This was a touching story of how a woman Harper, with son Ben, survives the death of her military husband Noah. Her mother helps Harper raise Ben. She also meets Allison, another military wife, who Harper can connect with. When Ben is five, Harper starts looking into how Noah died, and she finds Bennett, Noah's best friend in the military. Bennett isn't very forthcoming.

Laura Trentham leaves Cottonbloom, MS and her excellent Cottonbloom series to take on this stand-alone novel set in Kitty Hawk, NC. When the story begins, we are introduced to Harper Lee Wilcox. Harper lives with her five year old son and her mother after losing her husband in Afghanistan. Harper decides to go to Ft. Bragg to visit a friend and to try to find out information about how her husband Noah was killed. She is led to another Army friend of Noah’s, Bennett Caldwell, to find out vital information about his last maneuver. Bennett leads a solitary life and runs a wilderness survival company. The story revolves around the story of Harper and Bennett but there is another subplot about her friend Allison and her husband dealing with his PTSD. I appreciated how the author presented the topic of PTSD. She was thorough and thoughtful in the havoc that this disorder can cause. Ms. Trentham also showed her unchanging expertise for writing a tender, sensitive love story. She has once again written a terrific story that will be a great addition to the military fiction/contemporary romance genres.

The Military Wife by Laura Trentham will be available February 5, 2019 from St. Martin's Griffin, an imprint of St. Martin's Press. An egalley of this book was made available from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

I’m not sure how to assess this. The first half I would give four stars to. I read the first 50 percent in a weekend. I couldn’t put it down. It was told in alternating chapters, some set in “present day” and some in the past. I was quite interested in the characters and the story. I felt like the writing was a bit clunky at times, but I could forgive that for the story.
And then the second half just fell apart a bit. It moved from feeling like chick-lit to romance. The ‘past” chapters became infrequent, and when they repeated information that we had already been told. They also were not in order, so the past jumped around from more recent past to older past. The big secret felt like an anti-climax. The character development was patchy – there are marked inconsistencies in the story we are told about the characters, that a good editing would have sorted out. One small example – Bennet, a navy seal is complaining because he is in a nasty place in the desert and the book says “not what he had in mind when he joined up to see the world”, which is in no way consistent with the reasons given earlier than he joined up. And the ending was very neat. I don’t want to give more examples, because I’m wary of spoilers. I would love it if Laura Trentham wrote more books like the first half of this. I do think that romance lovers might still enjoy the whole book.

I will be posting to Goodreads and my blog on the 9th of January.

The Military Wife is a sweet and sentimental story about love, honor, and learning to live (and love!) again after unspeakable loss. There's nothing unexpected about the plot-the pleasant surprise is how Laura Trentham takes a story that's been told hundreds of times yet makes it feel fresh and new. The Military Wife is standard "boy meets girl" but with a heartbreaking twist. Harper's Navy SEAL husband died in combat while Harper was pregnant with their son Ben. Five years later Harper is living a quiet life with her son and mother in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. But one question still keeps her up at night-exactly how Noah died and what his last moments were like. All Harper gets from the ultra private SEAL's is Noah died a hero in service to his country. So Harper decides to track down the one person who may know what really happened-Noah's best friend in the SEAL's- Bennett Caldwell. Noah and Bennett had become so close during their training and in active duty Noah decided to name his child after him. Harper and Bennett are bound in their shared grief over Noah's death, but Bennett also carries a heavy burden over the memories he refuses to share. The Military Wife is flirty and suggestive, but there's no graphic sexuality. It's a charming story that proves love has no bounds and second chances can come in the most unexpected ways.

This was my first book by this author and I will be going back for more!

The characters felt real and you laughed and cried along with them. This was definitely a multiple tissue book, but worth it. The book touches on important military topics and relationships and how you can't go at it alone. Would highly recommend this book!

<i>ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review </i>

Full confession: when I read the blurb and saw that Laura Trentham was moving away from purely contemporary romance into "women's fiction" like two of my other favourite romance writers before her (Jill Shalvis and Sarah Morgan), I am not going to lie: I was disappointed. I wanted more full blown small-town Southern romance preferably in Cottonbloom or a place very much like it!

Well, I am still unsure about what is causing this genre movement but I tried not to judge a book by its <s>cover</s> genre and went into <i>The Military Wife</i> with an open mind and I was soon loving it!

I loved Harper and of course her growing relationship with Bennett. Obviously I was most invested in that plot arc but I felt Allison's pain and everything she was going through too. Harper's Mum was a fun secondary character and was the source of many a lighthearted moment. The only plot strand that I felt I could have done with more resolution on was how Ben felt about his mother being away such a lot and the changes with a new house / Dad / sibling.

I have to give props to Laura Trentham. The Military Wife is not only a celebration of the human spirit, it's also a hat's off salute to girl power. Life is a lesson in heartache, but also helps us find the strength to fight our way through. Harper, Allison and their friends are a force to be reckoned with. Despite heartbreaking loss, traumatic life changes and fear of the unknown, they never stop believing that better days are on the horizon. Through them, Trentham reminds us how to be fearless warriors in life and in love. They say it takes a village, but these military wives teach us all the true meaning of love.

This is my first book by Laura Trentham, I am always a little worried when I start a book from an author I haven’t read before but I was pleasantly pleased at how good The Military Wife was. Now little disclaimer…have a box of tissues (or two…)ready, this book will defiantly tug on your heart.
I really enjoyed The Military Wife and look forward to reading more from Laura Trentham!

This is my first book by Laura Trentham. It's written from two points of view, the present and the past. It started out a little slow, but once it went back and forth between the present and the past, it really caught my attention. I enjoyed the characters, the story line was intriguing and it moved along at a pretty decent pace. Her writing style took a little bit to get used to, but I enjoyed this book.

