Inked in Lies: The Fallen Men, Book 5

2.75 StarsMaybe spoilers....I know, I know. Does it warrant that low a star? To me, yes. Because it was just prolonged, agonizing torture. Sorta like a never ending roller-coaster ride with hot sauce in your eyes. That is what I felt like throughout the book. I just wanted it to end. Like HOW. MUCH. MORE. PAIN must this poor girl endure? Before she breaks apart completely. It was both sad and exhausting to read. Nova, man, I was all hyped up, ready to see some major groveling. Him kicking ass. Fight for his Lila. Unfortunately, he didn’t quite conquer his demons or find his balls until the end. Such a shame. EIGHTEEN years of anguished and unrequited love (or so it appears) for Lila. But at the end, it was kinda simple how he accepts her. He was fortunate she was strong and never wavered in her devotion.Nova spent the majority of the book lost in his own pity party. Running from his feelings. Because of something that happened with an ex-lover and how he perceives himself—he wanted to spare Lila the pain. He felt unworthy of her love. Didn't think he deserves her. So instead, he cruelly rejects Lila and denies what he feels. REPEATEDLY. Nova was also the cause of Lila’s breakup. Yep, it sucks that the first time Lila tries to move on, he had to pull a d-move just to show the power he still has over her. That pissed me off so bad. How selfish. He couldn't commit, but he'd wreck her relationship? I LOVED how Zeus calls him out on it“Don’t eff with Lila, brother,” Zeus warned. You gotta know the girls’ had feelings for ya since she was a girl. She’s tryin’ to move on. Yeah, that Jake is a pansy-ass, but it’s her choice. You playin’ games with her ‘cause you miss havin’ her undivided attention? Don’t do it. She’s been through enough in her life.”For all the heartache he put Lila through, I kept waiting to see the grand, epic moment. Of how Nova would succumb and redeem himself. I wasn’t as impressed as Lila when it happened. (He put her through hell, man!) But hey, she finally got her wish and dream guy. As for his reasons not to pursue her, I felt he used it as crutch to ward Lila off and punish himself. So many wasted years, especially when he reveals she's the one for him too. Oooh, really buddy? Thanks for the front seat to all your sexcapades and sex tales. Fun times. And Lila, lord, this girl deserves a medal. Even when she says she gives up on Nova, she didn’t hesitate to defend or protect him (literally fighting his ex). Her loyalty is admirable but draining. I wanted her to stop being such a masochist, a glutton for punishment. Nova toys with her like a freaking puppet and she plays into his game. I wanted to judo-chop him so bad for the things he would say or do to push her away."I don't got any flowers or romance for you, and being honest, I never effing' will. Get that through your head, yeah? I don't need another pathetic girl trailing' after me looking for scraps"."This is 'bout you wasting' your life pinin' for a man who's never gonna give you a second look 'cause it's not his right to catch your eyes, and it sure as eff isn't in him to take care of a girl like you"Does this deter Lila? Somewhat. Lila knew her worth. But she still chooses to remain in his life. If not as a lover, then a friend. She valued their connection and relationship too much. It was too strong and important for her to throw it—him all away. I beg to differ, but that’s just me. And for Lila, Nova's always been her hero. Her protector and family. After tragically losing most of hers. Still it wasn’t easy watching her inevitable heartbreak. As Nova lives up to his man-whore-extraordinaire reputation. Poor girl even walked in on him screwing someone. And yes, she stayed to watch. And of course she got turned on. That's a prerequisite for these scenarios, don't cha know.So yea, this book was definitely a flop to me. Though I am probably in the minority as other seems to love it. What can I say, I’m a tough critic. But like I stated in Danner’s book, I wanted to see Nova prove himself and fight for Lila. Did we get that? Eh. It was sub par. Nova had a couple possessive, jealous moments. And he rescued Lila from her undercover mission. But most of the book it was Lila doing the fighting. Putting herself in danger. Being a martyr. And still assuring Nova of his good heart. That he is capable of receiving and giving love. So hurray, Nova accepts this, as well he should. She sacrificed a lot for him.Lastly, I am a little confused. I kept hearing Nova being described as a rebel, dark horse, but I'm like heh? So excluding what his vile ex did to him, what was the insecurity or big struggle Nova had to overcome when he was younger? Why was he a rebel? What was he rebelling against? Feeling different than his brothers? Nova had a pretty good life early on. Far as I can tell. He was outgoing, social, a jokester. A wonderful, loving family and support system. All the girls he had no issues picking up. (I could have done w/out that almost threesomes, thanks.) He didn't experienced half as much tragedy as Lila did when she was just 6 yrs. old. Yet she was more courageous than he ever was or showed. I needed Nova to man up sooner. Not in the last chapters of the book. pffttt

