Taste of the Light

Izotov Bratva #2

by Nicole Fox

Genres: Romance

518 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 15, 2026

About the author

Nicole 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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Reviews

[Zenia Najarro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

Ok seeing as I read this book, including the first one, in less than 12 hours I had to give it 4 stars. I was sucked in and NEEDED to know what was going to happen. The FMC was a bit hard to deal with at points, she was a bit too stubborn but it did add to the book and develop her relationship with the mmc. I love Bastian's growth especially after talking with Georgia(also appreciate her growth). I do feel Yas's storyline contributions were unnecessary but I was intrigued enough that I was upset when there was not a metion of her in the epilogue, especially with the trauma that occurred at the end. Essentially the ending was disappointing, felt rushed. Overall I did enjoy these books the first one more than the second.

[LACEY · Rating 1 out of 5]

this story just pissed me off. why did Bastian needs ilianas help to rescue his little brother. is she trainedin these skills, absolutely not, in fact shes losing her vision and pregnant. seriously this plot was even thought about. so many times this book had me stratching my head. like these

A door opens and she immediately smells wintergreen from across the room, yeah okay. her other senses are heightened because she's blind, ma'am be for real, you've been blind a month. sage asks Iliana if she's pregnant, just randomly with no reason at all to ask, ma'am you are only 8 weeks, no one can tell. stating a few times that clothes are stretched tight over her belly, again are you kidding me, you are only 12 weeks now. one of the times was Zekes hoodie, I know dang well that hoodie was big, youre going to tell me that a 12 week belly was stretching it to the limit. I just feel like no effort was put into this book and I have read many of her books and love them, this though, terrible.

also why was iliana so damn stubborn, for what though. it didnt add anything to the book except to make me dislike her and draw out boring conversations. word count was obviously needed because what's up w1ith the stupid vocabulary words at every chapter, pointless and did anyone actually read them.

another issue, who let's a pregnant blind girl sleep on a pullout couch and everyone else's takes the bedrooms, these people dont like you and they are not your friends or a real man. also what kind of man finger bangs his girl with bloody fingers whiles she's wearing a torn hospital gown while sitting on a sidewalk, just gross and definately not a turn on

who gets shot in the stomach and is like im going to my girls mom's house who has no medical experience and im going to live, no way in hell. also who gets shot and 3 days later has sex. that's not sexy, that weird that you cant control your hormones to recover first. 3 days are freaking kidding me, its not like it was a graze, no straight in the abdomen. also it's not like he's laying down and she's doing the work. no, he's effing her and he's careful to avoid putting pressure on her stomach. I just cant with this book, she's only about 13 weeks now, give or take because only a few days passed since they mentioned 12 weeks. was there no proofreader. ugh

[Ambers Book Nest · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was, I believe, the third book or series I’ve read in which the FMC was blind. It's not a subject that appears very frequently in romance novels. However, I thought Nicole Fox did a good job writing Eliana. I believe it depicted some of the terrible encounters and difficulties that a blind person would go through. Although I do feel like sometimes it could have been addressed a little further. Taste of the Light is just full of drama, danger, twists, turns, suspense and complete chaos. Each turn of a page came with another horrible thing happening to either Bastian, Eliana, Zeke, Yas or Sage. Everyone suffered in the book because of Alexei, so it was more than satisfying to see his end. I think the only reason I rated this book low was because even though there was all this drama and chaos, the book didn’t keep my attention: sometimes finishing this book became more of a chore than fun. But that all being said, I think this was a great story, and I can't wait to see what comes next from Nicole Fox, and you bet I'll be first in line again to apply for an ARC.

“I need you to understand, Eliana, that there is no line I won’t cross for you. No version of myself I won’t become. And I’m not sorry for that. I can’t be sorry for that.”

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

How many times will he grasp at the grim reapers cloak 😱

The second in this duet follows on perfectly, Eliana and Yas are holed up in a grotty hotel, Eliana now completely blind. Bastian has been doing his brother’s bidding and falling deeper into Bratva life. The girls find an apartment to rent as far away as they possibly can from the city, Eliana finds out she’s pregnant. Soon after they learn that Bastian Hale is d3ad, of course Eliana wants to go to his funeral, certainly not a good idea when she is being watched. From here we are thrown into their story….

“𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝒶𝓂𝑒. 𝐼 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝓌𝒶𝓎.”

