Once Upon a Bad Boy is the third book in Melonie's new series. Sadie and Bo are given a second chance at romance after being apart for eleven years. Sadie is keeping a secret from him that changes everything and Bo doesn't want her to know the truth behind why he ended things between them abruptly so many years ago. They have a lot to work through but their undeniable chemistry is still as strong as ever. But will that be enough>?

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley but all opinions provided are my own.

​I love a female action hero. Those characters resonate with me now more than ever, thanks to the largest biceps I’ve ever had—courtesy of carting around my giant babies.

So maybe it’s no surprise that I found the premise of Melonie Johnson’s Once Upon a Bad Boy to be delightful: Sadie Gold has just received the role of a lifetime, starring as an action hero in what’s sure to be a blockbuster film. To her shock, she realizes that the stunt coordinator on set is none other than Bo Ibarra, the man she grew up with and who broke her heart over a decade ago.

They both have secrets that they’re holding onto; will they break them apart for good?

This was my first Melonie Johnson book, and *cue dramatic voice*: it won’t be my last. It was hot and passionate. It was a celebration of female friendship, with friends who support one another and also tease, which rang authentic to me. And Johnson is a skilled writer, thoughtfully rendering the evolution of Sadie and Bo’s relationship (and beautifully showing how their feelings were/are possible of existing over a period of time, despite their years apart) and writing thrilling stunt scenes that are exciting and cinematic. They felt behinds-the-scenes-ish.

One last impressive aspect of the book is how Johnson handles Sadie’s revelation to Bo. Content warning ahead:
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Johnson handled the topic of a past abortion adeptly and admirably, portraying how painful Sadie still found the subject, but also how she was certain that she made the right decision for herself. I appreciated how Johnson made it clear that it was possible for both of those things to be true.
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Once Upon a Bad Boy is really good romance. Sign me up for more! (Also, I’d like to watch Sadie’s movie IRL).

Q: Who is your favorite female action hero? I'm a hugeeee fan of Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman. Does that count if she's a superhero?

Pretty good. Seemed long. Parts I didn’t love... 3.5 Stars
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I have to admit, I had a bit of a love/irritation moments with this book. I loved a lot of it. But there were some factors that I did not care for too.

Bo - Definitely a great character. Hot, sexy, and so in love with Sadie. But he had problems as a teen and reasons for letting her go.

Sadie - I actually enjoyed Sadie's character quite a bit. She is a great match for him and cares for him deeply. However, the author chose to have her do something that I have a huge problem with and without any spoilers, let's just say that conversation is a huge plus.

There were also a few instances that really bothers me about her relationship with Bo's sister. Plus, there was a something going on years ago that was never developed and that bugged me too.

Johnson is an awesome story teller and knows how to write the sexy reads we love. This story has all of the earmarks of a fabulous read, but I got caught up in some nagging details that I could not let go.

Overall, this book is perfect for anyone that loves the second chance romance storyline. Sweet, hot, and dreamy! I rate it 3.5 stars.

This is the third in Melonie Johnson'sThis is the third in Melonie Johnson's Sometimes in Love series and it's a sweet read about second chances in love.

Sadie is Hollywood royalty, an actress in her own right, and trying to make a name for herself outside of her famous family. Bo is the boy she saw during the summers when she'd visit her grandmother's ranch. As Bo's mother was the ranch's veterinarian and his father managed the ranch.

But Bo and Sadie were from different worlds. Even though they fell in love as teens, Bo quickly ended their relationship after he realized they could never work, being from different socioeconomic worlds.

Ten years later, Sadie is working on a film that will hopefully solidify her as an actress in her own right. Move beyond the world of soap operas. And the stunt coordinator is none other than Bo. Their attraction is stronger than ever and they try to maneuver their new relationship, especially with them both being on set where they probably shouldn't have a relationship. In addition, they still need to talk about the past, as there's more to the story than meets the eye.

Once Upon a Bad Boy is a cute second chances romance. It's not going to win a Pulitzer but it's entertaining, I like the characters, and want them to be together. In fact, I'm rooting for them. The one issue I have, as others have mentioned, is Bo's last name: Ibarra - which comes from his mother's side, not his father's Irish side. This could have been easily cleared up if there was a sentence about Bo's parents taking the wife's last name. It just rings weird since our society is one that typically is patrilinear. Not that I believe folks can't take the woman's last name, they absolutely can and I'm all for it. It's just not a cultural norm in the US, and hence why it was weird when it wasn't explained in a book that takes place in the US.

My first Melonie Johnson book was an absolute delight to read. She has a way with words that had me addicted to the page.

Another amazing book by Melonie Johnson! I felt like Sadie's friend from halfway through the first chapter and I was rooting SO HARD for her to get her Friday donut! :D
I really enjoyed Bo's character although his sister Luna felt quite flat and uninteresting. I was impressed with the character growth and progression, especially in context of Sadie's abortion, but I did feel that the abortion talk was a bit overstated (like it felt like she was constantly having to justify it to herself rather than just accepting that it happened and move on). That being said - I really enjoyed how realistic and practical this book dealt with the whole topic of teenage pregnancy and abortion. As a Canadian, our society isn't as hardcore as America is in regards to "all people who have abortions are wrong", so I don't have any of that societal garbage to wade through.
I must say - I do absolutely adore Sadie's Nana. Would you maybe consider writing a book about her?
But seriously - GREAT book!!!

