Secrets never stay hidden. Amanda is a Public relations guru and is being assigned to Peter a football hero who has no digital footprint and needs to become more accessible to his fans. The downside to this is that Amanda & Peter were once a couple years ago, but Amanda didn’t want to burden him with her ongoing medical issues.
Amanda has a autoimmune disorder and along with this type of disability comes fatigue and depression and her family was thinking it’s alll in her head because there is no specific name for it. Peter on the other hand donates all his funds to charity because he grew up in foster care homes. He does not talk about his benevolent works because he does not want to involve those kids.
The book is written with a good storyline and the characters are likable.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions..

This is book 4 in the So-Cal series by Sarah Monzon - I have really enjoyed all four titles. Amanda does not appear very often in the earlier three titles. When we read Amanda's story, we find out why. Her undiagnosed autoimmune disease forces her to cancel plans. Due to disbelief by her family, she decides to keep her health problems a secret. But her former boyfriend, Peter, finds out the truth. Will his support help her to move forward despite her limitations?

I do know people who suffer from autoimmune diseases. I cannot imagine how much of that struggle that must be. The symptoms are invisible to everyone but the one who is suffering. Author Sarah Monzon does a wonderful job of relating the reality of this limitation. For me, I hope that it will help me to be more sympathetic and ask how I can support those who deal with unseen pain.

The romance side of this story is definitely a sweet one. I love how positively Peter is portrayed. I also appreciate the fact that he comes to recognize that sharing how he has overcome his past is different than profiting from his personal tragedies. The characters that surround Peter added a lot to the story.

As for the SoCal group, they definitely add some fun to the book. Especially Nicole. These ladies demonstrate how to be understanding friends. I look forward to the next book featuring these diverse women.

I read this book through Kindle Unlimited. Then I requested it through NetGalley, so that I could share my opinions with more people because I really liked this book. I want more people to know about this series. The review (including the 5 star rating!) is definitely my idea.

*this review is copied and pasted from goodreads*

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Overall, I think this one is between a 3.5 and a 4 star review. I still, to this moment, cannot decide where I'd like to place it. While I felt like it was the cutest pretense, it didn't really grip me. I really enjoyed Peter as a person and I felt like Amanda was really relatable as a character, but their relationship felt kind of rushed? I also thought the secondary characters weren't well developed but they were often included in scenes, so those scenes were left lacking. The beginning was a little slow but it picked up pretty well, and then there was a little bit of a lull towards the end, however it concluded very nicely.

My one BIG complaint, and it's really a miniscule thing to be complaining about, was the overuse of the word "nuzzling." WE ARE NOT HORSES. Horses nuzzle. They also graze. Do we graze? Do we munch on grass out yonder when it's ripe and the pasture's grown? I'm being melodramatic, please excuse that. Some of the phrases were simply repetitive but that's easily overlooked, so it's a small complaint in the grand scheme.

Otherwise, the story flowed well, it was a quick read, I enjoyed its lighthearted nature and I thought the character growth was very, very good.

Delightful romance story that infuses much of modern life into the mix.

Amanda is a young gal working in social media with a professional sports team. Her life is about to go on a roller coaster ride as she's been assigned to help get more eyes on Peter Reynolds. The problem is that Peter is her old flame that she dumped because of being ill (and not wanting to tell him.)

While Amanda is much younger than I am, I could relate to 2 things about the character.

1. She works in social media (something I do a lot of!)
2. She has an autoimmune disorder (named Delores as the doctors can't give it a name.)

I might have a diagnosed autoimmune disorder, but it isn't managed well enough yet to avoid the pitfalls Amanda experiences from Delores.

As I was reading, I was thinking giving my own a different name might be fun.

For those who like their romance stories clean, this one does a pretty good job. No real language or sex scenes at all.

Book 4 is a winner!

Amanda is a funny, quirky read with loveable characters. Dolores, just a hoot. If you have not read any of the previous instalments, get them now so you are ready for book 4. Trust me you will not regret it.

Great novel!!

