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Chances (Lucky Santangelo Saga) Mass Market Paperback – August 1, 1991
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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 . . .
- Print length816 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherGrand Central Publishing
- Publication dateAugust 1, 1991
- Dimensions4.25 x 1.5 x 6.88 inches
- ISBN-100446357170
- ISBN-13978-0446357173
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Ferociously entertaining." - Sunday Express
From the Author
Enjoy--Jackie Collins
From the Back Cover
A green Cadillac heads into Harlem, driven by Carrie Berkeley, a society wife with a hidden past which needs to stay hidden.
In an office building, a young prosecuting attorney, Steven Berkeley, is putting the finishing touches to an intricate, career-defining case. Tired and exhilarated, he rides the elevator down.
Also in the elevator is Lucky Santangelo, firebrand daughter of Gino and substitute head of the crime family.
And then the power cuts out, plunging New York City into darkness.
And so begins CHANCES, the steamy epic which introduces us to one of Jackie Collins' greatest heroines, Lucky Santangelo.
About the Author
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 40 countries, and with some twenty-nine 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 unrivaled insiders 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."
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
- Best Sellers Rank: #69,281 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #523 in Organized Crime Thrillers
- #1,607 in Contemporary Women Fiction
- #8,571 in Contemporary Romance (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

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
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviews with images
CARRIE IS MY FAVORITE 'BAD GIRL' OF THE BOOK
Top reviews from the United States
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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.
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.
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.






