This is an emotional tale about heartache, second chances and learning to believe in ourselves and others. Greer, Emmet and Ally are separately flawed characters who learn to become and accept who they are with each other. This emotional tale will pull at your heartstrings.

An Everyday Hero  by Laura Trentham certainly wins my vote as a reader who loves a deeply satisfying story of redemption, second chances and sheer gutsiness.

Greer has returned home after years of just plodding along in the music industry to find her boyfriend cheating on her. After a bout of drunkenness and disorder she is sentenced to helping at a music center for veterans and her families.

One of the people she is assigned is Ally, a really anti, sullen teen, who has lost her father in war. Everyone else has given up on Ally, but Greer with her quick comebacks and understanding born of years of hard graft, begins to make a chink in her armour.

Veteran Emmett Lawson has holed himself up in a cabin, shooting at anyone who visits. His worried parents have appealed to the music center for help. Greer is sent out and in spite of receiving the shooting treatment manages to get a foot on the step, eventually.

For all the characters its not an easy journey. They all have issues and deep seated pain and heart break. But when it comes down to it, they hang in there, and manage to eventually come through the chaos of their lives.

The story highlights the difficulties faced by war veterans and their families. It also says it's important to hang in there with them and not be put off by early rebuffs. Love, family and friendship along with challenge and tough love can win through.

I've become a firm fan of this author and this series.

An Everyday Hero by Laura Trentham is the 2nd book in A Heart of a Hero series, and my first book by this author. I loved this book, and plan on reading more by this author. Greer Hadley has returned home to Madison, Tennessee as a failed song writer, at least in her eyes. After making bad decisions and tearing up a bar, she is sentenced to community service helping veterans and their families with song writing music therapy. Her first client is a 15 year old girls, who's father was killed in action, no one has been able to work with her. The second client is Emmett, who Greer went to high school with, and the most popular boy in school. Unfortunately he returned to town wounded, and giving up on life. What a wonderful roller coaster ride of emotional ups and downs for all three of these individuals. I highly recommend this book, I can't praise it enough.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a fascinating story about a “wanna-be” songwriter. Greer Hadley returns home to Madison after a stint as a song writer that never takes off. Greer ends up doing community service work at a local center, after getting into trouble in the town. The center director puts Greer to work with a young girl, who has been devastated by the death of her father in combat and whose mother is coping with her sorrows with drugs, and with a purple heart vet, whose combat loss of one lower leg has left him so devastated that he is living like a hermit in in a cabin on his parents’ ranch. Greer gives the young girl music lessons as a way to cope with and overcome her grief. She also tries to interest the vet in music again. At first that fails, but he soon shows interest, becoming friends with her, though he is bothered being close to a woman with a prosthetic leg. Greer never gives up on her mission, working to help these two hurting souls overcome their deeply seated grief and anger.

This book, like the first in the series, is about people whose lives are affected by the military and its combat mission. This theme came home to me, as I also am a vet, though I never was impacted the way these two have been. Still, I saw and know may like them. The stories point out the sometimes-hidden costs of war that many never think of or experience. I liked the way Greer was able to bring some peacefulness to these troubled souls. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the author brought the stories of these two almost lost souls to life, and the way she had Greer manage to change them for the better. Their journeys are filled with emotion, understanding, searching and success, but also with grief, adjustment, understanding and friendship. There is a romance intertwined within the tale, which only added to the story. I am sure you will come to appreciate Greer and all she does, and fall in love with all the characters involved, especially the young girl and the vet. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

This is an awesome story. To me it was about being down so low and having to make yourself push yourself, with the help of some unlikely friends. We get to know Emmett, a veteran who is dealing with both grief and guilt. Then we have Greer. Who would want to go back home and admit defeat on a career she wanted so badly? Will she be able to forgive herself? As I was reading, I could feel the emotions and feelings these characters were feeling. I was very much into the story. How would you act and react as parents of these folks? Throw into the mix a young girl who is dealing with the loss of her father and a mother who can’t quite keep it together. How will she play into the lives of Emmett and Greer? I loved this story and the characters. I hope you do too. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Unable to make it as a musician in Nashville and shocked to discover her boyfriend is cheating on her, Greer is arrested after a night of poor choices. To atone for her sins, the judge orders her to complete community service at Music Tree Foundation, an organization that uses music to relieve anxiety, depression, and/or PTSD. There, she finds not only a new purpose in life while working with Ally, a troubled teen, and Emmett, a troubled veteran (who feels guilty for surviving while others in his unit did not), but maybe also a chance at love.

