Meet Gwyn Cready, Author of 'A Novel Seduction'

Gwyn Cready came on to the literary scene in 2008 with her debut novel, 'Tumbling Through Time'. She has been called "the master of time travel romance":

Tumbling Through Time
To view an excerpt Click Here.
Description on Goodreads:
In her sparkling and hilarious debut, author Gwyn Cready introduces Persephone "Seph" Pyle, a total control freak who plans for everything -- until a pair of killer heels sends her back in time and into the arms of a ruggedly handsome sea captain straight from the pages of a romance novel.

Wandering the Pittsburgh airport before a business trip, Seph decides to kill time with some preflight shopping -- anything to get her mind off Tom Fraser, her irresistible, dimple-chinned coworker turned travel buddy. So when a pair of to-die-for pink stilettos calls her name from a store window, she tries them on -- only to be swiftly transported back to the eighteenth century and flung aboard a turbulent ship sailing the Mediterranean!

There, Seph is stunned to meet Phillip Drummond, an arrogant British pirate and the spitting image of Tom. Phillip has summoned her back in time to straighten out his complete mess of a life -- for he is the burly hero in the romance novel she someday hopes to write, and she is responsible for his destiny. But in the midst of turning things right so she can get back to reality, Seph starts to fall for the smolderingly sexy Phillip. And when Tom is thrown into the mix, she doesn't know what -- or who -- she wants. Seph soon realizes that spotting the perfect pair of shoes may be easy, but finding the perfect man can be a real trip.

Six months after her first novel was released, she released her second, Seducing Mr. Darcy. It won her the Rita Award that year for Best Paranormal Romance:


Seducing Mr. Darcy
To view an excerpt Click Here.
Description on Goodreads:
In the second hilarious and sexy novel from author Gwyn Cready, a divorcée suffering from "carnal deprivation" has a racy one-night stand with one of literature's most irresistible heroes — and learns that you really can't judge a book by its cover.

Mr. Darcy just isn't Flip Allison's style. She prefers novels with hot sex on the bathroom sink to the mannerly, high-tension longing of Jane Austen'sPride and Prejudice. That is, until she pays a visit to Madame K, who promises a therapeutic massage with an opportunity to "Imagine Yourself in Your Favorite Book." Somehow, on the way to a sizzling sink-top session with a Venetian Adonis, Flip lands right in the middle of Regency England — and dangerously close to handsome Mr. Darcy. So close, in fact, that she discovers a side of him even Jane Austen couldn't have imagined.

Waking from her massage, Flip is on top of the world and ready for her upcoming book club — that is, until she notices a new scene in which Darcy and spunky heroine Lizzy Bennet are arguing over...Flip Allison? Her rapturous liaison with Darcy has had disastrous consequences for Austen's characters — not to mention millions of Pride and Prejudicefans! Flip has twenty-four hours to put the story back on course, and Magnus Knightley, a sexy but imperious scholar whose brooding good looks and infuriating arrogance are decidedly Darcy-like, is the only one who can help. The only problem is, Flip can't keep her hands off him, either....

In March of 2010 Gwyn released her third novel, 'Flirting with Forever':

Flirting with Forever 
To view an excerpt Click Here.
Description on Gwyn's website:
Art historian Campbell Stratford is about to make a name for herself with her scandalously sexy tell-all “fictographies” of famous seventeenth-century artists, but she’s more iintimately familiar with her subjects than her eager readers can imagine. Thanks to a time portal she accidentally discovered, she has caused quite a stir in the Great Beyond. To save their reputations, the Guild protecting dead artists convinces playboy Peter Lely, portraitist to the king, to sabotage Cam’s latest project. A few hours posing on Sir Peter’s modeling chaise leads to a night of seductive passion—then Cam returns home and discovers his betrayal. But before she can turn her angry pen on her lover, Sir Peter makes a surprise visit to the future and transforms Cam’s twenty-first-century life into chaos of classic proportions. . . .

In September of 2010 Gwyn released her fourth Novel, Aching for Always:

Aching for Always
To view an excerpt Click Here.
Description on Gwyn's website:
Ambitious and feisty Josephine “Joss” O’Malley has spent years fighting to keep her mother’s map-making company alive. Just when she finds herself considering taking a risky next step with bad-boy entrepreneur Rogan Reynolds— whose generosity has helped keep the business afloat—Joss meets dark and mysterious Hugh Hawksmoor. Hugh’s deft touch and old-world seduction stir Joss’s desires like a storm at sea, and she has no clue that he has sailed three hundred years into the future to avenge the death of his brother at the hands of her father. Or that she holds the key to a map that will help him undo the destructive changes her father wrought in the past. When Hugh lures Joss into a treacherous journey through time, there’s not a twenty-first-century trick that can save her. But when she applies her own instincts to a course she thought was set, she discovers that the high seas hold some scandalous surprises.


For Gwyn's fifth novel she decided to try something new. A Novel Seduction is her first foray into contemporary romance as well as men in kilts, and she found both eminently satisfying:


A Novel Seduction 
To view an excerpt Click Here.
Description on Gwyn's website:
When snobbish book critic Ellery Sharpe screws up at Vanity Place magazine, her boss assigns her the ultimate punishment: write an ode to romance novels, a genre she considers the literary equivalent of word search puzzles. To make matters worse, he hires her sexy former party boy ex, Axel Mackenzie, to shoot the photos. Axel really wants the project to succeed. For one, the magazine will double his fee if he convinces strong-willed Ellery to write a story no woman can resist. Besides, getting Ellery to fall for romance novels might be just the push she needs to believe people can change . . . even him. At his sister’s advice, Axel gives Ellery a copy of Kiltlander, a much-adored romance whose warrior hero is utterly irresistible. To her dismay, Ellery finds herself secretly falling in love with the story—and with Axel, who’s drawing his own lessons from the book’s compelling hero. With her carefully crafted image of herself crumbling and her dream job on the line, will Ellery risk it all to make the leap from tight-lipped literati to happily-ever-after heroine?

Q&A

Lisarenee:  'A Novel Seduction' is your first contemporary romance novel. What inspired you to write a contemporary romance, and, as this may go hand in hand with this question, what inspired this book?

Gwyn: A key focus of a time travel romance plot is the "her world vs his world" aspect. The story in my head for A NOVEL SEDUCTION required a couple that once been together but had broken up. I couldn't really see working that into a time travel plot. And the book has a sort-of magical feel to it like my others, so I think it fits right in. Plus, it's hot-hot sexy and funny, like my other books. And for the plot, while A NOVEL SEDUCTION is first and foremost an engaging love story about two people who are meant to be together, it also happens to be my nod to the romance novel that made me fall in love with romance novels (thank you, Diana Gabaldon) as well as a response to the people out there who make fun of romance novels, despite having never read one.

