This story is a roller coaster of emotions. Yeah yeah, I know that a lot of reviews say that, but I honestly mean it. I enjoyed the whole story together, but it took me all over the emotional map as I read it. I was frustrated with how everyone who was religious was portrayed (I swear that we aren't all horrible, judgmental people who look down on everyone despite what the romance genre wants you to believe!), I loved the humor and the sass (so much sass...it was nothing short of hilarious), I was heartbroken for Emmett and for Ally, I adored watching Emmett and Greer grow from start to finish, and I felt like the ending was exactly what I wanted it to be. If you're looking for a light, emotionless read, this isn't the book for you. If you want to get frustrated and laugh within a few pages of each other, if you want to just reach out and hug a character to make them feel better, and/or if you want to read about a whole bunch of everyday heroes, this is a book that you should read.

This is an emotionally charged book. The three main characters are all struggle with issues in their lives. Greer is a young woman who feels that her life is failing in all aspects. Emmet is an injured Soldier who is suffering the after effects he got from severe injuries in combat. Ally is a teenage girl whose dad has died in combat. The story shows how each of these people deal individually and collaboratively to solve their issues. It will take you an emotional roller coaster as they swing through various emotions. There are moments of levity and laughter as well as fun encounters. As they grow more confident they find that there are ties that bind them together for life. It is also a story of a love that blossoms between Emmett and Greer that is beautiful.

I was SO not expecting to like this book, An Everyday Hero. Like the main character, I’ve had enough of endless, mindless wars. I’m a Colonel’s wife and an Air Force brat and I have been faced with its horrors for far too long. I assumed that this book would be another sappy, propagandist piece of tripe. Let me assure you and loudly admit – I was WRONG!

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

Greer Hadley is like so many young women with dreams of stardom and stars in their eyes. She set off for Nashville with a golden voice and hope as big as the ocean. However, after years of trying for that “big break” and being left with nothing except anxiety disorder, she heads home to a place she swore she would never return. After a bar crawl, she is ordered to do community service which just happens to be a music as therapy center. There Greer comes in contact with people who will change her life: a young teen with a huge chip on her shoulder named Ally and a wounded vet who is battling demons that may be to large for he or Greer to handle. What happens within the story is a beautiful unfolding of drama, hope, second chances and the will to rise up from the ashes.

Trentham is a master storyteller whose gift of prose shines throughout this book. There are so many opportunities for the story to turn cheesy and into a Hallmark moment, but she deftly guides the story line back to reality. I don’t read books about military personnel because that is a life I’ve lived for far too long but An Everyday Hero struck a chord so deep within me that I could not put down the book from its beginning to its end. It has three very strong, realistic, well developed characters with whom I connected and wanted to know more about. Their stories are compelling and I know you will love them as much as I did.

An Everyday Hero is slated to be published in February. It’s well worth putting on your TBR list now.

ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review

This is the second Heart of a Hero story, and can be read totally as a stand alone.

I like Greer and Emmett's story a lot more than the first story (not that I didn't like the first book, just this one better).

This book shows that you that heroes come in every shape and form. Emmett is the quintessential military hero - though he does not see himself that way.

Greer does not think she is any kind of hero, she is just doing what she has to do.

But what neither of them know is that they are a hero of sorts to someone else. Heck, who knows, each of us may be a hero in somebody's life and not know it - though I do feel that the word hero is bandied around too freely at times.

I loved seeing the growth in all the main characters as the story progresses. Greer and Emmett find love when it is least expected, Ally finds growth through her therapy and friendships.

This book has so much hope, getting everyone through the despair they are feeling in their lives.

Wonderful, uplifting story, and I am looking forward to more in this series from Laura Trentham

This was a very sweet romance that dealt with some very serious issues. I don't often read military themed novels, but I really enjoyed the hopeful message of An Everyday Hero. Laura Trentham's writing was wonderful and I found myself highlighting passages throughout the book. I appreciated that both main characters, Greer and Emmett, were bruised but not broken. They each had their own demons to battle, but they supported and pushed each other to be better and move forward. I felt like the author presented Emmett and Greer's individual concerns and fears realistically, and I loved how she addressed each one. The topics of death, addiction, loss of a parent, anxiety, and the aftermath of war/service were delicately and honestly discussed and I did not see the twist coming. The ending wrapped up a little too perfectly, and it's possible I may have gotten a cavity from how sweet it is. Readers should note that this is a clean, Hallmark style romance, with fade to black scenes. Overall, I enjoyed this small town feel good romance.

