Spent a lot of the read thinking about my own life and how I would handle such changes. It wa such a beautifully written story of changes thru life

An Everyday Hero is another great story in Laura Trentham’s women’s fiction Heart of a Hero series.

Greer Hadley has tucked her tail and returned home after spending 12 years in Nashville seeking fortune and fame as a songwriter and musician. But a night of drinking at the local bar has her making some poor choices which land her in front of a judge, sentenced to 50 hours of community service - to be served at the Music Tree Foundation, a non-profit organization that uses music to help veterans and their families deal with trauma. She’d rather pick trash up off the road instead.

Greer’s first assignment is a surly teenage girl named Ally, who recently got into trouble for shoplifting in the aftermath of losing her father in Afghanistan. Her second assignment - one that will earn her double hours if she’s able to convince him to come out of hiding - is Emmett Lawson, the town’s former football star who returned from a tour overseas with as many emotional scars as physical ones.

Despite wanting to get in, serve her time, and get out, before she knows it Greer is invested. Despite having been beat down, chewed up, and spit out by the Nashville music scene, she finds her long-lost plucky determination to succeed at her assigned tasks. And before long, Ally and Emmett have helped Greer find her way as much as she did for them.

I enjoyed reading this story and know my rating doesn’t reflect how much I enjoyed it. An Everyday Hero is a sweet story about a heavy topic. It was low on angst and absent of contrived conflict. The dialog between the hero and heroine was engaging and witty. But for some reason, after being pulled in right at the start, I didn’t stay that way. The problem was that I wasn’t ever compelled to keep reading, and I didn’t have a hard time putting my Kindle down. I loved the characters, I loved their interactions. I really, really liked their stories and how the two storylines merged.

I truly think this time it’s a case of me being in a weird headspace. Normally I’m able to pick up a book and let go of all the stress in my life, leave my world behind and immerse myself into the book I’m reading. For whatever reason, I wasn’t able to this time. At the moment it has me pondering if this book wasn’t enough, or if I’m just really stressed right now… Nonetheless, there were plenty of moments during this story where I thought “There’s the Laura Trentham I’ve known and love!” And I’m definitely looking forward to more from this series!

* thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

My heart was not prepared for this book. An Everyday Hero by Laura Trentham is the second book in her series A Heart of a Hero that follows the lives of soldiers and those closest to them. In this installment, we meet Greer Hadley, Emmett Lawson, and Ally Martinez when they are at their lowest point. Dealing with grief, depression, and a glimpse of PTSD, An Everyday Hero shows what a little persistence and a lot of love can do. 

Greer Hadley has officially hit bottom. Arrested for being drunk and disorderly at a bar in her hometown, Greer thinks it can’t get any worse. Then her uncle (who is also the judge) sentences her to community service at a local agency that provides music therapy to veterans and their families. After selling her guitar to make rent money, bombing her last performance, finding her boyfriend sleeping with another woman, and moving back in with her parents (in her thirties!), the absolute last thing Greer wants is to pick up a guitar again. Now she has no choice but to confront her newfound stagefright all while helping two people that do not want her help. 

Ally Martinez is a fifteen year old who has just lost her father, killed in action. To say she’s acting out is an understatement. Yet Greer sees past her anger and attitude. She sees a girl who is hurting, and all she wants to do is help. The relationship between these two builds naturally. I wanted to reach through the pages and give Ally a hug. She’s a strong young woman that stole my heart as she stole Greer’s.

Then there’s Emmett Lawson, the golden boy that starred in many of Greer’s high school fantasies. Emmett is not the boy she remembers. Haunted and drowning his memories in Jack, everyone has written him off as a lost cause. But not Greer. Like with Ally, Greer sees what Emmett’s anger really is: a front for his insecurities. He lost a leg and friends, and he blames himself for not preventing it. A little tough love is in order. 

I absolutely love Greer and Emmett. She doesn’t put up with his bull, and it’s exactly what he needs. Where he pushes, she bucks back. And it isn’t one-sided. Emmett pushes Greer, getting to the root of her anxiety and stagefright. It starts as friendship, and I love the progression the author shows in the book. It felt real and right. 

Overall, An Everyday Hero will tug at your heartstrings and may even have you shedding a tear or two. If you enjoy contemporary romance, I highly recommend it.

Greer is a singer/songwriter and couldn't make it in the big time so she came back home to Tennessee and moved in with her parents. She ended up making a bad decision one night which ended up costing her community time. At an organization for veterans and their families, using her music. She ends up working with a surly teenager who lost her dad in the service. Greer tries to get through to her as she is heading down the wrong road. Ally was hurting after losing her dad and hanging out with bad kids and being mouthy and doing what she wants. But we also find out what her home life has been like since her dad died and your heart will melt.
Greer also ends up helping a veteran, who was injured and was the golden boy of the town. He is angry and doesn't want to live. Greer doesn't back down and keeps going back to help him. His defences start crumbling down.
I really enjoyed this book a lot and thanks to St. Martin's and NetGalley for the ARC, for review.