Lisarenee:  You added quite a bit of humor in 'A Novel Seduction' is that something you feel is an important aspect to include in a romance?

Gwyn:  I think all my books have a certain level of humor—some more than others, of course. But A NOVEL SEDUCTION is definitely on the funnier end of things. And as far as the importance of humor, all I can say is, back in the day, the easiest way to get me in the sack was by making me laugh. Still is, at least according to my husband.

Lisarenee:  Is it easier to write a historical romance or a contemporary romance and why?

Gwyn:  Hmm. I don't think one is easier than the other. Some stories are easier to write than others, but I think I don't it necessarily relates to the sub-genre, at least not for me. This one was on the easier side, but still like blood-letting for me.

Lisarenee: What do you think is the difference between a good and great romance novel? Do you have any favorites?

Gwyn: The difference between a good and great romance novel is a unique voice. Let's face it, we're telling the same stories over and over—not just romance novels, but all novels. There are only a dozen different plots in the world. It's being able to take a plot and make something different out of it via characters you care about or a story that draws you in or a point-of-view the reader's never considered before that can make a book great. A great book draws you in so tightly you never want to leave.

Lisarenee: There is an 8 year gap between your first and second books, if you don't mind me asking, what happened? Side Note: Goodreads listed Gwyn's first book, Tumbling Through Time, as first being published 2000. I think someone had a numerical typo--Oops! Guess I'll need to double check what's on Goodreads from now on. I liked her answer so I'm keeping it in. What Goodreads had listed:

Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages
Published January 29th 2008 by Pocket Books (first published 2000)

Gwyn: An eight-year gap? Oh, dear, this could be a time travel story all its own. I started to write in 1997, finished a manuscript in 2003 and got an agent the same year. That manuscript didn't sell, so I started to write another, finished that one in 2005, it sold in 2006 and got published in 2008. That's eleven years from the first time I picked up my laptop until the book (TUMBLING THROUGH TIME) was in stores. My second book (SEDUCING MR. DARCY) came out six months later. FLIRTING WITH FOREVER and ACHING FOR ALWAYS were 2010, and now A NOVEL SEDUCTION is 2011. No eight-year gap, but eleven years from the time I started writing. Maybe that's what you meant?

Lisarenee: What do you think is one of the most romantic things a person can do for another?

Gwyn: I remember one time falling in love (briefly) in a business meeting when a man, one of my co-workers, leaned over after a negotiation he and I were holding with another company, and whispered to me, "Are you okay with the outcome?" It was soooo nice to have someone really care about whether I was actually okay with where we netted out that I fell instantly in love with him. I guess my point is it doesn't take grand gestures and claymores. A thoughtful question, an arm-squeeze when you're feeling blue, coming to your defense when he hardly knows you—a lot of little things can flip the switch from "Like" to "Love."

Lisarenee:  Besides a good chemistry What do you think are important traits for the hero and heroine in a romance novel?

Gwyn: The hero must be good at whatever his calling is. Not perfect—he's got to make mistakes—but pretty darned good. And he has to be honorable and true. The heroine's friend in A NOVEL SEDUCTION says, "Forget good looks and money. Without honor, you've got nothing." I heartily agree. The heroine has to be a woman I'd be happy to get a little tipsy and talk girltalk with, which means, she has to be smart, funny, capable and a little naughty. No shrinking violets or drama queens, please.

Lisarenee: What is the hardest thing about writing a book? Is it dealing with deadlines, writing the dialogue so it's believable and flows, doing research, or something else entirely? (The reason I always include the dialogue in this question is I'm always in awe of an author's ability to do this. If I were to write a book I'd probably start out writing a character like Fred, somewhere around the middle he'd end up sounding more like Shaggy, and by the end you'd swear it was Scooby. lol)

Gwyn: The hardest thing about writing a book for me is figuring out the plot twists. I know how I want the book to begin and end, and I know the dark moment, but doing the whole outline makes my brain hurt. Fortunately, once I'm done with that the rest is easy, which is to say, it's hard work and I don't do it very fast, but I see results every day and eventually (very eventually) it's done. The easiest for me is dialogue. I can just hear the characters in my head. If only I could write a whole book of dialogue.

Lisarenee: You received a Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance
for your second book, Seducing Mr. Darcy, how exciting was that? Were you surprised when you won?

Gwyn: Winning the RITA was easily one of the top days of my life. I had four non-romance-writing friends in the audience and my husband had come from Pittsburgh to DC to be there, too. I was totally surprised when they read my name. When was the last time a time travel romance beat out seven vampire or werewolf novels? My friends and I popped over to the bar at the hotel next door, I put the RITA in the middle of the table and we PARTIED! I haven't done that much damage since college. And the next day I woke up with the worst cold I've ever had. I was still coughing six weeks later. The price you pay for partying in your forties, I guess. Still, when I think of that night, all I can do is smile. Oh, and during the awards I was seated next to Nora Roberts, who won the RITA handed out after mine, and when she returned to her seat, I held out my RITA and she held out hers and we tapped them like champagne glasses. Happy sigh…

Lisarenee: Are you currently working on anything, and, if so, can you tell us a little bit about it?

Gwyn:  My next book (working title, Playing the Past) is a return to time travel romance, but as for after that, even I don't know. I'm writing the first chapters for two different books--one is the first of a trilogy of a very interesting time travel idea. The second is a contemporary about a yummy British art thief. I'm going to let my editor decide. I'm also working on a memoir about my sister, who passed away at a young age.


Thank you for hosting me, Seduced by a Book. I have to say I love the name of your site.


Best,
Gwyn Cready  


Lisarenee: Gwyn, Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions. I enjoyed reading both your book, A Novel Seduction, and your answers. I already have three of your books on hold at my library and will be looking into purchasing another they did not presently have.  

To learn more about Gwyn, visit her website at: http://www.cready.com/

Meet Jeffrey S. Stephens Author of Targets of Opportunity (Q&A)

Jeffrey S. Stephens
Click Here to check out his website

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Jeffery Stephens 1st book was Targets of Deception which was published in 2009 to rave reviews. Born in New York City, he now lives with his wife, Nancy, not far from their sons Graham and Trevor. *

If you haven't checked out either of his first two books, you are sadly missing out. This is an author to watch. I'm sure we'll be hearing more of Jeffrey S. Stephens, and his main character Jordan Sandor in the future.

 Targets of Deception

When Jordan Sandor resigned from active service with the Central Intelligence Agency, it was before 9-11, before the fall of Saddam Hussein, before the world had so dramatically changed. He is reluctantly drawn back into action, when a series of violent events leads him to search out a new al-Qaeda conspiracy to initiate a new wave of cataclysmic assaults with poison gas.

