A wonderful book 2 of this "Heart of a Hero" series by Laura Trentham, I was just as engrossed in this book as the first one.  It was full of great characters and a heartfelt story as well.  Greer, Ally and  Emmett will all bring a different emotion out in you as you read their story unfold throughout this book.  Once a started this book it was very hard to put down to go to work as I could not read it all in one sitting as I would have wished.  The author's style of writing enables you to feel and see everything the characters are feeling and seeing which just makes the experience that much better.

This story will give you the physical, emotional, and psychological effects that war has on both the soldiers and their families.  It will also share how love, music, friendship, trust and a community can help to heel the scares left behind to see a future in the sky of dark clouds.

I am thankful for the opportunity to read and review this great book, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to give my honest review of this book.

I can't' wait until book number three to see what rollercoaster the author will take us on next.

This was a great book dealing with returning vets and their injuries and survivor guilt...and how two broken people help each other and others

Complementary copy for hones review and opinion. 
I enjoyed this romance.  I am a sucker for a good romance and this book fit great.  The real life aspect of a motherless child pulls at deep heart strings.  I would recommend this to others.

An Everyday Hero by Laura Trentham is the second book in the A Heart of a Hero series and was a heartwarming surprise. Greer left home with big dreams, but life did not work as she wanted. When she returns home, she finds herself doing community service and meeting people who will change her life. Aly, a teenager, is hurting after losing her father, and is hiding behind all kinds of bitterness. Then there is Emmett who is haunted, broken and lost. Can Greer reach them and help? An Everyday Hero by Laura Trentham had wonderful characters and was emotional, touching and full of all kinds feels.

Happy reading!

I had looked forward to reading An Everyday Hero since I enjoyed The Military Wife which is the first book in the Hometown Hero series.  But while The Military Wife lived up to the hype that this was the author’s foray into the Women’s Fiction market, An Everyday Hero came across as just another quickly generated formatted romance novel.  I abandoned this book a quarter of the way into reading it.  While I’m not a prude, I felt terms like “jerk off” and repeated references to how the main character was so proud of kicking the obnoxious deputy in the balls were rather unnecessary.  I also thought it was very unrealistic that a character who was ordered to perform community service for public intoxication would be downing shots while visiting the veteran she was asked to visit and then even worse driving home afterwards.  Also while I understand she was trying to establish rapport with the teenager she was assigned to work with, her crude language/explicit information she provided about her personal situation was totally inappropriate.  I will not be posting any reviews on consumer sites or Goodreads because they would be negative.

An Everyday Hero is the second book in the Heart of a Hero series.
It is an emotional book with all the right feels that you will love and it's so great you'll probably want to read it a second time.
There are heroes and then there are the unsung heroes. 
We all are a product of our environment and our experiences.
Emmett Lawson is such a perfect example of this, he comes back from the war battered,broken and bruised not only in mind but body as well. No longer the golden boy he has trouble accepting his fate and you know what I don't blame him. No one knows how they would react in a similar circumstance unless it has happened to them so we need to not be so quick to judge others.
Greer Hadley is a failure in life, at least this is how she feels when her musical career doesn't pan out as she had expected she is forced to return home to her utmost shame to Madison,Tennessee.
Once home depression leads to a night of poorly chosen decisions, her punishment is community service hours for a local nonprofit organization that aids veterans and their families.
How is Greer going to be able to help Emmett deal with the mental and physical scars he carries when she is so wrapped up in the loss of everything that has brought her joy?
Great character development and the pacing was just right.

Published February 4th 2020 by St. Martin's Griffin
I was provided with a complimentary copy. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Greer Hadley is now back living at home with all of her dreams of being the next greatest country music star gone.  So she makes a few wrong choices and ends up in front of a judge, who happens to be her uncle.  She is given a sentence that she didn’t expect…  work with a nonprofit that helps veterans and their families through music.  Greer gets paired up with Ally, the fifteen year old that everyone has given up on.  She also finds herself at the reclusive home of Emmett Lawson, an old friend that came home from his service with lots of scars as well.  While Greer is assigned to help and mentor these two, she learns more about herself and starts healing some old wounds.  When Ally finds herself in a crisis, Greer and Emmett come to her rescue, but find out that Ally helps them as much as they do her. 

Let me start by saying I went into this book blind.  I had no idea this was a series by this author (Book #2 of Heart of a Hero).  I am DEFINITELY picking up book 1.  I was thinking something contemporary, light and fluffy.  While this book was really easy to read, I found that the depth of this story and the writing were the biggest surprises to me.  I loved the character development of all three of these main characters but also the other minor characters as well.  I also enjoyed that while Greer was sent to help others, the act of helping was what ultimately starts her healing process.  This was fabulous and I can’t wait to see what is next with this series.  5 star read for me. 

Thanks to St Martin’s and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this book because it was set in my actual hometown of Madison, Tennessee - which no one had ever heard of (suburb of Nashville). I was blown away by Laura Trentham's storytelling.

An Everyday Hero is a compelling story of love and hope.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Incredibly well-written characters with heart and dimension. Greer, Ally and Emmet are all dealing with something heavy in their own ways, and come to realize that sharing burdens can help healing. Loved it!

