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Lucky Santangelo #6
Drop Dead Beautiful
The bestselling author of Lovers & Players returns with her 25th fabulous novel and her most beloved character...Get ready for the scandalously scintillating read only Jackie Collins can deliver!
Lucky Santangelo is back with a vengeance--still every bit as strong, sexy, and seductive as ever! But Lucky is older and wiser, and hot to reclaim her power position in Las Vegas. However, a deadly enemy from her past has resurfaced--a person determined to take everything from her, including the family she holds so dear: two sons and an out-of-control teenage daughter who is just as outrageous as Lucky herself. Like mother, like daughter. And if that old saying holds true, it's going to be one wild ride.
Internationally bestselling author Jackie Collins marks her twenty-fifth novel with "another page-turning tale packed with intrigue, revenge and romance," (Publishers Weekly on Lovers and Players). Aren't we lucky?!
Lucky Santangelo is back with a vengeance--still every bit as strong, sexy, and seductive as ever! But Lucky is older and wiser, and hot to reclaim her power position in Las Vegas. However, a deadly enemy from her past has resurfaced--a person determined to take everything from her, including the family she holds so dear: two sons and an out-of-control teenage daughter who is just as outrageous as Lucky herself. Like mother, like daughter. And if that old saying holds true, it's going to be one wild ride.
Internationally bestselling author Jackie Collins marks her twenty-fifth novel with "another page-turning tale packed with intrigue, revenge and romance," (Publishers Weekly on Lovers and Players). Aren't we lucky?!
412 pages, Hardcover
First published June 26, 2007
About the author
Jackie Collins
170 books2,580 followersThere 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
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
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews
June 19, 2021
My third Jackie Collins and I've come to the conclusion that she isn't for me. On paper she is exactly what I love to read but for some reason I just can not jel with her books.
I tried.
I tried.
July 7, 2017
Lovely series! no disappointment in the plot..murder,sex,drugs and good writing (paperback!)
August 18, 2011
This book was...not good. Like most reviewers have mentioned, I didn't care for ANY of the characters and got tired of the constant praise for the Santangelo family. The plot wasn't even stimulating. Another Bonatti(gasp) wants revenge on the Santangelos. This plot has been done to death now. The other plot revolving around Max (hate that name) wasn't even interesting. She spent exactly one whole weekend being "kidnapped" and then back to usual family life. Lennie was reduced to Lucky's "Yes Man". What happened to the amazing personality he used to have? After a while you get tired of Lucky's "Nobody tells me what to do" attitude. It's time to grow up a bit. I hated that Lennie allowed both of his kids to be named after Lucky's parents, too. Her father, Gino, is NOT dead, so why should he get the honor of having a kid named after him? If Lucky HAD to name a kid after him, she should have gave the name to Bobby. Speaking of Bobby, he was just creepy to me in this book with his constant lusting after his neice, Brigitte. I'm sick to death of Venus Maria and the constant addition of new characters is getting tiring. A few major discrepancies are: Carioca (Steven and Mary Lou daughter, NOT Lina's) is OLDER than Max, Gino is older than the finally mentioned again Costa (though deceased now), and please stop pretending Lucky is not in her fifties. Enough with the descriptions of her constant beauty and sexiness. Gag. Also, why does Leonardo need a nanny? He's at least thirteen now. The whole "Drop Dead Beautiful" plot was weak and uninteresting. What is the point of Alex Woods still pining over Lucky and their one night stand if Lennie is never going to find out about it? Whatever happened to Lennie's best friend Jess and her husband, Matt? Where's Alice the Swizzle? Can we remember the story did revolve around Lennie having a life of his own?
May 1, 2014
I heard Jackie Collins on the NPR recently & realized I hadn't checked in with her in several years. She was a favorite of mine in late high school and college, I thought I'd see what Lucky Santagelo was up to these days.
All I can assume is that Jackie Collins is laying by the pool, fanning herself with money and dictating bad stories into her dictaphone to keep milking the cash cow that is Lucky Santangelo.
