The blurb on this got me because it sounded like a tortured love story. And it was, but there wasn’t enough of it. I would have liked to have seen more of Bennett’s hesitation over getting in to a relationship with Harper.

The heroine is an accountant but we never see her actually work. She lives in Nags Head, NC and travels a lot to Virginia Beach and Fort Bragg, but this is never an issue with her job. These are things I notice when I am not fully invested in the story.

The biggest issue was that Harper is not like other girls. She is deemed so by her deceased husband, Noah, early on in the book. Bennett obviously thinks so as well. This is one of my least favorite things in romance. We don’t have to tear other women down in order to make the heroine shine. It doesn't work that way. 7 of the 8 highlights I noted were about this. I only stuck through with this book because I really, really wanted to know how the author would let the tortured/unrequited love play out. It missed the mark for me.

The Military Wife, the first book Laura Trentham's Heart of a Hero series is an intense, thought-provoking, emotional story about second chances in life and love that revolves around military families.

Harper Lee Wilcox is a military widow whose Navy Seal husband, Noah, died during a mission. Harper had given up a promising career to follow Noah into military life and is now a single mother, raising her five-year-old son and living with her mother. Her life has been on hold since her husband died, and she's ready to start a new chapter of her life.

Bennett Caldwell was a Navy Seal and comrade-in-arms with Harper's husband. A former foster kid, the Navy became his life. He met Noah during Seal training, and a brotherly bond was formed. When Noah learned he was going to be a father, he had made Bennett promise to look after Harper and the baby if anything happened to him.

When Bennett tries to fulfill his promise by giving Harper money under the guise of a "bravery award", everything comes full circle. Harper bulldozes into Bennett's life, and they give each other the impetus to move forward with a healing relationship and work together to change their lives and the lives of other military families.

Trentham has introduced a wonderful cast of characters to start this series and also skillfully explores the issue of PTSD in military members who return home after tours of duty overseas. I definitely look forward to reading more books in the series.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

With The Military Wife, Laura Trentham introduces her new Heart of a Hero Series. This book really showcases her talent for writing compelling characters and a wonderful story. It is without a doubt one of the most exquisitely beautiful, utterly heart wrenching military romances I have ever read. It is an inspirational story about love, friendship and loss, hope and healing, admirable courage and sacrifice.

The heroine, Harper, is an awesome and strong character. She is a military wife and her husband, Noah, was killed during a raid in Afghanistan. She has dealt with the tragedy with courage and is trying to rebuild her life with her young son, Ben. Bennett was Noah’s best friend and fellow Navy SEAL. He is a true hero, humble, strong and determined. He has taken risks and paid a personal price to protect others. Underneath his hard shell exterior, he is hurting from the pain of personal tragedies that run soul deep. Noah’s death has left him feeling guilty and inadequate.

Harper and Bennett are wonderful characters trying to deal with the hands they have been dealt while figuring out how they can build a relationship.

I loved this couple and their interactions together. They had chemistry but their emotional connection was what made their love so much stronger.

With each new release, I’m even more impressed by this amazing writer’s attention to details and ability to weave beautiful stories, full of heart and authenticity. Since I discovered her books, she has become one of my all-time favorite authors. Highly recommended!

I really enjoyed "The Military Wife." The characters were well-developed and sympathetic, and I found it easy to root for them as they faced up to their struggles and tried to create new lives for themselves in the wake of tragedy. As someone with several friends and family members in the military (or with spouses in the military), I applaud the author's efforts to highlight the difficulties these families face, especially the impact of PTSD not just on the soldier, but the entire family. Also, the difficulties military spouses face in finding jobs is very real. The increase in telework and home-based business has helped a lot in this regard, but it was nice to see another idea presented for how military spouses may contribute if they wish to work outside the home.

As far as the romance between Harper and Bennett, I really appreciated the realistic conflict they faced in coming to terms with the "ghost" of Noah between them. I also very much appreciated the fact that the author didn't feel the need to tear Noah down in order to make Bennett look better by comparison. (I've read too many books lately where a "big secret" was revealed about the deceased spouse that suddenly made them seem like a terrible person, especially in comparison with the prospective new spouse.) It's possible to love more than one person over the course of a lifetime, and my personal belief is that a truly loving spouse would want his or her partner to be happy after they're gone. I think Noah would have been glad to know that Harper and Bennett found each other, and that his son has a loving stepfather who will make sure that he grows up to be an honorable man like his father.

