Sadie is trying to move past her reputation as a pretty face and a family with money. She has an upcoming role in a movie to train for and it is with her ex-boyfriend Bo. Bo came from a poor struggling family and the two couldn't maintain a relationship due to their different backgrounds. Now that they are adults, things have changed but are the feelings still there? A good second chance read.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and am leaving a review.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series and is now the chance of actress Sadie to find her happily ever after. I would highly recommend that you read the books in order, as the characters are key to the story, even if each book concentrates on another of the college girlfriends. Whilst the first two are the result of people they met on their Europe tour, Sadie finds herself working with her first love, Bo, and that gives a whole new slant to the story.

Sadie has been the very worldly member of the girl gang. Her parents are super wealthy and she has been on a national TV series for a while. She finally gets her chance as a serious film actress, and cannot believe it when Bo, the man who told her on her prom night that they should NEVER see each other again, is her trainer. And she took him at his word, so has avoided all knowledge of him.

They give off such mixed messages when they first meet, yet it is clear that they are both jealous of others being near their one-time love. It was a lot of fun when co-star Ryan plays around, but even more amusing that he sets his sights on Sadie's BFF, Ana. There is definitely a story to be told there – which I am looking forward to reading soon (hint hint).

As we start to learn just what happened all that time ago, and why both of them were so badly affected by the breakup, some really rather sad and even shocking revelations are going to have to be made. Through this, Sadie rekindles her relationship with her beloved Nana, and I loved seeing how close they were and how grateful Sadie is at being given the chance to heal that bond.

A great story, with lots going on, and I have to say, some fabulous humour – I did spend a lot of time chuckling at some of the chaos that they manage to get up to! A lovely second-chance love, which brings the total number of loved up couples to three – a few more to go yet!


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
I love second-chance romances and this one delivers.

Sadie and Bo loved each other immensely although they only saw each other during the summers. She was the daughter of a wealthy family and he was the son of her grandmother's estate manager. Bo realized early on that being with him would only keep Sadie from achieving her dreams and he broke her heart.

Sadie left Chicago and never looked back for Bo. Telling herself that if he didn't want a life with her, she didn't need him. Closing the chapter and that box of memories, Sadie set out on becoming an actress – a star.

Ten years later, she's back in Chicago to film a movie and Bo just happens to be the stunt coordinator on the film. Not sure how to handle this, she does what she always does – turns to her best friend Ana for advice.

The movie gives both Bo and Sadie time to work out their problems, deal with the teenage drama/trauma, and realize that the people they are today are not the people they would have been if they had stayed together. Realizing that life happens for a reason, they accept the past and look forward to the future, until someone tries to sabotage them with a long held secret.

Taking advice from her beloved Nana, Sadie owns her choices and dares anyone to condemn her for them.

I enjoyed this book. The secret that Sadie held is one that both empowers and devastates the person making the choice. Bo makes up for his insensitivity by making a profound discovery about himself that redeems him in the end.

Very heartwarming, emotional and witty second change that had me laughing and crying all at the same time.... was a great read from beginning to end and filled with lots of witty banter, wonderful charters, heart pounding action and exciting turns. Really enjoyed reading this romantic journey.

***I received an ebook copy from the publisher at no cost***

Another amazing story by Melonie Johnson!

Second chance romances are among my favorites, and Once Upon a Bad Boy is just that—a hot and wonderful second-chance romance story.

Sadie’s story is told in this book. She finds herself reconnected with an old flame, Bo, on the set of the movie that she’s starring in. Bo is the stunt coordinator, so the two end up working closely together on the set. And, surprise, the embers that once burned between them haven’t fully gone out yet.

This story was hot and fun. I loved the chemistry that was still there between Sadie and Bo. IT was obvious these two had a rich history. And Bo is amazing. I love a good bad boy and he definitely fits the bill.

Sadie is a fun character. She’s a fierce and smart heroine. I love that Melonie Johnson creates female characters that are strong and easy to relate to.

As always, I enjoyed the writing in this book. Things flowed perfectly, it was easy to read, and Johnson was detailed enough that I felt like I was there living the story with Sadie and Bo.

If you haven’t checked out Melonie Johnson yet, grab one of her books and get started!

Four stars to this novel!

I really enjoyed reading Once Upon A Bad Boy. It was an easy read for a short weekend. I have recommended it to friends already in hopes they find the characters as charming as I did.

