Chances

Lucky Santangelo #1

by Jackie Collins

Lucky, Lady Boss, Vendetta: Lucky’s Revenge, and Dangerous Kiss…Jackie Collins’ sizzling Lucky saga all began with CHANCES.The book that made Jackie Collins one of America’s favorite authors sweeps you from the sophisticated playgrounds of Europe to the glittering gambling palaces of Las Vegas. It plunges you into the reckless, dangerous world of the Santangelo crime family. It introduces you to Gino Santangelo, the street kid who makes it all the way to the top. And then brings you Lucky—his sensual, stunningly beautiful, and passionate daughter; a woman who dares to win her father’s empire for herself; a woman unafraid of taking…CHANCES.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Crime, Drama, Mystery

818 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

There have been many imitators, but only Jackie Collins can tell you what really goes on in the fastest lane of all. From Beverly Hills bedrooms to a raunchy prowl along the streets of Hollywood; from glittering rock parties and concerts to stretch limos and the mansions of power brokers-Jackie Collins chronicles the real truth from the inside looking out.

Jackie Collins has been called a "raunchy moralist" by the late director Louis Malle and "Hollywood's own Marcel Proust" by Vanity Fair magazine. With over 500 million copies of her books sold in more than forty countries, and with some 30 New York Times bestsellers to her credit, Jackie Collins is one of the world's top-selling novelists. She is known for giving her readers an unrivalled insider's knowledge of Hollywood and the glamorous lives and loves of the rich, famous, and infamous. "I write about real people in disguise," she says. "If anything, my characters are toned down-the truth is much more bizarre."

Jackie Collins died of breast cancer Saturday, September 19, 2015. Jackie Collins, who had kept her illness secret, said recently that she believed in an afterlife, that she had no regrets and that she had emulated Frank Sinatra in that “I did it my way.”

Visit Jackie's website: www.jackiecollins.com
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/JackieJCollins
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/jackiecollins and Pinterest:
www.pinterest.com/jackiejcollins

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my teens I found a dog-eared copy of Jackie Collins "Chances" laying on a park bench. I picked it up and started reading the story of Gino Santangelo. What started out as a boring afternoon became my introduction into adult fiction and my love for Jackie Collins.

For three days straight everything in my life stopped. I read this book at breakfast, on the way to school, after school, while out with friends and I did my chores. I even hid it from my mom because I knew she would think the book was too grown for my young mind.

Chances was the first book that gave me a taste of a world that was outside my own. Jackie Collins style of writing drew me into a world of men who lived fast and fought hard, gambling, fast cars, and even faster women. It showed love, friendship, betrayal and the real way most people make it to the top. Most important it added excitement to my boring teenage life.

It was the first book that made the hours I read seem like minutes. I didn't feel like I was reading, I felt like I was a fly on the wall watching a story develop. This was the first book that made me feel like I was watching a personal movie inside my head. You know how when you are watching a movie with english subtitles and it is so good you feel like you aren't reading anymore. This is the Jackie Collins style of writing.

I really like Gino and his story. A guy who started with nothing and made the moves to go on to build an empire and give birth to his daughter Lucky Santangelo, heroine of the future books in the story line.

My girlfriends all wondered what had my attention, so I shared Gino with them. Not my copy of course. We all chipped in and bought a copy to share. They too fell in love with Chances.

Eventually my mom found the book in my hiding place. I was afraid she was going to throw it out. Instead she went in her closet and gave me her collection of Jackie Collins books.

[Wendy Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read Chances when I was a teenager and thought I was reading contraband - haha. I consistently hid my book when my parents were around. I've followed the series through-out the years and now I read it publicly. Jackie Collins has the flair of writing to give us glimpses of something glitzy, raw, violent and naughty.