“I’d never gotten it before, Mr. Darcy’s appeal. How was a man always scowling at you at all attractive? Now I knew. It wasn’t so much the frown—although Peter’s furrowed brow somehow caused a visceral reaction low in my gut—as the depth behind the intense look.”

Beautiful. Inspiring. Heartfelt.

Amanda and Peter’s love story came to a blinding halt when Amanda broke things off due to a secret. Years later they are being given a second chance, but can Amanda let him in enough for a fresh future? This intriguing story is really about letting go and letting God use our weaknesses to bring Him glory.

“This tearing down of one thing to be built into another? Was it really worth the pain to be able to experience the joy of flying?”

I truly felt Amanda’s hurt, fears and struggles with chronic pain. I appreciated a story that I related so well with and hope others are inspired by it, too. I felt her rejection, and the questioning when others turned away. Monzon shows how much hurt is caused by others’ rejection and when you’re afraid to be authentic because of how others might react. I loved seeing Amanda learning to value her worth and trading in her fear for joy with Peter. Another beautiful lesson was her learning to trust others and not going through struggles alone by trusting her group of friends, the SoCal sewing girls.

“a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

Of course, Monzon throws in a lot of humor in the midst of this story. Updates on all the friends’ lives was really fun, too. If you love stories with real life issues, dashed with humor and guys you’ll just fall in love with, grab this series! She always weaves a thread of God’s acceptance, grace, and love that will capture your heart, too. I know it did with mine!

I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own and have been given honestly.

Heartfelt. No other words to describe this book <3

I just loved reading about this tight-knit group of friends and how they step in for each other when others can't.
Sarah Monzon shows how's it is not easy. She brings real struggles into her story while weaving in hope and joy.

Amanda
A Sweet Romantic Comedy (Sewing in SoCal Book 4)
by Sarah Monzon
BooksGoSocial
Christian | Romance
Pub Date 22 Apr 2021


I am reviewing a copy of Amanda: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (Sewing in SoCal Book 4) through BooksGoSocial and Netgalley:





“The Devil made me do it” it’s a phrase that I will never let pass my lips. Why would it when I have Delores, my undiagnosed autoimmune disorder, to make all my decisions for me? (I named her myself since the doctors couldn’t do it for me.) If I have a get together with my friends and Delores says no, I don’t go. Instead I’ll have my prescheduled daily afternoon fever and fatigue at that time.





There are two biggest regrets I have with having Delores direct my fate? One, my family thinks my illness is all in my head. And two, I set the love of my life, Peter Reynolds, free from my anchoring tether so he could fly. I never thought I’d see him again, but five years later he’s soaring in the limelight as one of the most talked-about defensive players in professional football. And did I mention he also happens to play for the team my boss just assigned me to as a social media manager?


If you are looking for a fun, often comedic Christian Romance to read let me recommend Amanda :A Sweet Romantic Comedy (Sewing in SoCal Book 4).


I give Amanda:A Sweet Romantic Comedy (Sewing in SoCal Book 4) five out of five stars!

This was a book I throughly enjoyed and I could feel her pain. I suffer with fibromyalgia and autoimmune conditions so I knew exactly how she was feeling. Well written and quite a quick read. Great at bringing awareness of invisible diseases.

4.5 stars
This was such a sweet book and a fun addition to the series. I read it in one day and I would definitely recommend it! Amanda is the fourth book in Sarah Monzon’s Sewing in SoCal series about a group of friends who fall in love. They are all quirky and fun.
Amanda has been keeping a secret from her friends. She has an undiagnosed autoimmune disorder, named Delores, that has made her life miserable. However, she is afraid to tell her friends, because her family believes that her autoimmune disorder is all in her head. But Peter Reynolds has a way of changing everything. When Amanda is assigned to Peter to help with his social media, she suddenly finds herself losing her battle to control her heart. She had let Peter go because of Delores years ago, but now that he is back in her life, Peter isn't going to be easy to shake. Can he show Amanda that he will love her no matter what and that letting her friends in will not be such a bad thing?
Amanda was such an interesting character. She was a lot of fun, but she was also vulnerable. I felt so bad for her. She wanted her friends to like her and stick by her so badly that she pretended to be someone else. I also felt like she was so strong. She learned to overcome her disorder by leaning on her friends. And I loved seeing her open up to Peter and let him back into her life.
Peter was such an awesome guy! I loved how he cared for Amanda and stood by her even when she tried to push him away. He was steady when she was weak and he helped her learn to be herself, the person she had been hiding. Peter had his fair share of hardships though, he didn’t grow up in a good home and was struggling to figure out the balance between his old life and the fame that football brought him. However, one thing he knew, he was going to stand by Amanda.
Peter and Amanda’s relationship was super sweet, and I liked reading about them falling back in love. They had always liked each other, but now they had to figure out how to let each other back into their lives. Secrets have a way of keeping people apart so that they also have to figure out how to let the truth free, even on social media. It was fun to see old friends again and to read about their interactions.
Amanda was such an interesting book, I really enjoyed it! I would definitely recommend it! It is a clean inspirational romance with characters that make you laugh and cry. These characters quickly become and feel like your friends.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

