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The Fallen Men #5
Inked in Lies
He moved in next door.
Handsome as sin, older in a way that meant forbidden.
He had tattoos on his hands and wickedness tucked in his grin.
I was a goner as girl to a man they called Casanova for a reason. He would never love me, at least not the way I needed him to.
I tried to move on. But I couldn’t turn my back on him or The Fallen MC.
So when they needed me most, I offered the only thing of value I could use to help them.
My body.
And when helping them meant putting my life on the line, Nova had to decide just how much he was willing to do to get me out alive.
A standalone romance in The Fallen Men series.
Handsome as sin, older in a way that meant forbidden.
He had tattoos on his hands and wickedness tucked in his grin.
I was a goner as girl to a man they called Casanova for a reason. He would never love me, at least not the way I needed him to.
I tried to move on. But I couldn’t turn my back on him or The Fallen MC.
So when they needed me most, I offered the only thing of value I could use to help them.
My body.
And when helping them meant putting my life on the line, Nova had to decide just how much he was willing to do to get me out alive.
A standalone romance in The Fallen Men series.
474 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2020
About the author
Giana Darling
42 books9,109 followersGiana Darling is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Top 40 Amazon Best Selling Canadian romance author.
I love to write about all things dark, forbidden, and angsty.
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I love to write about all things dark, forbidden, and angsty.
★CONNECT WITH GIANA★
GOODREADS GROUP: http://bit.ly/GianasDarlings_Goodreads
WEBSITE: gianadarling.com
FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2tKhTKO
READER’S GROUP: http://bit.ly/2CFNVsK
GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/2J5Evtq
AMAZON: https://amzn.to/2E5LPRW
BOOKBUB: http://bit.ly/2lI2UNn
IG: http://bit.ly/2eNG8Bp | @GianaDarlingAuthor
TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2uXVF84 | @GianaDarling
NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/b0qnPr
I love to hear from readers so please contact me at gianadarling@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments.
You can also contact my PA at gianadarlingpa(at)gianadarling.com !
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,693 reviews
April 29, 2022
Is this my new favorite of the series!? It might be! From the start, I was obsessed with Lila and Nova's relationship. I cried TWICE before we were even 120 pages in and I just wanted my babies to be happy. While there is a 12 year age gap and they meet when Lila is 6, I never felt like lines were crossed or things were inappropriate. Nova and Lila didn't really live together (they overlapped maybe a few months in the same house) and no relationship begins until Lila is 24. I loved how Lila was trying to move on and Nova could not get over how much he wanted Lila, no matter how many times her tried to push her away because he thought he could never be good enough for her. THE ANGST. It was perfect. Then, we had a whole plot-line happening about the club and people who were enemies of the club that Lila was trying to infiltrate and take down. Things got crazy near the end and I literally couldn't put this book down. I read this in one day and I'm so sad it's over. I was just obsessed with the romance and needed Lila and Nova to finally agree they could be together. I've already jumped into book six because I just love this world and these characters so much!
August 3, 2020
This one was just okay for me. I had my expectations already lowered seeing as Nova was the hero and I just didn't expect a lot from him, but I was still super excited because I love this series and I love Giana's writing. But though I'm super grateful to have finally been able to read it, and I still cannot wait for the next book, hoping it's Priest🤞, this story just had too many of my pet peeves for me to fully enjoy it, making it probably my least favorite in the series.
First, the good stuff. I LOVED the backstory. I think it was probably my favorite part of the book, and it took up a good almost 30%. Any scene between Lila and Dane though especially, was my favorite to read about, and I definitely may have cried at some of those scenes. Very emotional packed scenes in the backstory that I felt like we kind of needed more of in the present time. Then the last 10% of the book I also loved super hard. It was filled with the Nova I wish we had earlier, though he was still really sweet and funny at times, I needed all those loving scenes in the end to have happened way earlier, it was just a bit too late for me. And lastly, literally any scene with Zeus is always gonna be my favorite. And then Giana just had to make it even better by giving us some more Tayline and Cyclops whom I'm also obsessed with, so I'm so hoping we will get a full length book for them someday!
Now onto the bad, which sadly, was quite a lot for me. First, this whole unrequited love trope where the female pines literally the ENTIRE story, is SO not my thing. Lila was just constantly chasing Nova, and it started to feel like more of an obsession than love. This also made it seem like Nova cared about Lila considerably less than she did for him and that he was only with her to assuage her feelings for him. The only good thing she did was ignore him for two years and get engaged, but even that was so lackluster because it was all off screen and the fiance was literally in the book for like 10 pages. Her being engaged making Nova jealous or something could have added so much more material I needed to show me that Nova actually loves Lila, because I just wasn't really feeling it at all.
And Lila here, although she tries to act tough, just didn't have enough self respect for me to want to root her on. At around 27%, there is a scene where she catches Nova having sex with a woman, and instead of being jealous or anything, she starts touching herself and gets off to it. Nova sees her, slams the door in her face, finishes having sex with the other woman, then goes back to Lila and tells her to pretty much get over her crush. I actually disliked Lila more there than I did of Nova, because does anyone really find it sexy when you see the love of your life banging some other chick? Literally all Lila knows how to do is to chase after Nova, forgive him for anything he does, and constantly soothe his ego, while she's the one getting trampled all over because "he's not worthy of her" and he uses his past as a clutch. When she finally grows a backbone and tells him off, something happens where Nova saves her, so pretty much all is forgotten afterwards, and the "groveling" legit lasts only a couple pages. I was really hoping she can give as good as she gets and would show some backbone, but nope. Apparently her loving him excuses him for anything he does and has done.
Then we have Nova. Sweet, sexy, manwhore Nova. He was... Okay. At times I really liked him (mainly in the backstory again), but most of the time...eh. He was almost a bit too "brotherly" or something towards Lila for me. Yes the sex scenes were hot, but I just didn't feel any chemistry or a show of feelings from him except friendly feelings. He hardly showed any possessiveness or jealousy, and was fine showing her off pretty much naked. He disliked PDA even with Lila, except for public sex apparently, making her pretty much no different than any other girl he has sex with. I felt like he actually had more friendly feelings towards her than like actual loving feelings. He just, wasn't enough for me and his love fell totally flat. And the OW drama that comes with the territory of him being a manwhore was bleh. There wasn't necessarily a lot, but his overall character just didn't make up for any of it at all. And his whole "no labels" thing just sounded kind of like an excuse to continue his manwhore ways (though he didn't). One thing I did like that he did though was that he is only ever with Lila sexually since the time they first kiss.
The plot itself was also just okay for me. Giana is a fantastic writer, and I do enjoy reading about the ongoing plot, but I just feel like we have been reading the same thing for about 3 books now, just in different POVs. We did finally get somewhere in this one though which is good. But most of it has just dragged on for me with how repetitive it all became. Also, quick add, but I notice it more as the series goes on. But why does literally everyone sound and speak the same way? I get they're all apart of an MC and we can expect for at least the MC members to talk a certain way, but the heroines are all sounding the same too, exactly like the men. Even Cressida who was a teacher started sounding like it, then Lou, and now Lila. Not really a fan of it.
Also, definitely some timeline issues. Their ages all kept changing by a couple of years, or they would say what their age is but it just wouldn't add up to what the other person's age is supposed to be. For example, in one chapter Lila said how old they are, but the next chapter Nova said how old Dane is and it was a couple years older than what Lila first said which doesn't make sense because Dane and Nova are supposed to be just about the same age. Or another chapter Nova said he was 19 but I could have sworn he just said he was 17?? It was literally impossible to keep track of anyone's ages.
Overall, this was just an okay book for me, though I kind of have been expecting that since we heard Nova and Lila are the MCs in this one. I'm still super excited to read the next books in the series though, and I'm kind of glad we can get Nova out of the way now. I'm so hoping it's finally gonna be a Priest and Bea book, I have a feeling they might be my next favorites, but I would also love a Lysander book too. Or Wrath, but I'm hoping it's not gonna be a dead lover trope and that she's still alive🤞 Either way, I can't wait for the next one!
Safety
OM drama - only for a couple of pages, but was with him for 2 years. It ended pretty quick.
OW drama- On screen almost threesome/bj but is interrupted. On screen sex scene where the heroine watches at around 27%. Ex-lover/therapist/manipulator comes into the picture wanting to get back with Nova, which we then find out she was preggo with his baby but had an abortion, the whole situation with her is probably what has messed up Nova so bad. Then at around 85%ish, Nova kisses a woman he has slept with before in a ploy to falsely seduce and distract her.
H manwhore/h has only been with her fiance Only with each other after kissing for the first time.
P.S. NO THREESOME SCENE!! YAY!!
First, the good stuff. I LOVED the backstory. I think it was probably my favorite part of the book, and it took up a good almost 30%. Any scene between Lila and Dane though especially, was my favorite to read about, and I definitely may have cried at some of those scenes. Very emotional packed scenes in the backstory that I felt like we kind of needed more of in the present time. Then the last 10% of the book I also loved super hard. It was filled with the Nova I wish we had earlier, though he was still really sweet and funny at times, I needed all those loving scenes in the end to have happened way earlier, it was just a bit too late for me. And lastly, literally any scene with Zeus is always gonna be my favorite. And then Giana just had to make it even better by giving us some more Tayline and Cyclops whom I'm also obsessed with, so I'm so hoping we will get a full length book for them someday!
Now onto the bad, which sadly, was quite a lot for me. First, this whole unrequited love trope where the female pines literally the ENTIRE story, is SO not my thing. Lila was just constantly chasing Nova, and it started to feel like more of an obsession than love. This also made it seem like Nova cared about Lila considerably less than she did for him and that he was only with her to assuage her feelings for him. The only good thing she did was ignore him for two years and get engaged, but even that was so lackluster because it was all off screen and the fiance was literally in the book for like 10 pages. Her being engaged making Nova jealous or something could have added so much more material I needed to show me that Nova actually loves Lila, because I just wasn't really feeling it at all.
And Lila here, although she tries to act tough, just didn't have enough self respect for me to want to root her on. At around 27%, there is a scene where she catches Nova having sex with a woman, and instead of being jealous or anything, she starts touching herself and gets off to it. Nova sees her, slams the door in her face, finishes having sex with the other woman, then goes back to Lila and tells her to pretty much get over her crush. I actually disliked Lila more there than I did of Nova, because does anyone really find it sexy when you see the love of your life banging some other chick? Literally all Lila knows how to do is to chase after Nova, forgive him for anything he does, and constantly soothe his ego, while she's the one getting trampled all over because "he's not worthy of her" and he uses his past as a clutch. When she finally grows a backbone and tells him off, something happens where Nova saves her, so pretty much all is forgotten afterwards, and the "groveling" legit lasts only a couple pages. I was really hoping she can give as good as she gets and would show some backbone, but nope. Apparently her loving him excuses him for anything he does and has done.
