Ava

by Janet Perroni

In this steamy romance novel set just as WWI is ending, Ava, a beautiful young woman, and Irish immigrant, initially explores her irresistible and alluring power over men with Alistar, a handsome sailor. Soon Ava learns she is pregnant, but before she can tell Alistar, his ship sets sail. Ava finds herself desperate growing up poor in America as an Irish immigrant during prohibition with little to no support from her family. Struggling to overcome her mistakes while dealing with a dysfunctional old school Irish family Ava later finds herself employed by a wealthy family of builders in Brookline, Massachusetts. The builder's son, Devon, is handsome and sophisticated and sees the beautiful young woman, Ava, irresistible. Fans of steamy historical novels will find themselves emotionally engaged by the twists and turns of Ava’s turbulent journey, as she walks through valleys of great sorrows and the pinnacles of dazzling ecstasy. At the height of ecstasy with Devon, Ava finds that she is pregnant again, and Devon’s estranged wife has returned. Caught in the middle of a romantic love story Ava is shocked to find out her father has arranged her marriage to an older gentleman from England who needs marriage to stay in America. Join Ava in this steamy romance novel as she learns how to care for her babies and use her body to fulfill her needs and overcome the hardships she faces. The backdrop of the roaring 20s showcases the difficulties the young heroine faces as an Irish immigrant growing up poor in America caught in the middle of a romantic love story. See how she battles to maintain a delicate balance between motherhood and independence in an old world that loves to shun. Although Ava’s path is twisted and rife with despair, she finds the strength to stand on her own.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Chick Lit, Fiction

450 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2019

About the author

Hello!
I will be participating in the Miami Book Fair International November 19-20, 2022. Stop by to visit at the Author Solutions Booth!
A sequel will be published 2023 titled, ‘Ava Again’!
Thank you to everyone who participated in The Goodreads Giveaway for 'Ava". The books to the winners have been mailed and I hope that you enjoy them. There will be another giveaway later at Author Solutions/iUniverse Booth.

First Book published and already won awards!
Trust me I wrote many manuscripts but never thought that they were good enough to publish. This is the first in a series that I am working on.
I feel like it was published and then was lost in the pandemic but now resurrected.
Hope you enjoy it!

Ava-2021 Eric Hoffer First Prize Romance Winner
Ava-2021 Eric Hoffer First Horizon Winner Award
New York Times March 2021
The US Review of Books
Pacific Book Review
Scheduled for Frankfurt, Germany International Book Fair October 2021 under 'American and Canadian Showcase'.

Reviews

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The storyline was interesting but the writing was absolutely awful. It seemed as if it was written by a middle school kid. There are definitely some serious editing/proofreading steps that were missed with this book. It drove me crazy that the spelling of one of the central character’s names kept changing throughout the book.

[Bobbie Barker Ulmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing

[Leigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I so wanted to like this book. It was the first book I ever won in a giveaway and the author even sent a lovely handwritten note. Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. The content is not what I consider romance. Even with the one true romantic relationship within the story it was mostly just about physical encounters and little dialogue and connection between the two.

[Elinar Vaysbeyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava is a striking and emotionally charged work of historical fiction that follows a woman determined to survive in a society that repeatedly turns its back on her. Set in post World War I America during the Roaring Twenties, the novel captures the struggles of unwed motherhood, social stigma, and female independence with unflinching honesty.

Ava’s journey is filled with difficult choices, heartbreak, and moments of self-realization. Rather than portraying her life as a romantic fantasy, the story leans into realism showing how limited options force Ava to rely on her beauty, sexuality, and resilience simply to endure. Her experiences reflect the harsh realities faced by women who dared to live outside accepted norms during this era.

What makes this novel compelling is Ava herself: flawed, vulnerable, and deeply human. Her growth is not linear, and her path is often painful, but her determination to stand on her own gives the story its emotional power. The historical setting enriches the narrative, emphasizing the societal constraints that shape her decisions.

Ava is a bold and thought provoking novel about survival, independence, and inner strength. Readers who appreciate complex female protagonists and emotionally honest historical fiction will find this story both gripping and memorable.

[Lauren Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the concept, the characters, the history and the plot with its many twists and turns for Ava. The story of a young woman coming of age and falls in love with an attractive sailor whose ship departs from port shortly thereafter. Later she has a wild affair with a married whose estranged wife returns causing a love triangle. Now alone with children her father arranged a marriage to a third man. Story of the difficulties she faced and survived. The story takes place in Boston but travels to Italy. A true inspiration!

[Madison · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is horrible. There is no plot. It starts with Ava and ends with her daughter Mary.

Ava fell in love with Alistar, got pregnant and he left.

Ava used sex with Jose to pay for an apartment

Ava fell in love with Devon and became pregnant and he dropped her.

She had to marry Scott and became a sour bitch

Mary is now important and her pov is focused on.

The ending leaves nothing. The story leaves nothing to be desired.

[Lauren J]

Ava is full of emotions for high-stakes drama, blending heartbreak, and betrayal as she falls in love with a suave and handsome sailor as WWI is ending. His ship suddenly departs from Boston, and she is left alone to give birth to a son. Her life spirals out of control until she takes employment as a maid for a wealthy family. There she falls madly in love with their son. Everything is wonderful until his wife returns. It is a true empowering testament of perseverance!

[Gerald Alves]

I like the book and I suggest that people who like romance read it.

[Sharon Rynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing was that of a 1st grader. Theme was interesting but the writing was horrid.

[Gaetano Piccadaci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and could not put it down. It was intriguing and captivated my attention from the onset.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty, romantic, and totally pulled me into 1920s Boston. loved it!

[Jeana Gambill Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the unforgiving world of early 20th-century Boston, Ava tells the gripping story of a naive young woman navigating a society that exploits her innocence for its own gain. Trapped by the rigid norms of the era and the stigma of illegitimacy, she faces relentless challenges that test her resilience and force her to become stronger and more resourceful.

The narrative vividly captures the harsh realities of a time when opportunities for women were scarce, immersing readers in Ava’s struggle for survival and self-determination against a backdrop of prejudice and hardship.

AVA is an intriguing and emotionally charged read, with compelling storytelling that keeps you hooked from start to finish. I found myself captivated by Ava’s journey and left yearning for more. Highly recommended!

[Raven · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was okay but the storytelling was really bland. The main character is flat; she doesn't grow or change in the story, just goes along as events happen to her. Her one redeeming moment is when she stands up to her former landlord, I'd hoped it would be a pivotal point for the character but no. Would not recommend.