I really wouldn’t be able to say which of the duet was my fav, because they both have their elements. However, this second one is more intense with build ups, tension, angst, vi0lence and emotions, it is one you don’t want to put down but also one you are sat on the edge of your seat and growling 🤣 I do enjoy me a Nicole Fox read, she has a way with making you have all the feels, with her words and her visuals.

[Kat Jowett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow the second half of this duet was just as good as the first. Nicole managed to write an emotional hard hitter, with a FMC that was kind and strong. Ely is now blind and learning to maneuver the world without her sight, pregnant with only jas as her support and ya know what she's a badass never a challenge she can't face, bastian has a whole host of issues least of all his apparent death.... he has to try fix things with, Ely, zeke, jas and sage. Figure out how to beat his bratva boss brother, deal with the fbi, grapple electrical wires to rescue his disabled brother. Among other things. Safe to say there's a whole lot of drama but bastian is actively trying to be the person his family need. There's so much more to this book, there's mums trying to make amends and be better, yas learning that you don't have to push people away before you get hurt and sometimes the bravest thing you can do is love, sage has to learn to forgive day by dad when trust is desperately broken.

The emotion I felt reading this Nicole did a fantastic job writing from the perspective of all these people with such different feelings and situations and I loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting conclusion!

Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1\2
Trope: Workplace romance
Angst: 😱😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥

Overall, this was a really good conclusion to the story. It was a little slow paced at times, but it picked up again toward the end. All the drama, greeat banter, and accidental babies that you expect with a Nicole fox book. Always a 1 click.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get comfortable with your favorite bottle of wine, your snacks, your cozy blanket because you aren’t putting this down until the last page has been turned picking up where we left off. Eliana is left to pick up her new reality without vision, without the man she fell in love with, her world continued to change with her trying to keep the ones she loves safe but for her that means sacrificing herself it seems to be the only way. Bastian we have learned to love him because of the tender moments he shows his girl he doesn’t let her blindness stop her or them, will stop at nothing to protect the ones he love and I love that he supported her, allowed her to have her own independence just cleared some of the hurdles and was there to catch up telling her she can do it. But Eliana had to realize that strength within herself but the one thing I can say she did things like she wasn’t blind and once she realized that Bastian wasn’t going to leave her well that just gave her the wings she needed to fly on her own but where are they headed, where will they land, they push, they pull, they fight every thing for the love but will they win that love, the more they fight the stronger the pull towards one another, and through it all will they find their own happiness somewhere along the way?

[Kim Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

When we last left off, everything was in absolute shambles. Eliana is left picking up the pieces of a new reality without her vision and without the man she loves. And just when it feels like her world cannot possibly fall apart any further, new changes come crashing in and shift the game entirely. Faced with impossible choices, Eliana has to decide how far she is willing to go to protect the people she loves, even if it means sacrificing herself in the process.

Y’all, I was so on edge after the ending of the first book that I had no choice but to binge this one all night just to see how it would end. And let me tell you, NO REGRETS AT ALL. My tired raccoon eyes say otherwise (and so does my boss who does not understand who Bastian and Eliana are or why they were worth losing sleep over) but still…worth it.

“I’m done dying for you, Eliana,” he swears. “From now on, I’m going to try living instead.”

Bastian had so many huge moments in this book, and the sacrifices he made genuinely broke my heart. But that is exactly the kind of man he is. He steps up, every single time, and will do absolutely anything for the people he loves. His mental health struggles were hard to read, especially seeing how much weight he carried on his shoulders and how far he was willing to go. His love for Eliana was pure and unwavering, like not once did her disability get in the way of how he saw her. He always supported her, enabled her independence, and stood by her through every shift in her life without hesitation.

And Eliana…this girl is forever iconic. Her disability never dimmed her strength or her fire. She was willing to do whatever it took, refusing to let anything stand in her way. I also loved that once she finally accepted Bastian for who he truly was, she gave him that same unwavering devotion right back. She fought just as hard for him as he did for her. Her resilience, her strength, and her determination made her impossible not to admire.


“We fit together like nothing in my life has ever fit me.”

Btw, shoutout to the red flags list in the beginning that had me absolutely losing it, hilarious and painfully accurate. I loved how this duet was written and that despite the emotional distance between them, the chemistry was still very much alive. Their banter never disappeared, even when everything else felt broken. They truly loved each other so deeply, but their love had also torn them apart. They were fighting each other while simultaneously fighting for the chance to be together, and that tension made every moment hit harder.