Then we have Nova. Sweet, sexy, manwhore Nova. He was... Okay. At times I really liked him (mainly in the backstory again), but most of the time...eh. He was almost a bit too "brotherly" or something towards Lila for me. Yes the sex scenes were hot, but I just didn't feel any chemistry or a show of feelings from him except friendly feelings. He hardly showed any possessiveness or jealousy, and was fine showing her off pretty much naked. He disliked PDA even with Lila, except for public sex apparently, making her pretty much no different than any other girl he has sex with. I felt like he actually had more friendly feelings towards her than like actual loving feelings. He just, wasn't enough for me and his love fell totally flat. And the OW drama that comes with the territory of him being a manwhore was bleh. There wasn't necessarily a lot, but his overall character just didn't make up for any of it at all. And his whole "no labels" thing just sounded kind of like an excuse to continue his manwhore ways (though he didn't). One thing I did like that he did though was that he is only ever with Lila sexually since the time they first kiss.
The plot itself was also just okay for me. Giana is a fantastic writer, and I do enjoy reading about the ongoing plot, but I just feel like we have been reading the same thing for about 3 books now, just in different POVs. We did finally get somewhere in this one though which is good. But most of it has just dragged on for me with how repetitive it all became. Also, quick add, but I notice it more as the series goes on. But why does literally everyone sound and speak the same way? I get they're all apart of an MC and we can expect for at least the MC members to talk a certain way, but the heroines are all sounding the same too, exactly like the men. Even Cressida who was a teacher started sounding like it, then Lou, and now Lila. Not really a fan of it.
Also, definitely some timeline issues. Their ages all kept changing by a couple of years, or they would say what their age is but it just wouldn't add up to what the other person's age is supposed to be. For example, in one chapter Lila said how old they are, but the next chapter Nova said how old Dane is and it was a couple years older than what Lila first said which doesn't make sense because Dane and Nova are supposed to be just about the same age. Or another chapter Nova said he was 19 but I could have sworn he just said he was 17?? It was literally impossible to keep track of anyone's ages.
Overall, this was just an okay book for me, though I kind of have been expecting that since we heard Nova and Lila are the MCs in this one. I'm still super excited to read the next books in the series though, and I'm kind of glad we can get Nova out of the way now. I'm so hoping it's finally gonna be a Priest and Bea book, I have a feeling they might be my next favorites, but I would also love a Lysander book too. Or Wrath, but I'm hoping it's not gonna be a dead lover trope and that she's still alive🤞 Either way, I can't wait for the next one!
Safety
OM drama - only for a couple of pages, but was with him for 2 years. It ended pretty quick.
OW drama- On screen almost threesome/bj but is interrupted. On screen sex scene where the heroine watches at around 27%. Ex-lover/therapist/manipulator comes into the picture wanting to get back with Nova, which we then find out she was preggo with his baby but had an abortion, the whole situation with her is probably what has messed up Nova so bad. Then at around 85%ish, Nova kisses a woman he has slept with before in a ploy to falsely seduce and distract her.
H manwhore/h has only been with her fiance Only with each other after kissing for the first time.
P.S. NO THREESOME SCENE!! YAY!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2020
'INKED IN LIES' is the fifth book in Giana Darling's 'The Fallen Men' series. It can be read as a standalone. Spoken in 'Dual Perspectives.'
I have FINALLY popped my Giana Darling cherry!! I've been wanting and watching this author for a while now but I've just never found the time to pick up a book and read it, until now, now all bets are off, I'm going to make time to read the previous books in this series because god damn this book gave me such a nostalgic feeling, back to when this genre used to be a #oneclick for me above all else.
For me it was all about the cover🔥Holy heck he's all kinds of hot!! Then the synopsis had me needing this in my life, then finally jumping into it when it landed I was completely enthralled. Throw in a bit of an age gap and I was all in..I loved this from start to finish and everything else just fell into place, the feels, the swoons, the heartbreak, the love I felt for our heroine and hero was instant..
Imagine finding your soulmate at the age of six? Because this is exactly what happened to Lila when the new family moved in across the road from her family. Lila didn't have the best of life, her dad continuously had unsavoury men coming in and out and she barely saw much of her mum, but her one constant was her brother. He was her protector, the one person she loved fully and looked up to above all else.
Until the boy next door, the boy who was eleven years her senior also took it on himself to protect her when her brother couldn't and would go above and beyond what was expected of him to make sure she was safe. When her parents meet an unforeseeable end and sister and brother are split up into foster care Johnathon vowed to bring them back together again.
As Johnathon is tagging a pub creating memories to send a snap shot to Lila its within these walls where his whole life changes when he meets for the first time men from the chapter 'The fallen men.'
They take him under their wing and Nova (Johnathon) is born, he'd finally found the one place where he fitted, even though he had a family that loved him and vice versa he didn't feel like he really fitted, until now. He'd found his own people. His parents fold under much begging from Johnathon, to foster Lila and her brother, it was beyond Lila's wildest dreams, she finally had stable people looking after and caring about her.
But when Nova introduces her to the Fallen Men and they also take her under their wing she's finally added to her family.
Lila has always loved Nova even before she knew what love was, even though she knew that love would never be reciprocated because he always saw her as the little girl he had to protect.
But love always has a way of choosing you. Their story wasn't an easy one to read, it had its ups and downs, some dark times but when you least expect it Nova's eyes open and he sees the woman Lila has become.
This ticked so many boxes and I'm so glad I took that chance and read this because all it took was that first chapter and I was hooked. Now I need more..
Read
August 2, 2020💜Inked in Lies 💜
Nova & Lila's story is finally here! I am so excited to share their story with you. The early feedback has been absolutely amazing and I am so grateful.
🌻Grab your copy here:
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/33eJjJh
Some fun facts about Inked in Lies:
🌻Friends to lovers romance
💜Unrequited love
🌻Sexy AF
💜 Age Gap
Nova & Lila's story is finally here! I am so excited to share their story with you. The early feedback has been absolutely amazing and I am so grateful.
🌻Grab your copy here:
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/33eJjJh
Some fun facts about Inked in Lies:
🌻Friends to lovers romance
💜Unrequited love
🌻Sexy AF
💜 Age Gap
January 6, 2022
5 stars
Inked in Lies is the fifth book in Giana Darling's 'Fallen Men' series and by far the most angsty.
Jonathon 'Nova' Booth and Lila Meadows have known each other for most of Lila's life. All of her best memories involve Nova and he's been there for her more than anyone else. She loves him fiercely, but for so long, Nova's never let himself see Lila like that. But all that is about to change.
These kinds of books are my absolute favorites. The ones that keep me on the edge of my seat, give me all the feels, and have a couple that's irrevocably in love with one another. Giana has a real talent for making her romances feel so real and meant to be. Nova and Lila especially, it's obvious that they were meant for each other and I can't imagine either one of them with anyone else. Sigh. Their romance was stunning and so beautiful.
With each book I read in this series I get more and more obsessed with The Fallen world. This is by far the best MC series I've ever read and though this book didn't quite top Zeus and LouLou's (I mean... is that even possible?) It's definitely a close second. I absolutely cannot wait to jump into the next book in this series and I hope Giana never stops writing them!
She was as free as the wildflowers she loved so much.
My resolve weakened further, a hairline fracture breakin' through to a fault line runnin' the length of my willpower.
I was going down fast.
Inked in Lies is the fifth book in Giana Darling's 'Fallen Men' series and by far the most angsty.
Jonathon 'Nova' Booth and Lila Meadows have known each other for most of Lila's life. All of her best memories involve Nova and he's been there for her more than anyone else. She loves him fiercely, but for so long, Nova's never let himself see Lila like that. But all that is about to change.
These kinds of books are my absolute favorites. The ones that keep me on the edge of my seat, give me all the feels, and have a couple that's irrevocably in love with one another. Giana has a real talent for making her romances feel so real and meant to be. Nova and Lila especially, it's obvious that they were meant for each other and I can't imagine either one of them with anyone else. Sigh. Their romance was stunning and so beautiful.
With each book I read in this series I get more and more obsessed with The Fallen world. This is by far the best MC series I've ever read and though this book didn't quite top Zeus and LouLou's (I mean... is that even possible?) It's definitely a close second. I absolutely cannot wait to jump into the next book in this series and I hope Giana never stops writing them!
August 8, 2020
WHAT I EXPECTED BEFORE READING IT
Praying for Lila unrequited love to be one of those cases which the person in love instead of spending years pathetic pining for the whore actually tries to forget him by fucking other men but fucking real good.
Please Giana lets Lila’s fiancée be a man who really knows how to treats his woman and I mean it one of those man who will drive nova the tattooed ho crazy jealous
When I saw Nova is going saying to say shit like “you’re so desperate to show me what I’ve been missing. Fine. Take off all your clothes and attempt to impress me” I could almost picture him on his knees regretting his sassy mouth while Lila is teaching him a lesson about who should impress who now that she found herself a nice man
King and cress constantly need to be with their hands on each other are still my favorite and it’s hard to beat them
A great review that gives safety details
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
REVIEW
Unfortunately Lila was a pathetic woman pinning after a man who doesn’t show her any romantic love.
Lila about being with Nova even when he doesn’t want to label them knowing how much she loves him:
“Even living only a moment of this dream with Nova was worth a lifetime of heartbreak.”
I don’t think this kinda of love is healthy, I think she was pathetic pinning for him willing to take any crumbled he throws her away.
I’m super sad after reading it, because unlike Cress and Loulou who were both stronger when they were with King and Zeus, Lila was weak for Nova.
Nova thinks of himself as unworthy of Lila’s love and the irony of it all is because his actions were truly not worthy of her affection. If he truly was in love with her he would have tried because that is what a man who isn’t worthy but still loves a girl does, he fucking tries, he doesn’t fuck the girl he knows loves him every damn night but refuses to label it as a relationship.
OW SEX SCENE: This disgusting shit happened around the 27% mark and was the perfect previous of how fucking pathetic Lila was and how much of unconsidered asshole Nova could be
If I met Lila I would recommend her seeing a doctor bc the girls need a brain check. She is jealous but she is aroused too and thinking “well this is probably going to be the only time I ever see nova fucking so I better enjoy it” ????? I’m sorry girl are fucking nuts? What kind of self respect or even sane person gets hot by watching the guy they love fucking some random girl
Details: nova was currently going out and fucking another woman, so he kinda of cheated with the one Lila saw him with. His nickname is Casanova
Lila saw him fucking some woman and was getting off watching it, really masturbating, Nova saw her at the door, stoped fucking the woman to shut the door at Lila’a face then went back to fucking the other woman while she was giggling and him laughing. After fucking the ow he went to Lila and told her to get over her crush.