Another great book in the Sometimes in Live series this is Sadies story. You see Sadie has a lot to deal with in her past and one of those things is the one that got away Bo Ibarra. Bo is the stunt coordinator for Sadie's new film and he is going to use this to get back into her good graces.

there is an emotion al upheaval, tension in the best way and a great story with this. Melanie Johnson has become another author in my just read list.


** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Sadie Gold has been picked to play the lead in a movie adaptation of a popular book, and she knows this is her chance to become a breakout star and dispel the rumors that her dad bought her way into her first acting role. However, she is wholly unprepared to learn that her stunt coordinator for the movie is none other than Bo Ibarra, Sadie's first love. She hasn't seen him since he broke up with her 11 years older at prom. Bo knows that if this movie goes well, his business partner may finally be willing to hand the ropes entirely over him, and he doesn't want anything to mess it up. However, neither Sadie nor Bo can deny the strong attraction that still exists between them. Can they overcome their past and navigate their current circumstances to build a future together?

I love second chance romances and have eagerly read the first two books in this series, so I was excited to see what this book held in store. I didn't really buy the story of why Bo originally broke up with Sadie, but I enjoyed reading about their chance to reconnect. I didn't really feel the titular “bad boy” vibes from Bo, but I liked him more as a character for that, especially his love for his family. I know we still have two more women from Sadie's group of best friends, but I hope we get a story for Bo's sister, Luna too!

Sadie and Bo had a childhood romance that make the stars shine brighter. This love story takes us through love, loss and futures. 5 star writing and 5 star romance. Melonie Johnson knocks it out of the park with this one!

ARC for honest review with no compensation received from NetGalley 4.5 stars

Once Upon a Bad Boy is book 3 in the Sometimes In Love series by Melonie Johnson.

Is it possible to have a second chance at forever love?

Sadie Gold and Bo Ibarra where a couple at one time but circumstances tore them apart. Now years later Bo shows up on the set of Sadie‘s new movie as the stunt coordinator. Can these two work together, discuss and put their past mistakes behind them to find their Happy Ever After or will being at odds keep them apart forever??

I always enjoy a Melanie Johnson book and this was no exception. Sadie and Bo meet again after 11 years. They used to be a pair, but Bo broke it off "for her own good" Sadie had money and Bo did not. He wasn't comfortable with the balance. Now he's the stunt coordinator for her first starring role. They are quite nervous around each other and it's fun to see their relationship grow. The storyline was good and I really loved reading it. I got this book from NetGalley for an honest review

This was a delightful book and I totally loved the characters. Sophie has been acting for a long time and is beginning her first starring role. Her excitement is dampened on her first day on set. There are a lot of stunts in the movie, some of which she will do. When she is introduced to the stunt coordinator it turns out to be Bo, her childhood best friend and teenage lover. He broke up with her on prom night and they haven’t seen each other since. They need to maintain a professional appearance while filming but it’s very difficult for both of them. Can they do this colored by memories from the past?


Also reviewed on Kobo & B&N under the name IrishEyes430

Once Upon a Bad Boy book #3 in Sometimes in Love Series. I really enjoyed this second chance romance. The characters are well developed likable and realistic. The story is very well written, a great addition to this series. I was drawn right in and this book was hard to put down. It made me laugh and also brought tears to my eyes. I am really enjoying this series and can’t wait for the next installment. I highly recommend this book, and the first two books in the Sometimes in Love series as well.

Very sweet second chance story with just enough angst to keep you reading. I enjoyed this story and the writing is good. The main characters were very likeable and the secondary characters added a lot interest to the story. I would definitely read another book from this new to me author.

Sadie Gold has struggled all her adult life to prove she’s more than a spoiled little rich girl whose family and their connections get her everything she wants. After leaving her role in a soap opera to pursue a career in film, she’s landed a role that can make or break said career and is fighting hard to show the world she’s worth the opportunity she’s been given. But then her past will make an appearance when her old flame is revealed as the stunt coordinator on her upcoming film.
Bo Ibarra is struggling himself to achieve the dream he’s been pursuing for the last 10 years. This film is the opportunity to show his partner he’s ready to take over and finally own the stunt company they started together. The one challenge he needs to overcome is working with the woman who’s always owned his heart.
This is a second chance story with a lot of heart, fun and sexy banter and great relationships. It’s a story of a fairy princess turned actress and a bad boy from a different world, who are brought together by fate in what seems like a different lifetime and have to find their way to a HEA.
I liked a lot of the elements of the book by themselves, but I found it slow to progress and predictable which only made it passable as a whole in my opinion.