Sandor follows the deadly trail from New York to Florida to Paris and, ultimately, to the small town of Portofino on the Italian Riviera. Never sure who he can trust and who may be an enemy, Jordan relies on his experience, instincts and skills as he risks his life to uncover plans for attacks against the United States and its allies. The terrorist strategy is cunning and far-reaching, with the lives of millions of people at stake. When Sandor discovers a rogue agent behind the plot, he realizes he is the one man who can prevent the catastrophe.

TARGETS OF DECEPTION is a fast-paced thriller that moves from one suspenseful action scene to the next in a contemporary story of the real and present perils of the modern world. (Description found on Goodreads)

Targets of Opportunity

THE ENEMY HAS A THOUSAND WAYS TO STRIKE. WE HAVE JUST ONE WAY TO RETALIATE. HIS NAME IS JORDAN SANDOR.

In Targets of Deception, which suspense master Robert K. Tanenbaum called “a fast-paced thriller,” Jeffrey Stephens introduced CIA agent Jordan Sandor, whom bestselling author Steve Alten praised as “terrific.” Now Sandor is back, playing for bigger stakes and facing deadlier challenges. 

Whisked from his Manhattan town house to a gabled CIA safe house in Virginia, Sandor faces off with a top terrorist agent from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. In exchange for protection from his own side, Ahmad Jaber is offering the CIA explosive information: word of a secret, unholy alliance forged among operatives in the Middle East, a ruthless South American, and Kim Jong-Il’s North Korea. Jaber claims not to know specific details, only that the strike will target the heart of America. 

The fanatics stage a stunning diversion in the Caribbean, mercilessly downing a passenger jet and unleashing an assault on a French intelligence installation. Sandor, however, has already moved in a different direction. Leveraging Jaber’s infor-mation, he assembles a small strike force to penetrate North Korea. The team knows they will not all return, but the intel they gather will be vital to American security. What they ultimately discover plunges Sandor into a frantic race against time, struggling to defeat a shadowy figure—a master terrorist with a plan of destruction so perfectly disguised that even with the new knowledge he has gathered, Sandor cannot guess where or how he will strike. 

As a storm rages in the Gulf of Mexico, word comes that two submarines have penetrated U.S. waters. With the U.S. military hampered by the hurricane, Sandor turns to a few daring U.S. Navy SEALs to duel with the enemy they cannot see . . . for now they know only that there are two nuclear weapons aimed at a target of opportunity whose destruction would change the world order forever.
Brilliantly conceived, electrifyingly paced, Targets of Opportunity captures a terrifying twenty-first century reality: terrorists can—and will—try as many times as they need to attack the United States. For the brave men and women who defend our country, failure is not an option. (Description found on Goodreads) Click Here to see my review.

Q & A 

Lisarenee: Jeffrey, I noticed there isn't much background information on you. I was curious if you could tell us a little bit about yourself - do you have any military background and/or literature background? Hopefully, this isn't one of those questions where you could “tell me, but then you'd have to kill me”. :)

Jeffrey S. Stephens: How about this—if I told you they might kill me? I am an attorney, have always written, and have numerous contacts in government and military. Enough said.

Lisarenee: What inspired you to write your first book? Have you always wanted to write but never found the opportunity before?

Jeffrey S. Stephens: As I say, I have always written, including plays that were performed by classmates. I simply love the process, even if not everything is for publication.

Lisarenee: You've written two or is it three books now? I wasn't sure if 'The Portofino Deception' was retitled 'Targets of Deceptions' or not. The description on Amazon made me wonder if they were the same book?

Jeffrey S. Stephens: I have written numerous novels which have yet to be published. Yes, PORTOFINO was edited and re-released by a second publisher as TARGETS OF DECEPTION. Then Simon & Schuster bought the next book, the current novel TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY.

Lisarenee: When I wrote my review of Targets of Opportunity, I stated Jordan Sandor likes to work hard and play hard. Is that pretty accurate? Also, for those who haven't read any of your books, besides being extremely loyal, what kind of person is Jordan? Did you fashion the character after one or more individuals you know, after a character from a book or movie you love, or did you totally pull him out of thin air?

Jeffrey S. Stephens: Jordan is based in part on a real-life agent who will obviously remain nameless. He is irreverent but respectful, a patriot but an iconoclast, and, most important to me—he is a three dimensional character that I hope readers can relate to. He is not an invincible hero, he is someone who bleeds when he is cut and has real relationships and honest feelings—but none of that will ever get in the way of his mission, which is to protect our country.

Lisarenee: If your series were to be made into a movie, is there any actor you'd think would be perfect for the role of Jordan Sandor?

Jeffrey S. Stephens: I can think of several, but I believe it is bad form for the author to suggest the actor who might play one of his characters. After all, a large part of the fun for the reader of a novel is to exercise his or her own imagination envisioning the scenes, settings and, of course, characters.

Lisarenee: Do current events inspire your books? What sparked the idea for Targets of Opportunity?

Jeffrey S. Stephens: The aggressive positions taken against the United States by Kim in North Korea and Chavez in Venezuela helped formulate the plot, the villains and the course of the story.

Lisarenee: Are there any authors that have inspired you over the years? Do you have any favorite authors?

Jeffrey S. Stephens: My favorites, who inspired me to write, include Hemingway, Salinger and Fitzgerald.

Lisarenee: What is your favorite book? What is your favorite movie?

Jeffrey S. Stephens: Cather in the Rye. Casablanca. And a whole lot of runners-up in both categories.

Lisarenee: How much research goes into writing one of your books? I noticed in the acknowledgement section you thanked quite a few individuals for their help and contributions. Is it important that you be realistic enough that if a person in the military were to pick up one of your books they can enjoy it and not say to themselves, “That's not right”? Do people have a tendency to let you know if something is inaccurate?

Jeffrey S. Stephens: Readers today are incredibly sophisticated. You cannot fake it. You have to know your locations, your weapons, your governmental processes and so forth. It takes a lot of work and research and travel—that last part being the most fun. With all of that, we do our best to check facts and maintain authenticity.

Lisarenee: I noticed you made up a fictitious president for your book. I've noticed that is done in movies, but never really noticed it before in books. Is there a reason for that?

Jeffrey S. Stephens: Respect for the office.

Lisarenee: What is the hardest part about writing a suspenseful book that centers around an international espionage plot?

Jeffrey S. Stephens: Creating an original story line that will keep the reader engaged in the action from start to finish.

Lisarenee: What is the funniest thing about writing a suspenseful book?

Jeffrey S. Stephens: I don’t know of anything I would call “funny”, but it is interesting to me when characters become so real that they sometimes dictate the action. I may want to go in one direction, but I know a particular character could not do what I am asking, since it would be contrary to their personality or ethics. I find that amusing—arguing with fictional people.

Lisarenee: (I must apologize. I accidentally had a typo. The question was supposed to ask 'What is the funnest (not funniest) thing about writing a suspenseful book?')