He fucking knew about her romantic feelings for him and this is how he reacts? I don’t give a damn about his troubles he has zero respect for her feelings, but you know what makes it even worse? He fucking enjoy being loved by her
After that shit 2 years go by and now Lila has a fiancée
Nova is frequently being an ass to the man, talking about how he and Lila were super closed. Zeus was fucking right when he told Nova how messed up it was now that he doesn’t have her full attention he thinks he has the right to not respect her relationship. He was the one who told Lila to get over her but he never really gives her the chance.
Oh and let’s not forget he is a fucking whore.
It’s so fucking unfair that Lila didn’t even get the chance to really feel something for someone other than Nova. The book would be much better if after kissing her and basically ending her engagement Lila met some new guy while working undercover who is also a good one and at least started feeling something, she should have been so fucking mad at Nova that she puts her feeling away as far as she could like a woman with self respect would do. After doing so she should have met this guy, fucked him all the while Nova was celibate thinking of himself as underserving of her love because guess what whore?? You don’t fucking deserved her.
After the kiss they are both celibate which I fucking hated because Lila should have fucked someone, even if it was her fiancé and not only one time and you know what, Nova should have caught them and suffered. He should have felt threatened by someone who actually shows Lila some love, he should have watched Lila trying with all her will to overcome him by connecting with a man who accepts her lifestyle (her fiancé didn’t like the mc’s lifestyle)
She just accepts anything Nova’s gives her and why the fuck aren’t her friends not telling her to move the fuck on?? H.R was also a fucking loser for settling with Lion after being with an abusive asshole for three years while he spent two years fucking two women at the same time, one was his police officer friend and the other was a biker baby so while H.R was suffering he was having his kinky sex with the biker baby and the vanilla one with the cop. I swear to god Leon was a weak as fuck man, after King and Zeus I was ashamed of how he didn’t fucking fight for H.R, he didn’t even checked on her during the years apart. I was naive to believe their book would be the worst of the series, but you know what girls? this one is just as bad
91% after breaking up with Lila on the first sign of trouble because he isn’t worthy of her love (I hate that bullshit excuse) he started his grovel. The first time Lila sees him again after being rescued by him and the guys from the club he says some shit about his feelings and she already forgives him, but don’t worry she thinks to herself that she is going to make him work harder and he said he is finally willing to fight for her.
GROVEL (well if you can call it that way): So the second time she saw him on the next day, they are already together again.
All he had to do was:
He asked her for a date after delivering her a jacket with “property of nova’s” on the back finally claiming her, sending her pictures of them throughout the years saying they are going to together forever and stuffing her car with flowers and asking her to tattoo him with a heart and their initials so of course doesn’t matter that Lila pinned after him since she was a girl, doesn’t matter he was a whore until before their first kiss even when he was being an ass to her fiancée, doesn’t matter he was fucking her but didn’t want to label it knowing she loved him, doesn’t fucking matter he broke up with her at the first sign of trouble even when she almost begged him to try, he did some cute shit so of course he is totally forgiven and they are already fucking.
I was disgusted when after the make up sex he said he was putting hidden shit on her tattoos during the years.
“Hid a quote by Nabokov just here, the words makin’ up the edge of the petals. ‘she always nursed a small, mad hope,’” he quoted softly, and I felt my heart clench so painfully I wondered if it might burst.
“You knew,”
I accused in a hushed voice, as if we were in a museum of memories and loud noise might get us kicked out.
“You knew how I felt.”
He grinned and shrugged a shoulder that was quilted with muscle and stamped with a demonic cupid.
“I knew we had a connection, somethin’ special. That you might think it was romantic ’cause you were young.”
I’m sorry if anyone believed this shit is romantic but he did it while he was being a whore even in front of her before telling her to move on. Even if he did it after telling her to move on, it still disgusted me bc it looks like he enjoys being the man she craved even when he was hurting her by not being with her and of course, whoring around.
Lila was tortured by her love, even if she didn’t dated someone after her fiancée I don’t think what she feels for Nova now is good for her. She is too obsessed, she never really acknowledged when he is wrong and baby wake the fuck up he played you!! She should have gone away for a few years living far from him for the first time, everything around her is related to him, her family, the club, her love for flowers, Jesus fucking Christ girl go out, live your life, fuck a few men, try harder to fall for one who has feelings for you even if it just a brief summer love. Do something with you life for yourself for once, unlike her pitty attempt of moving on with a man who doesn’t like her lifestyle she should have gone free for a while, unwilling to settle down with someone just because Nova told her to move on. She should have tried to move on when he broke up, at least that bit of self respect she should have had instead of going back to him again with open arms, open heart and open legs because he saved her.
Never for one minute I believe he loved her as much as she loves him. Even in the very ending sounds like he felt in love with her not because of who she was but because of what she feels for him. He knows she loved him more than anything, unlike the ow from his part who made him believe he isn’t worthy of love. Nova and everyone around them can see she is fucking devoted to him, she is totally head of heals in love with him and even when he didn’t think he deserved her he knows she loved all of him not only his looks and he loved that about her, in his opinion she is the only one who loves him like that, almost as she is the only one capable of loving all of him so why not love her back? Looks like he loved her at the end because she loved him so fiercely, unlike Lila who is always saying how good he is, how he saved her and all that shit about him having a heart and soul of gold, when he talked about his feeling for her there is always something about how she feels for him instead of how amazing she is a person for being herself, not for being the woman who loves him.
Like H.R book I didn’t like the couple’s journey I don see it as a romance book. Both men never really proved their love after fucking up, but Nova is a somewhat likable protagonist, unlike Lion who has zero charisma and didnt even seen like he truly loved H.R, I just wished he would die so H.R could have a better hero. Anyway, here we know Nova loves Lila, the problem is his love as a man for his woman, the “being in love” part that felt short.
If I were Lila I would be ashamed to be seen with Nova because holy shit everyone can see how fucking easy you are, it’s really nothing to be proud of. The guy shoves your love on his ass and you are still there “oh nova’s so perfect, he has the purest heart” yeah because his body fucked everyone including your criminal boss who abuses other woman.
I hated that Lila was an ass virgin and they had anal sex, because he already did everything that has to be done when it comes to sex, was used to having menages so why the fuck did any part of her has to be virgin? I already hated she only ever slept with her fiancé before nova she should have fucked the guy six ways to Sunday doing everything two people can possibly só there would be no virginity for the whore to take it.
Nova fucked her ass with a bottle of lube half full he found at the club bedroom bedroom available for fucking during a party. Honey I wouldn’t dare touching someone’s else lube bottle
Anyway, Giana you should stick to couples like King and Cress and Zeus and Loulou, real romance there, unlike here.
At least the next book is about King a man who is crazy for his woman since the first time he saw her. A true romance story
Praying for Lila unrequited love to be one of those cases which the person in love instead of spending years pathetic pining for the whore actually tries to forget him by fucking other men but fucking real good.
Please Giana lets Lila’s fiancée be a man who really knows how to treats his woman and I mean it one of those man who will drive nova the tattooed ho crazy jealous
When I saw Nova is going saying to say shit like “you’re so desperate to show me what I’ve been missing. Fine. Take off all your clothes and attempt to impress me” I could almost picture him on his knees regretting his sassy mouth while Lila is teaching him a lesson about who should impress who now that she found herself a nice man
King and cress constantly need to be with their hands on each other are still my favorite and it’s hard to beat them
A great review that gives safety details
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
REVIEW
Unfortunately Lila was a pathetic woman pinning after a man who doesn’t show her any romantic love.
Lila about being with Nova even when he doesn’t want to label them knowing how much she loves him:
“Even living only a moment of this dream with Nova was worth a lifetime of heartbreak.”
I don’t think this kinda of love is healthy, I think she was pathetic pinning for him willing to take any crumbled he throws her away.
I’m super sad after reading it, because unlike Cress and Loulou who were both stronger when they were with King and Zeus, Lila was weak for Nova.
Nova thinks of himself as unworthy of Lila’s love and the irony of it all is because his actions were truly not worthy of her affection. If he truly was in love with her he would have tried because that is what a man who isn’t worthy but still loves a girl does, he fucking tries, he doesn’t fuck the girl he knows loves him every damn night but refuses to label it as a relationship.
OW SEX SCENE: This disgusting shit happened around the 27% mark and was the perfect previous of how fucking pathetic Lila was and how much of unconsidered asshole Nova could be
If I met Lila I would recommend her seeing a doctor bc the girls need a brain check. She is jealous but she is aroused too and thinking “well this is probably going to be the only time I ever see nova fucking so I better enjoy it” ????? I’m sorry girl are fucking nuts? What kind of self respect or even sane person gets hot by watching the guy they love fucking some random girl
Details: nova was currently going out and fucking another woman, so he kinda of cheated with the one Lila saw him with. His nickname is Casanova
Lila saw him fucking some woman and was getting off watching it, really masturbating, Nova saw her at the door, stoped fucking the woman to shut the door at Lila’a face then went back to fucking the other woman while she was giggling and him laughing. After fucking the ow he went to Lila and told her to get over her crush.
He fucking knew about her romantic feelings for him and this is how he reacts? I don’t give a damn about his troubles he has zero respect for her feelings, but you know what makes it even worse? He fucking enjoy being loved by her
After that shit 2 years go by and now Lila has a fiancée
Nova is frequently being an ass to the man, talking about how he and Lila were super closed. Zeus was fucking right when he told Nova how messed up it was now that he doesn’t have her full attention he thinks he has the right to not respect her relationship. He was the one who told Lila to get over her but he never really gives her the chance.
Oh and let’s not forget he is a fucking whore.
It’s so fucking unfair that Lila didn’t even get the chance to really feel something for someone other than Nova. The book would be much better if after kissing her and basically ending her engagement Lila met some new guy while working undercover who is also a good one and at least started feeling something, she should have been so fucking mad at Nova that she puts her feeling away as far as she could like a woman with self respect would do. After doing so she should have met this guy, fucked him all the while Nova was celibate thinking of himself as underserving of her love because guess what whore?? You don’t fucking deserved her.