Their happy ending did not come easy. It was earned through pain, sacrifice, and growth. And honestly, that made it all the more satisfying in the end. This duet was emotional, intense, and completely worth every sleepless hour it took to finish it.

[Michelle Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I waited for the sequel to Taste of the Dark with bated breath, I found myself both thrilled and mildly frustrated by the result. Picking up right where Book 1 left off, we find Eliana and her BFF Yas on the run—hiding from Yas’s ex (and, let’s be honest, maybe Bastian too), never staying in one place long. Eliana is now completely blind and, to her shock, pregnant. Meanwhile, Bastian is spiraling ever deeper into his brother’s blood-soaked grip, slowly transforming into the very monster he’s feared he was becoming all along. With every life Bastian takes for Aleksei, another piece of his soul is stripped away. But with Aleksei still holding his disabled brother hostage, Bastian has no choice but to toe the line—until he devises a bold and dangerous plan, one that requires him not only to die, but to finally make things right with Eliana. What I loved most was how Bastian took the darkness within him and redirected it toward something meaningful. He doesn’t suddenly become a “good man”, instead, he weaponizes his brutality against his Bratva brother. Even better, Bastian fully recognizes the depth of pain he’s caused Eliana and understands that redemption isn’t a given. And to my surprise? He actually grovels. He steps up, makes real sacrifices, and proves he’s willing to die for the people he loves. Eliana’s pregnancy only amplifies the poignancy and angst. Yet Bastian never tries to smother her or strip her of her independence. He respects her boundaries and never demands more than she can give. Best of all, once Eliana truly accepts all of who Bastian is—the good and the bad—she fights for him and beside him with the same fierce, unwavering loyalty. What kept this book from earning a full five stars were the moments that stretched believability a bit too far. Eliana’s blindness, for one, was inconsistently portrayed. At times, it felt as though she could see, as in: “Later…I find Bastian alone in the bedroom. He’s leaning heavily against the dresser, one hand pressed to his bandaged abdomen, the other gripping the edge of the nightstand…” How would she know that? Then there’s Aleksei, who always seems to be one step ahead—even when only Bastian, Eliana, Zeke, and Yas were privy to certain information. And the biggest eye-roll of all? Bastian’s near-superhuman ability to survive everything Aleksei throws at him. From gut shots to impossibly brutal torture. And not only survive, but get up and walk away like it’s just another bad day. That said, the story is packed with drama, danger, chaos, twists, and intrigue, all of which kept me glued to the pages. In the end, the entire journey can perhaps be best summed up by my favorite quote:
“Anyone can die for someone. But living for them…that’s the hardest part.”.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[v.xxxvcvggggftfddaweety · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am genuinely confused. I liked the first book in this series. It didn’t blow me away, but it was an engaging, easy read: decent writing, story was going in an interesting direction, and the ending had me ready to dive into the next book to find out what happened. Then book two.
I’m definitely going to miss pieces that didn’t make sense, but I’m going with what I remember. To start with, these two women are on the run for weeks, staying at different motels, constantly moving, but with what money??? I know they’d both been working, but it didn’t seem like either of them had substantial savings. Also, why? Why did they think running was better than going to the police? And, having been upstanding, law-abiding citizens up until this point, how could they have actually evaded the police effectively? All while Bastian is just murdering a bunch of people, because…. I’m still unsure. The part with his restaurant being held over his head made some kind of sense, but the fact that he just jumped right back in? After the restaurant was fixed and opened, he just keeps killing people? And then allows Alexei to take Sage, right before hatching an insane rescue plan. Why not just put up a fight before hand? Again, why not go to the police? No one’s decision-making makes any sense to me. There are very few logical threads of thought for these characters. There is not a lot of solid reason behind their decisions or at least none that we’re privy to. Plus, it feels like the author sometimes just forgets she’s writing from the perspective of someone who is supposed to be blind. Getting an actual person who is blind to contribute here could have done wonders. For just one early example, when Eliana went to buy a pregnancy test without wanting to tell anyone. Please explain how she was going to use that?? She cannot see the results! Or how she just magically knew which box was the pregnancy tests on the shelves. Not to mention the times she knew someone’s position in the room or just inexplicably navigated new spaces. I would have found it way more compelling to actually learn how a person with blindness navigated the world.
There was also a lot of whiplash. The sudden character development, while definitely needed, just came out of the blue. Where did the moms sudden epiphanies come from? To go from a manipulative, alcoholic mess to just suddenly accepting all her own culpability and wrong doing is a wild turn around. Unless she was getting some major counseling off page this did not make sense.
And poor Yas. This girl’s story line was just a giant mess that never even gets resolved. I was invested enough to finish, but barely. The author’s actual writing isn’t bad, but I think the whole book could have done with some more thought to the actual character’s perspectives and motivations.