Second chances!

I enjoyed this second chance book by Melanie Johnson. It had a lot of steam, a lot of emotions and I enjoyed the journey to love.

I received an ARC copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely.

This was really good! The story was sweet and sexy and full of romance. I had such fun with this book. I loved Sadie and Bo. This is a great summer read. I really enjoyed it!

Once Upon a Bad Boy by Melonie Johnson is the story of Sadie Goldovitz who is an actress using the last name of Gold. She plans to reward herself with one donut after a hard week of working out for her upcoming role. She gets her friend Ana to meet her and they split two donuts so Sadie only eats one but can half each of the two she can’t make up her mind about. Sadie decides to delay her gratification a bit and gets her donuts to go. When she meets for the afternoon meeting and learns her co-star Ryan also loves donuts, she offers to share a bite. Will she and Ryan share more? What happens when she shows up on set and learns the stunt coordinator is her childhood love who dumped her on prom night? Will she be able to compete the stunts and finish the move?
I liked this book and found it a quick, interesting read. It is a pretty much typical romance story. Boy meets girl, break up, get back together, meet someone else, breakup, etc. There are some surprises along the way to a happy ending for at least two of the characters. I rate it 4 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Yes!! I absolutely loved this contemporary romance. Sadie and Bo spent every Summer together on her grandmother's estate. As they got older hormones kicked in and they fell in love in high school. Unfortunately, prom night changed both their lives. Sadie went on working towards becoming a well known actress while Bo worked hard as a stunt coordinator. Eventually, their paths crossed. The ups, downs, normal anxieties, feelings and romance pulled on heartstrings and hoping somehow for that HEA. I received a complementary copy of this book via Net Galley and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by Ms. Johnson and am hoping Luna gets a book.

I am a total sucker for a second chance love story. Nothing speaks to my inner romantic more than two people, who loved each other deeply when they were younger, finding their way back together many years later. Also, I love groveling.

But I almost quit on this one. It took me two nights to read the first 40 percent. I appreciate an author setting up a story, but it seemed this one took too long to get to the good stuff…

Sadie Gold is an up-and-coming actress about to star in her first major film. She’s happy to be in Chicago, near where she grew up and where her best friends still live. Things take a turn when she discovers the man who is in charge of coordinating stunts for the action film is the man who broke her heart when she was 18.

Bo Ibarra loved Sadie, but broke up with her “for her own good.” (Ugh...I despise this reasoning to begin with, and I don’t feel like the situation that lead him to that conclusion was explained adequately, but never mind that…moving on!) Now he’s going to be working closely with her for the next couple months, and can’t help but feel fate has intervened to give them a second chance.

With very little effort, they find themselves back in love. But then something from the past - something Sadie meant to tell Bo about, but kept putting off - makes a forced appearance, and breaks them apart, again.

Despite a S-L-O-W start, this book had a lot going for it. The last half of the book, the pacing picked up as Sadie and Bo got to know each other again. I liked how the hero and heroine (kinda) took things slow, but things were still pretty steamy. Once they decided they wanted to be together, they didn’t dwell on the past. Which is good, what’s done is done and you can’t go back. However, maybe if they had spent more time talking about what went down between them when they were young, Sadie’s hand wouldn’t have been forced into telling Bo about the choices she made after he pushed her away.

But then, you know…there’s not much drama to the book. And that would be a shame. Because even though I could see where things were going (and easily figured out what Sadie’s secret was), and feel like there could have been more discussion about choices and consequences and how they felt, this book had the right amount of drama and angst.

Once Upon a Bad Boy is why I’ve kept reading so many books this year that didn’t immediately pull me in. Because every once in a while, there’s that one book that gets really good, and you can’t put it down all afternoon. It makes the not-so-exciting chapters worth it!

* thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I don’t know! I have read the other books in this series and totally felt them, related to the characters and rooted for them. I wish I had felt the same about Sadie’s book, but unfortunately, for me, it didn’t have the same punch that the others had. I did not relate to Sadie and Bo the way I wish I could have. I am looking forward to Ana’s book and i hope I feel more emotion than this story g