What do you think?
Rate this book
Cordina's Royal Family #1-3
Affaire Royale / Command Performance / Playboy Prince
Nestled in the hills overlooking the Mediterranean, Cordina seems a fairy-tale kingdom. But a scheming traitor lies in wait . . .
Nora Roberts weaves a mesmerizing tale of palace intrigue and royal romance in three sizzling stories about Cordina's royal family.
Affaire Royale:
Recently kidnapped Princess Gabriella has amnesia, but in the arms of bodyguard Reeve MacGee she finds a passion that's unforgettable.
Command Performance:
Though His Royal Highness Alexander is destined to rule Cordina, it's regal -- and elusive -- Eve Hamilton who rules his heart.
The Playboy Prince:
Why is reserved Hannah Rothchild so intriguing to dedicated ladies' man Prince Bennett? Is it her secret mission -- or the fascinating lady herself?
Nora Roberts weaves a mesmerizing tale of palace intrigue and royal romance in three sizzling stories about Cordina's royal family.
Affaire Royale:
Recently kidnapped Princess Gabriella has amnesia, but in the arms of bodyguard Reeve MacGee she finds a passion that's unforgettable.
Command Performance:
Though His Royal Highness Alexander is destined to rule Cordina, it's regal -- and elusive -- Eve Hamilton who rules his heart.
The Playboy Prince:
Why is reserved Hannah Rothchild so intriguing to dedicated ladies' man Prince Bennett? Is it her secret mission -- or the fascinating lady herself?
Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
16 people are currently reading
839 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,197 books59.5k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 25, 2022
A 3 in 1 collection that features the three siblings of Nora Roberts fictional royal kingdom- Cordina.
Affaire Royale- A kidnapped princess with amnesia only trusts her American bodyguard. 3 stars Command Performance- A crown prince who falls for an American theatre scriptwriter but both of them are in grave danger. 4 stars The Playboy Prince- The youngest prince in the family is known for having many a beautiful lady on his arm but a mysterious woman could be the love of his life. 1 star ( for one very unfortunate scene that I just couldn't get past)
Goodreads review published 25/07/22
Affaire Royale- A kidnapped princess with amnesia only trusts her American bodyguard. 3 stars Command Performance- A crown prince who falls for an American theatre scriptwriter but both of them are in grave danger. 4 stars The Playboy Prince- The youngest prince in the family is known for having many a beautiful lady on his arm but a mysterious woman could be the love of his life. 1 star ( for one very unfortunate scene that I just couldn't get past)
Goodreads review published 25/07/22
August 9, 2008
This anthology collection contains reissues of the original 3 Cordina series books. (There's a 4th book, NR wrote years later featuring a 2nd generation Cordina character)
All three of these books were originally published by Silhouette Intimate Moments. So they are short romances with a dose of suspense to go along with them. They have a connected story arc about how the royal family of Cordina is being threatened by a wannabe terrorist named Deboque.
Affaire Royale features Princess Gabriella who was kidnapped by a Deboque's people. She manages to escape but the stress and terror have caused her to lose her memory. The only person she feels comfortable with is the American security specialist, Reeve MacGee her father brought in.
Of the three original Cordina books, this one is my favorite. I liked Reeve and Gabriella the best and their romance was the sweetest of the 3. And the overall storyline was the most appealing for me.
Command Performance is about Cordinian heir to the throne, Alexander and a young American named Eve. Years before Eve came to Cordina with her sister, who was friends with Gabriella. Alex was entranced by her but masked it with distaste for her brash ways. Years after their first meeting, neither can forget each other. Eve now runs a theatre troupe and Alex has requested they come perform in Cordina. The continuing threat from Deboque and Eve relationship to the royal family ends up putting her in danger.
The overall story of this book was appealing, but I didn't find the characters as likable as the first book. Not that I didn't like them, but they just didn't have as much appeal. Alex was a very stiff character...which he had to be because he was the heir to the throne. That uber control just made him kind of detached. But Eve was fairly cool. And I liked how the suspense angle played out.
