Melonie Johnson again does not disappoint-great romance! Sadie is born into a rich family and when she is a child, she meets Bo, the son of her grandmother's ranch manager. Loved the rich girl/poor boy story and their romance as children and their mutual attraction as adults really read true. As the story starts, Sadie is a successful actress and Bo is her stunt coordinator on her big breakout movie. There was a horrible side story from Sadie's past that I thought was handled really well. If I had any criticism it was that I wasn't sure that I believed at the end whether Bo had really grown past his prejudices. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in return for my honest review!

Nothing makes me giddier as a romance reader than a really good second chance romance. Double that if fate intervenes to bring them back together as they did for childhood sweethearts Sadie & Bo. From the kickboxing for pie beginning, I was on board with this story. The beginning flew by, giving me a good picture of who the main characters are, their lives today with a few hints of the past.
Then came the pacing problems. I felt as if the story kind of lost its momentum at some point and it felt like it took forever to get the story going again. It took so long that it truly detracted from the story, giving me more relief that the end had arrived than satisfaction at its resolution.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for my unbiased opinion of the book. I love this book!!! Sadie Gold has tried to build a career for herself despite her family's money. She finally lands a lead role in an action film which could catapult her career in the right direction. Until she meets the stunt coordinator and first love and ex-boyfriend who walked away without a second glance Bo Ibarra. He and his family lived on Sadie's grandmother's estate as caretakers and his father was the manager until his career-ending accident. Bo has something to prove with the movie that he can handle the responsibilities of running the stunt business from his not so silent boss that he will finally put the business in his name and facing his Achilles heel in Sadie. They both try to deny the attraction is still from when they were kids but if the flames were any hotter, they'd be incinerated. Until a few close calls and compromising, positions put both in jeopardy of losing the thing that matters most of their careers and each other. Melonie what a great book. I hope you continue the series with the other friends in their group. I couldn't put it down!

Once Upon a Bad Boy by Melonie Johnson is another addictive read. I cannot get enough of this writer's style or her characters. There is so much to love! Heat, passion, an emotional journey, hot characters, and plenty of action-double check-all of it included, here. Melonie Johnson creates a novel that sizzles with every page. A swoon worthy read. This time, there's a bad boy image and a good girl kind of story. Just that alone had me eager to read more of this book. I loved how the sparks grew hotter between ex-boyfriend and girlfriend. It showed that sometimes, love is meant to be after all. Humor, romance, and a heartfelt plot made this an enjoyable journey. Overall, this was a must read novel in contemporary romance.

Cute and sexy second chance romance. I really enjoyed it. Melonie Johnson did a great job balancing the humor with the emotions and steam. With the history shared between Bo and Sadie, came a red hot connection. I liked them together.

Once Upon a Bad Boy was my first by Melonie Johnson but I already want to read the other books in the Sometimes in Love series.

What can I say? I’m a sucker for rich girl, poor boy stories. Especially if it’s a childhood friend to lovers’ trope. This book has it in spades. While this story could have been the classic “pool boy” scenario, Ms. Johnson doesn’t go there. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
Sadie is NOT the rich girl that everyone thinks she is. Sure, she spoiled but in all my reading, I’ve never read a spoiled rich girl like here. Down to earth, fighting for everything on her OWN merit, and trying to fight the feelings that she has for Bo all at the same time. She has gumption and I just kept cheering her on in the book.
Bo, on the hand, is the boy that broke up with Sadie on what is supposed the best night of a teenage girl’s life. No explanation, no nothing. Fast forward a decade and we finally get his story. He is a self-made man with charm to spare. Still with a bit of a chip on his shoulder but when it comes to Sadie, all bets are off.
Their chemistry is off the charts. But Ms. Johnson writes their romance with caution. Lots of hanky panky (3rd base at best) and its not until 70% of the book is through that they finally, do the deed. Why am I so excited for that? Because, these have a history that was destroyed one night and secret (that I figured out) that really needed to flesh out. Ms. Johnson wrote it beautifully and honest to the core. These two had to fight for themselves first and then each other in the end.
The secondary characters in the book are top notch. Even the “villain” is deftly written. I never saw that coming and it was a doozy. The film making aspects are great, too. Plus, the setting is Chicago. I LOVE Chi-town. I have family there and it’s a favorite destination for me. Go Bears! Go Blackhawks! Go Cubs!
I loved this book and it’s the first one that I’ve read by Ms. Johnson. I can’t wait for the next book in the series because Sadie’s friend is just too funny for words and her book is going to be hilarious.
Run, don’t walk to pick up this gem from Ms. Johnson. She doesn’t disappoint at all. Makes a note…check out her backlist. Summer reading, you know.