[Juliette Harden · Rating 2 out of 5]

✨Vibes: Romance, Mafia-ish
💕Favorite Quotes: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
"Love just is. Like gravity. You can fight it all you want, but eventually, you're gonna fall."

Would I recommend: **IT'S A HARD NO FOR ME**

💭Thoughts: Ummmmm.....the math just wasn't mathing for me in this book. AT ALL. I was very disappointed as this would make my 43rd book of hers that I have read (which I LOVE her mafia books so much, I tell everyone they should read them) and it fell so flat, it was hard to get through. Let's just say, I am not a DNF'er and I almost succumbed because of how bad this was. Here is a list of just a few things that had me scratching my head or that just left me so dumb struck at the ludicrousness of this book:

1. If homegirl is blind, how the hell would she have seen what the pregnancy test said being as though she didn't want to tell her best friend yet?! Did she happen to pick one in her blindness that spoke to her. Did she get lucky and get one that had brail that she can now magically read? It didn't make sense at all.
2. Why all throughout the book did it have her "seeing". I swear the author forgot that she wrote a blind character sometimes. There were moments where it was like okay she would say something in the book and then remind us well she just assumed that is how they looked or what they were doing because she was blind and then in other moments it straight up was written that she could magically see for that scene alone. WEIRD
3. The most tragic scene in this book though was reading how he defended her in this moment that she needed it and he killed a man. Not the point here though.....It talked about how bloody his hands were multiple times, to the point where as a reader you are like dang okayyyyy his hands are covered in blood (we get it) all to say that and then they end up on the side of the road on a sidewalk where he then presumes to finger bang her.....**WITH HIS BLOODY FINGERS 😬** I mean if that doesn't scream DISGUSTING, I don't know what does. Definitely screams unsanitary, need to get tested immediately.
4. The ending was atrocious. What the hell happened to the best friends?!?! Like did they die? Did they survive? Are they living happily ever after? Are they still together? WTH happened????

**STICK WITH WHAT YOU KNOW SIS.....MAFIA MAIN CHARACTERS AND MAFIA TRUE STORYLINES**

***Not me realizing there is an extended epilogue that I read and liked more so than the actual real book. FYI for anyone who didn't read it, you do find out where the best friends are and how they are doing. At least I got that answered for me.

[mary ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★.25

I was NOT ready for the angst. My heart broke for these two.
The book picks up where the first one left off. Eliana has officially lost her sight and is now trying to live her life relying on her other senses. Her best friend, Yasmin, helps her through it all.

After what she saw Bastian do, she can’t get the image of the blood dripping from his hands out of her mind. He gutted a man’s body and looked completely lifeless. Now she’s running away from him with no money, no job, and while pregnant with a child he has no idea about.

Bastian’s personality became worse in this book. He sounded so lifeless. His younger brother, Sage, hates him. The love of his life left him. His older brother, Aleksei, has officially ruined his life, and on top of that, he has Sage and is using him to force Bastian to do the dirty work and kill for him. I hate him so much. I don’t think I’ve despised a character as much as Aleksei in a long time. Everyone suffered in this book because of him.

But Bastian knows what he has to do, and it’s the only thing that matters to him: find Eliana. Even if he doesn’t deserve her anymore.

I do have a few issues with this book. I reached 40% and strongly felt like these two had no connection anymore. It wasn’t a lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers situation, it felt more like a “did you ever even have feelings for each other?” situation, and I stayed conflicted until about 70%.
when Eliana said “You can’t lose something you never had in the first place.” that summed up what was happening between them

“Because I need you to understand, Eliana, that there is no line I won’t cross for you. No version of myself I won’t become. And I’m not sorry for that. I can’t be sorry for that.”