After the kiss they are both celibate which I fucking hated because Lila should have fucked someone, even if it was her fiancé and not only one time and you know what, Nova should have caught them and suffered. He should have felt threatened by someone who actually shows Lila some love, he should have watched Lila trying with all her will to overcome him by connecting with a man who accepts her lifestyle (her fiancé didn’t like the mc’s lifestyle)
She just accepts anything Nova’s gives her and why the fuck aren’t her friends not telling her to move the fuck on?? H.R was also a fucking loser for settling with Lion after being with an abusive asshole for three years while he spent two years fucking two women at the same time, one was his police officer friend and the other was a biker baby so while H.R was suffering he was having his kinky sex with the biker baby and the vanilla one with the cop. I swear to god Leon was a weak as fuck man, after King and Zeus I was ashamed of how he didn’t fucking fight for H.R, he didn’t even checked on her during the years apart. I was naive to believe their book would be the worst of the series, but you know what girls? this one is just as bad
91% after breaking up with Lila on the first sign of trouble because he isn’t worthy of her love (I hate that bullshit excuse) he started his grovel. The first time Lila sees him again after being rescued by him and the guys from the club he says some shit about his feelings and she already forgives him, but don’t worry she thinks to herself that she is going to make him work harder and he said he is finally willing to fight for her.
GROVEL (well if you can call it that way): So the second time she saw him on the next day, they are already together again.
All he had to do was:
He asked her for a date after delivering her a jacket with “property of nova’s” on the back finally claiming her, sending her pictures of them throughout the years saying they are going to together forever and stuffing her car with flowers and asking her to tattoo him with a heart and their initials so of course doesn’t matter that Lila pinned after him since she was a girl, doesn’t matter he was a whore until before their first kiss even when he was being an ass to her fiancée, doesn’t matter he was fucking her but didn’t want to label it knowing she loved him, doesn’t fucking matter he broke up with her at the first sign of trouble even when she almost begged him to try, he did some cute shit so of course he is totally forgiven and they are already fucking.
I was disgusted when after the make up sex he said he was putting hidden shit on her tattoos during the years.
“Hid a quote by Nabokov just here, the words makin’ up the edge of the petals. ‘she always nursed a small, mad hope,’” he quoted softly, and I felt my heart clench so painfully I wondered if it might burst.
“You knew,”
I accused in a hushed voice, as if we were in a museum of memories and loud noise might get us kicked out.
“You knew how I felt.”
He grinned and shrugged a shoulder that was quilted with muscle and stamped with a demonic cupid.
“I knew we had a connection, somethin’ special. That you might think it was romantic ’cause you were young.”
I’m sorry if anyone believed this shit is romantic but he did it while he was being a whore even in front of her before telling her to move on. Even if he did it after telling her to move on, it still disgusted me bc it looks like he enjoys being the man she craved even when he was hurting her by not being with her and of course, whoring around.
Lila was tortured by her love, even if she didn’t dated someone after her fiancée I don’t think what she feels for Nova now is good for her. She is too obsessed, she never really acknowledged when he is wrong and baby wake the fuck up he played you!! She should have gone away for a few years living far from him for the first time, everything around her is related to him, her family, the club, her love for flowers, Jesus fucking Christ girl go out, live your life, fuck a few men, try harder to fall for one who has feelings for you even if it just a brief summer love. Do something with you life for yourself for once, unlike her pitty attempt of moving on with a man who doesn’t like her lifestyle she should have gone free for a while, unwilling to settle down with someone just because Nova told her to move on. She should have tried to move on when he broke up, at least that bit of self respect she should have had instead of going back to him again with open arms, open heart and open legs because he saved her.
Never for one minute I believe he loved her as much as she loves him. Even in the very ending sounds like he felt in love with her not because of who she was but because of what she feels for him. He knows she loved him more than anything, unlike the ow from his part who made him believe he isn’t worthy of love. Nova and everyone around them can see she is fucking devoted to him, she is totally head of heals in love with him and even when he didn’t think he deserved her he knows she loved all of him not only his looks and he loved that about her, in his opinion she is the only one who loves him like that, almost as she is the only one capable of loving all of him so why not love her back? Looks like he loved her at the end because she loved him so fiercely, unlike Lila who is always saying how good he is, how he saved her and all that shit about him having a heart and soul of gold, when he talked about his feeling for her there is always something about how she feels for him instead of how amazing she is a person for being herself, not for being the woman who loves him.
Like H.R book I didn’t like the couple’s journey I don see it as a romance book. Both men never really proved their love after fucking up, but Nova is a somewhat likable protagonist, unlike Lion who has zero charisma and didnt even seen like he truly loved H.R, I just wished he would die so H.R could have a better hero. Anyway, here we know Nova loves Lila, the problem is his love as a man for his woman, the “being in love” part that felt short.
If I were Lila I would be ashamed to be seen with Nova because holy shit everyone can see how fucking easy you are, it’s really nothing to be proud of. The guy shoves your love on his ass and you are still there “oh nova’s so perfect, he has the purest heart” yeah because his body fucked everyone including your criminal boss who abuses other woman.
I hated that Lila was an ass virgin and they had anal sex, because he already did everything that has to be done when it comes to sex, was used to having menages so why the fuck did any part of her has to be virgin? I already hated she only ever slept with her fiancé before nova she should have fucked the guy six ways to Sunday doing everything two people can possibly só there would be no virginity for the whore to take it.
Nova fucked her ass with a bottle of lube half full he found at the club bedroom bedroom available for fucking during a party. Honey I wouldn’t dare touching someone’s else lube bottle
Anyway, Giana you should stick to couples like King and Cress and Zeus and Loulou, real romance there, unlike here.
At least the next book is about King a man who is crazy for his woman since the first time he saw her. A true romance story
November 16, 2021
\“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.”
3 "Suntastic" stars!!!
Lila, a sweet girl, who watched her father kill her mother, a girl who lost her father because of his cruelty, a girl whose brother, her rock disappeared when she was young. The Booth family is her only family.
Her best friend's family. Her best friend whom she's in love with since she was six. Her best friend whom she's obsessed about, just like she's obsessed with flowers. Her best friend who cares so little about her love.
Nova Booth, an asshole, a Casanova, a ruthless cold hearted bastard, the black sheep of the family. After he lost his best friend and was abused by a woman whom he thought he was in love with him, everything about him changed. Now there's only one girl, one blossom who can bring out the old him.
Will Nova finally accept her love for him? Will Lila get the Happily Ever After she longed for?
“A flower is beautiful as it is, transient, full of colour and life for the time it blooms, but it's simple, shallow even. A flower is just a flower. But art? Art is a flower painted so it won't die. A flower on the skin of a woman with depth and texture to her soul? It's the context that gives it beauty."
I liked this. But unfortunately I didn't love this as I originally thought I would. After longing for Nova's and Lila's book so long, I was actually disappointed it didn't work out the way I thought it would.
I loved Lila. She was sweet and lovely and was very kind. I wished she had much more of backbone. There were three things I didn't like about her.
-Her getting repeatedly rejected and crushed and yet still going after Nova was not my favourite thing. I would have loved it if she tried to move on.
-The scene where she touched herself when she saw Nova fucking another woman.
-How easily she forgave Nova for breaking her heart.
These things made me a bit uncomfortable. But still I loved her. Loved her for her strength, how she's unafraid to express her feelings. I liked those qualities about her.
I loved how the author drew out emotions with her words. The plotline was amazing. Her writing was excellent even though the lack of characterization in this book was not the best regarding her previous ones.
Nova, as said in the blurb is an actual jerk. An asshole. I loved him in the previous books but in this I was not happy with his actions. He was a constant jerk to Lila. I understand he was trying to give what's best for Lila, but at the same time he didn't want to let her go which therefore made him jerk. I really loved him when he was young. How he kept Lila's nightmares away, how he played games about flowers with Lila, how he would always put Lila before him. That's why I had to give this book 3 stars.
I love their connection and chemistry. The lack of grovel in this book didn't satisfy my cruel heart. But I liked it all the same.
A beautiful story on love, pain, loss, heartbreak, grief and understanding.
“She was mine. And I was hers in the way a wolf is owned by his moon, elementally, fuckin’ irrevocably.”
Tropes
-Biker Romance
-Best Friends to Enemies to Lovers
-Brother's Best Friend
-Grumpy/Sunshine
-Second Chance
Recommended!! Enjoy!!
August 2, 2020
4 Property of Nova Stars ⭐
"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."
Even as a 5 your old, Lila Davalos intuitively knew her parents were bad. She'd seen things that most wouldn't witness in a lifetime. During the hardship she found solace in the beauty of flowers and her much older brother Dane, who was the epitome of goodness.
With the arrival of the Booth family to their shady neighbourhood, the new neighbours would become a godsend, and their home a haven.
Johnathon Booth was fortunate to be born into a family rich in love and support. Moving to a new house he formed an instant friendship with both Dane and Lila. Even with all that he had, he was a restless adolescent with a penchant for mischief and art. As for girls, they were like moths to a flame. They came easy. But at 17 years old, Johnathan and his art were discovered and taken in by the Fallen MC family; and Nova was born.
And just like that, a kid who had never been lost in his whole fuckin’ life felt like he’d finally been found.
With Nova and Lila being unlikely allies (a teen and a child) It was only natural that she was welcomed into the fold. It was within these club walls that she also grew into her own person. A young woman with unrequited feelings towards Nova that could never be. He made sure of that.
"You think this is ’bout you? You’re fuckin’ wrong.
This is ’bout you wastin’ your life pinin’ for a man who’s never gonna give you a second look ’cause it’s not his right to catch your eye, and it sure as fuck isn’t in him to take care of a girl like you."
Remaining friends, their relationship becomes strained. Yet, things change when Nova becomes privy to a plan of Lila endangering herself for the club. He takes it upon himself to wedge himself firmly back into her business. Nova is past denying himself, and will lay claim his way. He is determined to remind Lila who she belongs to.
Inked in Lies owned me from the first page. I couldn't put it down. The drama, the intensity and emotions experienced were gripping. I adored the entire back and forth from past to present to what made Nova and Lila who they are today. And their love affair was both beautiful and heartbreaking to watch. The chemistry was off the charts hot. However, I'm not a huge fan of the MC trope so I possibly zoned out during club business. 🖤
"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."
Even as a 5 your old, Lila Davalos intuitively knew her parents were bad. She'd seen things that most wouldn't witness in a lifetime. During the hardship she found solace in the beauty of flowers and her much older brother Dane, who was the epitome of goodness.
With the arrival of the Booth family to their shady neighbourhood, the new neighbours would become a godsend, and their home a haven.
Johnathon Booth was fortunate to be born into a family rich in love and support. Moving to a new house he formed an instant friendship with both Dane and Lila. Even with all that he had, he was a restless adolescent with a penchant for mischief and art. As for girls, they were like moths to a flame. They came easy. But at 17 years old, Johnathan and his art were discovered and taken in by the Fallen MC family; and Nova was born.
And just like that, a kid who had never been lost in his whole fuckin’ life felt like he’d finally been found.
