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Chances (Lucky Santangelo Saga) Mass Market Paperback – August 1, 1991

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 5,432 ratings

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From the iconic author and subject of the Netflix documentary Lady Boss comes the novel that introduced the reckless and dangerous Santangelo family and Lucky, the woman who dares to win her father's empire for herself.

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 it 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 . . . 
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Should be read under a cold shower." -The Sun

"Ferociously entertaining." -
Sunday Express

From the Author

What can I tell you about CHANCES?  Well first off, I loved writing this book.  It was a total joy from start to finish, but worth every hard working day.  In CHANCES you get to meet Gino 'The Ram,' who was one of my most favorite characters to write.  And of course the crazy, wild, fiercely independent Lucky, Gino's irascible daughter. CHANCES ranges in time from 1921 to 1977, so expect to take quite a trip!  CNN called CHANCES - "The Godfather goes to bed."  Love it! 
 
Enjoy--Jackie Collins

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grand Central Publishing (August 1, 1991)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 816 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0446357170
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0446357173
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 1.5 x 6.88 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 5,432 ratings

About the author

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Jackie Collins
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There have been many imitators, but only ever one Jackie Collins!

The iconic author has been called a “raunchy moralist” by the late director Louis Malle and “Hollywood’s own Marcel Proust” by Vanity Fair magazine.

With over half a billion copies of her books sold in more than forty countries, and with thirty one New York Times bestsellers to her credit, she is one of the world’s top-selling novelists.

From glamorous Beverly Hills bedrooms to Hollywood movie studios; from glittering rock concerts in London to the yachts of Russian billionaires, Jackie Collins chronicles the scandalous lives of the rich, famous and infamous from the inside looking out.

“I write about real people in disguise,” she once said. “If anything, my characters are toned down - the truth is much more bizarre!”

Born in in London, England, her first novel, "The World is Full of Married Men" was published in 1968 and established Collins as an author who dared to step where no other female writer had gone before. She followed it year after year with one successful title after another, including “The Stud” and “The Bitch”, both adapted into films in the 1970s starring her actress sister, Joan Collins.

The 1980s saw Jackie finding her stride when she published "Chances”, the first installment in a sprawling family saga introducing the strong, sexy and powerful Lucky Santangelo. Soon after came the seminal 80s blockbuster, “Hollywood Wives” which was adapted into one of ABCs highest rated mini series.

The 90s and 2000s saw Jackie on a wild writing streak, satisfying her devoted readers with hit after hit, including “Lady Boss”, “Hollywood Kids”, “Poor Little Bitch Girl” and “The Power Trip” among many others.

Jackie was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) by the Queen of England in 2013 for her services to literature and charity. When accepting the honor she said to the Queen 'Not bad for a school drop-out' - a revelation capturing her belief that both passion and determination can lead to big dreams coming true!

Jackie was a long time supporter of AIDS Project LA, HIV & AIDS research and equality for the LGBT community. She was widely known for writing characters who reflected a whole spectrum of society.

In addition to her long and lustrous career, Jackie valued her family above all else, including her three daughters and six grandchildren. She wrote every one of her manuscripts by hand, as well as being widely known for her photographic skills, constantly documenting family, friends and her celebrity circle.

Jackie died of breast cancer on September 19th 2015, six years after being given a stage 4 diagnosis, which she chose to keep private until the final weeks of her life.

She believed in the power of positive thinking and during that six years continued to write five more books and traveled the world on yearly book tours. Her last novel, “The Santangelos”, the thrilling final installment in the epic nine book series, was released in 2015, just weeks before her death.

Jackie Collins was a creative force, a mentor and trailblazer in fiction, and an inspiration to all who knew her, in addition to the millions of readers whose lives she enriched through her novels for over four decades.

In her last interview before her death, Jackie said "I want people to see me as an example of strength - and doing things my way...'"

