Goddess of Vengeance (Lucky Santangelo)

Another Jackie Collins marvel. A great insight into Lucky's daughters world (Max) and what its like to be the daughter of Lucky and Lennie. But its not all about Max, there is of course a problem that Lucky must handle in true Santangelo fashion. A great read.

I love books by Jackie Collins...this one, not so much. I love my heroin, Lucky and she really didn't have much heroism in this book. My favorite part was when she told Armand a thing or two in their "one " mtg. The rest of this book is about teen sex with adult men, drug use and folks looking for some type of imaginary love.

Now, Armand's character set several scenes for some excellent plots. I liked this character, not the person and I loved the ending.

It was my month to choose my book club's read, of which none of the ladies have ever read one of Jackie C.'s books (I'm not looking forward to the discussion) . Hopefully they finished it, as the very end and epilogue is where the meat of this story is.

Jackie Collins has out done herself again. This book is a must read if you love living at the edge of your seat and enjoy imagaining yourself in that dream world. I have 2 of the girls at work reading it on their lunch time since it doesn't interfer with my time.

The book was a page turner. It was Jackie Collins at her best up until the end. The ending of the book was sudden and seemed sort of shallow. It was like she just got tired of the story and quit. There were so many stories that could have produced a better ending to the book. Overall, I enjoyed the book but was very disappointed in the ending.

i think i've outgrown the books by jackie collins. when i was in my 20's, i read everything i could find that she wrote. i still have a fondness for "lovers & gamblers." but like many, i really got into the santangelo series - at least up to 'lady boss.' it's been years since i've read anything new by collins, and i just happened to think of her recently, wondering how many books i've missed. i picked this one up, not realizing others came before it - but that is never a problem with jackie collins. she repeats herself so much it is MADDENDING.

every chapter! if it was about lucky, you can bet she would say over and over how fierce lucky is, how independent; how she did things her own way. WE GET IT!! if you've read any of the santangelo books, you don't have to be told 20 times what a badass lucky santangelo is. and how many times did she bring up the time lucky had a goon hold a knife near an associate's junk to make sure he paid his money? cripes, that was in "chances" - leave it alone! or, if the chapter was about armand, she had to say over and over how much he thought of himself, how little he thought of others - especially women - how rich and powerful he was. nothing got in his way. okay! we get it!

there is always one or two characters in a jackie collins book with a raging coke habit, and so i wasn't surprised to see it again here.

didn't like - (SPOILERS)

max - she's spoiled and very little like lucky, imo. maybe jackie collins has plans to have her grow a little more in her next books - after all, she's only 18 in this story. but she's vastly different from lucky, i think. all she's worried about in this book is getting laid by the famous star who happens to take her virginity at her out of control party. okay, she's 18. but that was basically all there was to max; there was no substance at all. and her friend cookie and cokehead boyfriend, frankie, was nothing but a waste of ink.

didn't like paige cheating on gino. okay, i know gino is getting pretty old, but through all the other books - and in this one with many references - gino was known for his sexual prowess. and i liked paige better as a loyal wife, instead of sneaking around behind his back to have sex with a woman she had just met. she can do it - i just don't want to read about it. maybe it would have been better if that plot had gone somewhere - after all, the woman was armand's mother - could have led to something, but all it was, was two older women having a one night stand. and speaking of peggy, armand's mother - wtf? there was a chance gino could have been the father of armand? i can't believe collins was going to bring this plot up again after the whole gino/carrie/steven story. but then it just led to nothing.

didn't like how it ended. there was potential. i thought maybe armand would kidnap max. bobby's girlfriend, a DA, would get involved, as would lucky, bobby - the whole clan. it could have been an exciting way to go. but armand just nearly overdoses, lucky crashes his party and gets into a fight with a drug dealer.

that's another thing - lucky is so badass, yes, we know. but she is stupid, too. she should have known not to go to that guy's villa in the middle of the night by herself. it was reckless, and not a fun, crazy kind of reckless. you can know you are a badass, but if you are smart, you also know your limits. she has kids, a husband, a business - it was just stupidity for her to do this. and to pick a fight with a drug dealer with a knife - even worse. i was very disappointed in her for acting like a 16 year old boy with a chip on his shoulder.