Once Upon a Bad Boy is the third book in Melonie Johnson’s Sometimes in Love series. Actress Sadie Gold has landed a break out role playing the main character in an action movie based on a bestselling novel. She had done bit parts in movies and commercials before landing a recurring role on a soap opera, but what she had been known for most was being a rich girl. She was in hopes the work she did on this movie would erase the talk of buying roles and the merit of her abilities would be recognized. She had trained for months leading up to shooting and would be doing most of her own stunts.

Bo Ibarra was partner in Windy City Stunts and was serving as stunt coordinator on this highly talked about production. But what Bo is most concerned about is his prior relationship with Sadie. They met as children when she visited her grandmother at the Murphy Estate where his father was the manager. They shared many idyllic summers together until the harsh reality of upper crust fists told him they were never to be.

When Sadie realizes that she will be working with Bo on this project she is worried about their past and that she is so unsettled about what had happened. But work and her best friend Ana show her that there may still be a future for her with Bo.

This is an interesting story that juxtaposes class showing that we are all pretty much the same with the same needs and desires. It shows how one can elevate oneself to meet goals and how those born to much must strive to overcome the opinion that whatever they earn was handed to them. This story has beautifully flawed characters that will be loved and a twisting tale that will lead them. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

This was a cute story! Sadie and Bo were high school sweethearts with a pretty painful ending. Now, Sadie is an up-and-coming actress working on a movie, and Bo was hired to be the stunt coordinator. Being in close proximity brings back old feelings and memories, and the couple must face what broke them up in the first place. This was an enjoyable story. Sadie and Bo's connection was great. In some ways, they came back together so fast that it made me wonder how anything was strong enough to break them up to begin with. However, there is a reason behind it and a secret that gets revealed. All in all, this was an enjoyable story!

Nobody gets through life without a few regrets, something Sadie Gold knows all too well. But when her first love, Bo Ibarra, shows up as the stunt coordinator on the set of her new movie, it looks like fate may be handing them a second chance. The fact that they come from different worlds hasn’t changed, nor has the secret Sadie keeps that could destroy their relationship for good.

If you haven’t yet acquainted yourself with the words of Meloneie Johnson, you’re really missing out! Right out of the gate, Johnson has given us three novels, rich in strong, smart females who are sisters of the heart and face relatable, authentic challenges yet still manage to find their one true love. With plenty of humor, a nice dose of heat and tons of heart, this romantic comedy, with its endearing characters, is the perfect way to escape for a few hours. And these books stand alone, so you can start with Sadie's story and then catch up with the others. You’ll fall in love with these characters and want to return to this book world again and again!

*I reviewed an advance copy of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.

I love a second chance romance and this one gives us childhood sweethearts from opposite social classes. The story starts off strong as we get to know Sadie and Bo, and they meet and start to circle each other. Unfortunately, that was the best of it for me because it lost its momentum. The story slowed down to the point that I began to wonder if we were ever going to get there. We finally do, but it was a bit lackluster after the meandering stroll we're taken on to get to this couple's happy ever after. I don't mind a lengthy story if it's needed and it holds my interest. This one was a little too easy to set aside once the pace stalled, and there were some things that were brought up but not concluded or properly fleshed out even after all that time. I think this one could do with a bit of tightening up, but as it stands, it was just an okay read for me.

I've loved every book in this series, and this one doesn't disappoint - though my favorite is still Smitten by the Brit! Sadie and Bo have great chemistry, but I found the story line a little slow and lacking the sidekick interaction was so dominate in the previous books. A charming story and definitely worth putting on your summer read list.

This is book 3 in the Sometimes in Love series and can absolutely be read as a standalone. This one is about Sadie and Bo. Sadie and Bo were sweethearts back in school until Bo broke her heart. Now she has the chance of a lifetime and Bo comes back into her life to train her for her role. In spending time together, they both realize the feelings are still there. But will old secrets and crazy stories tear apart what could be?

