I read the first book in this series, The Military Wife, and assumed it was continuing with the characters from that book. This story is set in a different location and different characters but the issues of being in the military or other life issues are central.

I loved this book from the beginning and there is a perfect mix of sweet, sad, funny, poignant, heartbreak, family and love. Greer has had a difficult decade in trying to make it as a singer/songwriter in Nashville and has finally given up and gone home to her parents. She doesn’t have a clue what should come next and due to an incident, she’s given community service at a facility that uses music to help veterans and others.

She meets Ally and while the first few meetings don’t go well with the teenager, Greer just has a way with Ally that surprises both of them. Greer can be funny, sarcastic and self-deprecating which seems to connect with Ally. The moments where Ally has written lyrics is quite moving since she’s lost so much in her young life and Greer finds that in helping Ally, she’s helping herself.

When Greer is sent to see Emmett who she knew in high school as a good-looking football player, who later joined the military after college and was injured, she didn’t know what to expect. I was startled by the ‘welcome’ Emmett gave her and she doesn’t hesitate to say what she thinks. They clash many times as Greer tries to help but still hasn’t worked on her own issues. They are both struggling with their pasts and unsure about their futures, but they were so funny together.

I went from laughing one minute to almost in tears in the next based on the characters and their struggles. At times it seemed like two steps forward and one step back but gradually Greer and Emmett start to make positive steps and I enjoyed as their friendship grew and then more.

Ally, however, is dealing with overwhelming issues and between learning to write songs, play the guitar, struggles with her family issues, again the emotions ran from funny, sweet, sad, and so poignant.

I loved how the various issues were addressed and the story was entertaining from beginning to end. I loved the characters and how the families adapted as Greer matured and found a new way to incorporate music in her life, Emmett found his place in the world, and how happy Ally became. This is a story of second chances and hope.

Ms. Trentham has a talent for writing about the military and the many struggles of active duty, retired, lives lost, and the families involved. I’ve had many family members in the Marines, Air Force, Navy and Army and as a former military spouse, I know of some of the struggles. My son served in the Marines and was deployed to Afghanistan and other areas and as a mother, it was a stressful time worrying. The most recent addition to the military is my granddaughter, who is currently completing basic training in the Air Force. I can only hope that as she learns new skills and travels to new places, that she stays as safe as we wish all our military could be.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful new work.

The second in Laura Trentham's military series, An Everyday Hero tells the story of how three people who were at such low places in their lives came together to change their downward spirals. Greer came back to Madison Tennessee after years of trying to make it in Nashville as a singer songwriter. Ally is a troubled teenager who lost her Dad to the war, while her Mom deals with the situation by turning to drugs. Emmett comes back from Afghanistan missing a leg, and filled with survivor's guilt. Ms. Trentham brings these three characters together through Ally's work as a music therapist. The friendships, though very sketchy at first, help all three overcome their demons. This was a very heartwarming and gritty story. I'm becoming a fan of Laura Trentham's writing with each book of her's that I read. I recommend this to all who like women's contemporary fiction.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing a copy via Netgalley .

This was a great book. Greer had left town to become a song writer, but had returned home when things didn't work out. After some questionable decisions she is assigned community service at a nonprofit organization that aids veterans and their families. She meets 15 year old Ally, and bit by bit they start to connect. Then she's assigned to former town hero, Emmett who doesn't think he deserves any help. This story is so fun, sweet, honest, heartwarming, heartbreaking and emotional. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

How can I put into words my feelings about this book when they’re all still tangled up in my head? This is a very traumatic book. The characters are suffering from trauma themselves, from their loved ones experiences, or because they don’t know how to handle their loved ones trauma. It should be a dark, heavy, devastating book, but Laura Trentham tackles the story with respect, grace, and her signature humor. I wish I hadn’t read this book because I want to read it again for the first time.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Great women's fiction read. Totally predictable, but you will enjoy getting there. Characters and situations are realistic and likeable. No further explanation required. Read it and enjoy!