collins can't even keep her story straight. she mentions more than once that dario, lucky's brother, was shot and thrown from a car, when he was gunned down on the street. maybe i'm nitpicking, but she mentioned it twice.

denver - i got SO tired of this woman's insecurities. i have enough of my own to deal with. every single g.d. chapter this woman was in was all about how she was too "normal" for a relationship with a rich, sexy man. i really disliked her. and bobby seems like a nice guy, but again, it seemed like a lot more could have been done with his character than try and convince his gf that he was in love with her.

i wished gino had been in the story more, but i understand his time has passed and he is more of a background character. but he was what drew so many readers into this series to begin with. the story could have used more lennie, too. i missed the old characters - jess, matt, bridgette, steven, even costa. i grew weary of lucky sparring with alex, too. and venus, to me, is totally unlikable now.

sorry this went on and on. but this will be the last collins book i read, so i wanted to be thorough on my way out. i still think she is a talented writer - she's been doing this for a long time and won't miss me, i'm sure. but that's cool.

What can I say about Goddess of Vengeance? If you've read any of Jackie Collin's novels, then you know it is pure unadulterated fun that you hate to see end.

Lucky Santangelo is back! Her and husband Lennie are very happy. He's directing indie films and she's busy running her new hotel and casino complex, The Keys, in LA. They have three children, and vibrant Max is about to turn eighteen. She's involved in an affair with a movie star that at all costs must be kept secret.

Lucky's son Bobby owns a string of nightclubs, but has gotten involved with shady Russian investors. Lucky is kept busy juggling fame, wealth and her family, but all of her happiness is about to be on the line.

Young Prince Armand Jordan is not used to being told no. He wants something, he acquires it. What he wants is The Keys and Lucky isn't selling. So, he does what any spoiled brat would do. He decides to play hardball and goes after Lucky and her family with everything he has. Armand doesn't know that when you play with matches, you get fire, and Lucky brings the blaze to him with a vengeance!

With many sub-stories and characters, the light shines on not only Lucky and her glamorous high-maintenance life, but also on her children. The stakes are high and the game of cat and mouse will keep you entertained as the pages just fly by. A heart-pounding ride of suspense, drama, love, hope and vengeance, Jackie Collins is at the top of her game and Goddess of Vengeance is one of her best works yet.

I know this is cliche, but this book requires wine to go with all the cheese or a cheese grater. We read Jackie Collins purely as a guilty pleasure. Lucky is a character that we love! I was looking forward to the latest Lucky saga and the old school mafia mixed with the Hollywood glamour that has made this series so popular. In this one Lucky owns the fabulous Keys Hotel in Las Vegas and is throwing her daughter Max an 18th birthday party there. Max, continues to be annoying and bratty like the previous novel. Sadly, the author wants us to think she is cool and fresh (Jackie's words not mine.) Well, she and her friends are not. Bobby, Lucky's handsome son, is still in love with boring, has no confidence Denver (a hard to believe love match.) The good part of the book is Armand Jordan, a ruthless chauvinistic Prince who thinks all women are whores. His character is so twisted, he made me continue to turn the pages. When he decides he wants Lucky's hotel we get ready for a showdown, because everyone who has read this series knows Lucky is a ball buster. Sadly, Ms. Collins forgot how to write Lucky's character. All she tells us is that Lucky is a badass with black eyes. The next page, Lucky is a badass, with "once again" black eyes. OK, we know this now show us why she is a badass, don't just tell us! There was plenty of sex in this novel, but not the real action we expect from Lucky Santangelo.

Everybody loves LUCKY SANTANGELO. She's been one of my favorite character's since her inception. The second I saw the title, Goddess of Vengeance, I said "Oh Crap!, Lucky is going to have somebody's cohunes for a snack."

Jackie C, always writes and interesting tale with memorable characters and great pacing. Most of the time its a given that Lucky isn't going to take crap from anyone, and you expect it. There were a couple of things I agree with by the other reviewers about though. I thought Max was a brat (rich and entitled) but I guess we have time for her to grow in the next few novels.

