What do you think?
Rate this book
Ava's Place
Sometimes starting over is the best way home
Most days, divorced mom Ava Olson is just trying to keep it all together. With three school-age children and only a part-time job at a local newspaper, she barely has time to juggle the small stuff, much less stand back and consider the big picture. Besides, dreaming about what-ifs is a dangerous habit, especially when her real concern should be the competition from a much younger new editor. That is, until she meets Ford, a cafe owner who wins her over with his warm smile and delicious po boy sandwiches and makes her wonder if there could still be more to life than work and kids.
Then a new opportunity opens up, and suddenly Ava is making big changes. Like moving eighty miles away to New Orleans, working full-time and discovering just how sweet a future in the sultry Louisiana city might be even if she has to explore it on her own. When Ava begins investigating a story that promises huge headlines, she's ready for the front page. But can she rewrite the story of her own life, complete with a love interest and a very happy ending?
Insightful, humorous, and down-to-earth, Emily Beck Cogburn's new novel celebrates the possibilities of change, the courage it takes to make our most heartfelt dreams come true and the joy of finding your place in the world.
Most days, divorced mom Ava Olson is just trying to keep it all together. With three school-age children and only a part-time job at a local newspaper, she barely has time to juggle the small stuff, much less stand back and consider the big picture. Besides, dreaming about what-ifs is a dangerous habit, especially when her real concern should be the competition from a much younger new editor. That is, until she meets Ford, a cafe owner who wins her over with his warm smile and delicious po boy sandwiches and makes her wonder if there could still be more to life than work and kids.
Then a new opportunity opens up, and suddenly Ava is making big changes. Like moving eighty miles away to New Orleans, working full-time and discovering just how sweet a future in the sultry Louisiana city might be even if she has to explore it on her own. When Ava begins investigating a story that promises huge headlines, she's ready for the front page. But can she rewrite the story of her own life, complete with a love interest and a very happy ending?
Insightful, humorous, and down-to-earth, Emily Beck Cogburn's new novel celebrates the possibilities of change, the courage it takes to make our most heartfelt dreams come true and the joy of finding your place in the world.
281 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2017
About the author
Emily Beck Cogburn
6 books105 followersEmily Beck Cogburn is a freelance journalist and fitness instructor currently living in Louisiana. She has a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from the University of Minnesota, a masters degree in philosophy from Ohio State University, and a masters degree in library and information science from Louisiana State University. Her interests include cooking stinky food her children hate, yelling at her class participants to do “just one more rep!” and trying to read while handling requests for more chocolate milk. She has two children, two dogs, two cats, and a very patient husband. Visit her on the web at https://emilybeckcogburn.godaddysites...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 29, 2017
Ava Olson is divorced and has three young children and a part time job at the local newspaper. Romance is not on the agenda, as she struggles just to keep up with the day to day activities. But then she meets Ford who is divorced and also has a young daughter. His is part owner with his brother in a café and things seem to be going along well for Ava and Ford, until a new full time job in New Orleans and a certain amount of pigheadedness drive them apart. There is also a side story of an art scam. I thought it was a shame this wasn’t introduced earlier and developed more fully.
Ava and Ford were both likeable characters. This was a sweet read but at times it did feel like the characters and situations that involved them weren’t developed enough. It is a light feel good read, so if that is what you are looking for you should enjoy it. But if you are looking for in depth insights into characters then you probably will find it lacking a bit. Sometimes dialogue is a bit pedestrian.
At the time I read it, I was just looking for something light and so was happy to go along with it. It is definitely chick lit but a pleasant diversion that leaves the reader feeling good at the end. Probably a good holiday read.
Ava and Ford were both likeable characters. This was a sweet read but at times it did feel like the characters and situations that involved them weren’t developed enough. It is a light feel good read, so if that is what you are looking for you should enjoy it. But if you are looking for in depth insights into characters then you probably will find it lacking a bit. Sometimes dialogue is a bit pedestrian.
At the time I read it, I was just looking for something light and so was happy to go along with it. It is definitely chick lit but a pleasant diversion that leaves the reader feeling good at the end. Probably a good holiday read.
February 3, 2017
AVA'S PLACE BY EMILY BECK COGBURN
Thank you to Net Galley, Emily Beck Cogburn and Kensington Publishing Corp for providing me with a digital copy for a fair and honest review.
