There is no such thing as “the perfect couple.” Every pair has to decide if there’s a strong enough foundation of love and affection to support their relationship over the long haul. Some get it right — some get it wrong. It’s the first of many decisions that come with major consequences for the characters at the core of Dann Darwin’s new book, Love and Betrayal: The Secrets We Keep.
In this new, bittersweet romance, Darwin delivers an intimate exploration of a relatable couple as life takes them from Texas to North Dakota and to Nevada throughout their 40-year relationship. Darwin’s narrative unfolds chronologically and realistically as Charles, a newspaper reporter, and Wendy, a watercolor artist, grapple with powerful currents of love, hate, lust and betrayal, often pulling friends and lovers into their complicated lives.
Key relationship issues, including career aspirations, the stress of relocating and infidelity will prompt readers to ask themselves how they’d cope with similar situations.
“Readers are going to discover that there are many, many consequences to our actions,” Darwin said.
Did they even have a plan? Wendy wonders at one point. Or did they do what every young couple does: fall in love, get married and just hope everything works out OK?
Far from stereotypical pulp fiction romances, Love and Betrayal depicts imperfect, relatable characters who make mistakes — lots of them, in fact — while navigating the inherent uncertainty of modern-day relationships.
Ultimately, the relationship between Wendy and Charles comes full circle in many respects, and the couple experiences the climax of their decades-long, bittersweet love. If only they had known on their wedding day almost 40 years ago. If only they had known.
About the Author
Award-winning journalist Daniel Behringer, who writes fiction under the pen name Dann Darwin, worked in the newspaper industry in Michigan, Texas, Utah and Nevada for nearly 40 years. He won numerous awards before turning to fiction and longer narratives. His other novels include Wilson’s Women, One Year and Hearts in Play.