Armand Jordan was a great vain villain and I am glad he got his and I just wish it were a little more intense (but then that is just the revenge goddess in me).
I would have liked a little more interaction between Lucky and Lennie and maybe just a tiny little rift or two to keep it interesting (love does come with it after all).
One of the reviewer's complained about repetitive sentences. I agree, and my editors call me on it when I do it in my own writing. Stop it Jackie!

Because Jackie C is in that high profile Movie Star world ripe with scandals and everything else, I often wonder if in fact her characters are loosely based on some antics (whom seem familiar but I just can't put my finger on...) of famous Hollywood actors, starlets, moguls etc. I always have a great time wondering who she MIGHT in reality be talking about when I read her novels.

Jackie Collins knows how to tell a story and she knows how to weave up all the loose ends. Do I recommend this novel? Yes, its a familiar fun and sassy read.

Jackie Collins is internationally famous for her New York Times bestselling novels about Hollywood, lovers and players, and married lovers. She began writing about Hollywood wives, Hollywood divorces, lethal seduction and sinners long before "E! News," "Entertainment Tonight" and TMZ started bringing the images into your living room nightly. Collins's fans will love the total immersion in the highly publicized celebrity lifestyle, as well as the secrets behind the velvet ropes of Hollywood glamour.

Vegas is the new Hollywood, and Lucky Santangelo, renowned "Goddess of Vengeance," is enjoying the prime of her life with her soul mate, producer Lennie Golden. Lucky is Collins's most charming character yet. She exudes passion, power, status, strength and a sexy bravado that makes her fearless. Her mission is to stop Armand Jordan, prince of the Middle Eastern country of Akramshar, from purchasing The Keys, her one-of-a-kind Las Vegas casino and hotel complex. Armand's career was built upon a gamble of playthings bought with money garnered from strategic relationships and tawdry deals created in the temples of power-hungry billionaires.

Armand believes his title, power and money can force Lucky to give up The Keys, her Las Vegas crown jewel. He tosses aside Lucky's dossier, which his able assistant Fouad Khan prepared for him, and finds himself face to face with a woman who has built an empire comparable to his. Armand has nothing but disdain for all women. His use of cocaine is escalating and feeding his desire to seek vengeance on Lucky, who dared say "no" to the mighty Prince Armand Jordan.

Meanwhile, a new generation of Santangelos is on the horizon. Lucky's son, Bobby Santangelo Stanislopoulos, is heir to the Stanislopolous Greek shipping fortune, but wants to make it on his own merit, along with help from some Russian investors. Bobby owns Mood, a string of popular nightclubs in New York and Las Vegas that have become the hottest spots for Hollywood celebrities. Bobby's girlfriend Denver loves him, but is intimidated by Lucky's success and Bobby's immense wealth --- not to mention the incessant string of females who throw themselves at him.

Jackie Collins's signature wild fling is a masterpiece in descriptive writing. She takes the reader on a vivid journey through the indulgent, scandalous lives of the Hollywood elite. Filled with reckless but irresistible lovers and players, GODDESS OF VENGEANCE is a thrilling, glamorous story that is sure to charm.

Reviewed by Hillary Wagy

I have spent my entire Tuesday afternoon, not watching soap operas (as most of them suck in terms of storytelling), not watching a good old Joan Crawford movie, but reading Jackie Collin's new book, "Goddess of Vengence" (her 27th). I have read it in one entire day, mainly because my back is out and I simply couldn't put it down. The book is one of Jackie's best works, not just because all of the ingredients that make a Collin's novel superb are here, but because she brings back her greatest heroine, Lucky. Lucky is now a highly prominent Las Vegas business woman running a successful hotel and casino. She's married here to a man well past his prime who's writing and directing indies, her two kids Maxi and Bobby are highly featured with their own well-told stories of romance and greed, and like any good Jackie Collin's book there's an evil villin who's hell bent on destroying Lucky's empire when things don't go his own way.

