Goddess of Vengeance: A Lucky Santangelo Novel

Ok, I have questions. Like, did Jackie Collins actually write this book? And if she did, was she senile or just too lazy to be bothered to refer to her novel Chances, the first book to introduce us to the Santangelo clan?I first read Chances as a virginal and fairly innocent 15 year old, and let me tell you, that book WAS my sex education. I read it over and over again, loved it, and still do. The problem, though, is that I'm too familiar with the small details that THIS book gets wrong, and they irk me. First off, Lucky's actual age is never referenced, but in Chances, she was born in 1950. This book references the Eminem/Rihanna smash "Love The Way You Lie," which was recorded in 2009 and released in 2010, which puts our favorite Lady Boss at 60. But alas, in Drop Dead Gorgeous, which takes place two years before Goddess of Vengeance, Daddy Gino is celebrating his 95th birthday, putting him at 97 in this book. However, being that Gino was born in 1906, he was 44 when Lucky was born. I'm no mathematician, but even I know something doesn't quite add up. Annoyingly, in this book, Paige is referred to as both Gino's 3rd wife and his 5th wife! Wrong again. Unless I missed something, Paige should be wife #4 (Cindy, Maria, Susan, then Paige). Lucky's brother Dario was NOT killed and then thrown from a moving car. This may have happened in the useless made for network TV adaptation, but in Chances, Dario was shot while leaving Gino's hotel after chickening out of executing Gino and Lucky per Enzio Bonnatti. Speaking of Enzio, he was indeed responsible for the deaths of Dario and Marco, but as I recall it was Pinky Kassari who orchestrated the hit on Lucky's mother. And Marco was not shot in front of Lucky, he was hit in the parking lot while she was still inside, though she DID witness his last breath. Also, when British writers try to write American characters, they should keep in mind that we don't phone anyone, we CALL. We don't refer to parking lots as a carpark. We don't pull a face, we make them. And "stupid cow" is not an insult we use unless we're body shaming. All in all, I can't hate this book because anything Santangelo is my guilty pleasure, but the inconsistency drives me crazy...I mean mad.

I was on chapter twenty three and page 196 and couldn't help but wonder when the story was going to start? When was Lucky going to have to fight for her hotel? But once the story finally starts, watch out. Lucky is true to form and does kick some butt in this one. Her daughter Max is also featured heavily in this one, again. Most of the action occurs in the final third of the novel. However, because a great part of the novel is about Max, we miss out on interaction with Lucky. There is barely any interaction between Lucky and Lennie at all, just a few scenes. Sadly, Lennie is more of a lackey in this story. He wouldn't even be missed if he wasn't in this one. Personally, I would rather have seen a bigger interaction with Lucky and Lennie over protecting her club.What's with the epilogue summaries that abound in Ms. Collin's books? How about show and don't tell? Love the characters of Bobby and Denver and hope they stay together.Overall, this is a fun read and a guilty pleasure, just don't expect a literary work and you won't be disappointed. And we know that Lenny and Lucky love each other: No need to repeat it over and over again: "Lennie and Lucky. Two of a kind." Also, I wasn't crazy that we don't get to learn the identity of Prince Armand's real father. That was a cop out there.

I was always a fan of the Lucky Santangelo series by Jackie Collins so when the opportunity came up to review the latest in the series, Goddess of Vengeance, I jumped at it. I was in my 30's when I started this series I think and it was just great getting back to all these characters that I remember from so long ago especially Lucky who was always my favorite. Who doesn't like a heroine that can kick butt and rule her own empire as well as any man?Goddess of Vengeance finds Lucky as an extremely successful business woman who owns her own hotel, The Keys, in Vegas and of course she's still sporting the same attitude of `don't f--- with a Santangelo!' Lucky has always been tough as nails and she is no different now. She still wants the best and expects the best.This novel takes us a bit deeper into her family and focuses somewhat on her daughter Max who is just turning eighteen and her son Bobby who owns his own successful business. Max seems like a pretty cool kid and I got a kick out of some of the things she said. She doesn't seem to have that tough attitude her mom has but maybe that will come in future books. Bobby who's always been a playboy seems to have finally found a woman who can make him settle down. There's still a lot of Lucky in this book and I was glad to see that plus she's still with Lennie which was good to see as well.The storyline moves along at a pretty good clip. As usual we get in on the scene of the high rollers and celebrities and there is never a dull moment. Lucky has a run in with a man who really doesn't like women at all especially as business women and those of us who know anything about Lucky know that wouldn't go over too well. As we were nearing the end I kept wondering if Lucky was going to get herself into something she couldn't get out of so I had those pages flipping pretty fast.All in all Goddess of Vengeance was a good read for me. I've always considered these novels as escapism reading and that's what I got from it. I don't have to think too hard or try to glean more from the story than what is there and I really enjoy that once in a while. I think this novel could stand alone but it's much better if you've read some of the past ones especially the first few, Lucky and Chances. Anyhow, if you'd like to escape reality for a while this is surely the book to do it with. Be warned though for those of you not fond of bad language, there is a lot of it in this book.

