oh. My. God.
I just read all of THAT just for it to end THERE?!?!
I just read all of THAT just for it to end THERE?!?!
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 😮
February 17, 2026
What an absolutely brilliant, riveting read!
I couldn't get enough of Eliana and Bastian. I loved that he was an utter bosshole who was almost helpless against her, as she slowly got under his skin and stayed there. I loved her sassiness whenever she felt he was being unjust. My heart broke for Eliana's condition but he showed her through his actions just how much he was starting to care about her. He was protective, possessive, and so bossy! But, that ending!! My poor heart! This story had a bit of everything - humour, misery, passion and happiness. It was intense between the characters, the story was dark in places, but the whole read was highly addictive. Moving swiftly on to the concluding novel!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
I couldn't get enough of Eliana and Bastian. I loved that he was an utter bosshole who was almost helpless against her, as she slowly got under his skin and stayed there. I loved her sassiness whenever she felt he was being unjust. My heart broke for Eliana's condition but he showed her through his actions just how much he was starting to care about her. He was protective, possessive, and so bossy! But, that ending!! My poor heart! This story had a bit of everything - humour, misery, passion and happiness. It was intense between the characters, the story was dark in places, but the whole read was highly addictive. Moving swiftly on to the concluding novel!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
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 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
March 21, 2026
As a reformed line cook
I freaking loved this book! The definitions at the beginning of each chapter and how it responds to the feelings/tension/vibe of the chapter. I will be starting book 2 before bed tonight.
I freaking loved this book! The definitions at the beginning of each chapter and how it responds to the feelings/tension/vibe of the chapter. I will be starting book 2 before bed tonight.
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 😊
February 9, 2026
This was a somewhat easy read but it wasn’t my favorite
February 14, 2026
Excellent!
Wow, what a page turner this book is. Sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for what is going to happen next. Onto book 2. Hope it is as good as this one…
Wow, what a page turner this book is. Sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for what is going to happen next. Onto book 2. Hope it is as good as this one…
February 23, 2026
Really enjoyed the suspense and storyline for the main characters in this book. Darkness, hope and drama. And then it ends on a cliffhanger?! On to book 2…
April 1, 2026
“For better or for worse, in the light and in the dark, now and in the future, she’s mine.”
Look, there’s something about a workplace romance where the boss is a billionaire and the blurb tells you it’s 50 shades of grey with the Bear. It was def more Bear heavy, but fast paced and really enjoyable to read. Hated that it ended on a cliffhanger but I’m intrigued.
Look, there’s something about a workplace romance where the boss is a billionaire and the blurb tells you it’s 50 shades of grey with the Bear. It was def more Bear heavy, but fast paced and really enjoyable to read. Hated that it ended on a cliffhanger but I’m intrigued.
February 22, 2026
Good lord I was not able to put this down. This had everything. Mafia, angst, emotion, suspense, rich man, touch her and die- “f it” moments. I know it was 500 pages but it felt like 200. Have I found a new fave author bc I need all her work stat. I’m off to read the second part of this duet and I’m on the edge of my seat. I love love love this story and these characters. 🖤 Easily 5 stars. ⭐️
July 12, 2026
This was tragic unfortunately :/ the only reason it didn’t get one star was because I actually laughed out loud at how cringe and cliche some parts were which is quite an achievement after all the books I’ve read. Book 2 will not be getting purchased by me.
May 29, 2026
This is book one of a duet and ends on a cliffhanger. Book two needs to be read for the full story.
Rating: 3/5 stars
POV: Dual 1st person POV
Length: Novel
Relationship: MF
Primary Tropes/Features: Enemies-to-lovers, Boss/Employee, Office romance, Forced proximity, Fake relationship, Morally grey hero, Bucket list romance, Opposites-attract, Disability representation (Blindness due to Leber congenital amaurosis [main character], Paralysis/Paresis [side character])
Secondary Tropes/Features: Forbidden relationship, Age gap (8 years), Chef/foodie vibes, Billionaire hero, Reformed bad boy, Mafia lite, Flashbacks, Kink (Spanking, Praise)
Micro Tropes: Blushing hero, "Fuck it", Good girl
Content warning:
Taste of the Dark kicks of Eilana and Bastian’s story with an interesting Mafia lite office romance that keeps you engaged. Whilst I have done my best to avoid spoilers some may still remain, I have hidden sections of this review as needed.
