The Military Wife deals with love, loss and the heroism of the women who hold everything together while their men are deployed. As a military wife, I could identify with the characters in this book. It is well-written and emotional.

Harper Lee Wilcox is the widow of a Navy SEAL, raising her five-year-old son, Ben, who never knew his father. Noah was killed in action shortly before Ben’s birth. Harper is trying to keep her life together while struggling to raise her son without a father.

Bennett was a teammate of Noah’s. He made a promise to Noah and is doing his best to keep it while trying to ignore his attraction to Noah’s widow.

The Military Wife addresses the difficult issue of PTSD. Harper’s best friend, Allison’s husband Darren was a SEAL teammate of Noah’s. He refuses to get help for his PTSD and their marriage is falling apart. Their struggles were portrayed realistically.

This book is a departure from Ms. Trentham’s usual small town romance book. In my opinion it is one of her best books. I definitely recommend this book.

I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Military Wife from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Harper Lee Wilcox has only loved one man. Noah Wilcox, a Navy SEAL and the father of her son, Ben. It's been 5 years since his death and  she is ready for a new challenge. She also wants answers. She doesn't want the standard military version, she wants to know everything. 

While visiting with another SEAL wife, also her best friend, Allison, she finds out that the man who showed up at her door after Noah's death with a certificate of bravery and $100,000.00 is Bennett, Noah's best friend in the Navy who was there when he died. But he isn't talking. He's fighting his own demons and trying to keep a promise he made to Noah. And soon they are falling in love.

I really enjoyed the telling of the lives of military wives. How much they give up to follow their husbands career, having to give up their own. It doesn't matter how many degrees you have when prospective employers won't hire you because you will probably not be in one place very long. And I loved Harper's idea of a business that could be an ideal fit for the wives who want something more than volunteering.

PTSD is in the forefront here also. While I believe this was a Romance book, it was nicely balanced by real life issues and fears and how to cope with something you don't even understand.

