This was an amazing story of a woman who's given up on her dreams and a man who isn't "living" since suffering an injury while deployed overseas.  Just WOW.  Loved everything about it.  I'm sure I have the first book in this series on my electronic TBR pile and I'm going to find it to read since I was so moved by this story.  Looking forward to more!

An Everyday Hero is my first introduction to Laura Trentham's books. I thought it was a great read and I look forward to more by her in the future. Four and a half stars.

This is the second book in the Heart of a Hero series.  I loved it!

It gave me an insight I'd never had into the lives of military families.  The characters are very real and it was an easy read.  I recommend it along with the first book.

Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved everything about this story! It is a great small town romance. Although the story dealt with serious issues it was also lighthearted and a joy to read. This was my first Laura Trentham read but it won’t be my last.

After reading The Military Wife by this author I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I really like Greer, she was sassy and took no mess but behind that exterior she was vulnerable as well. Emmett is dealing with some serious ptsd after serving in the army and isn’t the man he once used to be and lives a life of solitude. 

The two of these characters were fun to read about who made me smile and laugh. They were both stubborn and stuck in their ways. They had good banter and chemistry. I love that once they finally broke each other walls down they both were able to heal in their own ways. I love when couples can learn and grow from each other. 

This is my second novel by Laura Trentham and the story held my attention from beginning to end. The characters are flawed but relatable. This book is a little on the heavy side with certain themes but it was still a good read with an important message.

In An Everyday Hero, Laura Trentham brings readers into the lives of three people who are all in pain but, when brought together, just might be able to save each other...and themselves. Greer invested her whole life in her single-minded pursuit of a music career only to have it all spectacularly crash and burn in the midst of a panic attack. Returning home to her small town looking for solace from her boyfriend, she instead finds him pants-down with another woman. Is it any wonder she goes a little batsh*t crazy at the local bar when someone plays Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats," and finds herself before the local judge (who also happens to be her favorite uncle)? She expects a light fine, maybe highway trash pick-up, but instead he sentences her to volunteer hours at a local musical therapy center. Music. Her greatest love, greatest failure, and greatest fear. She is not a happy camper which, of course, makes her the perfect person to be assigned to two others resistant to the center's efforts: Ally and Emmett. 

Athletic and handsome, Emmett was the golden boy of his hometown who went off to war to uphold his family's tradition of service but came home severely wounded, both physically and emotionally, and is well on his way to closing himself off completely from his friends, his family, and life. I ached for him and for his parents who have no idea how to reach him. Fourteen-year-old Ally is a heart-breaker. Her father is dead, killed in service, her mother has lost the ability to cope following his death, and Ally is so consumed with anger and grief she fairly vibrates with it, the walls she's erected around herself, practically impenetrable. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and take her pain into myself but what Ally needs is something else.  

I found Greer, Ally, and Emmett all so very realistic and relatable, quickly becoming invested in each of their stories. Processing pain, and grief, are very personal endeavors and Trentham excels at creating those individual journeys on the page while, at the same time, intricately weaving them together as a whole. Greer is the catalyst that puts both Ally and Emmett on their individual paths to recovery, eventually bringing them together in a surprising way but Greer is on her own path as well and as much as she helps them, they help her in return. I liked Greer and I loved the (totally different) relationships that form between her and Emmett and her and Ally. You can feel their pain - Trentham doesn't sugarcoat it - but there's also hope, humor (especially between Emmett and Greer), heart-tugging romance, and deep friendships that form as they all sort through the fears and feelings that are keeping them from moving forward. 

An Everyday Hero is a story of second chances, redemption, forgiveness, reconciliation, and love. Its a story of overcoming the challenges faced by wounded veterans and by military families left behind. And it's a story of healing, friendship, acceptance, and finally finding the path we're meant to travel. I laughed, I cried, and I turned the final page so grateful to have met these wonderful characters through Laura Trentham's deeply emotional storytelling. It's a book I highly recommend. 
*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley
All opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

This is my third book by Laura Trentham and I swear they just keep getting better and better. I loved A Military Wife, which was the first book in this series, and honestly couldn’t imagine how she could improve on that. I am eating my words. An Everyday Hero blew my expectations out of the water. I knew this was going to be a great book but I didn’t realize it was going to be as emotionally charged as it was. What I really liked was how this book, even though it’s a second in a series, is a complete stand alone. I didn’t really notice any cross over characters and it was just a whole new story.

I love Laura’s writing with a passion. Her characters are easy to relate and connect to, her writing is so easy to read, and she has a knack for southern humor that gives me such belly laughs. I have never been part of the military or married to anyone in it so you would think it would be harder for me to even grasp what was going on but, like I said, Laura’s writing makes it so easy to just dive in and connect.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟(5 out of 5) This book is perfection. So much emotion was felt while reading this and at one point I even had to reach out to the author on Facebook to let her know how much a scene moved me. She responded back and proceeded to tell me how she is so proud of this book and, golly, does she have every right to be.

Thirty year old Greer has made some bad choices recently.  As a result she has been sentenced to community service by the court.  She is sent to work with vets and their family members in a nonprofit which centers on music as a therapy.  Here she meets fifteen year old Ally, whose father was recently killed in combat.  She is sullen, sarcastic and deeply unhappy.  As Greer, whose whole life has been about music, tries to connect with Ally, she finds that the girl is very musical indeed.  Another client Greer is asked to work with is a former high school classmate, Emmett, who is recently back from the war, minus his leg.  He is having a hard time adjusting to his loss and is difficult to communicate with, never mind approach.  As time passes, Greer finds herself establishing a rapport with both Ally and Emmett which she benefits from as much as they do.  

This is a delightful read.  It is well written, encouraging, funny, romantic, sad and a great story right up to the very last page.  I strongly recommend.  

Thank you to Netgalley, the very talented author Laura Trentham and the publisher St.. Martin's Press for the complimentary digital ARC of this excellent book.  The opinion expressed here is strictly my own.

Laura Trentham has once again delivered a heartfelt, emotional story that tells the tale of two people who find exactly what they need from each other to rediscover themselves and heal from the wounds of their pasts.

I just loved Greer Hadley. Even though she’s trying to get over the disappointment of her dreams not panning out, she hasn’t lost her sass and spark, which was what exactly what was needed to help both Ally and Emmett. From Greer’s first meeting with Emmett, I just knew that these two would end up connecting in a way that touched both of their souls. Greer was the kick in the pants that Emmett needed, Emmett was the support that Greer needed to lean on – even if it took them a bit to figure this out! And watching Greer work with Ally, as well as Emmett redefine and rediscover his relationship with his parents, was exactly what this story needed to add additional depth to the characters.

I have become a huge fan of Laura Trentham’s ability to craft a story with realistic characters, refreshing dialogue, and a well-designed plot. Although there are some sensitive subjects touched upon in this book, the story is able to promote healing and growth from pain, tragedy, and loss. Ms. Trentham is able to convey both the vulnerability and the strength of her characters through both dialogue and actions, and finds a way to give her characters emotional depth as she tells their story. The love scenes are fade to black, but she is still able to give the reader a sense of the physical intimacy and connection that Greer and Emmett develop and share.

Ms. Trentham is quickly becoming a go-to author for me and is one I would recommend to anyone looking for a book with all the feels that will capture your heart.

I love the way Laura writes – she takes on a huge topic and approaches it with dignity, compassion, a touch of humour and hope. This book is just as fantastic as her last novel.

In this book we have two main characters who have both returned back to their hometown broken and scarred but for very different reasons. Greer did everything she could to make it work in the music industry and lost everything. She has even given up on her love of music and playing. She returns home to live with her parents for a fresh start scarred from this experience and with little hope of ever playing again. She has been left battered by the industry, a person who was supposed to love her and feeling as though she will never succeed as an adult and on her own. Emmett was sent home from the war after a surprise attack that left him physically injured and changed for life both physically and mentally. But it is the emotional and mental injuries that he hides that are far worse. He is angry at the world, and not the same person he was when he left.

The pair are forced together through an outreach program and their first encounter makes quite an impact! It left me laughing but the incident truly describes the pair. The two have many emotional and mental challenges to work on individually. Together they are the support that they didn’t know that they needed nor that they wanted. They are that kick in the butt, that breath of fresh air that encourages you to do better, to see the positive and to move forward with hope. I found at times, they were one step forward and two steps back and you were on the edge of your seat praying that they would make it through. The one piece that brings the story together and gives the hope and redemption that our two main characters need, comes in the most unusual but fitting way.

An Everyday Hero is a beautiful, well written novel from start to finish, you will not be able to stop reading it. It makes you laugh, cry and warms your heart. You fall in love with the characters and are left craving more. It is a definite must read.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! If you couldn't tell by the first three words I loved this book. The story really hit home to me and I enjoyed reading every single word. I didn't want this one to end. The writing style of author Laura Trentham really flowed and I was pulled right into this book with the first few words. I couldn't get enough of this story!