Unforgettably Good! 

Laura Trentham writes an exquisite story about pain and loss and how love can heal. 

An Every Day Hero is definitely a story that will pull at your heartstrings and make you feel EVERYTHING!!  There are so many emotions while reading this book. These characters will absolutely tug at your heart. You become so attached and so invested in them. You laugh, cry, and bond with them. I loved being on this journey with them. I flew through the pages, but was completely sad when it ended. I hated saying goodbye. 

A fantastic story filled with depth and raw emotion, I highly recommend this story! It is definitely one that will stick with me for a long time. Laura Trentham has a true gift! I can’t wait to read her next book!

While I absolutely AH-DORE Trentham’s small town romances, her women’s fiction books are some of the best reads out there. There’s so much believability in the characters, their situations, and the way they interact with one another. And whether it’s to make you laugh or to make you cry, she just knows how to get to the heart of things and drag the right emotions out of you without seeming to try.

I really enjoy Greer – she’s a little lost about what she’s going to do with the rest of her life. Her vision for her future is gone after it seems like her music abandons her and the last thing she wants to do is get involved in a music therapy group. Luckily, her first client is a young girl who just draws Greer to her … as does her second client, somewhat grumpy (but definitely sexy) Emmett.

Emmett is also at a loss for what to do with his own future up in the air. The loss of a leg means the loss of his career and with all he’s seen & done his feelings about himself as a good man is also in tatters. When a spitfire in a short skirt shows up at his door and doesn’t take much of his bull, Emmett slowly finds himself resurfacing from his pain and grief. And the more they go toe to toe, the more he finds himself feeling normal again … if only he can let go of the guilt.

The connections that Greer makes are so warming. I just felt myself pull for her as she slowly gets Ally to come out of her shell and start connecting to something other than anger & pain. And while it takes a different tone, her irreverent sense of humor and stubbornness also helps Emmett to start seeing more in the world than his front porch and the bottom of a bottle.

Exploring themes of healing, friendship, grief, and love, An Everyday Hero is one of the best reads of 2020. Even if you aren’t a big romance reader, there is plenty here for you to enjoy.

(Part of a series, but stands on its own.)

I was sent an ARC via Netgalley from the publisher though all thoughts are my own.

This is the story of two people who have had their fair share of challenges to overcome, life hasn't quite gone the way they planned and are given another chance that neither expected. It's also a story of how much PTSD affects soldiers in a variety of different ways and the importance of having support as well as programs available to help soldiers transition from active duty to civilian life.

I loved the banter that Greer and Emmett had who weren't afraid to speak their minds to each other and essentially gave each other kicks in the butts to start following their dreams and offering support. Emmett is missing a limb from a routine patrol gone wrong which is something he feels self conscious about but Greer shows him that there's so much more to life than focusing on something he had no control over.

I love the bond that forms between Ally and Greer through a love of music and recognize kindred spirits in each other after some time.

My heart ached for Ally who is trying to deal with her Dad's death while he was on active duty, several horrible fellow classmates, stress about her Mom and the added struggle of being a teenager who wants to fit in but is so angry particularly with losing her Dad.

This book kept my attention from beginning to end and I highly recommend reading this story though be prepared to have your heartstrings tugged on!

Full of humor, the power of music, a glimpse into the military, small town life, romance and the importance of family whether blood or by choice.

Looking forward to reading more books in the future!

This is a very nice romance.  I really enjoyed reading about Greer and Emmett and how they each help the other to solve their problem that they now have.  Emmett has lost a leg and Greer lost her love of music.  This made me laugh and cry.  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.

This is a well balanced book. Greer,Emmett and Ally are flawed,stubborn people.Through the story one sees how how they grow and overcome their individual struggles.The supporting characters feel authentic to small town life and their relationship with the hero and heroine are too familiar.

This is a sweet romance with plenty of sexual tension but it fades to black.I highly recommend it.

This book is perfectly titled.  Some heroes are lauded publicly, and some are walking among us that we never hear about.  The title character Greer is one of the latter.  The book opens as she is in jail for a drunken episode in a bar.  Her uncle is the presiding judge and he sentences her to do volunteer work for a charity helping veterans and their families with music therapy.  This is the last thing she wants to do as she has just given up her music career after leaving home for ten year to try to make it in that industry.  She is given two of the most difficult clients, a surly teenager who has lost her father and a serviceman who returns home after the loss of his leg.  All of these characters are well developed and the way they intersect was a joy to read.