Netgalley/ February 5th 2019 by St. Martin's Griffin

Writing the final women’s fiction post for HEA is such a bittersweet moment. It has been an honor to share noteworthy women’s fiction books with you, and I am glad that I have this one last opportunity to do so.
This blog is a hodgepodge — with books that are out now and are soon to be released and won’t be out until months later.
Happy reading …
Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg (out now)
What it’s about:
The feel-good book of the year: a delightful novel of friendship, community, and the way small acts of kindness can change your life, by the bestselling author of The Story of Arthur Truluv
Lucille Howard is getting on in years, but she stays busy. Thanks to the inspiration of her dearly departed friend Arthur Truluv, she has begun to teach baking classes, sharing the secrets to her delicious classic Southern yellow cake, the perfect pinwheel cookies, and other sweet essentials. Her classes have become so popular that she’s hired Iris, a new resident of Mason, Missouri, as an assistant. Iris doesn’t know how to bake but she needs to keep her mind off a big decision she sorely regrets.
When a new family moves in next door and tragedy strikes, Lucille begins to look out for Lincoln, their son. Lincoln’s parents aren’t the only ones in town facing hard choices and uncertain futures. In these difficult times, the residents of Mason come together and find the true power of community—just when they need it the most.
The right stuff: Perfect for this time of year. Full of wonderful friendships and heartwarming moments. A bit bittersweet, but readers are left more with the feeling that kindness can work miracles than any sadness.
In Dog We Trust by Beth Kendrick (Jan. 8)
What it’s about:
When everything has gone to the dogs …
When Jocelyn Hillier is named legal guardian for the late Mr. Allardyce’s pack of pedigreed Labrador retrievers, her world is flipped upside down. She’s spent her entire life toiling in the tourism industry in Black Dog Bay and never expected to be living the pampered life of a seasonal resident in an ocean side mansion, complete with a generous stipend. But her new role isn’t without its challenges: The dogs (although lovable) are more high-maintenance than any Hollywood diva, the man she wants to marry breaks her heart, and she’s confronted at every turn by her late benefactor’s estranged son, Liam, who thinks he’s entitled to the inheritance left to the dogs.
Jocelyn has worked too hard to back down without a fight, and she’s determined to keep her new fur family together. As she strives to uphold the “Best in Show” standards her pack requires, Jocelyn finds love, family, and forgiveness in the most unexpected places.
The right stuff: Zany Black Dog Bay is back! Full of wonderful characters, sometimes adorable dogs and second chances at love. All the things we’ve come to love about this series! (See a fun Q&A on HEA with Beth about In Dog We Trust.)
The Best of Us by Robyn Carr (Jan. 8)
What it’s about:
Dr. Leigh Culver loves practicing medicine in Timberlake, Colorado. It is a much-needed change of pace from her stressful life in Chicago. The only drawback is she misses her aunt Helen, the woman who raised her. But it’s time that Leigh has her independence, and she hopes the beauty of the Colorado wilderness will entice her aunt to visit often.
Helen Culver is an independent woman who lovingly raised her sister’s orphaned child. Now, with Leigh grown, it’s time for her to live life for herself. The retired teacher has become a successful mystery writer who loves to travel and intends to never experience winter again.
When Helen visits Leigh, she is surprised to find her niece still needs her, especially when it comes to sorting out her love life. But the biggest surprise comes when Leigh takes Helen out to Sullivan’s Crossing and Helen finds herself falling for the place and one special person. Helen and Leigh will each have to decide if they can open themselves up to love neither expected to find and seize the opportunity to live their best lives.
The right stuff: Dare I say it? This feels like almost the conclusion to the Sullivan’s Crossing series, with all the loose ends tied up so neatly with two engaging romances and appearances by the cast of characters.
The Secret Life of Mac by Melinda Metz (Jan. 29)
What it’s about:
He’s the cat thief of love
MacGyver the tabby is feeling very pleased with himself. His human, Jamie Snyder, has found the perfect packmate—and it’s all thanks to Mac. By stealing personal items from the home of Jamie’s handsome neighbor David, the matchmaking cat brought these two L.A. singles together. Now, while the newlyweds are off on their honeymoon, MacGyver is ready for a well-deserved cat nap. That is, until he meets his cat sitter Briony. Like most humans, she’s hopeless when it comes to romance. And Mac can’t resist a challenge …
She’s found the escape claws
Briony feels terrible about leaving her fiancé at the altar. When her cousin Jamie offers her the chance to cat sit MacGyver, the runaway bride leaps at the chance to cuddle up with the only male creature she trusts herself around. But MacGyver has other plans. He lures Briony to a friendly neighborhood retirement community—run by a charming young hottie named Nate. Briony and Nate hit it off instantly. But Briony’s still not sure she’s ready for a relationship. And Nate’s got problems of his own—someone is sabotaging his community.
Crazy humans. Why can’t they follow their instincts and go after the love they deserve? MacGyver is on the case. And this time, he’s not pussyfooting around …
The right stuff: It seems apropos that my first post for HEA featured a book by Ms. Metz — Talk to the Paw, and so does the final one. Charming and cute sometimes get a bad name, but not in this case. Pure delightful escapism with plenty of laughs.
The Military Wife by Laura Trentham (Feb. 5)
What it’s about:
Harper Lee Wilcox has been marking time in her hometown of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina since her husband, Noah Wilcox’s death, nearly five years earlier. With her son Ben turning five and living at home with her mother, Harper fights a growing restlessness, worried that moving on means leaving the memory of her husband behind.
Her best friend, Allison Teague, is dealing with struggles of her own. Her husband, a former SEAL that served with Noah, was injured while deployed and has come home physically healed but fighting PTSD. With three children underfoot and unable to help her husband, Allison is at her wit’s end.
In an effort to reenergize her own life, Harper sees an opportunity to help not only Allison but a network of other military wives eager to support her idea of starting a string of coffee houses close to military bases around the country.
In her pursuit of her dream, Harper crosses paths with Bennett Caldwell, Noah’s best friend and SEAL brother. A man who has a promise to keep, entangling their lives in ways neither of them can foresee. As her business grows so does an unexpected relationship with Bennett. Can Harper let go of her grief and build a future with Bennett even as the man they both loved haunts their pasts?
The right stuff: Nicely done story of husband’s best friend to lover! Complex relationship issues will keep you turning the pages. Perfect feel-good ending.
I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella (Feb. 5)
What it’s about:
Fixie Farr has always lived by her father’s motto: “Family first.” And since her dad passed away, leaving his charming housewares store in the hands of his wife and children, Fixie spends all her time picking up the slack from her siblings instead of striking out on her own. The way Fixie sees it, if she doesn’t take care of her father’s legacy, who will?
It’s simply not in Fixie’s nature to say no to people. So when a handsome stranger in a coffee shop asks her to watch his laptop for a moment, she not only agrees—she ends up saving it from certain disaster. To thank Fixie for her quick thinking, the computer’s owner, Sebastian, an investment manager, scribbles an IOU on a coffee sleeve and attaches his business card. Fixie laughs it off—she’d never actually claim an IOU from a stranger. Would she?
But then Fixie’s childhood crush, Ryan, comes back into her life, and his lack of a profession pushes all of Fixie’s buttons. As always, she wants nothing for herself—but she’d love Seb to give Ryan a job. No sooner has Seb agreed than the tables are turned once more and a new series of IOUs between Seb and Fixie—from small favors to life-changing moments—ensues. Soon Fixie, Ms. Fixit for everyone else, is torn between her family and the life she really wants. Does she have the courage to take a stand? Will she finally grab the life, and love, she really wants?
The right stuff: Sophie Kinsella writes wonderful stories about heroines going from low self-esteem to finally getting it right, and this definitely fits the bill. Humor, lots of character growth and a sweet romance.
Gimme Some Sugar by Molly Harper (April 2)
What it’s about:
Lucy Brewer would never have guessed that her best friend, Duffy McCready (of McCready’s Bait Shop & Funeral Home) has been in love with her since they were kids. Fear of rejection and his own romantic complications prevented Duffy from confessing his true feelings in high school, so he stood by and watched her wed Wayne Bowman right after high school. Wayne had always been a cheapskate, so it comes as no surprise when he suffers a fatal accident while fixing his own truck.
Even as her family and friends invade Lucy’s life and insist that the new widow is too fragile to do much beyond weeping, Lucy is ashamed to admit that life without Wayne is easier, less complicated. After all, no one knew what a relentless, soul-grinding trudge marriage to Wayne had been. Only Duffy can tell she’s hiding something.
In need of a fresh start, Lucy asks Duffy to put his cabinet-building skills to use, transforming the town’s meat shop into a bake shop. As the bakery takes shape, Lucy and Duffy discover the spark that pulled them together so many years ago. Could this finally be the second chance he’s always hoped for?
The right stuff: Perfect blend of wacky, poignant and amusing. Escaping into one of Molly Harper’s book is pure entertainment.
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center (Aug. 13)
What it’s about:
Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she’s seen her fair share of them, and she’s a total pro at other people’s tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to give up her whole life and move to Boston, Cassie suddenly has an emergency of her own.
The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie’s old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren’t exactly thrilled to have a “lady” on the crew—even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the infatuation-inspiring rookie, who doesn’t seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can’t think about that. Because love is girly, and it’s not her thing. And don’t forget the advice her old captain gave her: Never date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping…and it means risking it all—the only job she’s ever loved, and the hero she’s worked like hell to become.
Katherine Center’s Things You Save in a Fire is a heartfelt and healing tour-de-force about the strength of vulnerability, the nourishing magic of forgiveness, and the life-changing power of defining courage, at last, for yourself.
The right stuff: I know, you’re thinking, August? But this book is so good! Loved the juxtaposition of the hero’s and heroine’s roles. She’s the expert and he is the rookie. Fabulous forgiveness theme. Humorous and touching!
Leigh Davis is a former contributor to Heroes and Heartbreakers. When she is not reading, she’s usually outside throwing balls to her insatiable dogs. She loves hearing and talking about great books. You can connect with her on Twitter and Goodreads.
MORE ON HEA: See more posts by Leigh
Beth Kendrick, Elizabeth Berg, Katherine Center, Laura Trentham, Melinda Metz, Molly Harper, Robyn Carr, Sophie Kinsella, women's fiction, Recommended reads, Top stories

