David Allen Edmonds

Unexpected Love  is the first Benton Center Romance, a series of clean and wholesome rom/coms. In a small Ohio town enthralled by fame, two couples are in love. Too many people are too involved in other people’s lives. What could go wrong?

Practically everything. But all the loose ends are tied into bows in this warm-hearted rom/com that has been compared to Much Ado About Nothing in a small midwestern town.

Benton Center in rural Ohio 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 town, and fall in love outside of the prying eyes of the small town.

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

Personal Pronouns is the first novel of the Joe Lehrer Mystery series. Like the classic PI novels of Robert B. Parker, it is filled with suspenseful action and crisp dialogue. Joe Lehrer is an amateur sleuth with faith and romance issues, reminiscent of Sydney Chambers from the traditional British crime series the “The Grantchester Mysteries.” As Joe struggles with the death of his wife, he discovers a far-ranging and deadly conspiracy buried beneath the emerald lawns of suburban Stradford.

Indirect Objects is the second Joe Lehrer Mystery. The main character faces vengeance with the ethical center of Harlan Coben’s Myron Bolitar. His friend and fellow teacher Lexan Warner lives with a nightmare-like childhood reminiscent of the crime fighting protagonist in Melinda Leigh’s Cross Her Heart. While Joe fights political conspiracy in suburban Stradford, Lexan battles the opioid crisis and her own personal demons. Their personal relationship hangs in the balance.

The Faculty Lounge Stories are set in the fictitious Stradford High School, where Joe Lehrer and many of the characters in the novels got their start. These first-person narratives are based on the author’s experiences as a teacher and reveal the roots of his novels. They may be published as a collection in the future. Several of them are now available here for free!