I look forward to the next book in this series!

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a wonderful book that has do do with a military wife and her friends and how they handle many of the problems that occur when their husbands die or come back injured. It is sad to see what many of these people go through. I received a copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Yes, this is a romancey type story, but it is first and foremost an exploration of the effects of PTSD on the home front and how it affects both those serving and their families. I felt all the characters were relateable and I just couldn't put this story down. Alison and Harper's relationship reminded me very much of the show Army Wives which I loved so much. As the storyline alternates between the past and the present, I just found myself unable to put this story down. I am so interested in the rest of the series and will keep my eyes peeled on Laura Trentham for the future.

Rating 4.5 Stars!

I am always super excited when publishers offer me the opportunity to join in on a blog tour -- especially when I already know I love the author!! Today's post is exactly one of those opportunities and today's book is The Military Wife by Laura Trentham. 

In a crazy stroke of luck, I actually won an advance reader's paperback copy of this book and it was actually autographed by Ms. Trentham. Of course, I placed this book with my other prized possessions, and I chose to read the NetGalley version instead to keep the paperback nice and crisp LOL.

I'll be honest with everyone here - I already knew I loved this author because I've read (and reviewed) three of her other books: (1) Leave the Night On; (2) When the Stars Come Out; and, (3) Set the Night on Fire.  All of them have been awesome, so of course, I couldn't wait to read The Military Wife.

So on to the story...... This book is the first in Laura Trentham's new contemporary romance series called A Heart of a Hero. 

I'm sure you could probably tell that The Military Wife  is centered around the main character, Harper Lee Wilcox, who has lost her husband as he served in the military.  Harper is now a single mom raising her young son, Ben, but she's starting to feel lost and doesn't have the passion in her life to keep her mind off losing her husband.  She has spent the past five years grieving for her lost husband and lost chances.

Harper travels to visit her friend, Allison, who is another another military wife. Allison was Harper's support when she lost her husband.  They begin discussing various ideas to open a business that might be able to improve the lives of military wives.  Harper discovers the kindness of one man who changes everything as his small gesture gives her everything she has been longing for, and that second chance she so desperately needs.

The chapters alternate between past and present, giving readers glimpses into their lives before Harper's husband's death, and then a present day view, which provides an intense look at life after the devastating loss of her husband. These alternating chapters allow readers to meet Noah, watch Harper and Noah fall in love, and then see them living a real life of Noah's deployments. I can only imagine their story is similar to the story that many families face in reality everyday. 

I appreciate that the author brings up the topic of the importance of family and friends, and emotional help and support they can provide. I would highly recommend this novel for those readers who enjoy a beautifully crafted and thought-provoking story. I would even go as far as to say that this is the best Laura Trentham book I have read to date! 

Thanks to the author, Ms. Laura Trentham, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy this book.  I was not required to write a positive review and the thoughts expressed here are my own.

If you are looking for a wonderful military romance that will pull at your heartstrings, then look no further, The Military Wife is that book.

Author Laura Trentham weaves an intriguing tale that follows the complex relationship between military widow Harper Lee Wilcox and her late husband's best friend and ex-Navy SEAL veteran Bennett Caldwell.

Set in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, it has been five years since Harper Lee Wilcox's Navy SEAL husband Noah Wilcox was killed in action. Since that time, Harper Lee has been busy taking care of her five year old son Ben, and working as a bookkeeper for local businesses. Harper's mom thinks that Harper's life has been routine and lonely, and that she needs to move on with her life.

Ex-Navy SEAL Bennett Caldwell returned home from a traumatic tour five years ago with a wounded body and painful memories that haunts him everyday. Bennett's emotional baggage and secrets that he carries revolve around the death of his best friend and fellow SEAL Noah Wilcox, and the promise he made to Noah to take care of his family if something happened to him. Bennett retired from the Navy and now owns the Caldwell Survival School in Virginia Beach, VA.

Harper Lee was never given the real story behind Noah's death, so she seeks answers from Noah's SEAL teammate and best friend, Bennett. Harper Lee and Bennett's meeting results in a multi-layered and complex relationship, but below the surface simmers an attraction that may help them heal from the painful emotional baggage that they both carry, and guide them to discover love along the way.