The Jackie Collins 'way' will most definitely live on through her absorbing characters and compulsive plot lines for years to come

A compelling documentary about Jackie's life and trailblazing career 'Lady Boss-The Jackie Collins Story' produced by Academy Award Winning Passion Pictures, CNN Films, BBC Arts & AGC productions will be released in 2021.

Visit Jackie's website at www.JackieCollins.com to delve into Jackie's world and sign up for the #GetYourJackieCollinsOn newsletter - for book promos, all the latest news on all things Jackie and bonus exclusives!!

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
5,432 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They find the storyline interesting, suspenseful, and full of drama. The writing style is well-written and easy to follow. The characters are complex and colorful. The book keeps their interest from beginning to end, with a great pace that keeps them guessing.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

189 customers mention "Readability"173 positive16 negative

Customers find the book engaging with its characters. They say it's well-researched and entertaining, though a bit lengthy.

"...You can really lose yourself in this book. I recommend it as a fantastic beach read, train read or just for anyone who wants to read an engrossing..." Read more

"...Spotted two typos but that does not change my opinion.Great book if you are looking to get lost in another world of characters that you will..." Read more

"...The book is lengthy but since the book deals with several characters and the story unfolds over such a long period of time, the book keeps moving..." Read more

"...longer than some of you younger people have been alive and this series is awesome,, this book and the rest of the series are awesome, lots of twists..." Read more

96 customers mention "Story quality"90 positive6 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging storyline with suspense and intrigue. They praise the author's skill with plot, character development, and drama. The intricate tale of tightly intertwined lives is well-written and vividly brings the scenes to life in their minds.

"...Jackie Collins weaves an intricate tale of tightly intertwined,like grape vines, lives...." Read more

"...awesome,, this book and the rest of the series are awesome, lots of twists and turns and you can't put it down.. I got the first few at a yard sale..." Read more

"...I was wrong. She had a lot of ability with plot, character development, and even dialog, at times...." Read more

"A very good read, good characters, good story and very well written...." Read more

70 customers mention "Writing style"52 positive18 negative

Customers find the writing style engaging and easy to follow. They appreciate the talented author's skill and vibrant storytelling style. The characters appear lifelike and vibrant, with a dash of humor.

"...In short, they do indeed, seem more than lifelike. Collins has been a consummate story spinner for years...." Read more

"As well written I assume as her other books are as I have only read one or two other books...." Read more

"...(and the editing is so crisp) is compelling to say the least...." Read more

"...Not a literary work of art by any means but the author knows that and instead offers a clear voice and attitude you wont get in many other..." Read more

55 customers mention "Character development"48 positive7 negative

Customers appreciate the rich, complex characters and their intertwining. They value the sense of timing and character interweaving. The book offers a clear voice and attitude that is different from many other novels.

"...art by any means but the author knows that and instead offers a clear voice and attitude you wont get in many other novels...." Read more

"...Great character development and plot!!!!" Read more

"...I was wrong. She had a lot of ability with plot, character development, and even dialog, at times...." Read more

"...light reading it kept your interest and she does a great job of describing every character she introduces to the book...." Read more

36 customers mention "Interest"31 positive5 negative

Customers find the book engaging from start to finish. They say it keeps their attention and keeps them guessing. The book is described as captivating, exciting, and exotic.

"...hey, Jackie Collins’s storytelling (and the editing is so crisp) is compelling to say the least...." Read more

"...Most of all had a strong message at the end." Read more

"...For easy , light reading it kept your interest and she does a great job of describing every character she introduces to the book...." Read more

"Great book. A little long but it certainly held my interest. It was the kind of book that you can't put down...." Read more

34 customers mention "Pacing"34 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's fast pace. They find it an engaging read that keeps their attention. The book is described as a true page-turner that makes time fly by.