"An anchor weighs you down. Keeps you in one place. Why would you want to be with someone like that? You should be with someone who encourages you to fly."

I loved (like 5 star loved) The Military Wife, the first book in this series, so I was so looking forward to this one. Even though I enjoyed the characters and story line (and hello, there was a kitten named Bonnie Raitt in a story set outside Nashville) in An Everyday Hero, I just didn't feel the same emotional pull as I did with the first one. I'm not a huge romance reader so that definitely could be why as I seem to be in the minority with my 3 star rating. I did, however, enjoy the flirty banter between Greer and Emmett, and I did tear up a couple times, so my heart is not made entirely of stone hehe.

Lastly, I can't help but wonder why a beach was featured on this cover because the book wasn't set anywhere near a beach. There were so many other great options, including a woman playing a guitar for a hot guy, or a cabin in the woods, or even a horse farm. At the very least, there should have been an American flag since the story focused on an Army veteran. Sigh.

Location: Madison, TN

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is another fantastic story by author Laura Trentham. Engaging the reader from the start, you quickly become engrossed in the story.

In helping others, we often find that they help us as well. I loved the music tie ins throughout and this was an easy book to read, the pages flew as I was immersed in the story.

All of the characters are at a crossroad each looking for their future paths with regrets as an underlying theme. We get to witness all of the characters transformations.

Greer is all sass and Emmett is bitter and feeling sorry for himself. Their interactions are fun to read and you can't help but feel the connection grow. You can feel their epic love story.

Greer and Ally help one another more than either ever thought they would. Ally is the angsty teenager that Greer allowing Greer to reach the heart of Ally. You feel the friendship and respect grow.

The connection between Ally and Emmett was a great tie in and helped heal their regrets.

AN EVERYDAY HERO – Laura Trentham
Heart of a Hero, Book 2
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN: 978-1250145550
February 2020
Contemporary Romance

Madison, Tennessee – Present Day

Greer Hadley had her heart set on a country-western music career, but the lack of job offers—and a failed romance—has her scurrying back to her hometown of Madison. She’s living with her parents and getting into trouble, namely getting drunk in a bar and trashing it. She is ordered by the judge to do community service at a local center, where the director has her working with two people: a troubled teenage girl and a purple heart veteran who doesn’t want to be around people. Greer has her work cut out for her. The girl, Ally, lost her father in military combat, while the mother is dealing with the loss by becoming a drug addict. Ally has also gotten into criminal mischief, so she and Greer are on common ground. Greer will be teaching Ally music lessons, but soon discovers the girl might have a gift for songwriting. But their relationship is tenuous. Can Greer get Ally to open up?

Meanwhile, the military vet is Emmett Lawson, a former classmate. Emmett once was the big man in town, but after losing one of his lower legs to injury while on a mission, he doesn’t see himself as a whole man anymore. He’s been keeping to himself, living in a cabin on his parents’ ranch and looking like the hermit he has become. Greer’s job is to interest him in music once again, but of course he rebuffs her. But she is determined because she truly wants to help Emmett. Her persistence soon pays off and they become friends. As they grow closer, a sexual attraction develops. Yet, with him wearing a prosthetic leg, he doesn’t feel comfortable being that close to a woman.

AN EVERYDAY HERO will tug at a reader’s heart as each character, Greer, Ally, and Emmett, are finding life nearly unbearable right now. After being rejected in Nashville, Greer is experiencing doubt that she can make music again. Ally thinks her life is going nowhere and that it’s not fair that her dad isn’t around. Emmett feels guilt that he survived the attack when his commanding officer died just a few feet away from him. Their journey in AN EVERYDAY HERO is one fraught with emotion and filled with learning about themselves as they finally find the path to a future. At first, Greer’s interactions with Ally and Emmett are separate from each other, but late in this tale they finally cross paths. How will this happen and what will be the result?

