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Izotov Bratva #2
Taste of the Light: A Billionaire Office Romance
514 pages, Paperback
Published January 15, 2026
571 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Fox
201 books4,879 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 144 reviews
January 28, 2026
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
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
January 18, 2026
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.
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.
January 28, 2026
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.”
“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.”
January 19, 2026
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.
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.
January 17, 2026
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.
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.
January 31, 2026
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.
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.
January 29, 2026
✨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.
💕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.
January 23, 2026
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?
January 30, 2026
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2026
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. 😂
January 29, 2026
This book was so bad. I can't get past some of the more ridiculous scenes in this book.
There were just so many unrealistic storylines, the pregnancy symptoms, the reality of blindness ... it was just not well done.
There were just so many unrealistic storylines, the pregnancy symptoms, the reality of blindness ... it was just not well done.
January 28, 2026
this book was a hot mess I'm actually annoyed at everybody who was giving it five stars.
January 25, 2026
horrible
I didn’t even finish this book. It didn’t need to be a duet. A lot of stuff could’ve been resolved in the first book.. please don’t waste your time
I didn’t even finish this book. It didn’t need to be a duet. A lot of stuff could’ve been resolved in the first book.. please don’t waste your time
January 22, 2026
What?
So many ways to move this story forward, and this is what was chosen? Firstly, this duet should have only been one book. Secondly, the characters want from likable to just ridiculous. Thirdly, just no. So much wrong with this ending.
So many ways to move this story forward, and this is what was chosen? Firstly, this duet should have only been one book. Secondly, the characters want from likable to just ridiculous. Thirdly, just no. So much wrong with this ending.
February 5, 2026
Taste Of The Light is book second of the Izotov Bratva duet which ends with a happily-ever-after. This is Bastian and Eliana’s story. Their romance started in book one, Taste Of The Dark. Each book is a book full-length standalone novel. A spicy office romance where finds herself pregnant with her billionaire boss's baby after he faked his death. A brilliantly written story with two flawed and damage souls and a complex and twisty storyline that captures the audience attention from the start and keeps you hooked and turning the pages. An unputdownable and addictive read. A definite page turner with enticing erotic scenes that's filled with burning hot panty-melting passion, longing, cravings, angst, heart-stopping emotions and tension.
A fast paced, thrilling, and dark story. Decadent. Dirty. Captivating. Compelling. Taste Of The Dark is a sexy sizzling, emotion-filled delight. For those looking for there next Fifty Shades fix, look no further. An instant addiction and a complete escape. A book that demands to be read and screamed escape from the everyday life and gave that something extra that you craved and never knew you needed. "Holy Hell this book is smoking HOT." Christian Grey has nothing on Bastian Hale.
TROPES:
💰💸Billionaire Alpha Hero Romance
💀💀☠️Bratva Romance
👨🍳🥘🥞Chef /Foodie Vibes
☑️Enemies-to-Lovers Romance
☑️Boss/Employee Romance
🏤🏢Office Romance
☑️Forced Proximity Romance
☑️Contract/Fake Relationship Story
☑️Forbidden Relationship Romance
💀Morally Gray,Tattooed Reformed Bad Boy
👩🦯👩🦯Disability (Blind Heroine)
🪣🪣🗒📝Bucket List Romance
🌞Power Dynamics & Alpha Male Control
🩸🩸🔫Mafia-Lite Romance
☠️☠️Dark Mafia Romance
♟️♟️Romantic Suspense Story
♟️♟️Contemporary Romance
👰♂️🤵Fake Marriage Romance
👶👶🍼Secret Baby Romance
♟️♟️Action & Adventure Romance
💀💀Women's Crime Fiction Story
♟️♟️General Romance
🩸🔫💀Murder, Bloodshed, Violence
♟️♟️Trauma, Healing, Forgiveness
Elaine learned that Bastian family was in the mafia and that his brother Aleksei, the pakhan as dragged him back into it. There was a long list of red flags that she have ignored with Bastian and should've ran when she walked in him on with blood on his hands. But she she stayed, she got tired of it and ran. Elaine decided to run with her best friend as the disease worsen and the last of her vision is fading. They fled to American and worked as a chef. Bastian is having a rough time with his brother having do things that he had walked away from. His little brother Sage is very unhappy with him, and is now in danger because his brother knows where he is and will use him at anytime in order to control him.
He's worried about Elaine and can not find her. Bastian didn't know that when Elaine fled that she was carrying his heir. He's going to get the shock of his life when he finds her. He needs her help to get away from his brother. Bastian is desperate to get away from under his brother's thumb. They will be some fear, betrayal, backstabbing, steam, double-cross, kidnapping, threats, attacks, heartache, hurt and pain, sadness, power and control, family issues, drama, loyalty, friendship, darkness, madness, acceptance, witty banter, gun fight, redemption, love and so much more. When Bastian finds her she knows that she should keeps him at arms length. He thinks that she's the same girl that he ruin but he as another thing coming. Because she's now Elaine 2.0 and this version won't fall so easily. The two will work together to defeat his brother and dismantle the Bratva. Will they be successful against Aleksei? Will they get their HEA? How will Bastian react to learning that he was going to be a father? Will they keep Sage safe from his brother? How will Elaine navigate motherhood and the loss of her sight? Will she seek life changing surgery for eyes?
I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
A fast paced, thrilling, and dark story. Decadent. Dirty. Captivating. Compelling. Taste Of The Dark is a sexy sizzling, emotion-filled delight. For those looking for there next Fifty Shades fix, look no further. An instant addiction and a complete escape. A book that demands to be read and screamed escape from the everyday life and gave that something extra that you craved and never knew you needed. "Holy Hell this book is smoking HOT." Christian Grey has nothing on Bastian Hale.
TROPES:
💰💸Billionaire Alpha Hero Romance
💀💀☠️Bratva Romance
👨🍳🥘🥞Chef /Foodie Vibes
☑️Enemies-to-Lovers Romance
☑️Boss/Employee Romance
🏤🏢Office Romance
☑️Forced Proximity Romance
☑️Contract/Fake Relationship Story
☑️Forbidden Relationship Romance
💀Morally Gray,Tattooed Reformed Bad Boy
👩🦯👩🦯Disability (Blind Heroine)
🪣🪣🗒📝Bucket List Romance
🌞Power Dynamics & Alpha Male Control
🩸🩸🔫Mafia-Lite Romance
☠️☠️Dark Mafia Romance
♟️♟️Romantic Suspense Story
♟️♟️Contemporary Romance
👰♂️🤵Fake Marriage Romance
👶👶🍼Secret Baby Romance
♟️♟️Action & Adventure Romance
💀💀Women's Crime Fiction Story
♟️♟️General Romance
🩸🔫💀Murder, Bloodshed, Violence
♟️♟️Trauma, Healing, Forgiveness
Elaine learned that Bastian family was in the mafia and that his brother Aleksei, the pakhan as dragged him back into it. There was a long list of red flags that she have ignored with Bastian and should've ran when she walked in him on with blood on his hands. But she she stayed, she got tired of it and ran. Elaine decided to run with her best friend as the disease worsen and the last of her vision is fading. They fled to American and worked as a chef. Bastian is having a rough time with his brother having do things that he had walked away from. His little brother Sage is very unhappy with him, and is now in danger because his brother knows where he is and will use him at anytime in order to control him.
He's worried about Elaine and can not find her. Bastian didn't know that when Elaine fled that she was carrying his heir. He's going to get the shock of his life when he finds her. He needs her help to get away from his brother. Bastian is desperate to get away from under his brother's thumb. They will be some fear, betrayal, backstabbing, steam, double-cross, kidnapping, threats, attacks, heartache, hurt and pain, sadness, power and control, family issues, drama, loyalty, friendship, darkness, madness, acceptance, witty banter, gun fight, redemption, love and so much more. When Bastian finds her she knows that she should keeps him at arms length. He thinks that she's the same girl that he ruin but he as another thing coming. Because she's now Elaine 2.0 and this version won't fall so easily. The two will work together to defeat his brother and dismantle the Bratva. Will they be successful against Aleksei? Will they get their HEA? How will Bastian react to learning that he was going to be a father? Will they keep Sage safe from his brother? How will Elaine navigate motherhood and the loss of her sight? Will she seek life changing surgery for eyes?