With Nova and Lila being unlikely allies (a teen and a child) It was only natural that she was welcomed into the fold. It was within these club walls that she also grew into her own person. A young woman with unrequited feelings towards Nova that could never be. He made sure of that.
"You think this is ’bout you? You’re fuckin’ wrong.
This is ’bout you wastin’ your life pinin’ for a man who’s never gonna give you a second look ’cause it’s not his right to catch your eye, and it sure as fuck isn’t in him to take care of a girl like you."
Remaining friends, their relationship becomes strained. Yet, things change when Nova becomes privy to a plan of Lila endangering herself for the club. He takes it upon himself to wedge himself firmly back into her business. Nova is past denying himself, and will lay claim his way. He is determined to remind Lila who she belongs to.
Inked in Lies owned me from the first page. I couldn't put it down. The drama, the intensity and emotions experienced were gripping. I adored the entire back and forth from past to present to what made Nova and Lila who they are today. And their love affair was both beautiful and heartbreaking to watch. The chemistry was off the charts hot. However, I'm not a huge fan of the MC trope so I possibly zoned out during club business. 🖤
August 8, 2020
★4.5★
Inked in Lies is a standalone complex and gritty MC Romance featuring a love that spans decades! Lila is a sweet five years of age when she first meets Nova the man who was destined to change her life. Lila loves flowers, her older brother, and Nova! She will do anything to escape the ugliness that exists in her home. With violence, drug addicts, and heartbreak, she cannot help but find solace in the sweet and loving family that lives next door. When circumstances bring Lila and her brother to a breaking point they end up moving in with the Booths. Nova becomes her older foster brother and all of a sudden things begin to get more complicated than ever. As time passes, the connection between Lila and Nova transforms into so much more than brother-sister love. Although Lila wants nothing more than for Nova to profess his love to her, Nova feels unworthy of his flower child’s love.
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
"You feel this? This is weight of a life. I took it with one squeeze of the trigger.”
Inked in Lies is a standalone complex and gritty MC Romance featuring a love that spans decades! Lila is a sweet five years of age when she first meets Nova the man who was destined to change her life. Lila loves flowers, her older brother, and Nova! She will do anything to escape the ugliness that exists in her home. With violence, drug addicts, and heartbreak, she cannot help but find solace in the sweet and loving family that lives next door. When circumstances bring Lila and her brother to a breaking point they end up moving in with the Booths. Nova becomes her older foster brother and all of a sudden things begin to get more complicated than ever. As time passes, the connection between Lila and Nova transforms into so much more than brother-sister love. Although Lila wants nothing more than for Nova to profess his love to her, Nova feels unworthy of his flower child’s love.
"I knew there were real monsters in the world. I’d been born of one."Told in multiple POV, Inked in Lies is a beautiful blend of taboo, action, suspense, passion, and raw and emotional love. The journey that Nova and Lila take is difficult as they both have baggage to unpack along the way. The dialogue is rich with color and Ms. Darling is a true artist painting a picture full of vivid colors of real-life love, loss, pain, and joy! The spectrum of emotions I experienced while reading this love story left me speechless. Although I adored the complex plot and rich character development, some of the individual choices made by both Nova and Lila caused my blood pressure to skyrocket! The action is intense and the love and loyalty within the brotherhood of the club make the supporting characters unforgettable.
" I could feel the roots of him tug hard around my heart, urging me to go to him."Overall, Inked in Lies would appeal to readers who enjoy their heroes rough around the edges. With a tender romance full of challenges every step of the way, Lila and Nova prove once again that love conquers all. This is my first Giana Darling book and I can say with complete certainty it will not be my last. In fact, I have already loaded my kindle with the other books from this series. If there is one thing that I shy away from its angst and yet, I would reread Nova and Lila's story again and again just to relive each and every moment!
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
August 2, 2020
3.5 Flower Child Stars
The book was well written and the plot was also good and all but there was just this one thing that kept on bugging me so much and because of that i couldn’t enjoy Nova and Lila together. This might completely be a me problem or maybe some of you might agree with me on this.
Plot
Lila was brought up in a house, where her father was a popular drug dealer, her mother was hardly present as she was busy with her shifts in the diner and the only one she basically had was her brother Dane, who she loved more than anything. Until one day 17 year old, Jonathan Booth (Nova) and his family moved in next door and five year old Lila fell in love with him and his family and since then dreamed of becoming a Booth.
After one horrific night, Lila (13) and her brother ended up in the care of the Booth family. Since then they have been together, taken care of each other as a family even after Dane passed away during his military service.
The first 25% of the book is about the past, how Lila and Dane met the Booth family, their bonding and how Nova met Daddy Zeus (I literally screamed) and was initiated into the Fallen MC.
Fast forward to when Lila is 21 years old, Nova confronts her about her “crush on him” and tells her to get over him. So that’s what she does, for the next two years she hardly talks to him, finds another man and gets engaged.
Now in the present Zeus is falsely accused and is in jail thanks to The Ventura’s and Lila decides to do something about it as they have been coming after The Fallen MC for far too long. She decides to go undercover and find information on them to finally bring them down for good.
I had no great love like Zeus or King, or my girl, Harleigh Rose. I had nothing to lose and so, wasn’t it only fitting I be the one to take the risk? If it didn’t work. If I died… At least I wouldn’t leave behind a love like theirs who would never recover from my death.
Characters
Lila
My heart literally broke for her. Minus the scene where she was watching Nova fuck someone else, I really did sympathize with her in the start. Being in love with someone for 18 years, almost her whole life, a man who saved her life, who has always been there for her, it’s not easy. And let’s not forget what all she witnessed since such a young age because of her negligent parents. And then the loss of her brother Dane, Nova had been her rock.
And when Nova told Lila to get over him, she did try. It’s just Nova idk didn’t let her go? He kissed her once and couldn’t ignore her anymore and went and fucked her. Kept on fucking her but didn’t want to put any “labels” on their relationship. (Obviously they talked and all too lmao, they have been best friends for so long the only new improvement was the fucking.)
Lila didn’t deserve that AT ALL. This is what I couldn’t ignore and this is why I just couldn’t enjoy Nova and her being together. Lila has been in LOVE with him for EIGHTEEN YEARS.
And I was––I’d always been––just for him. It only took him eighteen years to notice.
Lila deserved the world. And yes Nova was her world and she was happy he was finally paying attention to her but she just gave in so easily to him. Uggggh like she got her heart broken, the least he could have done is chase after her or grovel a little bit. Something that he did TOWARDS THE VERY END OF THE BOOK, like the last chapter I think?
”I’m gonna fight for you,” he repeated. “The way I fought for you as a girl. I’m sorry as fuck I ever stopped and I swear to God, I won’t again.”
But it didn’t really matter at that time because he already got the girl. However I will point out that towards the end he did reveal something really shocking and adorable and my heart did melt. Also the Epilogue.... CUTEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! But I still stand by my words, he should have groveled a little bit for her affection.
Nova
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate Nova or anything, he had his own struggles in life, being the black sheep of the family, he never felt like he was good enough, to everyone he was just a pretty boy and he had his own reasons for never acting up on his feelings for Lila and all.
Years of restraint, of tryin’ not to see the woman Lila was bloomin’ into, of knowin’ I’d never be good enough for her even if I was allowed to look, and I finally broke like cheap plastic.
But again how easily he got her and then the “No labels thing” pissed me off, that woman understands you, you are basically her entire world, like how have you not put a ring on her yet!!
“I don’t think the only thing you have to offer the world is your handsomeness. You are the kindest, loveliest, most misunderstood soul I know, and it breaks my fucking heart because the person who misunderstands you the most is you.”
Again this might be a complete MOI problem. Idk. Like I don’t blame Lila also for giving in so easily because if I put myself in her shoes I’m like wouldn’t I do the same thing? After waiting so long and finally getting the attention I wanted? But at the same time I’m like I would prefer a little groveling after all the waiting I have done you know? Is it weird I’m bringing myself into this? 😂😂😂😂
The reason I’m focusing so much on the label is because Lila needed it. Even when they were kind off together she was still not sure if he was completely hers and it was just so sad to read about it. You got the man but you don’t have him completely? But I guess that’s the whole premise of the book with regards to Noah and Lila. 🤷🏽♀️
Anywaaaaaaayy
CAN WE TALK ABOUT DADDY ZEUS AND LOULOU
”Can I come in?” Loulou asked from the doorframe, holding two squirming babies on each hip with ease like some kinda maternal goddess. “Angel is acting up and I’m pretty sure it’s because she wants her daddy.” “Sure it wasn’t you wanted that, little Lou?” Z asked with a wicked grin that made Lou laugh and trip forward to smack a wet one on his mouth.
Yup, still love them.
Wanted a Danner and HR moment too but it’s okay. I’ll just read Good Gone Bad again for that
Let me just point on again and say, that the book was overall GREAT, the problem I had can be completely a me problem, if you have been in love with the series so far, I would still recommend to read this one! Because the over all plot regarding the enemy was amazing!
July 31, 2020
Inked In Lies was the forbidden gritty raw romance that I never knew I was desperately craving. These characters were flawed, perfect, real, and they showed the kind of love that some of us will spend our entire lives searching for.
At five years old, Lila knew that she was in love with her new neighbor. When life gave her family a tragic turn of events which made the family next door her new foster family, her bond with the handsome teenage only grew. As the years begin to go by and Lila is now an adult, those feelings that some have passed off as a silly crush, has only intensified and with passion like this, it’s only a matter of time before you combust.
A forbidden romance with Unrequited love is a combination that can not only lead to drama, but it can change the dynamic of so many things. Friendships can be put to the test, heartache will be around the corner, and the passion can seem as if it might dwindle out before it even got the chance to fully blaze. This story gave us the highs and lows of a couple that fought tooth and nail for each other in their own way. I didn’t always agree with their tactics, and I certainly wanted to shake a few people but you couldn’t deny the love and the bond that these characters had with each other.
If you’ve read any of the Fallen Men books, then you’re going to fall heart first in love with this one. Nova brought the swagger that is legendary in this author’s heroes and Lila was the ultimate heroine. She was strong, fierce and she knew exactly what she wanted and she had no problem fighting to get it. This is another addition that is not to be missed and I can’t wait to see what else this author is going to come up with.
August 1, 2020
4 STARS
I'm a sucker for unrequited love tropes and gritty MC and this book was the best of both worlds.
Nova and Lila's story was not an easy one. It was full of angst, frustration, and pain. They first meet when Lila is only a little girl and Nova quickly becomes her everything. His family becoming Lila's escape when all she's known in her young life have been liars and criminals. Lila's childhood is anything but pretty or easy. It's full of loss, pain, and lies. But what starts as a bit of hero worship soon bleeds into something so much more as Lila grows older.