The Playboy Prince focuses on Prince Bennett who has a vast reputation of being a playboy and having affairs with every pretty woman he meets. So when dull, understated Lady Hannah arrives at the palace, he's baffled by his attraction to her. But what he doesn't know is that Hannah is hiding a big secret. And all the while, the threat from Deboque is at its greatest.
For me, though I enjoyed the story quite a bit, there is an air of unbelievability to it. I won't say why because it would give away part of the plot. But it just didn't quite work for me. But I did like the story. Seeing Bennett fall was sweet.
Like many other NR series, this is another great family set. It's got a bit of a different flavor because of the royalty aspect. And the suspense angle gives the books some meat. I enjoyed reading the first time, and the 2 other times I've reread them.
For NR fans considering these books, they aren't like her new stories, the full-length books. These are old ones and are category romance. So they might not be for you. Only read these if you're a real big NR fan, or if you don't mind the short Harlequin/Silhouette romances.
NOTE: The Cordina books were recently reissued in 2 anthology editions:
Cordina's Royal Family: Gabriella & Alexander
Cordina's Royal Family: Bennett & Camilla
All three of these books were originally published by Silhouette Intimate Moments. So they are short romances with a dose of suspense to go along with them. They have a connected story arc about how the royal family of Cordina is being threatened by a wannabe terrorist named Deboque.
Affaire Royale features Princess Gabriella who was kidnapped by a Deboque's people. She manages to escape but the stress and terror have caused her to lose her memory. The only person she feels comfortable with is the American security specialist, Reeve MacGee her father brought in.
Of the three original Cordina books, this one is my favorite. I liked Reeve and Gabriella the best and their romance was the sweetest of the 3. And the overall storyline was the most appealing for me.
Command Performance is about Cordinian heir to the throne, Alexander and a young American named Eve. Years before Eve came to Cordina with her sister, who was friends with Gabriella. Alex was entranced by her but masked it with distaste for her brash ways. Years after their first meeting, neither can forget each other. Eve now runs a theatre troupe and Alex has requested they come perform in Cordina. The continuing threat from Deboque and Eve relationship to the royal family ends up putting her in danger.
The overall story of this book was appealing, but I didn't find the characters as likable as the first book. Not that I didn't like them, but they just didn't have as much appeal. Alex was a very stiff character...which he had to be because he was the heir to the throne. That uber control just made him kind of detached. But Eve was fairly cool. And I liked how the suspense angle played out.
The Playboy Prince focuses on Prince Bennett who has a vast reputation of being a playboy and having affairs with every pretty woman he meets. So when dull, understated Lady Hannah arrives at the palace, he's baffled by his attraction to her. But what he doesn't know is that Hannah is hiding a big secret. And all the while, the threat from Deboque is at its greatest.
For me, though I enjoyed the story quite a bit, there is an air of unbelievability to it. I won't say why because it would give away part of the plot. But it just didn't quite work for me. But I did like the story. Seeing Bennett fall was sweet.
Like many other NR series, this is another great family set. It's got a bit of a different flavor because of the royalty aspect. And the suspense angle gives the books some meat. I enjoyed reading the first time, and the 2 other times I've reread them.
For NR fans considering these books, they aren't like her new stories, the full-length books. These are old ones and are category romance. So they might not be for you. Only read these if you're a real big NR fan, or if you don't mind the short Harlequin/Silhouette romances.
NOTE: The Cordina books were recently reissued in 2 anthology editions:
Cordina's Royal Family: Gabriella & Alexander
Cordina's Royal Family: Bennett & Camilla
July 1, 2024
Affaire Royale: Gabriella's story includes kidnapping and amnesia, so her story did not go over as well with me. She has a confrontational relationship with Reece which turns to a sexual one a bit sooner than I would have expected. I could have accepted it better if the amnesia weren't an issue, since both had feelings for each other previously, but to go to what is supposed to be a complete stranger that quickly didn't work for me. The writing, on the other hand, is a step up from what I have come to expect of a Harlequin.