I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 19, 2026
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.
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.
January 23, 2026
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.
“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.
January 26, 2026
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2026
★★★.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
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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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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Instagram Facebook January 23, 2026
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.
- 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.
January 19, 2026
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.
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.
February 4, 2026
I am absolutely furious at myself for finishing this book. I felt like I should have DNFed early on, but I genuinely enjoyed book one and kept waiting for everything to finally make sense. I wanted all the absolute nonsense to click into place and make me think, oh, that’s why. I was willing to suspend disbelief in the first book despite some weird inconsistencies because the story was fun and engaging. Unfortunately, Taste of the Light was just incoherent.
No one will ever convince me that a millionaire restaurateur with mob ties doesn’t have an excellent legal team on retainer, or that he wouldn’t have called them the second things started going sideways to negotiate an incredible plea deal with the feds. There is genuinely no logical reason for anything in this book to unfold the way it does. None.
And then, as if that wasn’t enough, we get not one, but two surprise pregnancies. Eliana’s pregnancy, in particular, felt like it was written by someone who has never heard of - or researched - human pregnancy or babies. Eight weeks pregnant and her center of gravity is off? Barely twelve weeks and a stranger clocks her as eighteen, while the doctor insists everything is tracking perfectly normally? What was the point of giving her a supposedly monster-sized baby (which also does not happen like that) if it was never going to be explained in any meaningful way?
And then there’s surprise pregnancy number two (I maintain, completely unnecessary) paired with a traumatic beating, and the book just… ends. We don’t even know if Yas and Zeke survive. Really?
I wanted so badly to love this sequel, but instead it completely unraveled what worked in the first book and left me frustrated, confused, and honestly pretty annoyed that I stuck it out to the end.
No one will ever convince me that a millionaire restaurateur with mob ties doesn’t have an excellent legal team on retainer, or that he wouldn’t have called them the second things started going sideways to negotiate an incredible plea deal with the feds. There is genuinely no logical reason for anything in this book to unfold the way it does. None.
And then, as if that wasn’t enough, we get not one, but two surprise pregnancies. Eliana’s pregnancy, in particular, felt like it was written by someone who has never heard of - or researched - human pregnancy or babies. Eight weeks pregnant and her center of gravity is off? Barely twelve weeks and a stranger clocks her as eighteen, while the doctor insists everything is tracking perfectly normally? What was the point of giving her a supposedly monster-sized baby (which also does not happen like that) if it was never going to be explained in any meaningful way?
And then there’s surprise pregnancy number two (I maintain, completely unnecessary) paired with a traumatic beating, and the book just… ends. We don’t even know if Yas and Zeke survive. Really?
I wanted so badly to love this sequel, but instead it completely unraveled what worked in the first book and left me frustrated, confused, and honestly pretty annoyed that I stuck it out to the end.
January 18, 2026
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.
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.
February 5, 2026
Book one was decent but book two was … something else (in my opinion). I had a bunch of issues with this one…
- did anyone else get a bait and switch vibe from the two MCs? Like suddenly Bastien is an unbeatable killing mafia machine - even after 16 years away? Goneentirely is the character from book 1. The super smart Eliana is dumber than a brick wall and stubborn as all get out, even though she’s newly blind and in situations she has zero comprehension about?
- how after 8-12 weeks of being newly blind, Our FMC has near perfect ability to go about in a city she has never been to.
- the rescue of Sage. Ummm why would Bastien ask her for assistance? Not only is she pregnant and BLIND, she has zero experience in this. And yet… and yet! She runs out of the getaway car, into a building she’s never been on (but knows because Bas drew it on her palm?) runs up to the second floor and knocks the bad guy with her cane. How…?
- is Bastien superhuman?? He gets shot and just walks away to his future MILs house because you know, she has so much medical experience? And he does it again at the end after intense torture AND takes out every bratva guy he comes across??
