I've never read anything by this author, or any of the books in this series, though I've heard good things about both. This isn't my usual genre to read, but I'm glad I gave it a try.

The cover is what first caught my attention. After reading the blurb, I thought this might be a good book to start out the year. I had problems keeping my focus to read in 2020, but I was able to do so with this enjoyable read.

Nicole is a well-rounded character: a single mom and environmentalist who is determined to do things her way ... and she knows she doesn't need a man by her side. Drew is a goofy guy that can let go and enjoy life. He's the opposite of Nicole.

This is a cute story with a an enjoyable cast of characters. I may check out the prior books to get caught up and gain a greater appreciation for everyone. The dialogue is fun and made it easy to stay engaged. I also liked how Drew was determined to get Nicole to loosen up (something I've in need of doing myself, after last year!). The relationship develops at a realistic pace.

I look forward to reading other books by Monzon in the future.

Nicole has no time or interest in a relationship, and only goes on dates because her friends bribe her. When a date dumps her before the food even arrives, she's flabbergasted (and none too pleased) when Drew, a friend's friend who has the ability to rile her more quickly than anyone else she's ever met, steps in to finish the date so that she won't forfeit her reward. Somehow, though, once they've spent that time together, they seem to keep on bumping into each other. Can Drew convince her that a worthwhile relationship is possible?

A good mix of humour and real feeling, I guess I'd have to call this 'a light read with something more', because it really does go that bit deeper than your typical light read. I enjoyed seeing both points of view, and the relationship unfolded in a fairly gradual, realistic-feeling way. I was pulled in from the first page, and held throughout - despite the fact that I disagreed with various of Nicole's opinions/passions. All in all, a great read and I look forward to meeting more of the friends in future books.

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.

Nicole is the third novel in the ‘Sewing in SoCal’ series. Each novel follows the story of one of the members of the sewing group so you could technically read this as a standalone, which is what I did. You do not have to read the others to understand what is going on in this novel although there are some pieces about the other characters that were referenced from the previous two novels. The cover is what drew me to read this as it caught my eye while I was scrolling for my next novel to read. I looked at the other two novels and I love how fun each of them are as it draws you to read them.

Nicole Applegate is a single mother to an eight-year-old girl named Sierra. She has recently separated from her husband, Greg, who is not winning father or partner of the year any time soon. She is curvier at a size US 16, which is a nice twist for a main character as they are typically smaller. She’s pear shaped with a larger lower half and a smaller waist and the novel never lets you forget this fact as it is repeated multiple times. Although I love having a curvy main character, I feel that it became too much a part of her identity as a character and the body positivity becomes lost. I wish that it were dealt with in a more organic way than just a fact repeated stated over and over again. It was a missed opportunity as the character is stated to be comfortable in her curvier body, but she keeps having inner monologues as if she is ashamed of it and judges others that are thinner than she is. As a curvy girl myself, I completely understand the back and forth thoughts on your own body image and the envy we can sometimes feel, but I feel as it was a missed opportunity as a character that is trying to portray a body positive image to their audience.

Her love interest, Drew Bauer, is a doctor and peewee football coach. He has a tragic backstory that is easy to guess, but it does not get the full attention that it deserves. It is glossed over as the novel goes over it a few times, but there is so much more that could have been discussed. His chapters in the book I feel could’ve been longer as even though they are from his perspective, you somehow feel like you don’t learn any more details compared to if they were told from an outsider’s point of view. It was completely the opposite of Nicole’s, where I felt that I could understand her inner thoughts and actions.

Nicole’s main defining character trait is her activism to save the planet. She is a vegan and does as much as she can to save the planet and instills these beliefs on her daughter. As an environmentalist, I completely agree with saving the planet like Nicole, but I feel like that becomes all she is as a character. Every action is to ensure that she does something positive for the environment and it seems that is her sole purpose in life so it is nice that Drew balances her and opens her mind a little about also including some fun while doing good deeds. I am not against Nicole’s passion, as I know many people, including myself, that do what we can for the environment, but I just feel like there could have been more to round out her character. I really do want a sequel or something as I really do not understand how this will be a lasting relationship. Although Drew is not against Nicole’s activism, he does not share the same passion. Drew is also not a vegan and also he respects Nicole’s choice, it does make you wonder if he will end up changing entirely for her or how the two will balance their opposing beliefs in the long run.