Command Performance: Alex's story is delightful from the get-go. The mixed signals and misunderstandings between Eve and Alex are compounded until you want to grab both of them and knock their heads together. On the other hand, it was all about timing and very realistic.
The Playboy Prince: An intriguing story about Bennett, who has come across up until now as a carefree and easy-going younger brother. Hannah is a fantastic character. I love her understated appearance, her dull conversation, and her practical approach to life and men, but, like the Scarlet Pimpernel, she has an alter-ego. Bennett's reaction to her is priceless in all its forms, except perhaps the one where he loses his temper. That cut a little too close to violence for my tastes.
Command Performance: Alex's story is delightful from the get-go. The mixed signals and misunderstandings between Eve and Alex are compounded until you want to grab both of them and knock their heads together. On the other hand, it was all about timing and very realistic.
The Playboy Prince: An intriguing story about Bennett, who has come across up until now as a carefree and easy-going younger brother. Hannah is a fantastic character. I love her understated appearance, her dull conversation, and her practical approach to life and men, but, like the Scarlet Pimpernel, she has an alter-ego. Bennett's reaction to her is priceless in all its forms, except perhaps the one where he loses his temper. That cut a little too close to violence for my tastes.
April 1, 2014
As always Nora Roberts drag you in and this time captures you in a fairy tale story in with all the dark twists and secrets that makes her books so captivating.
Between the stubborn royal princess, the stoic heir and the rake all are kept entertained, enthralled and enraptured page by page.
Between the stubborn royal princess, the stoic heir and the rake all are kept entertained, enthralled and enraptured page by page.
December 23, 2015
I was looking forward to this idea, a royal family and each one falls in love. In the first book, the heroine princess had amnesia after being kidnapped. Yet her father, the king, suspecting who did it, LEAVES THIS PERSON OUT THERE TO TRY AGAIN, saying he needed proof. Wow.
February 26, 2011
I'm completely embarrassed about how much I love this book. But I don't care.
August 3, 2025
review of individual titles also in the updates. Brie + Reeve may be my favourite of the romances, and Hannah my favourite of the heroine's.
Bennet I loved from the earlier books but felt underdeveloped (as does their romance, unfortunately) next to the plot about Hannah's mission and Deboque's downfall.
eve and Alexander's story was all right, and I liked that eve knew martial arts, but it was possibly my least favourite of the trio.
Bennet I loved from the earlier books but felt underdeveloped (as does their romance, unfortunately) next to the plot about Hannah's mission and Deboque's downfall.
eve and Alexander's story was all right, and I liked that eve knew martial arts, but it was possibly my least favourite of the trio.
September 4, 2023
Very dated. Mostly annoying early romance tropes. In The Playboy Prince, however, the male protagonist essentially rapes the main female protagonist, with the caveat that she "really loves him", which, nowadays, is really gross. Stars are mostly for the middle book, Command Performance, which I found to be the most interesting plot and dialogue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2019
Lovely series, written with Roberts's usual flair for creating characters you empathise with
January 5, 2020
I only read the first story in the collection - the Affaire Royale. The characters of the story were not compelling enough for me to continue with the series.
library
July 30, 20210
February 26, 2023
read 2 out of the 3 stories
June 16, 2024
3.75. It was really good and they all connected well, but some parts were really slow
June 6, 2025
Certain scenes seemed to be anticipating the next pages I read began to bore me until the end. Maybe it's the gap. Sorry.
September 26, 2020
Affaire Royale: Book 1
'Panicked, like a rabbit caught in beams, she froze. They'd found her. They'd come after her. They. The horn blasted, tires squealed. Submitting at last, she crumpled onto the road, unconscious.'
I'm only now beginning to read Nora Roberts work which is absolutely remarkable!
Her writing style is delicate and classy, soft but bold. It reminds me of drinking smooth, rich, thick port. Very satisfying.