This one was not as horrible as Confessions of a Wild Child which was just embarrassing, but it was pretty bad. The high point of my eye-rolling was when that's not what old-school Gino or Lucky would have done ever if someone they love was in peril. After that it was all downhill and predictable. I would have been far better off re-reading Chances or Hollywood Wives for the 20th time.
All I can assume is that Jackie Collins is laying by the pool, fanning herself with money and dictating bad stories into her dictaphone to keep milking the cash cow that is Lucky Santangelo.
This one was not as horrible as Confessions of a Wild Child which was just embarrassing, but it was pretty bad. The high point of my eye-rolling was when that's not what old-school Gino or Lucky would have done ever if someone they love was in peril. After that it was all downhill and predictable. I would have been far better off re-reading Chances or Hollywood Wives for the 20th time.
June 25, 2008
I love the Lucky Santangelo series by jackie collins, so I picked this up at the library since it was the next in the series and it's been at least five years since the last one was out.
really good, except it did get a bit annoying how often the past books kept being brought up, but I think that could help for someone who hasn't ever read any book in this series.
as usual, she had a kick ass surprise ending with lots of twists! :)
really good, except it did get a bit annoying how often the past books kept being brought up, but I think that could help for someone who hasn't ever read any book in this series.
as usual, she had a kick ass surprise ending with lots of twists! :)
June 25, 2008
Drop Dead Beautiful is based on the Santangelos, a wealthy Italian family living in LA. I love the Italian aura of Godfathers, tradition, and spicy meatballs :)
Jackie Collins can hold ones attention, but this is not a book I would recommend to my fellow readers unless they are in the mood for a shallow 'eye for an eye' Hollywood story.
Jackie Collins can hold ones attention, but this is not a book I would recommend to my fellow readers unless they are in the mood for a shallow 'eye for an eye' Hollywood story.
March 15, 2021
This was a long a tedious read, filled with people who are unlikeable.
September 5, 2021
There was too much going on. It was hard to keep up with each storyline and there was far to many characters in it, many of whom I can't remember the name of. I wouldn't recommend this book as it was far from Jackie's best.
August 9, 2011
Nobody writes better stories about rich, famous people than Jackie Collins. In the sixth book in her Lucky Santangelo series, she shows she’s still on top. No whiny chick-lit about life at the bottom of the ladder even comes close. Though I like her books that start with characters before they’re rich and famous more than the ones that start with the money and power already in place, after the first couple chapters are done gushing about how rich and famous everyone is, I get in my Jackie groove and go along for the ride.
This story starts with Lucky on the brink of opening a posh new resort in Las Vegas, the Keys. Her life is already plenty hectic with two teenage kids at home, one her wild and impetuous 16-year-old daughter, Max. Max is dying to get together with the hottie she’s been chatting up on the internet. She concocts a story about going out of town with a girlfriend, and she’s off to meet Internet Guy in the KMart parking lot in Big Bear. Once there, she meets hot, 19-year-old Ace, just in time for the two of them to get kidnapped by her on-line buddy, who morphs into Internet Freak.
Meanwhile, an old Santangelo enemy, Francesca Bonnatti, is poised to take revenge. When she discovered her dead son Enzio had left a bastard son behind in Italy, she took young Anthony under her wing and raised him to be a successful businessman/drug lord. Francesca tells Anthony that it’s time for vengeance on the Santangelos, so Anthony puts in place a plot to destroy the Keys Resort and put Lucky out of business. Anthony is a busy boy, flying between a number of cities where he does business, keeping two mistresses, and a wife trapped in Mexico City.
Irma, Anthony’s wife, is growing bored and restless. Her restrictive existence doesn’t allow for much fun, especially since her husband quit visiting her bed after their children were born. Luis, the young gardener, starts to look like a tasty pastime. Soon, she craves his touch, but if Anthony ever found out, there would be hell to pay.
The story jumps and spins from one character to another as the drama unfolds and the suspense builds. Will Max and Ace escape their kidnapper? Will Lucky’s best friend, superstar Venus Maria, stay with her younger boyfriend, movie star Billy Melina? Who keeps sending Lucky cards that say only “Drop Dead Beautiful”? Will Anthony find out about Irma’s infidelity with the gardener? And will his plot to destroy the Keys at its grand opening succeed?