I really wanted to like this book, but it was just ok for me. The characters themselves are good but the story seemed to be super slow to me. I definitely struggled just to finish it because I just couldn't get lost in the story. There were little inconsistencies in the background story that slightly threw me off, but usually stuff like that I can just overlook. I don't know, I didn't hate this book but it definitely isn't a favorite of mine and I doubt I would reread it. But other's may thoroughly enjoy it, it just wasn't for me.

This book is the third book in this series and is my favorite of the three books. I enjoyed how fate led Sadie and Bo back to each other after being high school sweethearts during summers when Sadie spent time with her grandmother on her estate while her parents were busy traveling.

The characters draw you right into the story as you try to piece together their past and if there would be a future between them. Sadie and Bo come from opposite paths. Sadie is a rich girl who is struggling with trying to prove she got her major break in a movie because of her talents and abilities and not because of her family's money.

Bo is trying to prove himself too as he grew up on Sadie's grandmother's estate because his dad worked on the estate. He wants to own Windy City Stunts ad he will do anything to achieve that goal. It is going to be hard because he is the stunt coordinator for Sadie's new movie and they are going to have to be careful that word does not get out they are seeing each other. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review. You will love the characters!

I received an advanced copy of this book. This is the third book in the Sometimes in Love Series. In this one, Sadie finally lands the movie role that she hopes will take her to the next level in her acting career. Unfortunately, the minute she walks into the table read, she sees the man that was her first love as a teenager, and that was the same person who broke her heart on prom night. Sparks are flying again between the two of them again when he realizes that he made a mistake all those years ago, but can they get past their past and their heartache? Buckle up for another ride because Melonie Johnson is here to take you on another great ride!

ONCE UPON A BAD BOY -- Melonie Johnson
A Sometimes in Love novel
St. Martin’s
ISBN: 978-1250-193070
June 25, 2019
Contemporary Romance

Chicago, Illinois – Present Day

Sadie Goldwitz and Bo Ibarra were teen sweethearts but on the night of their high school, prom he ended their relationship, leaving her shattered. Now an accomplished actress, Sadie hasn’t seen him since that night and is stunned to learn that Bo is the stunt coordinator on the new movie that she will be co-starring in. Meeting him again after all these years, Sadie believes that he hasn’t changed…he is still a bad boy. And one that she better stay away from, because he tempts her way too much.

Sadie is (still) the rich girl, while Bo comes from a blue-collar family. Bo’s family lives and works on Sadie’s grandmother’s property and that is how they came to spend so much time together. But dating a rich girl is hard and Bo decided to just break things off because he couldn’t promise her that he could support her in the way she was accustomed and the point was driven home by her friends who mocked him. The problem is…. Sadie doesn’t care about her rich lifestyle. In childhood and adulthood, all she wants is to be recognized for who she is, not by how much money or possessions she has.

It’s been ten years since Bo and Sadie last saw one another but the sparks still fly hot and heavy between them. Because they’ll be working together, they can’t avoid each other. Soon, their attraction is rekindled and one thing leads to another and they’re making love. But there is a danger of working too closely together, as nasty gossip could get out accusing them of using each other for self-gain. Bo and Sadie try to keep their fling a secret but it’s hard to not let on how they feel about each other.

Sadie has fallen for the bad boy Bo once again. Will he break her heart again once the movie is over? What about the secret Sadie hasn’t shared with Bo yet? Their chemistry is sizzling hot in ONCE UPON A BAD BOY and readers will love their back and forth sexy banter. This tale is a page-turner that kept me enthralled right from the start. Despite Sadie’s rich girl background, she is like any other woman out there as she wants to make it on her own merits and not because “daddy paid her way.” Bo is a hard worker also, with his goal of being the sole owner of the stunt company he currently co-owns. Like Sadie, if word gets out that he’s having a fling with the lead actress, it could lead to some nefarious gossip that he wants to avoid.

While ONCE UPON A BAD BOY is part of the Sometimes in Love series by Melonie Johnson, it can easily be read a standalone as the romance and story is totally focused on Sadie and Bo. Their tale is of a reunion and a chance for a do-over for a couple meant to be together. A sexy, heartwarming tale with a hint of humor, don’t miss ONCE UPON A BAD BOY.

