Tag Archive | Drama

Review: Lucky by Jackie Collins

Jun5
Lucky Book Cover Lucky
Lucky Santangelo #2
Jackie Collins
Drama
Pocket Books
January 1, 1985
598
Own
March 5 - April 21, 2023

SHE’S A HOT-BLOODED BEAUTY IN LOVE WITH POWER, HUNGRY FOR PLEASURE… WILD, NOTORIOUS, TROUBLE… SHE’S… LUCKY. THE FABULOUS HEROINE OF CHANCES RETURNS. With the sensual grace of a panther, Lucky Santangelo prowled her Las Vegas casino, restless, ready, eager for action. That night began a dazzling odyssey, filled with dangerous passion and sun-drenched sex, sadistic vengeance and breathless suspense. From the decadent luxury of California, to Paris, New York and a private Greek island, Lucky fought for her father’s honor, for ruthless triumph, for the wild card of a fabulous love. Her rivals; an ice-cold Hollywood wife…a much-married heiress strung out on cocaine…a jaded magnate hooked on power…a crazed hoodlum lusting for murder. But Lucky was a gambIer and a lover, a woman who ruled her empire and pursued her man with the potent Santangelo strength … her way, on her terms, whatever the odds. Jackie Collins tops the sensational success of Hollywood Wives and Chances with Lucky, “so hot it will have to be printed on asbestos.”

Review

The Lucky Santangelo series by Jackie Collins is pure trash. It’s wild, over the top, and pure fun. It’s filthy rich people doing a lot of awful things, both to themselves and to others. But dangit, I rooted for things to work out!

While this is book 2 in the series, Collins inserts plenty of excerpts from book 1 to catch up any readers who missed the first or refresh the memories of those who have read it.

Lucky is a great character. After a traumatic childhood and essentially being raised by nannies, all she wants is the approval of her father. Now that she’s a grown woman and has proved that she can stand with the men in the business world, she’s not going to let anyone stand in her way. She will do whatever it takes to make her goals come true. And right now? That goal is building her very own hotel in Atlantic City. 

Other notable characters in this book: 

Gino Santangelo, Lucky’s father, the former gangster and Vegas hotshot. 

Octavia Stanislopolus: Lucky’s best friend from boarding school, whom she has lost touch with.

Dimitri Stanasilopolus: Octavia’s filthy rich father.

Lenny Golden: An up an coming comedian who keeps crossing paths with Lucky.

So much happens in this book, I can’t even describe it without spoilers.

This book is old, like… older than me… so finding a print copy may be a task. I found the whole series on eBay and it was well worth the $25 I spent. It is sold online in ebook format too though. But basically, it’s like reading a soap opera. And I hate soap operas.

Review: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Jun1
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Book Cover The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Historical Fiction / Drama / LGBTQ
Simon & Schuster Audio
June 13, 2017
Audiobook
389
Public Library
May 1 - 11, 2023

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career. Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

Review

I didn’t really know what to expect going into this book. I chose to read it because a good friend of mine said that “BookTok is raving about this book!” So, I put myself on the hold list at the library, and bided my time. 

What an excellent book. When Evelyn Hugo sits down with unknown journalist, Monique Grant, all Monique expects to get is a story for the magazine she works for. Little did she know, Evelyn had bigger plans for her—she wants Monique to write her life story.

After a slow start (sorry Monique, you just didn’t hold my interest!) I was engaged from the moment Evelyn begins to tell her tale. From growing up a poor immigrant, to marrying a man as a teenager and running off to Los Angeles with him, and right up til present day. Who were Evelyn’s seven husbands? What led her to each of them? Why did her marriages end? And the biggest question of all—who was Evelyn Hugo’s one true love? 

Now, from the get go we knew there had to be some reason Evelyn chose Monique to write her story, and I had theories! I was dead wrong. I was so convinced that my theory was right that I missed all the clues pointing to what the real reason was. This made it all the more fun! 

Now, if you hate historical fiction, don’t worry. This doesn’t feel like historical fiction. Yes, Evelyn is talking about Hollywood in the 1950s and onward, but the Hollywood glamor shines so bright you forget you’re not in present time! 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is an excellent book and I absolutely recommend it!