Nova is the pretty playboy of the Fallen Men. He's quick to smile and isn't above using his good looks to get what he wants. He's perfectly content spending each night with a different woman and has no illusions that he would ever want more. But not all is as it seems with Nova. He's a true wolf in sheep's clothing. His easy smile hides some very dark demons. Lila has always been like a foster sister to him but there's also something more that pulses between them when she gets older. He knows he can't be what he wants and he pushes her away, cruelly and bluntly. Theirs is a dance of push and pull that will drive you to the brink of madness at times, but it hurts so good!
There's so much that happens in this book; secrets unravel with so many twists and turns, it will leave your head reeling. The romance is gritty, frustrating, and oh so delicious. Lila, even if she does forgive Nova too easily in parts, is still a force to be reckoned with and I really loved her fire. Nova was impossible not to love, even when you wanted to hate him. His decisions in parts had me wanting to shake him and rip my hair out. But there's just something so addictive about this man.
hight="50" width="50" />Loving someone shouldn’t be contingent on them returning that affection. Loving someone existed apart from reciprocation.
I loved the story and the gritty feels of it. Lived for it. But it was missing some polish. There were some minor continuity and timeline issues. There were also some very minor characterization issues. For example, 17 year old Nova sounded exactly like 30 year old Nova biker, which wasn't a huge thing in the grand scheme of things, but still noticeable. The other thing was all the fallen men sound the same. same intonations, same turn of phrases and lack of constants. Don't get me wrong, the biker speak is great, and I loved the Kristen Ashley feel of it in parts. But in the same breath, it was tough to read when it was also in their inner monologues. Like I would have to re-read sentences 3 times before it finally clicked what they were saying. Sorry, y'all, I simply couldn't shut off my picky brain long enough to look past it. Le sigh. This series has a very strong KA feel to it, which I love. But the lack of constants and the blurring of words like "all of the" for: "alla the brothers" or "you think you can handle alla that" became a bit grating for me.
Clearly I still really enjoyed the book so please take my nitpicking with a grain of salt. Because it's just that; nitpicking. The story was great and I devoured it. After Welcome to the Dark Side it has now become my second favorite book in the series. If you love gritty MC, it's definitely not to be missed. Giana is a talented author that can weave an addictive tale full of twists and turns that will have you glued to the pages.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
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He was it. My dream man wrapped up in a sinful package. And he was still completely and utterly forbidden.
I'm a sucker for unrequited love tropes and gritty MC and this book was the best of both worlds.
Nova and Lila's story was not an easy one. It was full of angst, frustration, and pain. They first meet when Lila is only a little girl and Nova quickly becomes her everything. His family becoming Lila's escape when all she's known in her young life have been liars and criminals. Lila's childhood is anything but pretty or easy. It's full of loss, pain, and lies. But what starts as a bit of hero worship soon bleeds into something so much more as Lila grows older.
Nova is the pretty playboy of the Fallen Men. He's quick to smile and isn't above using his good looks to get what he wants. He's perfectly content spending each night with a different woman and has no illusions that he would ever want more. But not all is as it seems with Nova. He's a true wolf in sheep's clothing. His easy smile hides some very dark demons. Lila has always been like a foster sister to him but there's also something more that pulses between them when she gets older. He knows he can't be what he wants and he pushes her away, cruelly and bluntly. Theirs is a dance of push and pull that will drive you to the brink of madness at times, but it hurts so good!
There's so much that happens in this book; secrets unravel with so many twists and turns, it will leave your head reeling. The romance is gritty, frustrating, and oh so delicious. Lila, even if she does forgive Nova too easily in parts, is still a force to be reckoned with and I really loved her fire. Nova was impossible not to love, even when you wanted to hate him. His decisions in parts had me wanting to shake him and rip my hair out. But there's just something so addictive about this man.
hight="50" width="50" />Loving someone shouldn’t be contingent on them returning that affection. Loving someone existed apart from reciprocation.
I loved the story and the gritty feels of it. Lived for it. But it was missing some polish. There were some minor continuity and timeline issues. There were also some very minor characterization issues. For example, 17 year old Nova sounded exactly like 30 year old Nova biker, which wasn't a huge thing in the grand scheme of things, but still noticeable. The other thing was all the fallen men sound the same. same intonations, same turn of phrases and lack of constants. Don't get me wrong, the biker speak is great, and I loved the Kristen Ashley feel of it in parts. But in the same breath, it was tough to read when it was also in their inner monologues. Like I would have to re-read sentences 3 times before it finally clicked what they were saying. Sorry, y'all, I simply couldn't shut off my picky brain long enough to look past it. Le sigh. This series has a very strong KA feel to it, which I love. But the lack of constants and the blurring of words like "all of the" for: "alla the brothers" or "you think you can handle alla that" became a bit grating for me.
Clearly I still really enjoyed the book so please take my nitpicking with a grain of salt. Because it's just that; nitpicking. The story was great and I devoured it. After Welcome to the Dark Side it has now become my second favorite book in the series. If you love gritty MC, it's definitely not to be missed. Giana is a talented author that can weave an addictive tale full of twists and turns that will have you glued to the pages.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
August 2, 2020
2 'cause Flower Child deserves a rant stars.
Inked in Lies didn't work for me
and I'm feeling like a black sheep here because I read so many 5 stars reviews.
I wanted to give more than 2 stars because I really loved the previous books but I have to be honest..If Inked in Lies hadn't been part of this series, I would have dnf'ed it.
I hated adult Lila, period. That scene at 27 %.. no self-respect 🤢
(I'm really glad there wasn't a ménage scene but I'm wondering why lately authors write these weird voyeuristic scenes.. In my humble opinion they aren't sexy, just weird).
Seriously, Lila made me regret being so hard on Cressida book#1 version lol
Plus Lila and Nova romance was really meh..(I was more invested in Lisander and Honey's scenes lol 🙊)
Rant comin'.
Inked in Lies didn't work for me
and I'm feeling like a black sheep here because I read so many 5 stars reviews.
I wanted to give more than 2 stars because I really loved the previous books but I have to be honest..If Inked in Lies hadn't been part of this series, I would have dnf'ed it.
I hated adult Lila, period. That scene at 27 %.. no self-respect 🤢
(I'm really glad there wasn't a ménage scene but I'm wondering why lately authors write these weird voyeuristic scenes.. In my humble opinion they aren't sexy, just weird).
Seriously, Lila made me regret being so hard on Cressida book#1 version lol
Plus Lila and Nova romance was really meh..(I was more invested in Lisander and Honey's scenes lol 🙊)
Rant comin'.
August 1, 2020
Well this is what I get for my high expectations. Warning-- this will get ranty.
Prolonged, agonizing torture. That is what I felt throughout the book. I just wanted it to end. Like HOW. MUCH. MORE. PAIN mustI this 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 it. He was fortunate she was strong and never waver in her love.
Nova spent the majority of 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. Didn’t felt he deserve or was worthy of her love. 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 dick 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 fuck 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 redeem himself. I wasn’t as impressed as Lila but hey, she finally got her wish and dream guy. As for his reasons not to pursue Lila, 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 masochist, a glutton for punishment. Nova toys with her like a fucking 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 fucking' 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 fuck isn't in him to take care of a girl like you".
Does this deter Lila? Somewhat. Lila knew her worth. But she still remains 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 Lila 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.
"The woman groaned in ecstasy as he ground into her at the end of each thrust. For an awful desperate second, I thought about grinding against the doorframe, needing to feel how he might feel against her. Instead, I tweaked my nipple with my free hand and choked off a moan."
Bleh. I am still stunned that any heroines still get aroused when witnessing these scenes. I will never find that appealing. As for Nova's reaction
"He just stared at me. He gave me nothing. Instead, after a moment, his gaze cut to woman curling like a satisfied cat on the bed, and he smirked at her, giving her exposed ass a swat before he moved toward the door."
Nova, you colossal asshole. Wish Lila had given him a taste of his own medicine.
So yep, 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 kinda opposite to me. Nova had a couple possessive, jealous moments. And he rescued Lila from her uncover 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. Also, I kept hearing rebel, dark horse, but I'm like heh? What was the big insecurity or big struggle he had to overcome? What was Nova rebelling against? Feeling different than his brothers? Nova had a pretty good life early on. Far as I can tell. Wonderful family and support system. All the girls he had no issues picking up. (I could have done w/out that almost threesomes, thanks.)
Prolonged, agonizing torture. That is what I felt throughout the book. I just wanted it to end. Like HOW. MUCH. MORE. PAIN must
Nova spent the majority of 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. Didn’t felt he deserve or was worthy of her love. 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 dick 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 fuck 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 redeem himself. I wasn’t as impressed as Lila but hey, she finally got her wish and dream guy. As for his reasons not to pursue Lila, 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 masochist, a glutton for punishment. Nova toys with her like a fucking 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 fucking' 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 fuck isn't in him to take care of a girl like you".
Does this deter Lila? Somewhat. Lila knew her worth. But she still remains 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 Lila 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.
"The woman groaned in ecstasy as he ground into her at the end of each thrust. For an awful desperate second, I thought about grinding against the doorframe, needing to feel how he might feel against her. Instead, I tweaked my nipple with my free hand and choked off a moan."
Bleh. I am still stunned that any heroines still get aroused when witnessing these scenes. I will never find that appealing. As for Nova's reaction
"He just stared at me. He gave me nothing. Instead, after a moment, his gaze cut to woman curling like a satisfied cat on the bed, and he smirked at her, giving her exposed ass a swat before he moved toward the door."
Nova, you colossal asshole. Wish Lila had given him a taste of his own medicine.
So yep, 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 kinda opposite to me. Nova had a couple possessive, jealous moments. And he rescued Lila from her uncover 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. Also, I kept hearing rebel, dark horse, but I'm like heh? What was the big insecurity or big struggle he had to overcome? What was Nova rebelling against? Feeling different than his brothers? Nova had a pretty good life early on. Far as I can tell. Wonderful family and support system. All the girls he had no issues picking up. (I could have done w/out that almost threesomes, thanks.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2022
FINALLY A 5-STAR!!! It's been a couple of months since I've had a 5-star in the romance genre. I was starting to think I was broken.
Nova and Lili were childhood neighbors. Nova's family knew that Lila and her older brother Dane weren't in a good living situation. After their father killed their mother, Nova's parents took in Dane (who's Nova's age) and Lila.
There's an eleven-year age gap between Lila and Nova. Nothing happens between them until she's an adult. Nova didn't have her on his radar until she was in her mid-20's.
Their love story along with the mc drama had me glued to the book.