I received this book as a complimentary copy for an unbiased review.The opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks to the author,publisher,and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is a one-of-a kind, realistic look at what happens when people face tragedy and pain and are forced to come out the other side. Greer Hadley is a talented musician who has lost her chance in Nashville and returns to her hometown of Madison, TN with her “tail between her legs.” Because of multiple wrong choices, she ends up having to do community service. Thus, the stage is set for a wonderful love story, told with so much pathos that the emotions jump off the pages. One of the persons that Greer is supposed to help is Ally, a sarcastic and bitter teen whose father has just died. She also is assigned to help Emmett, a soldier home from the war who is wounded in body and spirit. The path that Greer takes to help the two of them find joy in life again is amazing! Greer demonstrates sarcastic wit and wisdom in her interactions with those whom she is supposed to help. The characters are well-crafted in such a way that their weaknesses are believable. The drama in the book is slowly revealed, like an old Polaroid photo that slowly becomes colorful and detailed. I loved the entire book, and as the wife of a retired military member, it is hard to impress me with a book having anything to do with war victims. This is a cheerful, clean romance that will uplift the readers and make us all beg for more from this talented author.

I love a good military romance. There is always so much heart and pain and it always adds a new level to the story that I really appreciate.

Greer Hadley is a starving musician in Nashville and comes home to the small town of Madison, Tennessee to rebuild her life. Emmett Lawson is a wounded army veteran who also comes home to Madison to hide from the world and drown out his guilt and shame. Greer and Emmett are brought together through the Music Tree Foundation, a non-profit organization that uses music to help veterans and their families. They both learn how to overcome the challenges of their lives and look toward the future.

This was a solid romance. The characters were relatable and dealt with some very real issues. Military members and their families hold a special place in my heart and this was a beautiful story.

I appreciate @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

This enemies-to-lovers romance comes at the trope from the trauma direction. Ordinarily I'm wary of that, especially when the trauma clangs false in its emotional complexity, and veers off into soap opera. (By which I mean constant drama on a high note, without anyone every actually progressing in understanding, much less wisdom).

But Trentham did what I found to be a terrific job in depicting Emmet's rage, and his bitter attempt at self-medicating through alcohol. And the helplessness of his family.

Then there's Greer, whose trauma is more subtle: she's back in defeat after throwing her entire heart, soul, and youth into trying to crack the iron gates of the music world. She starts on a false note, landing herself in court, but the judge knows her, and gives her a sentence of community service.

It's a life saver, not only for her, but for two other characters. Emmet, you'd of course guess, as this is a romance, but there's also teenaged Ally.

Trentham does a great job with the secondary characters while keeping the focus tight on Emmet and Greer as they advance, step by step, toward respect, understanding, friendship, and a tentative and fragile love. It's such a pleasure to watch this story unfold.

This is the first book by Laura Trentham I have read.
From the minute I started reading I was drawn to Greer.
Greer returns home after years of trying to get into the music business has gone nowhere.
Emmett has returned from Afghanistan missing one leg and full of guilt for surviving when others didn't.
Two lost people who need each other even if they don't think so.
A very good story that really touched my heart. Had me laughing and crying.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

An Everyday Hero is one amazing book! Ms. Trentham writes about difficult topics offering the reader some extraordinary insight into how hard it is to overcome life changing events, losing a limb during war, losing a dad in the war, and losing your focus due to anxiety. Although not a light-hearted read, this is still a great book about overcoming challenges, humbling yourself to accept help, seeking help and finally, helping each other.

Greer, Emmett and Ally make great characters who struggle to get to their new normal life. Loved it! With each of these characters needing to get past their past, you root for them from the beginning, wanting to see them be successful.

Not shared on Twitter, nor will it be on Amazon:
Just a thought - Realizing the location of the book in a small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business, there does seem to be a breach in confidentiality. Sharing names is not allowed.

An Everyday Hero review

What a compelling story about two very wounded characters, one physically and one emotionally. The story telling was so right – and difficult for a reader to describe. Sometimes you want to put the story down and other times you simply can’t.