Jackie Collins is not classic literature, but her books are flat-out fun. Her secret seems to lie in not having too much respect for any of her characters, though Lucky Santangelo has always been an exception to the rule. Raunchy, sexy, and at times violent, a Jackie Collins novel always delivers.
This story starts with Lucky on the brink of opening a posh new resort in Las Vegas, the Keys. Her life is already plenty hectic with two teenage kids at home, one her wild and impetuous 16-year-old daughter, Max. Max is dying to get together with the hottie she’s been chatting up on the internet. She concocts a story about going out of town with a girlfriend, and she’s off to meet Internet Guy in the KMart parking lot in Big Bear. Once there, she meets hot, 19-year-old Ace, just in time for the two of them to get kidnapped by her on-line buddy, who morphs into Internet Freak.
Meanwhile, an old Santangelo enemy, Francesca Bonnatti, is poised to take revenge. When she discovered her dead son Enzio had left a bastard son behind in Italy, she took young Anthony under her wing and raised him to be a successful businessman/drug lord. Francesca tells Anthony that it’s time for vengeance on the Santangelos, so Anthony puts in place a plot to destroy the Keys Resort and put Lucky out of business. Anthony is a busy boy, flying between a number of cities where he does business, keeping two mistresses, and a wife trapped in Mexico City.
Irma, Anthony’s wife, is growing bored and restless. Her restrictive existence doesn’t allow for much fun, especially since her husband quit visiting her bed after their children were born. Luis, the young gardener, starts to look like a tasty pastime. Soon, she craves his touch, but if Anthony ever found out, there would be hell to pay.
The story jumps and spins from one character to another as the drama unfolds and the suspense builds. Will Max and Ace escape their kidnapper? Will Lucky’s best friend, superstar Venus Maria, stay with her younger boyfriend, movie star Billy Melina? Who keeps sending Lucky cards that say only “Drop Dead Beautiful”? Will Anthony find out about Irma’s infidelity with the gardener? And will his plot to destroy the Keys at its grand opening succeed?
Jackie Collins is not classic literature, but her books are flat-out fun. Her secret seems to lie in not having too much respect for any of her characters, though Lucky Santangelo has always been an exception to the rule. Raunchy, sexy, and at times violent, a Jackie Collins novel always delivers.
March 7, 2014
2.5 stars...
Venus is with Billy. Lennie & Lucky are still strong and Alex is still fascinated with her. Maria goes by Max and u trying to lose her virginity with a guy she meets online who is if course not who he says he is. Gino is turning 95 and everyone is coming in for the celebration.
Never go meet someone that you met online. Thank goodness for Ace. He seems like a really, really good guy. Max is definitely Lucky's daughter but she still isn't Lucky. Her valley girl talk is driving me NUTS.
Ups and downs, love and break ups, death and destruction; JC's recipe for success. Not sure why I am still reading this series, it is really starting to drag. Too many new characters, it's starting to get dizzying.
Billy and Venus married? Kind of a joke.
Venus is with Billy. Lennie & Lucky are still strong and Alex is still fascinated with her. Maria goes by Max and u trying to lose her virginity with a guy she meets online who is if course not who he says he is. Gino is turning 95 and everyone is coming in for the celebration.
Never go meet someone that you met online. Thank goodness for Ace. He seems like a really, really good guy. Max is definitely Lucky's daughter but she still isn't Lucky. Her valley girl talk is driving me NUTS.
Ups and downs, love and break ups, death and destruction; JC's recipe for success. Not sure why I am still reading this series, it is really starting to drag. Too many new characters, it's starting to get dizzying.
Billy and Venus married? Kind of a joke.
February 27, 2013
What can I say!!?? Jackie Collins is my naughty delight to read!!! I always love her vivid rich spoiled characters! "Drop Dead Beautiful" did not disappoint! I was immediately drawn into the Santangelo family drama again. Even though I am not reading the books in order, I was glad that I read the first book in the series "Chances" first because it gave me a small background on some of the characters. This book in particular though can be read as a stand alone. But I still recommend reading "Chances" first.
Highly recommend this book to other Jackie Collins fans or people who like to read family drama that is kinda TMZ meets Days of our Lives!
Highly recommend this book to other Jackie Collins fans or people who like to read family drama that is kinda TMZ meets Days of our Lives!
August 21, 2009
There was a point, maybe 100 pages in, where I swore if I saw the words "totally," "major," or "way" again I was going to throw the book out the window. As in "he has a like [totally, major, or way:] hot bod." However, I kept reading because as annoyed as I was I really wanted to know what happened to the characters (who all had stripper names like Chyna, Lucky, Venus, Cookie, and so on.) I would give this book a solid 2 stars because I couldn't put it down, but it was like reading a trashy soap opera and the valley girl writing like totally made me major annoyed.
February 25, 2016
So yeah, we're coming to the decline of the Santangelos series. I don't know what to expect in the next book (I'm reading it, I'm invested enough to see it through) but here's what I hope:
1) I hope all the Bonnattis are finally dead. No cousins or illegitimate children coming out of the woodwork with evil plans.
2) I hope Venus doesn't hook up with another asshole.
3) I hope there isn't another kidnapping plot.
DDB was more wack-a-doo than the previous books. Fun at times, but more cringeworthy.
1) I hope all the Bonnattis are finally dead. No cousins or illegitimate children coming out of the woodwork with evil plans.
2) I hope Venus doesn't hook up with another asshole.
3) I hope there isn't another kidnapping plot.
DDB was more wack-a-doo than the previous books. Fun at times, but more cringeworthy.
July 29, 2016
I couldn't stop rolling my eyes, sighing in annoyance, and gagging. There isn't a single likeable character in this whole book. Everyone is "gorgeous" and has a "hot body" except the bad guys. The plot was predictable and forced and I'm surprised anyone would give this more than 2 stars. I'd give it 1.5 stars.
October 10, 2015
This was the last JC book I read. It was boring, and nowhere near as good as her early books. I had to force myself to finish it. I didn't care any the characters out the ridiculous plot. Not so lucky now! This killed the JC love affair for me and I would not recommend it.
June 25, 2008
My girl, Lucky!!!
February 5, 2013
Definitely, one of her better works! 10 of 10 stars!
June 20, 2013
Great summer book , not a masterpiece but very engaging :-)
July 18, 2022
It's Jackie Collins you know what you are going to get. Over the top money, sex, power. It's a good way to pass the time. Pure trashy entertainment
February 14, 2019
Della saga familiare dei Santangelo mi piace che ogni nuova "generazione" (virgolettato perché non si tratta solo di figli, ma anche di new entry) aggiunge qualcosa a una storia che, in effetti, è già completa. Sì, questa faida millenaria contro i Bonatti si è autodistrutta da tempo (e penso che qui l'autrice ne fosse ben consapevole, visto il modo in cui sceglie di risolvere il climax finale); ma il rapporto tra Lucky e la figlia Max è davvero interessante, e trascende i limiti del cliché letterario in cui Max resta invischiata. Avrei voluto vedere di più in scena Bobby e Gino Junior, ma confido nei prossimi libri.
June 28, 2023
Lucky Santangelo is opening a huge hotel in Las Vegas. In the weeks leading up to the opening, she starts receiving threatening notes, her daughter meets a man she met on the Internet who is not who he says he is and she throws her father a wonderful 95th birthday party.
This is the sixth book in the series, yet the first Jackie Collins book I’ve read. I randomly had this book in my bookshelf and decided now was the time to read it. It was entertaining but the end definitely feels like a series, lots of loose ends open to pick up the threads in the next book. It was hard keeping track of so many characters and their relationships with everyone but eventually it all clicked into place.
This is the sixth book in the series, yet the first Jackie Collins book I’ve read. I randomly had this book in my bookshelf and decided now was the time to read it. It was entertaining but the end definitely feels like a series, lots of loose ends open to pick up the threads in the next book. It was hard keeping track of so many characters and their relationships with everyone but eventually it all clicked into place.
May 9, 2024
Used to really like this series of books. She handles rolling backstory masterfully. You can toe in anywhere and not get lost. That said, her characters are supposed to be the ultimate achievers but they are 1 dimensional outlines and so emotionally stunted when it comes to "relationships" which mostly revolve around sex so unimaginative it's like something of it bunch of middle school boys thought up, boorish leaning toward repugnant. The last chapter winds everything up in such a hurry you wonder why you had to work through the rest of it.