Trentham has consistently torn my heart out with her heartfelt novels. There always seem to be a sense of intense emotion within the story that is always compelling. I really enjoyed this book a lot.

I received a copy from Netgalley for review purposes.

Greer was going through a rough time and ended up back home trying to figure out her life. She felt like it was the last place she should be but it ended up being the exact place she needed to be. She ended up in court-appointed community service where her sassy attitude helped her get through to the toughest clients.

Emmett came home from the war broken and guilty for the loss of his men while he was deployed. He holed up in hos cabin hiding from the world. That sass from Greer was the kick in the butt he needed to find his way in this after war life.

This story is emotional, heartfelt, and romantic.

Greer has come home to Madison, Tennessee heartbroken and her dreams discarded. She falls apart and lands herself at the mercy of a judge who awards her community service at a non-profit who helps veterans and their families using music therapy. Just what she needs right? Greer doesn’t want to play or write songs again, so she is less than enthused at meeting her first client Ally who is a rambunctious teenager who just lost her father. To make matters worse, Greer’s second client Emmett Lawson who not only doesn’t want her help, but takes a shot at her for trespassing. How is Greer going to get her hours in when her clients don’t even want to talk to her?

Emmett has come home from serving overseas broken and injured. He has lost a leg in service and he also blames himself for the death of another soldier. All he wants to do is wallow in self-pity in a bottle of Jack Daniels. What he doesn’t need is Greer Hadly showing up at his remote cabin uninvited. Thanks but no thanks.

Greer and Emmett get off to a rocky start, but she is relentless. She is going to get him to stop his pity party and get back to the land of the living. With her quit whit and her sassy attitude, it stirs something in Emmett. What Greer didn’t expect is that being around Emmett also stirs something within her as well. As Greer and Emmett begin a new friendship, Greer and Ally also start stirring something in each other. Can Greer, Ally and Emmett find their new normal? Can they mend from their wounds both physical and mental? 

I absolutely loved Laura Trentham’s writing style. The humor and barbs that the characters throw at each other make you smile and laugh. Then the characters show their tender sides that makes you want to cry. It feels like you are right there with them, growing and learning as well. Ms. Trentham is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. If I could give this book a ten star rating, I certainly would. If you haven’t read any of her books, grab one, curl up and get ready for a memorable journey.

Thank you so much to St.Martin's Press, Laura Trentham and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to read and review. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait until the next one in the series.

An  Everyday Hero is the first book I've read by Laura Trentham, and I was quite impressed. There is such a range of emotions that all three of these characters go through, and there is so much growth among them all.

Emmett broke my heart. The frustration and anger he feels jumps off the page, which is a testament to Trentham's wonderful writing. Ally starts out as the typical angry teen, and for good reason, but she's evolved into such a wonderful young woman by the end. And Greer never loses her biting sarcasm, no matter how rough things get.

An Everyday Hero is an amazing story of second chances, love, and how a little kindness can go a long way in changing the course of another person's life. I was intrigued by the blurb, and this inspiring, heartfelt story certainly did not disappoint!

I received an advanced copy courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley and voluntarily left a review.

Well-written military fiction about moving on and figuring out how to maintain memories without getting buried in them.  Trentham captures the essences of military wives in both installments of her Heart of a Hero novels.

One never knows what is held within the pages of a book. Sometimes the summary gives you a pretty good idea of the theme and you can choose your book that way; or it could just be a book cover; or simply a favorite author. In any event for AN EVERYDAY HERO hooked me right from the beginning. 

Thirty year-old Greer Hadley, our hard-ass heroine, has returned home, defeated by life and looking for comfort only to find her ‘so called- Beau’  in flagrante delicto with another many things happened.  The injured party, Greer, would need to have a few cocktails which would then cause said person to tear apart the bar, finishing the next morning in front of a judge who decreed she pay for the damages and hands her community service hours at a nonprofit organization that aids veterans and their families. At the music academy, Greer cannot fathom how she’s supposed to use music to help anyone deal with their trauma and loss when the one thing that brought her joy has failed her.

Greer’s first assignment was 15 year old Ally Martinez, and her plans to stay detached and do as little as possible get thrown away. New to town and dealing with the death of her father in action, Ally hides her emotions behind a mask of bitterness and sarcasm, but Greer is able to see past it and recognizes pieces of who she once was in Ally. 

Later Greer is assigned a veteran to help, she’s not surprised Emmett Lawson, the town’s golden boy, followed his family’s legacy into the service. What leaves her shocked is the shell of a man who believes he doesn’t deserve anyone’s help. A breakthrough with Ally reminds Greer that no one is worth giving up on. So she shows up one day with his old guitar, and meets Emmett’s rage head on with her stubbornness, attitude, and just a little remembrance of her high school days ‘hero worship’.