Command Performance: Book 2
'She'd been to the palace before. The first time, nearly seven years earlier, she'd thought it was a fairy tale sprung into three dimensions. She was older now, though she wasn't sure about wiser. Cordina was a country. The palace was a building, a beautiful one. Fairy tales were for the very young, the very naïve or the very fortunate.'
I highly recommend Nora Roberts novels as she has quickly become one of my favourite authors.
I admire the commitment the royal family has to one another whilst in difficult times. Their characteristics are so vivid, I feel as though I know each of the characters personally.
The Playboy Prince: Book 3
'"Avant, Dracular." The command was low and challenging as was the laughter that followed. The tone was one of a man who considered fear a banquet and speed the wine.
I feel like a fly caught in a spiders web while reading Nora Roberts work. I couldn't stop reading once I started. I read this novel in two sittings, I was completely entrapped.
'Panicked, like a rabbit caught in beams, she froze. They'd found her. They'd come after her. They. The horn blasted, tires squealed. Submitting at last, she crumpled onto the road, unconscious.'
I'm only now beginning to read Nora Roberts work which is absolutely remarkable!
Her writing style is delicate and classy, soft but bold. It reminds me of drinking smooth, rich, thick port. Very satisfying.
Command Performance: Book 2
'She'd been to the palace before. The first time, nearly seven years earlier, she'd thought it was a fairy tale sprung into three dimensions. She was older now, though she wasn't sure about wiser. Cordina was a country. The palace was a building, a beautiful one. Fairy tales were for the very young, the very naïve or the very fortunate.'
I highly recommend Nora Roberts novels as she has quickly become one of my favourite authors.
I admire the commitment the royal family has to one another whilst in difficult times. Their characteristics are so vivid, I feel as though I know each of the characters personally.
The Playboy Prince: Book 3
'"Avant, Dracular." The command was low and challenging as was the laughter that followed. The tone was one of a man who considered fear a banquet and speed the wine.
I feel like a fly caught in a spiders web while reading Nora Roberts work. I couldn't stop reading once I started. I read this novel in two sittings, I was completely entrapped.
July 30, 2023
I love this trio of stories and I go back to them time again. I love the bonds of the family, how they deal with what they face and how they balance what's right for their people and what's right for them personally. Each story is one within a larger story arch, you can't help but love these characters; Alex and Eve's story is probably my ultimate favourite with Bennett and Hannah's very close behind.
March 30, 2010
This is an early trilogy of Nora Roberts. In the first book Princess Brie is recovering from a kidnapping. She can’t remember her family and only wants Reeve because he is unknown to her. Falling in love and finally remembering everything is almost more than she can bear. With a grave wound given to her brother, they discover who is coming after them. She refuses to back out of the “mock” engagement. In the next story, it has been about five to six years and this story about Alex, the oldest male. He met Eve in Brie’s story and has been trying to get her out of his mind. He always believed that Eve was his brother’s and refused to poach. Eve comes to Cordinia to put on three plays. He is frustrated by his lust for Eve and Eve doesn’t understand why he hates her. He finds that there is nothing between Eve and Bennett and is relentless on going after her. When she is threatened in the theatre to send a warning to him, he rages. He loves and can’t help but ask her to give up her life to be his wife. They ferret out more traitors to the family and with a flourish she takes his name and country. The last story in this book is of Prince Bennett the playboy. He is known to have wooed many a lady and non-ladies throughout Europe. He has been chaffing against the boundaries that have been set for him. The enemy of his family that has used his minions against them is getting out of jail. When he meets a dowdy woman named Lady Hannah, who is guest to Eve, he wonders why he is intrigued by her. He pursues her to learn more about her, and finds that underneath the woman’s manner and dress is a lush body and yards of hair. When he finds who she is, he is hurt, but he protects her. With the final takedown of their enemy, he can’t let her leave with her job done. When he offers the world, she looks into herself and finds that she chooses love. These three books together into one volume were nice because they are quick easy reads. I highly recommend reading them this way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2024
📚Titolo: Intrigo regale
✍🏻Autore: Nora Roberts
📖Genere: Romanzo rosa con elementi di suspense.