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

For some reason, I have been reading a lot (and stress, a lot) of military-themed romances lately. I am not a massive fan of them. 90% of the book I have read, the soldiers come back from battle with PTSD or missing limbs, which is fine by me. But, by the middle or the end of the book, the love of a good woman makes their PTSD go away or they miraculously come to terms with how they lost their limbs. Not realistic, and that is the main reason why I stopped reading them. But, then I picked up the first book in A Heart of a Hero series and read a book where things didn’t go away. The hero and the heroine had to deal with their issues. That reason alone, I decided to read An Everyday Hero. I was impressed with what I read and the tact that the author showed when writing about PTSD in veterans.

The plotline for An Everyday Hero was medium paced. That allowed the author to develop the main character’s personalities and relationships with each other. It also allowed for the two main plotlines to be able to mature and then merge. I loved it.

I loved Greer. She had one of the more epic introductions that I have read, ever. I loved her sass and her wit during the book. She was the right choice to send over to get Emmett off his butt. I did find her character a little too much at times, but she was larger than life presence in the book. Her interactions with Ally were gold also.

Emmett made me cry several times during the book. His guilt and regret over what happened to his sergeant were palpable. I didn’t quite understand why he was so angry at his father at first. But as the book went on, I was able to piece things together. His character growth throughout the book was incredible. I loved seeing him at the end of the book, knowing what he had come from.

Emmett and Greer’s romance was medium paced. There were a few chapters of “does he/she or doesn’t he/she” going on for me. I liked that the author paced it that way, though. It allowed for Emmett and Greer to build their friendship. As for the sex, the author chose to be semi-clean with this book. I say semi-clean because while they do have sex, she didn’t go into detail. I loved it. I feel if she went into detail, it would have taken away from the more critical parts of the book.

The storyline with Ally was heartbreaking. But, I was surprised that when Ally told Greer about the online bullying, that Greer did nothing about it. She didn’t mention it to Angela (the head of the music therapy program). Instead, it was just dropped. I felt that it was an essential part of Ally’s story. It, along with the other issues, showed how tough she had it. I was a little disappointed about that. But overall, I did enjoy how Ally’s character grew during the book. I also enjoyed the twist that was revealed almost at the end of the book. I saw it coming, but I still enjoyed it.

The storyline with Greer, her community service, music therapy, and her issues was excellent. I loved seeing Greer grow during that storyline. I loved seeing her rediscover her love of music as she helped Ally.

The storyline with Wayne (who skeeved me out) was dropped after Greer invoked Emmett’s name. I was a little disappointed because up until that point, I thought he was going to turn out to be a “bad guy.” Plus, I wouldn’t say I liked that Greer had resort to using Emmett’s name to get Wayne to back off. It didn’t sit right with me.

I was also confused as to how An Everyday Hero fits in the A Heart of a Hero series. Other than Karen and Ally coming from Fort Knox, there was no connection to the other book. Maybe I missed something.

The end of An Everyday Hero was bittersweet. From the minute Emmett helped the foal be born to the not so surprising epilogue, I was a mess. The twist with Ally happened during that time. I will say that Greer’s parents were saints and that Emmett’s father ended up being not such a bad guy. The epilogue was a little predictable. I guessed everything that happened. Still, it was a great ending to the book.

There was nothing average about this second instalment in Laura Trentham’s A Heart of a Hero series. Book one knocked my socks off and book two solidified my commitment and affection for this series. This is a multi-dimensional read that is small town but big impression.

I was expecting to see a link to the previous book but this is not an interconnected standalone, it is a true standalone, connected in the series by the theme of military heroes. For a quick moment, I was disappointed about this, but I got into the story so quickly that I ended up entranced by the characters and forgot about the series connection.

The protagonist was washed-up muscian Greer, who found herself forced into volunteering at a music centre. Somehow she was put on the case of Emmett, a veteran with one less limb, who had given up on life and people. This was a realistic, quietly impactful story as these two navigated returning to living. Remember how I said it was multi-dimensional? There was a 15 year old Ally, who was a key character in the picture, as well as horses and a kitten that I pretty much want to come and live with me.