"...Carrie Berkely was everybody's idea of success. Respectable. Affluent. Controlled. Now, because of past secrets, she was a target of blackmail...." Read more

"...Lucky is a strong, dynamic woman. Yet, she was ahead of her time. Yet, at the heart, she yearns for her father's approval...." Read more

"...She definitely spins a well crafted page turner, way above the Danielle Steel genre...." Read more

"...Chances begins fast moving and doesn't slow down. It is very descriptive and highly entertaining. Definitely a keeper for me." Read more

21 customers mention "Entertainment value"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and engaging. They say it keeps them engrossed and is a great escape from everyday life. The book draws readers in from the beginning and keeps them hooked until the end.

"...Gets very addictive and you want to know whats going to happen next with each character...." Read more

"...This book is a definite page turner and keeps you engrossed. I remember how I couldn't wait to pick it and continue where I left off...." Read more

"...It held my interest and pushed me to the end...." Read more

"Flashy fun from a forgotten era! Takes you back to the glitz and glamor and delightful story telling. Perfect entertainment!" Read more

16 customers mention "Violence level"5 positive11 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the violence level in the book. Some find it suspenseful and violent, like Godfather. Others feel it contains graphic sex scenes.

"...certain language was used at that time, some of the swearing is excessive and unnecessary - it cheapens the plot instead of adding to it...." Read more

"...Some of the scenes are pretty graphic (especially concerning Carrie), but the back stories add depth to the story...." Read more

"This book is full of tragedy and heartache. Just when you think the characters are going to get a break, life throws a curve ball...." Read more

"...Vivid. Some sex, violence and foul language. I'm looking forward to the continuing stories in this series." Read more