- the beatings of Yas and Zeke. Seemed excessive and they weren’t even mentioned later - did they die? Go underground? Who knows.
This one just didn’t hit the mark for me.
- did anyone else get a bait and switch vibe from the two MCs? Like suddenly Bastien is an unbeatable killing mafia machine - even after 16 years away? Goneentirely is the character from book 1. The super smart Eliana is dumber than a brick wall and stubborn as all get out, even though she’s newly blind and in situations she has zero comprehension about?
- how after 8-12 weeks of being newly blind, Our FMC has near perfect ability to go about in a city she has never been to.
- the rescue of Sage. Ummm why would Bastien ask her for assistance? Not only is she pregnant and BLIND, she has zero experience in this. And yet… and yet! She runs out of the getaway car, into a building she’s never been on (but knows because Bas drew it on her palm?) runs up to the second floor and knocks the bad guy with her cane. How…?
- is Bastien superhuman?? He gets shot and just walks away to his future MILs house because you know, she has so much medical experience? And he does it again at the end after intense torture AND takes out every bratva guy he comes across??
- the beatings of Yas and Zeke. Seemed excessive and they weren’t even mentioned later - did they die? Go underground? Who knows.
This one just didn’t hit the mark for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2026
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 💗
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 💗
January 25, 2026
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.
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.
February 2, 2026
I want to begin by saying, I absolutely adore Nicole Fox’s writing. Her plots are always fully fleshed out, detailed, and intriguing. I’m rarely left wanting for more. However, in this case I am highly disappointed. I began reading the first book in this duo and immediately rushed to write my review on how jaw dropping and amazing it was. I have no notes on how the first edition could’ve been written. The same cannot be said for this edition. Not only, do we spend an exceptional amount of time getting to know Zeke & Yas just to hear absolutely NOTHING about them in the epilogue but also, how is Eliana able to describe certain details without her vision? There were moments where I had to check whose point of view it was in because there’s no way she would know some of the details she was describing. There were many holes in the plot but the ultimate downturn is immensely detailing the potential future of Zeke and Yas, just to never speak of them in the ending. For the duo series to have such an exceptional beginning and middle, the ending was so unfortunate I don’t know if I’d recommend to someone else. Maybe there was writing deadlines or something but I’m so disappointed because I adore Nicole.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2026
Overall I really enjoyed this story. There were a few inconsistencies that were a little distracting but the heart of the story was good. It was exciting and intense while also being emotionally gripping.
While I still really liked Eliana she just didn't come across as blind in this story. That was a lot of the magic from the first book, that you could really feel her emotions of loosing her sight and it seemed so real. The problem here was she was describing things she couldn't see/know with so much detail. It would have been more realistic if she had mentioned that these things were described to her. She also seemed way more capable than a newly blind person would be.
I still loved Bastian and his stubborn determination to do the right thing. I loved how he was with so caring his brother. He tried to hide his soft side but it just kept shining through, especially with Eliana.
I enjoyed this story and was hooked from the start. I loved the mix of intense moments with the levity of the banter and snark. It was a unique take with the heroine loosing her sight throughout the story. I think it added another dimension to the emotional connection between her and Bastian. It was an exciting story that I would recommend!!
While I still really liked Eliana she just didn't come across as blind in this story. That was a lot of the magic from the first book, that you could really feel her emotions of loosing her sight and it seemed so real. The problem here was she was describing things she couldn't see/know with so much detail. It would have been more realistic if she had mentioned that these things were described to her. She also seemed way more capable than a newly blind person would be.
I still loved Bastian and his stubborn determination to do the right thing. I loved how he was with so caring his brother. He tried to hide his soft side but it just kept shining through, especially with Eliana.
I enjoyed this story and was hooked from the start. I loved the mix of intense moments with the levity of the banter and snark. It was a unique take with the heroine loosing her sight throughout the story. I think it added another dimension to the emotional connection between her and Bastian. It was an exciting story that I would recommend!!
January 19, 2026
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.
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.
January 23, 2026
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.
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.
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