Introduction

It was the tumultuous romance that scandalized the world: Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner fought, loved, and lived life to the hilt. Now their unbridled story is brought vividly to life by Heather Webb, the bestselling author of Meet Me in Monaco and The Next Ship Home.

In the golden age of Hollywood, two of the brightest stars would define—and defy—an era…

She was the small-town southern beauty transformed into a Hollywood love goddess. He was the legendary crooner whose voice transfixed the world. They were Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra. Separately they were irresistible; together they were an explosive combination.

Ava’s star is rising just as Frank’s career—and public image as a family man—is taking a hit. Gone are the days of the screaming bobbysoxers and chart-topping hits. Ava, however, finds herself gracing the front page of every tabloid in America. Jealousy and cheating abound, and when the two succumb to their temperaments and their vices, their happiness is threatened at every turn.

As the pair ride the rollercoaster of success and failure, passion and anger, they both wonder if the next turn will be the end of their careers, and most devastating of all—the end of all they’ve shared.

A captivating novel with a star-studded cast spanning continents and decades, Strangers in the Night brings to life the most riveting love story of the twentieth century.

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Discussion Questions

From the author - Added by Pauline:

1. Ava had one of the very few legendary stories in which she was discovered by someone more-or-less passing her on the street and after, was promptly sent to Hollywood for a screen test. Given the chance, would you follow the same path as her—a person without training and perhaps even without any interest in being an actor? Why or why not? What did you think of her training?

2. During the decades that the book takes place, primarily the 1940s-1960s, being a woman in Hollywood meant you were on display as mostly a sexual plaything. It also meant unwanted attention (to say the least) from their male bosses and sometimes their fellow actors. How has this changed, or remained the same, today?

3. How did Ava’s beauty—and the media attention—affect her self-image early in her career? And later?

4. Do you believe Frank could have loved more than one woman at the same time? Why or why not? What is your view of romantic love?

5. Infidelity in Hollywood was very common at this time and in fact, it still is if the tabloids are to be believed. Why do you think that is? Do you feel more, or less inclined, to like and support an actor’s work when you learn of these anecdotes, or does it not affect your opinion?

6. Frank appeared to struggle with serious demons, and some would say, this is why he self-medicated with various forms of debauchery. With medical advancements, do you think he would be in the same position today? Why or why not?

7. Perhaps both Frank’s involvement in politics and his alleged involvement with the Mafia are what gave him a veneer of dark glamour. Discuss this idea. How does his involvement in an organized criminal organization add a certain appeal for his fans? Do you believe this appeal exists in real life, too?

8. Both Frank and Ava are complex individuals that can’t seem to get out of their own way. Discuss their faults and how they led to the most tragic element of their relationship.

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