Lisarenee: Do you write the main story all at once then add in the details later, or do you just start writing and the story sort of flows out onto the pages?

Jeffrey S. Stephens: I begin with an outline that includes a good sense of the climax and final ending, then embark on the journey.

Lisarenee: Did you have an easy or hard time getting your first book published?

Jeffrey S. Stephens: You’re kidding, right? There is nothing easy about the publishing business anymore, as you well know.

Lisarenee: Is there an official name for your series? Neither Goodreads or Amazon listed one. Also, how many books will there be in the series or is that number still yet to be determined?

Jeffrey S. Stephens: We do not have a name for the series, but how about ‘THE BEST-SELLING JORDAN SANDOR SERIES”? I will keep writing them as long as people find them entertaining and interesting.

Lisarenee: Do you have other books in the works, and if so, do you have any idea when they may be published or what they will be about? Can you give us any hints? I'm guessing we'll definitely see more of Jordan?

Jeffrey S. Stephens: I am presently at work on TARGETS OF REVENGE, as well as some other, non-Jordan Sandor novels. And thanks for asking J!

Lisarenee: Thank you so much for answering my questions.

Order of the series:

*Information provided by publisher.

Giveaway / Meet Jackie Collins, Author of Goddess of Vengeance on Shelves Today!

Jackie Collins' Website:  http://jackiecollins.com/

To follow her on Twitter Click Here.  
To follow her on Facebook Click Here. 

'There 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 400 million copies of her books sold in more than 40 countries, and with some twenty-eight 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.”'

'Jackie Collins started writing as a teenager, making up steamy stories her schoolmates paid to devour.' She briefly tried her hand at acting, but soon realized writing was her passion. 'She currently lives in Los Angeles, California and calls herself a popular culture junkie. Her hobbies include music - everything from soul to rap, taking photographs and driving to exotic locations so that she can write about them later.'

'Jackie recently completed work on a play - "Hollywood Lies." And after producing a direct to DVD movie last year, Paris Connections, she is currently working on a new novel "The Power Trip," and on her autobiography "Reform School or Hollywood." Jackie is also putting together "The Lucky Santangelo Cook Book," and a coffee table book "Hollywood Snaps," filled with celebrity photos she has taken over the years.' (All information in single quotes was quoted from information provided by publisher.)

Jackie Collins first came on the literary scene back in 1968 with her novel 'The World is Full of Married Men'. With the birth of her first novel Jackie caused quite a stir. The book was banned in both Australia and South Africa. Romance writer Barbara Cartland called it "filthy and disgusting".  Well, as they say, 'any publicity is good publicity' and all the controversy set sales rocketing in the US and the UK. The book became her first bestseller in part because of its 'open sexuality and the way it dealt honestly with the double standard'. The book was later made into a movie of the same name. To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.


Collins' second novel, 'The Stud', was published in 1969. The book became her second best seller and was also turned into a movie by the same name. Here is the description/teaser listed on Ms. Collins'  website for the book: 'London, 1969. The hottest, hippest, wildest domain of hedonists and pleasure-seekers, where swingers swarm the clubs and discos in a high-stakes quest to live for the moment. At the center of this decadent scene, one man plays all the angles, never missing a chance to score with the beautiful women who desire him — and walks the line between ecstasy and overload. Now the woman he wants the most knows his number — and may just call his bluff.' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

Jackie's third novel, 'Sinners', debuted in 1971 and was originally titled 'Sunday Simmons & Charlie Brick'  and 'The Hollywood Zoo' in the UK. It was her third novel to hit the bestseller list and her first novel to be set in the US. Here is the description/teaser listed on her website: 'Hollywood — glittering premieres, dazzling movie sets, fabulous parties, plush love-nests hidden in Malibu and Beverly Hills. Behind the gorgeous playgrounds of the rich and renowned lies a jungle of lust and perversity, greed and ambition, love and danger — where survival is all and innocence is a role nobody plays for long. Jackie Collins uncovers all the sex, all the scandals, all the private obsessions of filmland’s famous in the shocking, passionate world of . . . Sinners.' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

In 1974, Collins released her fourth novel, 'The Love Killers', originally titled 'Lovehead'. This was Collins' first book that delved into the world of organized crime — a genre that would she'd successfully journey into again. Jackie's website synopsis:
'POWERFUL MEN, BEAUTIFUL WOMEN AND EXQUISITE REVENGE…Beth, Lara and Rio — three exotic women with a common cause and vengeance in their hearts. They’re out to avenge a murder and they’ll go to any lengths. Their targets: the heirs of the Bassalino crime family. Their weapon: sex. The result: a bloodbath of sexual mayhem through the lethal corridors of organized crime. Three beautiful women set out to prove that when it comes to revenge, the female is far deadlier than the male — especially when they’re THE LOVE KILLERS. . .' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

In 1975, Collins' fifth book, 'The World is Full of Divorced Women', was published. Although the title might suggest otherwise, it was unrelated to her first novel. Here is the teaser listed on Jackie's website: 'The world is their bedroom…Cleo James, the cool British journalist who joined the thrill seekers when she found her husband coupling with her best friend…Muffin, the luscious centerfold, with a little girl charm, a big girl body, and an appetite for all that Hollywood has to give…Mike James,the music promoter who adores his Cleo but whose addiction to women is constant and insatiable…Jon Clapton, who took a little English girl from Wimbledon, and made her into Britain’s top model, and now wants to keep those profits rolling in any way he can…And Daniel Onel, an actor grown older, wiser—and hungrier than ever for Cleo James.' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here. 

Her sixth and longest novel, 'Lovers & Gamblers' came out in 1977.  It dipped into the world of  a rock/soul superstar. The synopsis on Jackie's website:
'Al King, the rock-and-roll super stud who is everything any sex-crazed groupie ever imagined her hero to be; and Dallas, the beauty queen whose sky-high ambitions stem from a sordid secret—the type that tabloids tingle to tell. Together, they’re on a wild ride from London to New York, from Hollywood to Rio and the steaming jungles of the Amazon—where all their dreams and nightmares are about to come true…LOVERS & GAMBLERS'. To read an excerpt of the book Click Here. 

Jackie's seventh book, 'The Bitch', hit bookstores in 1979. It was later turned into a film for the big screen. Website teaser: 'SHE’S A WOMAN WHO’S NEVER SHORT OF A MAN. AND THEY CALL HER THE BITCH…

Fontaine Khaled has an Arab millionaire among her yesterdays and hard-gambling Nico for all her tomorrows. Which only leaves the problem of choosing a man for today… From London to Las Vegas, Hollywood to Athens — she calls the shots from her plush limos and black satin sheets.

She is The Bitch and she is in control. And that could never change — could it?

