Once Upon a Bad Boy by Melonie Johnson ~ a Review

by MK French

Sadie Gold landed the starring role in a superhero movie and is determined to prove she got it with talent and not connections. The rumors of being a spoiled rich girl have haunted her, but she is sure that all of her training will help her take her career to new heights. The stunt coordinator is none other than Bo Ibarra, her first boyfriend, who had abruptly broken things off on their prom night. Even though it's been eleven years, feelings are still there between them and have rekindled.

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June 2019; St. Martin's Paperbacks; 978-1250193070
audio, ebook, print (384 pages); romance

Once Upon a Bad Boy is the third in the "Sometimes in Love" series, but you don't have to have read the first two books in the series to understand this one. It gives nice context for mentions of Cassie and Logan being married or Cassie's talk show, as well as Bonnie's engagement, but it isn't necessary. The entire book is focused on Sadie filming the movie, trying to visit her best friend Ana, and balance life with her grandmother, who she had essentially avoided because the Ibarra family had worked on her grandmother's property. We see glimpses of the past as the novel progresses because they can't move forward until they discuss the reasons why Bo had called off their relationship, as well as the emotional fallout for them both.

With the novel focused on movie stars and paparazzi, of course, there are additional conflicts in the form of maintaining a professional relationship while exploring an emotional and sexual one, as well as rumors about Sadie that spread online with dizzying speed. The romance between Sadie and Bo is a second chance one and doesn't shy away from the difficulties that surround them. Their relationship can't move forward without open communication and a respect for each others' choices, which is a realistic and healthy expectation to have. I liked that their problems weren't simply handwaved or erased because of their sexual chemistry, and they had to deal with each other as mature adults and not the eighteen-year-olds they used to be. Even with the inevitable happily ever after, it was fairly realistically done, which I appreciated.

Buy Once Upon a Bad Boy at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and golden retriever.

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