Chances is the first book in the series, and it's where the reader meets Lucky, Gino's teenage daughter before she became famous. Filled with prostitutes, the mob, bad parenting, lots of family drama and two kids at the bottom of it all - Lucky and her brother Dario. Exciting and fast-paced, Chances is a thrilling ride that will leave you begging for more. Luckily, since it is the first book in the series, you won't have to wait long. The other books have been released. But Chances was just released for Ebook! Yay! If you haven't read a Jackie Collin's book yet, definitely start with Chances! You'll feel like you're reading something a bit sinful, but oh it's soo good!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really liked this book and i am ashmamed of this fact. it was quite possibly the trashiest novel i have ever read.. with that said, i couldn't put the book down.. it was long and you loved how much more you got to get to be involved with the characters. i loved gino and carrie..i give this book two very embarrased thumbs up.. so worth the read, you will feel dirty, but breathless at the end! :)

[Rachael Hodson (still skiing) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of weird being the first reviewer in 8 years but here I am partaking in the hedonistic bestseller of 1981. I have never read a Jackie Collins book nor did I ever plan to but it was mentioned as a sordid little detail in another book that I had read and for some reason, I felt like I was missing out on something great. I also thought, hey, it’s the 80’s, probably pretty tame. Chances is far from tame.

Chances is probably the dirtiest book that I have ever read. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to admit that I had read this book on GR but after 800 pages, I deserve the credit. This book was of epic proportions. The longest I have maybe ever read. The thing is, when a book is this long, you become invested in characters, seedy as they may be. As much as this book was terrible, it was also oddly compelling.

Jackie Collins’ mind might be in the gutter but you got to hand it to her, she is a brilliant writer and the characters in this book were so well done that when text jumped from one person to the other, I didn’t mind one bit.

This is a generational mobster story with all the characters who went along with violence, murder, organized crime, prohibition, gambling, prostitution etc. within these pages. While I was expecting passionate sex, this was dark and sad. Chances isn’t a beachy romance (what I expected) but rather a gritty look into poverty and wealth and the rise and fall of power through all explicit means. Many of the people in this book are based off factual characters and many of the events are an absolute part of history. The NYC power outage of July 1977 is still considered one of the worst events in NY history.

Part of me wishes I could say that I did the right thing and stuffed this book into the bin after the numerous rape scenes but when the second part of the book rolled along, I was way too involved with Gino and Lucky. I couldn’t stop. And honestly, all of the dirt led somewhere and sadly, had purpose. 1 star for the smut factor, 5 for brilliant writing and entertainment. 5 stars for creating one of the most complex web of characters who all become tangled in one way or another. So, 4 stars because anything less would honestly be disrespectful to the queen of trash. Jackie might have been banned but she can write. Wow!

Don’t judge. I just ordered Lucky.

Rated X- if you know you know, if you don’t, be forewarned.

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great start to a series by Jackie Collins. It is no wonder why she is one of my ultimate favorite authors of all time! I felt like I was watching a movie the whole time I was reading! This story had everything, Crime, sex, drugs, whores, pimps, lust, deceit, revenge, love, backstabbing and friendship. I really enjoyed the time setting of the story, having it begin in the early 20’s I could picture Harlem and the people. This 1st book in the series is based mostly around Gino and his story on how he came to be a big crime/ mob boss. Throughout the pages of the book I grew to like him a lot. He had a lot of heart even though he was a pervert. Always sleeping with women and lusting after them. He did help out his loved ones (very few) and the friends who remained loyal. I can recall reading when he would have the old man flasher write his love letters for him to Leonora and feeling so bad for him after he discovered her secret. Another part of the book that I enjoyed was when he meets the Dukes, Mrs. Duke, and the Senator. What an odd couple: she being an older horny woman and he the Senator being homosexual but married to a woman so that his political career wouldn’t be ruined, because back in those times that was a big taboo. I did feel bad when Gino just up and leaves Bee. I think she was one of the most loyal women he was with throughout the whole book. Gino’s best friend Costa started off as being a nerd when him and Gino were young to growing up to be a successful attorney and soon would help Gino out in his many legal blues he would have throughout his life.

Then there was Carrie’s story. Her story was very heartbreaking. She went from being pimped into prostitution to running her own whore house. I couldn’t help but feel so sorry for her numerous times. No more so than when she is so drugged up while doing a performance that she just collapses naked at the Dukes’ house. In her later years of life she becomes one of society’s elite. Her son Steven plays a big role at the end of the book in what happens.

We also meet Dario and Lucky in this book who are both Gino’s kids. All grown up their story begins to unfold. Lucky being stuck in an elevator, and Dario being chased by one of his male lovers & so begins these 2 character’s stories.

One of the things that I thought was very sad that seemed to hit all of the main characters was that living that crime life, seemed to have them loose almost everyone they truly loved. It was very sad.

Over all this was an awesome read! Not a dull moment at all when reading this story! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series where Lucky makes her comeback!! I really loved that one of the main characters in the book and the series itself who plays a vital role in the crime life was a woman it gave the story a lot of spice!