The Military Wife is a wonderful military romance tale that easily draws the reader into Harper Lee and Bennett's story. You can't help but feel empathy for them as they battle with their private demons.

This is a fast paced and multilayered tale that has an intriguing mixture of emotion, drama, angst, and romance that keeps the reader turning the pages. The story is told in the 3rd person narrative that alternates between Harper Lee and Bennett's past and present. I really enjoyed this story line, especially when it is about two people whose connection and attraction is so powerful and palpable that they can't resist each other, especially when their mutual attraction simmers under the surface. I loved how their witty banter and sassy playfulness helped their unexpected romantic relationship blossom, especially since it is their shared personal emotional baggage that has brought them together, and showed them that they really need each other, and that there is so much more to life.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention how realistic and emotionally powerful this story is, especially when it deals with the serious issues of PTSD, loss, grief, suicide prevention, and the variety of issues that arise when living a military lifestyle. You can't help but feel compassion and empathy for our military personnel and their families, they sacrifice so much for our country, we should always lift them up and give them the support they so rightly deserve.

The Military Wife is a compelling, raw, and realistic military romance story that will leave you wanting more!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by the St. Martin's Press.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-military-wife-by-laura-trentham-vbt.html

This outstanding novel is about a Navy SEALS widow, Harper, and her dream to not only find out what truly happened to her husband, Noah but to find a way for other military wives to have jobs and lives outside of just being mom’s and waiting for their loved ones to come home. Harper has an amazing and eccentric mother that she and her five-year-old son Ben live with in Kitty Hawk, NC, but when her friend Allison’s husband returns from a tour with severe PTSD, Harper sets out to help not only Allison but other military wives struggling with similar issues. Harper also discovers that an “award” and money she received after Noah’s death may not have been government issued, but a kind gesture from Noah’s “brother” and fellow SEAL, Bennett Caldwell. Harper not only tries to move past her own grief issues but put the pieces together to help others like her in this beautiful novel.

So many beautiful, yet, painful (at times) things happen in this novel that is full of every emotion imaginable. I was drawn to this novel because of being a “retired” military wife, and I feel that Trentham captured all of the realities, emotions, fears, joys, and so forth – perfectly. I loved the romantic element intertwined into the main purpose of the story, but I also loved how she made such relevant and realistic issues entertaining and completely addictive. Once I started this one, I couldn’t put it down until I finished.

Laura Trentham has reached out to every possible reader in this one. If you have a loved one suffering from PTSD, if you’ve been a military wife and struggle to find work, if you’ve lost a loved one in the act of duty, if you’re a single mom, or if you’re considering opening your heart again to new love… This one has all the feels and I truly believe will touch every reader. Kudos to this author for such a wonderful novel!

*Thanks to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for providing this review copy in exchange for my honest review!

This amazing read blew me away with captivating characters and a beautifully written story that went seamlessly between past and present day, keeping me glued to the book and I really wanted it to continue when I got to the last page. I went through the entire gamut of emotions - I laughed, I cried, and I loved every minute of it! I also became more aware of the problems military families face including the ugliness of war, death, survivor's guilt, PTSD, and more. I felt a real connection to young widow Harper Lee Wilcox and loved her dynamic with the other characters, especially her mother, son Ben, and Bennett "Grizzly" Caldwell, a SEAL who served with her husband and was his best friend.

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves well-crafted novels. Ms. Trentham has given us another winner and I look forward to reading more from this talented author. I received an advance reader copy of The Military Wife from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my voluntary and unbiased review. I liked the book so much, I purchased it for my keeper library.

My review is not going to give this book justice. And I don’t know how to make sure you understand just how good it is!

I think my favorite part of this book (and is isn’t an easy choice!) is that this is just as much about Bennett and Noah as it is Harper and either of them. The relationship that these two build, even if Bennett goes into it dragging his feet, is so real and so touching. Bennett has spent almost his whole life being either unwanted or left behind. He’s learned to keep himself apart so he doesn’t get hurt but Noah doesn’t let him. Noah’s openness and just plain ol’ good-heartedness makes him impossible to resist and before long these two are like brothers. Unfortunately that means that Noah’s death is just another rug pulled out from under Bennett and one that is even more painful for the way it happens.