"Emmett wrapped his arms around the horse’s neck, embarrassing tears pricking his eyes. He hadn’t cried before or after his amputation. He hadn’t cried the first time he tried to walk on the prosthetic. He hadn’t cried the day he received his discharge papers. But with his face buried in the mane of his best childhood friend, tears leaked out."

Suffice it to say, this heartwarming story has all the feels and is almost guarenteed to make your eyes leak. On top of that, Greer was a snarky, no prisoners type of character. I just got on so well with reading about her and her attempts to draw Emmett and Ally out, that I was a complete fan of this book and Laura Trentham’s style of writing.

This isn’t a dramatic, high action military romance, it is the quiet, sneak up on your feelings type and I couldn’t be happier about that.

Thank you to St Martin’s Griffin for the early review copy.

An Everyday Hero by Laura Trentham is book #2 in the A Heart of a Hero series. That being said it can very well be read as a standalone. Laura Trentham wrote a wonderful story which drew me right in, making me forget everything else and did not let me go until I turned the last page. A very moving and emotional story. This book will make you laugh but it also will make you cry. It is very well written and the characters a well-defined and believable. This was such a great book I sat and read it in one sitting. I highly recommend this series. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out.

The book covers serious topics with humor. I love Greer and her no nonsense way of handling people who are going through major life struggles. Greer is back home after giving up on her dream. She gets into some trouble and is forced to do some volunteer work. This puts some new people in her life as well as has her crossing paths with someone from her past. Emmett is struggling with the loss of his leg suffered while serving in the military. The book is great journey for both characters and how they adjust to the changes in their lives. The struggles are very real and emotional, but the author writes them with a tinge of humor that makes it a very easy and enjoyable read. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Trentham’s first book, The Military Wife, was so well written that I couldn’t wait to read her second in this series. And I wasn’t disappointed with An Everyday Hero.

When Greer Hadley walks away from her dreams of making it big in Nashville she returns to her tiny hometown of Madison, Tenn. But the boyfriend who was supposed to be patiently waiting for her return hasn’t been patient or faithful.

Her unhappiness by both Nashville and her once boyfriend cause Greer to respond by heading to the local bar. She ends up getting drunk, causing damage to the bar, and being arrest.

But her once uncle, who she is still close with, is the local judge. Seeing the good in Greer, he sentences her to 50 hours of community service as a music teacher. But this isn’t just any place that offers lessons. The charity he assigns her to aids veterans and their families as they heal from the effects of war.

At the time Greer sees this as punishment far worse than picking up litter on the highways. And to make matters worse one of the people she is assigned at the music center is a girl who is so hard to handle that the other teachers refuse to see her anymore. And another assigned to her is a man she attended high school with. But he is also a problem for the music center. You see he is so hard to deal with that Greer is sent to his house to talk to him. But Greer has no idea what she is up against.

The story, like the previous book in this series, addresses some extremely tough topics. But the writing is such that the characters come to life. Their actions feel believable and the story pulls you in and doesn’t let go until the final page. And even then it leaves you wanting more.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and #NetGalley for an ARC and the ability to freely express my thoughts.

What Concerned Me
Nothing

What I Liked Most
Trentham is definitely an author worth following. The two books I have read were excellent. And if you follow my reviews, I don’t hand out a 5 Star rating often.

Both the writing and story are interesting, informative, and bring contemporary issues to light.

Rollercoaster that ended with happiness and tears.
I love these characters. So well written and relatable. Greer, Emmett and Ally are both hurt. Seeing them maneuver around life and its potholes was definitely something to see. Or read.
The climax, was so worth the time spent going through all the emotions with the characters.

Greer has moved home to Madison, Tennessee after not being able to make it in Nashville. Court ordered community service brings her into the lives of Ally, an angry and grieving teenager and Emmett, an old classmate, who has lost a leg overseas. Three very different, yet in some ways the same people help one another recover and become stronger together .
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Two everyday heroes find their way together in this lovely romance!

Greer and Emmett are each at the very end of their ropes, coming back home to repair, regroup, and repent as necessary. They each seek refuge with their very-supportive-but-from-another-generation parents as they try to figure out just what's left for them in life.

One court-ordered "volunteer" position leads to an unlikely meeting that includes one shotgun and two threats to alert the other's mama. Soon, however, they find that they each are the kick-in-the-seat-of-the-pants that the other needs:

“And everyone thinks I’m the one who’s screwed up and hiding from life.”

