Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

It started off strong but Wren started to go on my nerves after a while. She's a hypochrite... I LOVED "On the Island" by this author, but this, not so much.

I'm a huge Tracy Garvis Graves fan and I was so excited to receive this NetGalley earc. All opinions are my own.
Wren has decided to take a solo trip after a double whammy of a devastating sudden loss and a huge betrayal. Hiking and geocaching has become her escape, something just for her. As she takes off on a solo journey she meets Marshall, a sweet and handsome psychologist and fellow geocacher who comes to her rescue when her safety is threatened and they decide to pair up. Marshall is more closed off as to why he embarked on this journey of healing.
There is something special about two mature people honestly navigating their grief and communicating in a real adult way, not without complications or heartbreak but just raw. No miscommunication trope here although they both have very different ways and timelines for communication and processing. I love how this author portrays strong female characters in all of her books and Wren is no different - determined to stand on her own two feet and never settle for less than she deserves.
Another hit for me. This is a meaningful romance and journey of healing and self discovery. It's not a fast moving book but I didn't want to put it down. 5 and a Few tears

The Trail of Lost Hearts was a moving story that really got me in a couple chapters. Wren and Marshall are both dealing with grief and lost. They meet geocaching and this brings them together as they heal their wounds. They find each other in this process. and as they help each other, they start to fall in love. I'm always a fan of romance and this book was a well written book. I will be suggesting this to friends and family. Thank you Tracey Gravis Graves, Netgalley and St Martins Press for letting me read this ARC.

Really liked this book. The pace kept me interested and I am glad the heroine took time to 'discover' herself again. Some parts were a bit predictable but overall a quick enjoyable read.

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

"The Trail of Lost Hearts" is quiet Romance and Women's Fiction with simple writing, meaningful topics, and mature main characters!

Wren Waters once believed that if you pay attention, the universe will send you exactly what you need.

Now she's not so sure...

Wren meets Marshall Hendricks unexpectedly on a trail while solo geocaching in Oregon. Not initially welcoming to Marshall's friendly small talk, Wren changes her tune when he comes to her aid down the trail. Afterward, Marshall suggests partnering together while continuing to search for hidden cache safely. Based on Wren's close call, she reluctantly agrees and their road trip begins...

Could the universe be at work here? Is Wren paying attention?

"The Trail of Lost Hearts" is the first novel I've read by this author and it's a refreshing romance story with two mature thirty-something main characters who are likable, vulnerable, and flawed. Both experienced recent setbacks with Wren needing alone time and Marshall craving a distraction. Important topics of grief, trust, and mental health are addressed realistically.

This was an immersion read and I preferred the digital version over the audio, narrated by Eric Meyers and Kate Handford. The voicing was fine overall but felt stilted and uncomfortable at times and didn't translate similarly in the digital version.

If you're in the mood for a quiet, refreshing romance, "The Trail of Lost Hearts" could be the one! 3.75⭐

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Tracey Garvis Graves for a DRC and an ALC via NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Thanks so much to SMP and NetGalley for the gifted copy of this one!

This book is a heartwarming story of love and loss, following Wren and Marshall as they go on a unique journey of love and healing. This is a perfect fall read with the wonderful writing of vulnerability and strength.

This is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance.

I’ve read a couple of Tracey Garvis Graves’ books and enjoyed them a lot. I felt The Trail of Lost Hearts was okay. The character development was there, multiple plot points that were successfully wrapped up, and a happy ending. For me, although there were many traumatizing events and several heartfelt ones, I felt like the overall story was somewhat dull. I didn’t have the urge to keep picking up this book to read. When I was about 45% in, I was very confused what more could be in the remaining 55%. So although the book had great writing and would be something I consider an overall success, it was just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read the ARC of The Trail of Lost Hearts.

The Trail of Lost Hearts was a great fiction read that brings relatable characters that feel realistic. I loved the romance elements that this book had and the emotional rollercoaster that this story brings you through!

I particularly enjoyed this book's setting in the PNW as the main characters geocached in Oregon. A fairly quick read for me, completing it in a week.

TW/Spoiler alert:



In the opening chapters, the main character encounters a couple of shady characters while hiking alone looking for a geocache and they attempt to abduct her on the trail, temporarily holding her captive until a fellow hiker is able to intervene and allow her to escape.