THE BITCH is the sizzling sequel to THE STUD.' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

Ms. Collins' eighth book, 'Chances', introduced us to the character of the day, Lucky Santangelo in 1981. The book synopsis listed on her website: 'Lucky, Lady Boss, Vendetta: Lucky’s Revenge, and Dangerous Kiss…Jackie Collins’ sizzling Lucky saga all began with CHANCES. 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 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…CHANCES.' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

Jackie's ninth book, 'Hollywood Wives', was published in 1983. The novel hit the New York Times Bestseller list at number one. It was later made into one of ABC's highest-rated miniseries. The book teaser: 'They lunch at Ma Maison and the Bistro on salads and hot gossip. They cruise Rodeo Drive in their Mercedes and Rolls, turning shopping at Giorgio and Gucci into an art form. They pursue the body beautiful at the Workout and Body Asylum. Dressed by St. Laurent and Galanos, they dine at the latest restaurants on the rise and fall of one another’s fortunes. They are the Hollywood Wives, a privileged breed of women whose ticket to ride is a famous husband. Hollywood. At its most flamboyant.' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.
 
Collin's tenth bestseller, 'Lucky', was released in 1985. Later 'Lucky' and 'Chances' were combined and made into a miniseries by Jackie for NBC entitled 'Lucky Chances'. The book description listed on Jackie's website: 'THE FABULOUS HEROINE OF CHANCES RETURNS. SHE’S A HOT-BLOODED BEAUTY IN LOVE WITH POWER, HUNGRY FOR PLEASURE… WILD, NOTORIOUS, TROUBLE… SHE’S… LUCKY

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.”

-Liz Smith, The New York Daily News'

To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

In 1986, Jackie published 'Hollywood Husbands', her eleventh novel. It received a warm welcoming and became another bestseller. Description on Jackie's website: 'Hollywood Husbands are hot…Hollywood Husbands are dynamic…Hollywood Husbands are sexy… 

     Jack Python is the hottest Hollywood Husband of all. He rules nighttime T.V. and his controversial talk show burns up the ratings, while the women he encounters melt. With one expensive divorce behind him, and involved in a highly erotic affair with Oscar-winning actress Clarissa Browning, Jack Python has power, charisma, success, and money. But sometimes everything isn’t enough.

     Howard Soloman, head of Orpheus Studios, is the man, the Hollywood King. Anything Howard wants, he gets. Including women. The sweet smell of power and Howard’s street-smart style reels them in. Working for billionaire studio owner Zachary Klinger, a man with a whim of iron, Howard has problems enough. And if Howard can’t deliver daytime soap megastar Silver Anderson at Klinger’s command, he may lose his footing at the top of the heap. Though in Hollywood it’s said that when you fall, you fall up — from the top Howard has nowhere to go but down.

     Mannon Cable is a superstar. With great looks and a body to match, he is full of self-deprecating charm. Married briefly to gorgeous Whitney Valentine, who left him to become a television superstar, he was hit by the divorce where it really hurts — his giant ego.

     Jack Python, Howard Soloman, and Mannon Cable have been competitive friends for years. Yet when Jade Johnson enters their lives, the least-expected one of the self-styled “Three Comers” may have finally met his match. Jade Johnson is a woman of the eighties. Strong, independent, a top New York model, she comes to L.A. for a series of million-dollar TV commercials.

     Jade is a dangerously beautiful woman with personal integrity and a mind of her own. The Hollywood game fails to impress her, but slowly, surely, she is sucked in. And, high roller that she is, if she must play, Jade will play to win.'

To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

Jackie's twelfth novel, 'Rock Star', debuted in 1988. It was a story about the rise to fame of three different rock superstars. Description found on Jackie's website:
'FEEL THE HUNGER. THE BEAT. THE HEAT.

Rock Star International bestselling sensation Jackie Collins, “the queen of glamour fiction” (San Antonio Express-News) captures the raw, electric thrill of life in the spotlight in this pulse-pounding novel. Three talented, ambitious dreamers have struggled for super-stardom — and lived hard and fast in a mind-bending whirl of parties, drugs, and sex. Now their fates collide at the plush Los Angeles estate of a powerful music industry magnate, where one man’s secret vendetta will trap them in its sudden, murderous heat…'

To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

In 1990, Collins' thirteenth novel proved 13 isn't always an unlucky number when she released another bestseller entitled 'Lady Boss'. This was the third book about Lucky Santangelo. It became an NBC miniseries by the same name. Description on Jackie's website: 'In Chances, Lucky grew up in a top crime family. In Lucky, she was married three times. And now, in Lady Boss, she takes on Hollywood and wins! Panther Studios is the prize and Lucky wants it… In her quest for power she meets adversaries and enemies, friends and betrayers. And her relationship with her husband, charismatic comedian and movie star, Lennie Golden is put to the test.

     Lucky’s first challenge is to buy the only movie studio still not controlled by a powerful conglomerate — Panther Studios, owned by the retired, irascible, old Abe Panther. But Abe won’t sell his beloved studio to Lucky until she proves she has the guts to make it in Hollywood. It’s his idea that she disguise herself as a secretary and go in undercover to find out what’s really going on. It’s a challenge that also satisfies Lucky’s passion for adventure — and her desire to take chances… In the process, Lucky uncovers a world of financial scheming, big-time betrayal, and bizarre sex. Panther Studios and Lucky Santangelo… a dangerous mix…

     When Lucky makes her final move, assuming the role of Lady Boss at Panther Studios, she stuns the entire industry and sets off a series of shock waves, not only threatening her marriage to Lennie, but bringing down on her head the hatred of crime boss Carlos Bonnatti — a hatred that goes back generations, putting in peril her life, and the lives of everyone close to her!

     With Lady Boss, Jackie Collins brings back one of her most intriguing and endearing characters, Lucky Santangelo. She also proves once again that she is the unquestioned queen of glamorous fiction.' 

To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.  

'American Star' became Collin's fourteenth novel in 1993. Description listed on her website: 'Jackie Collins’ American Star is a love story for the nineties. At its heart are two extraordinary lovers, separated by tragic circumstances, yearning for each other, yet seemingly never able to be together again.

     Nick and Lauren can never forget each other. Teenage small-town lovers — he from the wrong side of the tracks, she the prettiest girl in town — their love was the town scandal, forbidden, sizzling and unforgettable, ending abruptly in a tragedy that sent them into separate orbits.

     Nick pursues his dream of acting, and after a series of wild adventures begins the slow rise that will make him one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Lauren goes to New York and enters the modeling world, surprising everyone with a career that takes off in a direction she never expected. American Star follows them both on their trips to fame, as Nick and Lauren, haunted by the secret they share, try to live without each other — only to find they can’t.