Out of all the characters in "Goddess of Vengence" I love Maxi, really a carbon copy of her mom, but more ruthless and determined to make it in a man's world, attributes she no doubt learned from her mother.

The men are sexy, the women are independent, and the stories here are A+. You will love this novel and if you haven't read any Jackie Collin's books yet you will become hooked.

I like this book. After being disappointed by the last book in the "Lucky" series, Drop Dead Beautiful, I must say this is a huge improvement.

There were parts of this book that made me literally laugh out loud (ex. The scene where Gerald M. is on stage in Vegas), though I'm not sure if this was the intent of the author. That is the upside of Goddess of Vengeance...The downside: this book is unbelievably cliche, cheesy, and repetitive.

I don't know. Maybe Jackie Collins is getting old, but her books just don't read the same to me...not since she switched publishing companies. If there weren't parts of this book that made me laugh I might have pushed it aside. Why? Well I found a few things off with the characters...

***Warning some spoilers mentioned below.

Max as a child was described as favoring Lennie in the looks department. How did she suddenly morph into the spitting image of Lucky?

Steven has simply disappeared from the series all together. He is mentioned once in the book and it's not even in the place you would think he would be mentioned (i.e., the scene where Gino says Lucky is the son he always wanted and Lucky replies, "You had a son...Dario").

Bridgette is another character that simply dropped off the radar, though she was mentioned a few times is this book.

Gino Jr (?) and Leonardo are also missing in action...but mentioned a few times. I would love to see Jackie bring the character Leonardo to life.

While the character Max is more likable in Goddess of Vengeance than Drop Dead Beautiful, I'm still not feeling her. I know Jackie wants to move forward with this character, but she is not very likable. Also it is UNREALISTIC to put Max and Billy (Venus' soon-to-be ex-husband) together and NO ONE have a problem with it. This could have created some type of riff in Lucky and Venus' friendship. Jackie missed a golden opportunity with this one.

Venus is too old to be sleeping around and jumping from one man to the next. This was cool when she was the twenty-something year old in Lady Boss...however at forty-something...not so hot. She needs a man. Bring Cooper back! And where is Venus' daughter, Chyna who should be around Max's age and who would more than likely be her best-friend?

Lennie doesn't pop up until the last few chapters of the book and his romance with Lucky has become...um...boring and cliche...this is where that repetitiveness comes into play. How many times do we need to know the history of these two or the fact that they are "soulmates and made for each other." I found myself almost cheering for Alex because he does bring more excitement to the mix than Lennie does these days. I'm still waiting for Lucky and Alex's one night stand to come out.

I like the character Bobby. It would be nice if he had some hangups though. For example, he was abused by Bonnatti as a child, it would be nice if that were explored more.

This book had a diverse mix of characters from different races. This was a nice touch. I wonder if Jackie was throwing her own thoughts into the mix when she mentions Gerald M.'s type of music (R&B/Soul) becoming irrelevant? I know she's a big R&B/Soul music fan (so am I...it's heartbreaking to know the good days of R&B/Soul are a thing of the past).

Paige (Gino's wife) is cheating on him. Not only is she cheating on him but she's sleeping with women again (huh?). And it seems she is simply waiting for Gino to die at this point. It would be funny if Paige hooks back up with Susan after Gino drops.

And finally the character Lucky. While she still has the fire she possessed in the previous books something feels off. It is mentioned that Lucky now enjoys cooking...huh? When did this happen? Oh that's right...probably in Drop Dead Beautiful where she basically became a domestic. Lucky goes off to confront her enemy in the middle of the night/early morning alone without a weapon and without a team of security...huh? She is more sarcastic and playful (which I like). Her reaction to Max and Billy is UNREALISTIC and seems kind of out of character. Her reaction is: "You can't help who you fall for." Even though Lucky is fairly liberated with sex and sexuality I HIGHLY doubt she would say this when the person her daughter fell for is her best-friend's soon-to-be "TOO OLD FOR HER DAUGHTER" ex-husband! It just seems odd.

This is just my two cents...

Unless you are a Jackie Collins fan, don’t bother purchasing this book. There is too much perverted sex of many descriptions, as well as too many characters with too many subplots. The only thing good I can say about this book is that her main character, upon which the author has built a series, is a strong female character. Other than that, I would say forget it.
The author supposedly writes about actual Hollywood characters in disguise. If that's really the case, my recommendation is to avoid Hollywood.

Unless you are a Jackie Collins fan, don’t bother purchasing this book. There is too much perverted sex of many descriptions, as well as too many characters with too many subplots. The only thing good I can say about this book is that her main character, upon which the author has built a series, is a strong female character. Other than that, I would say forget it.
The author supposedly writes about actual Hollywood characters in disguise. If that's really the case, my recommendation is to avoid Hollywood.

I have read all the Lucky Santangelo novels and I thought they were great. Therefore, when this book came out, I could not wait to read it. I was somewhat disappointed. I agree with some of the other reviewers. This was NOT one of Jackie's best novels. The story mainly focuses on Lucky's spoiled,bratty,ignorant daughter and her likewise friends. She gets herself into trouble because of her stupidity. In the story she acts and talks like a 14 year old instead of an 18 year old. I felt as if I was reading a teen story instead of a Jackie Collins novel.

All the main characters that have made the Santangelo series great are all put in the background of the story and pop up sporadically throughout the book. It seems like Ms. Collins just mixed all her characters in the plot without really having a good story.

I also agree with the other reviewers that the writing repeats itself over and over. If I did not know I was reading a Jackie Collins novel, I would have thought some other writer had written this book. I think what happened to this story is the same thing that happens to a movie when it has too many sequels. The ideas run out and the sequels get staler.

I still plan to read her next novel. I hope it will be better than this last one.

As usual, Jackie Collins did a great job of telling the story from each characters' point of view and building suspense throughout the novel. However, once we get to the would-be climax it felt like a let down.

From the title "Goddess of Vengeance", I'm expecting Lucky to get the ultimate revenge against someone. When Armand Jordan is introduced, I'm thinking that her revenge will be against him. Lucky did get her revenge against Armand, but it was more in an indirect way. I won't say exactly what happened because I don't want to spoil it for people who haven't read the book. I will say that compared to her other books, the action in "Goddess of Vengeance" was not as intense.

I love Jackie Collins' former books, but this one was weak. The characters were pathetic and unbelievable, including Lucky. Repetitive. Okay Lucky loves Lenny. Lenny loves Lucky. We get it already. Max is crazy about Billy. Okay already. Also, lots of drawn out set-ups for no real purpose or dead end scenarios. And the wealthy, powerful Armand character was too dumb to accept as a real person. Once he decided he was going to eliminate Lucky, oh my God, how many more times did we read a chapter where it was exactly the same thing as the previous chapter? I usually love the R rated love/sex scenes but I felt most of these were forced and thrown in willy nilly. Finally, it seems like the book went out of its way to show its support for certain belief systems. Is that Hollywood pressure to satisfy Hollywood or just the writer's position? I say write from the characters' perspective so that they're realistic and believable. We know that not everybody believes what everybody else believes. It's okay that a character doesn't like Black people or White people or homosexuals or Jews or Christians or men or whatever. It's fiction. We'll understand. We understand 'cause we love Jackie Collins! Bring back Jackie Collins.

Goddess of Vengeance
Author: Jackie Collins
Reviewed by Fran Lewis

Lucky Ssntangelo is forceful, daring and never to be underestimated. Business experience, hotel owner in Las Vegas, numerous properties and the wife of Lennie Golden Lucky has what most might think it all. Owning the Keys a hotel in Vegas and huge complex there and creating it from scratch is just one of her major accomplishments. She is tough, straightforward and definitely someone you do no want to butt heads with. Lucky's lawyer alerts her to the fact that someone is looking into buying the Keys. Armand Jordan the prince of Akramshar, is after what she wants. Armand is a self made man with some help from his father the King. His money not that different from many was made from deals created by this power driven man.
revenge is his only friend. Dealing with her proved a challenge. Who would win? Wait and see!

