Review: The Military Wife by Laura Trentham

Title: The Military Wife by Laura Trentham
Heart of a Hero Series Book One
Publisher: St. Martins Griffin
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, Romance
Length: 343 pages
Book Rating: A

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

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 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?

Review:

The Military Wife by Laura Trentham is a poignant, heartwarming and emotional novel about many different aspects of military life for spouses, veterans and active duty members.

Five years after the death of her Navy SEAL husband, Harper Wilcox is comfortable with her life yet she is not fulfilled. She and her young son, Ben, live with her mom, Gail, who is supportive yet refreshingly direct when talking with her daughter about her future. Much of her five years of marriage to Noah was spent apart due to multiple deployments so Harper has tends to gloss over the unhappier parts of their wedded life.  Harper pushed aside her own career ambitions as she ran up against the very real discrimination military spouses face from potential employers.  In the present, Harper might have been content to continue coasting along, but an unexpected call from her friend Allison Teague turns out to be life altering.

Allison’s husband, Darren, has recently returned from yet another war zone deployment and she barely recognizes the man she married. He is suffering from a serious case of post traumatic stress disorder but he rebuffs all of her efforts to help him. Allison and their three children walk on eggshells around Darren, whose nightmares, insomnia and hair trigger temper leave everyone fearful. Allison is in desperate needs support and Harper never hesitates to rush to her friend’s side.

During the course of her visit, Harper discovers some troubling information about a cash payment she received from Noah’s friend and fellow SEAL  Bennett Caldwell. Bennett is now a civilian so she tracks him down at his survival training business but he refuses to answer her questions. He is the epitome of the strong, silent type and he sees no need to revisit his painful memories.  He remains deeply affected about losing his brother in arms and he continues to struggle with survivor’s guilt and residual PTSD. Bennett’s  feelings toward Harper are complicated yet he cannot resist spending time with her and  young Ben. But before their unexpected relationship can move forward, Bennett will have to decide whether or not he can provide answers for Harper’s questions about Noah’s death.

The Military Wife is an insightful novel that touches on many relevant issues that provide a realistic glimpse into military life.  Harper’s story arc highlights the reality of loving then losing a spouse during a combat mission.  Bennett’s struggle with survivor’s guilt and the painful loss of his best friend is realistically depicted. His reticence to  reopen old wounds is understandable as is his cautious approach to a relationship with Harper.   Allison and Darren’s storyline is a heartbreaking glimpse of the military member’s hidden wounds of war along with its devastating effects on their family.  Laura Trentham’s sensitive portrayal of military life is incredibly accurate and shines a much needed light on the challenges spouses, children and servicemen face during their careers. This heartfelt novel  will make readers laugh,  cry  and ultimately, rejoice, as they follow Harper, Bennett, Allison and Darren on their healing journey to happily ever after.

Just a side note, I am a military wife so I attest to the authenticity of the characters’ experiences. During the course of my husband’s twenty-six year career, I witnessed or experienced many to the events depicted in the novel.