I love Harper’s resilience but her life after Noah is hard-fought. There were times during the flashback chapters that hurt with what I knew was coming. And one in particular (no spoilers!) that made me ugly-cry. But with the help of family and friends, and a little therapy, she’s at a point where a relationship might actually work. And the one that she develops with Bennett may not be simple because of their pasts, but it is so very real and works so well for the people that they’ve become.

Trentham also brings in some of the difficulties our military personnel and their families face every day. While it is a solid mechanism to get Bennett and Harper together, it’s also a main storyline on its own and handled with the grace & respect such a difficult issue deserves. It’s not easy – either picking yourself up after being left behind, dealing with the pain and troubles faced by those who have returned, or waiting for loved ones to come home (and fearing for news that no one ever wants to get). But Trentham makes sure that we get an understanding of exactly how strong these people have to be, both those serving and the ones who love them.

I’ll be the first to admit that I love everything that Trentham puts out buuuuut this is probably my favorite. She manages to elicit just about every emotion possible and make it look easy. So be prepared to laugh and cry and everything in between.

**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**

Poignant, searingly emotional and beautifully written, The Military Wife is a story of redemption, renewal, forgiveness and healing that is absolutely breathtaking.

After her husband Noah had died five years earlier, Harper Lee cannot help but feel that life seems to be passing her by. Living with her mother in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Harper has started to feel restless and uneasy with the direction in which her life seems to be going. Although she has her five year old son to bring up, Harper finds herself wondering whether there is more that she could be doing and whether she might get a second chance at happiness. Yet, in order to achieve that, she might just need to move away from Kitty Hawk. But could moving on mean leaving the memories of her husband behind? A fresh start and a new beginning might be just what she needs, however, Harper cannot help but wonder whether moving away from all that is familiar to her might end up meaning turning her back on the memories of her marriage.

Harper’s best friend Alison is also struggling. Unlike Harper, her husband has returned from his tour of duty, however, she doesn’t recognise the man that she loves with all of her heart anymore. Injured and struggling with PTSD, her husband might still be physically with her, yet she feels that she has lost him on the battlefield. Unable to reach him and wondering whether the man she had fallen in love with will ever return to her again, Alison is at her wit’s end. But could her best friend come up with the perfect solution that could take her mind off her problems, even if just momentarily?

Harper has hit upon the perfect idea to reenergize her life and help all the other military wives like Alison who are struggling. Harper wants to open a string of coffee houses close to military bases across the US. But in order to achieve her objective she needs help and in her quest to bring her plan to fruition, she crosses paths with a man who makes her feel alive again: Bennett Caldwell, her husband’s best friend and fellow SEAL. Bennett is willing to support Harper and as the business begins to flourish, so too does the attraction between the two of them. However, is Harper willing to take another leap of faith and take a chance on love? Will she lay old ghosts to rest and grab this unexpected chance at happiness? Or will she forever be held hostage by the past?

The Military Wife is an exceptional story that touches the heart and will have readers reaching for the tissues. Written with sensitivity, compassion and heart, The Military Wife is a wonderfully layered and stylishly told tale of starting over, new beginnings, the power of friendship and the resilience of the human spirit that is full of characters that leap off the pages who will linger in the heart and mind. Laura Trentham writes about women who are strong, intelligent, feisty, vulnerable yet full of spirit who despite the many knocks and disappointments they’ve had during the course of their lives, pick themselves up, dust themselves off and get on with things with humor and confidence.

A book readers will remember long after the last page is turned, The Military Wife is an absolute triumph from Laura Trentham’s immensely gifted pen.

"You can't fix everything. Not everything can be fixed. Sometimes a new normal has to be found."

The Military Wife caught my attention right away for two personal reasons; One as the time goes by I earned friends from the military and I’ve known a few batch-mates back in high-school and college who joined so I am just curious on how they live their life after military deployments. Second, will this book help me understand these people more once I am done reading?

The first few pages of the book is interesting enough for me to go on. I am curious what happened to Noah and how Harper cope up with the situation after her husband died during the deployment. This book slowly guide us to the past and the present happenings which lead to the connection of another character named Bennett. These three people, although Noah is not around, made a great example how life could be better after all the hard paths.