Another book I couldn’t put down - it was naturally very fast paced with great writing featuring redemption, forgiveness, betrayal, and second chances.  I could say when life hands you lemons - you learn to make lemonade.   With AN EVERYDAY HERO, you will

5 Healing Stars!!!

This book captured my heart from the minute I started it. Ms. Trentham has written a book that brings to life the tragedy of PTSD and shows us how music can not only be healing but also helps to bring people that you never would think belong together into each other’s lives.

Greer has returned to her small hometown after not making it big in Nashville and thanks to finding her boyfriend doing another woman, she’s found herself being sent to do volunteer work with a local foundation that works with veterans and their families suffering from PTSD. It’s an amazing organization and Greer really doesn’t want to do this because she feels like she’s not the best person, but, she really is and this becomes clear as she starts working with a young girl, Ally. She’s also assigned to Emmett Lawson a man she knew in high school that’s recently returned home missing more than a limb.

This book is filled with heart, caring and characters that have touched my soul. I loved how Greer wouldn’t listen to Emmett even with his warnings, and how she wanted to be there for Ally because she saw a little bit of herself in this young girl. This is also a story filled with second chances in more ways that I was expecting.

I found myself consumed by this story not wanting to put it down. I felt Emmett’s frustration and Ally’s fear at letting someone in as well as her frustration of not knowing what happened to her father. This is an instance that fate has a way of working miracles by bringing these three people together.

Greer has her own fears to face and with the help of Emmett she does just that. I loved him for what he was doing for her….letting her see there’s more to her life than thinking she’s a failure because she’s definitely not but she needs a little help in seeing that! Seeing these characters find comfort and redemption in each other and those around them was truly beautiful. There were times my heart hurt for one or all of them and I loved how music was a central theme in this story. 

Ms. Trentham is a new to me author and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this book. Her writing is alive with vivid details and characters that are deep and moving and living lives that that are both painful and healing at the same time. I loved how they interconnected and how not only were they put back together but so were those around them. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time to come!

Laura Trentham writes beautiful stories and this one is another winner. This is an emotional, touching and heartwarming story about two broken people helping each other realize they aren't as damaged as they thought. It was genuine and lacked unnecessary drama. I loved the depth of the characters, each one of them is written perfectly flawed and beautifully broken.

No one can know what it is like for soldiers who had to endure unspeakable tragedy and loss. Emmett feels like he failed the men under his command. He is stricken with grief and guilt, unable to move forward in his life. An injury has cost him his old life. He spends his days attempting to disconnect himself from the world and denies himself a purpose and a future. He is bitter, angry and cold.

Greer is dealing with a mistake and, as part of her plea agreement, she has accepted to perform hours of community service, working at a foundation that focuses on helping veterans and their families heal through music. This girl has the most beautiful soul. She has a great gentle strength, spirit and whit.

When they first meet, Emmett is being his grumpy, frustrating self and wants nothing more than drive Greer away. I really enjoyed the banter that goes on between Greer and Emmett, they have great chemistry. The connection they form is deep and meaningful. From the beginning I was completely enthralled in their story. Emmett captured my heart and you can’t help but love Greer. Their romance develops very slowly and in a very realistic way. They are attracted to each other but they need to heal first in order to successfully be together, and the way their relationship develops reflects this.

I cannot recommend this book enough if you like beautifully crafted characters, and an inspiring story that grabs at your emotions.

I would like to thank @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC of An Everyday Hero. 
The story centers around Greer (who recently received court ordered community service) and Emmett (a veteran in crisis). 
Greer beings volunteering at a facility that uses music as therapy. Greer is a talented musician who has a lot to offer to others. 
Emmett is broken but not so far gone he can’t be saved. I loved how their relationship blossomed. 
Enter a stray kitten, a moody teen named Ally who is paired with Greer, and some strong families.

Overall I enjoyed the story but Emmetts post-war issues were wrapped up in a bow way to quickly and I don’t want for anyone to think that’s how it is. Some vets needs years of therapy. Heck, my dad was in Vietnam and once told us he can’t stand a pitch black night because he’s afraid of an ambush. 

The veteran in me didn’t understand the timeline & age with Emmetts dad and aspects of his ‘combat’ based on when he was in. 
The story is well written, overall I really enjoyed it, and aspects reminded me of being a kid in the South. While the book references church and southern values it is not a Christian book. There is a little steam, but not a raging fire. 
Out now! 
#aneverydayhero #netgalley #stmartinspress #advancedreaderscopy #goodreadschallenge2020 #goodreads #februaryrelease

This was a book I didn't want to put down. It was so good and not just the chemistry between Greer & Emmett which I loved. I was really invested in all the people in the book and I can't wait until the next book in the series.