This was such a heartwarming story that was so much more than a love story. This book explored PTSD and survivor's guilt. It also explored familial relationships and living according to your own timeline. I loved the message of being able to find yourself at any age.

I liked the relationship between Greer and Ally. I thought that Ally behaved like a realistic teenager and I liked how the friendship between them bloomed. The parallels between the two ladies at different points in their life was so good.

The romance between Greer and her love interest was absolutely swoon-worthy and I loved the slow burn progression of it. I was rooting for them the entire time and was so happy when they got together.

I definitely will be picking up more from this author, because this was so good.

I read my first Laura Trentham book a few months ago and really liked her writing. I’ve missed a couple of releases that I’ll eventually get around to reading (my TBR pile is daunting!) because I really loved her book, The Military Wife.

Greer Hadley’s life is falling apart. After returning home from Nashville, no closer to her dream of making it big in the music industry, she finds herself doing court-appointed community service hours at the Music Tree Foundation. It’s the last place she wants to be, but with no other choice, she reluctantly shows up. Faced with the one teenager no one else can handle, she begins a journey she never expected she’d ever be on. One that will change her…and her life in ways she could never have predicted.

Emmett Lawson is home from war, scarred more than physically and feeling like less than a man. He just wants to be left alone. But Greer doesn’t want to give up on him, either, despite his surly attitude at their initial reunion. Can she help him see that there’s more to life than just existing?

NICUnurse’s Rating: This book was quite simply fantastic. While there was an underlying romance in the story, An Everyday Hero is so much more than that. The theme is ultimately about overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles, despite where you are in life. It’s about never giving up on people, no matter how big their emotional walls may be. And it’s a story about never giving up on your passions and your dreams. You can’t help but root for Greer as she learns how to look beyond herself to see hurting people and how she can be there for them and learning that sometimes, just simply being there when someone else is at their lowest point and not giving up on them is what miracles are made of. I can’t say enough good things about this book! If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would but since I can’t,

I give An Everyday Hero by Laura Trentham 5 out of 5 stars!

An Everyday Hero is the latest novel by prolific and varied author Laura Trentham. Thirty year old Greer Hadley has hit an all time low. After a disastrous day in which the young songwriter froze at a very important showcasing opportunity and then found her boyfriend in the arms of another, Greer proceeded to drink herself into a state resulting in damage done to Becky’s Bar and Grill, and a well placed crotch kick to the handsy officer. As Greer stood with her parents and in front of Judge Duckett, her Uncle Bill, she was ready to accept her public service sentence. When she was sentenced to 50 hours working with veterans or family of service personnel dealing with issues at the Music Tree Foundation she begged to pick up trash instead, feeling her music days were past.

Her uncle was adamant that the penalty stand and ordered Greer to report to the foundation’s head, her cousin Amelia, the following day. Her first charge was 15 year old Ally Martinez who is fueled by her grief and anger over her father being killed in action while serving in Afghanistan. When Greer sets a time record with Ally before the girl runs out, Amelia assigns another difficult case to her. He is 30 year old Capt. Emmett Lawson with whom Greer had attended high school. He had been the golden guy quarterback in those days. Now he had been caught in an ambush which lost lives and his left leg below his knee and is in a very dark place.

The story unfolds as Greer interacts with these two clients and the reader begins to wonder who is saving whom. This is a wonderful multidimensional tale with endearing characters and surprises as the story develops. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

This is a pleasant romance with multiple story threads to keep it interesting. The secondary characters were interesting as well as the primary ones.

Laura Trentham’s An Everyday Hero is a remarkable unique story. Certainly a romance but also more than that. A story of grit, determination in the face of failure, rising to help others which leads to helping yourself.

Characters that have all suffered major losses find acceptable, love and restoration perhaps where they least expected it. My heart went out to each of the characters especially Emmett Lawson but also to Greer Hadley and the young Ally Martinez. All need a second chance. These characters grew so much in this story, it felt so real that I felt like cheering at the end. Wonderful and significant read.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An Everyday Hero by Laura Trentham

Heartbreaking, heartwarming and so emotionally lovely.
This author does romance right. Imperfections and issues are just stepping stones to finding the perfect connections that can bloom into love.
Lots of tears for me. Some sad but mostly emotionally healing. A clean romance.
A truly phenomenal read.

Greer left Nashville, broke and discouraged. Her belief in her singing career has been crushed. Volunteering at the local music center is the last thing she wants to do.
Emmett lost his leg on his last deployment. Hiding in the family remote cabin, he wants nothing to do with his family or friends. Then Greer shows up and kicks his sulking out of the trenches. A lost kitten adds to his responsibility and his momentum flips to a healthier outlook.

Loved it.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I also purchased a copy to share.

This was my first Laura Trentham book and I can tell you it won’t be the last. This is such a beautifully written story that is not just an emotional journey for your heart but for your soul as well. The relationship between Greer and Emmett is one that works so well because they lift each other up and force each other to face reality and be brave. Their live grows organically and it’s beautiful. I absolutely love this couple. They have funny, sweet, tender and very real even sometimes difficult moments that endeared them to me and filled my heart all the way up. The side story with Ally was equally endearing and I love how Greer was able to reach her through their shared love of music and I felt Emmett was also able to reach her but on a different level. This couple is able to heal through love and mutual respect and as they grow as confident people they pay it forward. This is just an amazing story! I loved it!

I was lucky to receive an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.

Greer Hadley has returned home to Madison, Tennessee, after failed attempt at fame in Nashville. After a night of drowning her sorrows at a local bar and taking it out on the bar's jukebox, she is sentenced to community service at a Music Foundation helping veterans and their families cope with their losses through music. During her time at the foundation she connects with a troubled youth who lost her father in the war and shows her how music can heal the soul. During the same time, she reconnects with an old high school acquaintance turned recluse after returning from war without a leg or his peace of mind after losing some men in the war. Greer, while battling her own insecurities, rediscovers the power of music and the way it can heal a heart and even open new doors.

A touching story of how with the support of others and a little belief in yourself, you can overcome life's trials. The characters in this story were so down to earth and lovable. I enjoyed the witty dialogue that flowed between them all, especially Greer and Emmett. Trentham wove a wonderful romance that not only pulled at our heartstrings, but also touched on the topics of war and how the effects of it can linger on the lives of those that serve. I would recommend this for anyone that would like a romance that warms the heart and leaves you grateful for the positive things in your life.

I never read the first book to this series but I have to say that this one was really good. I am not much for military stories but this one worked out well. It was a great story with wonderful characters that I couldn't put down. I do think that this was a slow burn romance that worked for the story and the characters.

As messed up as her life is, Greer, a musician comes to know things could be worse and that she can be an agent for improving the lives of others in this well written novel. Greer has moved home and she's doing community service, which leads her to Ally, a teen who is acting out big time after her father was killed in action. Music wouldn't be Ally's first choice and neither is Greer, but the latter is persistent. Then there's Emmet, who lost his leg and many of his men and now lives as more or less a hermit. Greer's equally in his face as she was in Ally's. Readers of the genre know that these two will find a way to each other but know that this does not get steamy. There's a nice atmosphere in the small town of Madison (it takes a village) and good characters. Trentham has a good storytelling style. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. You will root for these people.