Their relationship had its ups and downs. So many secrets were unraveled, and Eliana finally understands why he left the first time. Bastian had to suffer through a lot, and I honestly thought the book wouldn’t end with a HEA until I read the epilogues.

Overall, the writing was fantastic and the storyline was really good. It could have been shorter, though.

____________

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[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A list of red flags that I, Elaina Hunter, have ignored:

- Billionaire chef. (Suspicious.)

- My actual boss. (Problematic.)

- Emotionally unavailable. (Classic.)

- Secret mafia ties. (Less classic. Still an issue.)

- Faked his own death. (Honestly, at this point, I should've seen it coming.)


I should've run after the first one.

I definitely should have booked it after what I saw him do in that alley.

And yet here I am, pregnant with his baby, opening my door to him at midnight because he said pretty please.


Bastian Hale makes me want to tear my hair out.

He makes me want to cry and scream, and also kiss and cuddle.


But if he thinks I'm the same girl he ruined, he's got another thing coming.

This is a new me. Eliana 2.0.

And this version won't fall so easily.


If Bastian wants forgiveness...

He's gonna have to beg for it.

This contemporary dark billionaire enemies-to-lovers boss/employee fake relationship office women's crime mob fiction romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building that is engulfed by darkness, danger, violence, and grit, and characters who are an alpha billionaire boss exuding power, obsession, possession, and wealth/employee, disabled/blind female heroine morally gray/tattooed reformed bad boy, who are resilient, captivating, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with a taste of the dark, Bastian and Eliana's story, explicit romance that is consumed by steamy, sizzling passion, lust, desire, and spice with all the feelings to leave readers breathless and begging for more, chef/foodie vibes, forced proximity, contract/fake relationship, romantic suspense, a secret baby, chaos/drama, heartfelt emotions/emotional depth, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with a taste of the light and explicit romance that is sure to transport readers into a world that is wildly lustful, dangerous, and unforgettable.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Laura Wolff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Gawd. I didn’t think I was going to survive this one. I thought book 1, Taste of the Dark was something but this…this was epic. This was the finale I needed. The one I wished for but didn’t think was going to happen. Ugh it was soooo good!

We are back with Eliana who has gone completely blind now and is on the run after the gruesome ending of book 1, and our hard headed Bastian who is trying to figure if he is completely dead inside now or there is a small flicker of light left.

This book got crazy town on me and I had to go back and reread a couple parts because I couldn’t wrap my head around what was happening. The levels of crazy that Alexski puts Bash through are nuts.

I love that these two had a hard fought love. And one that never gave up. If you haven’t read a Taste Of The Dark then this book won’t make sense so please go read book 1 first.

Also read the trigger warnings, this is a dark romance my darlings and as such there are some sketchy, icky, and downright nasty things happening.

I love Nicole Fox! Her books always suck you right into them and you are like Alice In Wonderland wondering wtf is going on and how did we get here.

I adore our sweet Eliana, she has gotten so brave and so strong since book 1 and I love that she finally embraced her blindness and ended content and happy.

Bash took his sweet time to figure out what he wanted and what he was allowed to have. Only to have his d*ckhead brother screw things up at every turn. In the end I think Alexski was just jealous of the life his brother built in spite of their upbringing.

I would love to see a story on what happens with Zeke and Yasmin as well as Sage and Kenna. Even though in the epilogue we see where everyone landed it would be cool to see the story from their perspective also.

Probably my favorite short series this year so far. Nicole Fox is an amazing writer and I hope you go check her out!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[MN Book Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried so many times reading this book.

This book picks up almost immediately after Taste of the Dark takes place. Eliana and her best friend have gone on the run while the last of her vision faded away. All the while, Bastian continued to work for his older brother, knowing his younger brother hated him more. While Bastian can't find Eliana, his older brother can find Sage, the younger brother, and takes him to keep Bastain in line. So what's a man to do but fake his own death to save those he loves? Only, Bastain's in for a couple of surprises once he finds Eliana and asks for help. Now the game becomes, who can you trust and who is actually there to help, and who is going to double-cross you? So when Bastain is offered an out through the FBI that looks like a trap, will he take it, or is it really a trap?

Eliana and Bastain get their happy ending in this second book in a duet.