Due to this dark beginning scene I wasn't sure if I would enjoy reading the book, and although it never became a lighthearted story, the main characters were interesting and well developed and I found the storyline of their developing relationship as well as personal growth an interesting and well-written read. I received a free digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a book of loss and love and friendship. Tracey Garvis Graves can turn a phrase like few others, and The Trail of Lost Hearts is a captivating read.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

It took me a little over 24h to finish this book. So, in that regard it was a great read because it kept me reading.
The characters were well-developed. The story held itself together as it progressed. I had never heard about geocaching until I started reading this and now, I'm interested on knowing more about it. Teaching me something new is always a plus. The author built the "will they, won't they?" very well. The tension and dialogue kept me engrossed in it. The pace had some issues at times, especially when the protagonists started their "friendship." Although it is a bit of an insta-love sort of story, it does NOT come across as highly improbable and unrealistic. I think centering the romance around and interesting hobby helped to counteract the "hard to believe" parts. Also, the twist is one of the most hated tropes out there, but I'm one of the readers that absolutely LOVES it! So, that added to why I really liked the book after all.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This very much was like eat, pray love, but millennial edition? I think we start off a very uncomfy with what deems almost of a sexual assault and just the notion of it happening is probably triggering to a lot of people they don’t know that’s happening. I know I skipped through like a Bajillion pages afterwards just to make sure everyone was OK.

I think the PNW and geocaching aspect were really cool. Very down with the Reese Witherspooon wilderness trek.

I don’t like the miscommunication though. I’ve never lost a spouse, but I feel like life is fleeting and for you to not tell people immediately things, you’d have to. I found it odd she just averted the whole “baby in belly” thing?

Audio was great though. Very emotional. Idk if I would have cried (I would have let’s be honest) without the audio but definitely balled like a baby with it!

If Tracey Garvis Graves doesn't stop ripping my heart out and shoving it back in my chest, I swear I don't know what I will do. I absolutely LOVED this book and I identified with Wren in so many ways I wasn't expecting. As a single mom, even more so. This was so beautifully written, so emotional, and just so wonderful!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @macmillan.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

A Heartwarming Tale of Love and Loss

The Trail of Lost Hearts is a captivating and heartwarming novel by Tracey Garvis Graves. The story follows Wren and Marshall as they embark on a unique journey of love and healing.

Graves's evocative writing style creates a cozy and atmospheric setting, perfect for a fall read. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and their chemistry is undeniable. Wren's vulnerability and Marshall's quiet strength make for a compelling pairing.

The geocaching element adds an interesting twist to the story, making it a unique and engaging read. The author's ability to blend romance, mystery, and personal growth creates a truly satisfying narrative.

The audiobook narration for The Trail of Lost Hearts is exceptional. Eric Meyers and Kate Handford bring the characters to life with their captivating performances. Their voices perfectly complement the story, enhancing the listening experience and making it a truly immersive journey.

Overall, The Trail of Lost Hearts is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance. It's a heartwarming and uplifting story that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

5 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillianaudio #thetrailoflosthearts #traceygarvisgraves

This was my first book by Graves, and I enjoyed it. It isn’t my typical go-to genre but I can see why she is such a popular Author. I thought this was a great story of self-discovery as well as good slow burn romance. The story was full of heartbreak but also hope and it was a nice change of pace from my typical reading.

In an attempt to grieve and recover from two back-to-back life-shattering blows, 34 year old Wren embarks on a solo week-long geocaching journey. At the start of her trek she runs into Marshall, a man dealing with his own personal grief, who ends up literally saving Wren from a dangerous situation. Instead of continuing on their journey’s solo, the two decide to team up and geocache together. Of course, what starts out as a platonic friendship, turns into something much more over the week long road trip,
and Wren can’t help but hope that the universe has finally delivered something good and right to her life.

Things I really loved about this book: the setting of geocaching in Oregon, the fact that Wren and Marshall were a bit older (in their 30s), the genuineness of their grief and flaws.

But there’s a twist that occurs closer to the end of the book (that I really didn’t see coming) and it’s one of my least favourite tropes in books and I had a really hard time accepting it and not being overly annoyed with how it all played out.

Overall, I did really enjoy this book though (and much more than her last one which was a bit of a flop for me). I’m a huge fan of Tracey Garvis Graves and can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

This story brings two people who are at tough stages of there life together through geocatching. It is a great story. You want to feel bad for both of them but you also want them to pull ahead in life. I really enjoyed this story. It had everything needed to keep me interested.

I fell in love with the writing of author Tracey Garvis after reading The Girl He Used to Know, and was so excited to read this.

I paired the book with the audiobook, and loved to do a fully immersive style of read. Narrated by Eric Meyers and Kate Handford, I thought they did a great performance!

*many thanks to St Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.