Sadie and Bo unexpectedly reunite after many years apart. We met Sadie in the previous 2 books in the series. This book takes to Chicago to make an action film. Sadie has been working hard to prove herself in Hollywood. Bo has been working on stunts. The 2 unite and Sparta fly. Give this one a read and the previous two.

A soap opera star finally gets her big break as a movie star, when her teenage boyfriend that mysteriously broke things off turns out to be the stunt director on the movie. Cue drama.

It’s a cute premise and I like that the break-up obviously stemmed from a misunderstanding or poor communication. It was well-written, the dialogue flowed nicely and most characters were solidly developed. Most.

Sadie was a lovely character, and it was really easy to pick up on her personality, her feelings and her past. Ana, Ryan, the list goes on.

But Bo… the only scene where I actually felt close to liking him as a character was when he was around his family. He’s a very man-pain-y character (forced to work his way up in the world; girlfriend didn’t pine for him for a decade; etc.), but he doesn’t seem to recognise his man-pain. This character trait might work for other readers, but that just doesn’t appeal to me.

I really didn’t feel the romance in this. If anything, I found it pretty repulsive. I accept that that may have been because of my dislike of Bo, but it just felt like as a reader I was missing a connection to the romance. There was no development, it was just a jump back into old feelings that we hadn’t seen ourselves.

This wasn’t awful and I’d give another book by this author a read, but it just wasn’t for me.

Mercedes Goldovitz, better known by her television stage name, Sadie Gold, has landed a leading role in a new action film called Fair is Fair. She’s poured her heart, soul and ripped abs into preparing for this physically demanding role. It’s a break that could seriously boost her acting career and her movie cred. Of course, the tabloids will say her success is merely the result of her father’s money. This is her chance to prove them wrong.
Bo Ibarra co-owns a movie stunt company, Windy City Stunts. He has been hired as the film’s stunt coordinator, choreographing the high impact fight scenes. This film is a big opportunity for Bo as well. It’s his most high-profile project yet. He’s come a long way from his days working as a stable hand in the Goldovitz’s horse barn, and this is his chance to prove to his aging partner that he’s ready to run the business on his own.
Both Sadie and Bo are prepared for their respective challenges, except for one teeny distraction. They have history. It’s been over ten years since their unexplained breakup, but smoldering feelings remain. And now that fate has brought them together again, can they keep it professional, ignoring the proverbial elephant in the room? Or could this be a second chance for them…or just more tabloid fodder?
Book #3 of Johnson’s Sometimes in Love series reads like a movie romantic comedy in print. Like the first two books in this series, Johnson’s writing is crisp, fresh and witty. Her diverse cast of entertaining characters provides a mixture of humor, drama, conflict and a healthy dose of hotness. Reader, get ready for lights, camera, and lots of action!

My favourite book by Melonie Johnson so far!!!
Wow this book made my heart sing!!!
Sadie comes from money and land, Bo's family on the other hand works on Sadie's grandmother's land. These two spark up an amazing friendship! They soon become childhood sweethearts, the adventures and love they shared is just WOW!! Breathtaking!
Eleven years has past, while Sadie is working on her new role in a movie, who is her stunt coordinator! Bo! After eleven years they have a lot of unfinished business they need to sort out! Secrets unfold and they are faced with many challenges, however one thing is for certain, the chemistry and love they once shared is still as strong as ever!
This book is a real page turner!! I can't wait to reread it again!! Highly recommend!!

Ahhh this is now my favourite book of this series! I don’t normally love second chance romances but this one was absolutely fantastic! Super hot chemistry, the perfect amount of drama and some humour thrown in, this book was impossible to put down! Loved everything about it!

I loved the first two books but this one was just okay to me. I didn’t connect as well with the characters like the first two. Third in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. I found myself skimming a bit at times. I still liked it but just not as much of a compelling read as I’m used to with the author.

This is a book about fate giving a couple a second chance. Since Sadie and Bo had last seen each other their lives had gone in separate directions and yet the direction ultimately brought them back to each other. Sadie was starring in her first big feature film and was shocked to see her first love, Bo, on the set. They were both secretly thrilled to see each other but didn't want to show it because they were both there to work. Their feelings for each other were eventually to hard to hide so they decided to explore the opportunity of a second chance. This is the third book of a series but can definitely be read as a stand alone book. I felt the story was a little slow in the middle but overall was a great read. Overall, I enjoyed it and left me hoping there will be more books in the series. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to read an ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I adored the previous two books in the series. I couldn't wait to devour this one too. I liked the second chance love aspect of the novel while the characters were also trying to resolve their own demons from their previous relationship failure. I received this book from the publisher and I'm grateful for the opportunity to read it. 

