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The Royals of Monterra Universe
Tailor Made
NOTE: THIS BOOK IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS PART OF THE KINDLE WORLDS PROGRAM. IT HAS BEEN EXPANDED AND REVISED AND IS NOW PART OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF FINLAND SERIES.
Two people. An impossible Task. A traitor in their midst.
Sofia’s mother desperately needs medicine, and Sofia will do anything to get it—including working for a month at the royal palace, where she'll knit silk stockings from sunup to sundown. Yet if she can do it, Sofia will have the ability to get the medicine her mother needs, with money to spare.
But Sofia’s safe world of knitting needles and thread is turned upside down when she finds herself in the middle of palace intrigue. Head tailor Antonio and Sofia uncover a plot to sabotage the royal wedding and plunge Monterra into war. As they work together to save their country, she can’t help falling in love with the unassuming and attractive head tailor, even though she knows she can’t have him. Her country and her family need her. As they race to stop the traitor, the battle in her heart intensifies, and she fears that the victor won’t be love.
Two people. An impossible Task. A traitor in their midst.
Sofia’s mother desperately needs medicine, and Sofia will do anything to get it—including working for a month at the royal palace, where she'll knit silk stockings from sunup to sundown. Yet if she can do it, Sofia will have the ability to get the medicine her mother needs, with money to spare.
But Sofia’s safe world of knitting needles and thread is turned upside down when she finds herself in the middle of palace intrigue. Head tailor Antonio and Sofia uncover a plot to sabotage the royal wedding and plunge Monterra into war. As they work together to save their country, she can’t help falling in love with the unassuming and attractive head tailor, even though she knows she can’t have him. Her country and her family need her. As they race to stop the traitor, the battle in her heart intensifies, and she fears that the victor won’t be love.
90 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2016
48 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Annette Lyon
81 books307 followersAnnette Lyon is a USA Today bestselling author, an 9-time recipient of Utah’s Best in State medal for fiction (three times for novel-length works and five times for short fiction), and a Whitney Award winner for BAND OF SISTERS. She's the author of over a dozen novels, at least that many novellas, a cookbook, a popular grammar guide, and over a hundred magazine articles.
She’s a founder and regular contributor of the Timeless Romance Anthologies line of sweet romance stories, which she served as editor for its first three years. She's also one of the four co-authors of The Newport Ladies Book Club series. She graduated cum laude from BYU with a degree in English.
Annette is represented by Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Her first suspense novel, Just One More, releases 2023 through Scarlet Suspense.
She’s a founder and regular contributor of the Timeless Romance Anthologies line of sweet romance stories, which she served as editor for its first three years. She's also one of the four co-authors of The Newport Ladies Book Club series. She graduated cum laude from BYU with a degree in English.
Annette is represented by Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Her first suspense novel, Just One More, releases 2023 through Scarlet Suspense.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 5, 2019
(4.5 Stars) I was fascinated by the world outfitting a big, royal wedding party through sewing and knitting. Antti, the tailor, runs a successful business, but doesn't quite have the skills to breakdown the workload into manageable bites. Sofi not only knits extremely well, but she has the knowledge to make this overwhelming endeavor possible.
I loved the characters and the way this story alternated points of view, but I especially enjoyed the bits of romantic attraction, mystery, and intrigue. This is a fun story that pulls the reader back in time, while delivering an entertaining and unique tale.
Content: mild moments of peril; mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
I loved the characters and the way this story alternated points of view, but I especially enjoyed the bits of romantic attraction, mystery, and intrigue. This is a fun story that pulls the reader back in time, while delivering an entertaining and unique tale.
Content: mild moments of peril; mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
October 16, 2019
I don't think I've ever read a book set in Finland, so I especially enjoyed learning a bit about their history with Sweden and Russia through the political intrigue and social customs woven into the story. There is a definite feeling of pressure as Sofi works to the bone to provide for her brother and sick mother, as well as the impossible deadline given to Antti to fulfill the clothing order for the royal wedding. Sofi is the type of character I find it easy to like- self-sacrificing, hard-working, intelligent, and optimistic. She gives hope and solutions to Antti when he is at his wit's end and they make a great team. The treasonous plot to derail the wedding added an element of suspense and the determination of Sofi and Antti to defend their country proved their loyalty and brought about the happily ever after they didn't dare hope for.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
September 10, 2019
4.5 stars
Sofi, her brother and mother live in the small town of Porvoo and are barely surviving after her father's sudden death. Her mother is very ill and they can't afford medicine, so when Sofi's knitting skills come to the attention of Countess Brunberg she's hired to help the make the clothing for the upcoming royal wedding.