This was the first book I have read from this Author and I really enjoyed it considering I didn't know what really to expect. Laura wrote this one so well and covered real issues really brilliant with a realistic look that was filled with emotional. Tissues will be required but this did show great healing.

I'm now wanting to go back and read the first book in this series The Military Wife

ARC received in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley

This is the second book in “Heart of a Hero” series, from which I have also read book one, “The Military Wife”. Book one was so emotional that I had a hard time focusing on a coherent review. I have a limited experience with family members part of the army, as my grandfather used to be a lieutenant, but I was too little to understand the consequences or too little to ask questions about his time there. I still cried my heart out reading it.

With this being said, I was scared (good “scared”) going into “An Everyday Hero” and now, weeks after finishing it, I feel the same. I was again overwhelmed with the heavy dose of emotion that is put into this novel. The author has this ability of mixing pain and optimism (for lack of better words) in the same chapter and this is creating a beautiful, beautiful mix. A bit about the plot: our female main character is Greer Hadley. She is sentenced to community work after an altercation with a juke box (yup, funny story, won’t tell you more). This means she has to work with those affected by the war in any way – veterans or people who have lost relatives on the battlefield. She is assigned to Emmett Lawson and   fifteen-year-old Ally Martinez, none of which is willing to open up.

But Greer’s unconventional methods, as well as stubbornness are two things that make her good at this job. Slowly, she has to break down Emmett’s walls and self-isolation and also convince Ally that sometimes one needs a friend. If with Emmett things are at least clear, if not easy, Ally has a life she is not willing to share with Greer.

We have two stories, two lives affected differently by war and one bridge between them. Greer will also have to deal with her own monsters and with her fear of professional failure. Learning from Ally and Emmett is her task. Learning to put aside her fears and have faith in her abilities is something Greer has to approach.

I loved this book so much and I love Laura Trentham to the Moon and back, times Infinity! The stories she gives life to are fantastic and full of emotions. I do recommend reading this book, as well as “The Military Wife”, but have some tissues close. Enjoy!

Rating 4.5/5*

This is a moving story about survivor’s guilt, PTSD, second chances, inspiration and facing reality set mainly in Madison, Tennessee. It isn’t the hard read you’d probably anticipate from that, it has many laugh out loud moments – usually brought about by the straight talking, take no nonsense Greer Hadley.

The story starts with Greer in court following her arrest after escapades at a local bar. She is sentenced to complete community service hours at a centre which endeavours to use music and songwriting to help veterans and their families. This seems like an ideal use of her skills for her as Greer had been trying to achieve her dream of being a songwriter in Nashville. However, everything went wrong for her there and she’s given up on her musical dreams – can this help reawaken them? Her first client is fifteen year old Ally Martinez, the daughter a soldier killed in action, who is struggling with his death and very rebellious. No one else in the centre has managed to break through her barriers but Greer is determined to help her.

Her second client is injured veteran Emmett Lawson. He’s the same age as Greer, they went to school together before he joined the military. She’s shocked at how he’s now living in an isolated cabin, keeping a shotgun on hand to frighten away visitors, including her. He certainly didn’t expect her no nonsense attitude breaking down his barriers, too!

All the main and secondary characters in this story have their own background information which is gradually revealed. Their angst, dilemmas and reactions are portrayed emotively, making it easy to relate to them. It was fantastic to read how they all changed through meeting each other, how they’re given second chances because of their friendships and support for one another. This is a unique story, one that I found a fascinating, amazing read complete with an awesome ending. I have no hesitation in highly recommending it.

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it and finding it a superb, heartwarming story.

A small town girl, a cheating boyfriend, an interested guy who's a dog, a day in court and community service. Add a troubled young girl and music therapy.  Greer Hadley has come back home after her boyfriend has cheated on her. The bigger problem Greer is a singer/songwriter and has lost her muse.  After attacking an officer of the law, who has hit on her in a bar, Greer is assigned community service by the judge (someone she knows very well). Showing up Greer is assigned a young girl, Ally, who shows no desire to be involved with music; but Greer has a way with people and the girl begins to come out of her shell.  After making headway with Ally, Greer is asked to take on another case - a veteran, Emmet Lawson, who lost a leg in combat but wants no help from anybody. People have tried to help but he has shunned them and shut himself away in a cabin on his parents property. His mother has called the therapy organization to beg for someone to help him. Greer know who Emmett is from high school. The story continues with Greer trying to help both Emmett and Ally. It's interesting in seeing the healing process Emmett goes through and there's a surprise as Ally and Emmett have a connection that Emmett had not realized until he helps Greer with a problem with Ally. Greer, with help from both Ally and Emmett, finds her muse and begins doing what she really loves. There's a lot of interesting psychological points made in this book. The story is both entertaining and thought provoking. And of course, there's a HEA.

Laura Trentham continues to knock me off my feet with her incredible story-telling and careful crafting of broken but not beaten characters. 

Greer an Emmett had fantastic chemistry that I felt from the very first page they shared together. Feeling broken and discouraged by their recent, individual setbacks, they find love through a passion for music, friendship and community. I loved every second of the journey. 