Wow! What a read!! I thought I would read a couple of chapters before bed but I got so caught up in all that was happening that I read well into the night until I finished the last word and I was still ready to read more. I loved Greer Hadley who moves home at 30 and ends up with community service hours at a nonprofit organization that aids veterans and their families where she meets Ally Martinez, a gifted 15 year old who lost her father in action and hides her pain behind sarcasm. Then she reconnects with her old schoolmate, Emmett Lawson who has both physical and emotional scars from his time in Afghanistan. Ms. Trentham writes emotionally charged books that make me laugh, cry and sigh and I love every minute!! I highly recommend "An Everyday Hero" and look forward to more from this gifted author. I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review. I also purchased a copy so I can read it again.

Let me just put this out there right now, I don’t read a lot of military fiction or romances. While I love military history and have family that have served  and continue to serve in the military, it’s just not a genre that I ever think about picking up to read. Ever. No real reason why, I just simply don’t think of it.

So why now? Here is the shallow answer—I loved the cover. Sure the cover lured me in, but I have to admit I was intrigued by the summary and I love Southern fiction and thought this one might be a diverting read.

Plus, I love romances what can I say. There is just something so satisfying about a happily ever after that I just can’t say no to! That’s how I came to review this one and I am not at all sorry that I read it!

Summary
At thirty, Greer Hadley never expected to be forced home to Madison, Tennessee with her life and dreams of being a songwriter up in flames. To make matters worse, a series of bad decisions and even crappier luck lands her community service hours at a nonprofit organization that aids veterans and their families. 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.

When Greer meets fifteen-year-old Ally Martinez, 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, she 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. The raw and obvious talent she possesses could take her to the top and Greer vows to make sure life’s negativities don’t derail Ally’s potential.

After Greer is assigned a veteran to help, she’s not surprised Emmett Lawson, the town’s golden boy, followed his family’s legacy. 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. 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. (summary from Goodreads).

Review
This is a new to me author and I was drawn in by the fact that she has won awards for her writing. She must be doing something right—-right? Well the answer is yes—yes she is! This book got me in the feels. It was an emotionally packed novel. There was a lot of things going on here, love, redemption, self discovery—all the things and I had a lot of emotions while reading this one.

All of the characters face very realistic and relevant problems in this book. I loved watching the characters navigate their feelings as well as the issues with the other characters in this book. This author did a fantastic job at showing the strength of each character that was unique to them. As a reader, I felt like I was going through the emotions of each character right along with them and I was entirely hooked on it all.

The setting was also cozy. I don’t live in the South, but I loved reading about the small town life and I really felt like I was right there with the characters. I watched a documentary on the famous Blue Bird Cafe recently and I loved seeing it here in this book in a small way.

This book is full of tragedy but also redemption and I am so here for it. I am glad I decided to take a chance on this one. This was so much more than just another ‘romance’ novel. It has a ton of heart and soul and I think it will appeal to a wide audience. There is a lot to love and if you are looking for an emotional read then give this one a shot! I also have a giveaway for this one going on over on my Instagram page so pop by for a chance to win a copy!

An Everyday Hero by Laura Trentham is the second book in her Heart of a Hero series. Ms. Trentham writes complex, flawed characters with problems they fight hard to solve. Both Greer Hadley and Emmett Lawson have returned home to lick their wounds; Greer from her failure in Nashville to make it big and Emmett from the loss of his leg in an explosion in Afghanistan. The author does an excellent job of matching these two as just right to help each other heal. I really like this author's voice. She takes on tough, emotional subjects and draws the reader in with the reality of the characters' situations. I found myself strongly cheering on Greer and Emmett.

Laura Trentham always writes a good story. An Everyday Hero is a book that deals with disappointment, loss, survivor's guilt and getting back on track.
Greer has failed at launching a successful music career in Nashville and had a relationship end badly. Emmett is a veteran who has returned home without a limb, but with a whole lot of guilt about how things went down. Ally is a teenager who's father died in battle. Greer's court ordered community service with an organization that helps vets and their families through music brings them all together.
Greer is a real hard @ss, which turns out to be just what the other two need. But what if she needs them just as much? A beautiful story. Thank you, Ms. Trentham for not sugar coating what the military does to people.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

An Everyday Hero by Laura Trentham
Heart of a Hero #2

Eagerly anticipated and well worth waiting for! The second book in this series takes on a new set of characters living in a new town but continues to deal with life issues of military veterans and the people that are in their lives. In some ways it is the story of dreams and goals that were held dear for years and yet something happened in life to derail, detour or destroy the dream from appearing as reality. Greer had dreams of being a hit in the music business, Emmett dreamed of adding to the family military legacy in a big way, Ally and her mother dreamed of a family life with father and husband and yet...those expectations were not to be. And yet...when things don’t go as expected there is always the opportunity to do one of two things...wallow or move on and make the best of it. I really enjoyed this book! 

