Dangerous Kiss
{{Short description|1999 novel}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Dangerous Kiss
| title_orig =
| translator =
| image = File:Dangerouskissnovel.jpg
| caption = First US edition
| author = Jackie Collins
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = United States
| language = English
| series = Santangelo novels
| subject =
| genre = Romantic novel
| publisher = Simon & Schuster (US)
Macmillan (UK)
| pub_date = 1999
| english_pub_date =
| media_type = Print (hardcover)
| pages = 624 pp
| isbn = 0-684-85030-3
| oclc = 37437192
| preceded_by = Vendetta: Lucky's Revenge
| followed_by = Drop Dead Beautiful
}}
Dangerous Kiss is a 1999 novel by Jackie Collins and the fifth novel in her Santangelo series. The book continues the saga of Lucky Santangelo, a powerful and glamorous woman facing personal and professional challenges.{{Cite news |last=Marjoribanks |first=Kaiya |date=5 November 1999 |title=Lucky's back in classic Collins |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/931398815 |work=Stirling Observer |pages=27}}
Plot Summary
In Dangerous Kiss, Lucky Santangelo's life is thrown into turmoil when her close friend and her friend's husband are brutally murdered. As she sets out to uncover the truth behind their deaths, she becomes entangled in a world of crime, betrayal, and dangerous power plays.{{cite book |last1=Collins|first1=Jackie |title= Dangerous Kiss |date=1999|publisher=Simon & Schuster}}
Meanwhile, Lucky faces tensions in her marriage to Lennie Golden, struggles to protect her family, and crosses paths with a mysterious woman named Venetia, who holds dark secrets that could threaten everything she has built.{{Cite news |last=Travis |first=Sarah |date=9 May 1999 |title=Jackie Collins' Lucky Returns for Another Thrilling Ride |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-09-bk-35227-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times}}
Characters
- Lucky Santangelo – The novel’s protagonist, a strong and determined woman dealing with loss, danger, and romance.
- Lennie Golden – Lucky’s husband, a successful comedian and actor, who struggles with the challenges that come with their high-profile lives.
- Brigette Stanislopoulos – Lucky’s stepdaughter, a young woman trying to establish her own identity.
- Venetia – A mysterious woman who enters Lucky’s world with secrets that threaten to unravel everything.
- Alex Woods – A wealthy businessman with hidden motives, deeply involved in the novel’s central conflicts.
Themes
Dangerous Kiss explores several recurring themes present in Jackie Collins' works:
- Revenge and Justice – Lucky’s quest to find the murderers of her close friend drives the story’s central conflict.
- Love and Betrayal – The novel portrays relationships filled with passion, infidelity, and intense emotions.{{Cite journal |last=Harris |first=Jane |date=June 1999 |title=The Seductive Power of Jackie Collins |journal=Book Review Monthly |volume=22 |issue=6 |pages=45-47}}
- Power and Wealth – Set against luxurious and dangerous backdrops, the novel showcases the elite world of business, crime, and entertainment.{{Cite book |last=Collins |first=Jackie |title=Hollywood Wives |year=1983 |publisher=Simon & Schuster}}
Reception
Dangerous Kiss was a commercial success, becoming a New York Times Best Seller. Critics praised its gripping storytelling, intense drama, and Jackie Collins' signature blend of glamour and intrigue.{{Cite news |last=Clarke |first=Emma |date=17 June 1999 |title=Collins Brings Back the Queen of Hollywood Drama |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/dangerous-kiss-jackie-collins-review-1101734.html |work=The Independent}}
A review in the Los Angeles Times noted, "Jackie Collins delivers another addictive read filled with unforgettable characters, scandal, and suspense."
Adaptations
While Dangerous Kiss has not been directly adapted into a film or television series, the Santangelo novels have been subject to adaptation discussions. Previous books in the series, such as Lucky and Chances, were adapted into miniseries, increasing speculation that Lucky Santangelo’s story might be revisited in the future.{{Cite news |last=Graham |first=Victoria |date=11 February 2000 |title=Jackie Collins Talks About the Future of Lucky Santangelo |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jackie-collins-talks-about-future-1234 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}}