Max Santangelo is about to turn 18 and her parents are going to throw her a huge party. Max is a rebel and has no qualms about staying out late, enjoying male companionship and hoping to move to New York and strike it on her own. Brother Bobby is the heir to Stanislopolous Greek shipping fortune but has business sense and smarts of his own. Owning his own clubs and hopefully with the aide of some Russian investors will branch out and create more of his clubs called Mood. Mood is comprised of many different nightclubs in New York and Vegas. Added to the mix is Denver who adores and loves him. She is enamored with Bobby, intimidated by Lucky and definitely not into the jet scene and the fast life like Bobby. Plus, he has throngs of women that fawn all over him and what girl wants to deal with that! Denver has a lot to offer as Deputy working over the drug unit.

As we get to know more about Armand Jordan he is not someone you want to ever meet. He is a user, sadistic, cruel and self absorbed as well as ruthless. Looking down on women, people in general and thinking that he has the right to anything he wants he fails to comprehend rejection of any type or understand the word NO. Devoid of any feelings, understanding of others his way is the only way and he enjoys handing out the insults, underhanded remarks and much more. The world revolves around him, his business desires and hopefully his father's wealth when he is gone. After all, he is a Prince and his father is a King. But, here in America that means little. Paying high priced hookers to debase themselves brings him joy and happiness. His chosen wife, left way behind and not even an after thought.

Max thinks she has it all under control when Lucky leaves for Vegas to prepare for Max's birthday party, several business meetings and spending time with her father Gino. But, Max has other ideas when Lucky leaves and decides to have her own birthday bash which gets out of control sending her reeling in anger at her two so called friends Cookie and Harry and into the arms of non other than Billy Melina her mother's best friends soon to be ex-husband. Imagine having her first encounter with a man who is none other than Venus's husband. But, Max falls hard, gives into temptation and the end result is not what Max expects But, there is so much more. As Denver finally invites Bobby to meet her parents and a business meeting gets in the way. Armand is on his way to Vegas with an unexpected added appendage, his mother following in his wake. Married to the King of Akramshar as his fifth wife, she had Armand who became the king's favorite son helping him with business deals and much more. Rude to his own wife chosen for him, demeaning women every chance he gets, and the fact that Lucky, lowly woman, owns the Keys and would not sell it to him more than enraged this man. Added to the suspense is Max's rash decision that Lucky has yet to find out about.

All of the players are together in Vegas. Sparks fly when Venus sees Billy. Cookie and Max decide to go it on their own running straight into Billy. Denver spends an evening with Lucky and her true feelings come out as the author uses italics to the let reader hear the inner most thoughts and fears of the character. Added to that she expresses her feelings about Lennie, meets Venus and the evening gets quite exciting. Meanwhile Peggy had her own agenda in mind having dinner with Gino and his wife. Just what she hoped to learn and why she needed this meeting would clarify something for her if the results were what she thought. Jealousies rise to the occasion. Tempers flare and Lucky decides to take matters into her own hands when Armand's true colors are once again revealed. Impulsive, outrageous and definitely someone not to .........with, Lucky usually has every situation under control. But, will she this time?

Armand had a plan of his own that he hoped would solve the problem of Lucky and her hotel. But, being so bombed out, strung out on coke his way of thinking was totally distorted. However, Bobby and Denver still had their own issues to deal with as things started to come to a head in their relationship. How would Lucky and Lennie feel about Max and Billy? Would they find out? What will be the end result for Armand? With an explosive ending that will keep you in suspense and an end result filled with twists, turns and surprises, author Jackie Collins once again delivers a great novel filled with gossip, true to life Hollywood insider information as Lucky, Lennie, Venus, Max and rest provide more than just the local color that is VEGAS. Goddess of Vengeance is definitely a must read and let's hope she brings Lucky back for more.

Fran Lewis: reviewer

Love this series. Another great book fill of drama, sex, and drugs. Enjoyed the plot. Bought more people together, which will hopefully end in another book written.

Love how its easy to read and flows from each person/couple. Only Jackie Collins can get away with such edgy story lines that come across believable. I must read for all that have followed this series.