I did not laugh as much in this book as I did in the first book, rather I found myself tearing up at random places. I loved how much Eliana wanted to attempt boundaries, and I feel they could have worked if Bastian wasn't around, but they crumbled so fast. I do wonder why Eliana never went through with the exploratory surgery to possibly get her sight back? Yes, she came to terms with what she was going to experience, but did she never want to see her children's faces? Or another sunset?.

I received an advance review copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andria · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh My God. I'm so pissed with this book. I loved the first one, but this was terrible! So many issues that had me really questioning if a 16 year old boy wrote this.

First of all, and possibly the biggest issue, is Eliana. The smart, sassy girl from the first book was body-snatched by an idiot with super human smell and hearing, weeks after going blind. It takes YEARS to develop the awareness of your surroundings and she's able to change locations daily with no issue? Bull shit. Then you have the issues with her pregnancy. No one can tell at 8 weeks. At 12 weeks, the fetus is the size of a LIME, and yet her balance is off, center of gravity is weird, and she feels like a whale?! No. Just, no. Do some fucking research.

Bastian is also extra stupid in this book. How did he become so successful with how stupid and incompetent he is? "Eliana, come help me save my cripple brother even though you just became blind." *face palm* "Let's go stay with Zeke so my ass hole brother has another person to use against me"*eye roll* "let's bring the blind and pregnant girl to sit in the car, just in case and not be surprised when she runs in and saves the day"*are you fucking serious?"

The only person that developed in a positive and believable way was Georgia. and considering we barely see her, that's saying a ton.

This was so hard to finish, and I wish i hadn't wasted my time with it.

[Loverulesall_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐
2🌶️

Nicole sure knows how to end her books on a cliffhanger, only to leave us wanting more. I couldn't wait to indulge in the second part of this duet, wanting to know the conclusion for Bastian and Eliana's story.

Without giving too much away, my emotions were all over the place reading this! There were highs, there were lows and many times where I couldn't believe what was happening. I was on tether hooks half the time!

Bastian and Eliana definitely go through the ringer with this story, and I loved every part of it. Eliana did have her stubborn moments where I wanted to shake some sense into her but I guess that's what makes Bastian love her hard. She was resilient, determined and never went down without a fight, despite her being blind. Bastian on the other hand tries and tries to escape his brother Alexei's hold on him, whilst trying to keep his loved ones safe. He would go to hell and back just to keep Eliana and their baby safe, and it was so heartwarming to see them reunited again.

The ending could not have been better. I loved how we got to see many, many years into the future and the found family Bastian and Eliana had. My heart is so full for them all and I'm glad they all got their HEA 💗

[Cindy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taste of the Light is the second part of Elaina and Bastian's story. It is as good as the first story and I couldn't put it down. It is filled with emotion and suspense.

The story takes up where the first one left off. Elaina is now dealing with a new life with the realization she is now completely blind. She is dealing with her feelings of seeing Bastian, her love, murder someone and she has left town with her friend Yasmine. Bastian is broken and cannot find Elaina. Bastian's oldest brother, Aleksei, has kidnapped Sage, their younger brother, so that Bastian can work for him. Aleksei is the head of the bratva. Bastian decides to fake his own death so that Sage and Elaina can be safe from Aleksei.

Elaina is saddened when she hears that Bastian is dead. She is trying to move on and deal with what she needs to do to keep herself and Yas safe. She has found out that she is pregnant and doesn't know what she is going to do.

Bastian and Elaina's story will keep you on the edge of your seat. Just when you think you know what is going to happen you don't. There are many twists, turns, and surprises to their story. It is one you don't want to miss. I look forward to the next story.

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy for an honest review.

[Katie Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the conclusion to Bastian and Eliana’s duet, and what a conclusion that was.

To say everything is in chaos would be an understatement. Eliana witnesses Bastian unalive someone, she then has to save her bestfriend from her crazy ex and then goes in hiding with said bestfriend, and last but not least she finds out she’s pregnant. Also amid all this chaos Eliana’s sight is permanently lost and she completely goes dark.

Now Bastian has his own conundrum in which Eliana is now gone and he is stuck doing the bidding of his eldest brother who meanwhile also has his younger brother Sage, and Bastian is determined to find him.