Sadie finally has her big break! She's the leading actress in an action movie. She's been working hard from her diet restrictions to  intense workout schedule. It's all going to pay off. 

On the day of the script read through she meets the stunt coordinator, Bo. Her ex. Not just any ex. The one who got away. Her first love. Her first everything. The man she compares all others to. None of that matters, she has a job to do and she's going to nail this role. It doesn't matter that his looks still make her skin tingle and his touch completely melts her. It doesn't help that he has to coach her on how to fall and jump through a window. The only thoughts that keep running through her mind is how she fast she can strip him out of his clothes. Anna, her best friend is no help. Her bestie encourages her to go after the studly coordinator who turned in a horse for a motorcycle. He looks sexy on both. If she rekindles her relationship with him, how will that effect her job? If the media or the studio found out, she would be crucified.She can't deny her feelings for him.

Bo has a chance of a lifetime. He's the lead stunt coordinator. Not assisting. Not his business partner taking over halfway. From beginning to end, this movie is all him. If he can pull it off, he can take full possession of the business he started with Vic. He knew working with Sadie was going to be a challenge. He didn't realize how much he still loved her. Or how quickly he fell back in love with her. He can't get involved with the lead or his business will suffer. Not to mention what the media will do to her. It's hard to keep his hands to himself around her. It doesn't help that the paparazzi dug up information about Sadie that he never knew about. This information could destroy them. Why would Sadie hide that from him? What else is she hiding? Can he get over her betrayal?

Despite being a bit uneven, I enjoyed this installment in the series. Second chance romances can be tough and I think that Johnson tried to create a realistic reason for Bo and Sadie to have parted in the past but after all of the allusions to what happened on prom night I was expecting something a little more dramatic and was a little baffled by Bo's timing and decision making. The same thing happened when the reason's for Bo's sister's intense disdain for Sadie came to light.. There was so much drama going on this book with their careers and their families. It made for an overlong book in some ways and I think resulted in a somewhat underwhelming ending.
However parts of this book were so strong. Sadie and Bo's connection leapt off of the pages and they definitely had some steamy scenes. While this may not have been my favorites of the series so far, I am looking forward to reading the books about the friends remaining.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in the Sometimes in Love series but it can totally be read as a stand alone novel. In fact, there is very little mention of the two previous couples in this book. This was a second chance romance featuring Sadie, an actress trying to get her fist big break and Bo, the teenage boy who broke her heart eleven years ago. For eleven years, Sadie has wondered what happened that Bo suddenly broke things off on prom night. But in all that time, she never looked him up to see what he was doing with his life. So she is completely unprepared to see him on the movie set as the stunt director. Is this the chance for her to get closure or is it a chance to finally get the romance they weren't ready for as teens?
Like her previous books, Melonie Johnson creates some memorable characters that are easy to connect with. Overall, a very enjoyable and fun read that has me looking forward to the next book!

I am a fan of this series as it not only has romance, but highlights strong friendships among the characters. In this story, the main characters, Bo and Sadie, were also friends/lovers who grew up together and then lost touch for many years only to have their paths cross again in their careers.

I enjoyed the stories that told of their history together as they tentatively worked toward trusting and forgiving each other. The background the reader gained from hearing about their past and how it shaped their lives even after their break-up made the connection to the characters deeper and made it easier to understand their actions/reactions. The introduction of Bo's family and Sadie's grandmother also added depth to the characters and made the reader root for them to work out their relationship.

Although part of the conflict in the story dealt with a very sensitive topic, it was handled very well. It showed realistic reactions to the issue, and in the end, showed acceptance for choices that were made.

I recommend this book, as well as the others in the series, and look forward to the other friends finding love in future books!

Loved the first 2 books in this series. Hot, fun romance and expected the same.from book 3. What I got was a twisted plots of angst, poor teenage romance and choices made and hot detailed sex. Disappointed since I know that this author can write better. Tough subjects can be tackled but not as book 3 of a hot fun series.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

Dnf 40%

After the first 2 books in this series were 3 stars from me, I just had a bad feeling about reading this one. This one still sounded good via the blurb but at 40% it wasn't really getting anymore interesting for me. I think thats the problem for me with this series is that they are just too long and being extremely drawn out for me. The first 2 books I still managed to finish somehow, but in Once Upon a Bad Boy, I wasn't connecting with the characters

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

After reading other reviews for this series, I have decided that it is not for me. I will not be reading or reviewing it for my blog.

