This was such a refreshing, feel-good story, but at the same time it was also very emotional and heavy at times. Marshall and Wren were beautiful, heartfelt and perfectly written characters, each with their own baggage and stories of grief. They are a perfect example of the understanding that everyone processes their emotions/inner demons differently and at their own pace. My favorite part of this book is following each of their stories separately and together and experiencing their emotional growth throughout, learning to live and love again after loss. There were also a couple of surprising twists thrown in that I didn’t see coming, which made this read even more enjoyable.

Thank you, NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for a #gifted eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new book by Tracey Garvis Graves, perfectly narrated by Eric Meyers; Kate Handford - 4.5 stars!

Wren believes that if you pay attention, the universe will send you exactly what you need. But she's struggling with that now when her world comes crashing down. Suddenly, she's feeling bereft and shameful. When she discovers geocaching, it helps give her motivation to get out of bed and be outside. She decides to take a weeklong solo geocaching trip in Oregon. She soon meets Marshall on the trail and he saves her from a scary encounter. Marshall is dealing with his own issues, but they soon decide to team up. Is the universe finally sending her what she needs?

Just like in her previous book, Heard it in a Love Song, this one features likable and relatable characters that you will be rooting for to find their way. They are both dealing with grief and need time and understanding to process and move on. I'm a big fan of this author's writing style, featuring mature characters dealing with real life. Extra points for this one because of the locations - Wren is from Dayton OH, where I grew up, and Marshall from Portland, where my husband and I honeymooned. Not sure I've read a book that mentioned Skyline Chili before! Narration was great - mostly from Wren's POV with Marshall's voice filling in his story. Great read and audiobook!

I can not get over or past the fact that she was almost assaulted and killed in the woods and they never call the police? They just leave the bad guys alone to find their next victim? This is such a major plot hole and weird choice to make with zero explanation. Unfortunately this impacted my entire experience with the book.

Wow! A classic case of don’t judge a book by it’s cover! Absolutely devoured this one despite it having my least favorite trope (wait do I actually enjoy this trope now?). I loved Wren and Marshall’s journey. The geocaching aspect was so fun and added a bit of lightness to some of the heavier topics tackled.

I love nature, hiking, and exploring, so reading the latest from Tracey Garvis Graves, The Trail of Lost Hearts was a no-brainer for me. The title and cover immediately grabbed my attention, so I didn’t even bother reading the synopsis. Plus, I adored the author’s last couple of novels, so I knew that I was in for a treat. As per usual, TGG came through and delivered another solid love story. I’d best describe this one as two wounded and wandering souls crossing paths (quite literally) and embarking on a journey of finding love again.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Hiking, nature, and geocaching
- Scenic PNW setting
- Reflections on loss, grief, and healing
- Emotional reads
- Strangers to lovers trope
- Mature and complex characters
- Epic love stories
- Great banter and chemistry
- Self-discovery and personal growth
- Second chances and moving forward

This novel will most certainly pull on your heartstrings. Both characters are grieving, processing, and dealing with some heavy issues from their pasts. My heart truly ached for them both. I especially loved how well the two characters communicated with one another. They were open and honest right from the very beginning, and I can’t even tell you how refreshing that was! I wish more authors would take this approach in the contemporary romance genre. I definitely recommend this one! The Trail of Lost Hearts releases on March 26th, and it gets 4/5 stars from me!

4.5 Stars

I am a long time fan of Tracey Garvis Graves! I loved On the Island, The White Hot Hack Series & The Girl He Used to Know. I feel like she’s been kind of off my radar for a while (my last TGG read was 2019) so I was excited to see The Trail of Lost Hearts on Net Galley!

The main character Wren was really likable and I loved how she communicated & held boundaries for herself. Marshall was frustrating at times, but it was intentional to the story. I also had no idea what geocaching was before this so I even learned something new. Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It kept me interested until the end and I was actually shocked by a turn of events that I did not see coming, which is pretty rare in romance!

Honestly my least favorite thing about this book is probably the cover. I think it doesn’t stand out at all and the book could really benefit from a redo!

I’m excited to have Tracey Garvis Graves back on my radar and am going to be adding a few of her other titles I haven’t read to my list. Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Everyone wants a night in shining armor to rescue them but after loss Ru is suspicious of people’s motives. Gabriel who she thinks just wants to analyze her has problems of his own . Together they help each be other on this journey to recovery.
She begins a geocaching experience that leads to a new friendship based on personal safety. The cover suggested it might be for YA but was actually good because the characters were older than most romance books..

The Trail of Lost Hearts is my first book from Tracey Garvis Graves and while I enjoyed it, I did find it slow to start. Wren’s character is complex as she’s struggling to come to terms with the end of her last relationship and learn to trust not only in herself but others again.

Marshall is the perfect person to help in this quest. However, I would have loved this story to have been dual POV so we could have gotten to know Marshall more as it was clear he was struggling as well and I think it would have deepened the storyline.

Still, the story and plot were fun and unique with interesting twists and turns making this an enjoyable read.

Thank you to St. Martins for an advanced copy for my honest review.

“So it’s what, Eat, Pray, Love but with diet and GPS and skinned knees?”

Umm yes but ‘Wild’ mixed in.

I love this author and love this contemporary fiction novel about grief in a lighthearted way. Wren and Marshall are looking to move on and if it means they have to let someone new in, in order to heal, then maybe that’s what needs to happen.

It’s light enough with romance sprinkled in that it doesn’t feel to “heavy” but also tackles grief and pain in a relatable way. Bottom line, if you enjoy books like ‘Happiness is for Beginners’ then you’ll like this one too

On the surface, The Trail of Lost Hearts, by Tracey Garvis Graves, appears to be a typical romance between thirty-something adults who just haven't managed to hit it right. The dialogue is cute, sharp, and funny as is the impressions of the protagonist, Wren. Brace yourself! This book is so much more. It tackles the tough challenges we all face: lost opportunities, betrayal, profound loss, and the ups and downs of love. I was totally invested in the main characters after only a few pages. Although the series of challenges Wren faces are almost (but not quite) unbelievable, the beauty of the story is how these two people manage to confront them and what they learn about themselves and life. Although there is a lot to absorb from this novel, it was a quick and enjoyable read for me. I'm giving it 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read a digital ARC. It was a pleasure.

I’ve never read anything by Tracey Garvis Graves, and now I’m on a mission to read everything else she’s written. This one just gripped me early on and didn’t let go. These two characters are both dealing with heartbreaking losses and meet on a trail while geocaching. Even though I didn’t agree with all of Wren’s choices, I felt for her and loved seeing her and Matthew’s love story, and their journey of growth and healing. It was wholesome and heartwarming, and left me smiling.

Two people struggling with grief and loss meet by chance on a geo-cacheing trail. That's the synopsis but this is so much more. Wren didn't know Rob was married until he died so not only is she grieving him, she's also dealing with a certain amount of shame. Marshall's brother died and he's dealing with guilt. That sounds heavy but this is actually quite joyful in so many spots. These two bond on the trip but just as you think you know where it's going, it doesn't. Yes it's a bit trope-y in spots but no spoilers from me on the surprises ahead. Both characters (and the others) feel very real and sympathetic. Thanks to Netgalley for this very good read.

For some reason I relish stories about people living through grief and finding a new happiness. Wren Waters is shocked and blindsided by the death of her fiancé. Although living in Ohio, she decides to get away and do geocaching on trials in Oregon. There she meets Marshall who helps her out of a dodgy situation. He is from Oregon, also geocaching and trying to recover from the loss of his brother. In a magical way the universe is giving her what she needs as Marshall is also a psychologist. For safety and companionship they decide to travel together for the week. Along the way she opens up about her feelings, and the circumstances around her life at home. It is a fine line but he isn’t being her therapist.

This is Wren’s story and told from her POV. Marshall is not as forthcoming about himself although she gathers some information on him from the internet. Of course it is fast but that week together opens doors and connections for both of them. The first half of the book is a full five stars. The second half of the book is Wren dealing with a new situation when she arrives home. Only after a while does Marshall reach out and they begin talking and emailing. They feel their relationship is more than a fling but it is only in this part of the book do you really get Marshall’s story. It feels a little removed only being shared in letters.

I’m not going to spoil any of the twists but I wanted these two to get together. Yes, Marshall’s speed is glacial, but you get the feeling that when he says he is committed he is in all the way. This is a lot of angst and drama to work through and the book is appropriately marked as women’s fiction/romance. This is an author I’ve never read before. I found the writing easy to read and I emotionally connected. I will look for other books from her.

I enjoyed The Trail of Lost Hearts, but it felt a little surface-level to me, given some of the heavy tones of the book. Wren is visiting Oregon because she wants to do some geocaching there, which is a new hobby she picked up after the devastating and complicated death of her fiancé. At her first stop, she meets Marshall (under more unsettling conditions), and they decide to combine forces and geocache together. They spend a week together, and friendships begin to form as they share their stories. But Marshall seems less willing to be more emotionally available to her, and she heads home with her heart a little broken but also knows she should put her needs first. I liked the geocaching piece. In regards to the romance part of the book, I feel there was a lot of telling and not showing. I did not get the swoon I was hoping for. All in all it was a solid read. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC for my honest review.

34 year-old Wren Waters embarks on a geo-caching adventure in the Pacific Northwest to help her surmount 2 back-to-back life-altering blows. "The universe" throws Marshall Hendricks in her path, a psychologist trying to get over a heartbreak of his own. Though initially, Wren rebuffs Marshall, she is overcome with gratitude when he comes to her aid in a harrowing situation. They decide to team up on their geo-caching excursion for safety and their connection only grows stronger from there. However, as Wren opens up to Marshall, she expects the same reciprocity but Marshall seems incapable. Could "the universe" be wrong or is there a way they can heal each other's hearts?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-arc.*

Thank you so much NetGalley and St.Martins Press for the ARC of "The Trail of Lost Hearts" in exchange for an honest review.
After reading a slew of domestic, psychological thrillers, this book provided just the kind of heartfelt, emotional read I needed.....to maybe renew the idea that there's good people in the world and that possibly there's hope for humanity after all.
And also, I'm rendered powerless to resist a story of two terribly hurt damaged people who find solace, love and glimmers of happiness in each other's company........only to have circumstances and fresh turns of fate drive them apart.
Wren and Marshall encounter each other on the hiking trails of National Parks in the Pacific Northwest. Wren's lost the man she loved dearly for three years - in the double catastrophes of his accidental death and traumatizing revelations about him. Marshall's own sudden, tragic loss of a beloved family member was so gut-wrenching, he can't bring himself to speak of it.
Tentatively, they form a bond of friendship as they pursue their shared, adventurous devotion to 'geocaching'....a sort of outdoorsy scavenger hunt of using GPS tracking to uncover small objects hidden by their fellow geocachers.
At this point, I hardly need to mention that Wren and Marshall's friendship grows into something much more. But obstacles, complications and a surprising turn of events are hurled into this couple's path........none of which you'll hear from me. The pure enjoyment of a story like this comes from a reader experiencing all the characters highs and lows as they occur......and as a reader you find yourself quietly cheering them on and then suffering along with them when their lives go awry.
So here's a book unashamed and unafraid to deliver everything it promises.....all of those big impassioned, poignant and heartstring-pulling moments you'd expect to find when lost hearts come across each other. (And an especially nice change of pace if you need a break from those 'there-s-something-strange-about-the-next-door-neighbors' thrillers......)

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ebook and physical copy!

I absolutely adore this author and have read On the Island many, many times!

This gave a bit of Happiness for Beginners vibes in the beginning, which I love!

This ended up being a lot heavier than I anticipated. I expected either an adventure or cute romance in the woods, and it ended up tackling grief, deception, assault, single parenting, trauma, and so much more.

Tracey Garvis Graves is turning out to be a hit or miss author for me and sadly this one was a miss.

There’s only so many traumatic life events that one person can endure and this one had a ton of them. Death of a partner, second family, depression, almost being raped, unplanned pregnancy, solo parenting and then another character was dealing with the death of a brother that was traumatic in itself.

It was just too much.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my advance electronic version via NetGalley.

Wren Waters is on a quest. After two serious blows in her life, she feels the need to accomplish something and move forward, instead of being stuck in shock and grief. But as she strikes out on a solo geocaching adventure in the Pacific Northwest US to try to kick-start the healing process, the universe seems to be narrowing down her options. Soon she finds herself joining forces with Marshall Hendricks, a fellow geocacher who is very closed-off about what he is trying to heal from, but who is very open to having company along the way. But will this partnership be just another blow to her already-battered heart, or will it help them both heal in ways they never imagined?

Poor Wren--she has serious anxiety and perfectionism struggles, on top of the multiple traumas she is trying to heal from. Her life was upended by betrayal and loss and now she is trying to clamp down and control things so she can feel safe. She's smart, but was with a selfish, deceptive man and made herself smaller and lesser in order to please him. Her adventures with Marshall include beautiful descriptions of the scenic PNW. It also contains open-door scenes, but in a realistic way (still fantastic!). I didn't like the plot-twist at 60% (it seemed like just TOO MUCH after everything else), but it ended up incorporating well into the plot for all that. I especially appreciate what a realistic heroine Wren is. So often an author imbues their characters with an almost inhuman ability to read other characters (mind-reading), and I appreciated very much how realistic Wren's abilities and thoughts were when it came to reading others feelings and intentions. The book was full of beautiful, profound observations and ALL the feels, and I absolutely recommend it.

Triggers: attempted gender-based assault, loss of a loved one

DNF…I can’t stand the female main character. I’m not a fan with how it’s starting out as. This isn’t for me and I won’t be leaving a review on GoodReads as I don’t want it to lower the rating for the book.