The sequence of events in this read are emotionally gritty!💚💙
I devoured this. I honestly did not read the blurb until I was finished and I think that is too vanilla for everything this journey makes you feel!
Covering quite an expanse of time, current day and flipping back to when Harper Lee first met Noah irritated me (just a tad) at first, but it explained so much as I continued to read, and transitions became so easy, my mind fell into whatever scenario was happening. I had to keep reading.
The storytelling will have you firing all emotions within seconds of each other it seems. The humor of Harper's emails/letters, then knowing that they are what kept the guys going at the very worst of times. Her and Bennett's conversations had me chuckling or crying.
The 2ndary characters just added more to the story. Jack London Bennet's rescue Newfie, Harper's Mom who was super strong and funny too, Allison and Darren who had their own very real problems, and Harper's son Ben who was her savior when she needed one, well that just made it all the more realistic.
A standalone with an HEA.
I received an ARC from the author thru Netgalley and am giving my honest opinion

I am an extremely picky reader when it comes to Women’s Fiction, but Laura Trentham is a firm favourite so there was never any question in me not reading The Military Wife. And she hits the mark bringing a strong, and at times moving story with endearing characters who show their strengths and weaknesses in equal measure. Perhaps I’ve simplynbeen picking the wrong authors and the wrong books in the past, but I’m glad I didn’t miss out here and would recommend to all.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This story resonated with me on so many levels.

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

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

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

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

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

The relationship between Harper and Bennett was moving and real.

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

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

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