Love, Ava: A Novel [Hardcover]

Alton Rivers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 6, 2007

"The wide brim slanted low over her face.  The upturned lapels of her coat covered part of her features.  The dark sunglasses concealed her eyes.  And yet he knew beyond a doubt!"
 
She was Ava Gardner, in her youth one of the most sizzling screen goddesses of the Hollywood Golden Era.  Her reputation as a man killer was well earned, and she was still as dangerous as she was beautiful.  He was Major Russ Jefferson, just returned from a brutal tour in Vietnam, scarred by fire and haunted by loss.
 
Turning his back on a spectacular future in aviation, Jefferson takes a desk job at the American Embassy in London.  Into this aimless life steps the most gorgeous woman he has ever seen, an icon he recognizes from the movie screens of his childhood.  Exiting a taxi, Ava Gardner trips on a curb and he is instantly at her side. Long past her zenith, she fights back symptoms of the illness that will ultimately claim her life.

The hero and the aging movie star embark on a tentative love affair that will change their lives forever.  In an uncharacteristic gesture of selflessness, Ava Gardner sacrifices what might be her last chance for happiness in order to save Major Jefferson from himself.  Bittersweet and poignant, Love, Ava is a story of two people whose lives cross briefly, but unforgettably.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Vietnam veteran Rivers turns out an entertaining, if predictable, debut novel that mixes affairs of state with those of the heart. Air Force Maj. Russell Jefferson is badly wounded and his "backseater" best friend killed when his F-4 Phantom is shot down over North Vietnam. He is held as a prisoner of war in the prisoner of war camp known as Hanoi Hilton and, when freed, is physically scarred and suffering survivor's guilt. He rejects a flying assignment in favor of a staff job in the air attaché's office at the U.S. Embassy in London, where, in a "one-in-a-million chance meeting," Jefferson saves Ava Gardner from a fall on a London street. Jefferson becomes increasingly infatuated with the older film star as he courts the scorn of his boss, Gen. William Eads. Eads is blocking the approval of training routes for U.S. jets stationed in England, and Jefferson rashly confronts him. When Jefferson declares his love to Ava and announces his intention to resign his commission, it's up to the former Hollywood maverick to prevent the rebellious young officer from destroying his career. Rivers writes eloquently about air combat—mostly in flashbacks—but is less adept at exploring Jefferson's psyche or charting his romantic sorties. (Feb.)
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About the Author

Alton Rivers's twenty-one years in the U.S. Air Force took him from the Vietnam War to the American Embassy in London. Since retiring, he has worked in city management. He lives with his wife, Conni, in Miami, Oklahoma.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (February 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031236279X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312362799
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,864,423 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ava and the Officer: Goddess and London Fog Magic, August 22, 2009

By 

Virginia Santiago "Raven" (NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love, Ava: A Novel (Hardcover)

Another Ava Gardner book - how marvelous. It is fascinating to me that there is still interest to read about her, whether it is in magazines, books, newspaper articles, or to see her movies and to hear her recordings.

When I bought, and before reading, this book, I wondered how can the author capture the many depths of Ava Gardner - her magic, wit, intelligence, beauty, loves, temperment (oh yes), fears, acceptance of the inevitable, etc. Which one would appear and when? It probably depended on the person/s around her and the place. Yes, I believe he did accomplish this very well.

As I read, when the officer first saw her stepping out of a taxi cab,he couldn't see her face because of her wide brimmed hat, yet he knew it was Ava Gardner, this brought me to tears. There was also laughter at her antics, i.e., how she went about to save his career. Did she succeed? Would she sacrifice to be without him? She was vulnerable; however, if she wanted some one or something, she was on a mission of determination to accomplish it. She may not have won every time except maybe in playing chess.

I do believe she was a fascinating and unselfish person. My opinion is based upon reading her bios and other books, as well as from my conversations with some of her relatives and friends when I had attended the Ava Gardner Film Festival in Smithfield, NC.

I also believe the author wished he had known her. This is a very well written story and a lot of interest for us Ava Gardner fans. Wish there could be a sequel.