Antti runs the Kangas Tailor Shop in Helsinki, and is the tailor for the Royal family. He's given a large order of clothing that will be needed for the upcoming royal wedding and is shocked when told it's needed in a month's time. Antti prides himself on the quality of work that his shop provides and asks for additional workers, which is how Sofi comes to work in his tailor shop where they discover all is not as it seems. Someone close to the royal family is trying to sabotage the wedding and possibly start a war with Russia.
I never thought of how much went into making clothes in the late 1800's. Few people had treadle sewing machines then so everything was still stitched by hand. I also didn't realize that the silk stockings and gloves were knitted by hand, not to mention tatting the lace trims for dresses.
I liked how well Sofi and Antti work together. That she's able to help him break down the work that needs to be done into smaller parts and make a chart of the assignments to keep track of it all. It shows how smart she is even though she's from a small village/town, and that she's a great asset to accomplishing all they need to do. She also helps figure out that something's not quite right. I liked how sweet the romance was between Antti and Sofi. I felt their love story was natural from spending so much time together.
I received a complimentary copy and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Sofi, her brother and mother live in the small town of Porvoo and are barely surviving after her father's sudden death. Her mother is very ill and they can't afford medicine, so when Sofi's knitting skills come to the attention of Countess Brunberg she's hired to help the make the clothing for the upcoming royal wedding.
Antti runs the Kangas Tailor Shop in Helsinki, and is the tailor for the Royal family. He's given a large order of clothing that will be needed for the upcoming royal wedding and is shocked when told it's needed in a month's time. Antti prides himself on the quality of work that his shop provides and asks for additional workers, which is how Sofi comes to work in his tailor shop where they discover all is not as it seems. Someone close to the royal family is trying to sabotage the wedding and possibly start a war with Russia.
I never thought of how much went into making clothes in the late 1800's. Few people had treadle sewing machines then so everything was still stitched by hand. I also didn't realize that the silk stockings and gloves were knitted by hand, not to mention tatting the lace trims for dresses.
I liked how well Sofi and Antti work together. That she's able to help him break down the work that needs to be done into smaller parts and make a chart of the assignments to keep track of it all. It shows how smart she is even though she's from a small village/town, and that she's a great asset to accomplishing all they need to do. She also helps figure out that something's not quite right. I liked how sweet the romance was between Antti and Sofi. I felt their love story was natural from spending so much time together.
I received a complimentary copy and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
September 4, 2019
I really loved the rich setting and three dimensional characters in this one. I felt like I was really there, experiencing another culture. A sweet romance with a side of intrigue.
January 21, 2016
This was such a sweet romance! I loved the historical setting of Monterra and could totally imagine it in my mind's eye with the castle and the surrounding countryside. Our heroine, Sofia, is a renowned craftswoman from the country and is called to the palace to help the tailors and seamstresses get ready for the royal wedding. Once she's arrived, though, Sofia is immediately drawn to Antonio, the head tailor to the royals. Their lives could not be more different, but opposites attract, and Sofia and Antonio definitely embody that. Antonio was the hero every girl dreams of. Strong and yet vulnerable, serious and yet sigh-worthy. Sofia was his match in every way and more, smart, sweet, and daring, especially when they uncover a traitor's plot to plunge Monterra into war. So good!
Both the romance and the intrigue were well-balanced and well-written, and kept me turning pages. A great addition to the Royals Kindle World!
Both the romance and the intrigue were well-balanced and well-written, and kept me turning pages. A great addition to the Royals Kindle World!
February 11, 2016
Cute story. Sofia's life is changed when she spends a month at the palace working for the handsome head tailor, Antonio. There is a little intrigue that is very quickly resolved (maybe a little too quickly).