Greer returns home after failing at her dream to be a superstar singer and composer. With only criticism from her parents, she really wants to be allowed to move on by herself and not be constantly told what to do by her parents. A night of drunkenness ends up with consequences to face in the light of day. The judge gives her the chance to make a difference in someone else’s life and possibly her own when he assigns her to help at a local music nonprofit designed to help former military and their families.

Emmett has hidden out at the family cabin in the woods since he returned home wounded from his service in the military. His mother keeps him supplied with food and anything else he needs which means he can hide out there. His shotgun generally keeps everyone away that doesn’t belong there. Until Greer.

She’s not going to give up on him or on her other client, Ally. Between the both of them, she begins to see that her path in life does have focus and that giving up is not an option for any of them, including her.

The author does a fantastic job of weaving this story to its conclusion. Wonderful writing!

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

This is a beautiful story full of every emotion you want in a book. An Everyday Hero is my new favorite book. I hope you give the book a try. The characters are real and the story is so well written. Thank you netgalley for the arc, the opinions are my own.

Greer Hadley leaves Nashville after a bad experience makes her give up her dream of making it big in the music business. Returning to her hometown, she makes a bad decision one night and is sentenced to community service at an organization that helps disabled veterans and their families. She is an unwilling participant at first, but soon finds that she has a gift for helping people who are hurting. She finds that, by helping others, she helps herself to heal.

Ally Martinez, a bitter fifteen year old girl whose father was killed in the war, makes a bad decision and is sent to the organization where Greer is trying to help veterans and their families through songwriting. Greer begins to doubt that she can break through Ally’s wall of bitterness.

Capt. Emmett Lawson was the town’s all-star athlete in high school. He followed the family legacy and enlisted in the military after graduation. He returns home from the war minus a leg and feeling like he should have been the one to die instead of the enlisted men serving under him. I couldn’t help but laugh at the interaction between Greer and Emmett. Emmett understandably has a bad attitude and wants nothing to do with anyone...not even his parents. The first meeting between Greer and Emmett was explosive to say the least! Emmett’s bad attitude is no match for Greer’s grit and determination. She is going to help him whether he wants help or not.

Ms, Trentham has created an engrossing novel with characters and situations that weave their way into your heart. I was drawn into the story from the very first chapter and I couldn’t put it down.

This is Book 2 in A Heart of a Hero series. It is a stand alone book, but you won’t want to miss Book 1 in the series, The Military Wife. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

I figured this was going to be a fluffy romance, easy to read, a bit of an escape. But I was wrong. It was a lovely story. I laughed, I cried. Such great characters . Their lives a total mess, each of them. But they come together and their shared loss and grief make for a beautiful story.

Thirty year old Greer Hadley tried to make it as a singer/songwriter in Nashville but when her dream didn't take hold she came home to Madison, TN. To make matters worse she gets in a bar fight which gets her arrested. She ends up doing community service at a non-profit that uses songwriting and music as therapy for veterans or family members of vets.

Greer gets the most challenging clients. First is Ally, a surly teenager who has no interest in a stranger teaching her how to write songs. Second is Emmett, a newly discharged vet who is dealing with the loss of a leg and the reasons behind it. He's also a former classmate of Greer's. She has her hands full with these two but is determined to put her time in and then move on with her life. 

An Everyday Hero is about learning to live a new normal after you think life is through with you. I liked the realistic and upbeat tone of the book. This is the second of Laura Trentham's books I've read and I look forward to reading more.

The second in a series, but this one of those series where you don't need to read the books in a row because there were no characters overlapping. The only commonality between the two books was their look at military life through unique perspectives. In this book, Greer Hadley returns home after she fails to make it in Nashville and while home she has a bit of drama which ends her in a courtroom and sentenced to volunteer work for a foundation that uses music as therapy for veterans and their families. The story begins with her at the foundation and the people that she will impact there.

What an interesting book. With two major secondary characters that she meets through the foundation, I fell just as in love with the two of them - Ally Martinez (daughter of a fallen vet) and Emmett Lawson (high school mate who has returned with a major injury from war). Ally is dealing with the loss of her dad and her mother's inability to cope with the loss and doesn't believe that music can really heal her. Emmett has returned to live on his parents property and has a huge dose of survivor's guilt and isn't ready to even start thinking about healing both physically and mentally.