This was my first Melonie Johnson book to read. I wasn’t prepared for all of the sex and cuss words. I felt like the first quarter of the book was a lot of backstory and there wasn’t enough conflict between the hero and heroine. Then at the end it’s no longer fun and flirty and there are heavy issues that drive the couple apart. This arc was confusing and the overall mood took a dive from fun to super serious. Overall, the writing style was good.

I love storylines like this one! An old love comes back into the picture, and fate intervenes: it is so romantic! That said, the author does a fantastic job weaving this story together, and I adored the characters. It is well written, romantic (as already stated here), and very steamy. The heroine is worthy of the title: she pushes past things that terrify her, and she owns her decisions. Can’t get much more inspiring than that. I’ve enjoyed the entire series (they can be read easily as stand-alones) and look forward to enjoying them again.

Meh. Of the series this is my least favorite book. I found myself skimming.....a lot. Neither characters resonated with me. It is not like I hated anything about this book, more like I just didn't believe them enough to care about their story.

Overall I would give this book a 3 and a 1/2 (rounding up to 4) star rating. It was an "ok" book for me. I figured out the “secret” early in the book (like the first time the main character brought it up). I felt like the book drug out the “secret” aspect of it. Also, I felt like the book got a little long and I was starting to get a little bored waiting for the next shoe to drop. Even with all this, I did think that Sadie and Bo’s love story was cute with how they reconnected after all these years and I was still glad I read it.

First of all, I have read the first two books in this series and I loved both of them.

This one, not so much.

This book works as a stand alone read. Relationships and past events are explained well.

There was a lot of hot sex and a plot that had holes in it.

Bo, has an Irish father, Hispanic mother and an Hispanic last name. Bo's sister hates Sadie and treats her rudely in front of their parents. His parents are courteous and charming people. But, no one says a word although they live in a home owned by Sadie's family.

There is a spy leaking information and no one can figure out who it is. I did.

There is a Huge Secret about why Bo broke up with Sadie when they were kids. I could figure it out.

Sadie had a Huge Secret from her past. I could figure it out.

I am sorry, but for me there were many plot “twists” that seemed to be thrown in just to have a plot.

This is a second chance story. Sadie is an actress looking at a huge break and starring in a blockbuster movie. She runs into Bo because he is the stunt coordinator for this film. They were in love and lovers when they were in high school. It did not end well and Sadie was heartbroken.

Now, that they have met, everything comes rushing back.

This is where the pages and pages of very intense descriptions of sex commence.

I am not against sex, but I would have liked a little more story wrapped around the sex scenes.

I know that Ms Johnson can write fun and funny books. I have read two of them. I know she can create plots which hold my interest. I have read two of them.

Ms Johnson creates interesting characters. Sadie and Bo are interesting and at times they are quite entertaining. But, it seems the idea of being honest with one another about the past never has occurred to either of them.

I hope that we get to see the stories for the final two members of the group of best friends. I know they can be interesting. I know they can be entertaining. I look forward to those two books.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book. I think the 2nd chance at love romance can be hard to carry off---an author has to show that the characters have changed enough to make it work this time around, when they couldn't the first time. I think the author does an admirable job of showing how the characters grew and changed since they were teenagers, but unfortunately, they do lapse into the same patterns they did of not really talking to each other and having a break-up. In that way, I do wish the author would have done more to show that their communication skills had grown.

Plotting wise, there's a huge work-impediment that Bo faces that is a big driver of his motives that gets wrapped up off-stage that I didn't find satisfying at all. If one of the character's is facing a major word dilemma that is throughout the book, then I think readers want more closure on that.

I'll admit that I mostly read the book for the abortion plot bc after this week, I'm interested in romances that have this plot because there are so few. I both loved and hated the treatment of abortion in this book. Part of me wishes we could just have women with no-regrets-abortions in romance, that's what I think we want and deserve. Instead. Sadie spends most of the book talking about how she has to force her feelings "into a box" which implies that she mostly felt guilty? But then, I found the ending way more satisfying, a staunch "this was my decision" and the hero although he is upset at first tells her it was her choice and there's nothing to forgive her for. It felt nuances and layered, and I ultimately it worked for me.