I admit it; I am a huge JC fan. I have always loved the sleaze and glamour that her books seem to hold. Jackie Collins is without a doubt in my eyes the Queen of Sleaze! She wrote her first book in 1968 and has been writing ever since. Her latest book was released in April 2011 and was downloaded to my Kindle as soon as I could get my grubby mitts on it.We first met the character Lucky Santangelo in the book Chances published way back in 1981. She has since gone on to appear in another 7 books including this latest one. With a name like Lucky (only Jackie Collins could think of a name like that) you know that her life will be the polar opposite of her name. I have read all of JC's books but to be truthful my memory fades as it was in my late teens that I started reading them. Having said that, you are brought right up to speed with Lucky and her past in this current book. Anybody having not read JC books before can easily read this as a stand alone novel.As a reader you dive head first into the world of the Santangelo's. You get to meet Luck and her husband Lennie. We also meet their eldest son Bobby and youngest daughter Max, as well as Lucky's friend Venus. All of the characters have ridiculously amazing lives and with their wealth and glamour comes drama! Lucky herself is an amazing character that could never exist in real life. If she does, I seriously want to meet this ballsy woman who always gets what she wants both in her personal life as well as business. Lucky unfortunately manages to attract the attention of Armand Jordan, who is also a ruthless business man. Armand is used to getting his own way and goes out of his way to buy Lucky's casino and resort The Keys in Las Vegas.As much as the drama of all the characters and their lives is a tad unrealistic (at least in my ordinary world) it is such an escapist read that before you know it you are halfway through the book. I must say that as much as I love the Santangelo's the character Armand was a truly despicable character. Jackie Collins never has been shy in being graphically explicit and this book is no different. If you are not a fan of books that features a lot of sex and drugs, then maybe this is not for you. Her writing style is easy to read and the chapters flow from character to character making it easy to keep up with who is doing what. In addition to Lucky's family and Armand we also meet other characters that flit in and out of the book such as Max's friends and Venus' ex husband.As usual with a JC book, it took me not time at all to finish the book and found myself wondering if maybe I should read some of her older books again. If you love sleaze, glamour, and major family dramas then the series of books featuring Lucky's family will definitely be up your street.

I think I'm going off Jackie Collins books, 'Goddess of vengeance' is perverted sex and drugs from the beginning to the end. The story line is weak and disjointed and if that is what goes on in Vegas, they must be sick and riddled with STI's and oral cancer.I don't need to read about explicit sex on every page. Lots of people criticised 50 Shades of Grey but at least that Trilogy had a Moral story, about an abused child who was brought up thinking bondage and perversion was normal, but after meeting the right person with lots of love and understanding his life changed.Jackie Collins you can do better than

This was quite difficult to get into, but by the end it was like the others she has written and hard to put down!The " Lucky" powerful woman image, though something I grew up with, now seems a bit dated and old fashioned. Strange that. Really odd feeling. I guess a lot of fiction books are written to fit in with the times in which they are written.

I have read all the other books in the Lucky series, however, I was very disappointed by this offering. The book is called 'Goddess of Vengeance; so I expected some intricate plot line where Lucky turns badass and seeks revenge. But the title is a lie. There is no revenge. No plot with twists and turns like I have come to expect from Jackie's books. As a character Armand Jordan showed promise as the guy you love to hate, but where was the intricate plot featuring Armand Jordan and Lucky? I think Jackie just got bored and conveniently killed off characters rather than actually write a decent plot. Sorry Jackie. This book is not that good.

Jackie Collins what can I say, Everyone of her books I have not been able to put down. the Santangelo's books are my favourite following the life of Gino the ram Santagelo his rise through the crime world to go legit and his Daughter Lucky following her life in her Fathers footsteps, A must read can not give it as higher rating as it deserves.