🗓️Prima pubblicazione: 1 gennaio 19861.
Introduzione:
Il libro è ambientato nel principato di Cordina, un regno immaginario nel cuore dell’Europa. La storia ruota attorno ai tre fratelli della casa reale: Gabriella, Alexander e Bennett.
Sviluppo:
La principessa Gabriella viene rapita e, dopo essere stata ritrovata, non ha memoria dell’accaduto. Un ex agente dei Servizi di Sicurezza americani, Reeve MacGee, viene incaricato di proteggerla e aiutarla a recuperare i ricordi.
Crescente Tensione:
Mentre Reeve e Gabriella lavorano insieme, tra loro nasce una forte attrazione. Tuttavia, l’ombra del rapimento e la minaccia di ulteriori pericoli creano una tensione crescente. Intrighi di corte, sospetti e tradimenti si intrecciano, rendendo la situazione sempre più complessa.
Scoperta della Verità:
Attraverso indagini e colpi di scena, la verità sul rapimento di Gabriella viene lentamente alla luce. Si scopre che dietro il complotto ci sono persone insospettabili, e la rivelazione finale è sorprendente e drammatica
Temi Principali:
Amore e Passione: La storia d’amore tra Gabriella e Reeve è centrale.
Memoria e Identità: La perdita di memoria di Gabriella e il suo viaggio per ritrovarsi.
Intrighi e Tradimenti: Le dinamiche di potere e i complotti all’interno della corte reale.
Stile e Narrazione
Nora Roberts utilizza uno stile fluido e coinvolgente, con una narrazione in terza persona che permette di esplorare i pensieri e le emozioni dei personaggi. La suspense è ben dosata, mantenendo il lettore incollato alle pagine.
Conclusione:
Il libro si conclude con la risoluzione del mistero del rapimento e con Gabriella che recupera la memoria. La storia d’amore tra lei e Reeve trova il suo lieto fine, e la famiglia reale di Cordina può finalmente trovare un po’ di pace.
✍🏻Autore: Nora Roberts
📖Genere: Romanzo rosa con elementi di suspense.
🗓️Prima pubblicazione: 1 gennaio 19861.
Introduzione:
Il libro è ambientato nel principato di Cordina, un regno immaginario nel cuore dell’Europa. La storia ruota attorno ai tre fratelli della casa reale: Gabriella, Alexander e Bennett.
Sviluppo:
La principessa Gabriella viene rapita e, dopo essere stata ritrovata, non ha memoria dell’accaduto. Un ex agente dei Servizi di Sicurezza americani, Reeve MacGee, viene incaricato di proteggerla e aiutarla a recuperare i ricordi.
Crescente Tensione:
Mentre Reeve e Gabriella lavorano insieme, tra loro nasce una forte attrazione. Tuttavia, l’ombra del rapimento e la minaccia di ulteriori pericoli creano una tensione crescente. Intrighi di corte, sospetti e tradimenti si intrecciano, rendendo la situazione sempre più complessa.
Scoperta della Verità:
Attraverso indagini e colpi di scena, la verità sul rapimento di Gabriella viene lentamente alla luce. Si scopre che dietro il complotto ci sono persone insospettabili, e la rivelazione finale è sorprendente e drammatica
Temi Principali:
Amore e Passione: La storia d’amore tra Gabriella e Reeve è centrale.
Memoria e Identità: La perdita di memoria di Gabriella e il suo viaggio per ritrovarsi.
Intrighi e Tradimenti: Le dinamiche di potere e i complotti all’interno della corte reale.
Stile e Narrazione
Nora Roberts utilizza uno stile fluido e coinvolgente, con una narrazione in terza persona che permette di esplorare i pensieri e le emozioni dei personaggi. La suspense è ben dosata, mantenendo il lettore incollato alle pagine.