AN EVERYDAY HERO is part of the Heart of a Hero series, but it is a standalone, as the first tale in the series, THE MILITARY WIFE, is only connected due to the fact of it containing a military vet. This tale is also a women’s fiction novel, but leans more heavily toward it being a romance. There are plenty of sex scenes that will have you fanning yourself a few times.

Fall in love and cry with the characters of AN EVERYDAY HERO. They are experiencing the lows of their life, but soon find happiness. Don’t miss this compelling tale.

Patti Fischer

An immensely enjoyable read, An Everyday Hero elicits both laughter and tears. Ms. Trentham’s development of the story and the characters can only be described as skillful. She achieved a balance between humor and angst that I found utterly delightful.

Despite all of Greer’s setbacks, she remains funny and caring. Once roused from his wallowing, Emmett turns out to be an adorable hero. I love that both started out as messed up but once they rekindled their friendship, they started to heal and support each other in finding their purpose. Their sparkling banter made their dialogues fun to read. Their chemistry is obvious from the beginning and it’s easy to follow how they transitioned from friends to lovers.

“An anchor weighs you down. Keeps you in one place. Why would you want to be with someone like that? You should be with someone who encourages you to fly.”

Ally’s story is heartbreaking and far too real among military kids. I appreciate the way Ms. Trentham incorporated music in getting her to open up to Greer. The most important of the secondary characters, Ally is edgy and sympathetic at the same time.

The author really captured the essence of a Southern small town from the sweet tea to the busybodies to the country music. I also really loved the roles family and friends played in assuring that the story concludes happily.
I found this book highly-entertaining and recommend it to readers of romance and women’s fiction.

Content advisory – battle scenes in a nightmare and retelling.
Heat level – low (kisses only)

While reading the story, I kept wondering who the everyday hero was. I finally decided it was not just one person in the story; it was more than one.
There is Greer, who has been sentenced to community service that is a hero to Ally and Emmett. And there is Emmett, who was a Hero in the war. Then there is Ally, who is helping her mother get over the death of her father.
I loved Greer’s character and how she loved to help Ally and Emmett. Greer had stopped making music but ends helping Ally through music.
I received an advanced copy of the book from NetGalley. This book review is my own opinion.

Two lost souls find their way again by helping each other. This book shows how people can be lost but find a way back through both music and talking to the right person. The emotions that everyone is going through in this book are huge. It takes the right kind of person to push someone in the direction they need to go. It does help to have support from family, friends and outside help. Greer and Emmett find both love and understand in each other. This book also shows you the different sides of what people go through in the Military and coming back home after war or the loved ones who are left behind.


*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

I was totally impressed with the author’s knowledge regarding Emmett issues and feelings regarding his injuries and his feelings about our current wars. It felt very real and I totally felt all those emotions in this story. I was not expecting to like Greer but she totally grew on me, and I appreciated the pace of their romance. The character that surprised me was Ally. I didn’t know if i could relate to her and yet i totally fell in love with her. All in all, a very satisfying realistic romance.

An Everyday Hero was INCREDIBLE. A realistic look at life especially it's struggles and desperation after unforseen tragedies. Deep and raw with emotion I could literally feel the pain these characters where dealing with. Everything about this story was believeable and touched my heart. A book that definitely has to read and experienced.

I can’t even begin to convey the depth, the pain, the beauty of Greer’s – Ally’s – Emmett’s stories. I won’t even try. Individually they are all painful to read and uplifting to complete, combine them together as they affect each other’s lives in meaningful, realistic ways and you’ll discover a book that will speak to your heart for many enjoyable re-readings. An Everyday Hero describes each of these three people in various degrees and levels of pain, at different places in their lives yet brings them together in a way that is realistic, plausible and memorable.

