Power

L.A. Connections #1

by Jackie Collins

The first novel in the author's new mini-series, L. A. Connections, follows the pursuit of money, sex, revenge, and power among the jet set of Hollywood, where what matters is the ability to keep secrets. Original.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Thriller, Celebrity, Adult Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1998

About the author

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 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

Reviews

[Misty Marie Harms · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, behind the curtain peek of some of our Hollywood favorites. I love that the books in this series are small, but powerful. Usually there is a huge cast of characters to keep track of but Collins downsize thankfully. Smart, sexy read.

[Nadine Rose Larter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm probably going to regret writing this review. Kind of how I regret writing my Fifty Shades reviews or the Fear and Loathing review. Sometimes indignant honesty feels good at the time, but later you re-read yourself and you have to admit that maybe you're just a cow.

I decided to pick up this little series for one main reason: it consists of four very short books. I'm super behind on my reading goal for the year and when we had our yearly Larter "What Are Your Goals For The Year" meeting, I insisted that my only goal for the year was to read 100 books (I'm tired of writing goals falling way short of my expectations) - I have to admit to myself that children need to come first for a little while because I am incapable of juggling. But I am super failing at this most minuscule of goals! And now I'm even cheating because seriously I don't think reading these books counts. Anyway - I chose them because they were short (I bought them at a by-weight book sale about 2 months ago) and because I needed something "easier' to read. The last book I read made me feel super unintelligent - it was out of my league. And then when I actually did start understanding it, it wrecked me a little. So I needed something to unwreck me. I expected this to be a cheap trashy romance novel. With some fun sex scenes and a murder or two thrown in just for fun. Yay!

I also thought to myself that I could probably "learn" something from these books. I read a lot of different types of books and I like to have an idea of what the contemporary masses are consuming. Jackie Collins sounds like that sort of writer. Surely. I can learn something! I can't "learn" from books like Toni Morrison's or Margaret Atwood's or King or Irving or any of those folks because they are too out of my reach. I can only gawk at them in awe. I won't ever write like that, and that's fine.

So I picked up this book. And? Well I'm still scratching my head. I am so confused. None of these characters seem to possess any sort of logic. The entire thing is filled with cliches - though I wonder if they were perhaps not so cliche in 1996 when it was set? So fine. It's not "timeless" - not many folks can pull that off. Totally forgivable. But still... I kind of felt a bit eye roll-y throughout the whole thing. And I can't figure out why this is divided into four books when the first one doesn't really stand alone in any way. It's sort of a nothing story about nothing people. But not in that profound where where nothing happens but you still feel like something has happened. More like stuff happens but you really just don't care. Then again: that's exactly what I was looking for in the wake of my Morrison devastation.

I'm very confused. But I AM learning. I am learning that I think maybe I write this way. And I am worried I won't be able to change that. Because even if this is something that folks really like to read (Collins has many fans - though she may not be to my taste) I don't want to write this way. I worry that I will write in this way that does so very little for me. And I know just how pompous that sounds but I do. I want to write the kind of books that make me happy. These sort of books don't make me happy. They're way too much like fat-free yogurt.

[Bodosika Bodosika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing!

[Ilse Escobedo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book of the series is a little slow. For the most part this book is to get to know the characters and their background story.

[Raffaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super quick read, Jackie Collins' story is short, to-the-point but still manages to be suspenseful. Can't wait to read the 2nd book in this miniseries!

[Zoey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5★

[Lakshmi Nagaraj · Rating 2 out of 5]

I asked for trash, I got trash
But I don't understand, what was the point of this book???? I know it's the first installment of a four part series, but it just seemed like a very long set up for the next book. There was no proper ending to the book, nor was it a cliffhanger. I liked that the stories of the multiple characters came together at the end but it wasn't done well. I didn't care about a single character, and I like I said before, I honestly didn't get the point of the book.
Most ridiculous quote in the book:
"Max thought with his dick most of the time—useful when dealing with female clients—but as any fool knew, the brain has more staying power than the dick any day. The brain is always hard."

[Emma Asay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Randomly found this book in a basement. Sooooo wild. Not exactly good but I would LOVE to talk to the woman who wrote this book in real life I bet she’d be a queen. Kind of intrigued to finish the series?? 😭 (not good at all but still so trashy it’s good?)

[Amy (Gabs) · Rating 2 out of 5]

There wasn’t much content to this book at all. It felt more like an introduction to a bunch of characters, and then two dinner parties were being hosted and whammo, it ended. Oh by the way, there were some hookers included, but don’t get attached to them because Mr. X is on the prowl and none of them make it except for maybe Kristen, the last hooker.

I most likely will read the remaining 3 books in this series. I didn’t realize it was a series when I picked up the book at a resale store. Looks like I’ll be heading to the library for the remaining three.

[What to read next ....... · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book 📖 was such a page turner, a great book to start 2020.
I was intrigued by each chapter, the prologue got me going, it was not expected.

Kristen, good hearted, high priced call girl 👧, who is involved with a down to earth Jake.
How will Jake react when he learns about Kristen past ?
Mr X uses his services of hookers, but the reader does not know his identity.
Is Mr X really a Mr ?
Theres Freddie Leon an cold hearted studio head who has evil 🦹🏽‍♀️ thoughts about his ungrateful colleague.

And the story continues to the second instalment OBSESSION.......

[Hannah Lang · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know it’s a miniseries but it just didn’t feel interesting enough for a first book. Too many people to keep track of and trying to tie them all together before the end took up too much time. Not sure I will keep reading.

[Suzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jackie Collins they are always a delicious romp through the glitzy and glamorous life’s of the rich and famous. This book is no different it sets all the characters and their stories up well. And the cliffhanger at the end what can I say other than WHATTT?

[Peggy Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

i HOPE THE NEXT TWO BOOKS ARE AS GOOD AS THIS ONE WAS. Some of the best writing of Ms. Collins. After this I think it is time to go back and reread Lucky Santangelo series again. I hope everyone enjoys these books as much as I have.

[Heather Shanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s Jackie Collins so she’s always writing page turners. It’s like revisiting an old friend since I’ve been reading her books since I was a teen. Quick novella in a novella series. Can’t wait to read the next one

[Madii Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this opening book in the series

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok but not as much excitement as her books usually carry.

[Ve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank God it was fast but this book does not stand out in any particular way to be divided into 4 individual books

[Angie Kastone · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good light read with great suspense
On to book 2

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to L.A. Connections and I can’t wait to read more of the book. As always Jackies characterisation is brilliant and her interweaving of different plot lines works amazingly well.

[SingleMummy24]

Gotta love jackie

[Hrishabh Garg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the start of the series justifying the name POWER. Lets see how collin rolls it forward in the other three parts. I am excited to dive into OBSESSION.

[Page Passion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting start to the series! I love "dishy" dare I say trashy books. Jackie's books always read like you took a celebrity blind item and turned it into a novel.

[Judy Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't care for this book at all! It kept jumping around. Not very interesting

[Sati Marie Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

Normally I write a brief synopsis as part of my reviews, but when I tried here, I realised that I have no idea what happened in this book.

We met lots of characters. Most seem quite unpleasant. That said, I enjoyed journalist Madison and her college BFF Natalie (entertainment anchor for some TV show), and really liked the cool-headed call girl Kristin - I'm hoping she wasn't the blonde murder victim at the end.

It's trashy and silly, but damn it's entertaining. I'm immediately moving onto the next book (this is a 4-part serial), which will hopefully give an indication of how all the characters fit together. A perfect summer read.

[Amy Whittaker · Rating 2 out of 5]

★★ - 2 star read
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Didn’t really get on with this book and tbh I felt like nothing really happened, nor did I connect with any characters. I may give the next 3 books a go at some point but not rushing to do so.
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Dates Read:March 1st to March 2nd 2024

[Christi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had a hard time reading this book, i thought it was boring.

[Michelle Wiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a fast paced enjoyable short read. I will definitely be carrying on with the series.