It’s about to get HOTTTT! Just when you think that you can’t love them more, the author gives us Nova! He is a dirty mouthed playboy, with a heart of gold, that was born to love her. And did I mention...he’s so hot he could melt steel!!! And that filthy mouth is just...YUMMMM!I am a die hard fan of this author. That said...Nova Booth was everything I would have wanted and more. He loves women. They love him even more. His face and body are a wok or art, but his heart is what seals the deal. A man so beautiful on the outside, but is plagued by feelings of not being good enough. You'll fall HARD!Lila was six when she met him. She may have been a little girl, but she was an old soul. A hard life made her mature beyond her years. She idolized the boy next door. She loved that he spent time with her and was protective of her. Even being eleven years older, he looked out for his Flower Child. Someone had to look out for her when her brother couldn't be around. Lila didn't have much. She had her brother, the boy next door and her flowers.They became fast friends and soon after they became family when a tragedy took both of her parents. Their relationship was always MORE. Lila was not just a neighbor who became is best friend, she was his everything. His safe place to land. His reason to smile and laugh. His purpose.Nova was a rebel in his youth, but he was always Lila's protector. When he found the Fallen Men, he finally found his place in the world and he brought Lila into the fold with him. A girl with nothing, was given a family. She has Nova's family who loved her like one of their own and then the Fallen.Lila always loved Nova. At first as a friend and her savior, then as she grew up it became so much more then friendship. Her unrequited love took it's toll. Watching him with other women and realizing he would never be hers, nearly broke her. So she moved on and left him behind.But life always has a way of working out the way it was meant to. Family loyalty would bring Lila and Nova back together. And this time...Nova isn't going to let her go.This is Lila and Nova's love story at it's essence. You'll get to catch up with your favorite Fallen men and their lovely ladies which is always a good time. Plus, there is some side story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This book was filled with family, loyalty, sacrifice and an abundance of love. The chemistry just sizzles and the connection between Lila and Nova is soul searing. He left his mark on not only her body with his beautiful art, he was indelibly imprinted on her heart. She was always meant to be his, he just needed to work through the demons in his head to get to that place. All Lila ever wanted was to be a Booth, and finally she belonged to the only man who ever owned her heart. This sexy alpha, undeniably possessive and protective gorgeous man will have you pledging your undying love. This series just keeps getting better with each new release. If you haven't read the Fallen MC yet...it's well past time to get started.