My true wish for you as a reader would be to go into An Everyday Hero blind knowing nothing more than what the Cover Description gives you, which is everything you need to know to begin this journey. Yes, I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press for which I’m very grateful so I should be saying lovely, flowery, insightful things about this novel. And still… I find that I really want you to discover this heartwrenching and heart-healing story for yourself, on your terms, in your time – for both you and this book deserve that.

I was captured by An Everyday Hero from the first chapter and its grip didn’t let go until the final word was read. I loved this book, I cried, cringed, laughed, hurt and healed alongside some of the most memorable characters I can remember reading about. I should apologize for saying little but in this case, less is indeed more… more for you to discover on your own and experience firsthand as three people impact each other’s lives in ways that matter and heal themselves along the way.

I would not hesitate for one second in recommending this story to any reader no matter your preferred genre. This one will touch you, and you’ll be glad for that in the end.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Greer has made a mess of her life. She has tried and failed to make it in Nashville. Her long time boyfriend cheated on her…she CAUGHT HIM IN THE ACT! Then she destroyed a bar and ended up in front of her uncle, the judge. Instead of sentencing her to pick up trash, he made her community service about music. The one thing she is trying to forget! She is to volunteer at a non profit organization which helps veterans and their families heal through music.

Greer has been given two of the hardest cases in the organization. A teenage girl, Ally, who lost her father in military action. And then there is Emmett. Emmett is a mess as well. He lost his leg and his will to function in this world. When these two get together sparks fly, in anger and attraction!

Now, I fluctuated between 4 and 5 stars on this read. The main reason I went with 5 stars…the music! Many, many times in my life music has been my lifesaver. It is in this book as well. Music can heal if you let it. And that is exactly what the author portrays in this read. This book does slow down a little in the middle but the characters, trauma and the healing really create a great read.

Now…this cover is not at all what the book is about. I guess the design was meant to portray tranquility…sooo not what I got out of the book. Music as the cover would have been much better, in my opinion. But, it is still a very good read! Grab this one today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Title: An Everyday Hero
Author: Laura Trentham
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5

Greer Hadley’s dreams of being a songwriter in Nashville crashed and burned, sending her back home to Madison, Tennessee. Like living with her parents isn’t bad enough, a spectacularly bad decision—and a drink or two too many—leave her doing community service at a nonprofit organization that helps veterans and their families. She can’t even bring herself to perform anymore—how is she going to help anyone else?

Then Greer meets fifteen-year-old Ally who’s new to town and recently lost her father, and Greer finds herself drawn to the bitter, sarcastic girl. Greer also ends up assigned to Emmett Lawson, a high school hero who came home from the front lines wounded and needing no one. After he tries to run her off with a shotgun, Greer is even more determined to help Emmett realize he needs to let people in—especially when Ally is in crisis and it will take both of them to see her safely through.

An Everyday Hero takes three characters who have been broken down by life and builds them back up through each other. They’ve all hit rock bottom and can’t see any way up—Emmett doesn’t even want to go up—but manage to find their way back to the light. Trust plays a big part in the novel, particularly learning to trust people with the truths of your scars and wounds, and I found this an enjoyable read.

Laura Trentham was born and Raised in Tennessee but now lives in South Carolina. An Everyday Hero is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Greer was very much in love with her boyfriend Beau who she dated for 6 months and she was determined to make it as a singer and songwriter in Nashville. But she struggles with stage fright.....

After being cheated on by Beau by Marcie and being issued a court order after she trashed a bar, her life is in turmoil.

She has to help Ally, a troubled teenage girl in a centre called Amelia's Music Tree which uses music therapy to help people with different issues. Ally stole from a supermarket which was what got her there in the first place.

Amelia is the center's co-ordintor and Greer's family. The other person Greer has to help is Emmett Lawson who lives in the guest cabin on his parents' horse farm. Greer and he used to be in the same class and his ex girlfriend was Misty Malone.

Amelia says he needs someone as stubborn as him to help so that's why she thinks Greer is the perfect person to help.

Meanwhile, Amelia may have promises in music and Greer discovers this after she finds the lyrics Allie wrote under Greer's supervision.

Ally has had a tough life- she lost her dad Richard who was in the army and she lives with her mum in a deprived area.