I thought that this was written for women specifically. I usually enjoy contemporary fiction with realism written for both genders. This starts out with Ava who is the mother of three children and is already divorced. I am interested in knowing more about her marriage than just a sentence or two. Ava describes her marriage and divorce all in a couple of lines. Ava is trying to navigate her life as a single parent that is overwhelmed by getting her three young children to school. She describes getting her children off to school by saying that her oldest son James spilled lucky charms on his only clean uniform pants while he was trying to finish his spelling homework. Her middle son, Luke, had to have the crusts cut off his peanut butter sandwich. Many schools don't allow peanut butter because of allergies. Her youngest is three years old. The only girl is named Sadie who is three years old who doesn't want to be dropped off at day care because her favorite teacher arrives at nine-thirty AM.
This might be enjoyed by a younger women demographic. It wasn't a good fit for me. It can be read quickly. Ava made quite an impression on Ford who was dropping his daughter off at the same day care as he runs a diner with his brother and has custody of his daughter during the week. Ford's daughter's name is Nelly and every week-end he has to drive his daughter to New Orleans to spend time with her mother. His ex-wife Marion is a doctor and works more hours. Ford is interested in Ava and Ava is interested in Ford, but they both think each other is not interested.
One day as Ava is dropping off Sadie at daycare Ford asks Ava to have coffee. They are both excited and are attracted to one another. Ava gives Ford her phone number and they have a real date rollerskating and ate at Ford's Diner. Will Ford and Ava find love and happiness? Will they both move to New Orleans for jobs?
Thank you to Net Galley, Emily Beck Cogburn and Kensington Publishing Corp for providing me with a digital copy for a fair and honest review.
I thought that this was written for women specifically. I usually enjoy contemporary fiction with realism written for both genders. This starts out with Ava who is the mother of three children and is already divorced. I am interested in knowing more about her marriage than just a sentence or two. Ava describes her marriage and divorce all in a couple of lines. Ava is trying to navigate her life as a single parent that is overwhelmed by getting her three young children to school. She describes getting her children off to school by saying that her oldest son James spilled lucky charms on his only clean uniform pants while he was trying to finish his spelling homework. Her middle son, Luke, had to have the crusts cut off his peanut butter sandwich. Many schools don't allow peanut butter because of allergies. Her youngest is three years old. The only girl is named Sadie who is three years old who doesn't want to be dropped off at day care because her favorite teacher arrives at nine-thirty AM.
This might be enjoyed by a younger women demographic. It wasn't a good fit for me. It can be read quickly. Ava made quite an impression on Ford who was dropping his daughter off at the same day care as he runs a diner with his brother and has custody of his daughter during the week. Ford's daughter's name is Nelly and every week-end he has to drive his daughter to New Orleans to spend time with her mother. His ex-wife Marion is a doctor and works more hours. Ford is interested in Ava and Ava is interested in Ford, but they both think each other is not interested.
One day as Ava is dropping off Sadie at daycare Ford asks Ava to have coffee. They are both excited and are attracted to one another. Ava gives Ford her phone number and they have a real date rollerskating and ate at Ford's Diner. Will Ford and Ava find love and happiness? Will they both move to New Orleans for jobs?
February 10, 2017
Ava’s Place by Emily Beck Cogburn is a modern-day romance story. Ava Olson is thirty-five years old and the mother of three children (James, Luke and Sadie). Ava is raising the children on her own since her divorce. Her ex-husband, Jared moved away to Chicago to take a post a newspaper. Ava works part-time at the Saint Jude Gazette in the entertainment section (not the type of writing she wishes to do). Ava has not dated since her divorce three years ago, but then she encounters Ford Dupree. Ford is a single-dad whose daughter, Nelly goes to the same pre-school as Sadie, Ava’s three-year-old daughter. Ford is also divorced. His ex-wife, Marion (a control freak and workaholic) is an ER doctor in New Orleans (about 80 miles away). Ford co-owns Rosie’s Café with his brother, Bobby Joe. They serve your typical diner fare. Ford, though, is not happy with the type of food they serve (brother overrules him). Slowly, Ava and Ford spend time together and start a relationship. But then their bubble of happiness is broken when Ava is offered a job in New Orleans. Ava wants to continue her relationship with Ford. Unfortunately, the situation is too reminiscent of what happened with his ex-wife for him. Ava relocates to New Orleans with her kids and begins a new job without Ford. But things are still the same at work for Ava. Ava feels she is not taken seriously as a journalist. Ava gets lucky when she stumbles upon a story that could be front page news. It also brings her back in contact with Ford who has a chance of creating the type of cuisine he desires. Is there a possibility of a second chance for this pair?