Overall I loved this duet. Tensions are at an all time high in the second half of this duet and Eliana and Bastian come together once again to right the wrongs. Even though these two (well I more or less mean Eliana) tried to stay away from each other, there was no fighting their chemistry 🤭.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katie Boell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Book number 2 in this duet
~I felt SO bad for Bastian… and then I remembered what a crappy person he was and immediately said, “HA—karma, babe.” That man truly could not catch a break. Every time things started to look up, another bomb dropped and his life went straight back into shambles. Again.
~Eliana, on the other hand, stood TALL and kept pushing forward. She held her ground and didn’t fall for Bastian’s promises—and I LOVED that. There are FMCs who immediately fall at the MMC’s feet and bend to their every whim… and then there’s Eliana, screaming “I AM A STRONG, BLIND, INDEPENDENT WOMAN—I DON’T NEED YOU!” Absolute queen behavior. I loved every second of it.
~Now, were there some moments where I was like… “huh??” Yes. The story definitely drifts out of believable territory at times—but hey, this is fiction. There were also moments where I wanted to bonk every character upside the head and tell them to get it together.
~My biggest complaint? The ending. It wrapped up WAY too fast. I wanted more—more explanations, more “where are they now,” more closure after Brandon. Instead, it said “okay bye” and jumped straight into the epilogue. Rude.

[Adri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 duet love love love

Book 2 duet

I don't know how many times this book broke me….. It was insane.. My anxiety skyrocketed and my emotions were all over the place.
Taste of Light was not JUST a second part and conclusion to a duet… It is an epic story continuation and not an afterthought. You can not skip this book.. you need it for the last extended epilogue.
I love the other characters so much I would not mind reading another book on just them.

Man this book…. no words.
Nicole OUTDID herself in this Duet.
I would not just classify it as a Billionaire Office Romance… NO Sirr-ee. It's so much more.
Bastian is not the hero you want, nor is he the villain you would love.. He is complex and evolving. Eliana not a damsel in distress nor a heroine alone.

They don't make right decisions all the way through nor are they selfless or selfish.
It's human, there are margins for error and emotions to change and grow.

Clear some time for this duet. I'm sure you will want to read it back-to-back!

[SBee Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

★”Fate may have taken my home and my eyesight,…”★

Review Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars: “…but it will have to pry my snark out of my cold, *unalived* fingers.” We continue Eliana’s post-Bastian journey as she grapples with her affliction hitting full force, her pregnancy, going on the run with her best friend following an encounter with her dangerous ex. She centers herself, however, when he catches up with her, and the old Eliana comes roaring back to get what needs done. All odds are against this unlikely band of avengers, but it all works out, with a couple of epilogues to round out their story.




***Spoiler Alert***
I would have loved to know what they all did during all those years, 2 professional chefs and her best friend, ending up in the a place I did not see for them ending up, in the US, and being so prolific? I would have expected foreign country as their destination. Also, once or twice, Eliana’s observations did not seem possible for a sightless person.

[Haley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think I wanted to stab my eyes like 20 times during this book. The first 50% of this book was decent and I was able to manage it but then every single page was her icing him out and continuing to say I can manage on my own like a billion times. And then the guilt after being a b****. Well guess what happens when you pushed him away (doctors office). Btw that scene after was entirely gross. Umm he just punched a dude to death in the face and then he sticks those fingers, that are coated in blood, into places that should definitely not have another random guys blood into. She has STDs for sure now. The story just kept getting more insane after each chapter. Their ragtag friends coming together and learning about him being a killer and then being okay with it was just the icing on the cake. Especially when her MOM finds out. Ummm I know you aren’t the best mother but ummm maybe have some good motherly advice her lady. Anyways, 500+ pages / time that I regret. 😂

[Bound By Books And Pages - Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an incredible conclusion to this remarkable story! This book kept me on the edge of my seat. The emotional healing that unfolds in this book is beautiful and deeply moving. Bastian’s struggle to make difficult choices to protect those he loves while also allowing others to help him is profound. The challenges he faces are immense, but after he opens up and begins the healing process, he is able to mend his relationships. Watching Ely navigate each stage of her vision loss is heartbreaking yet inspiring because of her unwavering acceptance and strength. She endures the experience of blindness and embraces motherhood despite the immense loss she has endured throughout the story. I wish I possessed a fraction of her strength. I eagerly anticipate rereading this book when the audiobook is released so that I can relive this captivating story once again. Bravo, Nicole! You truly excelled in crafting this masterpiece!