American Star is a compelling story of love, sex and murder, set against the glamorous backgrounds of New York and Hollywood, as only Jackie Collins!' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

Jackie's fifteenth novel, 'Hollywood Kids', came out in 1994. It looked into the lives of twenty something offspring of Hollywood's elite. Description:
    'Wherever there’s money and glamour, trouble can’t be too far behind. In Hollywood Kids Jackie Collins takes her readers back to the Hollywood Hills for another absorbing page-turner of sex, ambition, and deadly revenge.

     At the novel’s core is the Hollywood Five, a clique of jaded twenty-somethings whose parents (all major players) thought that child-rearing ended with naming their offspring after themselves.

     Jordanna Levitt is the wildly beautiful daughter of a powerful producer and legendary movie star mother. Even though she flaunts a coltish bad-girl image, Jordanna yearns for more than lounging behind the velvet ropes in chi-chi clubs and existing on a diet of Midnight Cowboys.

     Jordanna’s best friend, Cheryl Landers, is a sassy, leggy redhead, who is equally idle. Cheryl fills her days doing lunch and buying up Rodeo Drive until a Hollywood Madam asks her to mind shop while she’s out of town. Pandering to the rich and famous goes so smoothly that she can’t resist turning a trick herself.

     Grant Lennon, Jr., the son of the last generation’s wildly handsome icon, is a junior agent at International Artists Agents. Not satisfied with the number of starlets he can get on his own, he agrees to “test-run” women for Cheryl’s fledgling entrepreneurial venture for a fee.

     Marjory Sanderson is a dreamy-eyed head case. Barely recovered from anorexia, she invents one phobia fast on the heels of the last one in order to keep her television magnate father’s attention.

Shep Worth, the effeminately beautiful son of a sex-symbol mother, who won’t publicly acknowledge her age, is a man who won’t publicly acknowledge his alternative sexual preference.

     “The group had grown up together, sharing the experience of too much too soon,” Collins writes. When you’ve got your family’s great looks, and you’re always driving next year’s hottest sportscar, and work isn’t necessary because you’ve got a wallet filled with the sky’s-the-limit credit cards — why fight it?

     These Hollywood kids have been given everything money can buy except a raison d’être. Though their attitudes are large enough to fill any room, these offspring of privilege are all desperately trying to figure out what to do with themselves. However, life among the rich means life among the damned. A recently released psycho-killer, erotically propelled by blood-lust, is determined to wreak havoc and revenge on the kids’ lives.'

To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

'Vendetta: Lucky’s Revenge' became Collins' sixteenth book in 1997. It was the third in the Lucky Santangelo series. Description listed on Ms. Collins' website: 'Lucky Santangelo is back — with a vengeance!Dangerously sensual, breathtakingly beautiful, and utterly unforgettable, she is Lucky Santangelo, the sizzling star of Chances, Lucky, and Lady Boss. With Vendetta: Lucky’s Revenge, Jackie Collins continues the saga of Lucky Santangelo in a nonstop, action-packed tale of sex, betrayal, drugs, intrigue, and murder.

     A scorching new installment of the wildly popular Lucky series, Vendetta finds Lucky in the most perilous situation of her life when her prized Panther Studios is taken from her by Donna Landsman, the unscrupulous widow of Lucky’s arch-enemy, Santino Bonnatti. Donna intends to destroy Lucky in every way she can, but Lucky is street-smart, powerful, and just as ruthlessly dangerous. And so the battle for control begins.

     With Vendetta: Lucky’s Revenge, Jackie Collins proves once again why she is an international powerhouse, a writer who digs deep into the glamorous, intoxicating — yet ultimately treacherous — world of Hollywood.' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

In 1998, Jackie published 'Thrill!', her seventeenth novel. Description on Jackie's website: 'Jackie Collins’ most outrageous, erotically charged New York Times bestseller is a sexy, shattering roller-coaster thrill ride! From chic New York and the exclusive Hamptons to the hungry heart of L.A., this high-suspense tale pulses with deadly obsessions and relentless desires in the seemingly perfect world of a gorgeous film actress.
     She could have any man — but the one she can’t resist is a mysterious lover with a shadowed past. As their jolting affair skyrockets with electric passion, shocking secrets break through their hidden traps — in a brilliantly twisting story that sparks with the explosive Jackie Collins touch.' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

Ms. Collins' eighteenth book, 'LA Connections: Power, Obsession, Murder, Revenge' was released in 1998. This was a four-part novel which released one section a month for four consecutive months. I'm guessing the various sections were entitled Power, Obsession, Murder, & Revenge, but I may be wrong. Description on Ms. Collins' website: 'New York Times bestselling author Jackie Collins blazed onto bestseller lists nationwide with L.A.Connections — four entwined novels of passion and danger among Hollywood’s most powerful players. Now this sensational serial novel is collected in one blockbuster volume from “the queen of glamour fiction” (San Antonio Express-News).

Power

Obsession

Murder

Revenge

A killer is playing a deadly game inside the exclusive mansions of L.A. Drawn into this dangerous world are a high-class call girl looking for a way out…a ruthless agent playing for high stakes…and a beautiful journalist chasing the story of her career. They are about to discover the rules of survival in this city of dreamers and deceivers.' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

Jackie published 'Dangerous Kiss' in 1999. It was her nineteenth novel and her fifth book Featuring Lucky Santangelo. Description listed on Jackie's website:

'Now, in Dangerous Kiss, when a member of her family is brutally gunned down in a random holdup, her fury knows no bounds. While she is tracking the killer, her relationship with her husband, charismatic writer and director Lennie Golden, is put to the test. Then, suddenly, into her life comes a man from her past — a man with a dangerous kiss.

     Dangerous Kiss is a story of raw anger, love, lust, murder, and revenge, and at its white-hot center is Lucky Santangelo, a strong, exciting woman who dares to take chances — and always wins.'

To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

In 2000, Ms. Collins, published 'Lethal Seduction', her twentieth novel. The book featured Madison Castelli, the street savvy character introduced in  'L.A. Connections'. "Madison is having problems — her ex-live-in lover who walked out on her is trying to walk back in. Her new lover is giving her a hard time. And her father turns out to be a man with deadly secrets.
     Set between the high-powered world of New York and the manic excitement of Las Vegas, Lethal Seduction is packed with all the intrigue and glamour fans have come to expect from Jackie Collins. This deliciously uninhibited tale of cover-ups, deception and mob involvement finds Jackie Collins at the height of her creative powers as the diverse cast of characters in Lethal Seduction take an exhilarating walk on the wild side, where nothing is ever exactly as it seems and danger is all around them." Description obtained from Jackie's website. To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

Ms. Collins released 'Hollywood Wives - The New Generation' which was her twenty-first novel. It later became a TV movie. Description on Jackie's website: "Power! Sex! Money! Fame! — the new Hollywood Wives are back with a vengeance.Whatever they don’t have, they want — and whatever these women want, they get.