The dialogue between Drew and Nicole was very enjoyable, as they seemed to have the same religious beliefs, which helps in their connecting with each other. (As a side note, there is many mentions of scriptures and spiritual content, which might not be for every reader. It does not take away from the story, but it does come up a lot.) The two of them define the definition of there is a fine line between love and hate as they apparently do not like each other in the beginning, but they always straddle the line between actual dislike and flirting. The banter between the two of them is entertaining and it was nice that they opened up to each other more and more as the story went on to actually learn about the other. I enjoyed how Sierra brings them together as she is on Drew’s football team, which gives Drew a chance to get to know her and bond. The single parent with an outside love interest was well done as Drew focuses on gaining Sierra’s approval as well as Nicole’s. He treated Sierra with respect and was a good coach for her as she was the only female on the football team.

Overall, this story was entertaining and a good quick read as I finished it in only a few hours. It was a very sweet story, although I wish it were longer as I felt that some topics and events did not get the attention they deserved. There are mentions of political topics, such as kneeling during the national anthem that are rather glossed over as they are briefly discussed between the characters. It feels like the author wanted to mention it for the sake of mentioning it rather than actually exploring it fully. Similar to the environmentally positive message, it was fantastic that it was included in the story, but it just felt like more could have been done with the topic. It’s a very cute romance story surrounded by some heavier topics that needed some expansion to give it a more well-rounded feeling. It was a good read overall, but not quite for me.

**I give a special thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an ARC to read and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.**

Nicole by Sarah Monzon

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

This was a really sweet story about two imperfect people who hilariously misunderstand each other. Nicole is such a crusader for those who don't meet society's expectations and her goal of protecting the planet is good but sometimes she is just too much. I understood that lots of her over eagerness came the way she was raised and her "less than perfect" thoughts about herself but, man! She is one of those people you would really have to work at being friends with if you didn't agree with her beliefs. But Drew was the perfect counterpart to her extreme-ism and I really liked him. He reminded me a lot of my dad, who is a constant aggravator to those he likes/loves. Drew didn't discount Nicole's beliefs but challenged her to make sure she really did hold to those ideals because they mean something to her, not just because other people say they are important. There were also some good discussions on childhood cancer, infertility, body image, and finding a place to belong with people who love you as you are, which gave the book some good depth and connection for readers. I've not read the first two books in the series but it didn't really make reading this book difficult. I look forward to reading the next story that Ms. Monzon has to offer very soon.

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

This was a good conclusion to the Sewing in SoCal series, though I'd love to get Betsy and Amanda's stories as well. While I enjoyed this story and probably related to it most of all, it wasn't my favorite of the 3 as they went from 0-100 in 1.3 seconds. One minute they're harassing each other and the next they're ooey-gooey. If you enjoy the romance element overmuch though, you will really enjoy this one! I did enjoy the teasing that lead up to that point, but when it got too gooey, I had to roll my eyes. But that's my non-romance reader preference shining through.

I really enjoyed the characters of Nicole and Drew. Fans of the series will be familiar with both characters as they were side characters in both of the prior books. While this one could stand alone, this series is probably best read in order, so that you can get a deeper look at their personalities. Nicole reminded me a lot of myself (though I'm not vegan or a staunch environmentalist) in how she is rigid, independent and take charge. Drew reminds me a lot of my husband in his laid back demeanor, charm, and humor. As was the case with Nicole and Drew, my husband and I didn't start out on the right foot when we first met (I called his manhood into question the day we met), but also like Nicole and Drew, we found that our differences helped complement each other and grew to love each other. And for that reason, I did really enjoy the story line and the characters of this one. The faith thread in this one was subtle, though present. I appreciated that Nicole's zeal was bound up in her faith. And in this book, issues of divorce, single parenting and infertility were broached. Though there are these heavy topics, the book is still light-hearted and fun - just not all fluff. That's one thing I've appreciated about this entire series - the books are fun overall, but don't steer clear from the hard topics of life. If you enjoy contemporary romantic comedies, I would definitely recommend this book and this series.

Special thanks to the author and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

I was attracted to this book at Netgalley by the cover. The writing is quite good and I liked Nicole (Drew a bit less).

I was a bit surprised by the fact this is a Christian romance. It was not mentioned anywhere when I requested. Not that I am against Christian romance, but it did play a substantial role in the story and it is just not my forte.

“Everything about Drew Bauer annoyed me. He was a dripping-faucet, nails-on-a-chalkboard, litter-tossed-in-the-streets kind of man all rolled up into one carefree, obnoxious package.”

Be still my heart, whether from laugh out loud moments or swoony romance, the chemistry between Drew and Nicole was sizzlingly sweet. I really love a man that has a good sense of humor and boy is Drew that guy. His heart for Nicole came out very quickly, although it definitely had the annoying schoolboy that pulled your hair type of feel. Nicole really doesn’t like him, but he can’t take the hint. No matter how many times her stubborn and seemingly hard-hearted personality flings a witty, sarcastic comment at him, he seems to push more. When he is thrown into her life in a new and unexpected way, Nicole’s daughter, Sierra starts getting attached to him, too. Ugh, the man! I love how much Monzon made me feel Nicole’s emotions. Honestly, she annoyed me in the beginning with her harsh attitude. However, as I got to know her more my heart hurt for her. Of course, when things seem heavy, the SoCal besties come together making for a hilarious and heartfelt storyline.

“Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, forms, and colors. God didn’t have a mold when He created the world, and we don’t need to try to put people into molds now.”

As always, Monzon addressed topics that are very current. As a divorced mom, Nicole struggled with identity issues and body image struggles. This came out in her personality in a way that often repelled people. However, Drew saw past that hard shell and sneaks in with his humor and wit. As Nicole saw more of him beyond his humor, the sparks turn into so much more. As these two stubborn and passionate people come together they bring a lot of humor and laugh out loud moment as well as a heart tug for what they both have gone through to get where they are today. If you’re looking for a heartwarming story, I can highly recommend “Nicole” and this entire series. It can be read as a standalone, but seriously this is an awesome series!

I received a complementary copy of this book by the author through NetGalley. I am giving my honest opinion in this review, and I honestly loved it.

"It is a truth universally unacknowledged that not every woman who is single is in want of a husband"
This series of books on the Sew Cal girls are so fun! This group has such an incredible friendship and I love getting to know each of them more thru their own books! Nicole and Drew are such strong characters with lots of depth. Their personalities are fun and I love that Nicole isn't the typical size 2 model that are in most books. Mom bod is real and a lot of us struggle with that. It was encouraging her outlook and his reaction towards her body.
Nicole and Drew have been hurt in the past and gained strength from that, yet each others reassurances and love make them even stronger. Drew is a fun-loving guy and it was neat when he listened to Nicole and asked the right questions to understand what makes her tick. Nicole is a strong independent woman who knows what she's about and an incredible mom. It's nice to know I'm not the only one that thinks God is up there giggling when things go opposite my plan!
I look forward to getting to know the rest of the group and get to see glimpses back into the lives of the girls that I've already read about!

Nicole by Sarah Monzon is the third book in the 'Sewing In SoCal' series and an adult romance set in a small town. The covers for all the three novels are very eye catching. The books can be read individually as well. I haven't read the first two books in the series and this one went just fine.

We see Nicole who is a single mother and has recently separated from her husband. Her best friend and SoCal sisters are busy setting her up for online dates. Not to mention her winning personality (snort) and my curves-have-curves figure (eyeroll) don’t exactly attract the opposite sex.

After having failed dates with men, she is set on not to go on any from henceforth. Her daughter is set to play soccer with the boys team in the school. She comes across her daughter's coach Dr. Drew Bauer. A charming and recently divorced too. He longs for cute kids but can't have one due to cancer.

Now the book is really sweet and smooth going. But I would still rate it a 3.5 stars and not 4 because it was short. I wanted more. I felt rushed at times. Like how did Dr. Drew first meet Nicole on her date out of no where. Drew's perspective wasn't clear on many things.

I liked how we see Dr. Drew being very non stereotypical about Nicole, and Nicole being herself and totally loving who she is. The ending was also rushed. I would have liked to see more such conversations between her daughter and Drew. Her father's side was also unclear. Overall a good one time read.
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Thank You to NetGalley and Publisher for an eARC in exchange for a honest opinion.

Cute sweet little romance. I really liked Thai book a lot and I’m glad I got to read it. Thanks Netgalley!!

upcoming release delivered everything I’ve come to expect from this wonderful author: toe-curling romance, witty banter and humor. Furthermore, there’s a way in which Monzon weaves her story that grounds them, makes the reader believe they are real.
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If you have read the previous books in the #SewingInSoCal series, you’re probably sure Nicole has Drew wrongly figured out. And sure, she does... thing is, Drew doesn’t completely know her either. And it was quiet entertaining watch them fall for each other as they got know one another better 💙 moreover, it was refreshing how Drew never tried to change Nicole but respected her, even when he fully didn’t understand her.
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So this is what is considered a Christian Romance. This entire series is to be honest but if you're looking for an adult romantic comedy with some profound words about God and environmental concerns, I would check this out. Trigger warnings for verbal abuse, cancer, body shaming and absent father. I loved the dynamics with everyone especially when it came to the children and the adult dynamic. I think the only issue I really had with this book that I didn't have with the other book I read in this series was that it just abruptly ended with no true closure. I also would recommend you read the first book Molly before you read this one that way you know what is happening in this book and how everyone is connected. Because of these points, I have to give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars

This book had some funny moments, some annoying moments and some meh moments. Didn't love it, but also didn't hate it.

Thank you NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Sarah Monzon for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This was my first Sarah Monzon book, and it will not be my last! I was sucked into this laugh out loud, chemistry packed romance from the get-go. This book is not your typical light and fluffy romance, Sarah Monzon tackles everything from BLM to the judgement we pass on others without giving them a chance. There were some heavier topics, for sure, but everything was written in a way that made it easy to digest and didn’t weigh the overall book down! Dr. Drew Bauer. YUM. Who doesn’t love a handsome man who’s confident in himself and has the ability to make you feel confident in yourself? He was the perfect match for uptight Nicole! Their witty back and forths had me laughing out loud and Drew had me swooning more than once!
This was the 3rd book in Sarah Monzon’s Sewing in SoCal series, but I had no problem reading this as a standalone. This book does mention characters from the past books though, so if you’re someone who likes to read series without any spoilers, read these in order!

I feel a bit misled since I went into this book thinking it would be a humorous romance novel based on the tags in NetGalley. I did not know that this novel is Christian Fiction and it had quite a bit of heavy subject matter, so it wasn't very funny.

I didn't enjoy Nicole's character. Despite being supposedly proud of her body, Nicole seemed to be hung up about her weight/body type. She kept mentioning how her ex-husband left her for someone smaller than her, but since it’s from her POV, we don’t know if that’s the true reason why her ex cheated on her. I also really hate when female characters are all about female empowerment and then brings other women down for superficial things.

There were also a few small things that bothered me, such as, constantly calling Drew’s eye colour “ginger”, which I have never heard of or seen before, and the forced conversations about social issues (i.e. pro athletes taking a knee and racism).

This book was just not for me.

Sarah Monzon’s new book “Nicole” is a masterfully written story of a single mother (Nicole Applegate) who is trying to raise her daughter to be a responsible Christian, while at the same time navigating the circumstances of single life. Dr. Drew Bauer is the man who shows us that the best way to a woman’s heart is sometimes getting just under her skin. Her serious nature and his sense of humor combine to entertain the reader as the book itself deals with serious relationship issues. This book is a great reminder that the answers we are looking for are so very often placed in our immediate vicinity by God, and we can find them if we open our hearts and minds to His possibilities.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

highly entertaining and humorous
This book, Nicole, is the third book in the series. I'd read the first, but have yet to read the second. When I started reading this book, I didn't really remember who Nicole was or what her story was.
But, the longer I read, the more I remembered. When I read the first book, I didn't really like Nicole. Her personality was too strong, too much for me.
This book, however, because it is from her point of view (as well as the hero's), you get to see who she is on the inside, and I did come to understand her a bit more.
I don't think I could say she's my favorite heroine, but as I grew to understand her hurts, her inner struggles, I liked her more than I had previously.
Nicole is a strong person because she's had to go through hard times in her life.
This book is humorous, while also giving a look at some heart issues that are true to life.
A fun, light read, if you're looking for something along those lines.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

"But just as a man needs to give a woman support to shine, he needs to protect her so no one else can blow out her light."

Oh, when I thought I couldn't love these sewing circle sisters any more than I already do, Nicole and Drew step into the spotlight and make me fall in love with them even more! With her trademark wit and humor, Sarah Monzon brings another well-written and enchanting romcom to delight our senses. As with all of her other books, there is depth to the plot with serious topics and painful events that shape and mold the characters woven throughout. Nicole's struggle with body image and Drew's defeated resignation about his lot in life were heart-breaking and so real. Nicole, though still passionate in her quest to make the world a better place, learns to let go a little to enjoy life and Drew's deep, thoughtful, tender and compassionate nature surfaces to overshadow his veneer of happy-go-lucky nonchalance. Drew's relentless pursuit of Nicole is quite romantic and his absolute, unwavering commitment to Nicole and her daughter Sierra is swoon-worthy.

I also enjoyed catching up with Ben and Molly, Malachi and Jocelyn, and the rest of the sewing circle sisters. Drew's sister and her family added another layer of fun and comedy to the plot. If you enjoy romantic comedy, this book is a must-read!

I received a copy of the book from the author and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

I loved Nicole. I didn’t realize this was part of a series. Now I have to go back and read the others! This was so cute! I loved Nicole’s attitude. Though I can see why some might not— she was just what I was looking for in a heroine. I thought the book actually could have been just a little bit longer. Some characters need more fleshing out, but then again I haven’t read the other books in the series so maybe that would help. I would definitely recommend this one!

Really cute book - loved the cover and loved the characters. I always enjoy strong, independent protagonist and this is no.different.

Thank you for the ARC, it was a really enjoyable read.