CARRIE IS MY FAVORITE 'BAD GIRL' OF THE BOOK
5 out of 5 stars
CARRIE IS MY FAVORITE 'BAD GIRL' OF THE BOOK
I love Gino Santangelo's wicked ways. He is a sexy, bad boy and his young daughter, Lucky is no better. This family saga definately delivers a good read. However, Carrie, the young black woman, who fight her way out of poverty is my favorite 'Bad Girl.'
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2016
Chances by Jackie Collins is the first book of the Santangelo family series originally published in 1975. This 800 page saga is the story of Italian mobster Gino Santangelo, the patriarch of the Santangelo family, from a child who loses his mother and an abusive father to a bootlegger in his 20s and a Las Vegas hotel owner in his 40's, and his marriage to the love of his life and the birth of his children, especially lucky Santangelo who appears in the subsequent Santangelo novels. There is a lot of sex, violence and foul language, but it is an integral part of the story. There is a corresponding story of Carrie Berkeley and her being sold into prostitution as a young child and the unbelievable abuse that she endures. Carrie has a child, Steven, who is also a major character is this story. The novel begins in the present which is during the 1977 blackout, with lucky Santangelo and Steven Berkeley being stuck in an elevator, Dario Santangelo held up in his apartment, and Gino Santangelo sequestered out of the country. Then the timeline shifts to Gino's childhood and shifts around between the past and the present.
If you've read some of the subsequent novels already as they are newer and more readily available you will recognize the names of characters and know their fate. I found this made the book even better. All of the characters plot lines come together at the end. Many parts of the book are exciting cliffhangers.
My only criticisms are that the book was a tad too long, yet paradoxically I didn't want to see it end. The author constantly talks about taking care of "things". She constantly uses the terms terms like "running things", "taking care of things" etc. it is a bit lazy , I.e., she could have even said running the operation, taking care of the business etc., however there is a reason why Jackie Collins, who passed away recently, was such a huge New York Times best selling author. You can really lose yourself in this book. I recommend it as a fantastic beach read, train read or just for anyone who wants to read an engrossing escapist gangster romance novel.
9 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2014
Lucky Santangelo was her father's daughter, in most conceivable ways. Her brother was a total aberration within the family, a homosexual looking for pleasure in all the wrong places. Lucky had been in charge for the past seven years while her father languished in Israel.
Carrie Berkely was everybody's idea of success. Respectable. Affluent. Controlled. Now, because of past secrets, she was a target of blackmail. She cringed driving back into Harlem. Stephen, Carrie's son, had known hell on earth with Zizi. Now, with Aileen, he had been given a second chance for a real life.
A heat wave flooded the city. A black-out trapped key figures in a deadly maniacal embrace of smothering darkness. The city of lights, New York, was ebony, the dazzling flash of lights, obliterated. Gino Santangelo had had his ups and downs over the years. He lived by his wits. Now, he was mile high in an airplane, circling New York, a trapped witness to the blackout.
Chance encounters can, and do, change lives. One can take a chance, use free will, or be forced into a change which seems accidental, but may be an intervention.
Jackie Collins weaves an intricate tale of tightly intertwined,like grape vines, lives. The characters, with loaded angst, strengths and weaknesses, jump from the page to nudge heart vibrations, and twist acid knots in your stomach. In short, they do indeed, seem more than lifelike. Collins has been a consummate story spinner for years. Only two I compared an era ago; Jackie Collins and Sidney Shelton,the king and queen of their chosen genre. Bravo, Jackie. Enjoy your tiara.
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2015
This books is very entertaining.
Starts off a little choppy due to the style of writing, but after the first few chapters it becomes more clear.
By the middle of the book it starts playing out like a movie in your head.
Gets very addictive and you want to know whats going to happen next with each character.
Not a literary work of art by any means but the author knows that and instead offers a clear voice and attitude you wont get in many other novels.
Spotted two typos but that does not change my opinion.
Great book if you are looking to get lost in another world of characters that you will never meet in today's world.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2014
As well written I assume as her other books are as I have only read one or two other books. But at least with Kindle nobody can tell what you are reading unless they look at the device. This book is about the Santangelo family and some other characters. It mainly flashes back between 1977 and the past starting with the twenties and builds it's way back up to 1977. As you continue to read the book she does a good job of exclaiming why Carrie is so worried about her past coming back to haunt her, why Lucky is dreading her father's return to the States and other things. The book is lengthy but since the book deals with several characters and the story unfolds over such a long period of time, the book keeps moving along. I really thought Carrie had a really raw deal in life and it was nice to find out how she had managed to finally turn things around for herself. All in all I was fairly happy with how everything was resolved at the end of the book. Jackie Collins books are perfect when you are looking for an escape.
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2014
Jackie Collins has been writing great erotic books probably longer than some of you younger people have been alive and this series is awesome,, this book and the rest of the series are awesome, lots of twists and turns and you can't put it down.. I got the first few at a yard sale and I was hooked... When it comes to hot romance or erotica look to Jackie to give you all you want.... also read her book Rockstar..... Jackie rocks and you'll see that even the older books by her are still relevant today.... so never count her out as one to watch for and follow and go back and read all the series she has written and single books..... you will not find a bad book out of the tons she has written.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Tammy Mallory
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in Canada on August 6, 2023
This book was great,i have read this book as well as all Jackie Collins books multi times. I have this book in hard copy as well as for my Kindle.
Mez21
5.0 out of 5 stars The WOW factor!
Reviewed in Australia on September 3, 2019
This book had me from the get go. Having only read a couple of Jackie Collins' books previously, I was optimistic about this one before even starting. This book however, exceeded all expectations and had me reading well into the wee hours of the morning. Intriguing characters who made you love them even though they were bada$$ Mafioso, never ending drama, action, thrill and sensuality all rolled into one! Could not put it down!! Can't wait to continue reading Lucky's journey 💞
Kindle Customer t s
5.0 out of 5 stars Page Turner
Reviewed in France on March 26, 2016
Well written with lots of twits ,and unexpected turns I like a book that keeps me on my toes,well done jackie r i p
Reny Pio
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in India on May 28, 2015
The quality of the book was not great. The book being bulky, had loose spine.
Suzy
5.0 out of 5 stars Suzy( Chances)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2012
This is the first Jackie Collins that I have read and thought it was really good and worth five stars. I love her fast moving style of writing and the characters are all so different and interesting. Could not put it down and have now just started the 2nd in the saga (Lucky.)I`m sure I will continue to read the rest of the series. Thank you Jackie!