I posted on Goodreads, Bookbub, and Amazon

I really liked the concept of this book. This is the first time I have read where one of the main characters was battling with an autoimmune disease. I would have liked to have learned more about it while reading.
I wish the book was longer, gave the readers more to go off of. Also that the conversations were a tad bit more engaging, in depth. I thought at times there was some things left unsaid between the main characters.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Amanda suffers from an undiagnosed, invisible autoimmune disease that has led to her family regarding her as a hypochondriac. In the absence of an official diagnosis, she has called it Dolores and tried to hide its/her existence - including breaking up with Peter lest she hold him back. But now she has to work with him, and he's gradually getting under her skin again. Peter learned about Dolores by accident, and isn't happy that she broke up with him without giving him a chance - so when they have to work together, he sets out to show her that she can (and should learn to) rely on others to have her back. Will he be able to get through to her, or will Dolores win out again?

I wasn't altogether sure what a book with a character like Dolores would be like, but decided to give it a go because I enjoyed the previous book I read in the series. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. She certainly comes into things, but not inappropriately or in an over-the-top way. It's made clear that a health disorder can make it difficult or impossible to achieve things at times, but Dolores wasn't blamed for any and everything that ever went wrong, which was good. Aside from all that, the writing was good and I enjoyed getting to know Amanda and Peter and watching their interactions, as well as seeing a little more of the other members of the sewing circle. The two proposals were each somewhat too flamboyant for me, but I'm sure others will love them... All in all, a fun read, but a book that's more than just fluff. A good book, and I hope to read more of the series in future. Recommended.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Cute book. Being an Amanda with an autoimmune disease I enjoyed the story. Easy to read and quick. Definitely a sweet one to add to your to be read list.

This was such a sweet story, and I loved it! Although there are a few books in this connected series before Amanda, I have not read them and I was still able to enjoy this one. Amanda suffers from an undiagnosed autoimmune disorder. Peter is her ex-boyfriend and love from college. When they meet again and have to work together, they find that there are still old feelings lingering. This was a sweet story of former loves finding one another again and overcoming past obstacles and internal struggles. If you are looking for a quick love story, this is a good one to go to!

Please note: There are a few references to the bible and God. I usually do not read Christian fiction so I was glad to find that it was minimal and well written into the story line.

Y'all need to grab this book ASAP!!
I loved it.. it was so good.. if I can have Peter (I practically wish I CAN!!) I'd snap him in a second 😁
This was more than romance.. it's about the difficulties we face in real life which sometimes ppl don't understand but no matter what .. we'll get through it with loved ones on our side and God's love.
It's beautiful ❤️
It feels like blessedness to find such a fine romcom author.. the romance and comedy and life and truth .. everything was spot ON!!
I'm currently having all the others books by this author download 😁.. making my budget cross.. who cares though!! It's Books 😉

You know sometimes we need books to escape the reality and just want to in indulge a good read.. Ahh!! Nothing better than that feeling and this author or this series have been ranked first into my list

Well , nothing like a Christian romcom to life up mood on a odd feeling day

I highly highly recommend this whole series!!
Trust me.. it'll be worth every penny and every minute you read

I did not like the heroine evben thogh she was going through pain I still did not sympathize with her. However I enjoyed the story and dialogue.