Ava’s Place is nicely written, has a good place, and a lovely setting (Louisiana). I liked Ford much more than I did Ava. Ava complained about her job, ex-husband, and her children. A person can only take so much of it in a book (reading is supposed to be an escape from reality). I found it disheartening. I give Ava’s Place 3 out of 5 stars. I found the story to be utterly predictable. The pair are instantly attracted to each, fall for each other, argument, break up, and then the inevitable conclusion. We also have Ava and Ford giving each other looks, distracted by thoughts of each other, thinking about intimate situations, etc. I did like the addition of Ava’s big story. It was the best part of the book (I wish the author had not given it such a small part). I think younger women will find Ava’s Place more enjoyable. Ava’s Place is a sweet book, but it is just not the right type for me.
Ava’s Place is nicely written, has a good place, and a lovely setting (Louisiana). I liked Ford much more than I did Ava. Ava complained about her job, ex-husband, and her children. A person can only take so much of it in a book (reading is supposed to be an escape from reality). I found it disheartening. I give Ava’s Place 3 out of 5 stars. I found the story to be utterly predictable. The pair are instantly attracted to each, fall for each other, argument, break up, and then the inevitable conclusion. We also have Ava and Ford giving each other looks, distracted by thoughts of each other, thinking about intimate situations, etc. I did like the addition of Ava’s big story. It was the best part of the book (I wish the author had not given it such a small part). I think younger women will find Ava’s Place more enjoyable. Ava’s Place is a sweet book, but it is just not the right type for me.
August 27, 2017
2.5 stars. Sweet book but the story just didn't grab me & felt no connection to characters
February 17, 2017
Ava Olson>>A divorced mother of three. She works part time at the local newspaper, where she is challenged by a younger, new editor. Then she meets Ford>>a restaurant owner, and new opportunities arise for Ava. A Lovely Heart Warming Page Turning Adventure!!!!! THANK YOU GOOD READS FIRST READS FOR THIS FREE BOOK!!!!!
December 20, 2016
https://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-re...
Cogburn pens a sweet romance with a slight touch of mystery to keep readers intrigued. Ava is a well-drawn character whose motivations, joys and trials are realistically portrayed. One can feel for her struggles with single parenthood and working in the tumultuous print journalism industry. Ford isn't as well-depicted and his indecisiveness can be a bit frustrating. The relationship dilemmas are wrapped up a bit too quickly, but this is an enjoyable tale for the most part. Readers will be invested in the characters and their outcomes.
Ava Olson tries to balance her life as a single mother to three young children with her need and desire to work as a journalist for the local newspaper. Sometimes she feels as if she has so much on her plate that she doesn't have time for one more thing, especially a relationship. She meets Ford, the chef and owner of a local café and also a single parent, and interest ignites between the two of them. When Ava's job changes to the point where she needs to move to New Orleans, 80 miles away, Ford can't imagine a way to keep a long-distance relationship going. As the couple begins to move in different directions, is their ultimate destination separate or together?
Cogburn pens a sweet romance with a slight touch of mystery to keep readers intrigued. Ava is a well-drawn character whose motivations, joys and trials are realistically portrayed. One can feel for her struggles with single parenthood and working in the tumultuous print journalism industry. Ford isn't as well-depicted and his indecisiveness can be a bit frustrating. The relationship dilemmas are wrapped up a bit too quickly, but this is an enjoyable tale for the most part. Readers will be invested in the characters and their outcomes.
Ava Olson tries to balance her life as a single mother to three young children with her need and desire to work as a journalist for the local newspaper. Sometimes she feels as if she has so much on her plate that she doesn't have time for one more thing, especially a relationship. She meets Ford, the chef and owner of a local café and also a single parent, and interest ignites between the two of them. When Ava's job changes to the point where she needs to move to New Orleans, 80 miles away, Ford can't imagine a way to keep a long-distance relationship going. As the couple begins to move in different directions, is their ultimate destination separate or together?
March 5, 2017
Ava is a divorced mom dealing with three school-age children and only a part-time job at a local newspaper; Ford is a café owner also divorced with a three year old daughter. Ava’s Place is a sweet, clean story of how these two meet, handle relationship and career problems and, eventually, find a way to make their dreams come true. It is humorous, romantic and a light, quick read. I received an advance reader’s edition from Goodreads.
