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Ava
POLITICS AND MURDER SET THE BACKDROP FOR A SECOND CHANCE AT LOVE IN THIS DEBUT NOVEL BY ASHLEY BARRON. AVA BLENDS THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF A LOVE STORY WITH THE PULSE-POUNDING TWISTS OF A THRILLER. Ava Arden has spent three years trying to move past the pain of a failed relationship. With her heart on ice, she channels all of her energy into her successful business, and into the lives of her best friends, the Priyas. Everything changes the day Kader Thornton, the man she walked away from, shows up in Washington, D.C., with a single to win her back. On the day of Kader’s return, Ava accidentally uncovers a secret that, if revealed, will expose a private battle for power at the highest levels of government. She soon finds herself hunted by an unseen enemy, one hiding among her friends. One who has already killed and is willing to kill again. When a trap is set for Ava, she walks right into it and disappears. For Kader, finding her is his only priority. The members of the Priya Club, lifelong friends, each one famous in her own right, hold the key. In AVA, the first book in the Priya Novels Club series, the real tests of their loyalty to one another are only now beginning. In a series that highlights the unique bond of friendships formed in childhood, long-buried secrets will be revealed, hidden alliances will be uncovered, and love will always win the day…but only if it’s true.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2012
5 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Barron
23 books2,335 followersAshley Barron loves books, sunglasses, the ocean, and all things Washington, D.C. She is a self-published author, blogger, and entrepreneur who is forever fascinated by the power of small business.
Ashley is active on Twitter as @dcPriya.
Ashley is active on Twitter as @dcPriya.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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February 15, 2016396p Ava Arden 19s one true love, Kader Thornton, shows up one August night and wants her back. It 19s the same night a series of terrifying events 14robbery, kidnapping, and murder among them 14begin to unravel Ava 19s carefully ordered world.
Ava tries to break free from her past, and from the man who left her heartbroken three years ago. By September, she finds herself pushed into a dangerous game, one played for power, here, in Washington, D.C., the city where secrets act as currency, and truth is a matter of perspective.
And when that truth is revealed, when the stakes are known, Ava Arden has to choose between two loyalties. Her decision will set the Priyas, her best friends, on a path from which there will be no turning back.
Not for any of them.
Ava tries to break free from her past, and from the man who left her heartbroken three years ago. By September, she finds herself pushed into a dangerous game, one played for power, here, in Washington, D.C., the city where secrets act as currency, and truth is a matter of perspective.
And when that truth is revealed, when the stakes are known, Ava Arden has to choose between two loyalties. Her decision will set the Priyas, her best friends, on a path from which there will be no turning back.
Not for any of them.
October 6, 2018
DNF. It was long and slow and didn’t hold my interest.
November 14, 2012
Ava, the debut novel of indie author Ashley Barron, marks the start of a series slated for 26 books where each chronicle will focus on the situations experienced by a different character. Barron’s Priya group of women live, love, and work in Washington, D.C. and the depth of their bonds know no bounds.
Admittedly, I began the book with some trepidation. The scope of the novel is huge, but the author’s careful plotting shows. This first book centers on Ava, a woman in her early 30’s, who is the successful owner of an event planning business. As such, along with a high-powered family, Ava maintains ties to very important people. Those ties bring the inevitable ploy for money and domination which drives the many twists and turns of the plot.
Ava’s decision to step-down from her business coincides with a situation that places her life in peril. Along the way, the reader follows the well-crafted clues regarding a missing employee, computer hackers, and Ava’s rekindled romance with Kader Thornton. The sudden decision to want to drop her trappings of success didn’t feel completely in line with Ava’s character, which may leave readers to wonder if the decision is being used as a plot device to drive the action of future books in the series.
The choice of an all-knowing narrator is perhaps the riskiest aspect of the novel. Barron handles the intricacies required by an omniscient narrator amazingly well. However, since the story centers on Ava, a limited third-person point of view could have tamed the occasional unwieldiness of the narrative a bit. At times, it felt like huge passages could be omitted if it were not for the choice of narrator. I also found the consistent use of word repetition intended to add emphasis and heighten the drama of the story did just the opposite.
Ashley Barron has an uncanny ability for communicating the intricacies of human relationships. For that reason alone, I am looking forward to her next installment. Her growth as a writer, marketer, and blogger has been, and will continue to be, fascinating to watch.