I was caught up in the mystery of Emmett's personality and character and of where he lives as the cabin is a mix of new and old. Emmett is angry and bitter after sustaining a leg injury in the war and because of his experiences of the war in general. He joined the army to make a difference yet feels he did not meet his goal.

Despite this, it's good to see that Greer's strength of character has herself standing her ground and sticking up for herself around him. Will they get on better?

Greer is a caring person and shows that side of herself to Emmett and his parents, offering them all help. After Emmett came home, he did not want a "heroe's welcome" and his mother is typically caring and looks after his wellbeing by keeping him provided with her homecooked recipes which she takes over to him.

His dad is harsher, as he's a retired army officer. Will he soften towards Emmett? How does he take Greer's presence in his son's life? he's angry yet concerned, and still pretty strict.

I did feel for Mrs Lawson as she witnessed the struggles her son had.

Laura Trentham deals with the hard moments and emotional scenes professionally.

While all this is happening with Emmett, will Ally open up to Greer?

I was impressed with how Greer tried to help with each session Ally has with her and every one is eye-opening, emotional and realistic.

The depth of emotion in the book is amazing and Laura Trentham managed to pull at my heartstrings and make me feel worried, sad for the characters yet happy for them when I needed to be.

Greer does not have much experience with children or teenagers but she does her best to be there fkr Allie and that says a lot about her character. Greer's time with Ally is engaging, frustrating and inspiring. Should Greer care more about Ally? When she starts to, things get complicated....


Ally and Greer get on well and it was great to see their relationship change. I liked the way that the cast was a few characters that the author really got into. Better than so many characters that aren't well fleshed out but everyone in this novel really comes to life on the page.

All theough the book, we see that Emmett and Greer have conflicts, make up then fall for each other. Ally's mother turned to drink after Ally's dad died. But is she strong enough to get clean for Ally? For herself?

Emmett and Greer pull together to help themselves and others.

The book is about loving and helping people and fighting for the life you want.

An Everyday Hero is heartfelt, real, gritty and a book to love. 5 stars. I'll never forget this novel.

Thanks to Laura Trentham and St Martin's Press for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I'm thrilled to be kicking off the blog tour on February 4th 2020 , which is also the novel's publication day.

Put together a reclusive wounded veteran, an angry rebellious teenager, and a failed musician and what would have been a recipe for disaster becomes the long road back to healing and restoration. Greer's moment of inebriated rage lands her in a community service program where her unconventional approach to reaching her clients earns her their respect and that of her mentor. Ally's anger stems from the death of her father and the inability of her mother to handle their terrible loss. Emmett has lost his leg but the loss of his teammates draws him into a darkness that no one can penetrate. Greer is just lost. Feeling like a miserable failure she returns home to lick her wounds. As with all really good writers, I found that once I started reading this book, I was unable to put it down. Waking up in the middle of the night, instead of turning over and shutting my eyes, I instead got up and gleefully crept into the lounge where I could continue to read in peace. I enjoyed the wit and Greer's streetwise approach to Emmett and Ally, as she pushed her way past their objections and bad attitudes. Once Emmett gets beyond his anger at Greer for ignoring his warnings about approaching his cabin, he finds a spark of humor bubbling up within him at her outrageous comebacks. Ally has thwarted all attempts to reach her, but when she discovers an echo in Greer's own past, she pauses in her verbal assaults long enough to really listen. This novel is heartwarming and moving, dealing with real people and very real problems. I laughed and I cried, sometimes at the same moment. The book is a standalone and comes to a successful and hope-filled ending. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

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.

This is a touching story. Greer is just what Ally and Emmett needs although she an not fathom working as a volunteer to work off her sentence from the judge, her uncle. She thinks she prefers to pick up liter.
Ally is a troubled teen and Emmett is a war hero with troubles of his own. Their lives cross in more ways than imagined.
Laura Trentham writes both contemporary and historical romance and does an excellent job with both genres.
Although historical is my preference I will happily read anything by this author.
I gave this book a 4.75 of 5.0 star rating and look forward to reading more by this author,