Emotional, heart wringer love story that gives you all of the feels. I cried, I laughed, I cried some more, then I got mad and then my heart broke for this exceptional couple and I wondered how they had survived. Sometimes you have to go thru all of that to get to the good. 💓💔💓💞💞

Great book about second chance in love. Bo and Sadie are from opposite world but the attraction between them is stronger than everything. Can’t stop reading until the end.

I am thoroughly enjoying the Sometimes in Love series! This third book in the series can be read as a standalone and will appeal to anyone looking for a steamy contemporary romance.

This was a more serious story overall than the previous two books, and there were some moments of true heartbreak during this second chance at love. I found this to be less of a romantic comedy. There were also more explicit sex scenes in this book.

Similar to the rest of this series, and what I find most appealing, are the strong friendships and moments of comedic fun. The main characters were also appealing and I enjoyed getting to know them and was rooting for them to find their happily ever after. I truly enjoyed their unique careers of movie actor and stunt coordinator and how that brought them together. I also enjoyed their backstory and history that led to their second chance at love. This has fun references to Star Wars and classic films.

I do think think that this should maybe come with a content warning for an abortion storyline. I enjoy this series and this author and am looking forward to the next book.

I've read the first two books in this series. I started with book #2 and fell in love with all the characters. I can't wait to read more by this author. Sadie and Bo's story started when they were kids. They reconnect on a movie set and realize they still love each other. I really enjoyed this book, the author does a great job of writing characters that you'd want to meet in real life.

Ahhhhhh I so enjoyed this book! It was a quick read for me. I look forward to reading more from this author. Thanks Netgalley for the Arc.

I’ll be honest and say that I’m not a huge fan of second chance trope because I feel that some authors don’t portray actual their character’s self-growth that well but Melonie knocked it out the park with this one. This had be with so much angst and I was completely rotting for them from start to finish. Also the families of the characters were a good addition to this book as I felt it allowed us to really see the character’s actions and how they were conflicted too. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will say it’s the best of the books in the series (I loved all of them so this is saying a lot!).

Look, Melonie Johnson has been a hot little blip on my radar since before I sunk my teeth into Getting Hot with the Scot. I read her little “about me” section on goodreads and saw “Star Wars junkie” and that was all she wrote. BUT, this book was my favorite of the three she’s written so far and it’s made me love her even more!

My notes during chapter 9 of this book: I have a feeling this book is going to frustrate the hell out of me.
Future me: You have NO IDEA.

First of all, I have to mention the friendship again. I’ve mentioned it in my reviews for both of Johnson’s prior novels in this series and she doesn’t skimp on the friendship in this book either. I LOVE THE FRIENDSHIP. I have to say, I think I enjoy Ana and Sadie more than I did Bonnie and Cassie. Though both of those best friend duos are matches made in heaven. Where are my four girlfriends who are willing to do Monday Margaritas? Hmmm? Where ya’ll hiding?

Anyway, this was my favorite of the three and I’ll tell you why.
One: It was hotter than the first two combined.
Two: Bo. ‘Nuff said.
Three: It was completely believable!

In the first book, Cassie doesn’t know Logan long before they’re making wedding plans. (I know, I know. People actually do this sort of thing.)
Bonnie’s book was a little better as she knew Theo from the summer before on the trip she took with her friends.
But Sadie’s story? Ughh. It made so much sense. TURN THIS BOOK INTO A MOVIE BECAUSE IT IS WONDERFUL! Their’s is the kind of story I would watch multiple times a week with a hot cup of tea and all three of my kitties curled up with me under my Star Wars blanket on the couch.

A childhood love turned to a high school romance that quickly died the night of their senior prom. Sadie has gone all these years never knowing why Bo broke things off. Well, she’s about to find out. The two of them were so REAL with each other and the way they acted together was PERFECT. It fit them. I believed that they were lovers from childhood. Everything in this book just FIT.

I also really liked the sense of family in this one. Sadie’s nana is THE BOMB. Always steering Sadie in the right direction when she needs it the most. Keeping her level headed and humble.
Then there’s Bo’s family. His dad doesn’t say much but that’s part of his character. But his mom. Ughh. What a wonderful person she was. So full of joy and spunk even while she was commanding people around (mostly Bo) like a drill sergeant. I loved the family aspect of the story.

I didn’t think I was going to enjoy having to read about the making of a movie but I did! I really enjoyed it! The movie parts aren’t thrown up too much in the book. They’re in there just enough so that you get what you need from what’s going on in the main plot of the story.

I must say, I was frustrated multiple times by these two but I was also crying REAL TEARS at the end. REAL TEARS, PEOPLE. This book was so wonderful and so beautifully written and I love it. Love love love it. Go read it. Every one of you. I implore you!