JeriWB.com
Admittedly, I began the book with some trepidation. The scope of the novel is huge, but the author’s careful plotting shows. This first book centers on Ava, a woman in her early 30’s, who is the successful owner of an event planning business. As such, along with a high-powered family, Ava maintains ties to very important people. Those ties bring the inevitable ploy for money and domination which drives the many twists and turns of the plot.
Ava’s decision to step-down from her business coincides with a situation that places her life in peril. Along the way, the reader follows the well-crafted clues regarding a missing employee, computer hackers, and Ava’s rekindled romance with Kader Thornton. The sudden decision to want to drop her trappings of success didn’t feel completely in line with Ava’s character, which may leave readers to wonder if the decision is being used as a plot device to drive the action of future books in the series.
The choice of an all-knowing narrator is perhaps the riskiest aspect of the novel. Barron handles the intricacies required by an omniscient narrator amazingly well. However, since the story centers on Ava, a limited third-person point of view could have tamed the occasional unwieldiness of the narrative a bit. At times, it felt like huge passages could be omitted if it were not for the choice of narrator. I also found the consistent use of word repetition intended to add emphasis and heighten the drama of the story did just the opposite.
Ashley Barron has an uncanny ability for communicating the intricacies of human relationships. For that reason alone, I am looking forward to her next installment. Her growth as a writer, marketer, and blogger has been, and will continue to be, fascinating to watch.
JeriWB.com
June 20, 2012
Ava is a successful business owner, wealthy, attractive, has a loving family and friends who would die for her. What else could a girl ask for. Kader is the man who got away. Her true love in ever way. She broke it off 3 yrs prior to the story. She still wants him but she knows he has moved on, otherwise why isn't he here trying to get her back? Ava has a hard time moving on. Her friends, all close as sisters. Get together, even if it is just via the computer and try to encourage her. Ava is a event coordinator. At a big political party, her assistant seems to go missing and she knows something is up. After a small explosion goes off in Washington DC, and her best friend Bonner is investigating and tells Ava it may have been a bomb. Ava is scared that Bonner may get into trouble or mixed up into something she can't handle. When Kader appears back in town, Ava doesn't know what to do. She gets her friends together, the Priya. These friends have all known each other since childhood and know each others deepest darkest secrets, which in Washington DC can make or break you. As Ava sees more and more mysterious stuff with her assistant and with things around town, she knows something is up, just not sure what. The book is all about Ava, her friends and the mystery that surrounds them. Also if Kador and Ava will ever make back together.
Ashely did an awesome job of describing the situation and life style of Washington DC. The characters were were developed and described with great detail and the story itself was interesting. My complaint is much of the same. There was almost an overwhelming amount of detail. I got lost several times in the story because of this. Now saying that, and Ashley being a new author, it was a decent read. The action that was in it was very good, I just wish their was more of it the story. Overall it was a good 1st book. I would keep and eye on this author. Lots of potential.
Ashely did an awesome job of describing the situation and life style of Washington DC. The characters were were developed and described with great detail and the story itself was interesting. My complaint is much of the same. There was almost an overwhelming amount of detail. I got lost several times in the story because of this. Now saying that, and Ashley being a new author, it was a decent read. The action that was in it was very good, I just wish their was more of it the story. Overall it was a good 1st book. I would keep and eye on this author. Lots of potential.
August 27, 2013
Barron created a mystery book that I had no idea who was behind everything. This is the first book that I can honestly say that the story had to tell me who it was. I didn’t even have any guesses!
There are a lot of people in this book. The Priyas are a tight group of friends who are more like sisters. They know everything about each other. So there was a great amount of background information about several of these sisters. It did seem like a lot of information, but the series is about the Priyas so we need to know about them.
Barron did a great job with the details of the plot. It was very thought out and detailed.
I will say it again, I am amazed I didn’t figure out this mystery! Most the time I have a pretty good guess and I didn’t even have a guess with this book. If you are looking great mystery with a slight romance to it, make sure to pick up Ava. It is on the top of my list for mysteries now and highly recommend it.
I can’t wait to get my hands on the next story in the series, it will be Devon’s story. Devon is the daughter of the Vice President so I am sure there a many interesting things to be learned in the next one.
There are a lot of people in this book. The Priyas are a tight group of friends who are more like sisters. They know everything about each other. So there was a great amount of background information about several of these sisters. It did seem like a lot of information, but the series is about the Priyas so we need to know about them.
Barron did a great job with the details of the plot. It was very thought out and detailed.
I will say it again, I am amazed I didn’t figure out this mystery! Most the time I have a pretty good guess and I didn’t even have a guess with this book. If you are looking great mystery with a slight romance to it, make sure to pick up Ava. It is on the top of my list for mysteries now and highly recommend it.
I can’t wait to get my hands on the next story in the series, it will be Devon’s story. Devon is the daughter of the Vice President so I am sure there a many interesting things to be learned in the next one.
October 25, 2012
The author gave me a copy of this book.
I have to say I really loved it. The description of being a thriller made me a bit nervous going in because I am a giant wuss. It was absolutely suspenseful but not scary. This book was so rich with its details. I was hooked from the first chapter and completed this book in 2 days (did have to make myself stop reading the first night). Ava is the main character and runs a successful event planning business. Ava is close with her family, her coworkers and this group of longtime girlfriends known as the Priya's.
I would have loved to know more about the start of the Priya's and hope that more detail as the origins is covered in the next in the series. Overall I throughly enjoyed the dynamic of Ava's ex coming back to town to "woo" her mixed in with the mystery. This is a book I would have no issue recommending to any of my friends. Lastly, loved the setting. This author really knows the Beltway.
I have to say I really loved it. The description of being a thriller made me a bit nervous going in because I am a giant wuss. It was absolutely suspenseful but not scary. This book was so rich with its details. I was hooked from the first chapter and completed this book in 2 days (did have to make myself stop reading the first night). Ava is the main character and runs a successful event planning business. Ava is close with her family, her coworkers and this group of longtime girlfriends known as the Priya's.
I would have loved to know more about the start of the Priya's and hope that more detail as the origins is covered in the next in the series. Overall I throughly enjoyed the dynamic of Ava's ex coming back to town to "woo" her mixed in with the mystery. This is a book I would have no issue recommending to any of my friends. Lastly, loved the setting. This author really knows the Beltway.
May 24, 2013
Washington, D.C. social maven Ava Arden dominates the management of glamorous events making up the D.C. social scene. With the support of her Priyas—her circle of sisters formed by choice rather than birth—she must deal not only with the return of her lost love but also a murderous plot that begins and ends with a bang. Along the way, Ava discovers that the greatest dangers and the deepest intrigue are no match for the obstacles built by one's own emotions. The question is who will claim her first: an unknown killer, or the man now determined to once and for all win her heart.
Ashley Barron brings Ava and the rich cast of her story to life with a frenetic, descriptive style in a commendable debut.
Ashley Barron brings Ava and the rich cast of her story to life with a frenetic, descriptive style in a commendable debut.
April 19, 2014
"Ava", by Ashley Barron (Book One in the Priya Series)
Ava is in Washington DC it's warm and humid when she's planning for a big event at a museum. The museum her ex-lover owns which brings back the memories of the breakup. She's also dealing with a call that says her main assistant who she relies on heavily, Adair MacLean, is missing.
From beginning to end this book is mysterious and Ashley Barron does a great job blending the old romance Ava's character had with Kader and the mystery of Adair's disappearance.
The story entitled "Ava" takes us on an adventure of intrigue and danger with many actors. The Priya club (formed by college friends) adds depth to the tale.
I enjoyed Ashley Barron's writing style and hope to soon be able to read Bonner's story.
Ava is in Washington DC it's warm and humid when she's planning for a big event at a museum. The museum her ex-lover owns which brings back the memories of the breakup. She's also dealing with a call that says her main assistant who she relies on heavily, Adair MacLean, is missing.
From beginning to end this book is mysterious and Ashley Barron does a great job blending the old romance Ava's character had with Kader and the mystery of Adair's disappearance.
The story entitled "Ava" takes us on an adventure of intrigue and danger with many actors. The Priya club (formed by college friends) adds depth to the tale.
I enjoyed Ashley Barron's writing style and hope to soon be able to read Bonner's story.
May 26, 2013
I did try, its not my normal preferred reading , and maybe others would really enjoy it. But there were so many characters. All were shallow and unlikeable, worried about their clothes and shoes that they sort of blended together.
It was too slow, I couldn't understand why the main character was not more concerned about a certain event, and that she had no common sense to add 1 and 1 and make 2 !!
Sorry, not for me. Maybe a bit of editing and ensuring that each character has some substance would improve the read.
Did not finish.
It was too slow, I couldn't understand why the main character was not more concerned about a certain event, and that she had no common sense to add 1 and 1 and make 2 !!
Sorry, not for me. Maybe a bit of editing and ensuring that each character has some substance would improve the read.
Did not finish.
December 10, 2012
Review to follow
December 19, 2012
Review pending
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews