A young widow embraces a second chance at life when she reconnects with those who understand the sacrifices made by American soldiers and their families in award-winning author Laura Trentham’s The Military Wife. Harper Lee Wilcox has been marking time in her hometown of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina since her husband, Noah Wilcox’s death, nearly five years earlier. With her son Ben turning five … With her son Ben turning five and living at home with her mother, Harper fights a growing restlessness, worried that moving on means leaving the memory of her husband behind.
Her best friend, Allison Teague, is dealing with struggles of her own. Her husband, a former SEAL that served with Noah, was injured while deployed and has come home physically healed but fighting PTSD. With three children underfoot and unable to help her husband, Allison is at her wit’s end.
In an effort to reenergize her own life, Harper sees an opportunity to help not only Allison but a network of other military wives eager to support her idea of starting a string of coffee houses close to military bases around the country.
In her pursuit of her dream, Harper crosses paths with Bennett Caldwell, Noah’s best friend and SEAL brother. A man who has a promise to keep, entangling their lives in ways neither of them can foresee. As her business grows so does an unexpected relationship with Bennett. Can Harper let go of her grief and build a future with Bennett even as the man they both loved haunts their pasts?
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The Military Wife deals with love, loss and the heroism of the women who hold everything together while their men are deployed. As a military wife, I could identify with the characters in this book. It is well-written and emotional.
Harper Lee Wilcox is the widow of a Navy SEAL, raising her five-year-old son, Ben, who never knew his father. Noah was killed in action shortly before Ben’s birth. Harper is trying to keep her life together while struggling to raise her son without a father.
Bennett was a teammate of Noah’s. He made a promise to Noah and is doing his best to keep it while trying to ignore his attraction to Noah’s widow.
The Military Wife addresses the difficult issue of PTSD. Harper’s best friend, Allison’s husband Darren was a SEAL teammate of Noah’s. He refuses to get help for his PTSD and their marriage is falling apart. Their struggles were portrayed realistically.
This book is a departure from Ms. Trentham’s usual small town romance book. In my opinion it is one of her best books. I definitely recommend this book.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Military Wife from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
How lucky am I?? This was a wonderful read that was filled with emotion and heartfelt tenderness. A wonderful tribute to the tenacity of the Military Wife. Yes it is a tribute because these women (the female “spouse” point of view) are unsung heroes as well. This view of their life, their contribution, their sacrifice, their support, their trauma isn’t always talked about. They too are survivors of the greatest kind and should be “Thanked for their service”. This book is emotional as it follows these women, one whose spouse was killed in action, another’s who returned. . . with emotional trauma that impacted their family. The impact is real and I love this view. Not only during but the recovery. It’s so tactfully done and in such an amazing way it is so enjoyable to consume.
I have read this author before and each read is a experience. Her characters have depth that is exciting and wonderful to explore. The love and support is always surrounded with love and an awe inspiring read. Loved it and can’t wait for more of these reads that share the heart of our heroes.
I’ve enjoyed all of the books I’ve read by Laura Trentham. The Military Wife, I totally love! Ms. Trentham has given readers a phenomenal book loaded with a stellar cast of characters. Harper is a young mother and widow, living with her mother. Her husband was killed in the war. Bennett was injured at the same time and left the military after losing his best friend, Harper’s husband Noah. Harper and Bennett’s story is loaded with drama, humor, sexy bits and the horrors of PTSD. The Military Wife is book 1 of the A Heart of a Hero Series but can be read as a standalone. I can’t wait to read the next book! This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I loved this book, even though the pace was a bit slow sometimes. I thought it had a great message and it dealt with important issues. A military widow is living a blah existence, just working at a blah job, living her life for her little boy. She lives with her mother, who seems to be having a more exciting and fulfilling life than she is. She goes to visit her friend Allison, another military wife, who was her support when she lost her husband, and finds that other military wives are also living unfulfilled lives, just like hers. Discussing options for a business that could improve the lot of military wives, she realizes that she received a huge amount of money from Bennett Grant and learns from Allison that there is no such award as he stated.
When she goes to confront the guy, she finds the one man who can jump-start her life, make her existence the fun and exciting life that she should be enjoying. Problem was, there are guilt feelings, loyalty to a wonderful husband who died serving his country, the needs of a little boy who never met his dad and needs a father figure, and just plain distance. He lives hours away from her town, and she needs to establish her business near the base in order for it to work.
The book touches on two issues that I thought were important. One is the emotional state that soldiers are left in when they return from battle. Wives try to help their husbands but these soldiers are proud, trained to withhold information and feelings, and just plain stubborn. It’s not an easy job, on top of keeping their children emotionally stable facing a father who is losing it.
The other issue that was new to me and no less important is the limbo that professional women get into when they marry military men. As a necessity, they have to relocate where their husbands are assigned. Then sometimes they won’t find a job that caters to their qualifications. Oftentimes, they’re not given the job they want because the employer don’t want to waste time and resources on an employee that may relocate soon. There is a lot of discontent because the wives can’t fulfill their career ambitions, and many times are relegated to housewives because they are overqualified for the jobs available.
In this story, we see Harper setting up a business with other three wives, and plans to broaden the scope to other bases so other wives will have an outlet for their talent. She also helps her friend Allison face her marriage problems due to a troubled husband. And all the while, falling in love with this taciturn, quiet man with a poker face that seldom smiles but makes her skin tingle every time she touches him. I loved that he found love, after years of having no one. Harper brought him to laughter and happiness and Bennett brought Harper to the lively and decisive woman she used to be.
It was an entertaining and informative story, with important issues and a lovely love story.
I have previously read a couple romance books by Laura Trentham. This is a different genre in my opinion. This book was more “Women’s Fiction” to me. The story did have a romance in it, but that was not the main focus of the plot.
The plot focused on SEAL personnel. One character is still in the Navy (Darren), one has returned to civilian life (Bennett) and one was killed in action (Noah).
Harper Lee (named with meaning by her librarian mother) , was married to Noah for a short time and was pregnant when he died. She struggled to come back to the living, but knew she had to, for her son.
Harper is very close friends with Darren’s wife, Allison, who helped Harper deal with Noah’s death. Darren is home but not dealing with the memories of his last mission very well. While Harper is still trying to make peace with Noah’s death and contacts Bennett for answers, she sets in motion a path to healing for her, Bennett and Darren. She also has a plan for military wives to use their skills to help each other and keep busy while their partners are on duty.
The romance part of the book was very touching. Noah and Bennett were great friends in training and in action as SEAL members Bennett was drawn to Harper through Noah reading her letters to him. When Harper went to Bennett for answers, all the feelings were brought to the surface. Reading about their romance was an emotional journey.
While the book has many plots going on, they are all interconnected and it flows smoothly. The story is revealed in “past” and “present” chapters and that always puts me on edge a little bit. I feel as the characters do, in not knowing the complete past, as they do not.
I want to thank Netgalley.com and the publisher St. Martin’s Griffin for giving me the pleasure of reading the ARC. I am giving my honest opinion, in hopes other readers will pick up this book and enjoy it also.
**I received a copy of The Military Wife from St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review**
The Military Wife by Laura Trentham is the start of her A Heart of a Hero series. Ms. Trentham is a new author for me and this book is well worth reading. The story does go back to when Noah Wilcox and Bennett Caldwell start Navy SEAL BUD/s plus when Noah and Harper Lee first meet in Kitty Hawk, NC. Half of the story is Harper Lee, her young son Ben and her mother affectionately known at Yaya and finding love again with Bennett Caldwell when Noah dies leaving too many questions that no one will give answers and Allison and her husband Darren’s battle with PTSD and guilt from the op that took Noah’s life.
Harper Lee is just trying to finish up the summer working at a ice cream shop when she meets Noah Wilcox. He’s very persistent that she’s going to be his wife but first he has to complete BUD/s. She’s due to leave for University of North Carolina so they write letters frequently which Noah reads to Bennett. When Noah is killed on a SEAL Team mission Harper Lee is pregnant and due to have their fist child she searches for way to carry on without Noah. When she decides to invest the money from Bennett into a business that will give some of the military wives a job that will give them a job to take to each new home she meets Bennett again. They will soon find out that the survival school that he runs can also be a outlet for the veterans to be around others who are trying to cope with PTSD. Their burgeoning love will be very slow and sweet.
Bennett Caldwell grew up as a foster kid moving around frequently until he finally finds a home with Sarge his case workers uncle. Sarge gives him a home and when he’s old enough he joins to Navy BUD/s. But when his buddy Noah starts sharing his letters from Harper Lee he yearns for a life like Noah and Harper Lee. When Noah makes him promise to watch over his family if he doesn’t come home it’s a promise that will become love five years later when she comes to him for how Noah dies.
The Military Wife is a sweet love story between Noah and Harper Lee, Adele (Yaya) and Ben, Allison and Darren who fight to understand the toll of PTSD on their lives plus the new life for Harper, Ben and Bennett.