This book, wow. I made the mistake of reading it while I was waiting for my appointment at my dentist's. People looked a bit amused when I snickered and giggled or full-out laughed but they looked positively alarmed when I started to sniffle and to wipe my eyes...and I thought that I was so sneaky and inconspicuous. Well, that's what I thought till I looked up and found,...well. Okay, just note - don't read this book in public. Never.

I loved this story so much. Harper Lee's stubbornness, her way of looking at those around her, the way she cares for each and every one, her passion, her love for her son and...this love that sneaks up on her unexpectedly. And Bennett, whose life was definitely not made of unicorns and rainbows but of a lot of shitty stuff. Bennett who opens up to her, Bennett, who was Noah's best friend and who still can't get over his death and the circumstances.
I laughed so hard when I read about Harper's mum, om my.., she is amazing and unique and totally weird - in a very good way. And of course, there are also the other characters like Darren and Allison, for example, who are very likable and whose troubles and whose pain really got to me.
Of course, losing Noah wasn't a ride in the park either, neither for Harper nor for Bennett. I loved to see those two become closer and to see them share their worries and to see them heal. To see Bennett move forward, to trust in others, to open up and to reach out to others to help them...wow.

So, just - don't read in public and don't forget to bring a bunch of handkerchiefs, you'll need them. And right afterward you giggle and snort and, well, you'll fall in love with this book as much as I did.

Awesome well written romance that dips it's pen in dealing with grief, support, and moving on. Really enjoyed it.

Stunning. I believe that this book touched all aspects of military life. The characters were well defined and realistic. The romance was good and also dealt with grief over the loss of Noah. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Harper lives in kitty hawk NC her with her 5 year old son.Her husband noah has been gone 5 years. Harper's mom and her friend Allison have been a rock since her husband died.Her mother encourages her to find a man or hobby.I loved Harper and felt for her

Having read and enjoyed many of Laura Trentham's Cottonbloom series, I was excited to see a new book from her. However, this book was very much a departure from her previous books. While this book did have a romantic element there was so much more to the story. From the beginning we meet Harper, a young widow raising a son that never knew his father. Harper gave up having a career to marry Noah and then she became a single mother but she recognizes that she has spent the past five years grieving for a lost husband and lost chances. So when she sees an opportunity to help other women in the same situation she takes it. Along the way she reclaims her life and finds love along the way.
This was an endearing novel that focused on many of the issues that military families are facing including PTSD and the struggle to maintain an identity apart from their spouses. It was also told in such a way that even though Noah died before the book started, he was still a part of the novel as the author told the story from multiple POV's and multiple time periods. Overall, a well crafted story that I would highly recommend.

This is a new to me author. I am so glad I got the opportunity to read and review this story.

I was a military wife for 18 years.  My husband, a combat veteran, retired after 22 years.

This story resonated with me on so many levels.

It's a story of sisterhood, military wives banding together.

This is a story of love lost and love found. This is the story of Harper, Noah and Bennett.

Harper Lee has been through the worst thing to ever happen to a military wife.  Becoming a widow. She finds strength to continue from her son and mom.  She is a good friend and a fantastic mom.  She had a healthy, normal, not easy marriage to Noah and it's described honestly and truthfully.

Bennett was a soldier. He has experienced the worst that could happen to a soldier. It has left scars and demons and promises that were made but never fully fulfilled.

The flow of the story is fantastic. The fluctuations between present and past were smooth and easy to follow.

The relationship between Harper and Bennett was moving and real.

This story made me laugh, made me cry and made me reminisce about my time as military wife.

Even if you have no experience in the military, read this story. It will give you a view of the world of military families and service members.

Well done, I cannot wait to see what you write next!

Harper Lee Wilcox struggles with the loss of her Navy SEAL husband, Noah. Left widowed and raising their young son Ben, Harper wonders how Noah died. What were the circumstances of his death? Did he suffer? What were his final words? The answers to her many questions play out endlessly in her mind, without the blessed comfort of knowing the truth.
Caldwell Bennett, a fellow SEAL and close friend of Noah’s, was with him when he died. Bennett knows the answers to Harper’s questions, but he just can’t bring himself to tell her. It isn’t until Harper locates Bennett on the internet and encounters him face to face that the truth begins to unfold. Now, as the two of them grow closer, his revelations will either mark a new beginning for them, or a bitter ending.
Trentham’s portrayal of PTSD and the psychological effects of war, on both soldiers and their families, is done with care and respect. And Harper’s personal mission to ease their pain is a worthy tribute to their service. The story alternates between the past and the present, which intertwine seamlessly as the story unfolds. Trentham has crafted an important, poignant, tale of military life and a legacy of love.

I've enjoyed all of the books I've read by Laura Trentham. The Military Wife, I totally love! Ms. Trentham has given readers a phenomenal book loaded with a stellar cast of characters. Harper is a young mother and widow, living with her mother. Her husband was killed in the war. Bennett was injured at the same time and left the military after losing his best friend, Harper's husband Noah. Harper and Bennett's story is loaded with drama, humor, sexy bits and the horrors of PTSD. The Military Wife is book 1 of the A Heart of a Hero Series but can be read as a standalone. I can't wait to read the next book! This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book.
The heartache, sorrow and pain in this book, coupled with friendship, love and redemption makes it a can't put down until finished story.

With Laura Trentham's trademark style, the story seeps into your soul.

A must read

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was not just a book but an emotional journey that delved into some heavy subjects such as PTSD, suicide, being a widow, and loneliness. If the reader enjoys a second chance romance this is the book for them.
I did feel like it was a bit slow at times and the pace of the plot didn’t move quickly for me. But I would still recommend this book and author.

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough sweet romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!