Instead of stars this is 5 Suntastic Sunflowers!!This is the 5th book in the fallen me series and I have been so excited to finally read Nova and Lilas story. This whole series has stayed continuously awesome book after book, from the start when Nova was mentioned I was intrigued and couldn't wait to get his whole story. We knew Nova as the funny, cocky, womaniser but in this book you don't just get "Casanova" you get Jonathon. Jonathon "Nova" Booth is not just a tattooed badass biker and tattoo artist he has the biggest heart and soul, his loyalty to his family and fallen family just shows how amazing he is. At times you want to hit him for being such an ass but your heart also breaks for the man who can't help but mess up because he doesn't feel deserving or worth the love Lila is trying to give him.Lila oh our little Flower Child.. I fell in love with her that girl deserves the world!! she didn't have it easy in life and how she loved Nova for years without that love being returned just broke my heart! Not only did I love when Nova and Lila got together, their friendship was just the sweetest how they became best friends, how their traumas, their shared pain connected them head, heart and soul!I love this book so much like it has so much.... age gap, forbidden love (foster siblings), friends to lovers, unrequited love, heartbreak, angst, sexual tension, major plot twists and spice that was off the charts HOT!!!!!!! Novas dirty talk was..... FIRE!! The tattoo studio and wet lotus scenes were *CHEF KISSES*... amazing!Be prepared for laughter, tears, love, heartbreak, heartwarming moments, devastating moments, anger, tension, shock and flutters (yes you know the kind I'm talking about!) so sit down, buckle up and prepare for a wild ride!!!!!"You're more than my family, you're more than my best friend. You're the choice I want to make every single day, to live to the fullest and love the hardest."

This was a decent read. I haven’t read all in the series (only read book 2) and I didn’t feel like I wasn’t able to follow what was happening, etc - so it really can be read as a stand-alone. Some parts of the story are a bit far fetched even for fiction - for eg, she takes up a undercover job with the villain and seems to snoop around with no issues even though it’s not a secret that she’s with the MC. Infact they drop her and pick her up from work. Then there’s the issue with how Nova just manages to walk in to said villains house to seduce her but even though she’s a super villain she doesn’t suspect anything, lastly there’s the issue of how flimsy Nova’s backstory is wrt why he’s so scared of commitment. Additionally, though the trope of unrequited love is great, there needed to be a bit more angst and heart break - unfortunately we missed a lot of that because the story also focuses on the MC drama that’s going on. Overall though, it’s a decent one time read

“He planted flowers all over my body, inside the cage of my ribs, in the fertile soil of my heart, yet he never noticed how they bloomed just for him”TropesFriends to loversAge gapMC Romance“Accidental” roommatesWow 🤩 The more Fallen Men books I read the more it cements this series in my heart. It is one of the best book series I have ever read. It is special 😍Friends to lovers is not a trope I normally enjoy. Turns out it’s not the trope that was the problem- it was the books I have chosen. This friends to lovers book is potentially my favourite of the whole series. I’ve been trying to rank all of the books in my head- but how can you differentiate between PERFECTION ♥️This is the story of Jonathan “Casanova” Booth and His flower child Lila Meadows. She has been in love with him since she was 6 years old- he has protected her and loved her all her life but she never thought his feelings would develop into anything more. Nova has his own demons and struggles to believe he is good enough for Lila so keeps pushing her away.When these two finally cross the line from friends to lovers it is straight 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 For me- the spicy scenes in this book are the hottest in the entire series and the scene in the tattoo chair is going to live in my head rent free forever 🥵🥵🥵Coupled with this incredible love story, the Fallen’s issues at entrance with the new mayor and his wife continue and the unfolding drama keeps you on the edge of your seatAnother amazing story and I highly recommend ♥️

I don't know why I put this off for as long as I did, but I'm kicking myself because this was just as great as everyone said it would be. Almost every book in this series has been a massive hit for me, because the writing is so good and I am a sucker for MC romances with angst. Add in to this the brother's best friend trope and the unrequited love..how could I possibly rate this any lower than 5 stars?? Nova and Lila do not have the best of starts but they nearly always have each other. It might have taken me a while (by my standard) to read this but it was worth every tear I shed reading it.

Oh my word, this book. Right from the start it sits heavily on your chest. That weight just gets heavier the more you read. So much tragedy, so much pain.Even as things start to turn around, something else happens to rip you apart.I got lost a little bit in the middle, it became a little repetitive which was incredibly frustrating during such a gripping book. But thankfully it picked back up again and ended beautifully.I look forward to the next installment.