I wish Noah had more part in this book though, can there be a life before military for him? He seemed, sweet, funny and lovely person. I enjoyed reading the book, it is actually funny how Harper is so stubborn here, I can see myself when she have that stubborn moments. For Bennett, he was mysterious to me at first but as the story moves on, he become more and more interesting.

I could say, The Military Wife, is a chill book to read. I am so happy to be part of this book tour and this book is my first read for 2019. The book taught me and made me realized even more that there's life, happy moments after all the downfall. There would be something, someone that could change everything and it could make our life better. To other readers out there, I'd love to talk more about this book but, I could say go grab a copy instead of me spoiling. LOL. It's worth reading and I did enjoy it a lot.

"Life has a way of giving us what we need at the right time."

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. This is the story of Harper Lee, a military widow who is left with a son and lots of questions when her husband is killed in the line of duty. She is also left feeling like she needs to do something with her life and when a buddy of her husband gives her money haver his death, she struggles to figure out what to do with it. Her friend Allison also has problems when her husband struggles with PTSD and they have to figure out what to do when he can’t get better. This is a great book, and will tug at your heartstrings. I very much enjoyed this book.

I must confess I not a fan of books that switch between the present/past, some do this very well but some don’t. I found this one a bit harder to read the past at times but I appreciate the fact we needed to know the past to understand that the present/future. All I wanted to read was about was the future as these characters had me totally intrigued with there interested in each other. I wanted them to find their happy part in life and be able to recover from their heartaches of the past. This is my first read by this author and I was very glad I had the chance to read this great story. As this is book one I hope to read more from Laura Trentham in the future. As I read the inspirational and sympathetic memories I was drawn into the depths of this wonderful story. There are some strong topics that are shared beautifully from death, PTSD, military challenges, grief, suicide and finding love the second time around.

Harper Lee Wilcox was a military wife and a mother of a five year- old boy that had never meet his father, as he had given his life in the line of duty. Five years had passed since Noah’s death but she still had no true answers to why. Her life is just plodding along with no real purpose except for Ben. “Life was all about timing and could change with the speed of a bullet.”

Noah Wilcox had reread the words of his wife before his mission.“As always and forever, I love you. Make sure you come home safe to me and our baby. We both need you now. Harper”
Noah loves his work with the Navy Seals but was looking forward to becoming a father, could he do both well?

Bennett Caldwell meets Noah Wilcox at training camp for the NAVY SEAL’S where they became more than just friends/ brother in arms but a true brother in life. Noah would share his letters and email from Harper with him during deployment. He had never met her until after Noah’s death has he always retreated to himself when they were home. He made a promise to Noah that to his point of view he had kept and was also with Noah when he died.
“ His fascination with his best friends wife was inappropriate at best and an betrayal at worst.”

I JUST LOVED Haper’s mum Gail, YaYa to Ben, she was hilarious and a wonderful mum.
“Can’t change the past. You can only move forward.”
“ You didn’t tell me Mr Caldwell is a certified hotty pants.”

Some of my favourite quotes:
“He’s been gone five years, sweetheart, and you haven’t gone on so much as a date.” “That’s not true. I went to lunch with Whit a few weeks ago.” “He was trying to sell you life insurance. Doesn’t count.”

“He’s magic, Mama. Do her, Mr; Caldwell, do her. Naughty amusement twinkled in Bennet’s eyes and she had to muffle laughter at Ben’s enthusiastic plea.”

“No one could understand the stress and isolation of being a military wife unless she’d lived it.”

“People fail all the time. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth trying.”

“A storm was coming and she had two choices, revel in thunder and lightning and chaos or run back to her calm existence.”

“Most people don’t get it. The threat of death is abstract, but for women like us, the threat has moved into the spare bedroom.”

First, I just want to say how happy I am that I got a chance to read this book. This book gave me all the feels that the show Army Wives gave me. Plus, the new movie Indivisible!! Our men and women serving this country go through so much and I just love when that gets recognized.

I kind of felt a little misled as I read the book though. What I gathered from the description, the Military Wife was going to be about women coming together and being strong for each other and showing the depths of female relationships. Don’t get me wrong, that was definitely a part of it BUT there was a huge romance twist that I really hadn’t anticipated and I fell for Bennett Caldwell so hard. Like, I think I may just start calling my husband Bennett. It’s close enough to Josh, he will never notice.