The perspectives of the people she interacts with combined with the issues she is dealing with herself made this such a full book to read. I kept reading and reading wanting to know more and more about these characters and wanted to know where their stories would end up. The plot moved along so well and the characters felt so real and authentic.

I was very impressed with this small town fiction romance written by Laura Trentham. It was my first book written by this author and I'm so glad I took the chance on this book.

Set in a small town in Tennessee, Laura took three characters and made them grow in a very realistic way. She introduced them in their low points of life and they all ended up crossing paths. I felt like I knew the characters and that they could have been someone in my own town.

The book starts out with Greer moving back home and being court ordered to volunteer at a local foundation for veterans called Music Tree Foundation. This is the last place she wants to serve her time because of past failures. But when her snarky and tough attitude connects with a hard to crack teen (Ally), Greer begins to find a place in her town and in her life. Just when she feels like she may be good at something, the foundation director asks her to visit the home of a veteran and see if her tough attitude can crack the war hero (Emmett) that has returned home a very broken man.

This book takes three characters in Greer, Emmett, and Ally and transforms them from a low point in their lives. We get to witness them change in a very real way while watching their storylines intersect. The story flowed extremely well and made you feel as though you were a part of their world. The plot brought music and military veterans and their families together and I enjoyed reading it. It seemed a little 'fluffy' at times, but it was still a story where the characters brought a smile to my face and I wanted to keep entering their world when I wasn't reading it. Small town feels that hit all the right notes. 4.25 stars

The second in the Heart of a Hero series is a powerful story! Greer, a broken thirty year old returns home after years of trying to make it in the music industry. Faced with a betrayal, Greer ends up doing community service after drunk and disorderly charge at the local bar. Volunteering at a music therapy foundation introduces Greer to Ally, a fifteen year old who lost her dad to war and Emmett, a angry vet who has given up on life after losing a leg. The author weaves a story of loss, angry and betrayal into a story of life worth living. Recommended!

Greer Hadley feels like she's hit rock bottom. Her career as a singer-songwriter in Nashville implodes when she suffers from a freeze up when performing for someone who could jump start her career. She comes back home to walk in on her fiance in bed with another woman. When she drinks too much and attacks a jukebox for playing the wrong song, she's arrested and has to go to court with her Uncle Bill presiding. He sentences her to community service at a music therapy charity. Greer would rather clean up ditches than face her fears about her music but she has no choice.

Greer's first client is a teen named Ally who has gone off the rails a bit when her father is killed in combat and her mother uproots her and brings her to Nashville. Her mother is not doing well in her grief and Ally is only fifteen and not ready to be her mother's emotional support. Greer's tough love and their shared love of music helps her forge a relationship with the young girl.

Greer's second client is not so easy. Emmett Lawson was in her class at school. He went to West Point and was serving in the Army until his unit ran into insurgents killing his sergeant and causing Emmett to lose his lower leg. Emmett has turned himself into a hermit in the guest house on his parents' horse farm. When Greer climbs a fence to confront him, he greets her with a shotgun shot over her head. But Greer's stubbornness, tough love, and the feeling that she owes him a favor for something he did for her in high school, keeps her coming back until she manages to help him out.

I really liked this story. The characters were all interesting people. I did think that the coincidence that Ally's dad was Emmett's sergeant was a little far-fetched but otherwise the plot was realistic and well designed. Fans of feel good romances with intriguing characters will enjoy this story.

I loved this book! Laura Trentham created a story that sucked me in from the first pages and stuck with me after I closed the book. Greer, Emmett & Ally all had strong stories on their own; the highs and lows of growing up, chasing after your dreams and some devastating 'consequences' of real life. Their stories interwoven with their family and friends made for a story that had you feeling their pain, tearing up along side them and cheering for their triumphs. This was a story pulled back the curtain on the glamorous side of military life but a side that is so important to read and hear about. If you're a fan of military stories, love stories and triumph over tragedy I could not recommend picking up this book more!