For nearly five years Harper Wilcox has been living half a life, when she lost her husband it not only crippled her, but it left her a shell of the carefree and happy woman she used to be. Each day is a struggle, she puts on a brave face, goes off to work a job she doesn’t really enjoy, all to provide some semblance of normalcy for her young son. And while she feels like she is finding her way back, her mother has kindly pointed out on numerous occasions that she still isn’t living her best life, she is stuck in limbo. She’s afraid to fully move on for fear of forgetting the man who gave her so much, but she knows the only way she can truly be happy again is to let the past go and to create a new life.
Little does she know the kindness of one man is about to change everything, his one small gesture is about to give her all that she has been longing for… the second chance she so desperately needs.
The Military Wife is poignant tale that follows a young widow through her struggle to regain happiness in her life after facing the darkest day of it, the day her husband died overseas. With alternating past and present chapters you get glimpses into their lives before his death, and then a present day view, which gives you a vivid look at life after a devastating loss. These alternating chapters allow you to meet Noah, watch them fall in love, and develop an appreciation for all they endured with his deployments, much like I imagine many families face in reality everyday. You also meet fellow teammates of Noah’s, learn how they to are struggling with his death, and gain a haunting view of how facing combat has effected them and their families.
This beautifully crafted story doesn’t shy away from the ugliness of war, or the devastation it brings into soldiers lives, it paints a honest picture, one that will be felt long after you close the book. There were many moments on this literary journey that had my heart in my throat, and tears welling, but there were also happier moments that brought smiles and joy too, it’s one heck of a roller coaster ride… a ride I think every reader should take. I am no stranger to Ms. Trentham’s work, I have read many of her titles and adored them, so my interest in this new venture of hers was very high, and I must say it did not disappoint. As a matter of fact I think it is her best work yet, her absorbing words seeped deep into my heart and left it forever changed! If there is one book you pick up this year, please make it this one, it holds a touching story of the most unforgettable characters you’ll ever meet!
I requested an advanced copy of this title, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
I felt all the feels with this book! A sweet story that has you crying tears of sadness and happiness. So hard to put down!
The Military Wife is a layered story within a story. It goes into the grief of a young, pregnant widow trying to go on without her mate, the best friend suffering from survivors guilt & ptsd, the military wives needing support & purpose & the families behind them all. The intensely emotional topics were treated with dignity but yet with such a light touch that the reader doesn’t forget that the story is, at heart, a romance. Darren, Alison & the kids story showed the nearly forgotten casualties of war – the effects on the children. The romance that snuck up on Harper & Bennett was wonderful to watch develop & flashbacks showed the relationship between Noah & each of them. It gave us an insight into Noah’s character & the joy we know he would have felt at the end. Great story & I can’t recommend it enough!
An emotionally charged book, I was taken on a roller coaster of emotions and found myself laughing and crying, often at the same time. Harper only had one man in her life and when Noah died in action, she needed answers. Not knowing what had happened to him, left her with unresolved issues. When it becomes clear that there is one person with the answers she needs, she visits Bennet who is every bit as taciturn and bearish as his nickname depicts. Although the story does feature the growing feelings between Harper and Bennet, it mainly brings into focus the camaraderie and close bonds of brotherhood that forms between men in action, as well as the sacrifices that are made by the women and children they leave behind. War is a vicious beast that is no respecter of persons. The men and women in the firing line cannot help but be affected by the consequences of killing. It takes almost as much courage to face up to and deal with PTSD as it does to pull the trigger in the first place, as is well depicted in this novel. I loved every moment of this well-written story as well as the portrayal of the characters, each with their distinctive personalities. It appears that a series is going to evolve, but this is nevertheless a standalone with a heartwarming conclusion. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Harper and Bennett’s story was poignant. It was grief. It was joy. It was rebirth. I loved how real Bennett and Harper’s feelings were portrayed! More so, I loved the way Trentham portrayed friendships. Not just between the military wives, but also the guys. There were foundations of support when one had the courage to reach out and ask, something that’s always easier said then done.
Harper and Bennett’s complicated relationship, Allison, Darren, and their family’s struggle with his PTSD, the military spouses looking to define themselves from their spouse’s identities and the deployments and reintegrations-the deep emotions coursing through the pages pulled me in from the start and I found myself quickly invested in the story’s outcome. Military Wife is a departure from Trentham’s small town romances, yet I felt this book made its mark with style and I can’t wait to see what’s up next!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.