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tension ramps up from suspense and the heat from steam!
I couldn’t wait to get this book on my kindle app, as I wrestled with how Elaina would manage without her eyesight, her heart broken by Bastian and an added surprise. After saving Yas, Elaina and Yas leave behind Zeke and their past lives to hide. The surprise of Bastian’s current state, has Eliana seeking closure from her life with Bastian as she grips her new life. I love how Zeke takes Bas’ reappearance and reminds him what each had with Elaina and Yas which reawakens Bas’ heart. I love how Eliana tries to keep Bas away from her heart, but when you’ve met your soulmate, there is no stopping letting him back in. Bas’ brother won’t take No for an answer to reinsert Bas back in the family business. Will Bas succumb to his brother or will his heart lead him back to his love? You have to read to find out and don’t expect to put the book down until you turn the last page as you root for Bas & Eliana!

[GKP2460 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taste Of The Light is the conclusion of Bastian and Eliana's story and picks up where Taste Of The Dark leaves off.
This one made my heart ache so bad. Eliana's journey is just gutwrenching and all the crap Bastian has to go through because of his brother is equally heartbreaking. Let's not forget Sage! I swear everybody suffers because of Aleksei. This story is just full of drama, danger, twists, turns, chaos and intrigue, all of which kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. The emotions I felt went from on extreme to the other depending on which part I was at. This author has brought us one heckuva ride and I absolutely recommend reading it!

"I’m happy. The darkness isn’t a prison anymore. It’s just where I live. And I live well there."

“I’d rather start from nothing with you than have everything without you.”

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second part and the conclusion of this amazing duet, and Bastian and Eliana’s journey.
Chef and billionaire CEO Bastian is enduring a lot at the hands of his bratva leader brother, resorting in his taking drastic measures to fake his own death to keep others safe. Eliana is grieving Bastian’s loss, while being blind, pregnant, and still on the run with her bestie.
No spoilers: this is a must read for all mafia lovers!
This is a well written easy to read, action packed, emotional roller coaster, with family, friendships, challenges, tension, chaos, danger, suspense, intrigue, drama, determination, justice, humour, witty banter, undeniable chemistry, unconditional love, which leads to an entertaining, tragic, twisted, unpredictable, and heartwrenching, mafia romance.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Naughty Nightie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part Two continues from the cliffhanger in Book One, and Nicole doesn't disappoint and keeps you turning the pages once again. Eliana and Yas are on the run from Bastian and the events in Yas's apartment. Nicole keeps you turning the pages with all the twists and turns that you dont see coming. While a pregnant and blind Eliana and Yas go from seedy motel to seedy motel to keep one step ahead. While Bastian fights to keep everyone he loves safe from his avenging brother Aleksei. Will he find Eliana and Yas? Will Eliana and Bastian ever get their HEA?
I recieved an arc from Booksprout for my voluntary honest review for NN Book Blog. If you love your mafia romance dark and full of twists and turns, then you will love this book. However, this book may not be for everyone; please heed the author's trigger warnings before reading or purchasing this book.

[A L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me catch my breath.
It would be an understatement to say this sequel is blazing the trails. The pace is terrifying, that is terrifyingly good. The book is impossible to put down and so explosive it’s almost impossible to hang on to.
I’m absolutely stunned by this masterpiece. Nicole Fox has truly outdone herself.
The love story is profound. There’s even a second love story which is equally wonderful. The character growth is amazing for each and every one of them - even mom!
The mafia back story is genius. It’s not your usual bratva drama. It is something else entirely and let me tell you some of these guys are unhinged to the max.
You get the whole HEA and we are even gifted with a beautiful epilogue.
Highly recommend, you will not regret it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taste of Light book two picks up the story of Eliana and Bastian after the explosive ending of the first book.
Eliana is in hiding with Yasmin, Bastian is doing his brothers dirty work and things are about to get even more intense!
Loved this continuation of their story which had me reading long into the night.
I also enjoyed how the beginning of each chapter started with a food related word, and definitions for it, and what transpires in the chapter.
Wonderful writing, excellent characterizations, OMG the surprises, intrigue, family dynamics, danger, emotion, and passion erupting over the pages kept me in the zone until the very, to hell and back heartfelt conclusion.
How this author tears me apart before putting me back together again is criminal!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.