Alright Melonie, give me Ana’s book. I’m ready! 🙂

I really liked Getting Hot with the Scot, and liked Smitten by the Brit, but I'm having a harder time reading this one than the others in the series. As the series progressed, the narratives are getting more and more explicit and while I like the character development and plot, the sex scenes are getting too over-the-top for my taste. I will probably read more of the series when they are published, but hope that Johnson goes back to a slightly tamer writing style.

Once Upon a Bad Boy by Melonie Johnson
Book #3: Sometimes in Love Series
Source: NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press
Rating: 4½/5 stars

Though Sadie Gold won’t admit it to her friends, she still hasn’t gotten over her first true love, the man who shattered her heart more than 10 years ago. To be fair, Sadie will barely admit the truth to herself, but the universe has plans for Sadie and admitting the truth is absolutely one of those plans 😊

For the last 10 years, Sadie has focused all her attention on improving herself as an actress and convincing people she is serious about her craft. Sadie is tired of the public’s assumption that she is just a spoiled little rich girl whose parents bought her career and she’s looking to correct that misconception in a big way. Oh, make no mistake, Sadie is rich, but she isn’t spoiled, and she’s worked her butt off to earn every role she’s gotten. In fact, it’s her latest role in a huge action movie that Sadie hopes will earn her the respect she has worked so hard for. She’s trained, she prepared, and with filming about to commence, there’s nothing that can derail her!

Sadie planned and the Universe laughed . . . . . HARD!

Bo Ibarra has spent the last 10 years doing two things: 1) building his career as a stuntman and; 2) regretting his decision to walk away from Sadie Gold. Not once in 10 years have their paths crossed, until now. With Sadie’s new movie set in Chicago and filled with stunts, Bo and his company are perfectly placed to coordinate the stunts. Though Bo was expecting to see Sadie the first day of filming, Sadie wasn’t expecting him. While Bo had hoped the reunion would be good, Sadie is clearly taken aback and somewhat frosty. If his plans to win her back are going to work, Bo is going to have to make amends and prove to the woman he still loves that he can be trusted with her heart.

As the days on set begin to unfold, Sadie finds all her old feelings for Bo rising to the surface. She’s done a damn fine job of keeping those feelings locked away and unacknowledged for 10 years but being face to face with Bo regularly is wobbling her resolve. Bo is everything she has ever wanted and more, but he walked away from her once and the heartbreak nearly killed her. She has to trust him on set with her body (the stunts, you pervert!) but trusting him with her heart is harder to do. With each encounter, Sadie allows herself to remember more about her past with Bo and to bravely confront him about his actions. Thanks to age, wisdom, and experience, both Bo and Sadie are better able to comprehend and accept that the past is the past and if they truly want a future with one another, the past is going to have to remain just that, the past. Unfortunately, not everyone in their lives is happy with the situation and with one bombshell, Bo and Sadie are blown apart once again.

The Bottom Line: I know I said this yesterday about book two, but here goes . . . . I liked this book even better than the one before it 😊 Sadie and Bo are by far my favorite series couple and it has everything to do with their shared past (aaaw, second chance romance!) and they’re deliciously naughty, naughty bits!! I love past meets present books and this book certainly satisfied that love. Furthermore, I feel like Sadie and Bo, probably because of their shared past, are the most mature couple of the series to date and that very much appealed to me. I am so glad I stumbled across this series and can’t wait to see what the author has in store for the last two friends in this crazy group of awesome girls!

This is a really cute, sweet and sometimes sexy love story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can wait to dig in to the next book, I love these characters. The only thing, I'm left with a question on this book....what happened at the prom that left Bo with bloody knuckles. Etc.?? Did I miss the explanation?

Loved the introduction to this fabulous group of women, and the guys friendship.
The romance build though fast was very believable and well developed.

Highly recommend

I have read the two previous books in this series and this is definitely my favorite so far. And it can be read as a stand alone.

We are getting Sadie's (and Bo's) story in Once Upon a Bad Boy. This is a second chance romance. Sadie is an actress (I honestly wasn't much of a fan of her in the previous books and thought I wouldn't really like this book because of that). Bo is a stunt coordinator. Sadie is shocked to realize her first love, the one who broke her heart, is the stunt coordinator for her current movie...the movie to make or break her carreer. This also happens to be the job which will either make Bo's dreams come true or crush them. It was an interesting ride to watch what happens between these two as tensions rise and things heat up with so much on the line.

I loved Bo's character and grew to love Sadie's as well. This was a fun story but there were some tense moments and serious issues present too.

Great book and will love to see what else this author has in store for us readers.

This is the third book in Johnson's Sometimes in Love series, and Sadie's story, but it could easily be read as a standalone. Sadie's career is about to take off as she's just scored her first role in a major action film. However, her first day on the set she's stunned to find Bo, her first love, first heartbreak, and current stunt coordinator. It's an enjoyable read, especially if you are a fan of the second-chance love story.

Bo and Sadie's story was great. The chemistry between the two of them was amazing. I loved the story line, it flowed very well and it was great to see them work through their past issues.