I am super thrilled that this is geared up to be a series. Not only do I want more Bennett in my life but I just feel like there’s so much more to this setting of the Military that Laura Trentham has the opportunity to really dig in and expose some realities of what these families do go through. Obviously, the Military Wife is a fictional story but I imagine the author did her research and touched as close to base as she could with this.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 (4.5 out of 5) Such a great story and build up of characters. Can’t wait to see where Laura takes this series and may actually have to go pick up her other books since she definitely knows how to create the perfect book boyfriend

An intriguing story of a military widow comforting the spouse of an active duty soldier who is suffering from untreated PTSD. Harper and Allison have a strong bond of friendship that extends beyond the casual acquaintance of two spouses being forced to raise kids while their husbands are deployed. Well written and emotional story that will capture your heart.

I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was promised or received for this review

The Military Wife by Laura Trentham took me by complete surprise. What a heartwarming story of love, loss and second chances in the world of military families. This was such a beautiful story of the past and present intertwined with a slow burning romance with amazing characters.

Harper Lee Wilcox is a military widow struggling to move forward. She knows life goes on and she has her son to think about but moving on means letting go of the man she once loved. Could she do that? At the same time, she realizes many military families may need support and decides to venture a new business. She reaches out to Bennet Caldwell who was a SEAL brother of Noah, Harper’s husband. And suddenly she feels something she never thought she would again.

The Military Wife by Laura Trentham was such a moving story. Told in dual point-of-views in both past and present, we see the characters in many stages of their lives. I loved the story, characters and their journeys so much. I am excited to read more of this series!

Read and reviewed for Reviews From The Heart.
Happy reading!

Laura Trentham will break your heart and then stitch it back together, stronger than ever, in this poignant, heart-wrenching, and, ultimately, life-affirming story about the men and women who protect our country on the front lines and those on the home front - the spouses, children, and families - whose contributions, and trials, are no less significant.

One of the strengths of Trentham's contemporary romances is her ability to create richly complex and realistic characters into whose lives I become completely invested. The same is true of The Military Wife, her first foray into women's fiction. She brings these characters to vivid life in a convincing portrayal of honor, duty, sacrifice, fear, survivor's guilt, grief, and love. They all notched places for themselves in my heart, taking me along on each of their journeys and wringing my emotions with the challenges they face.

The writing is flawless with seamless transitions from present to past that enable the reader to fully understand the events, and people, that have brought the primary characters, Harper, Bennett, Allison, and Darren to this point in their lives. I especially appreciated the insight gained through the flashback chapters that tell the story of Harper and Noah's courtship and marriage as well as those telling the story of Noah and Bennett's close friendship. Experiencing those journeys with them makes the present journey Bennett and Harper are traveling, both individually and as a couple, all the more satisfying. The secondary characters, as well, are all vividly crafted and realistic.

Those of you who have read Trentham's other books should be aware that while The Military Wife is women's fiction and there are some serious issues dealt with, there's also plenty of sexual tension, humor, deep emotion, and, for the romance lovers among us, a happy ending. I highly recommend it. (Keep the tissues handy.)

4.5 Stars

This book was so much more than just a romance, more of a life story wrapped around a love story. It touched on topics that are current and real, acknowledging that life can be far from perfect…but there is always hope and maybe even a second chance at both life and love.

Laura Trentham did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life on the pages. There was such a realness to each of them and this really allowed me to feel all the emotions in this book right along with each of the characters. The use of flashbacks really worked in this story – it was like getting two love stories for the price of one – and, for me, made it so much easier to relate to Harper and understand her actions and decisions. And even though Harper and Bennett didn’t have a straight path to their HEA, they kept the angst and drama to a fairly low level and acted like the adults they were supposed to be.

There was a lot to love in this story. Harper’s son Ben and her mother were wonderfully written and I loved what a character her mother was. Watching Harper’s friend Allison struggling with her husband’s PTSD was heartbreaking but seeing her pick up the pieces and begin to put her family back together left me with a feeling of hope. I also loved how Harper’s business idea came together and the opportunities that it is sure to bring – including what I hope are additional stories about the lives of some of the women who were introduced in this book.

This was a book that had lots of feels and was filled with emotion and deserves a spot on anyone’s reading shelf!