[Vicki Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like so many others have mentioned before, this was the first novel I read as a teenager and I hid it from my mother. I loved this book then and I still love it now. The characters, the relationships and of course, the sex kept me reading. I have read some of Jackie Collins other books, but this one remains my favorite. I hadn't read in book in over 30 years but coming back to it was like visiting with old friends (ok, well maniac friends), familiar and fun. Good times!

[Diane (IF U'RE PRIVATE, PLEASE SKIP ME!!!) Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of the best start to the family n the saga...love,love Lucky's swag...Gino!!! n the story begins. always loves JC style of writing, knows how to tell a good love story, good going....

[JJ Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little long, BUT, I loved it. Total soapy saga reminiscent of 80's prime time dramas like Dallas and Dynasty.

[Pooja Peravali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sleazy and enjoyable, though the homophobia put a damper on things.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

My life has always been pretty sheltered, growing up in the 60's (and proud of it) and having loving but strict parents. So reading this book takes me into a world that I'm fascinated about but wouldn't really want to live in...well, maybe some of it.

I love the way that Gino Santangelo was able to go from rags to riches. I felt that naming his daughter, and heroine of the story, was so appropriate! I loved her character too. This is my first Jackie Collins book and she had me hooked from the beginning. What I wasn't completely expecting but found to be a surprising pleasure was the background and progression of the family, generations of them. It was like reading a family history but one that made me care about them all in one way or another.

And finally there was another thing that I love in any book and that's the element of surprises and twists and this book didn't fall short.

[Gabriela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woooooooow damn. I'm blown away. Couldn't stop, couldn't think of anything else, couldn't funtion in real life until I finished 'Chances'.

I hate mafia stories, I don't like books set in the 20th century (unless they are contemporary, say 1990 forward) and I never, never, never would have thought that I would like this even a bit...man was I wrong!

Jackie Collins has a way of introducing lovable, flawed, kick ass characters that (even if the stories seem over the top) are believable.

Gino Santangelo builds a criminal empire from nothing and later his daugther Lucky Santangelo, who grew up to be a spoilt brat, decides she has enough of the empty life dominated by others she is leading and takes over.

Empowering book about how you can achieve anything you want if you just make up your mind to and start working hard to make it so.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt like I was watching a late night 70s mob goes soft-porn. Read 600 pages and that’s pretty committed in a story to give it up. Same thing kept repeating and I just wanted to stop having those characters in my head.
I was excited to read a story from an author who was known as a feminist bc of how she portrays her characters. This is not my cup of tea at all and I would say her writing is far from feminist

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when it first came out and I was hooked. My friend Lisa mentioned Lucky Santangelo recently and I had to get the book from the library. I have the next few books in the series on hold. I do remember how scandalous I thought this book was at the time, now it seems so mild.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really three and a half stars. A little longer than it had to be, but still an entertaining read. The author's writing pulled me into the story in spite of myself. A true guilty pleasure.

[Bubbles Putnam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright, pretty long winded at 600 pages. Just alright I would say. I could put it down but also enjoyed reading it.

[Laura Mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE these books about the Santangelo family, and this one kicks it all off! I read them in my high school days, but really want to go back and read all of them again! This is just one of those mindless beach reads, but with action, sex, mobsters, bad marriages, and trouble! I give it two thumbs up!

[BirnitaB · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read this book at least 20 years ago (maybe more), so it was a distant memory in my mental library when it was assigned as a book club summer read following the death of its author.
I have to say, although it's no literary masterpiece it's still a rollicking good read that sucks you in from the start. I may even read the rest of the Santangelo series this year!

[ShelbyLibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again I read a book based on a Patrons love for it. Not so much THIS particular book was the patron interested in, mostly the author. Now, if many of my followers remember, I am a Librarian. I pretty much have heard of every author, popular or unpopular I have heard of them. So of course I have heard of Jackie Collins as it usually passes my desk every so often...by women of course, and all giddy to read it. I have heard that Jackie Collins write romance novels. ROMANCE novels. Not really my cup of Tall Caramel Macchiato Whole Milk. One time, this lady patron asked me if we had a certain Jackie Collins book she was looking for. As I was searching I wondered EXACTLY what kind of books did Jackie Collins write. It felt like I just asked a Harvard student in History class give me the lecture on History, FROM DAY ONE!!! I couldn't get this lady to...um....how can I say this delicately....TO SHUT UP!!! She kept going on, and on and on and I'm like "Okay..wow. Looks like I'll have to read it. Hear's your book it's all checked out...the doors are...no sweetie the doors are over there. (Don't let them hit ya on the way out)!"