The characters:
Eilana was a strong willed and steadfast individual. She had a defiant and stubborn streak which often put her in confrontations others, namely Bastian, would rather she not be in and her sharp tongue made her an intellectual challenge for those who underestimated her. She may have lived as a cynical person but it was far from who she was. Her hope, bravery, and light were defining characteristics and it not only made her a well rounded character but these were characteristics that played well into the health/disability focused journey she was on in this book (see side plots for more).
Bastian was a person who favoured efficiency and excellence above all, not only of himself but others too and it became a defining trait of how he lived his life. He was your typical closed off and guarded billionaire hero but his visceral reaction to seeing Eilana and his brother, Sage, hurt showed us other sides of him. He was someone who harboured an overwhelming amount of guilt over past events and didn’t want anyone getting close because the risk of them getting hurt by his darkness was too much to bear. Both were likeable characters whose backstories and character arcs I was interested in and look forward to seeing developed further in the conclusion to this duet.
The romance:
These two had opposites attract written all over them and when Bastian was on one of his power trips the combination of Eilana’s recent life changing news and a lifetime of being underestimated and underappreciated resulted in a moment of fury where she stood up to him and quit. But Bastian couldn’t lose an efficient employee and there was something about her raw and vulnerable emotions she tried to hide that drew him in so he offered a solution - a million dollars for 90 days.
Despite his aloof personality Bastian had been paying close attention to Eilana and their close proximity work sparked this tension which they both picked up but didn’t address. As they spent time together and got more comfortable they started to engage in witty banter that whilst depicting them getting closer also kept their enemies dynamic and it was an element of the romance development which I enjoyed. As they got closer and not only worked together on Project Olympus but her bucket list too their mix of sweet and sour interactions became intoxicating for the both of them and engaging for the reader. Even with some of their relationship development taking a told-me-didn’t-show-me approach the limited spicy scenes and the length of time it took for them to actually sleep together strengthened their relationship development. We could see their feelings form in the little moments and through the contentment that they got from being in one another's company which made it easy to understand how easily they fell in love. The world was so perfect for them & they'd made it, but Bastian couldn’t escape his past and the darkness he saw flowing in his veins so he turned his back on her and the man he'd spent sixteen years trying to be and moved closer and closer to the one he'd always feared he'd become. The development of their romance overall felt quick but it was engaging for it was through the on page moments of emotional vulnerability that they truly became closer. So with that trust and the perception they had of each other being shattered in the book’s final moments I am interested in seeing how the romance develops from here.
The side plots:
The secondary characters:
When it came to secondary characters there were a few in particular that really stood out and they were the ones that had the most on page time. Yasmin (Eilana’s best friend) was fantastic and I loved her supportiveness and the friendship her and Eilana had, they were ride or die kind of friends and it is something I look forward to seeing more of in book two. Zeke (Bastian's best friend) along with Sage (Bastian's younger brother) were both likeable characters. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the three of them especially for how Zeke and Sage would call Bastian out for his behaviour. There was a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie between them which I hope we see more of in book two. Then there were Aleksei and Brandon, the two villains of this book, whose impact on the book’s events were interesting for the sense of danger that they brought and they are storylines which I look forward to seeing develop in the second book as I'm hoping for a closure giving conclusion given the severity of their topics. The secondary/tertiary storylines focusing on each of the secondary characters had varying amounts of on page depiction but felt like they added something to the narrative as they aided in further developing the characters beyond how they were related to the main characters and there are plots here which I look forward to seeing developed in book two.
Taste of the Dark was an enjoyable book which kept my interest and after the cliffhanger ending I look forward to seeing what happens in this duet’s conclusion.
Favourite Quote(s):
Rating: 3/5 stars
POV: Dual 1st person POV
Length: Novel
Relationship: MF
Primary Tropes/Features: Enemies-to-lovers, Boss/Employee, Office romance, Forced proximity, Fake relationship, Morally grey hero, Bucket list romance, Opposites-attract, Disability representation (Blindness due to Leber congenital amaurosis [main character], Paralysis/Paresis [side character])
Secondary Tropes/Features: Forbidden relationship, Age gap (8 years), Chef/foodie vibes, Billionaire hero, Reformed bad boy, Mafia lite, Flashbacks, Kink (Spanking, Praise)
Micro Tropes: Blushing hero, "Fuck it", Good girl
Content warning:
Taste of the Dark kicks of Eilana and Bastian’s story with an interesting Mafia lite office romance that keeps you engaged. Whilst I have done my best to avoid spoilers some may still remain, I have hidden sections of this review as needed.