November 19, 2017
I've enjoyed all the Lucky Santangelo books I have read so far. The characters are really fleshed out and the reader connects with them, either loving or hating them. The plots are tight and suspenseful. I like the Jackie Collins books because they give me a glimpse into a fascinating world of wealth, glamour, suspense - and in my opinion a book always gives me a better visual (one built in my imagination) than watching it on television or on the big screen.
November 9, 2021
Drop Dead Beautiful is a family drama about an Italian family The Santangelos living in LA. This is not a stand-alone book and is number 6 in the series. However, you do not need to read the first 5 books to understand the family dynamics and characters. Each character and their relationship are properly explained for us to read this as a stand-alone book.
The Santangelos are a wealthy Italian family running various businesses in LA. The head of the family is Lucky Santangelos. They have many rivals mainly the Bonnattis. In DDB we are introduced to Lucky’s kids, especially her daughter Max. Max like her mother is very headstrong and rebellious. She is arranging to meet with a boy who she met on the internet to make her boyfriend jealous. The mysterious internet guy turns out to be a middle-aged man who hates Lucky. Meanwhile Lucky has been receiving death threats in her mail. The whole story revolves around Max’s storyline and Lucky’s death threat.
I like Jackie’s style of writing since I did not have to read all the previous books to understand the family dynamics. All relationships present and past were adequately explained. If you are interested in reading the drama, suspense, and incestuous relationships of a big, wealthy, glamourous family you should go ahead and read it. It is very engaging.
The Santangelos are a wealthy Italian family running various businesses in LA. The head of the family is Lucky Santangelos. They have many rivals mainly the Bonnattis. In DDB we are introduced to Lucky’s kids, especially her daughter Max. Max like her mother is very headstrong and rebellious. She is arranging to meet with a boy who she met on the internet to make her boyfriend jealous. The mysterious internet guy turns out to be a middle-aged man who hates Lucky. Meanwhile Lucky has been receiving death threats in her mail. The whole story revolves around Max’s storyline and Lucky’s death threat.
I like Jackie’s style of writing since I did not have to read all the previous books to understand the family dynamics. All relationships present and past were adequately explained. If you are interested in reading the drama, suspense, and incestuous relationships of a big, wealthy, glamourous family you should go ahead and read it. It is very engaging.
August 10, 2023
I liked one of the newer characters who was introduced, and I am looking forward to seeing how this character plays out in terms of the other characters' storylines. But besides this, I didn't feel that the book had much of a storyline, and I missed the Lucky-focused & driven aspect of it. I didn't mind it much that it wasn't as focused on Lucky, but it felt as though her character has shifted without purpose.
But I am still looking forward to reading the next book in the series!!
But I am still looking forward to reading the next book in the series!!
May 18, 2021
Luckys daughter has grown up and has wild tendencies just like her mother, no surprise there.She gets herself into a heep of trouble. Lucky's best friend Venus is involved with a man that is a lot younger. And someone that she doesn't know but is related to the Bonnatti family tries to get revevge on Lucky for his Grandmother, another wild ride!!!!
July 21, 2017
I think I've already read this but it must have been 10 years or more ago so I read it again and enjoyed it just as much. These books don't age! Nobody can beat Jackie. I'm going to re-read them all again from the beginning.
October 31, 2019
Amazing book!! Read it a second time after soo many years. Enjoyed better this time around. Absolutely loved Jackie Collins writing style! However I wished to get a more action packed ending but satisfied with what I read 👌🏻
May 3, 2022
Lots of plots and twists to keep up with, and its all explained in the end. Not great literature, but that's not what I was looking for when I picked this one.
Really wish I had easy access to the whole series on audiobook
Really wish I had easy access to the whole series on audiobook
December 5, 2022
It was interesting but too much going on, I think. Characters were interesting but too many for me. It could be several books. Good writing, definitely had to read to find out what happened in all the characters story lines. I really hated Anthony and how he treated the women in his life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews