Starlit Winter Nights

by Nora Roberts

Book Overview

The holidays in Cordina are always laced with romance and mystery...

The Royal Rake. The Playboy Prince. Ever the ladies' man, Prince Bennett of Cordina has always happily lived up to his public reputation with an element of recklessness. When a distant relative, Lady Hannah Rothchild, arrives in Cordina as a hired companion to his sister, Bennett couldn't be less interested in his modest, academic cousin. Still, he sees something...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1335147519
• ISBN13: 9781335147516
• Release Date: September 2020
• Publisher: Silhouette Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Suspense, Romance & Royalty

Similar to the previous reviewer, I found this story to be a wonderful culmination of the three siblings in The Royal Family saga. This is Bennett's story and again, it takes the reader back to the magical land of princes and princesses and the danger and intrigue of Deboque, a villain responsible for much turmoil in their family. Now, after 10 years of being in prison and causing near-destruction to Princess Gabriella and Prince Alexander from his prison cell through outside contacts, Deboque is being released and will stop at nothing to destroy Prince Armand. The best way to do that is to kill his entire family, children included, and have the Prince survive only to grieve the tragic loss for the rest of his life. Lady Hannah Rothchild is brought on board to assist in the task as an agent in this plan. The characters from the previous two books are brought back - Gabriella (Brie) and Reeve MacGee and their children, Eve and Prince Alexander (heir to the throne) now with a little baby girl and another baby on the way and of course Bennett who finds Lady Hannah extremely appealing despite her dis-interest in him. This is an entertaining and suspenseful fairy tale story. I enjoyed all three books about the family, but would have to say Eve and Alex's story was the one I liked best.

A Prince and a Double Agent? Oh Yes!

This is another fun story by Nora Roberts. This tale takes the reader on a journey to Cordina, a small island under the rule of a royal family loved by the island residents. The Playboy Prince is the third book in the Cordina series, yet another trilogy written by Nora Roberts. This one was written in the beginning of her career and although not as great as her latest series, it is still excellent. Cordina reminds me of Monaco - an island surrounded by beautiful landscape, peaceful ocean, and dynamic architecture. The island is ruled by a kind king who truly cares for his subjects (do they still call them subjects?). The family is vivacious, drawing the reader into their antics to the point where you are almost like one of the family. The Playboy Prince focuses on Prince Bennett. His escapades are legend; his activities (especially where women are concerned) are fodder for not only the newspapers but the gossip columns as well. But when Lady Hannah Rothchild visits his sister, he can't understand his attraction to the quiet, prim and proper woman. What Prince Bennett doesn't know is that Lady Hannah Rothchild is an undercover security agent. She's been sent to the island to protect the royal family from the diabolical Deboque, a villain getting out of jail for his previous plot to kill the royal family and he only succeeded in kidnapping Prince Bennett's sister, Gabrielle. Since Deboque will be released from prison soon, it's only a matter of time before he attempts to seek revenge. Lady Hannah Rothchild has infiltrated Deboque's organization and has gained his trust. Now as a double agent, she must appear to carry out his plans, build a case against him, while keeping the royal family safe. No simple task when Prince Bennett keeps trying to break down her cool reserve and figure out what is hidden beneath her surface. Ok, so this is kind of a cookie cutter plot, but the intrigue adds to the romance. Nora Roberts is a master at building the suspense and mixing the right amount of romance in without going overboard. The book is predictable, but if you read enough of these romance books most of them are predictable. What's not expected is the mystery and build up - Deboque wants to blow up the palace in an explosion meant to kill the royal family. Setting those events into motion is exciting and keeps the reader very captivated. The Playboy Prince isn't one of Nora Roberts' best works, but it is definitely worth reading. With only 251 pages, most can finish it in an afternoon. The hardest part will be finding a copy of this book, as it is out of print and very hard to find. Seems there are many of Nora Roberts's earlier books that are very hard to find - too bad she doesn't reprint this earlier trilogy in one large paperback and market them like she has with the Donovan Legacy!

Meet The Royal Rake!!!!!!!

The Playboy Prince by Nora Roberts is the third book in the Cordina Royal Family series. This title tells the tale of Prince Bennett, the youngest child of Prince Armand. Known far and wide as The Royal Rake, Prince Bennett is a handsome young man attracted to women and also found equally attractive by women as well. While Prince Bennett fills his days with courtly duties, it is his nights and loves which fill the gossip columns. Then plain Lady Hannah Rothchild joins the royal family as a companion to Bennett's pregnant sister-in-law and eventhough she's clearly not type he thought he liked, Prince Bennett finds himself falling head over heels in love with her. Hannah, knowing she is not what she appears contains her feelings for Prince Bennett lest her true position at the Royal Palace is revealed. For Hannah is neither an ordinary companion, plain or demure woman.Nora Roberts is perhaps the most prolific romance writer today. With over 140 titles to he name she is well known as a writer of romantic suspense novels, trilogies, family series as well as futuristic romantic mysteries written under the name JD Robb. Whie I have read books from each of her genres, it is her trilogies and series which I enjoy the most. Its always with a feeling akin to coming home when I pick up a book in one of Nora's series and learn more about a family member or friend. And The Playboy Prince is no exception. Now I look forward to reading Cordina's Crown Jewel which was published this year and continues the story of yet another royal family member.

Synopsis

LADY OF MYSTERY Prince Bennett of Cordina had been making gossip headlines since his teens-but the prim and proper Lady Hannah Rothchild wasn't his usual choice in women. Something in her eyes intrigued him, and he was determined to discover what she was trying to hide. Hannah knew Bennett could easily jeopardize her safey, so from the moment they met she should be on her guard. Yet despite all her attempts to avoid him, she was falling under his spell, making them both more vulnerable to the dangers that surrounded them. She'd lost her heart to a man she forced to deceive-but then love knows right or wrong.

Excellent upbeat novel with a twist

I enjoyed ending this series with a fun, witty couple who had more in common than they ever thought! Proves that hidden layers can be fun and surprising. This story satified my need to bring the Cordina family together happily ever after.