INKED IN LIES
● biker mc
● Nova (35) & Lila (24)
● brother's best friend
● second chance
● childhood friends
● age gap
● tattoo artist
● "flower child" nickname
● Meadows -the name she picked out as her new last name
● foster care
THE FALLEN MEN:
AGE GAPS
LESSONS IN CORRUPTION #1
King (18) & Cressida (26)
8 years
WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE #2
Zeus (36) & Louise (17)
19 years
GOOD GONE BAD #3
Danner & Harleigh Rose
10 years
AFTER THE FALL #4
King & Cressida
8 years
INKLED IN LIES #5
Nova (35) & Lila (24)
11 years
Nova and Lili were childhood neighbors. Nova's family knew that Lila and her older brother Dane weren't in a good living situation. After their father killed their mother, Nova's parents took in Dane (who's Nova's age) and Lila.
There's an eleven-year age gap between Lila and Nova. Nothing happens between them until she's an adult. Nova didn't have her on his radar until she was in her mid-20's.
Their love story along with the mc drama had me glued to the book.
INKED IN LIES
● biker mc
● Nova (35) & Lila (24)
● brother's best friend
● second chance
● childhood friends
● age gap
● tattoo artist
● "flower child" nickname
● Meadows -the name she picked out as her new last name
● foster care
THE FALLEN MEN:
AGE GAPS
LESSONS IN CORRUPTION #1
King (18) & Cressida (26)
8 years
WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE #2
Zeus (36) & Louise (17)
19 years
GOOD GONE BAD #3
Danner & Harleigh Rose
10 years
AFTER THE FALL #4
King & Cressida
8 years
INKLED IN LIES #5
Nova (35) & Lila (24)
11 years
Audiobook source: Audible
Narrator: Aiden Snow & Stephanie Nemeth-Parker
Length: 13H 26M
January 3, 2023
It took me weeks to finish this book because I didn’t want it to end, Ever. This is by far my favourite out of the series. The way I’ve always known Nova was going to be my favourite since the first book and he definitely delivered and made me fall in love with every single moment in this book. I love them SOOOOO MUCH
November 25, 2022
Dnf at the scene where she watches him fuck another woman and was getting herself off.
August 1, 2020
4.25 Stars 🌟
Inked in Lies is the 5th book in the Fallen Men series and even though these books follow different couples, each book contains storylines about the MC and carries on throughout the entire series so I highly suggest reading them in order especially since this book contains major spoilers for each book as the timelines match up. Inked in Lies is Nova & Lila's story and like each book in this series it's an age gap romance with Nova being 12 years older. We have met both Lila Meadows and Jonathon 'Nova' Booth throughout the series and going into this book I knew it would revolve around unrequited love with a slight forbidden aspect.
Lila has been in love with Jonathon Booth since she was 5 years old and he moved into the house next door with his family. The first 30% of the book is heavily focused on their back story and you get to see some of the most important and tragic parts of their past that are constantly bringing them together, with Lila falling more and more in love with Nova and Nova growing a more familial and protective type of bond with her. We also see a snipet of when Nova first joins the Fallen MC and how Lila gets her name. I loved every minute of their backstory with parts of it even breaking my heart but it helps give you a real understanding of how and why Lila loves Nova so deeply and unconditionally.
Jonathon 'Nova' Booth OH MY this boy, man, manchild, manho whatever you want to call him, I love him, I love him and oh did I mention I love him. Was he perfect? No but he was real, raw and stayed true to the character we have seen glimpses of this entire series. He was his usual playful, fun, protective, carefree self with just the right amount of alphaness and possiveness. I loved that he had a sweet, caring and softside of himself that he only resevered for Lila and that she seemed to bring out in him whenever they were together. The deeper we get into his story the more we understand some of his reseverations and even though there were times he frustrated me with not always knowing the right thing to say but I felt his actions really spoke for when his words failed.
I personally thought Lila could've pushed back a little more and given him a taste of his own medicine but I truly don't blame her for wanting anything and everything from Nova as I'm sure I would've been the same. I don't even know what exactly it was about him that made me fall so hard but I did. I enjoyed getting to see Nova through Lila's eyes and this was probably my 2nd favourite book in the series with Welcome to the Darkside (book 2) still being my favourite. There were parts of the story that I found slightly predictable but that didn't really bother me at all.
I only recently discovered this series and I'm a little obsessed. I have throughly enjoyed all the books and have loved getting lost in the world of the Fallen Men and I'm so excited to see whose story is next and I'm secretly hoping its Lysander & Honey and I'm hoping we find out more about Ares because he is definitely one of my favourite characters in this series aswell as seeing some of the unresolved storylines being completed.
《book aesthetic made by me. I do not own the pictures, all found via pinterest》
Inked in Lies is the 5th book in the Fallen Men series and even though these books follow different couples, each book contains storylines about the MC and carries on throughout the entire series so I highly suggest reading them in order especially since this book contains major spoilers for each book as the timelines match up. Inked in Lies is Nova & Lila's story and like each book in this series it's an age gap romance with Nova being 12 years older. We have met both Lila Meadows and Jonathon 'Nova' Booth throughout the series and going into this book I knew it would revolve around unrequited love with a slight forbidden aspect.
Lila has been in love with Jonathon Booth since she was 5 years old and he moved into the house next door with his family. The first 30% of the book is heavily focused on their back story and you get to see some of the most important and tragic parts of their past that are constantly bringing them together, with Lila falling more and more in love with Nova and Nova growing a more familial and protective type of bond with her. We also see a snipet of when Nova first joins the Fallen MC and how Lila gets her name. I loved every minute of their backstory with parts of it even breaking my heart but it helps give you a real understanding of how and why Lila loves Nova so deeply and unconditionally.
Jonathon 'Nova' Booth OH MY this boy, man, manchild, manho whatever you want to call him, I love him, I love him and oh did I mention I love him. Was he perfect? No but he was real, raw and stayed true to the character we have seen glimpses of this entire series. He was his usual playful, fun, protective, carefree self with just the right amount of alphaness and possiveness. I loved that he had a sweet, caring and softside of himself that he only resevered for Lila and that she seemed to bring out in him whenever they were together. The deeper we get into his story the more we understand some of his reseverations and even though there were times he frustrated me with not always knowing the right thing to say but I felt his actions really spoke for when his words failed.
I personally thought Lila could've pushed back a little more and given him a taste of his own medicine but I truly don't blame her for wanting anything and everything from Nova as I'm sure I would've been the same. I don't even know what exactly it was about him that made me fall so hard but I did. I enjoyed getting to see Nova through Lila's eyes and this was probably my 2nd favourite book in the series with Welcome to the Darkside (book 2) still being my favourite. There were parts of the story that I found slightly predictable but that didn't really bother me at all.
I only recently discovered this series and I'm a little obsessed. I have throughly enjoyed all the books and have loved getting lost in the world of the Fallen Men and I'm so excited to see whose story is next and I'm secretly hoping its Lysander & Honey and I'm hoping we find out more about Ares because he is definitely one of my favourite characters in this series aswell as seeing some of the unresolved storylines being completed.
《book aesthetic made by me. I do not own the pictures, all found via pinterest》
August 3, 2020
Have you watched the teaser trailer video? Because yes! I want to read this book ASAP!
Update:
I can't stop smiling..inked with lies was THAT good.
I knew Giana Darling won't disappoint but oh my god this book was such a HOT book!
Would it beat Welcome to the Darkside? HELL NO! ZEUS is on a league of its own but Nova is delicious 😍
Inked with lies ticked off all the things I was hoping for when I found out Giana was releasing a new book.
It's badass and hearts and flowers all wrapped up in one.
Update:
I can't stop smiling..inked with lies was THAT good.
I knew Giana Darling won't disappoint but oh my god this book was such a HOT book!
Would it beat Welcome to the Darkside? HELL NO! ZEUS is on a league of its own but Nova is delicious 😍
Inked with lies ticked off all the things I was hoping for when I found out Giana was releasing a new book.
It's badass and hearts and flowers all wrapped up in one.
April 7, 2021
Nova and Lila’s story is an angsty one, It’s a friend's to lovers slight age-gap (12 years) MC romance and their journey together begins when they are practically children.
Nova or Johnathon as he was then called moves in with his family across the road from a young Lila and her older brother Dane.
They are the children of a local dealer and from the minute their fates collided there was a connection.
An older Nova took the young girl who had grown up too soon under his wing becoming another older brother and protector alongside Dane.
When they first meet he’s 17 the same age as her brother and she’s just 5 and she becomes the little sister he’s never had.
When an event removes her from her family Novas family adopts both Lila and Dane into their own giving the young girl a sense of family and stability she’s never had before and Nova eventually becomes everything to her especially when tragedy hits her life again shattering her whole world, he then becomes her rock and her best friend rolled into one.
When Nova short for Casanova on account of his love for the ladies patches into the Fallen MC Lila’s family expands even further but over the years and as she matures her feelings towards him start to change and instead of the brother she has always seen her love morphs into something more.
That is until Nova shuts it down doing damage to Lila’s heart in the process trying to move on she tries to separate and avoid the man who has her heart but the lives are so intertwined with each other’s it’s hard to separate herself fully.
It’s only when Lila’s finally moving on that Nova Sick of the distance between them and also the fact she’s placed herself in danger finally tries to get back what’s he lost under the guise of protection he directly involves himself back into her life much to Lila’s annoyance.
He wants her friendship back and misses her but the chemistry between these two is explosive and it’s not long before there crossing boundaries that Nova had initially set in stone.
I really felt for Lila unrequited love is a bloody bitch and she’s got a bad dose.
She’s also terrified of letting him too close to her heart knowing he has the power to destroy her completely.
But she’s like a moth to the flame and just can’t help herself she loved him for years despite his disinterest.
Nova definitely has self-esteem issues if that can be believed he wrongly thinks he’s got nothing to offer other than his pretty face.
He struggles with allowing Lila out of the box he has placed her in and also believe he’s incapable of deep love.
His inability to not place labels on their relationship is also hurtful as Lila wants nothing more than for him to finally claim her publicly, I also think he believes that they can just go back to how they were before and breaking Lila’s heart would be for her own good he believes he’s just not worth it and doesn’t deserve her.
I was annoyed with him but at the same time sad that he couldn’t see his own worth and himself through Lila’s eyes to her he is everything.
This had danger and secrets and shocks it brought me to tears and was so emotionally poignant at times.
I could feel the love and connection between these two times infinity they really do make a beautiful couple.
Nova just needs to get his head out of his arse and claim his flower-girl and I was hopefully optimistic that he would get there in the end and also manage to convince her he felt the same.
