7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Never a dull moment in Cordina!, March 19, 2006
This review is from: Cordina's Royal Family: Gabriella & Alexander: Affaire Royale\Command Performance (Mass Market Paperback)
This book was a book that contained two of the three novels that Nora Roberts wrote about the royal family of Cordina. While they are simply written, and rather predictable, I found that I enjoyed the stories far more than I originally anticipated.
These particular stories by Roberts are shorter and less complex than some of her other books, so I imagine that hardcore Roberts fans might be disappointed. However, if you are looking for an easy and light read, that has a bit of suspense, and lots of romance, you won't be disappointed .
The first book, An Affaire Royal, is about the royal family's daughter, Princess Gabriella. She is kidnapped, and when she's found, they discover she has no memory of what has occurred, or who kidnapped her. A dashing American friend of the family, Reeve, is hired to protect Gabriella, and ends up falling in love with her in the process.
Throughout the story, there is the mystery of who is behind the kidnapping, and whether or not Gabriella's memory will return, and when. But the romance between Gabriella and Reeve is what really drives the story.
In the second book, A Command Performance, the story revolves around the heir to the throne - the eldest son of the royal family - Alexander. This installment takes place seven years after An Affaire Royal. It begins when Alexander requests that a friend of his sister (Gabriella) bring her acting troupe to Cordina, to put on some performances for charity. This friend is Eve Hamilton, who played a small but important role in the previous book.
Eve had a schoolgirl crush on Alexander years ago, but now has no time for anything but her troupe. She never expects to find herself falling for the heir to the throne yet again.
While their relationship unfolds, there is unrest in Cordina. Terrorists are trying to get the royal family's attention, and Eve finds herself in a web of danger that she can't escape without leaving behind the man that's turned her world upside down.
A bit of mystery, a bit of suspense, and lots of romance - there's never a dull moment in Cordina, that's for sure! I enjoyed the first book moderately (I found the main character to be mildly annoying), and enjoyed the second book more than the first (I really liked the main character of the second story). Despite my original misgivings, I admit I'll be checking out Robert's third installment to her Cordina trilogy - The Playboy Prince. I expect that will be my favorite, as it stars my favorite member of the royal family - Prince Bennett, who's called the playboy prince for a reason.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Royally Entertaining, February 23, 2006
This review is from: Cordina's Royal Family: Gabriella & Alexander: Affaire Royale\Command Performance (Mass Market Paperback)
For sheer enjoyment, I would recommend this latest revival of a couple of Nora's earlier works. Cordina's Royal Family consists of three grown children, Gabriella, Alexander and Bennett. The first story, Affaire Royale, takes us through the life and times of Gabriella, eldest of the three and the only girl who presently shoulders all the social/administrative responsibility of the palace and the country of Cordina - left to her after the death of her mother. There is unrest in the country and Gabriella's (Brie) father, Prince Armand, has called in Reeve MacGee (an American from Virginia), son of an old friend from Oxford and former police officer and private investigator, to protect his family. This story centers on the relationship between Reeve and Brie and the responsibilities and danger that power and politics bring together. It is a romantic chronicle of love and mystery, however, the romance overpowers the plot of the story. I felt the next novel in the book, "Command Performance," was much more intriguing. This second installment centers on the eldest son and heir to the throne, Alexander. It is now seven years later and His Highness has requested the younger sister of a school friend (Chris) of Gabriella's, Eve Hamilton, a producer in the theater of fine arts, come to Cordina (from Houston) and put on four American plays to benefit the charity for the handicapped children in Cordina. Eve has been a close friend to Bennett, the youngest brother, and a visitor to Cordina on an off over the years (Eve also played an important part in the first story relating to the exposure of Brie's kidnappers). Alex was always a distant presence in her life but also a fascinating one. Command Performance centers on their story, Alex and Eve, combined with the unsettled dangers of espionage ongoing in Cordina and now involving all those who are royalty or even close to the people of royalty. This love story brought tears to my eyes and when that happens all I can say is that it is a winner in more ways than one. If you want brain surgery reading, these stories are not for you. If you want fantasy and princes and princess plots and just plain enjoyable fun reading, then the Cordina Royal family will definitely fit the bill! I am looking forward to reading Bennett's story in "The Playboy Prince."
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly disappointed, May 16, 2006
This review is from: Cordina's Royal Family: Gabriella & Alexander: Affaire Royale\Command Performance (Mass Market Paperback)
Ususally I love Nora Roberts involving and realistic literary style. She has a way of making situaiton seem plausible and characters relatable and real. I am particularly fond of her incredibly sense of realistic and witty dialogue. And yet this book left me feeling flat and a little disappointed.
While this was a reprint and combination of two earlier works I felt that a little re-editing to make up for lacking skill wouldn't have been amiss. the second story of Alexander and Eve was the one I though posed the most promise and yet the characters were flat, lack luster and the situation completely unbeleivable. The smoking and the misunderstanding that continue on and on I could handle. It was the poor writing, the plot that wasn't really thought out and the lack of any truely interesting secondary characters. Add to that references to previous works in the series that due more to clutter the work than anything else.
I was just surprisingly disappointed with this work. The lack of imagination and skill shown in Roberts later books left me feeling cheated.
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