But with all that talk guess what I did?! That's right I checked out the First book in the Lucky Santangelo series: Chances. And I gotta tell ya.....this book is very and I mean VERY different than the kind of books I read!!

As I opened the first few pages of Chances with my Caramel Macchiato sitting beside me, I get engrossed into the life of a Gangster named Gino Santangelo from when he was boy living on the streets trying to make a living sees the light of day as a Gangster and makes a living at it. People come and go in Gino's life and he is trying to make the best of things...some good some bad. Making "offers they can't refuse" is the name of the game and Gino does a pretty bang up job doing so. Making friends along the way while making enemies that could cost him dearly, and has. Fast forward many years later, we see his daughter Lucky trying to make the best of things and loving every minute of it. The power of course is so juicy the she can't let it go when dearest Daddy comes back from a vacation. How can Gino back away from his own operation, even if it is in the hands of his daughter? How can he let go of the past that has haunted him over the years and just become old like everyone else? Not Gino Santangelo. But when things start going south for Gino, he has to rely on his daughter Lucky to make things right.

I got kind of lost a few times, for the book kept going back and forth from the past to the present. But after a while, I got used to it and noticed it actually helped the story line a lot. It broaden your horizon on what was going on to the main characters and many of the main characters that were mentioned you as the reader didn't realize how much of a role they played in Santangelo's family all those many years ago. They talk about New York being a big city and all but when Jackie Collins put together these main characters, it's actually a small city where everyone knows everybody and has ran across each others path far too many times. A great read, if you are into the whole "Godfather" affect and really into romance. Romance that isn't like Jill Shalvis or Debbie Macomber, no I mean the part that goes "Oohhh awww faster, FASTER!!! Thank goodness that's over with! Leave the money on the table on your way out. See you next week." We've got hookers, gangsters, crooked politicians, booze, drugs you name it and it's all tidied up in this first book of eight!!

-Miss Kelsey's Review

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember reading this when it first came out. A contemporary review calls it "The Godfather goes to bed" and I guess that's a good description. Friends of mine referred at the time to Collins as a "feminist" writer because Lucky is so brash, foulmouthed and promiscuous. Personally, I would hope a real feminist would do better than act like the user men that populate this book, but then feminism is a term much bandied and little understood, and always has been.

Reading it again thirtysome years later, I found myself skimming in spots. Collins is British and it shows in spots. My parents were of Gino's generation, and Americans in the twenties did not use the British phrase "Wakey wakey"; that and several other UK turns of phrase sat strangely in an Italian American's mouth.

Too many characters, too many threads. Too much skipping back and forth in time. None of the main characters was very sympathetic, and all the nice ones manage to get killed or swept off the board very quickly. What was the point of the Steven/Carrie thread? Just to work in the obligatory People of Colour, then known as "token blacks"? To whack in a few more drug/rape scenes? Today I would class this as an "airport novel", a looong book you buy in the airport to tide you over a transatlantic flight. It's certainly not chicklit; if sex and foul language is your thing, go for it.

In the back of the book Collins is touted as the ultimate Hollywood insider, who "really knows" what it's all about. I wonder.

Personally, I prefer The Godfather.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually read this book a number of years ago when I was not quite but nearly sweet 16. I have to admit being the hormonal teenage that I was back then I actually fell head over heels in love with Gino Santangelo! I could not put this book down, it was exciting, fast paced, the chapters alternate between two different characters with two different stories but you know they'll come together somewhere. You read about the main characters past and present which upon finishing the book leaves you ready for wanting to read more...there's still the future afterall! At the time I only had Luckyto luck forward to but before long I could continue the Santangelo saga with Lady Boss and Vendetta: Luckys Revenge.

All in all this book introduced me to Jackie Collinsworld and you know what...sometimes its all a bit cheesy...but I like it!

[Emily Field · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this book is of its time and a certain ‘type’ of genre, but this book was much worse than I had anticipated. It has one of the WORST main characters known to mankind. Gino ‘The Ram’ Santangelo is so awful. I hate him!