I enjoyed this one a whole lot in fact it surpassed my expectations and I definitely recommend this series.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
June 26, 2021
I swear every time I reread any books from this series they become better.
Lila and Nova are the actual definition of soulmates and true fucking love. They both found a home in one another in a way that’s so beautiful I could never get tired of reading about it. Lila deserves anything and everything good in the world handed to her. She’s an angel, yet has been through so much I don’t know how she does it. Nova has his flaws, but no matter what tried his hardest for Lila. Now, I know King is the poet of this series, but this book is just incredibly poetic. I don’t think i’ve ever highlighted so much while reading because every line was just so beautifully written.
Also: this was my first review before I started going more in depth.
the way lila loved nova was so pure and beautiful and their story was just perfect. so fun to read and learn their story.
Lila and Nova are the actual definition of soulmates and true fucking love. They both found a home in one another in a way that’s so beautiful I could never get tired of reading about it. Lila deserves anything and everything good in the world handed to her. She’s an angel, yet has been through so much I don’t know how she does it. Nova has his flaws, but no matter what tried his hardest for Lila. Now, I know King is the poet of this series, but this book is just incredibly poetic. I don’t think i’ve ever highlighted so much while reading because every line was just so beautifully written.
Also: this was my first review before I started going more in depth.
the way lila loved nova was so pure and beautiful and their story was just perfect. so fun to read and learn their story.
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January 6, 2023
4.5 stars
Age-gap, childhood friends to enemies to lovers, motorcycle romance, soul poetry...
The way Giana Darling writes her characters is so gritty, sexy, romantic.
Nova is a true artist, a poet. His connection to Lyla is so intense. And the way Lyla loves him, so completely, since she was a little girl.
As usual, there is more then a single story line and the world building is fantastic.
I found myself rooting for this motorcycle gang through the entire series.
Can't wait for the next book!
Age-gap, childhood friends to enemies to lovers, motorcycle romance, soul poetry...
The way Giana Darling writes her characters is so gritty, sexy, romantic.
Nova is a true artist, a poet. His connection to Lyla is so intense. And the way Lyla loves him, so completely, since she was a little girl.
As usual, there is more then a single story line and the world building is fantastic.
I found myself rooting for this motorcycle gang through the entire series.
Can't wait for the next book!
September 1, 2023
LILA AND NOVA 💐🌷🌻🌺🌼
very much enjoyed this one!!
very much enjoyed this one!!
July 18, 2023
my fave in the series so far!! this is genuinely one of the most beautiful books and love stories i have ever read. nova and lila are the definition of soulmates. there’s so much heartbreak in this book and it pulls at your heartstrings. the love they have for eachother and others is just my favorite thing.
October 14, 2021
i really hated the whole unrequited love dynamic, didnt love any of the mcs but still finished this in a few hours
August 1, 2020
I WAS SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS BOOK AND I’M SO GLAD IT WAS AS AMAZING AS I THOUGHT IT’D BE. (Aka why I stayed up to 3am trying to read it but fell asleep along the way lol).
Thank you, Giana 😭💖
Thank you, Giana 😭💖
February 10, 2022
4.5⭐️
This was my favorite book in the series 😭🤩 Nova & Lila were precious!!!!!!!
This was my favorite book in the series 😭🤩 Nova & Lila were precious!!!!!!!
August 8, 2020
This love story was okayish and heartbreaking since our girl Lila has been in love with her man for well her whole life. This couple had lots of tension and some angsty moments.
Lila... girl.. DONT WATCH THE MAN YOU LOVE FUCK SOMEONE ELSE WALK AWAY!!!(they werent together remember this) also thank you to peeps for warning me I skipped the 28% mark lol. I did black out the part in my mind 🤣🤣🤣
But the fight she had with Nova when he broke her heart she did try to move on. Key word TRY! It was hard since they do run in the same circle i do wish she wouldhave distance herself from him more, beside her relationship/friendship with nova she had a mission to do she wanted to take down the peoples who were hurting her family. And thanks to Zeus she finally got the okay. Doesnt mean it be easy and doesn't mean a certain someone won't try to make it harder for her when he finds out what she's doing ;)
And BOOYYY when Nova finds out. That doesnt stop her not one bit. I really wanted him to like tie her to the bed lol and not let her put herself in danger but thats me 😂 I wish he was more possessive of his woman.
And NOVA!!! I had mix feelings for that man..He is such a heartbreaker and a flirty hoe (in past chapters with others) and the black sheep of his family. Thinking he wasnt good enough that he wasn't worthy enough for anyone because of his past.. poor guy but he always felt some connection to his girl Lil even if he pushes those thoughts away knowing he shouldn't be thinking them. I wish he said fudge it and go grab what he wanted. Like MAN THE FUCK UP!!
I did get annoyed he didn't grovel more until the end I wanted Lil to make him begmore for her attention and forgiveness but she already did..but when he did apologize 💦💦💦💦💦 lord.. i can't hate on those sex scenes.. But my ass wanted him to fight more for them. Fight to be with his flower girl. I felt like Lil was the one always fighting for them. Ladies MAKE THAT MAN FIGHT FOR YOU!!
Angst, slight ow/om drama, secondary charas, Drama, sexy times, no virgins H is a manwhoreish (both talked about their last relationship)
Recommend-yes/maybe
Cover-⭐⭐⭐⭐
Slow-burn
Older/younger couple (12 years apart)
24h/35H
Unrequited love
Tiny Voyagerism
No condom
Mentions of sex trafficking
Anal sex/play
Masturbation
Pinning
Violence
Hea
Epilogue
Lila... girl.. DONT WATCH THE MAN YOU LOVE FUCK SOMEONE ELSE WALK AWAY!!!(they werent together remember this) also thank you to peeps for warning me I skipped the 28% mark lol. I did black out the part in my mind 🤣🤣🤣
But the fight she had with Nova when he broke her heart she did try to move on. Key word TRY! It was hard since they do run in the same circle i do wish she wouldhave distance herself from him more, beside her relationship/friendship with nova she had a mission to do she wanted to take down the peoples who were hurting her family. And thanks to Zeus she finally got the okay. Doesnt mean it be easy and doesn't mean a certain someone won't try to make it harder for her when he finds out what she's doing ;)
And BOOYYY when Nova finds out. That doesnt stop her not one bit. I really wanted him to like tie her to the bed lol and not let her put herself in danger but thats me 😂 I wish he was more possessive of his woman.
And NOVA!!! I had mix feelings for that man..He is such a heartbreaker and a flirty hoe (in past chapters with others) and the black sheep of his family. Thinking he wasnt good enough that he wasn't worthy enough for anyone because of his past.. poor guy but he always felt some connection to his girl Lil even if he pushes those thoughts away knowing he shouldn't be thinking them. I wish he said fudge it and go grab what he wanted. Like MAN THE FUCK UP!!
I did get annoyed he didn't grovel more until the end I wanted Lil to make him begmore for her attention and forgiveness but she already did..but when he did apologize 💦💦💦💦💦 lord.. i can't hate on those sex scenes.. But my ass wanted him to fight more for them. Fight to be with his flower girl. I felt like Lil was the one always fighting for them. Ladies MAKE THAT MAN FIGHT FOR YOU!!
Angst, slight ow/om drama, secondary charas, Drama, sexy times, no virgins H is a manwhoreish (both talked about their last relationship)
Recommend-yes/maybe
Cover-⭐⭐⭐⭐
Slow-burn
Older/younger couple (12 years apart)
24h/35H
Unrequited love
Tiny Voyagerism
No condom
Mentions of sex trafficking
Anal sex/play
Masturbation
Pinning
Violence
Hea
Epilogue
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2022
5 “Property of Nova”⭐️
So addictive this book was! I literally had times when I was holding my breath and didn’t realize it. This is unrequited love at its finest! Childhood friends to kind of foster siblings to eventually the ultimate of lovers. This book had BITE! So angsty and so intense!!
“Bad boys, good men” MOST DEFINITELY!
I love how these two have known each other forever and the fierce love that Lila kept stuffed down Nova was pretty much oblivious to. He couldn’t afford to even think about those kind of thoughts about Li. Then that all changes and when I tell you it gets hot asf—trust me. Giana has such a gift of making these relationships feel so real. Literal chill bumps on my skin and flutters in my tummy. It’s rare for book highs like this, but that’s the power of Giana and her word magic.
These Fallen Men and their women own me. Such strong alphas that get IT done, but it’s their women that hold the power. The dynamic is incredible! The darkness. The grit of these storylines I’m addicted to. I love that Giana shies away from nothing and I do mean nothing. I can almost feel the blood spray on my skin as I’m listening because I get so immersed in the story. Just so damn good!
“It’s like clean laundry and sleeping in our own bed after vacation. It’s like loving someone because you were born loving them, like your parents or siblings, but more. 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.”
So addictive this book was! I literally had times when I was holding my breath and didn’t realize it. This is unrequited love at its finest! Childhood friends to kind of foster siblings to eventually the ultimate of lovers. This book had BITE! So angsty and so intense!!
“Bad boys, good men” MOST DEFINITELY!
I love how these two have known each other forever and the fierce love that Lila kept stuffed down Nova was pretty much oblivious to. He couldn’t afford to even think about those kind of thoughts about Li. Then that all changes and when I tell you it gets hot asf—trust me. Giana has such a gift of making these relationships feel so real. Literal chill bumps on my skin and flutters in my tummy. It’s rare for book highs like this, but that’s the power of Giana and her word magic.
These Fallen Men and their women own me. Such strong alphas that get IT done, but it’s their women that hold the power. The dynamic is incredible! The darkness. The grit of these storylines I’m addicted to. I love that Giana shies away from nothing and I do mean nothing. I can almost feel the blood spray on my skin as I’m listening because I get so immersed in the story. Just so damn good!
“It’s like clean laundry and sleeping in our own bed after vacation. It’s like loving someone because you were born loving them, like your parents or siblings, but more. 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.”
August 8, 2020
To sum up this book
The female character Lila spend 89% of the book chasing after the male character Nova.
It was exhausting... no man is worth so much trouble and drama.
🤷♀️🤦♀️
Female Authors stop writing about girls who chase trouble man who does not know how to communicate. This is so 2009 and in 2020 we need strong females female characters who speak their mind and don't wast their time chasing unavailable guys.
🤦♀️🤷♀️
The female character Lila spend 89% of the book chasing after the male character Nova.
It was exhausting... no man is worth so much trouble and drama.
🤷♀️🤦♀️
Female Authors stop writing about girls who chase trouble man who does not know how to communicate. This is so 2009 and in 2020 we need strong females female characters who speak their mind and don't wast their time chasing unavailable guys.
🤦♀️🤷♀️
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