Patti Fischer

Sadie and Bo are childhood sweethearts. Until Bo suddenly ended it one night. Neither have really forgotten each other. Sadie is living her dream as an actress, excited to start working on a movie, which could do wonders for her career. She gets a big shock when she meets the films stunt coordinator. Its none other than Bo, its a shock for both of them. Our heroine and hero come from two different worlds. Sadie has lived a rich privileged life. Bo comes from a working class family.
I do love a second chance romance. The happily ever after is even sweeter, because our heroine and hero have gone through so much to get to this point. I really enjoyed following along as Melonie Johnson the author took the reader along for the ride.Book three in a series, best read in order. Although i didn't, I don't think it spoilt my enjoyment of the book at all. Highly recommended for fans of contemporary romance. ARC requested from Net Galley. This is my voluntary review.

Sadie Gold has landed the role of a lifetime and is determined not to screw it up. She's ready to show the world that she's more than just a pretty face from a wealthy family. She has talent and she's worked her ass of to get where she is. Enter stunt coordinator Bo Ibarra who just so happens to be Sadie's childhood friend/first boyfriend who broke up with her on prom night. To this day she still doesn't know why. He may have thought he was doing what was best for her but she doesn't know that so seeing him unearths feelings she's worked hard to keep buried. It's been 11 years since she last saw him and he's just as irresistible as she remembers. Will they be able to let go of the past and have a second chance at love?

Once Upon a Bad Boy is a sweet second-chance romance and I really loved Sadie and Bo together. The chemistry between them is undeniable and I love that they were able to rekindle their old flame. It wasn't easy, they each had their own obstacles to overcome - both together and alone - but they're stronger for it.
I would have preferred if they'd sat down and discussed their past before jumping back into bed together but I get it. It's been 11 years and despite the heartbreak, the attraction is stronger than ever and hard to resist. Once again revisiting characters from the first 2 books was great but I have to say, this time around Bo's cat Clark absolutely stole the show! He's so loud and grumpy it reminds me of my own cat.

This has been a solid series so far and I'm hoping to see another installment for Ana to get her HEA!

This was an EPIC second-chance romance! Did I want to smack teenage Bo for breaking up with a teenage Sadie, even though he thought he was doing the right thing? YES. Luckily, that's the past and we're thrown right into the present. What I loved most though, is that Bo and Sadie were both fairly straight forward when it came to their feelings. They both have past hurts they're hiding, but it's like they both know they're meant to be together now. I love the people they have become, and seeing them struggle with their individual insecurities. There is just so much depth to both of them, and I was so invested in their happy ending.

Then you have the celebrity drama to add a little more spice. I loved getting to know Ana more too, as we've seen glimpses of her and Sadie in the previous books. I wish we got a little more of Sadie's grandmother, because she seems like a real gem! Overall, this was an amazing third book in the Sometimes in Love Series, and I can't wait to get the rest of the stories involving the lovely ladies in this friends group.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

There is a ton of relationship stirrings going on in this novel plus a betrayal that cut to the core. A second chance for romance and love becomes a reality if honesty reigns and secrets are divulged and understood.
I love the female, Sadie, who faced her demons and stood tall with her decisions. It was very empowering for others in the same situation.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sadie Gold has it all or does she? She is a successful actress ready to take on the role of a life time. She has friends, a great home and a rich family! The only thing she is lacking is a love interest. She was hurt long ago and has had a hard time finding love again. Her first day on the new movie, in walks Bo. Bo was the boy she loved since childhood who broke her heart. Bo never explained why he broke up with her the night of the prom. Can these two mend fences and become friends? Will their past memories of each other help them to move on? Can they find love once again in each other’s arms?

This is such a beautiful story of love, loss and second chances by Melonie Johnson. This is also the third book in the “Sometimes in love” series. It was so fun to catch up with previous characters and see how the friendship of all the girls has blossomed once again. You could read it as a stand-alone novel, but believe me you are going to want to go get the other books in the series, as they are such fabulous stories as well. My favorite part is how Sandie develops her characters and the humor that she sneaks into the stories. Thank you so much to St.Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to read, it was fabulous and I can’t wait for the next one.