Conclusione:
Il libro si conclude con la risoluzione del mistero del rapimento e con Gabriella che recupera la memoria. La storia d’amore tra lei e Reeve trova il suo lieto fine, e la famiglia reale di Cordina può finalmente trovare un po’ di pace.
December 11, 2012
A collection of three novellas featuring the fictional country of Cordina and it's royal family. I've been a Nora Roberts fan for a long time -- so long, in fact, that I've grown tired of her books. Therefore I was happy to discover that I could still pick this one up an reread it with a sense of fresh interest.
Roberts practically has the patent on trilogies, the reason why being exemplified nicely here. The Bisset siblines -- Gabriella, Alexander, and Bennett -- are all very strong, appealing, and well-developed characters. Each has their own, unique personality and play a noteworthy part in the grander story that stretches across the three novellas.
I find it typical that, in many trilogies, there's always one book that falls flat compared to the other two. Such is not the case here. Each story is interesting, quick of pace, and brilliant in their simplicity.
This is the Nora Roberts of old, the writing that I used to devour.
Roberts practically has the patent on trilogies, the reason why being exemplified nicely here. The Bisset siblines -- Gabriella, Alexander, and Bennett -- are all very strong, appealing, and well-developed characters. Each has their own, unique personality and play a noteworthy part in the grander story that stretches across the three novellas.
I find it typical that, in many trilogies, there's always one book that falls flat compared to the other two. Such is not the case here. Each story is interesting, quick of pace, and brilliant in their simplicity.
This is the Nora Roberts of old, the writing that I used to devour.
November 27, 2022
Affaire Royale (Cordina's Royal Family #1) ⭐⭐⭐
👉🏻 Gabriella de Cordina & Reeve McGee
Command Performance (Cordina's Royal Family #2) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
👉🏻 Eve Hamilton & Alexander de Cordina
The Playboy Prince (Cordina's Royal Family #3) ⭐⭐⭐
👉🏻Hannah Rothchild & Bennett de Cordina
Cordina's Crown Jewel (Cordina's Royal Family #4) ⭐⭐⭐
👉🏻 Camilla de Cordina & Delaney Caine
March 1, 2016
Affaire Royale by Nora Roberts This is the 1st book of a repackaged trilogy of the Cordianas Royal Family series. The princess is found after escaping kidnappers. Bruised, battered and without a memory, the princesss father asks an old family friend to protect his daughter. Typical of Nora Roberts, romance and intrigue are intertwined as the couple discovers love and the identities of the kidnappers. Command Performance by Nora Roberts This is the 2nd book in the repackaged Cordina trilogy. The heir of Cordina has been raised aware of his duty and responsibility to his country. Eve is the an American heiress, who has forged her own career in the theatre. Can these two find a way to overcome his stiff upbringing and her independent streak and forge a future together?
August 22, 2013
Another Nora Roberts fluffy romance. I had a harder time getting into them, the second one with Eve was the best I thought. Though I did like that she threw the O'Hurley in the last one, I like when author's have characters from other books, book hop.
February 9, 2019
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Read
September 17, 2008F Rob
March 18, 2009
This book had three 'mini' stories but they read like one story. It tells about the life of three children that are in a Royal Family. Great book.
February 22, 2010
not a bad trilogy, not sure why I waited to read it, lots of action, of course her predicted romance but I liked it and light enough to keep me coming back!
November 3, 2015
Found in SHB's pile when we installed the Readers Stand 8/5/2010
Think I read this a couple years ago added to my to-read pile 8/5/10
Think I read this a couple years ago added to my to-read pile 8/5/10
March 7, 2011
Legggerino e decisamente dimenticabile.
August 13, 2011
Sweet, fluffy, with a touch of intrigue. Nice light read, but no need to re-read.
July 6, 2019
One of those few books that I've read many times and still enjoy every time
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews