Unexpected Love: A Benton Center Romance

by David Allen Edmonds

Two couples in love. A town mesmerized by fame. Too many people too involved in other people’s lives. What could go wrong?

Practically everything. But all the loose ends are tied neatly into bows in this warm-hearted rom/com that has been compared to an Ohio version of Much Ado About Nothing.

Benton Center treats Maggie and Brent as royalty. So much so that the two lovers rebel at the torrent of mostly well-meaning gossip, and devise a plot to teach the town a lesson. Meanwhile, Samantha and Irv are ignored by the small town, and fall in love outside the glare of prying eyes.

But the unexpected lovers can’t avoid the merry war of deception, trickery and political shenanigans set amidst the traditional PumpkinFest. Everyone in Benton Center is drawn into the pageantry and intrigue, and everyone is captivated by the satisfying and romantic ending.

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2022

About the author

I've been a teacher all my life, so I guess it's natural that I write about teachers. Now that I think about it, it's natural for me to write because both of my parents were writers.

My first efforts were short stories about the goings-on inside the faculty lounge of a high school. They were easy to write since I spent a lot of my time there. They are fiction, but clearly based on my experiences. Several of these "Faculty Lounge Stories" are archived on my website,
http://www.davidallenedmonds.com

Personal Pronouns started with the same setting I used in the short stories, but morphed into something else as I wrote it. The length of the novel allowed me to flesh out the characters and hopefully give them some depth. The plot begins in school but is not limited to it. That gave me the chance to extend my themes into the broader community. Personal Pronouns is linked to my website and available at www.amazon.com/author/davidallenedmonds

Reviews

[David Edmonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is how I spent the long COViD winters: writing a romance.

[Sydney · Rating 2 out of 5]

"If we stop growing, we start dying."

While I can appreciate the similarities to my hometown, this was really hard for me to get through. Definitely not my cup of tea, but maybe if you're a Hallmark fan you'll feel differently.

[Patty Van · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Small town, small people" So much to say... So bad, just so bad. Adjectives: disjointed, confusing, predictable. I found it hard to read more than 2 or 3 pages at a time. If I actually had to critique the characters, Narcissism at its's finest. Save yourself...just don't.

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Allen Edmonds brings us a heartwarming and fun romantic comedy with Unexpected Love! In the smalltown of Benton Center, residents love to gossip about the latest power couple in love, a couple that devises a way to get back at the town. Meanwhile, another couple falls in love beneath the town’s radar but find themselves wrapped up in the plot at the town’s festival. Edmonds creates a set of dominos that was loads of fun to watch tumble! Both romances were cute, and there are tons of heartwarming moments sprinkled in throughout the comedy. Truly, I could see this story playing out perfectly as a Hallmark film and left me walking away with a smile. If you love a good lighthearted romance with some fun situations, definitely come join the deception with Unexpected Love!

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not what I expected from a “romance”. My experience with romance novels is only from my book club, and those followed some commonalities that I gather are tropes of the genre. This was fun, went unexpected places (the focus on Benson Center’s community being one), and was a good read.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

How many men are courageous enough to write a romance novel? Well this author is, and he was able to tap into how the male and female mind (and heart) thinks about the self, others, and even politics. I’ve seen so much growth in Edmonds’ novels, and I look forward to reading the next one!

[Carla Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!
This could be a Hallmark movie!

[Jenny]

Cute story about a couple finding their way as adults in the small town they grew up in.

[Havelah McLat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the cover of this book and that's why I want to read it. I enjoyed some aspects of the story. It was cute. However there are things here kind of drag out. It didn't feel like romcom. I didn't like gossiping and politic parts. It didn't quite make sense to me. But overall I gave this solid 3 stars.

[Jean Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hometown Drama and Romance

Murder mystery writer, David Allen Edmonds, turns romance author in this engaging hometown drama filled with politics, city planning and people working together for the benefit of their community.