January 3, 2022
Ava's Place Cogburn, Emily Beck* * 3 F. divorced Mom with 3 kids loses part time job, meets cafe owner with daughter decide to to follow dreams or play it safe + realistic kids char. art myst. 2017 3/31/2017 3/27/2017
March 17, 2017
This book was so boring; I used it to put me to sleep and it did not disappoint. The characters were flat and uninteresting and I just didn't care for it. I wanted to like it, but I just couldn't.
August 31, 2017
I honestly didn't even finish this book. The first half was pretty good but as it went on it got to cheesy for me.
May 19, 2019
I gave up around 100 pages. Same old, same old...girl sees guy, dislike, like, don't know, kinda like...
March 25, 2020
That’s some rushed, cheesy, unbelievable stuff right here....
April 9, 2020
Pretty good chick lit for a change of pace from the book club books I've been reading but not really enjoying. About the last third is a little too romancy for me but a good story overall.
Read
March 7, 2017I won my book from Goodreads. Enjoyable read! Good for snowy day or lazy summer day read. Realistic characters and good story line.
February 25, 2017
It was a really good book. I enjoyed it very much!
February 16, 2020
Cogburn's characters are relatable. Their dialogue is often awkward, but that kept me on my feet and interested. A page turner at times, I felt really positive throughout the entire novel.
March 29, 2017
ava olsens life changes when her husband jared leave her pregnant with her third child to take a job at Chicago tribune..now a single mother raising 3 children and working for the local paper wanting to be a big time writer there..her life changes when she drops off her 3 year old at school and meets ford....his wife divorced him and he has his daughter who is 3 he is raising. ford and his brother own a restaurant called rosies...ford asks ava on a date and they go roller skating..ava excepts a job at a paper in new Orleans and wonders if her and ford can make a relationship work....ford decides to buy his own restaurant to be closer to his mom who has stage 1 breast cancer..it just happens to be in the town where his mom lives and ava and his ex....ava decides to take a picture she had on her wall to sell while she is there she checks out the art and knowing the artist work scraps it with her nail and thinks its a fake...she is told there is more at a restaurant called rosies that when she calls ford....she gets one of the paintings to the artist who tells her its not her work its fake...one of the other painters use house paint to do his pictures not oil.....when ford finds a spot on the floor In his apartment above rosie the story comes together and she calls in the fbi and has the biggest story there is....she gets a promotion at work and a raise and she gets her man....ava s life turns out to be a dream come true......
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2017
This is a pleasant light read of a woman finding herself combined with a romance. Yes, it's pretty predictable: you know somehow things will work out for Ford and Ava but at the same time, Cogburn does a good job of keeping some tension not only in the situations they face but also the relationship. I liked the local color of New Orleans and the fact that Ava worked in newspapers. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Try this one for a relaxing read- no one is annoying and ultimately there's a happy ending!
April 3, 2017
got this book from my daughter and I loved it..ava olsen has 3 children and a dead end job at a newspaper.. she wants to report real news not put together calanders but she has no choice her husband a reporter left her when she was pregnant with her third child Sadie now 3..she runs into a single father of a 3 year old that goes to school with Sadie..his name is ford him and his brother own and run a diner called rosies.. ford asks her out on a date and they go roller skating.. everything seems to coming along good for ford for once than his mother gets stage 1b breast cancer..his mom give ford her engagement and wedding band...than ava excepts a job in new Orleans because she can get further working there..ford feels the relationship will not work and they both wonder is love strong enough to bend and work for them or not.....
April 6, 2017
Good story. Good characters. I won this book through Goodreads.
April 8, 2017
This was a Goodreads win. It was a sweet story about two folks finding one another. Ava works for the newspaper and as that is a dying field her job is in jeopardy. Ford owns a restaurant with his brother and also has custody of his daughter. The two meet at the Day Care Center. It was quite a predictable read but pleasant just the same.
May 3, 2017
I received a copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Ava's Place was a nice, light, summer read. The characters were likeable, the plot believable, and the settings were easy to imagine. I really liked the flow of the story, and found myself giving advice to Ava and Ford (only in my head of course), a true sign that I was getting into this book. Highly recommended to those who enjoy fairy tales and light romance.
Read
July 14, 2017Light read.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews