The Military Wife

With pitch-perfect prose, plotting, and characterization, Trentham (Slow and Steady Rush) captures the painful, patriotic feelings of military widows and the difficult necessity of moving forward. Harper Lee Wilcox’s Navy SEAL husband, Noah, died on a mission shortly before their son, Ben, was born. Five years later, Harper’s doing her best to pick up the pieces, living on North Carolina’s Outer Banks with her mother and her son. When her closest friend, Allison, is at her wits end dealing with her SEAL husband’s PTSD, Harper rushes to Ft. Bragg to help—and after an illuminating visit to an on-base support group, she creates a business project that will provide purpose to other military wives. While putting together funding, Harper meets Bennett Caldwell, Noah’s reclusive teammate and best friend, who bears a heavy dose of survivor’s guilt. As Harper and Ben burrow into his heart, Bennett struggles with his love for his dead friend’s wife and child. Trentham expertly addresses PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and falling in love after a tremendous loss with an empathy that rings true. It’s impossible to finish this remarkable book without shedding tears. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Feb.)