What I liked: 
* Greer: banged up and bruised and wallowing a bit she is given a job to do and in doing community service impacts Ally and Emmett in ways that improved her life, too. I liked the way she interacted with Emmett and with Ally...she is a person I wouldn’t mind having as a friend.
* Emett: withdrawn and nursing his wounds he is hermit-ting and wallowing until Greer shows up and begins to draw him out. When he started to emerge I really REALLY began to like him.
* Ally: an old soul that had more on her plate than a fifteen year old should have to deal with. She was tough with a soft center – was rooting for hermit-i
* The parents of Emmett and Greer – they were a soft place to land for their children even though their children might not have always realized it. It did take a bit to warm up to Emmett’s father but all’s well that ends well.
* The military persons from old and current wars that made appearances
* Eddie the horse and Bonnie the cat
* The big reveal...and how it impacted more than one
* Even the sad bits were heartwarming and gave a positive vibe for the future
* The “realness” of the story

What I didn’t like: 
* The fact that sometimes people, for whatever reason, opt to escape and in doing so harm not only themselves but others...but...that is life. If those people are lucky they will have people come into their lives that can help them do a U-Turn.

I can’t wait for book three…

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press – Griffin for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Greer and Emmett are lost souls, needing help to save themselves in An Everyday Hero by Laura Trentham, book 2 in her Heart of a Hero series. This was a wonderful and emotional story rich in family, relationships, heartbreak, second chances at living and taking risks. Messing up her life and dreams as a songwriter in Nashville, Greer Hadley finds herself back home. Making a series of bad decisions only makes things worse and lands Greer having to do community service at a nonprofit organization that helps veterans and their families. Greer is lost as to how she’s supposed to use music to help others deal with their trauma and loss when it failed her. 

Greer firsts meets Ally Martinez, a fifteen-year-old who recently lost her dad while he was deployed. She is new to town and hides behinds a mask of bitterness and sarcasm. Greer sees past her attitude, recognizing parts of herself in Ally. Next, Greer is assigned to help a veteran, Emmett Lawson, the town’s golden boy, who followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. Greer is shocked when she meets up with Emmett; as he believes he doesn’t deserve anyone’s help.  Achieving a breakthrough with Ally reminds Greer that no one is worth giving up on. Showing up with his old guitar, Emmett loses it, showing Greer his anger and stubbornness. Yet Greer is persistent, not giving up on Emmett, forcing him to move outside his comfort zone. When Ally ends up in an awful situation, Greer needs Emmett’s help in order to save her. Somehow, along the way, Greer and Emmett find ways to also save themselves.

Ms. Trentham wrote an amazing and emotional story that is definitely not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with sexual chemistry, amusing banter, and endearing characters who grow throughout this story, saving Greer and Emmett as they find themselves, as well as happiness, love and a future together. I highly recommend An Everyday Hero to other readers. 

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Do you need a heartwarming read? How about a reminder about how good life really is? Or a reminder about just how much the men and women of our military (and their families) sacrifice for us everyday?



If you said yes to any of those, then you need to read An Everyday Hero. In this brand new community, Ms Trentham introduces us to Greer (singer/songwriter at a cross roads), Emmett (a medically discharged Army veteran), and Ally a teen struggling in the aftermath of her father’s death in combat.



Greer is the centerpiece of story, but she gets as much from Emmett and Ally as she gives. These three characters and their evolving relationships (both with each other and externally) are heart warming and I didn’t want to leave them.



Ms Trentham treats the struggles all three characters face with grace and makes them relatable to everyone. Well written (as expected) An Everyday Hero is a book I was sad to see end.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this 4⭐️ read now available. Finished  this in practically one sitting (airplane) and very much enjoyed it. I went into it expecting a light pallet cleanser (needed between heavier reads) but got so much more. A wonderful story about two adults and a teenager finding their way after life changing circumstances including war time life loss and a war time serious injury. All three characters were well done and their wit and chemistry kept the story from being too maudlin. The romance featured realistic challenges rather than rom-com manufactured misunderstandings. Music lovers will enjoy this read especially.

I did not expect to love this book so much but I did. It dealt with many issues--loss, grief, PTSD, foregiveness, love--and was told in such a lovely and heartwarming way. The characters were complex but wonderful and likable. I loved the way they were all brought together in the story. Greer Hadley was my favorite character. She had spunk, was witty, and would not take crap from anyone, especially those she was trying to help. This book was filled with so much emotion. I just couldn't get enough of it and found myself not wanting to stop reading. I actually went out to lunch alone and then hung out at a bookstore so that I could read without interruptions. This was the first book by Laura Trentham I've read. She has an tremendous gift for writing, and I'm definitely going to be reading her other books. Thoroughly enjoyed An Everyday Hero and highly recommend it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC egalley. I also won a paperback ARC in a Goodreads giveaway.