“You are.”

“I know I am, but so are you.”

This is more than a romance; it's an amazing story of redemption and rebuilding lives. Emmett is haunted by the events that cost him his leg; Greer is floundering from the failure of her dreams. Ally is a young teen struggling to stay afloat after the death of her father, and the connection Greer forges with her changes all three lives.

There's just so much depth to this book. Even the parents are written as fully-realized, three-dimensional characters. The conflicts and losses are not dealt with lightly, and the author skillfully guides Greer and Emmett through their personal battles and inevitable growth with plenty of humor and a whole lot of heart. The twist near the end was shocking, yet completely realistic and allowed for a very satisfying convergence of all the individual storylines.

I highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who loves military heroes and compelling characters. Greer and Emmett are the perfect embodiment of quiet, everyday heroes who save themselves while saving each other. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

“An Everyday Hero” by Laura Trentham
A truly emotional read. A very well written contemporary romance with so much life being lived in this story. You will not want to put it down for any reason. Well at least I couldn’t stay away for very long at a time. Until my eyes said, “Please give me a break. I need rest.” Yes I loved this story, enjoyed my time within this story and I say this is a Worthy Read. Happy Reading ! !

A solidly good story about a 30 yo woman moving back home with her parents after her music career doesn’t go as planned. She reconnects with a high school classmate who is now a vet with issues of his own. There is also a 15 yo troubled teen who has lost her father in combat that figures prominently here.

This is a story about losing one’s way, struggling but ultimately finding that one (or two 😊) person(s) who helps you get your life back on track. This threesome find strength and encouragement from each other when things look their bleakest.

This is my third book to read from Trentham, and I’ve enjoyed them all.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

“An Everyday Hero” is a heartwarming story of perseverance when the worst things happen to us. This book was well written and easy to read. This is the first book I have read by this author but I will definitely seek out others.

Moving story of a physically and emotional scarred soldier, Emmett, who meets a down on her luck musician Greer. While Greer is sent to help Emmett to heal, she discovers that he can help her as well. I enjoyed this book. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

Loved this story! I love Greer's snarkiness. It is what is needed by more than one person. Emmett has come home with one leg and a real attitude. He just wants to be a hermit. Greer isn't about to let that happen. Even when he shoots at her, she doesn't back down and that is just the way to get to him. Greer's life is in a shambles, but there are others who have it worse than she does. If she can just help them, maybe her life with sort itself out.

An Everyday Hero by Laura Trentham is a modern-day story of romance and dealing with the aftermath of war. Greer Hadley has returned to her small hometown, where everybody knows everybody and their business, after failing to make it in Nashville. She gets drunk and trashes the bar and fights with the arresting officer causing her to be brought up charges of disorderly conduct, public intoxication and resisting arrest. Along with paying for damages she is sentenced to community service working with the Music Tree Foundation, a non-profit that helps veterans and their families cope with the trauma they have endured in the serving of our country through music. Greer is assigned to two clients. The first is Ally, a fifteen-year-old girl who lost her father to the war. Her mother is struggling with her loss and Ally is pretty much left to deal with hers alone. Greer is the last resort at the foundation as all the other volunteers have given up on Ally. The second one is Emment who lost his leg and is wallowing in self pity in the cabin his family owns and h never leaves the property. Visitors are likely to be welcomed by gunfire, as a warning or aimed at them. Will she be able to make a difference in either of their lives? Will Greer learn to move on from her time in Nashville and her perceived failure? Will Emment be more than a client or will love blossom elsewhere?
I enjoyed this look at PTSD and how the war affects those left at home. I give this book 5 of 5 stars. I could feel the pain of the characters and their relief when they finally accept life as it is and begin moving on.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first time I've read a book by Laura Trentham and I enjoyed it very much. The story of Greer and Emmett was well written and the issue of veterans returning from war was handled in a good way. It wasn't shied away from and it was presented realistically.

The interaction between Greer and Ally was wonderful and it is a fact of life in this world today that many children lose a parent to war.

There's quite a bit that happens in this book and I don't want to give things away so it's tough to write a good review, but please know how very much I enjoyed this book. There is romance, but it certainly wasn't the primary focus of the book, nor was it graphic which I appreciate.

I'll definitely read more by this author and would suggest if you haven't read anything by her, you give this book a try.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for approving my request for an ARC. All thoughts in this review are my own.