The characters:
Eilana was a strong willed and steadfast individual. She had a defiant and stubborn streak which often put her in confrontations others, namely Bastian, would rather she not be in and her sharp tongue made her an intellectual challenge for those who underestimated her. She may have lived as a cynical person but it was far from who she was. Her hope, bravery, and light were defining characteristics and it not only made her a well rounded character but these were characteristics that played well into the health/disability focused journey she was on in this book (see side plots for more).
Bastian was a person who favoured efficiency and excellence above all, not only of himself but others too and it became a defining trait of how he lived his life. He was your typical closed off and guarded billionaire hero but his visceral reaction to seeing Eilana and his brother, Sage, hurt showed us other sides of him. He was someone who harboured an overwhelming amount of guilt over past events and didn’t want anyone getting close because the risk of them getting hurt by his darkness was too much to bear. Both were likeable characters whose backstories and character arcs I was interested in and look forward to seeing developed further in the conclusion to this duet.
The romance:
These two had opposites attract written all over them and when Bastian was on one of his power trips the combination of Eilana’s recent life changing news and a lifetime of being underestimated and underappreciated resulted in a moment of fury where she stood up to him and quit. But Bastian couldn’t lose an efficient employee and there was something about her raw and vulnerable emotions she tried to hide that drew him in so he offered a solution - a million dollars for 90 days.
Despite his aloof personality Bastian had been paying close attention to Eilana and their close proximity work sparked this tension which they both picked up but didn’t address. As they spent time together and got more comfortable they started to engage in witty banter that whilst depicting them getting closer also kept their enemies dynamic and it was an element of the romance development which I enjoyed. As they got closer and not only worked together on Project Olympus but her bucket list too their mix of sweet and sour interactions became intoxicating for the both of them and engaging for the reader. Even with some of their relationship development taking a told-me-didn’t-show-me approach the limited spicy scenes and the length of time it took for them to actually sleep together strengthened their relationship development. We could see their feelings form in the little moments and through the contentment that they got from being in one another's company which made it easy to understand how easily they fell in love. The world was so perfect for them & they'd made it, but Bastian couldn’t escape his past and the darkness he saw flowing in his veins so he turned his back on her and the man he'd spent sixteen years trying to be and moved closer and closer to the one he'd always feared he'd become. The development of their romance overall felt quick but it was engaging for it was through the on page moments of emotional vulnerability that they truly became closer. So with that trust and the perception they had of each other being shattered in the book’s final moments I am interested in seeing how the romance develops from here.
The side plots:
The secondary characters:
When it came to secondary characters there were a few in particular that really stood out and they were the ones that had the most on page time. Yasmin (Eilana’s best friend) was fantastic and I loved her supportiveness and the friendship her and Eilana had, they were ride or die kind of friends and it is something I look forward to seeing more of in book two. Zeke (Bastian's best friend) along with Sage (Bastian's younger brother) were both likeable characters. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the three of them especially for how Zeke and Sage would call Bastian out for his behaviour. There was a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie between them which I hope we see more of in book two. Then there were Aleksei and Brandon, the two villains of this book, whose impact on the book’s events were interesting for the sense of danger that they brought and they are storylines which I look forward to seeing develop in the second book as I'm hoping for a closure giving conclusion given the severity of their topics. The secondary/tertiary storylines focusing on each of the secondary characters had varying amounts of on page depiction but felt like they added something to the narrative as they aided in further developing the characters beyond how they were related to the main characters and there are plots here which I look forward to seeing developed in book two.
Taste of the Dark was an enjoyable book which kept my interest and after the cliffhanger ending I look forward to seeing what happens in this duet’s conclusion.
Favourite Quote(s):
"This is a terrible idea," I whisper.
"The worst," he agrees, but his hand goes higher up my thigh. "I no longer give a fuck."
We haven't slept together yet and we haven't acknowledged that fact. But this, these stolen little seconds and touches, have become part and parcel of my daily existence. I don't remember what life was like before I had them. I don't want to.
"I feel the same way about you," he says. "You're what I'm supposed to do with my life, Eilana"
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