“I’m fine!” Are these words familiar to you, even when you’re not? Does pain actually control you? Does it take all you’ve ever wanted and keep it from you? Do you let it steal your joy and happiness? Is it the biggest secret of your life?
These are things Amanda is dealing with. She’s afraid that if she lets others know about her pain they will leave her. So she puts on a mask and goes about her life as if she’s fine. However, life doesn’t stay the way she wants it, and soon her life really gets crazy!
The “Sewing Sisters” are back! This time it’s Amanda’s story and oh, what a touching story it is!
I loved how we see the “real” Amanda and experience the healing power of love! The banter and tension between her and Peter were fun and enjoyable. They both had issues in their lives but with support from each other, they were able to dig deep and find healing.
I loved how the author brought in the struggles of people who have pain, both physically and emotionally. She did it in a beautiful and loving way. These characters also found the strength to meet those battles through their friends and through God.
There was drama, humor, and tender moments of romance.
I think I love the whole group of “sewing” friends! Those ladies all have great personalities and quirkiness! I can’t wait to get to hear about Besty’s story in the next book.
Sarah Monzon is a very skilled author. She has given us a wonderfully entertaining book to read. She brings such a fresh spin on writing. Each of her books holds lessons we can all learn. I truly enjoy reading anything this author writes.
I highly recommend picking up this book, it’s fun and delightful!
I was given this book by the publisher which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Insomnia, flared burning in my hands, joints tight, and a killer headache often cause restless nights during which I don't fall asleep until my eyes shut with exhaustion.

The best thing I can do not to go through the night floundering is read. So, often I will read some light book as a distraction, or catch up on reviews and wait until a "reasonable" or "normal person" time to post my reviews.

But, "Amanda" by Sarah Monzon?

I didn't want to wait to share my review. I've only gone through health things the past year and it has been crazy and hard. Well, "Amanda" was just the right amount of romance, comedy, and realness that I couldn't help nearly crying over the feeling of someone "getting it". Sure, I know others going through health things without answers as their bodies are attacked by unseen things that they are told are "in their head" but there are rarely books that show so much realness from an autoimmune disorder. Amanda and Peter are such a wonderful leading couple, I just loved them, I loved their relationship, their second chance at love, their friendship, everything! AND MOST OF ALL THE HUMOR. Plus, hey, John, he's such a sweetheart and I wanted to see more of him!

Monzon hit this one out of the park, ehhh, wrong sport, but you get the point. ;)

Anyway, even though my review is pretty much mush, I suggest that you read this book if you like rom-coms, have health issues, or if you know someone going through health issues that may not be seen all of the time.

Content: 18+ for romance.

From the very first line, I'm sorry to say, it felt like a pretentious book.

Eg, "My breath shuttered in my lungs" the word 'shuttered' does not fit into this sentence anywhere, it's usually used in reference to closing window shutters, not breathing. The sentences aren't really engaging, nor do they tell us anything about what's going on. The words used in various places are irrelevant and unconnected as their meanings don't align with the sentences.

For readers who only read the first line to see if the book is worth reading, most would put this one down. For readers who like good grammar and a good setting and environment building, they might read a few pages before giving up.

The author has jumped right into the middle of the story and expects us to catch up. Most of the conversation is a filler and a way to dash out information. There is too much emphasis on describing each and every action of the characters; eg:

"I flushed the toilet and washed my hands before pattering back to the main room. Picking up the remote, I settled into my favorite corner of the sofa."

"I scurried into the living room and picked up the empty soda can on the coffee table, retreating to the
kitchen to toss the aluminum into the recycling bin."

Sentences like these add no real value to the book and only end up diverting the reader's attention and making them bored. Unfortunately, this book is filled with them. There is little to no expression of what the characters are feeling, or in other words, the author just tells us, never being able to actually show us what's happening.

I couldn't even pay attention to the plot, as there was just so much stuff that irked me as a reader. But one good thing is that there were only a few obvious typos.

Basically, I've read better stories written by amateur authors on the Wattpad app.