*I received an ARC from NetGalley for voluntary review

When I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and saw that it was a series, I decided to read the first book in the series before starting this one.  As it turned out, there were no overlapping characters, just a similarity in themes of military heroes, so each book can stand on its own.  But that was fine, because I enjoyed both books.
An Everyday Hero focuses on a young woman trying to reboot her life and dreams, and a wounded warrior who needs to do the same.  As they help each other heal and move forward, they also have the opportunity to help a teen girl and her mother, who are having difficulties dealing with the changes in their life following the death of their military dad/husband.  The subject matter is serious, yet Trentham finds opportunities to inject some humor.  As a military wife, and now mother-in-law as well, I didn't find too much to quibble with in either of the books in this series.  I enjoyed the characters, the setting, and Trentham's writing style, and while I wasn't familiar with her before, I now look forward to reading more of her books.  
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

This is a very heartwarming story with lives that intersect each other from various points. There are some hardships, heartbreak, learning to live again, learning to trust yourself, and love.

I enjoyed this book more than I ever expected. I love music and always appreciate what it must take for songs to be written, melodies composed to accompany those lyrics, and the anguish composers sometimes feel watching their words transform into works of art.

Emmett is dealing with demons from the attack that caused him to lose one of his soldiers and part of his leg. I think anyone would be able to relate to this, thinking that you didn't do everything you could have to prevent this from happening.

Greer has her demons from panicking on stage despite her love for playing and singing. It could happen to the best of us but one event is no reason to give it all up. The community service she is assigned with a music foundation is one thing that helps her realize that music is in her blood and she can't just give it all up for one night.

Ally is a teen that has lost her dad and is assigned to Greer at the foundation. I really fell in love with Ally and her tough spirit but a softness that was hidden beneath that tough exterior. She is a no nonsense type of young woman. I enjoyed watching her bloom and transform over the course of the book.

There are various other characters that play a supporting role to these three main characters such as Emmett's parents. Both of them have some issues to address as well which blends in beautifully with the story.

This book will touch your heart and I recommend it to all.

An Everyday Hero is a captivating romance full of heartbreak and second chances. An emotion read that is sure to send your emotions into overdrive. Trentham writes with a loving touch that is sure to leave you wanting more.

Failing at her dream of a singing career in Nashville, Greer Hadley packed it in and headed back home to Madison, where she caught her boyfriend, Beau, in bed with another woman. Stopping at Becky’s Bar was a bad idea in hindsight; she got drunk on tequila and when Carrie Underwood’s song Before He Cheats came on the jukebox, Greer broke a few glasses and kicked the arresting officer in the crotch. Resenting the fact that she had nowhere else to go, she moved back in with her parents after they bailed her out of jail. The judge, who happened to be her uncle, sentenced her to fifty hours of community service to be served at a facility for veterans and their families to help them heal through music.

Greer’s first client was Ally, a fifteen year old girl who was having difficulties accepting the death of her father during his deployment. After a rough start, Greer and Ally became friends, and the director was pleased with their connection. Greer asked Ally to write lyrics, and they were so powerful Greer couldn’t help put them to music, creating several stunning songs. Ally did her best to keep the fact that her mother was unstable from Greer and any other authority figures, trying very hard to take care of things herself.

Amelia, the director, asked Greer to make a house call to a friend from high school. Emmett Lawson had returned from deployment missing a leg and carrying a heavy load of guilt that he survived when others in his platoon did not. Emmett and Greer’s initial meeting did not go well; she had to climb over the locked gate, and Emmett shot off his shotgun, trying to scare her off.

An Everyday Hero is all about second chances and starting fresh, making better choices this time around. Greer, Emmett, and Ally are all broken and feeling hopeless and helpless, and slowly, they learn to trust again and find they are able to depend on one another. The characters are well developed and I enjoyed seeing them grow and change into stronger and more caring people. This second book in the Heart of a Hero series is a feel-good book, easy to read, and I’m still smiling just thinking about it.

A wonderful heartrending book with deep emotions entwined throughout. 
The authors style resonates and lends for an emotive, yet lighthearted book, which leaves you feeling optimistic.
A great weekend read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Description
From award-winning author Laura Trentham comes an emotionally layered novel about redemption, second chances and discovering that life is worth fighting for.

At thirty, Greer Hadley never expected to be forced home to Madison, Tennessee with her life and dreams up in flames. A series of bad decisions and even worse luck lands her community service hours at a nonprofit organization that aids veterans and their families. Greer cannot fathom how she’s supposed to help anyone deal with their trauma and loss when everything that brought her joy has failed her.

Then Greer meets fifteen-year-old Ally Martinez, a gifted girl who lost her father in action and now hides her pain behind a mask of sarcasm. But Greer sees something undeniable that she can’t walk away from. To make matters more complicated, Greer finds herself spending more and more time with Emmett Lawson—a man with both physical and emotional scars of his own. When a situation with Ally becomes dire, the two of them must become a team to save her—and along the way they might just save themselves too.

2nd in the series. Heartfelt and loving story. A must read!