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 then she ends up doing community service an organization that aids veterans and their families. When Greer meets fifteen-year-old Ally Martinez, her plans to stay detached and do as little as possible get thrown away. New to town and dealing with the death of her father in action, she hides her emotions behind a mask of bitterness and sarcasm, but Greer is able to see past it and recognizes pieces of who she once was in Ally. The raw and obvious talent she possesses could take her to the top and Greer vows to make sure life’s negativities don’t derail Ally’s potential. After Greer is assigned a veteran to help, she’s not surprised Emmett Lawson, the town’s golden boy, followed his family’s legacy. What leaves her shocked is the shell of a man who believes he doesn’t deserve anyone’s help. A breakthrough with Ally reminds Greer that no one is worth giving up on.
A truly lovely slow burn romance that took me through a range of emotions & left me light hearted. I loved Greer & her determination. I loved Emmett the bruised hero but how their relationship developed was up lifting. I was undecided if I'd love this book as I don't often read contemporary romance but I love the author’s books & I loved the first book in the series. I needn't have worried as this is a lovely romance that I thoroughly enjoyed
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This book is very different then any book I have read in a while. That’s a good thing the whole story just grabs your attention and sucks you in and before you know it the books almost over. The subject matter is tough with a young girl dealing with the loss of a parent and a guy coming home from war and learning to cope. There’s also so much more to it. I really loved Ally it was simply hard not too. The author will have you laughing and crying through out sometimes on the same page. I felt I was connecting with friends not a bunch of fictional characters. I really enjoyed all the character in the book but the cop I wish in the end Greer would have kicked him where it counts and he would have lost his job. lol!!! There is some adult language and situations through out some may not be suitable for all readers. Overall an amazing read and well worth it, in the end I wanted so much more I just was not read to be done.

As a military veteran myself and married to a combat military veteran. I am always cautious when invited to read military romances. But this story has completely floored me in the best way.

This story of Emmett and Greer is nothing short of inspirational and sweet! And with a twist that you don't see coming, but makes the story even more heartwarming.

Greer is marching to the beat of her own drum.  She feels that the music industry machine has chewed her up and spit her out.  She has lost her mojo when it comes to music and when she made to "face the music" again, well magic happens.

Emmett is truly an everyday hero.  He is a combat veteran that has experience tragedy and loss on an epic scale. When he is at his lowest and darkest.  Greer brings a bit of light and laughter into his world. 

The secondary characters are phenomenal and bring so much more to the story.

To see the journey that both Greer and Emmett go through in this story is truly inspirational!  I want to thank Ms. Trentham for making a believable, moving love story with heart!

Laura Trentham is a new-to-me author and definitely one I will be going back to.
Emmett and Greer’s story involves real-life struggles and the possibilities that can come with them. I was riveted from the very beginning. I can’t wait to see what more there is to discover from this author!
5 stars!!!

An Everyday Hero is a hopeful contemporary romance about overcoming obstacles and striving for the life you always wanted. This may have been the first time I have read a book by Laura Trentham, but it won't be my last. I fell in love with her writing, the damaged characters, and the depth of this story!

Greer is an aspiring musician who returns home after a failed music career in Nashville. A drunken night of mistakes gets her in legal trouble and Greer must complete community service hours. She meets a young girl named Ally who is dealing with the loss of her father. She is also assigned to work with veteran Emmett Lawson. She knew of him in high school and although he is dealing with the loss of a leg he is still the sexy guy she knew.

Emmett is a veteran who lost his leg in war. He is at a low point in his life and struggling to find his purpose. When Greer shows up on his porch, he wants to make her go away like everyone else. But Greer doesn't take no for an option. As they spend more time together, they are healing in so many ways. They make each other better and their chemistry is full of sparks.

Their friendship soon turns into something more there are still obstacles in their way. Can they realize their true feelings for each other? Will they let their fears dictate their future?

I give An Everyday Hero 5 stars. Laura Trentham took us on a journey of redemption that was both tragic, inspiring, and affecting. Greer and Emmett grew so much throughout this story and it was beautiful to read about. I am excited to read more from this author!!

Just when I think her writing can’t get any better, Trentham does this! Two broken souls find each other in a beautiful story of healing, redemption, and love, and trust me, you're going to want to keep the tissue box handy. This one has a PG rating and all of the elements we love in a good romance, each perfectly placed for maximum heart string manipulation. And manipulate they do in one of the most touching, poignant books I’ve read in a long, long time.

Singer/songwriter Greer Hadley had dreams of making it big in Nashville, but now she's come crawling home to the small town of Madison, TN. Not dealing well with her dream laying in ashes, she goes a little off the rails one night, resulting in court-mandated community service by volunteering at the Music Tree Foundation which works with military veterans and their families. But how can Greer help anyone through music when her own music has died? Especially when her first client is a moody fifteen-year-old girl whose father was recently killed in combat.

Emmett Lawson's military career ended after he lost his leg and one of his men in an ambush. Now he spends his days wallowing in the cabin on his family's horse ranch, running off anyone who shows up with his harsh words and his grandfather’s shotgun. When Greer shows up at the cabin after Emmett is assigned as her next client, Emmett's rage and shotgun don’t run her off like they have others. No, Greer threatens to tell Emmitt's mama on him, not only putting him in his place, but nudging him out of his haze of self-pity.

These characters effortlessly ran away with my heart, and their story will be a part of me indefinitely. Emmett, Greer, and fifteen-year-old Ally are so bruised, broken and beaten down, but they all have an inner strength that serves them well as they heal and grow in the most heartfelt, wonderful way. These are some of the most compelling, thought-provoking, authentic characters I’ve ever read, and I felt every bit of emotion from each of them as I read their story.

If you want a book that sweeps you away on an unforgettable journey, this is it. If you love a book that pulls out all the stops and takes your emotions on the most glorious of rides, you'll love this one. With loveable characters who are complex and lifelike, and a storyline that will steal your heart, this is one you definitely don’t want to miss!

While this is labeled as a second book in a series, it is a completely stand alone novel. This latest novel by Laura Trentham fits more into women's fiction than a romance in my opinion. Not that a romance doesn't develop between the main characters, but it is not necessarily the central focus. Greer has been sentenced to a period of community service for an unfortunate drunken mishap at a bar. Her community service involves teaching music to a surly teenager whose father just died in the war and an angry veteran who just got back from the war after losing his leg. But somewhere in the midst of that sentence, Greer realizes that her work is doing more than just helping others, maybe it's also having an impact on her as well.
This was a very enjoyable novel as all three characters realized they needed one another respective experiences to move themselves forward. Great characters, an engaging plot, and a well written story have me looking forward to her next book!

This book was a great disappointment. The premise of the book really interested me but it just didn’t deliver.
I felt that the characters were very superficial and lacked depth.
It just didn’t grab my attention

Greer Hadley from Laura Trentham’s An Everyday Hero has become one of my favorite characters. She’s broken but still feisty, kind but sassy, and has a huge heart that she’s willing to share. She’s a perfect match for Emmett Lawson, who once sat in front of her in class but who’s returned home from war broken and believing himself beyond repair. And Emmett, well, I do like nice guy heroes!

While this could be a complete downer of a novel, it isn’t because Trentham breathes heart and life and humor into it by creating self-aware characters who slowly but surely discover that they’re holding themselves back. And as all main characters in novels should change but don’t, these two do.

In the co-plot–I just made that up, I think because it doesn’t really feel like a sub-plot–Ally Martinez also changes from being a sad, struggling teenager whose father was killed in battle to a young woman with a future.

An Everyday Hero has sad moments that brought tears to my eyes, but the message is just so hopeful. I loved that most of the characters came to understand each other, that they were willing to take a step down even if it meant letting pride go. I also liked that Trentham treated them all with compassion.

So I’ll just say it: I loved this book.

It is the second in a series but unlike other series, Heart of a Hero is based around a theme rather than a recurring set of characters so you really don’t miss anything by not having read the first novel. However, The Military Wife (see my review here) was so, so very good that you should definitely read it, if you like these types of novels.

Who would like An Everyday Hero? Certainly it’s a romance but it reads a lot like women’s fiction as well. It is more mature in its writing, depiction of relationships, plotting, and let’s just say most everything than a typical romance. Trentham deals unflinchingly with a soldier returning home but does so with heart and understanding.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I received this book as an ARC, I went and found the first in the series before I read this one. While it is a series the 2 books do not have any characters in common and can be read separately. I thought Greer was funny, and her uncle was awesome. I loved the creative punishment he handed out for Greer's stupidity. She very reluctantly agrees to the terms and finds in the long run that he knew exactly what she needed at that point in time. I never saw the small twist towards the end that brings it all together, the whole story was written beautifully.

This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions are my own.