I picked this book for a bit of light, easy reading. Which it was. You don’t have to think while you’re flicking through the pages! I don’t want to be unfair though, I’m not going to comment about the quality of the writing because I think we all know these books aren’t literary masterpieces. They have their place though and I don’t mind a bit of ‘trash’ every now and then.

But the more the story went on and on, the more I hated the characters! Again, of its time but this the most SEXIST book I’ve ever read!! Gino Santangelo is arrogant, manipulative, aggressive and stupid! He’s so mean to everyone, considering himself and his reputation as the most important things in the world. Women are entirely dispensable, his play things to which he can do anything he wishes...including murder. He treats his daughter with contempt, marrying her off at 16 to a stranger. He hates his son, because he’s gay.

Not a book for feminists and/or nice people.

[MasterSal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Feb 20, 2021

DNF at 23%

I couldn’t take it anymore. This was full of sex and violence and I was bored ... imagine

I think it was because there wasn’t much progression in the story. Each chapter had more violence and sex and I didn’t see the point. Especially the chapters with Carrie which showed on page rape and assault. Nope

I am dropping the rating to 2 stars as I’m sure this works for people but I could not sit through it. It was giving me a headache.

The chapter alternative between Gino and Carrie and despite a lot happening I didn’t see much story tying it together. Maybe it’s just this book because I remember Ms Collins having a lot more content plotting

I may check out the other books in the series to see if the books pick up. I remember enjoying book 2 at least.

[Mitchan · Rating 1 out of 5]

No, no, no. This book should be called 'penises' or 'rapists'.
Why is there so much rape in this book? I thought it was going to be an easy read and now I'm stressed.
The only positive I can think of to say is the plot form (not content!) worked well in terms of jumping around the timeline and then bringing us to real time at the end. Otherwise the writing was meh and the characters were either sex mad or raped.

[Emily Maree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't one of her strongest for me unfortunately.

The story was too long and the ending just got way too out of control.
Another let down for me, was how many deaths were in this story.

However, her characters once again were captivating.
I'm just happy I have finally started the Lucky Santangelo series and I can not wait to see what the other books bring!

[Kenechi Udogu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I probably shouldn't love this book because it's so crass and trashy and much longer than it really could have been, but I do love it and I have decided that is all I'm going to say. A great rollercoaster ride!

[Cheryl]

What!?!

I found a Jackie Collins book that I have not read.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life)]

12/17/15: Free on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018...

[Chrisolu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mixup of a overly dramatic soap opera, a trashy TV show and a Francis Ford Coppola mob film...and I loved every minute of it.

[Katherine McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Club Besties pick!

Wow. Let me start by saying this book should come with a multi page trigger warning and a some of it has not aged well. However! I can totally see why people were enthralled with Jackie Collins writing style and I still think this was a dang good book.

Last January for my best friend’s book club we read Blush by Jamie Brenner and in that novel there is a book club that was happening in the 1980s. This book was one of the books in the fictional book club (a little bookception for you). So now moving forward, each January in honor of Blush, we will be reading a book from this fictional 1980s book club.

This was a BEAST of a book, a whopping 629 pages. But Jackie Collins writing style had me hooked from the very beginning. I loved The Sopranos and anything mobbish and this hit the spot with that gangster style. Spanning over 50 years with so many different characters and timelines to keep track of- I imagine Collins’ office to look a little crazy trying to keep them all in line. She did an incredible job of bringing characters back around and wrapping up their stories so well. There wasn’t one person that I didn’t feel was necessary for plot growth.

After reading this and reflecting on the characters in Chances and in Blush, I appreciated Jamie Brenner’s choice of including Chances as a book for their club. I see a lot of similarities in Lucky (Chances) and Leah (Blush), they both have great ideas for their family business but their fathers have a hard time letting go of the reigns to their daughters.

I definitely want to see how Lucky moves forward in Collins other novels and will totally be watching the Netflix special on Jackie Collins.

Rating 5/5 ⭐️

Wine Pairing - Nero d’Avola 🍇
Personally one of my all time favorites, Nero d’Avola is a native Sicilian grape with tasting notes of cherry and leather. Pairs well with just about everything because of its robust acidity and tannin. This particular Nero d’Avola is made by badass lady winemaker Arianna Occhipinti. I knew I had to pick a female winemaker with Lucky Santangelo being the badass that she is and even better an Italian wine.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/31/2019)! 🎁