     Unlike their counterparts in the ’80s, who were happy to give charity dinners and exclusive parties to further their husbands’ careers, today’s Hollywood wives are hungry to create their own identities.

     These ladies are into achieving everything their famous husbands have and more, and will stop at nothing for a chance in the spotlight.

     Ambitious, young, smart and lethal, the new Hollywood Wives are into yoga, fasting, spinning, Pilates, their own production companies, and making things happen." To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.
 
In 2002, 'Deadly Embrace', made its way to bookshelves. It was Jackie's twenty-second novel. This was the third book featuring Madison Castelli. It contains both the prequel and sequel to 'Lethal Seduction'.  Description from Ms. Collins' website: 'At the center of this thrilling and powerfully erotic story is Madison Castelli, the beautiful, talented and street-smart journalist first introduced in the L.A. Connections series and Lethal Seduction. Distraught after finding out her father has been keeping secrets from her (and is possibly involved with the mob), Madison flies from New York to LA She visits her best friend, Nasally De Barge, a gorgeous black radio personality, but within hours they find themselves caught in a restaurant hold-up, where they are trapped in a life-or-death situation.

Meanwhile, Michael Castelli, Madison’s outrageously handsome father, has been accused of two murders and flees to Las Vegas to be with Dani, the ex-showgirl mother of his other two children: Vincent, a Las Vegas hotel and casino owner, whose pretty wife is busy chasing hot young movie star Andy Dale, and Sofia, a wild eighteen-year-old currently running around Europe getting into dangerous situations with older men.

     Michael is determined to find the people who set him up and exact his revenge.

And, as Madison knows, what Michael Castelli wants, Michael gets.

     Deadly Embrace is full of surprises, excitement, passion and intrigue, a wickedly entertaining read, brimming with the memorably raunchy characters and glamorous settings that readers have come to expect from Jackie Collins.' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

Ms. Collins published 'Hollywood Divorces' in 2003, her twenty-third novel. Description on website: 'In her most scandalously titillating novel since the #1 bestselling Hollywood Wives, internationally renowned author Jackie Collins once again takes her readers behind the scenes and into the bedrooms of Hollywood’s glamorous world of superstardom, where narcissism is a virtue, and fidelity means not sleeping with anyone less attractive than your spouse.

Leaving her readers to guess which real celebrities she has used as models for her fabulous characters, Collins uses her insider’s knowledge of the Hollywood scene to bring life to their stories of lust, scandal, and sweet revenge.

     Principal among the characters that make Hollywood Divorces so compulsively readable are three strong, unforgettable women who find themselves walking the treacherous pathway that inevitably leads to divorce.

     These are classic Jackie Collins women — beautiful, sexy, and determined to get things done their way — succeeding in spite of the odds.' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

'Lovers & Players' came out in 2006 and was Collins' twenty-fourth novel. Synopsis on Jackie's website: 'Amy Scott-Simon, a beguilingly pretty young New York heiress, is engaged to marry Max Diamond, an older powerful real estate tycoon. At her bachelorette party she runs into Jett, Max’s younger half-brother — fresh back from Italy, where he is a successful male model. A one-time drug addict, now in the Program — Jett has no idea who Amy is. She also doesn’t realise who he is. A one night fling leads to complications and regrets.

Meanwhile, Chris Diamond, a hot L.A. entertainment lawyer, flies into town to meet with his two brothers and Red Diamond, the boys’ billionaire dysfunctional father, and abusive bully.

     Working as Reds’ housekeeper is Diahann, a beautiful black ex-singer. Her stunning bi-racial nineteen-year-old daughter Liberty, a waitress who is a would-be singer herself — does not approve of her mother working as a housekeeper. Liberty has dreams of her own, and while she pursues them, Damon P. Donnell, married hip-hop mogul supreme — pursues her.

     And then there is Mariska, Max’s Russian socialite ex-wife, a woman with more secrets than anyone, secrets that ultimately lead to her brutal and mysterious murder.

     As the lives of these characters intertwine over a seven day period in New York, power, love, sex, money and fame are the ties that bind — emotionally and otherwise — in this highly charged love story about family relationships, deadly choices and dangerous sex.' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

In 2007, 'Drop Dead Beautiful' hit the stores. It was her twenty-fifth novel and sixth book featuring Lucky. Jackie's website's description: '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.' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

Jackie released 'Married Lovers' in 2008. It was her twenty-sixth novel. Description on Jackie's website: 'Three high-powered Hollywood couples. Two hot affairs. And one crime of passion…

Cameron Paradise, a stunningly beautiful twenty-four-year-old personal trainer, flees her abusive boyfriend in Australia and ends up in L.A.

Cameron soon gets a job at a private fitness club where she encounters the city’s most important players. She has plans to open her own studio, and while every man she meets comes on to her, she is focused on working hard and saving money to achieve her goal.

     Until she meets Ryan Richards, that is…

     An extremely successful independent movie producer, he’s married to overly privileged Mandy Richards, the daughter of Hamilton J. Heckerling, a Hollywood power-player son-of-a-bitch mogul.

     Ryan has never cheated on his demanding Hollywood Princess wife, but when he meets Cameron, all bets are off—even if she’s seeing his best friend Don Verona, the devastatingly attractive talk-show host and legendary player.

     What happens when lust and desire collide with marriage and power? Married Lovers.' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here.

In 2009, 'Poor Little Bitch Girl' hit the shelves. Is focused on Annabelle Maestro and two of her friends from high school whom she's lost touch with. This was the first book by Ms. Collins that I'd read. Description on Jackie's website: 

'Poor Little Bitch Girl has it all. Three twenty-something women, one hot rich guy, two mega movie stars, and a devastating murder…

     Denver Jones is a hotshot twenty-something attorney working in L.A. Carolyn Henderson is personal assistant to a powerful and very married Senator in Washington with whom she is having an affair. And Annabelle Maestro — daughter of two movie stars –has carved out a career for herself in New York as the madame of choice for discerning famous men. The three of them went to high school together in Beverly Hills — and although Denver and Carolyn have kept in touch, Annabelle is out on her own with her cocaine addicted boyfriend, Frankie.

     Then there is Bobby Santangelo Stanislopolous, the Kennedyesque son of Lucky Santangelo and deceased Greek shipping billionaire, Dimitri Stanislopolous. Bobby owns Mood, the hottest club in New York. Back in the day he went to high school with Denver, Carolyn and Annabelle. And he connected with all three of them. Frankie is his best friend.

    When Annabelle’s beautiful movie star mother is found shot to death in the bedroom of her Beverly Hills mansion, the five of them find themselves thrown together… and secrets from the past have a way of coming back to haunt everyone…

     A new, sexy, and explosive novel from perennial bestseller Jackie Collins.' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here. To read my review of the book Click Here.

Which finally brings us to the most current novel written by Ms. Collins, 'Goddess of Vengeance'. This is the seventh novel that includes Lucky Santangelo and Jackie's twenty-eighth novel. Wow! Description on Jackie's website:
'Lucky Santangelo is back with a vengeance in a novel full of power, passion, revenge, and the raging family dynamics of the Santangelo clan…

     Lucky runs a high profile casino and hotel complex, The Keys in Vegas. Lennie, her ex-movie star husband, is still writing and directing successful independent movies, while Max, her stubborn and gorgeous teenage daughter is about to celebrate her 18th birthday, and her son, Bobby, owns a string of hot clubs. Lucky has everything. Family. Love. Life.

     And everything is exactly what billionaire businessman Armand Jordan is determined to take from her one way or the other.

     Born a Prince in the small but affluent Middle Eastern country of Akramshar, Armand comes to America with his American mother at an early age, and rises to become a real estate business titan. Armand regards women as nothing more than breeding mares or sexual playthings, so when his people inform him that the one property he covets more than anything, The Keys, is not for sale, he is shocked. That a mere woman would dare to turn down his offer to buy The Keys is unthinkable, and Armand vows to force Lucky’s hand whatever it takes. And so the battle for power begins…    

     Meanwhile Bobby is dealing with shady Russian investors, while his girlfriend – smart and independent Denver Jones, is becoming a Deputy D.A. in the L.A. drug unit.

     And Max, Bobby’s seventeen-year-old sister, is busy embarking on a forbidden affair with a sexy young movie star. An affair they have to keep on the down-low lest Lucky finds out.

     The word is that “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” and what happens in Goddess of Vengeance will blow your mind!' To read an excerpt of the book Click Here. To read my review of the book Click Here.

Note: The above information was compiled from information provided by Jackie Collins' website, her publisher, and/or wikipedia. 

Q&A with Jackie Collins*

When did you start writing?

I was nine years old, and even then I loved making up a diverse group of characters.

Who was your inspiration?

Early authors I devoured were the English children's writers, Enid Blyton, and the wonderful Charles Dickens. Then as I reached my teen years, I moved on to Harold Robbins and Mickey Spillane! Quite a change.

Did you like those authors because of all the crazy sexual content?

No. I found the sex in their books to be very one-sided. The male characters seemed to have all the fun, and the women were simple available. I knew that when I started to write, things would be different.

Your signature character, Lucky Santangelo, has become a real life superstar in her own right with your millions of fans.  Why do you think she is so popular? How does Lucky represent the ultimate modern woman?

Lucky Santangelo is a superstar to all my readers. They simply love the character Lucky. I think it is because she is a strong woman in what is still somewhat a man's world, and she is beautiful, smart, sexy, and determined. Lucky does all the things that women like to do, and yet never quite have the courage, and she says all the things that women would like to say, and aren't quite sure they can get away with it. Lucky kicks @ss!

"Goddess of Vengeance" revolves around Lucky Santangelo and her new casino and luxury apartment complex in Las Vegas. Why do you think Vegas has now become the see and be seen Mecca for Hollywood's It crowd?

Vegas is very exciting to the Hollywood It crowd. First of all, people feel they are on vacation and, secondly, they feel they are entitled to do anything they want-and most of them do! It's a fantasy land of gorgeous hotels and gorgeous people and fun activities. In Vegas they can get totally lost in their own star power with no recriminations unless, of course, they do a Britney Spears and get married for forty-eight hours!

Where will the continuing saga of Lucky Santangelo take us after "Goddess of Vengeance?"

I have written about Lucky now in seven books, and created two miniseries for NBC Television that lasted ten hours! I think I might have gone as far as I can go with Lucky! Although, I am very fond of her daughter, Max, who is still a teenager, and is a little Lucky waiting to happen! Max has a long way to go, as does Bobby, Lucky's incredibly good-looking son. So I might be writing about Lucky's kids for many more books!

Without naming names, what is the most outrageous or bizarre story you have ever heard about a Hollywood superstar?

I have heard so many outrageous stories about Hollywood superstars that it would fill a book! Actually, I think I've filled twenty-seven books!

The favorite questions to always ask you is how much of your storylines and characters are based on real events and people. Is there anything you have ever heard or seen that made you think, "I couldn't even put this in a novel, no one would ever believe it"? 

My characters and storylines are very much based on real events and people. I often see a situation that is so bizarre that I feel I cannot write it because it would become detrimental to the characters I am writing about. Truth is much stranger than fiction. We have only to look at the headlines over the last few years-Anna Nicole Smith, Phil Spector, and other countless scandals. Not to mention all the cheating husbands.

During the past several years the Hollywood, Vegas, and New York scenes have been invaded by the celebutantes, heiresses, and It girls, many many of whom are famous simply for being famous. How has this invasion changed the landscape of the fame industry?

The film industry has always embraced people with no talent. It's the personality that counts, and the looks. When you consider politicians today it's all about how they present themselves on television. If Obama was short and ugly, he wouldn't be where he is today.

What's more fun: Living in Hollywood or writing about it? 

I love living in Hollywood, it is a fantastic city. Los Angeles has always been  my dream place. It is a sprawling metropolis and I love it a lot! Writing about it is fantastic. I have another twenty-seven books to come! And more stories that I can ever tell! 

Considering your amazing run as a Hollywood and literary icon, how would you define true glamour?

True glamour is in the mind of the beholder. I have never considered myself glamorous, but I have been told I am - I think it's because I have a great deal of self confidence and my message to women is girls can do anything! I have always believed this slogan and most of my heroines believe it too. And that's the secret to my success!

*Above Q&A provided by Jackie's publisher and used with permission.

To read another wonderful in depth interview with Jackie done by Emma Brockes of The Guardian Click Here. I highly recommend it. It goes into her family life and how she managed to balance her professional life with her private life.  

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
And the winner is: Audrey
Winner will be notified shortly.
If you're not the winner, don't worry. I'll be posting another Goddess of Vengeance giveaway shortly!

I will be giving away ONE copy of 'Goddess of Vengeance' by the fabulous Jackie Collins.

Rules to be eligible for giveaway: 

1. Only residents of the US and CA are eligible. 

2. Please leave either your email address or a link to your Goodreads profile so I may get in contact with you to get your mailing address. No P.O. Boxes, please. If uncomfortable about giving out such information on my blog, please feel free to email me your information at seducedbyabook@gmail.com.
3. Become a follower of my blog, if you aren't already. 

Winner will be randomly chosen. Book will be sent directly from publisher. Giveaway ends September  16th, midnight eastern time. Winner will be posted on my blog and notified by email or message posted to them via Goodreads. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before another winner will be selected. Good Luck!