2008-08-27 Outrageously compelling

Chances is the saga of the Santangelo family and follows Italian stallion Gino in his rise from tough street kid to millionaire gangster, as well as his wild daughter Lucky (possibly Jackie Collins' most beloved character) and her quest to make her father proud and Carrie a black socialite with a haunting past she's desperate to keep secret.

Perhaps not as literally adept as some of her contemporaries (although this particular novel was written in the late 70s so her style may have developed in the last few decades), Jackie Collins has become synonymous with the blockbuster (bonkbuster!) novel. Helped by her insider knowledge into the workings of Hollywood, the lives of celebrities and the dark underbelly of fame, what she lacks in writing style she has more than made up for with her outrageous plots and equally outrageous characters.

A real page turner with a fast paced plot which speeds full throttle through the decades to a heart stopping and thrilling conclusion.