Content: Clean
Source: Amazon.com
Content: Clean
Source: Amazon.com
February 17, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, it took turns and twists I never saw coming. It was emotional, suspenseful, and a unique story that has stayed with me long after finishing it. I felt like the task before Sofi felt impossible and I was cheering her on the entire time. I wanted Antti to be successful as well. Throw in the political aspect and my heart was pounding trying to figure out how it all would end. With some romance and intrigue, this is one story all romance readers will enjoy! I received a copy of this book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 10, 2019
A great historical look at late 19th century Finland. I enjoyed this quick read about Sofi and Antti's story. Thrust together to work at an impossible deadline for a royal wedding, that must be met, can the love that is blossoming between the two possibly last?
January 11, 2018
Super cute novella dealing with royal servants instead of Prince Charming and the like. The royal tailor is the hero in this one. When Antonio is given an impossible list of clothes and accessories to make for the prince’s royal wedding in a month, he feels the first niggling of doubt, and wonders if he will fail and be outcast from the kingdom…maybe even start a war. But when he is given a temporary worker to help his staff, he feels hope that maybe the impossible can be done with Sophia Torre’s help. This story delves into these two character’s lives as they come to fall in love even in the midst of castle intrigue and deceptions. It was easy to read and flowed well. Due to the length, I didn’t get to delve as deeply into the characters’ lives as I wished, but for a novella, it was pretty near as perfect as it could be.
July 8, 2020
I read this book because it is set in Finland and is historical fiction. I enjoyed the setting, but the plot and characters are not believable. It is a love story. Finnish people do not behave in the manner that the characters do. I am not sorry I read it but won’t read this author again.
September 10, 2019
Oh, my goodness, this was just like going back to our beloved fairy tales! I half expected Annti to get up one morning and find all of the sewing done! LOL Sweet, sweet romance with a little intrigue added in. What a delightful story this is! What's not to love!
February 6, 2022
I enjoyed it
I really enjoyed reading this story. I loved the setting in Finland. I liked the idea of espionage being discovered by the royal tailor and his new seamstress. I thought that Work and Antti had great chemistry together and were very sweet.
I really enjoyed reading this story. I loved the setting in Finland. I liked the idea of espionage being discovered by the royal tailor and his new seamstress. I thought that Work and Antti had great chemistry together and were very sweet.
February 22, 2018
3.5 star rating.
October 21, 2019
Delightful romance that gives you added insight into Finish history and the life of a tailor.
September 15, 2021
I really loved this book. Antti is a hard working tailor tasked with the impossible. When Sofi comes from her small village to help, the ensuing tale is delightful!
March 28, 2021
This was a very sweet novel. It was set I'm Finland and I loved reading about the history of Finland and Russia. A young lady who has lost her father and who's mother is very ill, will do anything to save her family, even move to the city to knit and help prepare for the royal wedding.
I love the descriptions of the castle and the romance making it seem like a fairytale.
I love the descriptions of the castle and the romance making it seem like a fairytale.
April 11, 2016
Review
This was a very interesting story. I was intrigued when I read that it was part of a “kindle world” set in the fictional kingdom of Monterra. The story is about a tailor and his very talented helper, Sofia. There is intrigue and romance. The description of the Castle and surrounding lands is very detailed. It made me feel like I was right there. Annette is very good at drawing you into her stories. The characters are well thought out and you feel like you are part of the story. Sofia was innocent, yet very smart and bold. I really liked the Queen (she reminded me a little of Princess Grace of Monaco), even though her part in the book was quite small. She was kind and thoughtful towards those who served her. Antonio was the best hero, strong, yet gentle and caring. He wasn’t afraid of doing the right thing and standing up to the bullies.The love story was very sweet. Maybe there could have been a little bit more controversy with some of the other workers. Overall, though, I enjoyed the book and seeing the story unfold. It is a fun and enjoyable read. This will be a fun series to read and get to know other people in the Kingdom of Monterra. You can’t go wrong with Annette Lyon, she always has something good to read!
This was a very interesting story. I was intrigued when I read that it was part of a “kindle world” set in the fictional kingdom of Monterra. The story is about a tailor and his very talented helper, Sofia. There is intrigue and romance. The description of the Castle and surrounding lands is very detailed. It made me feel like I was right there. Annette is very good at drawing you into her stories. The characters are well thought out and you feel like you are part of the story. Sofia was innocent, yet very smart and bold. I really liked the Queen (she reminded me a little of Princess Grace of Monaco), even though her part in the book was quite small. She was kind and thoughtful towards those who served her. Antonio was the best hero, strong, yet gentle and caring. He wasn’t afraid of doing the right thing and standing up to the bullies.The love story was very sweet. Maybe there could have been a little bit more controversy with some of the other workers. Overall, though, I enjoyed the book and seeing the story unfold. It is a fun and enjoyable read. This will be a fun series to read and get to know other people in the Kingdom of Monterra. You can’t go wrong with Annette Lyon, she always has something good to read!
September 10, 2019
A tailor, a knitter, and a spy?
Sofi is a young Finnish woman who lives on a farm far from the capital who has been supporting her sick mother and young brother with her knitting needles. She knits such fine silk stockings and gloves that she
has more orders than she has time.
Annti is the owner/proprietor of a fine tailor shop that has been the provider of clothing to the rulers of the Duchy of Finland in the capital, Helsinki, for generations. Finland has been possessed by Sweden for many years and now, by Russia, for the past 70 years. All these details are introduced in ways that kept my interest as they related to this story.
I loved this story! While fairly short, the characters were well developed and I became invested in what would happen and how they would solve their problems as well as how they would come to care for each other. The only mild irk was a jealous seamstress in the shop who was mentioned a couple times and then disappeared. Other than that, Ms Lyon hit another one or of the park.
Sofi is a young Finnish woman who lives on a farm far from the capital who has been supporting her sick mother and young brother with her knitting needles. She knits such fine silk stockings and gloves that she
has more orders than she has time.
Annti is the owner/proprietor of a fine tailor shop that has been the provider of clothing to the rulers of the Duchy of Finland in the capital, Helsinki, for generations. Finland has been possessed by Sweden for many years and now, by Russia, for the past 70 years. All these details are introduced in ways that kept my interest as they related to this story.
I loved this story! While fairly short, the characters were well developed and I became invested in what would happen and how they would solve their problems as well as how they would come to care for each other. The only mild irk was a jealous seamstress in the shop who was mentioned a couple times and then disappeared. Other than that, Ms Lyon hit another one or of the park.
March 3, 2016
This was a fun romantic book. It has your poor girl in the village caring for her family.... She was known for her sewing skills so she was sent for from the palace to make wedding clothes for the prince and his fiancé. There is so much to be made they need the extra help. I thought I could see the writing on the wall. I figured, ok, the prince is going to fall in love with her instead. I was wrong. There was another mystery involved and a different love for her to discover.
I love the way Annette brings to life her characters and you find yourself wanting everything good for them. This is definitely a recommended read.
I love the way Annette brings to life her characters and you find yourself wanting everything good for them. This is definitely a recommended read.
February 1, 2016
This book was such a delight to read. It was a quick, satisfying love story. A a royal order for wedding clothing brings Antonio and Sophia together, racing to meet the deadline which is...the royal wedding. The order is insurmountable but that doesn't stop them from using all of their talent and resources to get the job done. But someone is out to stop them from succeeding and mishaps occur. Lyons writing was easy to fall into and I adored how she brings justice to those who deserve it and love to those who needed it. Now I need to read more in these series!
August 19, 2016
How have I never heard of The Royals of Monterra series? I seriously loved Tailor Made and was sucked in immediately. The writing was excellent and I loved how the author wrote using the perspective of both main characters to help my little brain know what they both were thinking. I thought the story ended rather abruptly but it did not hurt the story at all. Great job! I’m already looking to read more from the series!
4 ½ Stars. Clean and awesome.
4 ½ Stars. Clean and awesome.
March 21, 2016
Tailor Made is a sweet and enjoyable story with easy to like characters that quickly draw you in. I loved the fact that this novella is longer than most that I've read, almost twice the length. Gives me a bit more to chew on and enjoy. I devoured this story so quickly, I now want to read all the novellas in this series! Definitely a keeper!
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September 5, 2019Sweet love story. I like how Antti and Sofi work together to overcome the challenges they face. This story has a little bit of intrigue for added flavor. I enjoyed reading it.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews